As Iran launched a series of missile strikes targeting Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities on Friday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz took refuge in a secure bunker along with top military and government officials. According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu and his senior ministers held urgent discussions on how to respond to Iran’s missile barrage.

As debates over the U.S. role in the escalating Israel-Iran conflict intensify, former U.S. President Donald Trump finds himself in an increasingly complicated and politically risky position, reports BBC’s White House correspondent Gary O’Donoghue. While U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio tried to distance the administration from Israel’s offensive, labeling it a “unilateral Israeli decision,” Trump later praised the attack as “excellent” and lauded the “extraordinary American technology” used. This contrasts with Trump’s earlier promises of “ending wars, not starting new ones.”

Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency has claimed that Iranian forces shot down two Israeli fighter jets during the latest round of hostilities. One of the downed aircraft reportedly had a female pilot, who has allegedly been taken into custody, according to Tasnim News. However, the Israeli military has firmly denied these claims, stating that no Israeli aircraft have been shot down and no personnel are missing or captured.

Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and former U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone conversation on Friday, discussing the regional security situation. Both leaders expressed deep concern over the unfolding crisis and stressed the need for maximum restraint and a diplomatic resolution. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on both Israel and Iran to de-escalate immediately.

Iran has launched another attack targeting Israel, with powerful explosions reported in Tel Aviv and occupied Jerusalem around midnight on Saturday. Following the attack, Israeli authorities instructed civilians and military personnel to take immediate shelter until further notice. Footage shared by Reuters shows smoke rising in Tel Aviv after what appears to be a missile strike. Reports suggest that Iran's president and supreme leader have personally designated Israel as their direct target.

Two people were killed and at least 10 others injured when a speeding passenger bus rammed into the back of a truck on the Mawa side of the Padma Bridge. One of the deceased has been identified as Rakib, while the other remains unidentified. The accident took place near pillar number 2 of the bridge when a bus operated by Imad Paribahan collided with a stationary truck, leaving the front portion of the bus completely mangled.

In a statement, Khelafat Majlish welcomed Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s view during his London meeting with Tarique Rahman that elections could be held before Ramadan 2026 — even a week prior — provided preparations are complete. They described this perspective as timely and constructive, particularly emphasizing the need for substantial progress on reforms and justice by February. The statement added that this announcement would help ease the country’s ongoing political instability and uncertainty.

Nurul Haque Nur, President of Gano Adhikar Parishad, has accused the local administration of imposing Section 144 in Golachipa to deliberately block their pre-announced political programs. “This move is solely aimed at disrupting political activities, further exposing the administration’s bias and its inability to conduct fair elections,” Nur said. He also alleged that BNP leader Hasan Mamun orchestrated attacks on Gano Adhikar Parishad offices and the homes of activists in Golachipa and Dashmina. “The current Deputy Commissioner wants to play the role of accomplice to this collapsing regime, under the patronage of BNP leader Hasan Mamun, much like Harun and Benazir. We demand his immediate removal,” Nur added.

Jamaat leader Mujibur Rahman warned that the victory achieved through the student-public movement in July could be lost if anti-fascist forces in Bangladesh fail to unite. “The dream of a new Bangladesh is a just and fair society, and Jamaat-e-Islami is working toward that vision,” he added. Mujibur criticized the country’s 54-year history as one of democratic suppression and injustice, emphasizing that the people of Bangladesh do not want to see oppressive governments anymore. He also condemned Israel’s atrocities in Palestine, calling for an immediate end to the ongoing genocide.

Gazi Ataur Rahman, Joint Secretary General of Islami Andolon Bangladesh, praised Tarique Rahman’s proposal to shift the election from December to February during the meeting, noting that Chief Adviser Yunus also expressed conditional openness to the suggestion. “This move to reconsider positions on logical grounds sets a positive precedent in Bangladesh’s political landscape,” he said. Ataur further stated that the BNP has expressed principled support for reform, justice, and the July Declaration, which will help pave the way for building a democratic future for the country. However, he criticized the repeated mention of a ‘joint statement’ in the press briefing, arguing that issuing such a statement between a political party and a state representative is inappropriate. He also warned that national decisions should not be based solely on one party’s stance.

During the peak lychee season in Dinajpur, around 150,000 women and adolescents find temporary employment in lychee orchards. From mid-May to early July, they engage in harvesting, sorting, counting, and packaging the fruit across villages in Sadar and Biral upazilas. Each orchard employs 30 to 40 workers, mostly women and teenage boys. Workers earn between Tk 300–400 daily, enabling many to save money while supporting their families. The Agricultural Extension Office reports lychee is cultivated on 5,500 hectares this year due to Dinajpur’s favorable climate and soil. While there’s no official data on total female laborers, the demand remains high due to their efficient and clean work.

JAGPA Vice President Rashed Pradhan has expressed optimism that fears of disunity over the national election may now be behind us. He stated that if meaningful progress is made on reform and justice, Bangladesh’s next general election could be held in early February. However, he expressed disapproval over election decisions being made or announced outside Bangladesh, insisting such decisions should originate within the country. He called for the immediate publication of the "July Charter" as a consensus among all political parties to serve the greater national interest.

Following a sudden visit to Sylhet, BNP central leader Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain has returned to Dhaka and called for greater unity among party members. He emphasized that all developments in the field are being closely monitored by the central leadership. Zahid urged immediate action against any "devil’s infiltration" into party committees and warned activists to steer clear of group-based conflicts and activities that disrupt organizational discipline. He reiterated the party’s focus on achieving the highest level of unity and maintaining strict internal cohesion.

Ganosamhati Andolon leader Zonayed Saki has welcomed recent discussions among political parties, including a meeting held in London, as a positive step toward political stability in Bangladesh. Emphasizing the need for reforms and fair elections, Saki reiterated the call for the government to engage with all stakeholders on justice, reforms, and electoral matters. He also noted that an April election would be unrealistic and emphasized that the recent discussions should now focus on building national consensus regarding both elections and reforms.

Amid escalating threats of retaliation from Tehran, Israeli media reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been secretly moved to an undisclosed location, suspected to be Greece. Iranian news agency IRNA cited reports suggesting Netanyahu’s aircraft, escorted by two fighter jets, departed Israeli airspace for an unknown destination. Later, Israel’s Channel 12 confirmed that the plane landed in Athens, Greece.