Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that Tehran will respond appropriately to the United Kingdom, France, and Germany after they initiated the UN “snapback” mechanism. The E3 informed the UN Security Council that sanctions could be reinstated if relief on Iran is not extended within 30 days. Tehran calls the move illegal and says it may impact cooperation with the IAEA. Araghchi emphasized that Iran will protect its national rights and interests against what it considers an unjust European decision.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain has said that young people will be the driving force behind political and qualitative transformation in Bangladesh’s future. Speaking at the Bengal Delta Conference 2025, he emphasized the need to strengthen the country’s constitutional and institutional structures, which he said have remained weak despite decades of independence. “Politics is not merely about holding office. We must build strong institutions if we are to bring meaningful change,” Hossain said. He also warned that failure to repatriate Rohingya refugees would prolong the region’s suffering well into the next decade.

The United States has expressed readiness to engage in direct dialogue with Iran to achieve a peaceful and sustainable solution to its nuclear program. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that diplomatic efforts complement, rather than conflict with, the snapback sanctions process initiated by France, Germany, and the UK. Rubio urged Iranian leaders to take immediate steps to prevent nuclear weapons development and ensure peace and prosperity for the Iranian people. The three European nations have formally informed the UN Security Council about the snapback mechanism.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has warned of a “deep conspiracy” to eliminate liberal politics in Bangladesh and replace it with extremist forces, which he said would be disastrous for the nation. Fakhrul cautioned that if elections are not held on time, fascism would rise, both domestically and with external influence. He noted growing public concern about whether elections will take place at all under current conditions. Accusing certain political groups of spreading false propaganda against the BNP, Fakhrul reminded that party leaders and activists, including Khaleda Zia, have endured oppression for the past 15 years. “We do not want Bangladesh to become a failed state,” he said, stressing the need to restore democracy in a way that serves the entire nation rather than a small elite.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher has accused the Election Commission (EC) of attempting to sabotage free and fair elections by announcing its recently unveiled roadmap. Speaking at a gathering at Central Medical College Hospital in Cumilla, Taher, a Nayeb-e-Ameer of the party, said, “Announcing a roadmap before deciding whether to adopt the traditional system or the new proportional representation system is a grave offense by the Election Commission.” He added that Jamaat would compel the EC and government to conduct elections under a reform charter. The EC recently revealed its 24-step action plan ahead of the 13th national parliamentary elections.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin has called on election officials to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and neutrality during the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. Speaking on Friday at the closing of a two-day core training workshop, the CEC stressed that law and order remains the biggest challenge ahead of the polls. “Every day we face new and evolving challenges. Election commissioners must remain focused on addressing these effectively,” he said. Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarkar echoed this concern, warning that the 13th National Election could be “the most high-risk election in Bangladesh’s history.” He urged the commission and all those involved in the electoral process to remain vigilant. Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Md. Sanaullah highlighted that the voter turnout may exceed expectations, noting that many expatriates are eagerly waiting to cast their votes with great enthusiasm.

At least 61 Palestinians were killed in the past 24 hours as Israeli forces intensified strikes across Gaza, local sources said Friday. Among the dead were 19 people who were killed while attempting to collect humanitarian aid. Four others, including two children, died of starvation and malnutrition, residents reported. Heavy bombardments targeted eastern and southern Gaza City, with fears of mass casualties and large-scale displacement of nearly one million Palestinians taking refuge in those areas. In Zaytoun alone, more than 1,500 homes were destroyed, leaving the neighborhood reduced to rubble. The Israeli military stated it was targeting fighters and their infrastructure across Gaza. Meanwhile, UN human rights experts expressed concern over the growing number of Palestinians reported missing amid the conflict.

Palestinian National Council Chairman Ruhi Fattouh has condemned the Israeli finance minister’s proposal to blockade Gaza and seize it in stages, calling it an “open confession of genocide and war crimes.” In a statement Thursday, Fattouh said such “provocative rhetoric” was no longer limited to extremist views but was now being implemented as state policy. He pointed to two years of siege, during which aid centers were attacked, infrastructure destroyed, and forced displacement attempted. Fattouh also denounced violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank and urged the international community, the UN, and the Security Council to uphold their legal and political responsibilities. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared Gaza City and refugee camps as “battle zones,” vowing to starve Hamas members “to death by hunger and thirst.”

