Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Ehsanul Haque Milon announced that Bangladesh is being developed to become a global 'education hub'. He made the statement on Saturday while addressing the inauguration ceremony of Naogaon University’s academic activities as the chief guest. The minister said that while Bangladeshi students now go abroad for higher studies, the government wants to transform local universities into centers of excellence that will attract foreign students.

Milon emphasized that Bangladeshi students are highly talented and have earned recognition abroad. He noted that the country’s large human resource base presents immense potential for national development, which can be realized by building a skilled workforce. He also mentioned that universities should consider regional needs when introducing new programs. Given Naogaon’s agricultural output, he suggested that subjects like food technology could be added in the future.

The event was chaired by Naogaon University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Moha: Hasanat Ali and attended by several senior officials, including the UGC chairman, vice-chancellors of other universities, and local government representatives.

The Government of Bangladesh has announced a plan to modernize the country’s public transport system by introducing around 1,400 electric buses. Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Dr. Mohammad Ziaul Haque said the initiative aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and make transport cleaner, safer, and more efficient. The plan includes establishing a universal EV charging network and exploring new systems such as monorail.

According to the secretary, several projects are underway: 500 buses are under financing process, 300 buses are being implemented with South Korean support, and another 400-bus project awaits World Bank approval. Two separate procurement packages worth Tk 400 crore each have been added to accelerate purchases, including a special fleet for women passengers. The government expects visible progress on selected routes by December this year or early next year, initially targeting 200 buses.

A technical committee comprising BUET and MIST experts is developing unified standards for batteries, charging, and mechanical systems. The government is also considering incentives for private operators and discussing fare structures with the finance ministry to balance costs and affordability.

The United States is preparing to send several dozen additional refueling aircraft to Israel as part of an expanded military plan against Iran, according to US and Israeli officials cited by Axios. The report states that President Donald Trump has been presented with new military options targeting Iran’s power plants, key infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and an underground site at Pickaxe Mountain. However, Trump has not yet made a final decision on the matter.

US officials said the plan aims to increase pressure on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and comply with Washington’s conditions regarding its nuclear program. American strikes have continued for the fifth consecutive day in the Strait of Hormuz and southern Iran, including attacks on at least seven bridges near Bandar Abbas. Iran, in turn, claimed to have launched retaliatory strikes on US bases in Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, and Kuwait.

Israeli officials noted that about 60 US refueling aircraft are currently stationed at Ben Gurion International Airport and Ramon Airbase, with more expected soon. Concerns have arisen in Israel that the large military deployment could disrupt civilian air traffic.

The Government of Bangladesh will launch the pilot phase of the 'Probashi Card' next month to provide multifaceted services for expatriate Bangladeshis. The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office, where it was announced that the trial launch will take place in mid-August. The initiative aims to enhance the social status, empowerment, and financial inclusion of expatriates through dual-currency cards enabling international payments and banking services.

According to the Prime Minister’s Press Wing, the Probashi Card will offer at least ten special benefits, including complimentary airport lounge access, priority immigration booths, meet-and-greet services, discounts on air tickets and hotel bookings, affordable car rentals, airport pick-and-drop for signature cardholders, dedicated service booths at government hospitals, and special discounts at private hospitals. Additional privileges include free repatriation of deceased cardholders, rehabilitation and insurance for returnees, priority in land registration and utility services, and remittance-linked financial incentives.

Initially, Janata Bank will issue the debit cards, targeting 50,000 cards by December 2026 and 200,000 by June 2027. In the second phase, Probashi Kallyan Bank will manage all related operations.

Iran has suspended the implementation of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding (MoU) due to what it describes as continuous US attacks and breaches of the agreement. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that Tehran took this step after the United States failed to uphold its commitments under the memorandum, effectively rendering it inactive.

According to Gharibabadi, Iran has halted all its obligations and implementation measures under the MoU in response. He emphasized that the country’s current priority is national defense amid an ongoing military situation, which he said makes it impossible to continue executing the memorandum.

The decision reflects Iran’s shift in focus toward defense activities as tensions rise, with the suspension marking a significant pause in the bilateral understanding originally established under the Islamabad framework.

