Iran’s domestically developed transport and cargo aircraft, Simorgh, is in the final stage of obtaining an operational certificate. Authorities hope to begin commercial operations in the next Iranian year, 1406, around 2027, after required standards and licensing procedures are completed. The report was published on July 28, 2026.

Shokri, secretary of the aerospace, transport and urban development headquarters at Iran’s Vice Presidency for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy, told Mehr News that the government continued full support for the project last year. He said coordination is progressing well among the implementing company, Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company, and the Civil Aviation Organization. He also expressed hope that the project would advance through obtaining an STC or TC certificate quickly.

Built on the Iran-140 platform, Simorgh is intended to develop domestic cargo transport capacity and strengthen Iran’s aircraft design, testing, quality-control and production capabilities. The project is viewed as strategic amid international sanctions and restrictions on parts supplies. Shokri said some unexpected disruptions last year could cause a slight delay, while the implementing company and Civil Aviation Organization will set the specific certification and commercial-operation timetable.

The government borrowed a net Tk9,209 crore from the banking sector in the first 13 days of the current fiscal year, as expenditure exceeded revenue income, according to a report published on July 28. The government’s outstanding borrowing from banks now stands at Tk6,94,684 crore.

Of the new borrowing, Tk5,414 crore came from Bangladesh Bank and Tk3,795 crore from commercial banks. During the same period of the previous fiscal year, the government’s borrowing position with the central bank was negative Tk4,608 crore, while it had borrowed Tk6,112 crore from commercial banks. Its outstanding borrowing is now Tk99,467 crore at the central bank and Tk5,95,219 crore at commercial banks.

Former Bangladesh Bank chief economist Dr Mustafa K Mujeri said budget expenditure is set against revenue targets, but actual collection often falls well short, requiring additional bank borrowing. In the previous fiscal year, the government borrowed Tk1,34,571 crore from banks, above its revised target of Tk1,18,000 crore. The current fiscal year’s budget sets a Tk1,12,000 crore bank-borrowing target.

In an article published on July 28, 2026, Islamic economist Md. Mukhlesur Rahman argues that Bangladesh should strengthen its role in the expanding global halal economy. The article says halal industries now extend beyond food to pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, fashion, tourism, logistics, financial services and digital technology. It estimates the global halal economy at about $5.2 trillion, potentially exceeding $9 trillion by the start of the next decade, while Bangladesh’s annual halal-product exports stand at $850 million.

The author says Bangladesh has capabilities in agriculture, fisheries, livestock, garments, pharmaceuticals, leather and food processing. However, he identifies policy frameworks, international acceptance and institutional capacity as the main weaknesses rather than production. Bangladesh lacks a strong internationally recognized national halal accreditation authority, the article says, forcing some exporters to obtain additional certification from recognized bodies in Malaysia, Singapore, India or Thailand.

The article calls for an internationally accepted national accreditation authority, coordinated work by public agencies and private businesses, modern laboratories, digital traceability and trained auditors. It also proposes halal-focused university education and research, easier certification and subsidies for small and medium enterprises, and inclusion of halal industries in national export, investment and industrial policies.

Bangladesh has brought retail shopkeepers into the tax net for the first time, requiring them to pay a 0.2% advance income tax on goods bought from manufacturers or importers. Under a new Section 127(b) added through an amendment to the Income Tax Act 2023, a retailer would pay two taka in tax for every 1,000 taka of goods purchased. The July 28, 2026 report said the measure is intended to broaden the tax base and raise revenue.

The National Board of Revenue plans to collect the tax through an app that is still at an early stage of development and may take at least three months to build. Company sales representatives or agents would use it to generate an “A” challan against a retailer’s TIN. Retailers would receive tax information through digital copies or SMS, and excess advance tax could be refunded if they file returns.

Officials cited major implementation obstacles, including no reliable database of shopkeepers, some manufacturers lacking TINs, network problems and the need for piloting and training. Earlier VAT collection efforts using ECR and EFD systems did not achieve expected results. Sources estimate annual revenue could reach about Tk5,000 crore, while manufacturers or importers could face penalties if collection fails.

Global crude oil prices fell by more than 10 percent in a day on Monday as prospects for a diplomatic solution between the United States and Iran strengthened. By 12:45 a.m. Bangladesh time, Brent crude was trading at about $88.6 per barrel, down 10.4 percent from $91.68 a day earlier. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude also fell 8 percent to $82.35 per barrel.

Investor concerns over the Middle East eased amid hopes that talks between Washington and Tehran were progressing positively. Last week, fears of disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab raised concern over reduced oil exports from the region, briefly pushing Brent to $100 per barrel. Prices began falling after US President Donald Trump suspended military strikes against Iran last Friday following nearly two weeks of conflict.

