U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose additional tariffs on Canada, blaming the country for smoke from its wildfires spreading into North American cities. On Friday, Trump complained on social media about poor air quality, accusing Canada of failing to properly maintain its forests and vegetation. He described the air entering the United States as dirty, polluted, and unhealthy, calling it dangerous and unacceptable.

Trump said he plans to speak with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney about the issue and indicated that the resulting damages would be added to existing tariffs. According to the report, Canada currently has 896 active wildfires, with about 200 in Ontario, where 81 remain out of control. Since returning to office in January 2025 for his second term, Trump has increased tariff pressure on Canada over various issues, including border security and trade policy, and has even made remarks about making Canada the 51st U.S. state.

The statement marks another escalation in trade tensions between the two neighboring countries amid ongoing environmental challenges.

About 23 percent of Israelis said they would consider leaving the country if Benjamin Netanyahu is re-elected as prime minister, according to a survey conducted by Israel’s Channel 12. The poll found that 68 percent of respondents would not consider leaving, while the rest were uncertain. The survey asked whether respondents or their relatives would think about emigrating if Netanyahu returned to power.

The same survey revealed that 67 percent of respondents opposed recent laws passed by Netanyahu’s coalition. These include legislation granting near-constitutional status to Torah study and another law protecting ultra-Orthodox Israelis who avoid military service from arrest. According to the Times of Israel, 21 percent of respondents supported the laws, while others said they were unaware of them.

The findings highlight growing divisions within Israeli society over Netanyahu’s leadership and his coalition’s legislative agenda, particularly regarding religious and military service issues.

On July 18, 2024, thousands of students from private universities in Dhaka, including BRAC, East West, Northern, and North South, joined the ongoing nationwide protests, marking a major turning point in what became known as the July uprising. The day began with a citywide shutdown and heavy police presence around university campuses. Police entered BRAC University after clashes erupted, firing tear gas and bullets as students resisted with improvised defenses. The confrontation spread across major roads such as Rokeya Sarani, turning the area into a battleground.

The protests followed earlier violence that had left six people dead, including students, and widespread restrictions on public university campuses. As police and ruling party activists blocked gatherings, private university students organized through messaging apps like Discord and Facebook to mobilize. By midday, reports emerged of escalating violence, with at least 31 people killed nationwide, including 26 students. Internet services were cut, and clashes spread to multiple districts.

Later in the day, public university students regrouped at Shahbagh, facing renewed police action. The unrest led to campus closures, hundreds injured, and temporary suspension of state television broadcasts, underscoring the scale of the confrontation.

Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force has alleged that organized misinformation is being spread against the force following several isolated incidents in places including Bagatipara of Natore and Gafargaon of Mymensingh. In a press release issued on Friday, the force claimed that certain vested groups are distorting members’ statements and running targeted propaganda through social and mainstream media. The statement emphasized that the force remains uncompromising against such misinformation.

According to the release, Ansar members have maintained professionalism and responsibility in their field duties, strengthening public trust through their work in securing key installations, hospitals, and public safety. As a reflection of this trust, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has assigned Ansar the long-term security of its stadiums and facilities. The release also cited a recent podcast in which a BCB director praised the force’s performance.

The statement further noted that under the directive of Chief Adviser Tarique Rahman, 5,000 Ansar members are deployed across 500 upazilas to ensure hospital and doctor security. The force pledged to continue serving the nation while resisting all forms of conspiracy and misinformation.

Andy Burnham formally took charge as the new leader of Britain’s Labour Party on Friday, marking a key step toward becoming the country’s next Prime Minister. According to the report, King Charles III will invite him on Monday to form a government, after which Burnham will officially assume office as the United Kingdom’s 59th Prime Minister.

Speaking at a special Labour Party conference in central London, Burnham acknowledged past shortcomings and expressed regret for his failures. He emphasized that he has always tried his best, learned from people along the way, and matured through those experiences. Burnham declared that he has a clear vision of what he believes in and what he intends to do, stating, “I have a plan.”