Bangladesh has been ranked as the world’s second most air-polluted country, just after India, according to the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2025 report published by the University of Chicago. The study warns that air pollution is robbing Bangladeshis of an average of 5.5 years of life expectancy. The report highlights that air quality in Bangladesh is far worse than both the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and the country’s own national standards. Alarmingly, all 166.8 million people in the country live in areas where the air is classified as severely polluted compared to WHO thresholds. Between 1998 and 2023, the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Bangladesh increased by more than 66%, cutting life expectancy by an additional 2.4 years. Researchers note that the impact of air pollution on public health now exceeds the combined effects of smoking, malnutrition, and unsafe water. For residents of Dhaka, the situation is particularly dire. If air quality in the capital met WHO standards, the average lifespan of its residents could increase by nearly 6.9 years. Even if only Bangladesh’s national standards were met, Dhaka residents could still gain at least 4 years in life expectancy. Experts point to brick kilns around Dhaka as one of the city’s long-standing major sources of air pollution, yet effective regulation remains elusive. Adding to the crisis, seasonal smog drifting in from neighboring countries further deteriorates air quality, making the problem not just domestic but regional in scale.

Iran-backed Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed Al-Rahawi has been killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting an apartment in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, according to Al-Jumhuriya Television on Saturday. Local outlet Aden Al-Ghad reported that several of Rahawi’s aides also died in the strike, which was separate from a wider offensive targeting nearly 10 senior Houthi ministers, including the defense minister. The officials were reportedly scheduled to hear an address from Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi at the time of the attack. Arab media reported nearly 10 airstrikes in Sanaa, including one on the presidential palace that killed several Houthi leaders. The Israeli military confirmed strikes on multiple political and military sites tied to the Houthis, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu monitored the operation via secure communication channels. Earlier, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz had warned, “After darkness comes the blow upon the firstborn. Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have it cut off.”

Venezuela has launched a massive military drill in response to the deployment of a U.S. naval fleet in Latin American and Caribbean waters. President Nicolás Maduro accused Washington of eyeing Venezuela’s natural resources and seeking to fragment the nation. Maduro said a formal complaint has been lodged with the United Nations over the U.S. violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty. Under his direct supervision, thousands of Special Revolutionary Operations Forces participated in the exercise, showcasing advanced combat maneuvers, mountain warfare, and live-fire drills with modern weaponry. “The Venezuelan people are ready to resist imperialism. The gringos want our wealth; they want to break our country into pieces,” Maduro declared. He announced that another nationwide drill will take place later this week. Earlier, the U.S. had dispatched three destroyers, a nuclear-powered attack submarine, and 4,500 naval troops to Venezuelan waters in a mission officially described as countering drug trafficking. In retaliation, Venezuela deployed warships along its coasts and mobilized militias across the country.

A Dhaka court has ordered the imprisonment of former minister Abdul Latif Siddique and 15 others in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act with Shahbagh Police Station. On Friday morning, the accused were produced before the court, where the investigating officer, Taufiq Hasan, sought their detention in jail. In his submission, he stated that Siddique, under the banner of “Manch 71,” had delivered speeches allegedly inciting armed rebellion to destabilize the country and overthrow the current government. According to the case details, Siddique’s remarks provoked attendees to chant slogans branding the Awami League as “fascists.” Investigators argued that detaining the accused until the probe is completed is essential to verify their identities and addresses. Police also indicated that a remand petition would be filed soon.

Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarkar has declared that the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Elections will be “the most risk-prone” in Bangladesh’s history. “There will be no scope for irregularities. This is the Commission’s greatest challenge, and we cannot afford to fail,” he stressed. He urged election officials and all stakeholders to remain vigilant. Commissioner Sanaullah noted that voter turnout may exceed expectations, with expatriates also showing strong interest in casting their votes. Other commissioners echoed that there is no chance for this election to be marred by irregularities. They also called for “moderation, not extravagance” in election spending.

Former minister Abdul Latif Siddique and 15 others were produced before a magistrate court on charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act in a case filed by Shahbagh Police Station. Police have requested that all accused be kept in custody. The other defendants include Dhaka University professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman (Karzon), Md. Abdullah Al Amin, Manjurul Alam, Kazi ATM Anisur Rahman Bulbul, Golam Mostafa, Md. Mohiul Islam alias Babu, Md. Zakir Hossain, Md. Tousif Ul Bari Khan, Md. Amir Hossain Suman, Md. Al Amin, Md. Nazmul Ahsan, Syed Shahed Hasan, Md. Shafiqul Islam Delwar, Dewan Mohammad Ali, and Md. Abdullahil Kaiyum.

A controversy arose during a Dhaka University Daksu election talk show when a first-year student, while asking a question, was branded as a ‘Shibir’ supporter by Tanvir Al Hadi Maied, a candidate for the Assistant General Secretary (AGS) post from the Chhatra Dal panel. Maied has since expressed regret, admitting that his remark was inappropriate. “I immediately apologized during and after my statement, but many people missed it,” he clarified. Later that night, he issued another public apology on social media. He emphasized that his panel’s manifesto calls for ending forced political activities, campus violence, and the culture of guest-room and mass-room intimidation. “We are committed to freeing the campus from terrorism, extortion, and occupation. Regular Daksu elections are also one of our top priorities,” Maied said.