US energy company HKN Energy has suspended all operations in Iraq’s Kurdistan region due to escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. The decision was reported by Kurdish media outlet Rudaw, citing a company official. It came only days after HKN signed an agreement with Iraq’s oil ministry to develop the Hamrin oil field in Salahuddin province. The deal, signed on July 9, aimed to raise daily oil output to 140,000 barrels and gas production to 40 million cubic feet.

The suspension follows a series of drone attacks in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah provinces that killed nine members of an Iranian Kurdish opposition group. The deteriorating security situation prompted the company to halt its activities. Earlier, UAE-based Dana Gas had also temporarily suspended operations at the Khor Mor gas field near Sulaymaniyah, citing credible threats.

The back-to-back suspensions highlight growing instability in northern Iraq’s energy sector as regional tensions intensify.

Bangladesh’s Meteorological Department has forecast intensified rainfall across the country starting from July 20 or 21, with heavy to very heavy showers expected particularly in the northern divisions. The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre warned that the combined effect of heavy rain and upstream water from India could worsen the overall flood situation. On Saturday, Nilphamari’s Dimla recorded 137 millimeters of rain, while Rangpur, Sylhet, and Noakhali also experienced significant rainfall.

According to the latest forecasts, active monsoon conditions will bring widespread rain and thunderstorms to Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet, and moderate rain to other regions. Water levels in the Surma-Kushiyara, Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers are rising, with some points already above danger levels. Short-term flooding may occur in low-lying areas of Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Gaibandha, and Kurigram.

Authorities have issued local weather alerts for coastal ports and advised fishing boats in the Bay of Bengal to remain near shore. The extent of flooding this week will depend on rainfall intensity and the inflow of water from India.

The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela last month has risen to 5,119, according to the latest official figures released on Saturday. The quakes, which occurred on June 24, caused severe damage in the coastal state of La Guaira near the capital Caracas. Authorities reported that the number of injured remains unchanged at 16,740.

Venezuelan parliamentary president Jorge Rodríguez confirmed the updated figures through Telegram. Rescue operations continue in La Guaira, where many buildings collapsed, and bodies are still being recovered from the debris. Thousands of residents have been left homeless and are currently staying in temporary shelters.

Officials have not yet released any formal count of those still missing, leaving uncertainty about the total human impact of the disaster.

The US government has approved the launch of a mirror satellite named Earendel-1, designed to reflect sunlight onto specific areas of Earth at night, according to a report by Petapixel. The satellite, roughly the size of a bedside table, will orbit about 400 miles above Earth and deploy a 60-foot-wide square mirror. It will direct sunlight to illuminate a circular patch about three miles wide, effectively turning night into day for limited zones.

Ben Nowak, co-founder of Reflective Orbit, said customers committing to at least 1,000 hours of annual use would pay $5,000 per hour for the service. While the cost—totaling $5 million per year—places it beyond most photographers’ budgets, authorities noted potential use in emergency situations. The US government also plans to launch up to 1,000 larger satellites in the future, each capable of reflecting light equivalent to 100 full moons.

Astronomers and biologists have voiced strong opposition, warning that such artificial illumination could disrupt natural light-dark cycles, harm wildlife, and alter human sleep patterns.

The Government of Bangladesh has announced a plan to modernize the country’s public transport system by introducing around 1,400 electric buses. Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Dr. Mohammad Ziaul Haque said the initiative aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and make transport cleaner, safer, and more efficient. The plan includes establishing a universal EV charging network and exploring new systems such as monorail.

According to the secretary, several projects are underway: 500 buses are under financing process, 300 buses are being implemented with South Korean support, and another 400-bus project awaits World Bank approval. Two separate procurement packages worth Tk 400 crore each have been added to accelerate purchases, including a special fleet for women passengers. The government expects visible progress on selected routes by December this year or early next year, initially targeting 200 buses.

A technical committee comprising BUET and MIST experts is developing unified standards for batteries, charging, and mechanical systems. The government is also considering incentives for private operators and discussing fare structures with the finance ministry to balance costs and affordability.

The Government of Bangladesh will launch the pilot phase of the 'Probashi Card' next month to provide multifaceted services for expatriate Bangladeshis. The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office, where it was announced that the trial launch will take place in mid-August. The initiative aims to enhance the social status, empowerment, and financial inclusion of expatriates through dual-currency cards enabling international payments and banking services.

