The Gaza Health Ministry reported that seven Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip over the past 48 hours. According to the ministry’s statement released on Saturday, six bodies were brought to hospitals following recent attacks, one person died while receiving treatment, and nine additional bodies were recovered from under the rubble. Sixteen injured individuals were also admitted to hospitals. The ministry did not provide details about the specific circumstances of the incidents.

The statement added that since a ceasefire agreement took effect in October 2025, Israeli forces’ violations of the truce have resulted in 1,066 deaths and 3,445 injuries. The ongoing military campaign, which began in October 2023, has so far caused 73,090 deaths and 173,553 injuries in Gaza. Nearly 90 percent of the enclave’s civilian infrastructure has been damaged during the two-year conflict.

According to United Nations estimates cited in the report, rebuilding Gaza could cost around 70 billion US dollars.

Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher stated that Bangladesh regained democracy through the student and public movement of July 2024. Speaking as the chief guest at a citizens’ gathering at Comilla Town Hall on Saturday afternoon, he said the movement led to the end of an autocratic government and allowed citizens to assemble freely again.

The minister expressed gratitude to Comilla residents for supporting the BNP in nine constituencies, noting that the party’s previous governments had brought significant development to the region. He highlighted the recent passage of the Comilla Development Authority Bill during the first parliamentary session of the new government, calling it the realization of a long-held dream. Taher also announced a major project to establish sports complexes in every division, including one planned for Comilla.

The event was chaired by Amiruzzaman Bhuiya, senior vice president of Comilla South District BNP, and attended by local leaders, university officials, and members of the Comilla Development Authority, who presented development proposals for the area.

Authorities in Cox’s Bazar have planned a special joint operation in Baharchhara, Teknaf, modeled after the earlier campaign in Jangal Salimpur, to combat abduction, ransom, drug trade, and human trafficking. The decision was made during a special law and order committee meeting held in Teknaf on Saturday, attended by top district and upazila law enforcement officials.

The meeting, chaired by Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner A. Mannan and attended by MP Shahjahan Chowdhury, discussed the worsening situation in Baharchhara, where abduction and ransom activities have become severe. Participants compared the area’s condition to the former criminal stronghold in Jangal Salimpur, Sitakunda. Proposals included setting up police outposts in abduction-prone areas, intensifying raids to recover illegal arms, and tightening control over the movement of Rohingyas from nearby camps.

Following the meeting, MP Shahjahan Chowdhury stated that a coordinated joint operation would soon be launched to suppress criminal networks and that measures would be taken to restrict uncontrolled Rohingya movement.

Super Typhoon Bavi is moving toward the U.S. Pacific territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, prompting both administrations to declare a state of emergency. The storm, with sustained winds of 259 kilometers per hour and gusts reaching 314 kilometers per hour, was located several hundred kilometers east of the islands on Saturday morning local time. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center reported that the system is equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane, leading to the suspension of many events planned for the United States’ 250th Independence Day celebrations.

The National Weather Service warned that the current forecast poses serious concern for the Mariana Islands and urged residents to prepare for at least tropical storm conditions. In the islands, home to about 200,000 people, residents have crowded fuel stations, hardware stores, and supermarkets to stock up on food, bottled water, plywood, batteries, candles, and other essentials. Local residents and resort workers have been securing properties and supplies to minimize damage and ensure quick recovery after the storm.

Authorities and communities are focusing on readiness and coordination to reduce potential losses as the typhoon nears.

Bir Muktijoddha Advocate Fazlur Rahman MP stated that in Bangladesh, a single Pir has more followers than the entire Jamaat party combined. He made the remark in an interview given to a media outlet on Saturday. Rahman added that he believes in the Kalema, prayer, Hajj, and Zakat, which Jamaat members also claim to believe in. He compared the large turnout at the funeral of the Fultoli Pir to the total number of Jamaat supporters, saying the latter is smaller.

Earlier, Fazlur Rahman accused the Jamaat-Yunus alliance of misleading the youth and destroying the country. He alleged that figures such as Asif and Hasnat were deceitful and that the group had corrupted new generations through conspiracies and secret organizations. According to him, the political party Jamaat, under the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus after August 5, had destroyed four generations.

The remarks reflect Rahman’s continued criticism of Jamaat’s political influence and its alleged role in undermining the nation’s younger population.

