White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed India’s status as a critical strategic partner in the Asia-Pacific region.
She noted that President Trump maintains a strong relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is nearing the finalization of a bilateral trade agreement. The comments come amid Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to the U.S. for the Quad summit and a UN event on state-sponsored terrorism.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday lifting nearly all longstanding economic sanctions on Syria.
According to the White House, the move fulfills a promise made to Syria’s interim leader Ahmed Al-Sharar and paves the way for Syria’s reintegration into the international financial system. However, sanctions related to human rights violations, drug trafficking, and chemical weapons will remain. The designation of Syria as a “state sponsor of terrorism” is still under review.

Police have arrested three members of a robbery gang who impersonated DB (Detective Branch) officers and stole Tk 3 million from a businessman in Motijheel.
The arrested individuals—Shamim Rahman, Mizan Rahman, and Robiul Islam Jewel—were caught during raids in Dhaka and Jhalokathi. The gang abducted two employees carrying the money on June 26 and dumped them in Narayanganj after tying them up. Authorities recovered a HiAce microbus and Tk 89,000 in cash. Police confirmed that Mizan has a history of involvement in similar crimes.

Government Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has announced that July 18 will be observed as "Private University Resistance Day."
Speaking to reporters, he mentioned, “The government will soon release an official calendar to commemorate significant July events. Among them, July 18 has been exclusively dedicated to the courage and determination of private university students.” He urged the public to stay tuned for the calendar’s release this Tuesday.

The interim government of Bangladesh has scrapped 37 solar power projects involving 14 countries, citing irregularities and politically motivated approvals during the Awami League's tenure.

The canceled projects had a combined capacity of 3,287 MW and included investments from China (4 projects), Singapore (7), India (1), and the United States (1). This move puts approximately $6 billion in potential investment and $300 million in sunk costs at risk.

Chinese investors have expressed concern and called for a peaceful resolution. Energy experts stressed the need for policy stability and stronger coordination from the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).

Makbul Hossain, father of Abu Sayeed—the first martyr of the July uprising and a student at Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur—expressed mixed feelings during a recent visit to his son’s grave.

He said he was disheartened by the low number of visitors over the past year but found comfort in the fact that the people of Bangladesh had been freed from oppression. The family expressed gratitude for the arrest warrants issued against the fugitive suspects in Sayeed’s murder case.

His mother, Monowara Begum, broke into tears while recalling her son.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has decided not to renew the leases of 16 commercial entities operating in three major airports, effective from the 2025–26 fiscal year.

Among them, 14 are based at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, while the rest operate in Chattogram and Saidpur airports. CAAB officials cited allegations of tax evasion, political favoritism in lease awards, and absentee owners as reasons behind the decision.

Iran’s top Shia cleric Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi has issued a fatwa labeling U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “enemies of God.”

The fatwa states that any individual or leader who threatens Islamic figures is a warmonger and is effectively waging war against the Creator. Shirazi urged Muslims worldwide to unite in opposition to such leaders, declaring it religiously impermissible for any state or individual to cooperate with them.

He further stated that those who suffer in the path of defending religion should be seen as warriors of God.

Economic adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed has remarked that former central bank governors acted as agents of the government, but insisted that such practices are no longer the norm.

Speaking to NBR officials, he encouraged them to maintain neutrality and transparency in their duties. On recent anti-corruption investigations against six NBR officials, he declined to comment but asserted the current government does not interfere in such matters.

He also expressed concern over disruptions to port and revenue services, saying these actions harm the national interest and damage the business climate.

Dr. Ebrahim Mottaki, head of the Political Science Department at Tehran University, has warned that the United States and Israel may carry out another destructive attack on Iran within the next seven days.

He described the current ceasefire not as a sign of peace but as a period of preparation for further attacks. Despite a ceasefire declared after the Iran-Israel conflict on June 24, Iranian and international experts fear it could collapse at any time. Iran also stated it is closely monitoring neighboring countries’ territories to guard against possible aggression.

Ibrahim Mottaki, Head of the Political Science Department at Tehran University, has issued a stark warning that the United States and Israel could carry out another devastating attack on Iran within the next seven days. Mottaki emphasized that the current ceasefire should not be mistaken for a sign of peace, but rather as a period during which preparations for further attacks are underway.

Despite a ceasefire being in place since June 24 following the Iran-Israel conflict, Iranian and international experts fear it could collapse at any moment. Iran has stated that it is closely monitoring potential aggression by neighboring countries, keeping vigilant surveillance over their territories to anticipate any hostile moves.

Advisor Asif Mahmud posted on Facebook expressing his concern following an incident at the airport involving his pistol’s empty magazine. He reflected that even with missiles, no one can feel truly safe these days. He accused those responsible for national security of no longer being protectors but rather busy surveilling citizens, engaging in character assassination, and launching absurd, unfounded attacks on leaders of the popular uprising. Asif raised alarm over how CCTV footage was quickly leaked abroad, calling it a grave threat to national security. Questioning how safe ordinary citizens could be if a government advisor himself faces such treatment, he ended with a hopeful note, saying that the public has become more aware and that if any untoward incidents occur against the uprising’s leadership, identifying the culprits will not be difficult.

BNP leader Afaz Uddin Afaz described the 31-point state reform agenda announced by Tarique Rahman as more than just a political program. According to him, it represents a comprehensive blueprint for reestablishing democracy, ensuring good governance, and protecting the fundamental rights of the people. Afaz urged that these points serve as the country’s “Charter of Liberation” and must reach every household. He commenced a campaign by distributing leaflets across various areas of Uttara East police precinct. Expressing optimism, Afaz stated that conspirators will not succeed in delaying elections and that polls will be held on time. He reaffirmed BNP’s commitment to coming to power through the people's vote and pledged that the country would be governed based on the 31-point agenda once BNP assumes office.

Advisor Farida Akhtar has stressed the importance of maintaining Hilsa fish prices within the purchasing power of the general public, ensuring that there is no abnormal price hike. She believes that instead of merely setting price limits, it is crucial to identify the root causes of price increases for effective intervention. The government is actively conducting regular operations and strict measures to protect Hilsa and juvenile fish (jatka), including destroying illegal nets and enforcing punitive actions against fishermen violating regulations. Farida also highlighted the pressing issue of river navigability crisis, which hampers the movement and breeding of Hilsa, calling for urgent attention and comprehensive consideration.

Advisor Asif Mahmud has urged member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to stand united against the growing global trend of Islamophobia. He made the call during the OIC Youth Capital International Program held in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Reaffirming Bangladesh's unwavering support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, Mahmud also highlighted the country’s efforts in youth empowerment. In a meeting with ICYF President Taha Ayhan, he discussed the role of youth in the July uprisings and outlined government initiatives in skills development and employment.

Advisor Mahmud extended an invitation to OIC youth to participate in the upcoming Global Youth Summit in Bangladesh this September. In response, the ICYF President expressed commitment to enhancing cooperation with Bangladesh and invited the advisor to visit Istanbul.

Following his visit to Morocco, Advisor Mahmud is scheduled to travel to Turkey to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and engage in bilateral discussions.