According to the Prime Minister’s Press Wing, the Probashi Card will offer at least ten special benefits, including complimentary airport lounge access, priority immigration booths, meet-and-greet services, discounts on air tickets and hotel bookings, affordable car rentals, airport pick-and-drop for signature cardholders, dedicated service booths at government hospitals, and special discounts at private hospitals. Additional privileges include free repatriation of deceased cardholders, rehabilitation and insurance for returnees, priority in land registration and utility services, and remittance-linked financial incentives.

Initially, Janata Bank will issue the debit cards, targeting 50,000 cards by December 2026 and 200,000 by June 2027. In the second phase, Probashi Kallyan Bank will manage all related operations.

Saudi Arabia has introduced a new technology-driven service at the Grand Mosque in Mecca to assist Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. According to a Gulf News report published on Saturday, the initiative provides real-time crowd information for areas designated for Tawaf and Sa’i, allowing worshippers to choose less crowded routes and perform rituals more comfortably.

The authority responsible for maintaining the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque stated that the digital platform delivers live updates on crowd density and offers guidance to help avoid congestion. The service aims to enhance the overall experience of worshippers by improving movement and safety within the holy site.

Pilgrims can access the service through a QR code, which provides continuously updated information to facilitate smoother movement around the mosque. The system is expected to make crowd management more effective and ensure a more seamless and comfortable pilgrimage experience.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has introduced new conditions for receiving government grants for full-length film production. According to a circular issued by the ministry’s Film-2 branch on Wednesday, the third installment of funding will not be released unless 80 percent of the film’s shooting is completed. The directive is part of the revised ‘Government Grant Policy for Full-Length Film Production 2025,’ which also establishes an 11-member grant committee.

The committee, chaired by the ministry’s adviser, includes senior officials, film industry representatives, and cultural experts such as Professor Dr. Syed Jafar Iqbal, actress Humayra Islam Mukti, and the president of the Bangladesh Film Exhibitors Association, Awlad Hossain. It will approve the release of the second installment, verify shooting progress before the third installment, and provide final approval for selected scripts and proposals. The committee may also recommend suspending grants if no suitable proposals are received in a given year.

A separate 11-member committee has been formed for short film grants, also chaired by the ministry’s adviser. The new directives take effect immediately in the public interest.

The United States is facing a simultaneous onslaught of wildfires, floods, and smoke pollution, affecting multiple regions at once. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, 68 large wildfires are burning across 15 states, with 17 new fires ignited by lightning in the Pacific Northwest. Thick smoke has spread from the Great Lakes to Washington, D.C., while Texas’ Hill Country remains submerged under floodwaters for a third consecutive day. More than 17,400 firefighters, 140 helicopters, and four military C-130 air tankers have been deployed nationwide to combat the crises.

So far this year, about 3.72 million acres of forest have burned—over one million acres more than during the same period last year. Experts from several U.S. universities warn that overlapping disasters amplify overall damage. They link the extreme weather to abnormal jet stream patterns and human-driven climate change, which have tripled stagnant jet stream events since the 1950s.

Researchers also note that global warming intensifies both drought and heavy rainfall, creating conditions where wildfires and floods increasingly occur at the same time.

Iraq and the United States signed 48 agreements and memorandums of understanding during Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s visit to Washington. The deals include major partnerships in the energy sector, particularly oil, involving companies such as ExxonMobil, KBR, GE Vernova, Shell, and Halliburton. Iraq also reached agreements with Syria on constructing a crude oil pipeline and signed a deal with satellite communications firm Starlink to launch its services in the country.

Iraq, rich in oil resources, is seeking to rebuild its economy after decades of war and instability. The country continues to face challenges including weak infrastructure, poor public services, mismanagement, and widespread corruption. The recent halt in oil exports due to regional conflicts has severely impacted state revenues, prompting Baghdad to seek urgent investment and cooperation.

Prime Minister al-Zaidi, who took office earlier this year with U.S. support, has pledged to strengthen Iraq’s fragile economy and disarm Iran-backed armed groups. Iraq continues to balance its diplomatic relations between the United States and neighboring Iran.

