Israel’s largest oil refinery in Haifa Bay suffered extensive damage during recent missile attacks by Iran amid the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Although Israeli authorities initially attempted to downplay the extent of the damage, new reports indicate that the destruction is far greater than previously acknowledged. Reconstruction of the facility is expected to be completed by 2028, according to Israeli media.

Channel 12 News reported that two separate Iranian attacks earlier this year caused severe damage to the refinery, contradicting earlier claims by Energy Minister Eli Cohen and the operating company Bazan that the impact was minor. A government report cited by Yeshiva World revealed major damage to gas turbines, steam boilers, electrical rooms, and other support systems. The Interior Ministry has already approved large-scale reconstruction work at the site.

The Bazan refinery is a key strategic industrial facility for Israel, supplying oil for industry, agriculture, infrastructure, and domestic use. The full extent of damage from Iranian missile strikes in recent years remains obscured under strict military censorship.

The High Court has concluded the hearing on the rule regarding the validity of BNP candidate Sarwar Alamgir’s nomination for the Chattogram-2 constituency in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. After the hearing on Thursday, the bench of Justice Fahmida Kader and Justice Md Asif Hasan set July 9 for the verdict. Senior lawyers Ahsanul Karim and Barrister A.M. Mahbub Uddin Khokon represented the petitioner, while senior lawyer Shishir Monir and lawyer Azim Uddin Patwari appeared for Jamaat candidate Nurul Amin.

Earlier, the Election Commission had canceled Sarwar Alamgir’s candidacy over loan default allegations, but the High Court suspended that order and allowed him to contest. Nurul Amin later filed a leave-to-appeal with the Appellate Division, which was granted on February 3. Although Alamgir contested and won the February 12 election, the result was withheld pending the appeal’s resolution.

Following the Appellate Division’s June 16 directive, the High Court was instructed to dispose of the rule within two weeks. Until the rule is resolved, the February 3 order remains effective, keeping the publication of Alamgir’s election result suspended.

At least five people were killed and sixteen others injured in a bomb explosion at a café in Damascus, the capital of Syria. The incident occurred on Thursday near the Justice Palace on Al-Nasr Street, according to the country’s health ministry as reported by state television Al-Ikhbariya.

Reports said explosives had been planted inside the café before the blast. Following the explosion, security forces cordoned off the area and launched an investigation to determine who was behind the attack.

Authorities have not yet identified any suspects, and the investigation is ongoing to uncover the motive and perpetrators of the bombing.

The Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) carried out a special drive on Thursday morning against buildings under construction that violated approved designs and building codes in Chattogram city. The operation took place from 11:30 a.m. to noon in the Kalpalok Residential Area and on KB Aman Ali Road. CDA officials found that several building owners were constructing structures without maintaining the mandatory setbacks and in breach of approved plans.

The drive was led by CDA’s Special Metropolitan Magistrate Hamimun Tanzin. During the operation, unauthorized portions of five under-construction buildings were demolished, and the respective owners were fined. One building was sealed as its owner was not present at the site. Additionally, another building on KB Aman Ali Road was inspected, and necessary measures were taken to ensure compliance with design and building code requirements.

The CDA stated that legal action was taken against the irregular constructions to enforce urban planning regulations and maintain safety standards in the city.

A Dhaka court has sentenced Fatema Begum, also known as Shilpi, to death for killing her husband and dismembering his body into six parts in the capital’s Mohakhali area five years ago. The verdict was delivered on Thursday afternoon by Dhaka’s 16th Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Nazmun Nahar Nipu. The court also imposed a seven-year prison term, a fine of 10,000 taka, and an additional three months of imprisonment for concealing the body.

According to the case details, on May 30, 2021, police recovered a headless body from a drum in Mohakhali’s Amtoli area and later found the victim’s severed limbs in separate locations. Fatema was arrested within 12 hours of the discovery. She confessed to killing her husband, Moyna Mia alias Shakil, following disputes over money and his multiple marriages. Fatema drugged him, slit his throat, and disposed of the body parts across different areas using a rented rickshaw.

The case was filed by Moyna Mia’s second wife, Nasrin. After investigation by the Detective Branch, a charge sheet was submitted in October 2022, and the trial began in March 2023, during which 17 of 26 witnesses testified.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun declared that Lebanon will not surrender even an inch of its territory to Israel, emphasizing that the government’s ongoing discussions with Israel do not amount to surrender or betrayal. His statement was released by the presidential office on Thursday, according to Al Jazeera.

