Two children, Maisha Akter (3.5 years) and Mujahidul Islam (3), drowned in a pond at Khondkarpara in Char Ramiz Union, Ramgati upazila of Lakshmipur on Wednesday afternoon. The cousins were playing together when Mujahid accidentally fell into the water. Maisha tried to rescue him but also drowned. Locals and relatives recovered them and took them to the upazila health complex, where doctors declared both dead.

According to police and local sources, the incident occurred in the 9th ward of Char Ramiz Union. Maisha was the daughter of expatriate Md. Riaz, and Mujahid was the son of tile worker Md. Monjur. Char Ramiz Union Parishad Chairman Mujahidul Islam Didar described the event as tragic, noting that one child died while trying to save the other. Medical Officer Masud Jahan confirmed that both children were brought to the hospital already deceased.

Ramgati Police Station Officer-in-Charge Liton Dewan said he had received information about the drowning but did not yet have further details.

A brief exchange between French President Emmanuel Macron and Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan became viral on social media after being captured at a NATO summit dinner in Ankara. The video, published by the Times of India on Wednesday, shows Macron appearing to attempt a hand kiss during a red-carpet greeting before the dinner, while Emine Erdogan withdrew her hand. The two then continued their greeting normally. French First Lady Brigitte Macron was also present beside the French president during the moment.

The incident took place at a reception hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of high-level discussions among NATO leaders. The summit focused on key issues including European security, increased defense spending, and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The video spread widely online, drawing attention to the brief interaction ahead of the formal talks among NATO member states.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told Parliament that depositors of struggling banks will receive their full money back with interest, assuring that the 'haircut' provision limiting refunds to two lakh taka will not be implemented. He urged depositors to remain patient as the process continues. The statement came in response to a notice from BNP lawmaker Rehena Akter Ranu, who raised concerns about depositors losing access to their savings and called for strict punishment of those responsible for bank fraud.

The minister said five troubled banks have been merged under the Resolution Act to form the Combined Islami Bank, aiming to stabilize the financial sector. He added that a forensic audit is underway to identify those responsible for irregular investments, and Bangladesh Bank has been empowered to seize and auction their assets to recover funds. Legal actions are also being initiated to repatriate embezzled money from abroad, with nine international law firms engaged under a 'no win, no fee' arrangement.

Chowdhury reaffirmed that depositors will get back their money with interest, though the process will take time due to the banks’ ongoing losses.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described the overnight US strike on Iran as 'absolutely necessary' during a joint appearance with US President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. Rutte said the operation weakened Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities and called it a 'very strong response.' He emphasized that the strike was crucial for Israel, the region, Europe, and the wider world.

Trump declared that the existing ceasefire with Iran had ended following the attack, stating that the US had delivered a severe blow and would continue to respond to any Iranian aggression. After the US strike in southern Iran, Tehran launched retaliatory attacks, claiming to have targeted American military installations in the Gulf region.

Rutte also noted that under Trump’s pressure, European NATO members and Canada had agreed to significantly increase defense spending, though differences remained. Trump criticized some NATO members for insufficient support in the Iran operation, singling out Spain as a 'very bad partner' and instructing his treasury secretary to halt trade with the country.

The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) conducted a mobile court operation in Pirgacha, Rangpur, on Tuesday, targeting three filling stations accused of cheating consumers through inaccurate fuel measurements. The operation, jointly carried out by the BSTI divisional office in Rangpur and the Pirgacha upazila administration, resulted in fines totaling Tk 170,000 across three separate cases.

According to BSTI and court sources, Messrs. Chowdhurani Filling Station was fined Tk 20,000 for supplying 70 milliliters less petrol per 10 liters. Messrs. Swapan Filling Station was fined Tk 50,000 for supplying 150 to 310 milliliters less across petrol, octane, and diesel. Messrs. Sohel and Sohag Filling Station at Kadamtali Mor was fined Tk 100,000 for supplying up to 560 milliliters less fuel per 10 liters. Officials stated that such actions violate the Weights and Measures Standards Act, 2018.

