Bangladesh’s Appellate Division on Thursday upheld a High Court verdict restoring the non-partisan caretaker government system and referendum provisions to the constitution. The ruling confirmed that these clauses, removed by the 15th Amendment in 2011, will be reinstated. Government policymakers, politicians, and lawyers described the decision as historic and reflective of public expectations. Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman said the verdict blocks any return to fascism and ensures that the next national election will be held under a caretaker administration.

The 15th Amendment, passed by the former Awami League government, had abolished the caretaker system and referendum provisions, altering 54 constitutional articles. Following the fall of that government in August 2024, petitions were filed challenging the amendment’s legality. The High Court declared several sections unconstitutional, including those abolishing the caretaker system and referendum, a decision now affirmed by the Appellate Division.

According to the Attorney General, the remaining constitutional changes introduced by the 15th Amendment will now be subject to parliamentary decision, while the restored provisions mark a return to the earlier democratic framework.

Member of Parliament Dipen Dewan for the Rangamati-299 constituency stated that the Bangladesh Nationalist government remains dedicated to supporting citizens during crises and in development efforts. He emphasized that the current administration is determined to fulfill all electoral promises made to the people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Dewan made these remarks on Thursday afternoon while visiting the Kaptai High School shelter center.

During the visit, he distributed food among those staying at the shelter. The event was attended by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Raihanul Islam, Officer-in-Charge Mahamud Hasan Rubel, and several senior leaders of the district and upazila units of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its affiliated organizations, including Saiful Islam Ponir, Dildar Hossain, Abu Bakkar Siddique Abu, Lokman Ahmed, Yasin Mamun, and others.

The visit highlighted the government’s ongoing engagement with local communities in the hill district, focusing on both disaster response and development commitments.

Israeli intelligence has claimed that Iran is planning to assassinate US President Donald Trump, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The report states that Israel recently informed Trump of intelligence suggesting that Iran was preparing a plot against him. A separate CNN report indicated that the intelligence referred to a specific plan targeting Trump. Neither the US government nor Iran has issued any official response to these claims.

The report adds that Washington had previously alleged multiple Iranian plots to kill Trump, which it said were thwarted. During his visit to Ankara this week to attend a NATO summit, Trump also mentioned that Iran posed a threat to his life, saying the country considered him a target.

The allegations come amid ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, with no immediate confirmation or denial from either side regarding the latest intelligence claims.

At least 12 people have died and six others were injured in a wildfire that broke out in Los Gallardos, located in Spain’s southeastern Almería province, according to the Andalusian regional government. The BBC reported on Friday that some victims were found inside burned vehicles. Witnesses said the fire may have started after a power line snapped, though authorities have not confirmed the exact cause.

The blaze spread rapidly amid a prolonged heatwave that has pushed temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius across southern Europe. Hundreds of firefighters are battling fires in Spain, France, and Portugal, while thousands of residents have been evacuated for safety. Andalusian regional president Juanma Moreno described the incident as a “tragic tragedy” and expressed condolences to the victims’ families on social media.

Spain’s military emergency unit has joined firefighting efforts in Los Gallardos. The country recorded its highest average June temperature since 1950, and experts warn that climate change is making Europe the fastest-warming continent, increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires.

Heavy monsoon rain has disrupted daily life across Bangladesh, with Dhaka and Chattogram among the worst affected areas. Since early morning, major roads and residential areas such as Kazipara and Shewrapara in the capital have been submerged. In the hilly regions of Chattogram, landslides have occurred, while the port city itself is experiencing widespread waterlogging. According to the Meteorological Department, the highest rainfall in the past 24 hours was 211 millimeters, while Dhaka recorded 28 millimeters.

The department reported that rainfall increased further after 6 a.m. on Friday, causing waterlogging in both main roads and narrow lanes. It attributed the ongoing heavy rain to the influence of the monsoon and forecast that the current spell may continue until Sunday, July 12. Due to rough weather and turbulent seas, maritime ports have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal number 3, and river ports to display signal number 1.

A weather forecast issued Friday morning warned that gusty winds of 45 to 60 kilometers per hour may sweep across 14 regions, including Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, and Sylhet.