Aoun said it is time for Lebanon to move beyond the era of war and subjugation, noting that most Lebanese people, especially those in the southern region, support this path toward dignity and security. The government has recently faced criticism from those who believe that the current agreement with Israel compromises Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Rejecting these allegations, Aoun asserted that the structural terms of the understanding do not conflict with Lebanon’s rights or fundamental principles but instead aim to ensure their full protection. He added that those who respect the principle of sovereignty should also respect the state’s decisions in this context.

Save the Children has confirmed that at least 21,000 children have died in Gaza during 1,000 days of war, according to a report cited by Turkey-based TRT World on Thursday. The organization said hundreds of thousands more children have been displaced and deprived of education. Despite losing homes, schools, and a sense of safety, many children continue to hope for peace.

Ahmad Alhendawi, the organization’s regional director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe, stated that the world has failed to protect one million children in Gaza over the past 1,000 days by not intervening to stop killings and injuries. Save the Children reported that about 80 percent of Gaza’s children—over 800,000—are displaced, and 625,000 school-age children have been out of formal education for three years.

The group called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, accountability for crimes against children, and a halt to arms supplies to Israel. It noted that despite a ceasefire declared in October 2025, Israeli attacks have continued, leaving more than 73,000 people dead and Gaza largely in ruins.

BNP’s Self-Reliance Affairs Deputy Secretary and reserved-seat MP Nilufar Chowdhury Moni has come under sharp criticism for her recent comments about the July Revolution. During a television talk show, she questioned the leadership of the movement and raised doubts about the nature of the killings, suggesting the use of snipers and hinting at a possible design behind the events. She stated that she could not disclose everything, implying that some individuals involved might be exposed if she did.

Nilufar also claimed that no one knew who fired the shots, adding that the bullets might have come from nearby buildings rather than police forces. Her remarks followed earlier controversy when she referred to slain Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Bin Hadi as a “guinea pig,” which had already sparked outrage on social media. The new comments reignited criticism from within her own party.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib publicly condemned her statements, expressing deep disappointment and rejecting her remarks. He urged Nilufar to show restraint and respect when speaking about the July–August uprising.

Police have sought to show former Chief Justice A B M Khairul Haque as arrested in a case filed under the Explosives Act and for attempted murder at Banani Police Station. The application was submitted on Thursday by Sub-Inspector Saiful Islam, the investigating officer of the case. The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Dhaka has set July 6 for a hearing on the matter in the presence of the accused.

Khairul Haque was previously arrested from his Dhanmondi residence on July 24 last year and has remained in custody since then. The High Court had earlier directed that he not be shown arrested or harassed without specific charges. He has received bail in several cases, including those related to the July uprising and other criminal allegations, though the state has appealed to suspend some of those orders.

Despite being granted bail in multiple cases, the police have now sought to show him arrested in a new case under the Explosives Act, adding to the ongoing legal proceedings against the former chief justice.

For the first time in Bangladesh, doctors at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in Dhaka have successfully performed an intrauterine fetal blood transfusion on an unborn baby. The complex procedure was completed last Tuesday at the hospital’s specialized maternal and fetal medicine unit. It was carried out to save the life of a fetus suffering from severe anemia caused by blood group incompatibility, with blood safely transfused into the umbilical vessel under ultrasound guidance.

The medical team was led by Dr. Khondoker Shehnila Tasmin, head of the Feto-Maternal Medicine Unit, with support from senior professors across obstetrics, pediatrics, anesthesiology, hematology, and transfusion medicine departments. Hospital authorities said this success will enable pregnant women with similar complications to receive advanced treatment at public hospitals in the future.

According to the doctors, intrauterine transfusion is a highly advanced procedure that can significantly reduce fetal death risk and extend pregnancy duration when performed timely. The hospital plans to further expand prenatal diagnostic and treatment services to ensure the highest quality care for mothers and unborn children.

Lebanon and Syria have signed an agreement pledging mutual respect for each other's sovereignty and a commitment not to interfere in internal affairs. The accord was signed in Beirut on Thursday in the presence of Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Syrian Foreign Minister Asad al-Shaibani, and delegations from both countries, according to Al Jazeera.