The proposed 2026–27 national budget of Bangladesh has reset the value-added tax (VAT) on locally produced refrigerators, air conditioners, and compressors to 7.5 percent, restoring the previous rate. The decision has brought relief to the domestic electronics industry, which had faced higher production costs and reduced sales after the VAT was raised to 15 percent in the 2025–26 fiscal year. Industry representatives said the adjustment will help stabilize prices, boost demand for local brands, and positively affect investment, production, employment, exports, and government revenue.

According to the Bangladesh Refrigerator Manufacturers Association, VAT rates on these products have fluctuated over recent years, with the latest reduction expected to make fridges and air conditioners more affordable for middle-class consumers. Stakeholders noted that the previous VAT hike had led to job losses for around 10,000 people due to increased costs and reduced production.

Industry leaders, including association officials and executives from Walton Hi-Tech Industries, welcomed the move as timely and supportive of domestic manufacturing. They believe continued policy support will strengthen the sector, reduce import dependence, and expand export opportunities.

Archaeologists in Thailand’s Phetchaburi province have discovered two gold rings believed to be between 1,900 and 2,100 years old during an excavation at the Don Yai Thong archaeological site. The rings were found alongside ancient human skeletons and other artifacts, according to local media reports. One of the rings bears an inscription in an ancient Indian script, officials from the Fine Arts Department confirmed.

Experts suggest that the inscription is in the ancient Brahmi script and that the ring may have belonged to a member of an Indian merchant community. The Fine Arts Department noted that similar Brahmi-inscribed ornaments and artifacts had previously been unearthed at the Khlong Thom and Khao Sam Kaeo archaeological sites.

The newly recovered rings are now preserved at the Phra Nakhon Khiri Museum. Authorities are accelerating the collection and preservation of bronze relics and human remains at the site due to rising groundwater levels and rainfall posing risks of damage.

Amit Kumar Sarkar, an office assistant at Abdulpur Government College in Natore, has been sent to jail over allegations of fraud and deception involving eight students. On Saturday, the students were allowed to sit for their Bangla second paper exam after missing the first day due to the incident. The college’s acting principal, Md Mamdudur Rahman, distributed admit cards sent by the Rajshahi Board. Police arrested Amit Kumar on Friday night, and he was sent to Natore District Jail the following day.

The issue began when eight students paid Amit Kumar Tk 3,500 each in March to complete their exam registration with a late fee. He falsely assured them that the process was done, but they later discovered their forms were never submitted, leaving them without admit cards. Following media coverage, Education Minister Ehsanul Haque Milon directed the Rajshahi Education Board to arrange their exams. The board’s controller of examinations, Iffat Jerin, confirmed their participation.

The case was filed at Lalpur Police Station by a guardian named Imamul Haque on behalf of the affected families.

At a tribute ceremony held on Friday for Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, different verses from the Holy Quran were recited before visiting foreign delegations. For the Saudi Arabian delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Walid Al-Khereiji, Iran chose to recite verse 13 from Surah Al-Imran, which references the historic Battle of Badr between believers and non-believers.

According to Iran International, the selection of this specific verse may have carried symbolic meaning, though Iranian authorities have not issued any official explanation. The verse describes divine support for believers during the battle, emphasizing lessons for those with insight. Other foreign delegations present at the event were also read different Quranic verses.

The incident has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many observers speculating about possible diplomatic implications. However, neither Iran nor Saudi Arabia has made any formal comment on the matter.

France is taking steps to rebuild its long-strained relationship with Turkey, driven by changing European security dynamics, the Russia-Ukraine war, and evolving defense and Middle Eastern geopolitical realities. Western diplomatic sources indicate that after years of disagreements over Syria, Armenia, and the Eastern Mediterranean, Paris now views Ankara as a key part of Europe’s future security framework. A recent joint appearance by Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at a Cairo press event symbolized this thaw.

French policymakers see Turkey’s cooling ties with Russia and its cooperation in enforcing Western sanctions as positive signals. Former ambassador Gérard Araud noted that Turkey’s balanced stance since the Ukraine war has effectively aligned it with Kyiv. Shared interests in Syria, Lebanon, and Iran are also drawing the two countries closer, while growing friction between Turkey and Israel has opened new strategic space for coordination.