Trump said Monday that “good talks” were under way and that an agreement was possible, while warning that attacks could resume if negotiations failed. Iran said it had also suspended retaliatory military operations and was discussing normal maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz with Oman. Crude shipments from the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal on Russia’s Black Sea coast also resumed, improving global supply conditions, though markets remained cautious after Houthi claims of attacks on Saudi Aramco-linked facilities.

Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo is set to make his acting and producing debut in the television drama series Day Ones. He is working with British director Matthew Vaughn and actor Damian Lewis on the project, which focuses on the behind-the-scenes lives of football agents in the United Kingdom. Filming has already begun in London, according to a report published on July 28, 2026.

The series was conceived by football agent Darren Dine and features Damian Lewis as central character Stanley Dalton. Ronaldo will also serve as an executive producer rather than limiting his role to acting. French football legend Thierry Henry and British rapper Dave may appear in guest roles, the report said.

Day Ones is the first major formal project from UR Marv Studios, the joint production company established by Ronaldo and Vaughn. The independently financed series aims to open a new avenue in sports-based entertainment content. Ronaldo, 41, currently plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr and is preparing for a post-football career. No official comment on the project has yet been received from Ronaldo, Vaughn or Lewis.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department said rain may continue in different parts of the country for the next four days under the influence of a deep depression over the northwestern Bay of Bengal. The information was issued in a four-day weather forecast published on the night of Monday, July 27, and reported on July 28.

From 6 a.m. on July 28 through the following 48 hours, light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely in 76 to 100 percent of areas in Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions. Rain is also possible in 51 to 75 percent of areas in Dhaka, Rangpur, Rajshahi and Mymensingh divisions. Moderate to heavy rainfall may occur in various parts of the country.

On July 30 and 31, rain or thundershowers are forecast in most places of Rangpur, Mymensingh, Dhaka and Sylhet divisions, and in many places of Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions. Heavy to very heavy rainfall may occur in some locations. Daytime temperatures may range from 30 to 36 degrees Celsius, while nighttime temperatures may range from 25 to 28 degrees Celsius.

Australia is considering building a new oil refinery for the first time in more than six decades as global fuel supplies tighten amid the US and Israeli war against Iran. The plan was reported on July 28, 2026, with Canberra seeking to assess whether such a project could strengthen domestic fuel security.

Australia’s federal government and the Western Australian state government will jointly conduct a preliminary study to examine the proposal’s feasibility, according to a government statement. The report said Canberra has faced difficulty obtaining fuel as the Middle East war has continued and disrupted global supply conditions.

Australia relies on imports for about 80 percent of its total fuel needs, increasing pressure on energy security when international supplies are disrupted. Only two oil refineries are currently operating in the country, compared with eight active facilities in 2004. Analysts said a new refinery could play a significant role in addressing domestic fuel shortages and reducing reliance on imports.

Allegations of illegal sand extraction have emerged in erosion-prone areas of Nikli উপজেলার Singpur Union in Kishoreganj, including the Ghoradigha, Barulia, Dhanua and Ghorautra rivers. The report alleges that an influential BNP-linked syndicate, working with Awami Jubo League activists, is operating dredgers at night. Extraction is said to run from 7 p.m. until dawn, with more than 250,000 cubic feet of sand reportedly removed each night and sold at three taka per cubic foot.

The report says the extracted sand is used to fill haor farmland, ponds, pits and low-lying land. Although Nikli has no government-designated sand quarry, influential syndicates are accused of operating illegally with administrative protection. Unplanned extraction from the Ghorautra and Dhanua riverbeds has reportedly intensified erosion, with homes in several Singpur Union localities said to have been lost to the rivers.

On July 19, BNP leader Kachum Ali was killed and two others were injured in clashes between two BNP groups over illegal extraction from the Ghorautra River. BNP leaders said offenders would not be recognized and could face organizational action. Local officials denied allegations against the administration, said no extraction is permitted, and stated that raids would be conducted upon receiving complaints.

Residents of Chailabunia village in Mirzagonj, Patuakhali, have accused former army member Ismail Hossain, also known as Liton, of land grabbing and excavating three-crop farmland to create a large pond. The report, published on July 28, 2026, said roughly two acres of farmland in Chailabunia mouza had been cut for the pond, with earthen embankments built on both sides.

Locals said the pond has obstructed water movement across about 20 acres of surrounding cropland, causing waterlogging and raising concerns about soil fertility and future agricultural output. They said about 10 families have been affected. Monir Hossain alleged that Ismail forcibly occupied their land and removed soil, while threatening him with death and false cases after he protested. Sultan Ahmed also alleged occupation of ancestral property.

Ismail denied the accusations, saying he prepared an enclosure on his own land for fish and vegetable cultivation. He said coconut and betel nut saplings were planted beside it and that no vegetation likely to harm neighboring land would be planted. Mirzagonj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sheikh Rasel said a written complaint had been received and legal action would be taken following an investigation.

