Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus departed for Rome today, Sunday, October 12, to attend the flagship event of the World Food Forum. The Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying Professor Yunus and his delegation left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:30 a.m. During the forum, he is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech as an invited guest at the main session. He will also hold meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and leaders of various international organizations to discuss pressing global issues such as food security, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development. Organized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Forum serves as a platform for policymakers, researchers, and entrepreneurs worldwide to exchange ideas on the future of global food systems. This visit highlights Bangladesh’s proactive diplomatic engagement on the international stage.

In Sudan’s besieged western city of El Fasher, a drone attack by the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a shelter for displaced persons has killed at least 60 people. The shelter, located on a university field, continues to have victims’ bodies unrecovered. Local resistance committees have condemned the attack as a “massacre” and urged the international community to intervene swiftly. Since April 2023, the ongoing conflict between Sudanese government forces and RSF has claimed thousands of lives, displaced millions, and left nearly 25 million people facing extreme famine. El Fasher, the last state capital in Darfur outside RSF control, has emerged as a critical front in the conflict. Human rights organizations have described the city as “an open-air morgue” due to the deteriorating humanitarian conditions and rising civilian casualties. Immediate relief and international attention are considered crucial.

The International Hope School Bangladesh (IHSB) in Uttara has officially launched a Young Learner English Center in collaboration with the British Council, aiming to expand high-quality English education for children and adolescents aged 7 to 17. The inauguration took place at the school’s main Uttara campus on October 11, with school leaders highlighting the center as a vibrant learning hub. The initiative offers a structured, internationally recognized curriculum designed to enhance students’ communication skills, creativity, and confidence while preparing them for global opportunities. Cambridge-certified teachers will conduct specially designed courses, and parents can track their children’s progress regularly. This new center complements the British Council facility on Fuller Road in southern Dhaka, allowing northern students easier access to world-class English education. The project reflects IHSB’s commitment to integrated education, academic excellence, and global readiness.

Wall Street experienced a historic plunge as major U.S. stock indices suffered their largest drop since Donald Trump took office. The sudden market crash was triggered after President Trump announced the cancellation of a high-profile meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the APEC summit, citing escalating trade tensions. In addition, Trump hinted at imposing significant tariffs on imported Chinese goods, fueling fears of a renewed trade war between the world’s two largest economies. U.S. media reports indicated that by Friday’s close, all weekly gains were erased as investors reacted to the news with panic selling. Analysts attribute the rapid decline to growing uncertainty in global trade relations and potential economic repercussions. The announcement sent shockwaves across financial markets worldwide, creating heightened volatility and investor anxiety.

Global health authorities warn that typhoid, once easily treated with antibiotics, is returning in a far more dangerous form. Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains, particularly spreading from Pakistan, no longer respond to traditional or even newer antibiotics. In the UK alone, 702 confirmed cases were reported in 2024, an 8% increase from the previous year, mostly among travelers returning from high-risk countries. Research from Stanford University shows that resistant bacteria are rapidly replacing normal strains and spreading internationally. Experts warn that data from Africa and Oceania is limited, suggesting the real scale may be underestimated. Oral antibiotics still work in some cases, but their effectiveness is declining. Health authorities emphasize urgent global surveillance, new treatment development, and vaccination programs to curb this escalating threat. Typhoid is quietly becoming a major global health emergency.

Pakistan’s military has claimed the capture of 19 Afghan border posts following overnight clashes on October 11. Pakistani forces reportedly attacked Afghan positions, including Durran Mela, Turkmenjai, Shahidan, Kunar, and Chagai, causing several Afghan soldiers to flee, with dozens killed or injured. Pakistan said its retaliatory strikes involved artillery, tanks, drones, and aircraft, targeting Afghan posts and armed groups along the international border. Afghan authorities accused Pakistan of a previous airstrike on Kabul, prompting the recent clashes. Both sides reported fatalities, with Taliban and Afghan forces confirming fighting in Kunar, Nangarhar, Paktika, Khost, and Helmand provinces. Islamabad denied the airstrike but warned Kabul to stop sheltering Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Neighboring countries, including Qatar, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, have urged both nations to exercise restraint amid escalating border tensions.

Intense fighting erupted along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border after Taliban fighters in southern Afghanistan attacked several Pakistani military posts, claiming to have captured two of them. Pakistani security forces reported clashes at at least five border points and responded with heavy artillery, tanks, and light weapons. The fighting follows Taliban accusations that Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Kabul and Paktika province, which Islamabad has neither confirmed nor denied. Afghan officials said the Taliban engaged in retaliatory attacks against Pakistani forces. Clashes were reported from Kunar, Nangarhar, Paktika, Khost, and Helmand provinces. Pakistani forces also shot down three Afghan drones suspected of carrying explosives. No casualties have been reported yet. Tensions between the two countries remain high, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of sheltering the Pakistan-based militant group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The European Union has officially launched the new “Entry/Exit System” (EES) from October 12, 2025, marking a major shift in how non-EU travelers enter and leave Europe. The system, designed to strengthen regional security, streamline immigration, and replace manual passport stamping, will digitally record travelers’ biometric data—including fingerprints and facial images—along with the time and location of their entry and exit. This innovation aims to combat illegal overstays, identity fraud, and cross-border crimes by enabling authorities to monitor travel in real time. Portugal and several other EU countries are coordinating the rollout through national security agencies and airport authorities. Although implementation will continue until December, the EES promises faster, safer, and more transparent travel management under strict EU data protection laws, representing a new era for Schengen border control.

