A U.S. intelligence report from last year revealed that Israeli military lawyers had warned there was enough evidence to raise allegations of war crimes during Israel’s Gaza operations, which heavily relied on U.S. weaponry. Former officials described the report as one of the most alarming presented to top U.S. policymakers, showing internal doubts within the Israeli military about the legality of their actions, contrasting with public government statements. Rising civilian deaths prompted concerns that Israel could be violating international human rights and war laws, though the report did not cite specific incidents. Despite this, the Biden administration concluded there was no proof that Israel intentionally targeted civilians, allowing arms and intelligence cooperation to continue. The situation has drawn international scrutiny, including ICC and ICJ investigations, while Israel maintains its operations targeted Hamas, not Gaza’s general population.

Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, hitting key natural gas centers that provide heating, resulting in power outages in multiple regions. Ukrainian Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk confirmed the assaults, emphasizing that emergency electricity cuts are in place until the system stabilizes. Experts warn that the strikes could lead to severe heating shortages during the winter months. Nearly four years of Russian aggression have repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s electricity and heating grids, damaging critical civilian infrastructure. Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper reported that a drone strike damaged southern region energy facilities without causing casualties. In response, Ukraine has increased attacks on Russian oil depots and refineries, aiming to disrupt Moscow’s fuel exports and create nationwide shortages. Despite the hostilities, Ukraine pledges to maintain electricity and heating during the harsh winter season.

A six-lane railway underpass in TT Para, Dhaka, has officially opened, marking a significant improvement in traffic flow for the area. The underpass, inaugurated on November 8 by retired Lieutenant General Abdul Hafiz, special assistant to the Chief Adviser on Defence and National Cohesion Development, will ease long-standing congestion problems. The underpass has six lanes in total: four for motorized vehicles and two for rickshaws, bicycles, and pedestrians. Vehicles up to five meters tall can pass comfortably, while trains now run above, allowing uninterrupted vehicle movement below. Previously, trains caused delays of up to an hour over just half a kilometer, forcing drivers to take longer alternative routes. The underpass will now improve connectivity for areas including Motijheel, Mugda, Manda, Maniknagar, and Shabujbagh, ending years of inconvenience for local commuters and enhancing the city’s overall traffic management.

From today, assistant teachers of government primary schools across Bangladesh have begun an indefinite sit-in protest at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka, demanding a three-point reform to their pay scale and promotion system. Organized by the Bangladesh Primary School Assistant Teachers’ Association, the protest calls for placement in the 10th grade of the national pay scale, resolution of higher-grade advancement after 10 and 16 years of service, and 100% departmental promotions. Multiple teachers’ groups, including the Kashem-Shahin and Shahin-Lipi factions, have joined the movement, expecting around 20,000 participants. Teachers have vowed to continue their protest until the government meets their demands. The movement follows a recent government decision to upgrade head teachers’ pay grades, which assistant teachers say failed to address their long-standing grievances. Officials from the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education are reportedly attempting to negotiate with the demonstrators.

Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police have filed charges against seven drug dealers for the murder of Dhaka University student and Chhatra Dal leader Shahriar Alam Samya. Investigators found that Samya was deliberately killed after he tried to stop cannabis sales in Suhrawardy Udyan. The accused — Mehedi Hasan, Md Rabbi (Kabutor Rabbi), Md Ripon (Akash), Nahid Hasan Papel, Md Hridoy Islam, Md Harun-or-Rashid Sohag (Lambu Sohag), and Md Robin — were part of a drug network led by Mehedi. On May 13, Samya confronted Rabbi for carrying a taser gun, sparking a brawl in which Rabbi stabbed him fatally with a switchblade. Police confirmed Mehedi had earlier armed his associates. Four others present were cleared of charges for trying to protect Samya. Investigators concluded that Samya’s murder was premeditated and motivated by his resistance to drug dealing inside the park.