Bangladesh’s Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, Information and Communication Technology, and Science and Technology, Fakir Mahbub Anam, stated that the government is updating its digital policies and laws to make them more timely and effective. Speaking on Saturday at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026 in Shanghai, he said the reforms aim to use artificial intelligence for public welfare while ensuring effective governance to manage potential risks.

Anam noted that under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership, Bangladesh is advancing work on a comprehensive and inclusive national AI policy. The government is also strengthening personal data protection and cybersecurity, formulating AI usage guidelines for the public sector, promoting responsible data management, expanding AI-based education, and implementing decentralized institutional initiatives across the country.

He outlined four global governance priorities—security, equity, adaptability, and international cooperation—and urged the international community to collaborate on technology transfer, capacity building, data sovereignty, and fair access to technology. The WAIC 2026, held from July 17 to 20 in Shanghai, focused on accelerating sustainable development and strengthening global AI governance.

Saudi Arabia has introduced a new technology-driven service at the Grand Mosque in Mecca to assist Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. According to a Gulf News report published on Saturday, the initiative provides real-time crowd information for areas designated for Tawaf and Sa’i, allowing worshippers to choose less crowded routes and perform rituals more comfortably.

The authority responsible for maintaining the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque stated that the digital platform delivers live updates on crowd density and offers guidance to help avoid congestion. The service aims to enhance the overall experience of worshippers by improving movement and safety within the holy site.

Pilgrims can access the service through a QR code, which provides continuously updated information to facilitate smoother movement around the mosque. The system is expected to make crowd management more effective and ensure a more seamless and comfortable pilgrimage experience.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has introduced new conditions for receiving government grants for full-length film production. According to a circular issued by the ministry’s Film-2 branch on Wednesday, the third installment of funding will not be released unless 80 percent of the film’s shooting is completed. The directive is part of the revised ‘Government Grant Policy for Full-Length Film Production 2025,’ which also establishes an 11-member grant committee.

The committee, chaired by the ministry’s adviser, includes senior officials, film industry representatives, and cultural experts such as Professor Dr. Syed Jafar Iqbal, actress Humayra Islam Mukti, and the president of the Bangladesh Film Exhibitors Association, Awlad Hossain. It will approve the release of the second installment, verify shooting progress before the third installment, and provide final approval for selected scripts and proposals. The committee may also recommend suspending grants if no suitable proposals are received in a given year.

A separate 11-member committee has been formed for short film grants, also chaired by the ministry’s adviser. The new directives take effect immediately in the public interest.

Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka North launched a ‘July Graffiti Art’ campaign in Uttara, Dhaka, on Saturday to commemorate ‘36 July’. The event was inaugurated by Mohammad Selim Uddin, the party’s Dhaka North Ameer and mayoral candidate for DNCC. During the opening, he warned that weaknesses within the ruling party and disregard for public aspirations could lead to another mass uprising similar to that of July. He urged the government to remain alert to prevent such a situation and criticized attempts to rehabilitate ruling party narratives.

Selim Uddin stated that those opposing the July movement would be rejected by the people and that any distortion or disrespect of July’s history would not be tolerated. He emphasized that the success of ‘36 July’ came through mass participation and sacrifice, calling for the preservation of July’s memory and graffiti as part of the national heritage. Organizers announced related competitions, including ‘Smritite July’ from July 20–30 and a painting contest ‘Tulite July’ on July 25, with awards to be given on July 31.

Several local Jamaat and student leaders attended the inauguration, highlighting Uttara’s historical role in the July movement.

The United States is facing a simultaneous onslaught of wildfires, floods, and smoke pollution, affecting multiple regions at once. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, 68 large wildfires are burning across 15 states, with 17 new fires ignited by lightning in the Pacific Northwest. Thick smoke has spread from the Great Lakes to Washington, D.C., while Texas’ Hill Country remains submerged under floodwaters for a third consecutive day. More than 17,400 firefighters, 140 helicopters, and four military C-130 air tankers have been deployed nationwide to combat the crises.

So far this year, about 3.72 million acres of forest have burned—over one million acres more than during the same period last year. Experts from several U.S. universities warn that overlapping disasters amplify overall damage. They link the extreme weather to abnormal jet stream patterns and human-driven climate change, which have tripled stagnant jet stream events since the 1950s.