Lebanon’s state news agency reported that the agreement emphasizes respect for sovereignty, independence, national unity, and territorial integrity of both nations. It also highlights equality between the two sides and adherence to the principle of non-interference in domestic matters.

The understanding comes at a time when both Lebanon and Syria are facing Israeli military attacks and occupation operations. The two neighboring countries are also dealing with heightened security challenges along their shared border and broader regional instability.

Students of Sunamganj Medical College continued their protest for the twelfth consecutive day on Thursday, locking the principal and teachers inside the academic building. They demanded immediate activation of the college hospital, recruitment of sufficient teachers, and an urgent meeting with the Health and Family Welfare Minister. The students said they had been protesting since 2025 but classes continued without the hospital being operational, making their education ineffective. They accused the administration of failing to arrange meetings with the ministry and of ignoring their concerns.

Principal Mostak Ahmed Bhuiyan stated that the students’ two main demands—hospital activation and teacher recruitment—were accepted in a recent Health Ministry meeting. According to him, outpatient services would begin within one and a half months, indoor services in October, and full hospital operations by December. However, the students rejected this roadmap and continued their protest, saying they no longer trusted verbal assurances.

The principal criticized the act of locking teachers, calling it inappropriate despite the ministry’s commitment to their demands.

The European Union’s top court has upheld a €4.1 billion antitrust fine against Google, rejecting the company’s appeal in a long-running legal battle. The ruling, delivered on Thursday, confirmed that Google and its parent company Alphabet misused their dominant position in the Android operating system to promote Google Search unfairly. The decision marks a significant setback for the U.S. technology giant after years of litigation.

The case originated in 2018 when the European Commission accused Google of anti-competitive behavior by requiring smartphone manufacturers to pre-install Google Search and Chrome through licensing and pre-installation agreements. The Commission initially imposed a €4.34 billion fine, later reduced by a lower court to €4.125 billion while maintaining the core finding of abuse of dominance.

In its final judgment, the EU Court of Justice stated that the lower court had not misinterpreted the law. It found that Google’s pre-installation and anti-fragmentation agreements restricted competition and hindered new market entrants. The court also dismissed Google’s argument that its market position resulted solely from user preference or product quality.

Cloudflare announced a new policy requiring AI companies to separate web crawlers used for traditional search from those used for AI agents and training. Beginning September 15, 2026, the company’s default settings will block “mixed-use” crawlers from accessing pages that host ads unless site owners change their configurations. The update will apply to new Cloudflare customers, new sites created by existing customers, and all existing free users. Cloudflare said the change aims to protect publishers’ intellectual property while maintaining discoverability through search.

The company highlighted that the world’s largest search engine currently has access to roughly twice as much information as other AI firms because it ties search visibility to AI use. Cloudflare’s CEO Matthew Prince said the policy responds to a shift where bots now generate most internet traffic, emphasizing the need for a sustainable ecosystem. The company also introduced new tools and partnerships to give publishers more control and commercial opportunities in the AI era.

Cloudflare’s “Pay Per Crawl” marketplace is evolving into a “Pay Per Use” model, enabling publishers to charge AI companies when their content creates value. Initial partners include Ceramic.ai and You.com, which will compensate publishers when their content appears in AI search results or premium access.

Bangladesh’s export earnings rose by 25.91 percent in June 2026 compared with the same month a year earlier, according to a provisional report released by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) on Thursday. The country earned 4.20 billion US dollars from merchandise exports in June, up from 3.33 billion dollars in June 2025. The strong monthly growth was driven mainly by the ready-made garment sector, which earned 3.38 billion dollars, marking a 21.52 percent increase year-on-year.

Within the apparel segment, knitwear exports rose 19.49 percent to 1.84 billion dollars, while woven garments grew 24.2 percent to 1.55 billion dollars. Other sectors also performed strongly: home textiles rose 59.95 percent to 75.1 million dollars, leather and leather goods increased 47.68 percent to 128.8 million dollars, and agricultural products climbed 46.77 percent to 89.6 million dollars.

Despite June’s robust performance, total export earnings for the 2025–26 fiscal year fell 0.58 percent from the previous year to 48.00 billion dollars. EPB data suggest that while the June surge offers optimism for the new fiscal year, exporters face ongoing challenges from global demand uncertainty, geopolitical instability, and rising competition.