The Philippines, still reeling from Typhoon Kalmegi’s deadly aftermath, is now bracing for another major storm — Typhoon Feng-Wong. Forecasters warn the system could strengthen into a super typhoon before making landfall on Sunday night, unleashing destructive winds and storm surges up to five meters high. Covering a massive 1,500-kilometer span, the storm has already triggered heavy rains and strong gusts across the country’s eastern provinces. Philippine meteorologist Benison Estareja cautioned that the typhoon could impact nearly the entire nation. Kalmegi earlier claimed at least 204 lives in the Philippines and five in Vietnam, displacing thousands and leaving widespread power outages. Vietnam’s disaster agency reported over 2,800 damaged homes and half a million people still without electricity. Experts say both nations’ proximity to the Pacific typhoon belt makes them especially vulnerable, while scientists warn that rising global temperatures are fueling stronger, more destructive cyclones.

Israel has imposed new restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, worsening the crisis for civilians already trapped amid devastation from continuous airstrikes. The UN reports that aid supplies remain far below the population’s urgent needs, despite the delivery of 37,000 metric tons—mostly food—since October 10. Limited entry through the Al-Qarara and Kerem Abu Salem crossings offers little relief, while northern and Egypt–Gaza routes remain sealed. NGOs have also been denied access. The UN and the World Food Programme are calling for the reopening of all crossings, warning that over a million displaced Gazans are suffering severe shortages of food, clean water, medicine, and shelter. With homes destroyed and infrastructure collapsed, humanitarian agencies fear the worsening blockade could push Gaza into an even deeper humanitarian disaster.

Youth and Sports Ministry Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiya has clarified that the government’s plan to train nearly 9,000 young men and women aims to strengthen national sovereignty and public defence, not to create any militia or armed force. The project will provide judo, karate, taekwondo, and shooting lessons to participants aged 18–35 at BKSP, with 100 training slots over two years and a budget of Tk 28 crore. Addressing public criticism and rumours, Asif said the training involves air guns, not military weapons, and that participants will return to their normal jobs after completion. He alleged that certain “India-leaning groups” are spreading misinformation to discredit the initiative. Emphasising that the program is a pilot project for crisis readiness, he said it aligns with the government’s policy of empowering citizens to defend the nation if ever needed.

The Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board has issued an urgent directive instructing all educational institutions to refrain from administering any test or pre-selection examinations for the upcoming Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam until further notice. The announcement, signed by Professor S. M. Kamal Uddin Haydar, Exam Controller of the Dhaka Board, was released on Sunday, November 9. According to the notice, regular classes for twelfth-grade students preparing for the 2026 HSC examination must continue without interruption. The board emphasized that the date for the selection test will be announced later through an official notification. Institutions have been urged to strictly adhere to this directive, as the matter is considered highly urgent. The decision aims to ensure uniform preparation and avoid confusion among students and educational institutions while the board finalizes further guidelines for the HSC examination framework.

Assistant teachers at all government primary schools across Bangladesh have begun an indefinite work abstention from Sunday, 9 November, resulting in the closure of classes in nearly 65,000 institutions. The strike was announced on Saturday evening at a press conference held at the Central Shaheed Minar by Shamsuddin Masud, convener of the Primary Assistant Teachers’ Organisations Unity Council and president of the Primary School Assistant Teachers’ Association. He stated that teaching would remain suspended until their demands are met, while teachers will continue a sit-in at Shaheed Minar. The protest escalated following a police crackdown on teachers holding a “pen-down” demonstration at Shahbag, where sound grenades, tear-shells and rubber bullets were reportedly used. More than a hundred teachers were injured, many requiring hospital care, and several sought refuge in the Dhaka University area. Witnesses said the sound grenades caused many to fall ill immediately. Teachers are pressing three core demands: elevation of assistant teachers’ salary to Grade 10, a permanent resolution of higher-grade complexities, and a guarantee of 100% departmental promotion. According to the Directorate of Primary Education, the country has 65,567 government primary schools with around 384,000 teachers, all affected by the ongoing shutdown. Meanwhile, another teachers’ group has given the government until 15 November before escalating to phased work stoppages and, ultimately, a potential indefinite hunger strike if no progress is achieved.

Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday, November 8, killed three people in two separate attacks, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) as reported by Press TV. Two of the victims were brothers from the town of Shebaa, who were traveling in an SUV along the slopes of Mount Hermon when their vehicle was struck and set ablaze. Lebanon’s Ministry of Health confirmed their deaths and reported another fatality in a separate strike targeting a vehicle in the village of Barashit, which also left four others injured. The Israeli military claimed the attacks were aimed at Hezbollah members, alleging that those killed posed a threat to the 2024 ceasefire agreement between Tel Aviv and Hezbollah. Lebanese sources argue that Israel has repeatedly used such claims to justify renewed attacks since the agreement was signed. Earlier, an Israeli drone strike in Bint Jbeil injured seven people.

A government-run healthcare institution in Dhaka continues to display outdated information on its official website, long after major changes in Bangladesh’s administration. The National Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Referral Center in Agargaon still features the photo of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on its homepage, despite her departure from office following the political unrest of 2024. The website also lists several former officials as if they remain in their positions. Among them is Zahid Maleque, who served as Health and Family Welfare Minister from 2019 to January 2024, yet is still shown as the current minister. Similarly, former Health Secretary Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain Hawlader and former Director General of Health Services Professor Dr. Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam are also inaccurately listed as incumbents. In reality, Dr. Samanta Lal Sen took office as Health Minister after the January 2024 national election, while Nurjahan Begum currently serves as Health Adviser with the rank of a minister. The persistence of outdated details on an active public-service website has raised concerns regarding digital governance, information management, and institutional accountability. As the institute provides essential diagnostic services at affordable rates, stakeholders emphasize the importance of accurate, updated information for public trust and operational transparency.

The health ministry in Gaza reports that Israeli forces continue military strikes in the enclave despite a ceasefire agreement, pushing the death toll since 7 October 2023 to 69,169. According to Al Jazeera, more than 240 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire took effect last month. On Saturday, two more deaths were confirmed following Israeli fire along the northern “yellow line,” a loosely defined boundary that residents say is invisible and unclear. This ambiguity has led to repeated civilian casualties. Explosions from planted devices have also killed children. Local authorities estimate that Israel has dropped nearly 200,000 tons of explosives on Gaza, with around 70,000 tons still unexploded. Environmental and health hazards are worsening, particularly in Sheikh Radwan, where contaminated water is spreading after pumping stations and drainage systems were destroyed. The UN reports severe groundwater pollution. Violence is also rising in the West Bank, where settlers—reportedly backed by Israeli forces—have carried out over 126 attacks in 70 villages since September, burning more than 4,000 olive trees.

Pakistan and Iran are set to collaborate on a major biographical drama depicting the life and legacy of renowned philosopher-poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal. The initiative gained momentum after a detailed meeting in Islamabad between Pakistan’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, and senior Iranian media representatives. Officials from Pakistan’s television channels, a film production company, PEMRA, and the Iranian ambassador also attended. According to Pakistan Press Agency reports, the minister welcomed the proposal, noting that a joint production in Urdu and Persian would symbolize deep cultural ties between the two nations. Iqbal’s poetry—highly influential in both countries—was highlighted as a timeless cultural bridge. During the meeting, Pakistan and Iran signed five MoUs covering technical cooperation, skill development, and content exchange. The project aligns with earlier plans revealed by Pakistan’s Planning Ministry, which noted Iran’s interest in producing a film and a high-quality TV series ahead of Iqbal’s 150th birth anniversary in 2027. Actor Usman Mukhtar is expected to portray Iqbal in the upcoming series.

The Malaysia unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its affiliated wings observed National Revolution and Solidarity Day with a two-part discussion program at the G-Tower Ballroom in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, November 8. The first session was presided over virtually by Malaysia BNP President Engineer Badlur Rahman Khan Badol, while the proceedings were conducted by Organizational Secretary Mirza Salahuddin and Publicity Secretary Bashir Alam. Central BNP Treasurer Rashiduzzaman Millat addressed the event virtually as chief guest, saying the spirit of the day inspires renewed commitment to restoring democracy, and urging expatriates in Malaysia to contribute to that goal in future elections. Special guest and BNP Assistant Secretary for ICT Affairs H.M. Saif Ali Khan praised the long-standing dedication of Malaysia BNP activists and demonstrated the digital membership registration process. The second session, chaired by Malaysia BNP founding General Secretary and current Vice President Talha Mahmud, featured speeches from several senior leaders and representatives of different BNP wings across Malaysia.