Defense cooperation is emerging as a major area of progress, including Turkey’s interest in the Franco-Italian SAMP/T air defense system and a new partnership between France’s Safran and Turkey’s Bayraktar on drone and sensor technology. However, ideological and political differences, disputes over Armenia and Greece, and uncertainty over Macron’s successor remain key challenges to sustained rapprochement.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast increased rainfall across the country from Sunday due to a low-pressure system over the northwestern Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal areas. The system has intensified into a well-marked low, prompting expectations of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Sylhet, Chattogram, and coastal regions. The department reported that most parts of the country have been experiencing temperatures between 35°C and 37.6°C, with Rangpur recording the highest at 37.6°C on Saturday.

Meteorologists said the monsoon is moderately active over Bangladesh, and rain is likely to spread to Dhaka, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna, Barishal, and Sylhet divisions throughout the week. Ports have been advised to hoist cautionary signals, and river ports have been asked to operate carefully due to possible gusty winds and thunderstorms. Farmers expect the rainfall to aid Aman paddy seedbed preparation, which had been hampered by prolonged dry weather.

Authorities warned that excessive rainfall could trigger short-term flooding in low-lying areas of northern, northeastern, and southeastern Bangladesh. While temperatures may drop slightly, humidity is expected to keep the weather uncomfortably humid for several more days.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the late Iranian leader Khamenei’s deep influence will be remembered for generations. Sharif, who has served as a key mediator between the United States and Iran, attended the funeral held in Tehran, according to Al Jazeera.

In a social media post on Saturday, Sharif praised Khamenei’s wisdom, leadership, and lasting impact on Iran and the wider region. The Pakistani delegation also included Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, and Army Chief Asim Munir, along with other senior government officials.

The participation of Pakistan’s top leadership in the ceremony highlights the country’s diplomatic engagement with Iran and its recognition of Khamenei’s regional significance.

Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced the withdrawal of an 18 percent sales tax on sanitary products and contraceptives in the 2026–27 national budget, a levy widely known as the “period tax.” The move has led to lower prices for sanitary napkins and related goods, bringing relief to consumers across the country, according to Middle East Eye.

UNICEF Pakistan welcomed the decision, calling it a meaningful step toward addressing period poverty and recognizing sanitary products as essential health and hygiene items rather than luxury goods. The policy shift followed a constitutional petition filed in January 2025 by women’s rights activist and lawyer Mahnoor Omar and tax lawyer Ahsan Jahangir Khan, who argued that the tax violated principles of equality and dignity. The Federal Board of Revenue initially defended the tax but later reversed its stance.

Activists noted that while the tax removal is a major milestone, social taboos, lack of awareness, and limited access to affordable sanitary products continue to hinder millions of women. They urged long-term efforts in education, awareness, and healthcare accessibility to ensure menstrual equity in Pakistan.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed officials to expedite the process of reopening unprofitable and closed state-owned factories through domestic and foreign investments. The directive was issued on Saturday during a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office. The meeting discussed the progress of attracting investors and the steps needed to restart operations at the affected industrial units.

According to information presented at the meeting, several private companies have expressed interest in investing in these factories. The feasibility of the proposed industrial ventures will now be assessed. The Prime Minister emphasized that the entire process must be conducted transparently and instructed authorities to avoid unnecessary delays while completing the procedures.

The meeting was attended by the ministers of commerce, industry, and textiles, along with senior officials from relevant ministries, the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, and the Prime Minister’s Office.

Police in Daudkandi, Cumilla, arrested ten individuals in separate operations related to robbery preparation and drug cases. The arrests took place late Friday night, including seven suspects detained near Amirabad Bridge while allegedly preparing for a robbery. Officers recovered local weapons such as machetes, a small ramda, a knife, and Swiss gears from their possession.

In another operation, police arrested one individual named Rasel Bhuiya, while a separate special drive led to the capture of Mohammad Ruhul Amin, an accused in rape and human trafficking cases, from the Dhaka International Airport area. Additionally, at Satpara Mor, police detained Md. Ramzan Sikdar with 61 yaba tablets and 200 grams of cannabis.

Daudkandi Model Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Shamsul Alam stated that legal action has been taken against all detainees, and they have been sent to court.