Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed recent European initiatives to recognize the State of Palestine. "We highly value the humanitarian gestures coming from Europe, particularly from France and the UK," Erdoğan stated. He added, "No one can remain silent amid the atrocities in Gaza, where children are dying of hunger and civilians searching for food are being deliberately shot." He also praised Portugal's plan to recognize Palestine, calling it a vital step.

The Malaysian government has approved the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers through BOESL for employment in the construction and tourism sectors. This decision applies to selected workers who were unable to travel by May 31 last year. The Bangladesh High Commission has confirmed that the verification process for demand letters is underway. Applicants must submit all required information via the FWCMS online portal. The development follows signs that the Malaysian labor market may reopen to Bangladeshi workers under a new MoU that ensures transparency, quota compliance, and cost control.

Defying heavy rain, supporters of the July Charter once again blocked the Shahbagh intersection, demanding the declaration and implementation of the July Charter. Family members of victims and martyrs have also joined the protest. Demonstrators stayed overnight on Thursday and resumed chanting slogans Friday morning, halting traffic in the area. Police and BGB forces have been deployed to ensure security. Protesters warned that they would continue their movement until their demands are met and threatened to set up a temporary stage at Shahbagh if the government failed to fulfill its promises.

In a recent decision, the Trump administration has reduced the tariff on Bangladeshi products from 35% to 20%. Law professor and advisor Asif Nazrul called it "another success of the interim government" in a Facebook post. According to a White House statement, new tariffs imposed on other nations include 19% on Pakistan and Afghanistan, 25% on India, 10% on Brazil, 19% on Indonesia and Malaysia, 40% on Myanmar, and 20% each on Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

Commenting on the National Consensus Commission’s proposal for a 100-seat Upper House elected through proportional representation (PR), Dr. Mirza Galib stressed the importance of assigning it substantial authority. "Creating an upper chamber without granting it real power is pointless," he said. Galib emphasized that constitutional amendments and key constitutional appointments should be under the purview of this new chamber. He called on the commission to clearly define the powers of the Upper House and take the matter seriously.

Portugal has announced plans to consult its president and parliament in September regarding official recognition of Palestine at the United Nations.

This move follows similar announcements from France, the United Kingdom, and Canada, as momentum builds among Western nations to support Palestinian statehood. Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s office made the statement on Thursday, indicating that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has intensified the urgency of international action.

Earlier this week, Canada expressed intent to recognize Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly session, citing worsening conditions in Gaza. France and the UK have also indicated they are prepared to take similar steps if certain conditions are not met by Israel.

At least 31 residents died after a severe flood struck a nursing home on the outskirts of Beijing. Most of the victims were elderly and physically immobile.

BBC reports that water levels reached chest height before rescue teams could access the facility in Miyun District. Footage shows emergency workers wading through deep water to rescue the trapped residents. Authorities admitted to shortcomings in their emergency response plans and labeled the incident a “painful lesson” and a “wake-up call.”

The home housed around 77 residents at the time; nearly 40 became trapped when floodwaters rose to about 2 meters (6 feet).

A 65-year-old woman named Rowshan Ara was brutally beaten to death in Dhaka’s Hazaribagh area, allegedly over a longstanding personal feud. Her daughter, Runa Akter, reported that around 4 AM on Friday, several individuals attacked her mother with sticks following a heated argument outside their home.

She was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition, where doctors declared her dead upon arrival. Police are investigating the incident.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Gaza on Friday to inspect food distribution efforts. According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Witkoff will be accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. They will meet with local Palestinians to hear directly about the humanitarian crisis and evaluate plans to increase aid. Witkoff also met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for what was described as a “productive” meeting.

Myanmar’s military has formally handed power to a civilian interim government ahead of planned national elections in December. However, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing will continue to serve as acting president. The military has also repealed martial law decrees. Government spokesperson Zaw Min Tun said the next six months will be used to prepare for the elections. Western governments have already dismissed the upcoming election as a sham.

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus praised Bangladesh’s negotiation team for securing a historic trade deal with the U.S., calling it a significant diplomatic achievement. He commended the team’s strategic skill in reducing tariffs by 17 percentage points—from 37% to 20%. Yunus said the deal preserves Bangladesh’s competitive edge and protects national interests, describing it as a strong step toward a robust economic future.

Reacting to former U.S. President Donald Trump's criticism of India's economy, Rahul Gandhi said, "I'm glad President Trump told the truth—something everyone knows except Modi and his Finance Minister." Trump recently said, “India and Russia can sink their dying economies together for all I care,” and pointed out India's high tariff rates and limited trade relations with the U.S. Rahul accused Prime Minister Modi of destroying India's economy. However, his comments have drawn strong criticism, even from within his own party.

A Narayanganj court has sentenced two brothers—Pappu (40) and Shukkur (37)—to life in prison for the murder of businessman Sirajul Islam over extortion demands. The incident occurred in Siddhirganj, where the brothers and others had repeatedly demanded money from Sirajul, who was supervising the construction of a building. After a verbal altercation, Sirajul was brutally beaten with sticks and later died on the way to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The convicts were also fined BDT 10,000 each, with an additional year of imprisonment in case of non-payment.

A court in Chandpur has sentenced Bishwanath Chandra Das to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined him Tk 20,000 in a case involving the kidnapping and rape of a college student.

On September 24, 2013, the accused and his associates abducted the student on her way home. Her family filed a missing person report on September 28. On October 9, the victim managed to contact her uncle and informed him that she had been abducted and held captive at Bishwanath's residence.

In a sweeping move, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) transferred 49 officials in one day, including 25 Additional Commissioners and 24 Joint Commissioners.

While officials describe it as part of a routine administrative process, sources suggest that many of the transferred individuals were involved in movements demanding the dissolution of the NBR and removal of its chairman. Some were members of the NBR Reform Unity Council. Notably, multiple officers have already been suspended over similar allegations, and 16 are currently under ACC investigation.