People displaced by flooding in Banshkhali, Chattogram, are living under the open sky after heavy rain and hill runoff damaged homes, according to a report published on July 28, 2026. Although floodwater has receded, thousands of families remain uncertain about returning home. The report says suffering is increasing amid complaints that no rehabilitation initiative has been taken for those affected.

Flood damage across several sectors in Banshkhali has been estimated at Tk200 crore. Homes were submerged, crop seedbeds were washed away, fish from ponds and enclosures were lost, and rural infrastructure and roads were badly damaged. More than 12,000 earthen houses were completely destroyed across wide areas of the upazila’s 14 unions and one municipality, leaving many families outdoors or in damaged houses.

Dr Md Zakaria, director general of the NGO Bureau at the Prime Minister’s Office, distributed food and cash during a visit and said field-level work would begin on plans for durable housing. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ruhul Amin called permanent rehabilitation the biggest challenge and said private support was being sought alongside government efforts. Assistant Commissioner Omar Sani Akon said the administration was ready to provide all forms of assistance.

Persistent rain and flooding have disrupted Bangladesh’s essential-goods market, pushing up prices of vegetables, fish, poultry and eggs, according to a report published on July 28, 2026. Surveys of markets in the capital found that vegetables priced below Tk100 per kilogram have become difficult to find. Eggplant was selling for Tk100-150 per kilogram, bitter gourd for Tk120 and tomatoes for Tk120-160. Onion prices rose from Tk35-40 a few days earlier to Tk55-60.

Green chili recorded one of the steepest increases, more than doubling in a month to Tk260-300 per kilogram. Sellers cited reduced supplies and stronger demand, while a Keraniganj vendor said waterlogged fields had damaged crops. Shoppers said rising prices were making household budgets difficult to manage.

Eggs were selling at Tk140 per dozen, broiler chicken at Tk190-210 per kilogram and rohu fish at Tk400-450. Consumer-rights groups alleged that some traders raised prices abnormally before the full effects of flooding reached markets. Officials said market raids were continuing and legal action was being taken against dishonest price increases. Agricultural officials said prices could ease after weather conditions normalize and new vegetables reach markets.

Bangladesh's power, energy and mineral resources minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud said the country's severe gas crisis may take another 10 to 15 days to resolve. Speaking at separate events on July 27, Mahmud and State Minister Anindya Islam Amit said repairs were under way at damaged floating terminals in Maheshkhali, Cox's Bazar. Gas supplies from Accelerate Energy's terminal stopped after a fire last Tuesday, intensifying the shortage.

Mahmud said the two private-sector floating terminals convert imported LNG for delivery to the national grid, and the government and concerned institutions were making maximum efforts to restore imported gas supplies. Amit apologized to the public for the disruption, saying people were facing hardship from the lack of gas and authorities were trying to overcome the situation.

Daily gas demand exceeds 3.8 billion cubic feet, while about 2.7 billion cubic feet is being supplied to the grid, Amit said. Technical faults have reduced LNG supply by about 450 million cubic feet a day. Specialists have been brought from Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, while required spare parts are being arranged for air freight.

A slow immigration server at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport caused temporary inconvenience for passengers on Monday evening. Airport sources said the slowdown was delaying some immigration procedures, while passenger services continued through manual processing and alternative arrangements.

Airport authorities described the disruption as a temporary technical problem. They said relevant personnel were working quickly to restore normal server operations and urged passengers not to panic. The report did not specify the number of passengers affected or the extent of the delays.

Manual and alternative procedures are generally used to reduce passenger disruption when immigration servers temporarily slow down or go offline. Authorities said the same process was being followed in this case and expressed hope that the situation would return to normal soon.

Oil prices fell more than 5% on Monday after the United States and Iran suspended attacks following two weeks of reciprocal strikes, according to a report published on July 27, 2026. The pause raised hopes for a diplomatic solution that could ease the conflict and allow shipping to resume through the Strait of Hormuz. At 08:04 GMT, Brent crude futures were down about 5.9% at $91.08 a barrel.

US West Texas Intermediate crude was down 5.4% at $84.51 a barrel. Both markets were trading at their lowest levels after three weeks of gains. Supply reductions through Hormuz had pushed Brent to $100 a barrel, while the conflict later spread to the Red Sea, disrupting Saudi oil exports to Asia through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said President Donald Trump paused US attacks to allow more time for diplomatic talks. Analysts cautioned that shipping through Hormuz may normalize slowly and only partially. Kpler data showed fewer than 10 cargo vessels a day crossed the strait over the weekend. Continued Red Sea disruption and Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian ships and refineries could keep supply risks and global inflation concerns elevated.