The United States has launched a series of military airstrikes in Iran following attacks on three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation began on Wednesday in response to the incidents that damaged the vessels within 24 hours on Monday and Tuesday. CENTCOM stated that the strikes aim to make Iran pay a “heavy price” for targeting civilian-operated ships in international waters.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that three tankers were damaged in the attacks. Iran has not claimed responsibility for the incidents. CENTCOM described Iran’s actions as unjustified, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire. Qatar and Saudi Arabia condemned the attacks, reporting that one tanker from each of their countries was hit while transiting the area.

Earlier on Tuesday, the United States revoked a waiver that had temporarily eased oil sanctions on Iran, signaling a further escalation of tensions between the two nations.

The US Treasury Department has revoked the general license that allowed limited Iranian oil sales, according to a statement from the Office of Foreign Assets Control. The department confirmed that the previously issued 'General License X' from June 21, 2026, was canceled effective July 7, 2026, and replaced with a new 'General License X1'.

The earlier license had temporarily lifted parts of US sanctions on Iranian oil exports following what were described as positive talks between the two countries aimed at ending ongoing conflict. That 60-day suspension had opened the way for Iranian oil production, supply, and sales in the US market.

Reuters, citing unnamed US officials, reported that Iran’s recent actions in the strategic Strait of Hormuz were deemed unacceptable by Washington. The decision to revoke the license came shortly after three commercial oil tankers were attacked in the area within 24 hours, prompting the US to impose this punitive measure.

A leader of the Swechchhasebak Dal was shot by assailants in Dhaka’s Mirpur area on Tuesday night. The victim, Saiful Islam Siju, 40, serves as joint convener of the Mirpur Thana unit and is currently receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Police said the shooting occurred around 9:15 p.m. near the south side of Chourangi Market adjacent to the Mirpur-10 fruit market.

According to police, the attack stemmed from a previous enmity. A man named Shanto Bhuiyan allegedly fired at Siju using a foreign-made firearm. Law enforcement officers conducted an immediate operation in and around the scene, arresting the suspect and recovering a foreign revolver along with four rounds of live ammunition.

Mirpur Model Police Station’s officer-in-charge Hafizur Rahman confirmed the arrest and recovery of the weapon. Police have increased vigilance in the area, reporting that the law and order situation remains normal while legal proceedings are underway.

Iran has rejected Qatar’s accusation that it attacked a Qatar-linked vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, described the allegations as ‘astonishing’ and reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to ensuring safe navigation in the strategically important waterway. He said Iran continues to fulfill its responsibilities under the memorandum of understanding related to maritime safety management.

Earlier, Qatar had summoned Iran’s deputy ambassador and handed over a formal protest note following reports that a Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker was targeted near the Strait of Hormuz. The incident has drawn attention to the security of one of the world’s most critical maritime routes.

The exchange of accusations underscores ongoing tensions in the Gulf region, where maritime security remains a sensitive issue involving multiple states and energy interests.

The Bangladesh Parliament on Tuesday passed the Public Examinations (Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2026, introducing penalties for digital manipulation, unauthorized database access, and carrying electronic devices into exam centers. The bill, presented by Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan, sets a maximum punishment of five years’ imprisonment and fines for such offenses. It also includes provisions for organized exam crimes and defines digital manipulation as hacking, altering, deleting, or concealing data in public examination databases.

The amendment reduces the punishment for question paper leaks from ten years to five years and adds penalties for assisting examinees through written or verbal agreements. It also introduces up to two years’ imprisonment or fines for unfair evaluation of answer scripts, determined by a third examiner. Special provisions are included for minors, who will be dealt with under the Children Act.

In a separate development, the Bogura University Bill 2026 was introduced to establish a full-fledged university in Bogura, replacing the 2001 Bogura Science and Technology University Act, which was never implemented.

