Authorities are preparing a new case against former Bangladeshi leader Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana for allegedly leaving the country without immigration clearance. The case, based on the 2013 Immigration Act, accuses them of illegally departing from Dhaka’s Bir Uttam AK Khandaker Air Base on August 5, 2024, using diplomatic and British passports without completing formal procedures. Investigators have completed their inquiry and may include those who assisted in the escape as co-accused.

According to the investigation, Hasina personally decided to flee to India amid the student and public uprising that forced her resignation. Audio evidence and testimonies from officials who accompanied her have been collected. Legal experts cited in the report said both sisters violated Bangladeshi and Indian immigration laws. Indian officials confirmed Hasina is under legal process in India and cannot leave voluntarily.

The current Bangladeshi government has requested Hasina’s extradition to enforce her death sentence handed down by the International Crimes Tribunal. Ministers have reiterated their commitment to bring her back and execute the court’s verdict.

US energy company HKN Energy has suspended all operations in Iraq’s Kurdistan region due to escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. The decision was reported by Kurdish media outlet Rudaw, citing a company official. It came only days after HKN signed an agreement with Iraq’s oil ministry to develop the Hamrin oil field in Salahuddin province. The deal, signed on July 9, aimed to raise daily oil output to 140,000 barrels and gas production to 40 million cubic feet.

The suspension follows a series of drone attacks in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah provinces that killed nine members of an Iranian Kurdish opposition group. The deteriorating security situation prompted the company to halt its activities. Earlier, UAE-based Dana Gas had also temporarily suspended operations at the Khor Mor gas field near Sulaymaniyah, citing credible threats.

The back-to-back suspensions highlight growing instability in northern Iraq’s energy sector as regional tensions intensify.

Tensions between the United States and Iran have sharply escalated, raising fears of a full-scale war in the Middle East. Both countries have withdrawn from a memorandum of understanding signed in June 2026 to halt hostilities and ensure safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The US has conducted seven consecutive days of airstrikes on Iranian targets, while Iran has retaliated by attacking American military facilities across the Gulf region.

Iranian officials accused Washington of repeatedly violating the agreement, calling the US president’s commitments meaningless. Tehran suspended all obligations under the deal and warned of a “comprehensive operation” if attacks continue. The US Central Command confirmed strikes on Iranian surveillance systems, underground arsenals, and naval sites, while Iran claimed civilian infrastructure such as airports and bridges were also hit, leaving dozens dead and hundreds injured.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched counterstrikes on US-linked sites in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Analysts warned that the conflict is expanding regionally, with limited international intervention and growing concern over the absence of effective diplomatic measures.

Bangladesh’s Meteorological Department has forecast intensified rainfall across the country starting from July 20 or 21, with heavy to very heavy showers expected particularly in the northern divisions. The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre warned that the combined effect of heavy rain and upstream water from India could worsen the overall flood situation. On Saturday, Nilphamari’s Dimla recorded 137 millimeters of rain, while Rangpur, Sylhet, and Noakhali also experienced significant rainfall.

According to the latest forecasts, active monsoon conditions will bring widespread rain and thunderstorms to Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet, and moderate rain to other regions. Water levels in the Surma-Kushiyara, Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers are rising, with some points already above danger levels. Short-term flooding may occur in low-lying areas of Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Gaibandha, and Kurigram.

Authorities have issued local weather alerts for coastal ports and advised fishing boats in the Bay of Bengal to remain near shore. The extent of flooding this week will depend on rainfall intensity and the inflow of water from India.

The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela last month has risen to 5,119, according to the latest official figures released on Saturday. The quakes, which occurred on June 24, caused severe damage in the coastal state of La Guaira near the capital Caracas. Authorities reported that the number of injured remains unchanged at 16,740.

Venezuelan parliamentary president Jorge Rodríguez confirmed the updated figures through Telegram. Rescue operations continue in La Guaira, where many buildings collapsed, and bodies are still being recovered from the debris. Thousands of residents have been left homeless and are currently staying in temporary shelters.

Officials have not yet released any formal count of those still missing, leaving uncertainty about the total human impact of the disaster.