BSTI officials affirmed that the monitoring and mobile court drives will continue to protect consumer rights, ensure accurate measurement, and maintain market discipline across Rangpur district.

The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that eight Palestinians were killed and 17 others injured in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours due to Israeli military attacks. The ministry’s daily update, cited by Al Jazeera, stated that many bodies remain trapped under rubble and along roads, as ongoing strikes have prevented emergency and civil defense teams from reaching affected areas.

According to the ministry, since the ceasefire that took effect on October 11, 2025, a total of 1,084 people have been killed in Gaza. During the same period, 3,491 have been injured, and 799 bodies have been recovered from the debris. The report highlights the continuing humanitarian toll and operational challenges faced by rescue workers amid the persistent violence.

The situation underscores the fragility of the ceasefire and the ongoing risks to civilians in Gaza as hostilities continue to obstruct rescue and recovery efforts.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan told Parliament that the government does not support unauthorized, unprofessional, or unethical activities under the name of mobile journalism. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring media freedom, professionalism, accountability, and responsible journalism. The minister made these remarks while responding to a parliamentary question on Wednesday.

He said a proposal has been made to amend the 1974 Press Council Act to make the council stronger, more effective, and media-friendly. The proposed amendments include setting minimum educational qualifications for journalists, introducing a registration system similar to the Bar Council, imposing financial penalties for false or unethical reporting, and empowering the council to investigate and act on fake news, hate speech, or content against national interest. The minister also noted that the government is reviewing policies on electronic media advertising and digital content to align with technological changes and international standards.

Swapan added that the government is considering a balanced policy framework for podcasts, blogging, and influencer-based digital content, ensuring harmony between freedom of expression and public interest.

U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Iran of being responsible for the recent escalation of attacks between the two sides. He claimed that during the week-long funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Iranian leaders requested a 'timeout' from the United States, asking that no attacks be carried out during the ceremonies.

Trump stated that the Iranian side wanted to attend Khamenei’s funeral, and he agreed to allow them that opportunity. However, he alleged that soon after, Iran launched missile strikes. He described the situation as 'madness' but added that the killing of Khamenei should also be considered in understanding the events.

According to Trump, Iranian leaders also asked the United States not to target or kill them during the funeral period, and he said the U.S. had assured them that no such action would be taken.

US President Donald Trump said the United States could launch new strikes on Iran on Wednesday night, following Tuesday’s attack that he claimed had a “massive impact.” Speaking to reporters in Ankara before meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a NATO summit, Trump warned that the US would deliver a “hard hit” against Iran. He said the latest strike destroyed Tehran’s radar system, though he provided no evidence for the claim.

Trump added that the US might target Iran’s power plants and desalination facilities if necessary, saying the goal was to make Iran nuclear-free. He expressed frustration with Iran’s negotiation team, accusing them of lying about closed-door discussions, and suggested that Washington could achieve its objectives without a formal deal. He also hinted at reimposing sanctions solely on Iran.

In response, Ali Akbar Velayati, senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, blamed the US for reigniting conflict in the Gulf region. He warned that Iran’s “finger is on the trigger” and that any act of aggression would receive an immediate response.

On July 8, 2026, Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party launched a fully digital selection process to send skilled women workers to Moldova through its Welfare Trust. The initiative began with 139 female members from the Dhaka Metropolitan Ansar North and East zones participating in the first phase at the Ansar headquarters. Candidates completed self-declaration forms and took live written tests using Google Forms under strict supervision, followed by physical assessments and interviews before a jury board.

The process, guided by Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sajjad Mahmud, aims to eliminate middlemen and ensure merit-based selection through five oversight committees. A specialized software automatically compiles evaluation results, minimizing human interference. The second phase, involving 161 candidates from the South and West zones, follows the same transparent digital procedure.

Selected candidates will receive advanced training to adapt to European work environments and enhance professional skills. The program seeks to create a sustainable model for safe, legal migration, empowering Bangladeshi women while strengthening the country’s reputation and economy through skilled labor exports.