The United States and several other countries have expressed deep concern after China conducted a long-range missile test in the Pacific Ocean. The launch, viewed as part of Beijing’s ongoing military modernization, follows a previous intercontinental ballistic missile test near French Polynesia two years ago. Analysts suggest the new test indicates enhanced Chinese capability to strike the U.S. mainland.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said China’s rapid and opaque nuclear expansion poses serious global risks. Washington has urged Beijing to join meaningful arms control talks and establish prior notification systems for missile and space launches. Taiwan identified the missile as a JL-2, claiming it flew over the Philippines, while Manila condemned the launch as a calculated provocation. Australia, Japan, and New Zealand also voiced concern, though Russia defended China’s right to conduct the test.

Observers believe the missile was launched from a nuclear-powered submarine and landed near the Solomon Islands, highlighting China’s growing sea-based deterrent capability. The test coincided with a new Australia-Fiji defense pact, reflecting intensifying strategic competition in the Pacific region.

The Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee announced that Wednesday’s Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations in three districts under the Chattogram Education Board—Chattogram, Rangamati, and Cox’s Bazar—have been postponed due to adverse weather and flooding. The decision was confirmed in a notice signed by Professor Syed Akhteruzzaman, chairman of the Dhaka Board and head of the coordination committee.

According to the notice, the postponed exams include HSC, Alim, HSC (BMT), HSC (Vocational), and Diploma in Commerce examinations scheduled for July 8, 2026. However, exams in Bandarban and Khagrachhari districts under the same board, as well as in other education boards across the country, will proceed as planned.

The revised schedule for the postponed exams will be announced later. The notice also requested all concerned authorities to take necessary measures in light of the updated situation.

US President Donald Trump has announced the lifting of American sanctions imposed on Turkey and revealed plans to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to the country. The announcement came on Tuesday ahead of his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a NATO summit in Turkey.

Trump said the decision ends restrictions placed under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The sanctions were originally imposed in 2020 after Turkey purchased the Russian S-400 missile defense system, which also led to its removal from the US F-35 program. Ankara has consistently argued that the sanctions were unfair and violated international law.

According to two sources familiar with the matter, Trump may take a positive stance on the F-35 sale during his visit, though legal procedures and congressional approval remain obstacles. Trump also noted that his meeting with Erdoğan would include discussions on expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

A life-term prisoner convicted in a rape case died after falling ill at Kushtia District Jail on Tuesday night. The inmate, identified as 28-year-old Ariful Islam from Rajinathpur village in Khoksa upazila, became sick around 8:30 p.m. and was being taken to Kushtia General Hospital when he died on the way. Jail Superintendent Md. Shariful Alam confirmed the incident around 9:30 p.m., stating that Ariful had complained of chest pain and underwent an ECG at the prison hospital before being referred for advanced treatment.

According to Dr. Abdul Mannan, superintendent of Kushtia 250-bed General Hospital, the prisoner was brought to the emergency department around 9 p.m., where doctors declared him dead after examination. Jail and hospital sources indicated that the initial assumption is that he died from a heart-related condition.

Authorities have not yet provided further details on the official cause of death or whether an autopsy will be conducted.

Continuous heavy rainfall has raised the water level of Kaptai Lake, enabling the Karnafuli Hydropower Plant in Rangamati to increase electricity generation. With improved water availability, all five units of the country’s only hydropower facility have been brought back into operation, producing a total of 150 megawatts of electricity as of Tuesday evening, July 7, 2026.

According to plant officials, the water level in Kaptai Lake has been rising steadily over the past several days due to persistent rain in Rangamati and surrounding areas. Previously, only two of the five units were operational because of low water levels. The resumption of all units marks a significant boost in generation capacity.

Officials noted that if rainfall continues and the lake’s water level increases further, there will be potential to expand electricity production beyond the current output. The Karnafuli Hydropower Plant has a maximum generation capacity of 230 megawatts.

The High Court has issued a rule questioning why the failure to prevent severe air pollution caused by a fire at the Matuail landfill, the largest waste disposal site under Dhaka South City Corporation, should not be declared illegal. The bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice A.F.M. Saiful Karim issued the rule following a preliminary hearing on a related writ petition.