In his closing remarks, Burnham pledged to restore hope in the country and expressed confidence in collective effort. Delegates at the conference gave him a standing ovation following his speech.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General and Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged that several talk show participants were attempting to defend what he termed as the fascist rule of Sheikh Hasina. Speaking as the chief guest at a discussion marking ‘Jatrabari Resistance Day’ in Dhaka on Friday, Rizvi said those who had gone into hiding after August 5 had now become active again. He questioned why Sheikh Hasina fled if she was so courageous, contrasting her with Khaleda Zia, who he said did not leave the country during political pressure.

Rizvi recalled that during the 1/11 government, Khaleda Zia stayed in Bangladesh despite threats, while Sheikh Hasina went to the United States. He accused Hasina of cruelty and claimed her leadership caused bloodshed. Referring to historical figures, he compared her rule to that of Yahya and Tikka Khan, asserting that fascist politics should not return. He also criticized Jamaat-e-Islami for allegedly aligning with Hasina’s tone after August 5 and urged all to strengthen democratic practices.

Rizvi praised the resistance in Jatrabari and Rayerbagh during the July uprising, calling it a glorious chapter in history.

Member of Parliament Hasnat Abdullah of Cumilla-4 (Debidwar) held a meeting with residents of Barshalghar Union in Debidwar upazila on Friday, July 17, 2026. The discussion, held at the office of local Awami League leader and union president Alhaj Auwal Chairman, focused on local issues such as infrastructure, communication, and public services. Awami League leaders including the union president, general secretary, and other party activists attended the meeting.

Local BNP leaders expressed anger over the presence of Awami League figures at the event. According to multiple local sources, the incident sparked political debate in the area. Debidwar BNP convener Jasim Uddin Sarkar criticized Hasnat Abdullah, alleging inconsistency between his words and actions and questioning his decision to meet with Awami League leaders. Attempts to contact both Hasnat Abdullah and Auwal Chairman for comment were unsuccessful.

The meeting and subsequent reactions have stirred political discussion in Debidwar, highlighting tensions between local Awami League and BNP factions.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will not visit India for now, focusing instead on upcoming trips to Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. Senior officials from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Rahman will attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York at the end of September 2026, with preparatory work already underway. His potential visits to Tokyo and Riyadh are under active discussion, with Japan seeking to host him soon and Saudi Arabia having extended a formal invitation through its ambassador in Dhaka.

Diplomatic sources said Japan and Bangladesh will hold a foreign secretary-level meeting in Dhaka on August 12 to discuss Rahman’s possible visit. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan may travel to Dhaka soon or meet Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman in New York to finalize details of the Saudi trip. Analysts have welcomed Rahman’s decision to delay his India visit, citing strained bilateral relations and urging caution to preserve strategic ties with China.

Sources indicated that unless relations with New Delhi improve, a visit to India this year remains unlikely.

Andy Burnham formally assumed leadership of the UK Labour Party on Friday, paving the way for him to become the country’s next prime minister. According to a New York Times report, King Charles III is expected to invite Burnham to form a government on Monday, after which he will take office as the United Kingdom’s 59th prime minister. The former mayor of Greater Manchester takes charge at a time when the nation faces slow economic growth, high public debt, a strained National Health Service, and deep political divisions.

In his speech at a special Labour Party conference in central London, Burnham pledged to confront long-ignored national issues and to challenge political and economic systems that fail ordinary citizens. He emphasized restoring public hope, empowering local communities, and building a business-friendly yet distinctly Labour government focused on practical solutions rather than internal divisions.

Burnham also criticized the economic policies of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, promising a new path for governance that departs from the direction followed over the past four decades.

In Tehran’s Friday sermon, Imam Mohammad Jawad Haji Ali Akbari called for punishing those he described as the 'criminals' behind the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Speaking during the sermon, he said the first step in taking revenge should be to ensure justice for the perpetrators.

Akbari stated that the next steps should include expelling the United States from the region, erasing the Zionist regime from the map of West Asia, and ending America’s dominance in global affairs. He emphasized that the demand for revenge was not driven by emotion but was based on logic, Islamic law, and rights.

He added that the Supreme Leader’s message had endorsed the nation’s collective demand for justice, which has now become one of the main demands of the Islamic nation, according to the sermon reported by Al Jazeera.