Chinese-owned Huaran Tex Company Limited will invest 30 million US dollars to establish a textile manufacturing factory at the BEPZA Economic Zone in Mirsarai, Chattogram. The land lease agreement between the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) and Huaran Tex was signed on July 16 at the BEPZA Complex in Dhaka. The factory, to be built on 36,000 square meters of land, will produce 24,000 tons of yarn and 20 million meters of grey woven fabric annually once fully operational, creating employment for 580 Bangladeshi workers.

The agreement was signed by BEPZA Member (Investment Promotion) Md. Tanvir Hossain and Huaran Tex Managing Director Mr. Bin Wang, with BEPZA Executive Chairman Major General Mohammad Moazzem Hossain witnessing the ceremony. Senior officials from BEPZA and representatives of the company were also present.

During the event, the BEPZA Executive Chairman thanked Huaran Tex for choosing the BEPZA Economic Zone as its investment destination and reaffirmed BEPZA’s commitment to providing a secure, modern, and business-friendly environment for investors.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that the government has adopted long-term plans, including the construction of sustainable embankments, to minimize losses from floods and tidal surges. He said the government’s primary goal is public welfare and that as an elected administration, it is committed to standing by citizens during any disaster. He made the remarks on Saturday at an event in Pekua, Cox’s Bazar, where 100 houses are being built for flood-affected families under the Shamsul Haque Foundation’s initiative.

The minister stated that assistance programs have been introduced for affected farmers, fishers, and livestock owners, including the distribution of fertilizers, seeds, and other agricultural materials. Damaged educational institutions, roads, and other infrastructure will be repaired quickly. He added that local administrations and representatives, not the Water Development Board, will manage sluice gates to ensure timely water drainage.

Ahmed emphasized that floods and tidal surges are natural realities in coastal areas but said strong, permanent embankments and new sluice gates are being planned across Cox’s Bazar to reduce future damage.

The Department of Architecture under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works has issued a recruitment notice to fill 33 positions across nine categories. According to the announcement, applications opened on July 15, 2026, at 10 a.m. and will remain open until August 6, 2026, at 5 p.m. Interested candidates must apply online, and both men and women are eligible. The appointments will be made on a temporary basis, and selected candidates may be posted anywhere in the country.

Applicants must be between 18 and 32 years of age as of July 1, 2026, though departmental candidates for position number five may apply up to age 37. Affidavits will not be accepted as proof of age. Applications must include a scanned photograph sized 300×300 pixels and a signature sized 300×80 pixels. Incomplete or late submissions will not be accepted.

Application fees must be paid through Teletalk pre-paid SIM within 72 hours. The fee is 168 taka for positions 1 and 2, 112 taka for positions 3 to 8, and 56 taka for position 9.

Pakistan is set to take part in the Miss World pageant for the first time in its 73-year history. Twenty-four-year-old Anika Meraj has been selected as the country’s inaugural representative after winning the title of Miss World Pakistan 2026. She will represent Pakistan at the 75th anniversary edition of Miss World, scheduled to be held in Vietnam from August 9 to September 5, 2026. This marks Pakistan’s official debut on the international stage of the competition.

Anika Meraj has drawn attention not only for her beauty but also for her academic achievements. She holds undergraduate degrees in business administration and economics and is currently pursuing postgraduate studies in auditing and accounting. She has expressed aspirations to become a state-certified public accountant and to work for the protection of children’s rights and the promotion of women’s education.

According to Anika, she hopes to contribute to building a brighter future for Pakistan’s next generation through education and awareness.

The European Union (EU) and the Group of 77 and China have reaffirmed their support for Bangladesh’s efforts to ensure a smooth, sustainable, and irreversible graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category. The assurance came during two separate meetings at the United Nations headquarters, where Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir met with EU Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis and G77 Chair Ambassador Laura Dupuy Lasserre of Uruguay.

During the discussions, the commerce minister highlighted Bangladesh’s request to extend the LDC transition period by three years, citing ongoing economic and political transformation, global economic uncertainty, and energy challenges. He reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening governance, improving the financial sector, expanding infrastructure, mobilizing domestic resources, and fostering an investment-friendly environment.

Ambassador Lambrinidis praised Bangladesh’s commitment to good governance and sustainable development, welcomed the initiation of Bangladesh-EU free trade agreement talks, and assured continued EU support. Ambassador Lasserre endorsed Bangladesh’s rationale for extending the transition period and proposed a separate G77 briefing on Bangladesh’s graduation strategy, which the delegation welcomed.