Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to begin serving a 27-year and three-month prison sentence for his role in an attempted coup following his 2022 election defeat. Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the final ruling, declaring that no further appeals would be allowed. Bolsonaro, aged 70, will serve his sentence in a federal police facility in Brasília, where he has been held since Saturday due to flight risk concerns. He was previously under house arrest and accused of tampering with his ankle monitor. The conviction stems from his alleged involvement in planning to overturn the election results against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The plot failed to gain military support, but on January 8, 2023, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília, leading to about 1,500 arrests. Bolsonaro, who governed Brazil from 2019 to 2022, remains a deeply polarizing figure in the country’s politics.

The prosecution has filed a contempt of court petition against Advocate Fazlur Rahman at the International Crimes Tribunal. Prosecutor Gazi M H Tamim confirmed the development on Wednesday, November 26. The petition accuses Rahman of actions or remarks deemed disrespectful to the authority and dignity of the tribunal. Details of the alleged contempt and the specific grounds for the petition have not yet been disclosed. The tribunal is expected to review the application and determine whether formal contempt proceedings will be initiated. Such cases are handled seriously by the tribunal, which maintains strict standards regarding conduct and respect for its judicial process.

Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka has risen to become the world’s second largest city by population, surpassing Tokyo and trailing only Jakarta, according to a new United Nations report cited by Al Jazeera. The report, titled 'World Urbanization Prospects 2025', shows Jakarta leading with 41.9 million residents, followed by Dhaka with 36.6 million and Tokyo with 33.4 million. The UN projects that Dhaka could become the most populous city globally by 2050 if current growth trends continue. The rapid population increase in Dhaka is attributed to rural-to-urban migration driven by employment opportunities, climate-related displacement, and the city’s expanding boundaries. The report also highlights that Asia dominates the list of megacities—urban areas with populations exceeding 10 million—with 19 of the world’s 33 megacities located in the region. Among the top 10, nine are in Asia, while Cairo is the only non-Asian city on the list.

Former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama has become a trending topic on social media following the release of new photos taken by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz. The images, part of her ‘Women’ project, show Obama looking notably slimmer, prompting widespread speculation online. Many users on platforms like Instagram and X have baselessly suggested that she may be using the popular weight-loss drug Ozempic. However, no evidence supports these claims. The discussion has largely shifted away from her project’s message about empowerment and healthy living to focus on her appearance. In a previous 2022 interview with People magazine, Obama discussed natural weight changes during menopause, a context many commenters overlooked. The 61-year-old shared the photos with a caption emphasizing the power of photography to inspire and convey meaning beyond the moment captured.

A new Human Rights Watch (HRW) report accuses Israel of forcibly displacing over 32,000 Palestinians from their homes in the Jenin, Nur Shams, and Tulkarem refugee camps, marking the largest mass displacement in the West Bank since 1967. The operations, part of what Israel calls 'Operation Iron Wall', have left residents barred from returning and their homes destroyed. Over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since October 2023, while settler violence has surged to record levels. The United Nations reports more than 1,500 Palestinians displaced by home demolitions in Area C and East Jerusalem, where building permits for Palestinians are nearly impossible to obtain. Israeli officials, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have openly advocated annexing the West Bank and expanding illegal settlements, moves widely condemned as violations of international law. Human rights groups warn of worsening conditions and urge international accountability for Israel’s actions in the occupied territories.

Bangladesh Bank has issued a directive restricting foreign travel by officials and employees of all banks and financial institutions until the completion of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The central bank’s Banking Regulation and Policy Department announced that only essential and unavoidable trips will be permitted during this period. The measure aims to prevent administrative disruptions and maintain operational stability in the banking sector during the election season. The directive applies to managing directors, chief executive officers, and all other officers and staff. Bangladesh Bank invoked its authority under Section 45 of the Bank Company Act, 1991, to enforce the order, which takes immediate effect. The move is part of precautionary steps to ensure that the financial system remains fully functional and responsive amid the heightened administrative and political activities surrounding the upcoming national polls.

The Ministry of Home Affairs of Bangladesh has issued a directive urging all ministries and divisions to refrain from granting entry passes or one-time passwords (OTPs) to unfamiliar visitors seeking access to the Bangladesh Secretariat. The letter, sent to senior secretaries and secretaries, highlights recent incidents where unauthorized individuals obtained OTPs from authorized officials and caused disruptions inside the Secretariat. The ministry warned that such actions disturb the working environment and create confusion among staff. It emphasized the need for heightened caution when issuing passes, ensuring that only verified and known individuals are granted access. Copies of the letter were also sent to the Cabinet Secretary and the Deputy Police Commissioner responsible for Secretariat security, instructing them to strengthen overall security measures to prevent further breaches.

Pakistan has issued a strong warning to the international community about what it describes as growing Islamophobia and deliberate destruction of Islamic heritage in India. In a statement released on Tuesday, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern over the recent flag-hoisting ceremony at the newly built Ram Temple in Ayodhya, constructed on the site of the demolished Babri Mosque. Ministry spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said the event reflects a broader trend of pressure on religious minorities under a majoritarian Hindutva ideology. He alleged that several historic mosques in India face threats of desecration or demolition, while Indian Muslims are increasingly marginalized socially, economically, and politically. Pakistan urged the United Nations and other international bodies to play a constructive role in safeguarding Islamic heritage and protecting the religious and cultural rights of all minorities. Islamabad also called on New Delhi to uphold its international human rights obligations and ensure the safety of all religious communities and their places of worship.