Researchers also note that global warming intensifies both drought and heavy rainfall, creating conditions where wildfires and floods increasingly occur at the same time.

Iran’s Ministry of Health reported that at least 50 people have been killed and more than 500 injured in a series of United States attacks on Iran since July 6. The ministry’s latest update confirmed that civilians are among the casualties, and the injured are being treated in various hospitals across the country.

The ministry has not yet released details about the identities of the victims, the specific locations of the strikes, or further information about the most recent attacks. The report, citing Al Jazeera as its source, did not include any official response or comment from either government regarding the incidents.

Further information about the nature or scope of the US strikes remains unavailable, leaving uncertainty about the full impact and potential escalation of the situation.

Electricity and Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said that only the worst elements of society join the Awami League, while decent people do not. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon at the inauguration of a weaving training center in Mirpur, Sirajganj. Tuku alleged that Awami League members were issuing threats and claimed the party had harmed the country since its inception. He stated that after 17 years of struggle against what he called fascist rule, democracy had been restored and people could vote freely.

The minister said that under Tarique Rahman’s leadership, the BNP achieved a landslide victory through a free and fair election and has now formed the government. He described Rahman as liberal and committed to national unity. Tuku urged party members to focus on public welfare and strengthening the organization rather than personal gain.

The event was chaired by Textile and Jute Secretary Sharifuddin Ahmed and attended by several officials, including the district commissioner, police superintendent, and local BNP leaders.

Bangladesh Labor Party Chairman Dr. Mostafizur Rahman Iran declared that his party would not abandon the ideals of the July uprising, emphasizing the movement’s goal to end the politics of money, muscle, and corruption. He made the remarks on Saturday morning at the party’s Barishal city office during a representative meeting organized by the district and metropolitan units.

Presided over by Barishal Metropolitan Labor Party President Md. Sohel Mahmud, the meeting featured Dr. Iran’s call for implementing the referendum verdict and continuing street activism to realize the spirit of July. He criticized the post-July political environment, saying that honest politicians were withdrawing from politics while opportunists, smugglers, and black market syndicates had taken over. He also noted that politics had become a profit-driven business due to the influence of bureaucrats and capitalists.

Dr. Iran urged party members to strengthen grassroots organization to build a just and principled Bangladesh. Several party leaders, including Vice Chairman Advocate Johra Khatun Jui and Youth Mission Convener Salman Khan Badsha, also addressed the event.

The upcoming World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, scheduled for Sunday night in the United States, has become more than a football match. Due to the two nations’ opposing stances on the Israel-Palestine conflict, the event is being described as a symbolic ‘proxy war’. Social media discussions have intensified, framing the match as a reflection of broader geopolitical divisions.

Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi, known for his ties with Israel, and Spain’s young star Lamine Yamal, who once displayed the Palestinian flag after a victory, have become focal points of this polarization. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez praised Yamal’s gesture as an expression of solidarity shared by many Spaniards. Meanwhile, Argentina’s President Javier Milei has aligned his foreign policy closely with Israel, contrasting sharply with Sánchez’s criticism of Israeli military actions in Gaza.

Online debates have included conspiracy theories, with some users labeling the match as an “Israel vs Palestine World Cup.” Israeli media and advocacy groups have condemned such narratives as antisemitic. Within Argentina, some citizens have voiced opposition to their government’s pro-Israel stance, recalling Diego Maradona’s past support for Palestine.

The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education of Bangladesh has introduced major revisions to the transfer and posting policy for government primary school teachers. The updated policy, issued on July 18, 2026, removes the previously criticized provision allowing undefined 'eminent persons' in transfer committees. Instead, the committees will now include two education enthusiasts or patrons. The national committee’s leadership has also been restructured, with the Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education replacing the ministry secretary as chair.

The revised policy retains the four-tier committee structure—upazila, district, divisional, and national—but adds seven new conditions to ensure transparency and discipline. These include minimum service requirements before transfer eligibility, restrictions on repeated transfers, and prioritization rules for teachers applying from the same school. Transfers will only occur against vacant posts, and female teachers will receive priority for placements near their permanent or spouse’s address.

Officials expect the new rules to reduce irregularities and lobbying in teacher transfers, as committees must now meet monthly to review and finalize applications.