The court asked why the inaction or failure to control toxic smoke and air pollution from waste burning under the Matuail Sanitary Landfill Expansion Project should not be deemed unlawful. It also sought explanations for the absence of preventive measures through law enforcement and implementation of the project’s master plan. The secretaries of the Local Government and Environment ministries, the CEO of Dhaka South City Corporation, the director of the Department of Environment in Dhaka, the project director of the landfill expansion, and the district commissioner were directed to respond.

Lawyer Abul Kalam Azad, who represented the petitioner, argued that open dumping and burning of waste are prohibited under air pollution control regulations, yet the city corporation’s own project has become a major pollution source.

Authorities in Mirsarai upazila of Chattogram have imposed a three-day ban on tourist entry to all hilly waterfalls under the Baraidala Range due to adverse weather conditions. The Chattogram North Forest Division and the upazila administration announced the restriction through a notice signed by Range Officer Md Ashraful Alam on Monday afternoon. The ban will remain effective from July 7 to July 10, during which no tickets will be sold and visitors will not be allowed to enter the waterfalls within Baraidala National Park.

Officials said the decision was taken to ensure tourist safety amid heavy rainfall that has increased the risk of flash floods, landslides, and strong water currents in the waterfalls. Leaseholders have been instructed to prevent tourist access and suspend ticket sales during the closure period.

Mirsarai Upazila Nirbahi Officer Somaia Akter stated that the water flow in the waterfalls has risen sharply, making visits extremely risky. Similar precautionary measures are taken every monsoon to prevent accidents caused by heavy rain and hill torrents in the area.

Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wife of the Prime Minister and vice president of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation, said the government is identifying and addressing existing deficiencies in Bangladesh’s health sector. Speaking on Tuesday at a workshop titled “The Path to Becoming a Health Entrepreneur in Bangladesh” in Gulshan, Dhaka, she stated that the government is committed to ensuring quality healthcare for every citizen and is focusing on greater youth engagement to achieve this goal.

Dr. Rahman highlighted the need to develop young health entrepreneurs capable of tackling current and emerging challenges in the health system. She emphasized training, mentorship, and collaboration among researchers, innovators, investors, and public institutions. Stressing the role of universities, she called for practical learning environments that foster innovation and interdisciplinary cooperation.

She noted that around 72 percent of healthcare expenses are borne out-of-pocket by citizens, making illness a major cause of poverty. Dr. Rahman reiterated that healthcare is a basic right, not a privilege, and said the government’s priority is to deliver services to every household amid rising non-communicable diseases, aging populations, and climate-related health risks.

Extensive preparations are underway in Iraq’s Karbala for the funeral of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, described by Iranian and Iraqi officials as a symbol of unity between the two nations. Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, said the ceremonies in Najaf and Karbala would strengthen solidarity between the peoples of Iran and Iraq and reinforce their joint stance against U.S. conspiracies.

Qaani emphasized that the Iraqi government’s initiative and the people’s large-scale preparations reflect the deep spiritual and fraternal ties between the two countries. He also recalled the sacrifices of Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis as shared symbols of resistance. Karbala Governor Nassif Jassem al-Khattabi confirmed that all security and logistical measures have been completed, with coordination among federal forces, the prime minister’s office, and service agencies.

The funeral will take place in three stages: official ceremonies on Tuesday evening, a procession in Najaf on Wednesday, and final events in Karbala later that day. Authorities expect large crowds and have declared a public holiday in Karbala Province.

The Comilla University unit of the Chhatra Dal has demanded the construction of a 'July Memorial' at the Ansar Camp area, where police first clashed with students during the July uprising. The demand was made on Tuesday, July 7, during a courtesy meeting with Comilla City Corporation administrator Yusuf Molla Tipu. The student leaders also called for installing lamp posts around the campus to ensure safe movement for students.

According to the Chhatra Dal leaders, the clash occurred on July 11, 2024, when students participating in the 'Bangla Blockade' program were stopped by police near the university’s Ansar Camp. The confrontation led to injuries among students and journalists. The following day, students held protests and renamed the site 'Chhatra Andolon Chattar' in memory of the incident.

Chhatra Dal member secretary Md. Abul Bashar said the city administrator assured them that the demands would be considered seriously and that the foundation of the memorial could be laid before August 5. A city corporation team has already inspected possible locations for the project.