At least five people were killed and 18 injured in a bomb blast targeting a government vehicle in Pakistan’s Bajaur district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Victims include an Assistant Commissioner, a Tehsildar (revenue officer), a sub-inspector, and a constable. The vehicle belonged to Assistant Commissioner Faisal Ismail. Police suspect it was a suicide attack. No group has claimed responsibility. According to think tank PICSS, Pakistan experienced its highest level of militant violence in June 2025, with 502 attacks killing at least 737 people in the first half of the year.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has called for the immediate resignation of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. In a post on Truth Social, Trump shared a report accusing Powell of providing false information during hearings related to renovation expenses at the Fed’s headquarters. Despite having appointed Powell during his first term, Trump has frequently criticized him for not lowering interest rates. Powell, however, has rejected the resignation calls, stating he will not step down under political pressure.

Two members of the Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA), including a commander, were killed in a military operation in the remote hills of Ruma Upazila in Bandarban, Bangladesh. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the news on Thursday, stating that troops recovered three submachine guns, one rifle, and a cache of ammunition. The operation is still ongoing, according to the ISPR.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf claimed that Tehran dealt a devastating blow to both the aerial and ground forces of Israel during a 12-day conflict. Speaking at a memorial in Tehran on Wednesday, Ghalibaf said Iranian forces began surrounding and dismantling Israel’s military capabilities by the second and third days of the war. He asserted that Iranian ballistic missiles even struck fortified Israeli defense systems—evidence, he said, of Iran’s growing military power. Ghalibaf further claimed that Israel's aggression, backed by the United States, was met with a powerful Iranian response. "Without U.S. support, Israel wouldn’t last a single day," he added.

Microsoft is reportedly preparing to lay off approximately 9,100 employees — about 4% of its global workforce — in what would be its largest job cut since 2023. The layoffs are expected to mainly affect the sales division. This follows a prior round of 6,000 job cuts earlier this year. Once a booming employment sector, the global tech industry has seen repeated layoffs since the COVID-19 pandemic. Microsoft currently employs about 224,000 people. An official announcement is yet to be made.

The government has initiated the process of withdrawing 27 legal cases filed against Hefazat-e-Islam leaders and activists during the Awami League's tenure. Eleven of these were filed at Chattogram’s Hathazari police station, with others spread across Khulshi, EPZ, Rangunia, Cox’s Bazar, Comilla, and Dhaka. Thousands were accused in these cases, which Hefazat leaders claim were politically motivated. The Chattogram Deputy Commissioner has received the withdrawal list from the Home Ministry, and further steps will be taken pending court approval.

A ferry carrying 65 people, including 53 passengers and 12 crew members, sank off the coast of Bali, Indonesia. The ferry, named KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, also had 22 vehicles on board. As of the latest update, two bodies have been recovered and 20 passengers rescued, with at least 43 still missing. The vessel sank roughly 30 minutes after departing East Java’s Ketapang Port. Rescue operations with nine boats continued overnight amid rough seas, a recurring factor in Indonesia’s frequent maritime accidents.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has admitted that US B-2 bombers inflicted significant damage on the Fordow nuclear facility. While the full extent is still unclear, the installations have reportedly been severely compromised. Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization is assessing the losses. Araghchi insisted that bombs cannot destroy scientific progress or peaceful uranium enrichment. The Washington Post, citing intercepted Iranian communications, reported that Tehran is likely downplaying the scale of the damage.

Advisor Dr. Asif Nazrul revealed that Malaysia plans to recruit around 30,000 to 40,000 workers from Bangladesh over the next year. He cautioned that recent reports claiming Malaysia will take 1 to 1.2 million workers are overly sensationalized and not yet accurate. Due to agreements made by previous governments, the list and regulation of recruiting agencies are fixed, making changes difficult. To avoid syndication, contract revisions are necessary; otherwise, recruitment will remain limited. Dr. Nazrul warned that sending workers through syndicates could lead to criticism, while not sending workers would mean losing valuable employment opportunities, impacting over 100,000 families in the long run.

Japan has committed $4.8 million in aid to the Election Commission’s ballot project, implemented under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), ahead of Bangladesh’s national parliamentary elections. The total project cost is $18.53 million. The contract signing ceremony at the Election Commission building in Agargaon was attended by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Liller, and Japanese Ambassador Saida Shinichi. Earlier, Australia had pledged $2 million in support. The funds will be used to strengthen the Election Commission’s institutional and technical capacity, enhance voter and civic education, promote participation by women and youth, ensure representation of marginalized groups, and improve electoral transparency.

Ahead of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and hall union elections, the university administration has formed a 22-member advisory committee to oversee the process. Approved by Vice-Chancellor Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan, the committee is headed by Dr. Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, with Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed serving as member-secretary.

At the committee’s first meeting on July 1, key strategies for election preparation, campus security, and inclusive participation were discussed. Chief Returning Officer Dr. Jashim Uddin and Returning Officer Dr. Golam Rabbani presented the detailed election framework and guidelines.

Raipur Upazila Health Complex in Laxmipur has 98 vacant positions, including specialist doctors and nurses, severely affecting patient care. The hospital's operation theater has remained closed for three years due to staff and generator shortages, despite having modern equipment. Patients are forced to seek costly private services, impacting around 400,000 residents. While reports of the crisis are sent monthly to higher authorities, no improvements have been made. Only 18 doctors serve against 31 sanctioned posts, with no specialists currently appointed.

The interim government has officially declared August 5 as ‘July Uprising Day’ and announced a public holiday to mark the occasion. Earlier, July 16 was designated as ‘July Martyrs’ Day’, and August 8 was announced as ‘New Bangladesh Day’. However, due to widespread public criticism, the decision to observe August 8 has since been withdrawn.

Separate circulars were issued by the Cabinet Division outlining the significance and observance of each day.

The government has dismissed former Assistant Commissioner of Lalmonirhat, Taposi Tabassum Urmi, over a controversial Facebook post questioning the legitimacy of the interim government and Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. A departmental investigation found her guilty of misconduct, leading to her dismissal with presidential approval.

In the post, Urmi challenged the constitutional validity of the interim administration and criticized Dr. Yunus’s leadership, as well as expressing views against martyr Shahid Abu Sayeed and the mass uprising. Authorities deemed her comments as a breach of discipline within the civil service.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has announced a reduction in the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for July. The price of a 12-kg LPG cylinder has been cut by BDT 39, bringing the new retail price to BDT 1,364, down from BDT 1,403.

In addition, the price of autogas has been reduced by BDT 1.84 per liter, now set at BDT 62.46. BERC Chairman Jalal Ahmed announced the updated pricing at a press briefing on Wednesday. The new rates came into effect that same evening.

Prices for other LPG cylinder sizes have also been adjusted. The new prices are as follows:

5.5 kg cylinder: BDT 625

30 kg cylinder: BDT 3,409

45 kg cylinder: BDT 5,114