Several buildings at the Ghorashal-Palash Urea Fertilizer Factory in Narsingdi have developed cracks following the strong earthquakes on November 21 and 22. The damage has sparked fear among residents and workers of the South Asian fertilizer giant, which is currently undergoing major reconstruction. Contractors Toma Construction and Messrs Jamal & Company were engaged in multi-phase projects worth over Tk 370 crore, with about half the work completed. Officials claim the cracks are superficial and not structural, but residents question construction quality and safety. A committee led by Additional Chemist Saifuddin Mohammad Tarek has been formed to assess the damage and determine whether affected buildings should be declared unsafe. Local authorities have already evacuated some residential blocks deemed risky. The earthquake also damaged nearby infrastructure, including parts of the Ghorashal power plant, a railway bridge, and local government buildings, prompting emergency disaster management meetings to restore public confidence.

At least 21 of the 41 murders committed in Chattogram over the past year are linked to criminal gangs operating through foreign phone numbers and encrypted messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Imo, and Telegram. These networks, reportedly run by masterminds based in India, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Dubai, and Qatar, issue orders for killings, extortion, and abductions remotely. Police admit they lack the technical capacity to trace these encrypted communications, leaving them unable to pinpoint suspects’ locations even when nearby. Intelligence reports identify at least 14 active groups, each backed by expatriate coordinators and hackers skilled in number cloning and fake location generation. Local law enforcement officials say their efforts are hampered by limited access to advanced surveillance tools and dependence on a single military intelligence agency for technical assistance. Experts warn that Chattogram’s underworld has undergone a ‘digital shift,’ urging immediate investment in cyber intelligence, international data-sharing agreements, and modern monitoring systems to prevent virtual criminal networks from becoming uncontrollable.

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) of Bangladesh has made major revisions to secondary-level textbooks for the upcoming academic year. The new editions include a chapter titled 'Mass Uprisings in Independent Bangladesh' that covers events from the 1952 Language Movement to the 2024 July Revolution. The revised content highlights political transitions such as Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s BAKSAL era, Ziaur Rahman’s introduction of multi-party democracy, Ershad’s autocratic rule, and Khaleda Zia’s democratic government. It also includes references to Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, alleged authoritarianism, corruption, and her eventual downfall in 2024. The 7 March speech of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been removed from the eighth-grade Bangla literature book. NCTB officials said the changes were made following recommendations from a high-level committee after widespread criticism of last year’s textbooks. The new books are printed and ready for distribution at the start of the school year, though they are not yet available online.

United Nations human rights experts have voiced serious concern over alleged abuses by Indian authorities in Jammu and Kashmir following a militant attack in Pahalgam in April. The experts criticized India's sweeping security operations, arbitrary detentions, torture, property demolitions, and communication restrictions imposed after the attack. They reported that around 2,800 people, including journalists and human rights defenders, were detained under the Public Safety Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which allow prolonged detention without trial. The experts described these laws as overly broad and vague. Reports also indicated instances of torture, incommunicado detention, and discriminatory treatment of Kashmiri Muslims. The UN experts condemned punitive demolitions and forced evictions carried out without court orders, calling them a form of collective punishment that violates India’s Supreme Court ruling of 2024, which deemed such actions unconstitutional. They urged India to ensure compliance with international human rights law even while addressing security threats.

Despite multiple intelligence and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) reports confirming serious irregularities, several senior officials loyal to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina remain in powerful positions at Bangladesh Television (BTV). Investigations revealed large-scale corruption, including bribery, project manipulation, and misuse of government funds, yet no disciplinary measures have been taken. Sources claim that a network of ministry and BTV officials has deliberately stalled these reports, keeping them buried in bureaucratic red tape. Key figures such as Senior Engineer Monirul Islam, Executive Producer Safir Hossain, and Controller Mohammad Selim have been accused of embezzlement, document forgery, and abuse of power. Despite ongoing investigations, they continue to hold influential posts, allegedly obstructing further inquiries. Ministry officials, including the secretary and additional secretary, declined to comment when contacted. Insiders fear that the unchecked influence of these officials poses risks of information leaks and continued corruption within the state broadcaster.

The Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) youth wing, Ganatantrik Jubo Dal, has expelled two of its leaders from Chandina upazila in Cumilla over allegations of involvement in drug and dredging businesses. The expulsions were announced through separate press releases on November 24 and 25 by Chandina upazila Jubo Dal president, lecturer Saiful Islam Babor. The expelled leaders are Md. Rasel Parvez, president of the Etbarpur Union Jubo Dal, and Md. Nasir Uddin Molla, joint general secretary of the upazila unit and general secretary of Bataghasi Union Jubo Dal. Rasel Parvez was arrested by police on November 23 with yaba tablets, leading to his expulsion the following day for violating party discipline. Nasir Uddin Molla was expelled on November 25 for allegedly running an illegal dredging business and engaging in local conflicts. Party officials stated that the expulsions followed directives from LDP Secretary General Dr. Redwan Ahmed, who instructed members to avoid any involvement in drugs, illegal businesses, or social disorder.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin has expressed optimism that Bangladesh’s law and order situation will improve following the announcement of the schedule for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. Speaking at an event in Dhaka on Wednesday, November 26, he said the situation is expected to become more stable ahead of the polls. The CEC also warned that strict measures will be taken against anyone attempting to obstruct the election process. He further mentioned that special security arrangements will be implemented in areas identified as vulnerable to ensure a peaceful and fair election environment. His remarks come amid growing political activity and public attention surrounding the forthcoming national election, as the Election Commission prepares to finalize the electoral roadmap.