Bangladesh has recorded 33 deaths and 10,012 dengue infections since January 2026, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). In the latest 24-hour reporting period ending Saturday morning, one person died and 242 new patients were hospitalized. The previous day saw two deaths and 306 new cases. In the first 18 days of July alone, 3,908 people have been infected and 14 have died.

The DGHS Health Emergency Operation Center and Control Room reported that between Friday and Saturday morning, new hospital admissions included 10 in Barishal division, 38 in Chattogram, 21 in Dhaka division, 77 in Dhaka North City Corporation, 35 in Dhaka South City Corporation, 40 in Khulna, and 21 in Mymensingh. During the same period, 94 patients were discharged from hospitals.

The DGHS data show that dengue deaths occurred in January (2), February (2), May (1), June (13), and July (15). Dhaka division recorded the highest number of deaths at 17, while Barishal division reported the most infections with 2,463 cases. Overall, 61 percent of patients are male and 39 percent female.

The US government has approved the launch of a mirror satellite named Earendel-1, designed to reflect sunlight onto specific areas of Earth at night, according to a report by Petapixel. The satellite, roughly the size of a bedside table, will orbit about 400 miles above Earth and deploy a 60-foot-wide square mirror. It will direct sunlight to illuminate a circular patch about three miles wide, effectively turning night into day for limited zones.

Ben Nowak, co-founder of Reflective Orbit, said customers committing to at least 1,000 hours of annual use would pay $5,000 per hour for the service. While the cost—totaling $5 million per year—places it beyond most photographers’ budgets, authorities noted potential use in emergency situations. The US government also plans to launch up to 1,000 larger satellites in the future, each capable of reflecting light equivalent to 100 full moons.

Astronomers and biologists have voiced strong opposition, warning that such artificial illumination could disrupt natural light-dark cycles, harm wildlife, and alter human sleep patterns.

Two US soldiers were killed and several others injured in an Iranian missile and drone attack on American and allied forces stationed in Jordan, according to a statement released by US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Saturday. One US soldier remains missing. The attack occurred Friday as troops attempted to intercept Iranian ballistic missiles and drones. CENTCOM confirmed that the identities of the deceased will not be disclosed until 24 hours after their families are notified.

The Pentagon reported that four injured soldiers were treated at hospitals in Jordan and later discharged, while others with minor injuries returned to duty. The incident brings the total number of US military deaths in the ongoing conflict to 16, with over 430 wounded. Following the announcement, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned that the United States would face an “unforgettable lesson” if it continued its attacks on Iran.

US forces said they have carried out strikes for seven consecutive nights targeting Iranian surveillance centers, military supply infrastructure, underground arsenals, and naval assets. Tehran responded with counterattacks on US bases in Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, causing significant damage in Kuwait.

Nasiruddin Patowary, chief coordinator of the Bangladesh Citizen Party (NCP), alleged that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) broke the dream for which Shaheed Abu Sayeed sacrificed his life. He made the remarks on Saturday evening at a street rally organized by the NCP in the Bottoli area of Phulbari municipality, Dinajpur. The event followed a procession that began at Dhaka Mor and ended at Bottoli after parading through several streets.

Patowary said that in 2024, Bangladesh’s youth united with new hopes for reform and justice, but two years later those expectations were shattered. He criticized BNP leaders for allegedly requesting police not to arrest Awami League members, despite earlier promises of accountability for various killings. Outlining NCP’s political goals, he pledged to work for employment for youth, safety for women, and protection for religious scholars and minorities, while opposing corruption and foreign compromise.

Other NCP leaders, including Akhtar Hossain, Sarjis Alam, MP Dr. Atik Mujahid, Dr. Abdul Ahad, Imran Chowdhury Nishad, and Shihab Hossain, also addressed the rally.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei has accused the United States of breaching every clause of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries. According to Al Jazeera, citing Iran’s Fars News Agency, Baghaei said that over the past week the U.S. forced ships to use a 'specific route' in the Strait of Hormuz, deviating from the paths designated by Iranian authorities, which he described as a violation of the MoU’s terms.