Bangladesh Bank has announced a new policy to regulate the refund value of damaged, torn, or burnt currency notes, ensuring fairness and uniformity across all banks. According to the circular issued Thursday, the directive takes immediate effect. Under the policy, if more than 90% of a note remains intact, customers will receive its full value. Notes with 75–90% of their surface will be refunded at 75%, and those with 51–75% at 50%. Notes with less than 51% remaining will not be eligible for compensation. The new “Note Reimbursement Regulations 2025” replaces the previous 2012 framework, introducing precise and transparent guidelines. Customers can appeal unresolved cases through their bank’s head office and ultimately to Bangladesh Bank. The initiative aims to strengthen consumer confidence, enhance transparency, and modernize the country’s currency management system.

More than 500,000 displaced Palestinians have returned to Gaza City after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on Friday, October 10. According to Gaza’s Civil Defense agency, residents are going back to their ruined homes despite massive destruction caused by weeks of heavy bombardment. The truce follows indirect talks mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, aiming to end nearly two years of conflict. Former U.S. President Donald Trump played a key role in initiating the peace process after proposing a 20-point peace plan during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Both sides agreed to the plan’s first phase earlier this week, paving the way for the ceasefire and partial troop withdrawal. For many Palestinians, the return marks both relief and uncertainty amid the city’s shattered infrastructure and ongoing humanitarian crisis.

World leaders are set to meet on Monday (October 13) in Egypt’s resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh for a landmark peace summit aimed at ending the two-year Gaza conflict and restoring stability in the Middle East. The conference, co-chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, will host leaders from over 20 nations, including the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and French President Emmanuel Macron. The summit seeks to consolidate efforts for a permanent ceasefire, regional peace, and a new era of cooperation. While Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas representatives are yet to confirm attendance, the meeting comes amid a fragile ceasefire that has prompted displaced Gazans to return home after massive destruction. The initiative follows Trump’s recent 20-point peace plan unveiled in Washington.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 begins hearing arguments on Sunday, October 12, in the high-profile case accusing Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun of crimes against humanity. Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim confirmed the schedule through a video statement on Saturday evening. The final witness, investigation officer Md. Alamgir, completed cross-examination last Wednesday, after which the tribunal—led by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder—set the date for arguments. The prosecution will start the argument phase today, followed by the defense’s presentation and then the prosecution’s rebuttal. The tribunal completed recording testimonies from 54 witnesses over 28 working days. Once the hearings conclude, the case will proceed to judgment. The prosecution’s arguments will be broadcast live on Bangladesh Television and the prosecution’s official Facebook page.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman stated that the process of bringing certain army officers accused of involvement in enforced disappearances and killings under trial has begun. In a Facebook post on October 12, he acknowledged that some members of the army had failed to uphold human rights and the rule of law but emphasized that these individuals’ actions should not tarnish the entire institution. He said the people of Bangladesh want to remain proud of their patriotic armed forces. Dr. Rahman praised the army’s willingness to cooperate with the judicial process and expressed hope that the trials would be transparent and fair. He added that justice for specific offenders would help restore national trust, erase the burden of past misdeeds, and prevent future misuse of authority, ultimately benefiting the nation in the long term.

In the wake of Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, most of the enclave’s mosques have been reduced to rubble, erasing centuries of spiritual and architectural heritage. Once-standing minarets that called the faithful to prayer now lie shattered, leaving Gaza nearly devoid of its historic skyline. The Gaza Media Office reports that out of 1,244 mosques, more than 835 have been completely destroyed and 180 partially damaged — including Ottoman- and Mamluk-era sites. Among the ruins, survivors like 62-year-old Abu Khaled al-Najjar continue to pray over the debris of their lifelong sanctuaries, refusing to abandon faith despite devastation. In the Old City, young residents like Mahmoud Kandil search the wreckage of the Great Omari Mosque for remnants of their past, while elderly worshippers such as Umm Wael cling to prayer from their homes. Gaza’s faith endures, even as its mosques vanish beneath the dust of war.

A locally produced, science-backed nutritional food from Bangladesh named MDCF-2 (Microbiota-Directed Complementary Food) has been recognized by TIME Magazine as one of the “Best Inventions of 2025.” Developed jointly by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) and Washington University, this affordable food supplement is designed for malnourished children. Unlike conventional nutrition products, MDCF-2 not only fills the stomach but also restores beneficial gut microbiota, enabling children to absorb nutrients naturally. Made from chickpea, soy, peanut, and green banana powders, it strengthens immunity and cognitive development. According to icddr,b Executive Director Dr. Tahmeed Ahmed, this recognition proves that science combined with compassion can solve long-standing global health challenges. MDCF-2 stands as a beacon of hope for millions of undernourished children worldwide, demonstrating how local innovation can bring sustainable global health solutions.