Prominent lawyer Mohammad Tajul Islam has clarified the distinction between constitutional reform and amendment, stating that certain fundamental pillars of the constitution cannot be altered even by parliament. He explained during a television talk show on Thursday night that while the Supreme Court protects these core structures through its rulings, reforms can still be undertaken. He warned that major changes made solely through parliamentary amendments could face future legal challenges, citing the annulment of the Fifth Amendment as an example.

Tajul Islam emphasized that amendments bring only superficial changes and cannot address the nation’s deep-rooted issues. He recalled that the July revolution aimed for a complete overhaul of the state system, leading to proposals for forming a Constitutional Reform Council or Constituent Assembly. According to him, the current government, formed after a violent uprising outside the existing constitutional framework, required a separate order for reform, which has gained moral and political legitimacy through a public referendum.

He added that the BNP prefers the amendment route instead of supporting the proposed Reform Council, opposing its name and approach.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has renewed allegations of Israeli influence over U.S. foreign and domestic policy, criticizing Washington for allowing such sway. In a post on social media platform X, Araghchi claimed that Israel uses American taxpayers’ money to silence its critics and accused the U.S. administration of being drawn into an unwinnable conflict due to Israeli influence.

He referred to a Time magazine report alleging that former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale ran a pro-Israel operation targeting supporters of the “Make America Great Again” movement. Araghchi asserted that the situation was even worse because Israel was allegedly using U.S. funds to suppress dissenting voices, adding that the truth would soon be revealed.

According to the report, neither the United States nor Israel has issued an immediate response to Araghchi’s accusations, which were reported by Al Jazeera.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that any Israeli citizen found in Malaysia will be immediately expelled. Authorities are currently investigating allegations of Israeli involvement in a private residential community in the southern state of Johor. The statement was reported by Anadolu Agency and Free Malaysia Today on July 17, 2026.

Anwar stated that relevant agencies are conducting the investigation and that the government will not show leniency if the allegations are proven true. He emphasized that Malaysia does not recognize Israel and therefore does not allow Israeli passport holders to enter the country without special permission.

The investigation was initiated by the Ministry of Home Affairs after the Johor state government called for a federal probe into the alleged involvement of an Israeli individual in a Johor-based startup community network related to a school project.

Comilla Police Superintendent Md. Anisuzzaman stated that he had been involved with the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) in Dhaka long before others, during a discussion meeting held on July 16 in the district commissioner’s conference room to mark National July Martyrs’ Day. His remark came in response to comments from former Comilla Metropolitan JCD president Fakhrul Islam Mithu, who accused the police of not arresting alleged fascists in the area.

In reply, Superintendent Anisuzzaman said the meeting was not a political platform and that criticism of the police force was inappropriate. He added that some people were labeling their own rivals as fascists. The superintendent further commented on the state of the police and government, noting that the current administration was only four months old and needed time to stabilize.

The event was attended by Comilla Deputy Commissioner Rozi Akter, City Corporation Administrator Yusuf Molla Tipu, CDA Chairman Udbatul Bari Abu, BNP leader Ashiqur Rahman Mahmud Wasim, and other political and administrative representatives.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has decided not to visit India for now, according to senior officials of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic sources. The visit was considered highly important and sensitive, but the current lack of trust between Dhaka and Delhi has halted all discussions. The Modi government has not responded to Bangladesh’s request to extend the Ganges water-sharing treaty, which expires in December, nor taken steps to advance bilateral cooperation. Reports also cite India’s negative reaction to Rahman’s recent China visit and incidents at the border as contributing factors.

Diplomatic and political analysts have welcomed the decision, saying the prime minister made the right call given India’s perceived interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs. A senior diplomat noted that unresolved issues such as border killings, trade imbalance, and water-sharing disputes make the relationship politically challenging. The source added that India’s recent actions, including alleged pressure tactics and attempts to influence domestic politics, have made it impossible for the visit to proceed under current conditions.

The postponement underscores the fragile state of Bangladesh-India relations and the growing complexity of regional geopolitics.