Baghaei stated that Iran did not seek to start a war and that its actions in the ongoing 'imposed war' were purely defensive. Earlier, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi announced that Tehran had temporarily suspended the implementation of all its commitments under the MoU due to continued U.S. attacks.

The developments come amid reports of U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear power facility and maritime incidents in the Strait of Hormuz, further straining relations between the two nations.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has reiterated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested on war crimes charges if he visits New York in September to attend the United Nations General Assembly. In an interview published Saturday by The New York Times, Mamdani said he believes Netanyahu belongs in The Hague, describing him as a war criminal indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). However, he clarified that he will not pursue any changes to existing laws to achieve this.

Mamdani emphasized that as mayor he must uphold the rule of law and will act only within the limits of current city regulations. He confirmed that discussions are ongoing with the city’s legal department to determine what the law permits. During his election campaign, Mamdani had pledged to direct the New York Police Department to enforce ICC arrest warrants, naming both Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The report notes that the United States does not recognize ICC jurisdiction, and federal law restricts local governments from cooperating with the court or detaining foreign heads of state.

Belgium’s federal government has approved a series of measures, including a ban on importing goods from the occupied Palestinian territories. The decision was announced as part of a policy framework agreed upon last year in response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The government stated that the move aims to restrict trade involving products originating from those territories.

According to Belgian news agency Belga, the specific procedures and regulations for implementing the ban are still under development. The government has not yet finalized how the restrictions will be enforced. Official sources indicated that the measure is intended to limit commercial exchanges linked to the occupied areas.

The decision reflects Belgium’s continuation of its previously established stance regarding the Gaza conflict, though the timeline for full implementation remains uncertain.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) chairman Colonel (retd.) Oli Ahmed declared that the Awami League has met its 'natural death' and will never return to Bangladesh’s political scene. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon while addressing a divisional rally of the 11-party alliance at Hemayet Uddin Eidgah ground in Barishal city.

During his speech, Oli Ahmed criticized communal violence in India, urging people not to be provoked by such incidents and to follow the teachings of the Quran. He emphasized that their alliance was formed with a shared goal to end corruption, extortion, and criminal dominance in the country.

The rally was attended by leaders from various parties within the 11-party alliance, including the National Citizen Party, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, Amar Bangladesh Party, Bangladesh Labour Party, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, Nezame Islam Party, and Bangladesh Development Party, along with central and local leaders and activists.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman declared that if the recent referendum fails, the government will also be considered a failure. Speaking on Saturday evening at the divisional rally of the 11-party alliance at Hemayet Uddin Eidgah ground in Barishal, he said the government cannot claim legitimacy from the same day’s vote while ignoring the referendum in which 70 percent of people reportedly supported change. The rally was organized to demand implementation of the referendum verdict, control of commodity prices, improved communication, and overall development of the neglected southern region.

Dr. Rahman accused the ruling party of betraying the nation by disregarding the referendum results and failing to ensure balanced development. He criticized poor infrastructure in Barishal and called for a six-lane highway from Bhanga to Kuakata, a bridge linking Bhola and Barishal, and a railway line for Barishal. He urged BNP to avoid conflict and instead work toward constitutional reform based on the referendum outcome.

Other alliance leaders, including LDP chairman Oli Ahmed and AB Party secretary general Asaduzzaman Fuad, also spoke, criticizing the government and calling for justice, anti-corruption measures, and regional development.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and opposition chief whip, warned that his party would move from a mass movement to a mass uprising if the government failed to implement the July Charter. Speaking at an eleven-party alliance rally in Barishal Division on Saturday, he criticized the prime minister, accusing her of not fulfilling promises made regarding the charter and urged her to “reduce theatrics.” The rally demanded implementation of the referendum verdict, control of commodity prices, improved communication systems, and development of the neglected southern region.

Islam said the government was pushing the situation toward confrontation by ignoring the referendum’s outcome, in which he claimed seventy percent supported the charter. He also accused the ruling party of hypocrisy and criticized the BNP as anti-democratic, alleging it fought only for power and abandoned its earlier reform agenda. He further called for unity to protect Bangladesh’s sovereignty, create employment, and end corruption and extortion.

The rally was attended by Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman as chief guest, along with senior leaders from the eleven-party alliance.