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.

A powerful earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale struck Mexico’s southern Pacific coast on Friday local time. Following the quake, the U.S. Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami alert for coastal regions of Mexico and neighboring Guatemala. The agency warned that waves between 30 centimeters and one meter above normal tide levels could occur, urging residents in coastal areas to remain cautious.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake’s epicenter was near the fishing port city of Puerto Madero, about 15.2 kilometers below the surface. Salomón Jara Cruz, governor of Oaxaca state, said the quake was felt from moderate to strong intensity but no major casualties or significant damage had been reported so far. Local authorities are monitoring the situation closely.

Reuters reported that tremors were also felt in neighboring Guatemala and El Salvador, prompting residents in Guatemala City to rush outdoors as buildings shook. Officials said assessments of potential damage and ongoing monitoring are continuing.

In Dubai, widespread job losses have followed the outbreak of war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Migrant workers, including domestic helpers and accountants, are struggling to find employment as the city’s tourism- and aviation-driven economy suffers from Iranian missile and drone attacks. Many wealthy expatriates have left, while low- and middle-income workers face layoffs and pay cuts. The government has released little data on the economic damage, though the UAE’s economy and tourism minister described the disruption as temporary.

Workers from countries such as the Philippines, India, Egypt, and Cameroon report severe financial strain, with some unable to send remittances home. A ManpowerGroup survey found that one in four employers plans to reduce staff in the third quarter of 2026. Dubai Investments’ CEO expressed confidence in the city’s resilience, citing its history of recovery from crises. However, the downturn’s impact is extensive, threatening livelihoods and remittance flows across Asia and Africa.

Although a ceasefire between the United States and Iran has been reached, uncertainty over renewed conflict continues to weigh on Dubai’s labor market and economic outlook.

Germany could face annual economic losses exceeding €20 billion if extreme heatwaves become a regular occurrence, according to a study by the economic research institute Prognos. The analysis, prepared for the business newspaper Handelsblatt, found that each day with temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius costs Europe’s largest economy around €1 billion.

The study reported that the late-June heatwave alone caused an estimated €6.32 billion in losses. Prognos warned that if three to four similar heatwaves occur each year, the total annual damage could surpass €20 billion. The manufacturing sector is the most affected, followed by health and social services, retail, construction, and the food industry.

Researchers noted that their calculations did not include factors such as high electricity prices, equipment failures, supply chain disruptions, or long-term infrastructure damage. Including these could significantly increase the total losses. The report concluded that climate change-driven extreme weather poses growing risks to industrial economies like Germany’s.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said the government is tirelessly distributing relief to flood-affected people, but ensuring their rehabilitation will be the biggest challenge. He made the remarks on Friday, July 17, 2026, while speaking to journalists after distributing relief at West Amirabad Government Primary School field in Lohagara, Chattogram. The minister stated that around 700,000 people in Chattogram district have been affected by the floods, and relief has already reached about 100,000 individuals through coordinated government efforts.

He emphasized that the government is focusing on agriculture, fisheries, livestock, housing, and health sectors to restore livelihoods. Efforts are underway to assist farmers, fish farmers, and poor families whose crops, livestock, and homes were damaged. Measures are also being taken to ensure medical treatment for those suffering from flood-related diseases.

The minister praised charitable individuals, social organizations, and voluntary institutions for their contributions and urged everyone to continue supporting rehabilitation activities as part of their humanitarian responsibility.

In Bogura district, 19 out of 21 installed lightning arresters have been found inoperative, heightening public safety concerns amid rising lightning-related deaths. Over the past five years, 73 people have died in lightning strikes across the district, including five this year. The devices were installed in March 2021 across six upazilas under the district relief and rehabilitation department, each costing 680,000 taka. However, due to lack of maintenance, most have become nonfunctional, leaving only two operational units in Shibganj upazila.

Engineers noted that the effectiveness of lightning arresters depends on proper installation, grounding, and annual maintenance, especially before the monsoon. The devices in Bogura have not been inspected in the past five years, according to officials. A recent technical inspection, prompted by a directive from the disaster management department in April, confirmed that 19 units were out of order.

Local officials have informed higher authorities about the malfunctioning equipment and requested further action. Experts suggest that at least 120 devices are needed to adequately cover the district and protect farmers working in open fields.

Badiur Rahman has been elected chairman of the board of directors of Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC, while Selim Rahman has been chosen as chairman of the bank’s executive committee. The decisions were made unanimously at the bank’s 464th emergency board meeting held on Thursday.

Badiur Rahman, one of the founding directors of the bank, previously served as chairman from 2008 to 2016, during which the bank achieved notable growth. He is also a director of several business and social organizations, including AIBL Capital Market Services Limited, Central Hospital Limited, and Hardco International School. Upon assuming his new role, he noted that the appointment comes at a challenging time, as Bangladesh Bank has again appointed an observer to the institution, and he expressed hope for renewed progress with collective effort.

Selim Rahman, the newly elected executive committee chairman, is the managing director of KDS Group and has previously served two terms as chairman of Al-Arafah Islami Bank in 2021 and 2024. He is also the first vice president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

An amateur metal detectorist in northern Poland has discovered a remarkably well-preserved bronze sword estimated to be 2,700 years old. The weapon was found standing upright beneath clay soil in the Gdańsk Forest District near the Baltic Sea coast. The Pomeranian Provincial Heritage Conservator confirmed the discovery in early June through a Facebook post, describing it as an exceptional Bronze Age find dating between 900 and 700 BCE.

Archaeologists and heritage officials retrieved the artifact following proper excavation procedures. Photos released by the conservator show the sword intact and in excellent condition. The discoverer, Marcin Wiśniewski, had previously found Bronze Age treasures in the same region and promptly reported this find to authorities. Officials noted that similar swords were last uncovered in the 1920s but were lost during World War II.

The sword will be transferred to a museum for laboratory analysis before experts release detailed findings. The specific museum has not yet been decided, according to the provincial heritage office.

A team of astronomers has discovered a rocky exoplanet named LHS 1140b that shows clear evidence of an atmosphere, marking the first confirmed detection of such a feature on a potentially habitable rocky planet. The finding, published in the journal Science, indicates that the planet, located several light-years from our solar system, possesses a helium-rich atmosphere. Although no direct evidence of life has been found, researchers say the planet contains essential conditions for life, including a rocky surface, suitable temperature for liquid water, and an atmosphere.

LHS 1140b, first discovered in 2017, orbits a relatively quiet red dwarf star within its habitable zone, allowing the possibility of liquid water on its surface. The planet is larger and colder than Earth and completes an orbit in less than 25 days, always showing the same face to its star. Observations made in 2024 at Chile’s Las Campanas Observatory revealed helium escaping from its upper atmosphere, but this was not observed in 2025.

Scientists believe this discovery is a major step toward understanding planetary atmospheres and the search for life beyond Earth.