Democratic Congressman Jimmy Panetta has sharply criticized US President Donald Trump over the ongoing military conflict with Iran. In a post on social media platform X, Panetta described the administration’s actions as a major failure of diplomacy and strategic planning. He warned that renewed US strikes and Iranian drone attacks show that current negotiations are flawed and the ceasefire is ineffective.

Panetta argued that the crisis continues because the administration engaged in conflict without a clear strategy, congressional approval, or public consensus. He urged Congress to keep working to end the Iran war, ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open, and lower oil prices for American citizens, regardless of whether the Speaker supports such efforts.

The report also notes that Jimmy Panetta is the son of Leon Panetta, who served as US Defense Secretary and CIA Director under the Obama administration.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s office has strongly condemned Iran’s recent attacks on Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. According to the Wafa news agency, Abbas’s office expressed deep solidarity with the three countries on Thursday and reaffirmed Palestine’s full support for any measures they take to defend their sovereignty.

The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed that it carried out strikes early Thursday on two U.S. military bases located in Kuwait and Bahrain. The IRGC described the attacks as the first phase of a punitive response against the United States, following two consecutive days of U.S. airstrikes inside Iran. The group warned that further retaliation could extend to other American bases in the Gulf region if U.S. operations continue.

The U.S. military stated that its airstrikes targeted 170 sites within Iran since Tuesday, while Iran’s military confirmed the deaths of eight soldiers in the initial wave of attacks near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

After a 58-day government fishing ban ended, thousands of fishermen from Kuakata, Mahipur, and Alipur in Patuakhali returned to the Bay of Bengal hoping for a good catch. However, rough seas caused by a low-pressure system in the northwest Bay, combined with illegal trawling and repeated trawler sinkings, have left most boats returning empty or with minimal fish. Many fishermen are now facing severe financial distress, unable to recover fuel and labor costs.

Local fishermen accuse large trawlers equipped with GPS, radar, and fish finders of operating illegally near the coast using banned fine-mesh nets, destroying juvenile fish and damaging smaller boats’ nets. In response, fishermen have held protests and submitted a memorandum demanding the removal of the local senior fisheries officer for failing to stop illegal trawling. At least 13 fishermen remain missing after three trawler sinkings near Kuakata.

Authorities have advised caution due to ongoing rough weather, while local residents urge stronger enforcement against illegal trawling, emergency aid for affected fishermen, and coordinated rescue efforts for the missing.

Iran has labeled the NATO summit held this week in Ankara, Turkey, as entirely politically motivated. According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Tehran strongly criticized the summit’s focus on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program, arguing that these topics were used for political purposes. The Iranian embassy in Turkey stated that the country’s nuclear activities are completely peaceful and that Iran has no intention of developing nuclear weapons.

The embassy further asserted that maintaining the security and stability of the Strait of Hormuz is primarily Iran’s responsibility, while accusing other nations of provoking instability through destructive actions. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei also sharply criticized NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, accusing him of supporting what he called an “illegal and imposed war.”

Baghaei added that NATO’s support for U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran reflects a submissive mentality and that flattery cannot conceal the truth or contempt. The statements underscore Iran’s growing frustration with NATO’s stance on regional security and its nuclear policy.

The United States’ Strategic Petroleum Reserve has fallen to its lowest level since 1983, according to data from the Department of Energy. The decline comes as tensions between the US and Iran intensify, raising global concerns about oil supply stability and price volatility. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump acknowledged that oil prices rise whenever the US strikes Iran. That same day, Brent crude prices climbed 5.2 percent to reach 78.02 dollars per barrel, the highest since June 19.

The Energy Department reported that for the week ending July 3, the reserve dropped by 6.2 million barrels to 319.5 million barrels, far below its total capacity of 713.5 million barrels. The drawdown was part of Washington’s effort to stabilize global oil markets during the ongoing conflict with Iran and to prevent a severe crude shortage.

Analysts warn that maintaining adequate reserves is crucial for signaling market confidence. The current depletion could limit President Trump’s strategic options in managing the conflict and global oil policy.