The youth wing of the National Citizens Party (NCP), known as National Youth Power, has strongly condemned the arrest of its central joint organizational secretary Arif Moon along with five other activists. According to a statement released to the media on Wednesday, the arrests were made in connection with a case filed on Monday at Dinajpur Kotwali Police Station. The organization described the case as baseless and intended for harassment.

In its statement, National Youth Power said such actions go against citizens’ legitimate rights, democratic practices, and the freedom of political activities. The group called for an impartial review of the case and demanded that the legal rights of the detained activists be ensured in the interest of justice and the rule of law.

The organization further expressed hope that all concerned parties would handle the situation with respect for the constitution, law, and democratic values, and take effective measures to ensure justice.

Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister’s Defense Adviser Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. A K M Shamsul Islam on Wednesday afternoon at the adviser’s office in Dhaka Cantonment. The meeting focused on enhancing defense cooperation, modernizing military training, and expanding mutual experience sharing between Bangladesh and Italy.

Both sides recalled the longstanding friendly and sincere bilateral relations between the two countries. They discussed expanding opportunities for Bangladeshi armed forces personnel to receive training at Italian military institutions and explored potential Italian support for the modernization of Bangladesh’s armed forces. The discussion also highlighted the significant contributions of both nations to United Nations peacekeeping missions and their shared commitment to global peace and security.

According to an ISPR press release, the defense adviser emphasized Bangladesh’s high regard for its military and diplomatic ties with Italy and expressed optimism about further cooperation. The Italian ambassador praised the professionalism of Bangladesh’s armed forces and voiced confidence that defense collaboration would become more effective in the future.

Germany’s Münster University has established Europe’s first independent Islamic theology faculty at a public university. The faculty will be part of the under-construction Campus of Religions, which will also house Catholic and Protestant theology departments. The campus, located in the western German city of Münster, is scheduled to open in 2027, according to a report by Deutsche Welle.

Founding dean Mohanad Khorchide described the initiative as a historic milestone and expressed gratitude for being part of it. Formerly head of the university’s Center for Islamic Theology, Khorchide said the new faculty will promote a liberal and enlightened interpretation of Islam and will be able to grant its own PhD and research degrees. The faculty’s policies emphasize compatibility between Islam and democracy, contemporary Quranic interpretation, and interfaith dialogue, while opposing extremism and antisemitism.

The university expects the number of students to exceed 500 in the coming years. A new master’s program titled “Islam and Social Work” is planned for 2027 to train professionals for youth services, hospitals, and elder care. Officials and academics have called the initiative a milestone for academic theology in Europe.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested a total of 468 people in regular and special operations across the capital aimed at controlling crime, combating drugs, and apprehending wanted suspects. According to a press release issued on Wednesday by the DMP’s Media and Public Relations Division, 432 individuals were detained in regular drives, while separate special operations in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Mohammadpur, and Turag police stations led to the arrest of 36 more.

The DMP reported that the arrests were made across several divisions, with Mirpur recording the highest number at 107. During the operations, police seized 16.54 kilograms of cannabis, 446 yaba tablets, 32 grams of heroin, and various weapons and equipment, including a motorcycle and several machines. The special drives targeted crime-prone areas based on intelligence information.

Authorities stated that legal action has been taken against the detainees, and 54 cases were filed during the regular operations. The DMP confirmed that both regular and special drives will continue to maintain law and order and strengthen anti-drug and anti-terror efforts in Dhaka.

The Deputy Speaker of Bangladesh’s National Parliament, Kaiser Kamal, suspended the ministerial question-and-answer session midway on Wednesday after three ministers were found absent. The suspension occurred shortly after the Asr prayer break, when the session resumed at 5:26 p.m. The absent ministers were Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, and Industries Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir. The Deputy Speaker announced that the question session would be tabled and moved on to the next agenda item under Rule 71.

Earlier in the day, the parliamentary session began at 3:30 p.m. under Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, with the Prime Minister’s question session followed by ministerial questions. Before the Asr break, the three ministers had been present and responded to multiple questions from members of parliament. After the suspension, the floor was given to several MPs to speak on points of order, including issues such as waterlogging in Chattogram and disaster management.

The incident highlighted procedural challenges in maintaining ministerial participation during parliamentary question sessions.