The water level of the Teesta River has risen above the danger mark due to continuous rainfall and hill runoff in India, causing flooding in low-lying and char areas of Hatibandha upazila in Lalmonirhat. At 9 p.m. on Thursday, the water flow at the Dalia point of the Teesta Barrage was recorded at 52.18 meters, three centimeters above the danger level. Earlier in the evening, the level was one centimeter below the danger mark.

To manage the upstream pressure, all 44 sluice gates of the Teesta Barrage have been opened. Local sources reported that water has entered croplands in several unions, including Goddimari, Dowani, Saniyajan, Singimari, Sindurna, and Dauyabari, affecting peanut fields, paddy seedbeds, and sweet pumpkin cultivation. The water level began rising on Thursday morning and continued to increase through the night.

Officials from the Water Development Board have advised residents along the riverbanks to remain alert as the situation may worsen if rainfall continues.

The Islamic University (IU) branch of the National Chhatra Shakti formally began its organizational activities by visiting the grave of martyr Abdullah Al Mustakin, recognized as the youngest July fighter in Kushtia. The program took place on Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Kushtia municipal graveyard, where members of the organization offered prayers and paid tribute to the martyr.

Present at the event were IU branch convener Fuad Hasan, member secretary Iftehar Uddin Md Tamim, chief organizer Zayed Bin Osman, and the martyr’s father Md Lokman Hossain, along with local dignitaries. In their remarks, the student leaders described the initiative as a pledge to uphold the ideals and sacrifices of the martyrs, emphasizing commitment to justice, equality, and student rights.

They also expressed their intention to build a discrimination-free, safe, and student-friendly campus, free from coercive practices such as guestroom culture, and affirmed readiness to make sacrifices to achieve these goals.

Military analysts say the United States is struggling to counter Iran’s asymmetric warfare tactics in the Persian Gulf, particularly the threat of naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Former US Marine Corps officer Dan Grazier told Al Jazeera that Iran could effectively disrupt global trade with minimal action, as even a few mines could turn clearance operations into a massive undertaking.

Grazier explained that the high value of ships passing through the region means even minor incidents could have a major impact on world commerce. He said the situation highlights the complexity of asymmetric warfare and presents a dilemma for US policymakers, who are unsure how to withdraw without appearing weak. According to Grazier, Iran holds a strategic advantage because it does not need to project power far from its own shores.

He urged Washington to seek a swift end to the conflict, acknowledging that the United States has yet to find a solution. Grazier added that while the current situation is difficult, valuable lessons could be learned once the conflict ends.

At least six people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, according to Gaza’s civil defense department. The attacks occurred on Thursday, including a drone strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza that killed two people and injured several others. Four more deaths were reported in other parts of the enclave, including one person killed when a car was targeted in a crowded area of Gaza City.

Al Jazeera’s correspondent reported that the attacked street in Gaza City is among the busiest in the area, filled with shops, supermarkets, and displaced Palestinians seeking shelter. Earlier on Thursday, Gaza’s health ministry said at least eight people had been killed and 17 injured in the past 24 hours, though it provided no further details on the circumstances.

The report noted that despite a ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas on October 10, 2025, Israeli forces have continued operations in Gaza. Al Jazeera said the Israeli military has violated the truce more than 3,000 times since it came into effect.

Severe weather has disrupted Bangladesh’s import-export trade, leaving more than fifty cargo ships stranded off Chattogram Port for four consecutive days. Continuous heavy rainfall and rough seas have prevented lighter vessels from approaching mother vessels anchored offshore, halting unloading operations. Port officials reported that only three of fifty-five vessels are unloading on a limited scale during brief breaks in the rain. Several off-docks have also been flooded, damaging containerized goods, while traders estimate financial losses exceeding hundreds of crores of taka.

According to the port authority, the stormy conditions in the Bay of Bengal have made unloading unsafe, prompting restrictions to prevent accidents. Perishable goods are being prioritized for limited unloading. Although container handling at the main jetty remains normal, delivery volumes have dropped sharply due to flooding across the city. Daily container deliveries have fallen from 3,500–4,000 to about 2,500–2,600 units.

Business leaders said the disruption is affecting factory production and market supply, while importers face daily waiting charges of $15,000–$25,000 per vessel. The port expects congestion to ease once weather conditions improve.