At least 13 people were killed after a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Kumamoto area of Kyushu, Japan’s main southern island, on Tuesday afternoon. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the death toll. More than 36,000 households remained without electricity, while the affected area lies about 900 kilometres southwest of Tokyo.

Takaichi said rescue operations for missing people continued after overnight efforts. Many people were injured and several remained missing, she said. Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency advised more than 260,000 people to move to safer locations, most of them in Kumamoto Prefecture. Evacuation instructions were also issued in neighbouring Nagasaki Prefecture.

According to an AP report, part of a shopping centre collapsed after the earthquake, with a gas leak initially suspected as the cause. Fire department information said several people were trapped when the second floor of Aeon Mall in Kashima city collapsed. A large chimney also fell at Nippon Paper Industries’ Yatsushiro plant, and Kumamoto emergency rescue teams said several people were trapped beneath the debris.

Construction on the six-lane upgrade of the Jhenaidah-Jashore highway is moving slowly amid delayed land acquisition and allegations of contractor negligence. The report, published on July 29, says the project’s extended term is due to end in December, but engineer Tuhin Al Mamun, project manager for phases 2 and 3, said completion within this year’s December is not possible. Slow progress has caused severe public inconvenience on the highway.

The project, under Western Economic Corridor, or WeCARE, Phase 1, was approved on November 24, 2020. It planned to acquire about 304 acres across Jashore and Jhenaidah, including 214 acres in Jhenaidah. Land acquisition has been completed for 45 percent in Kaliganj and about 50 percent in Jhenaidah Sadar. Coordination failures among six government departments delayed survey and inspection reports, slowing acquisition.

A revised proposal sent in June 2024 raised the estimated cost from Tk4,187 crore to Tk7,100 crore. Mamun said only 2 percent of work has been completed despite land handovers, and contractors have ignored repeated letters and requests to speed up. World Bank Division Director Jean Pem and Operations Manager Gail Martin expressed strong dissatisfaction during a July 19 site visit. A future World Bank meeting will decide whether the project term is extended.

A Facebook post by Nadimur Rahman Shishir, former president of Cumilla South district Chhatra Dal, has gone viral after he urged leaders to do something for their workers instead of enriching themselves. Shishir published the post from his verified Facebook account at 11 pm on Tuesday. Leaders from various Chhatra Dal units in Cumilla South district commented in agreement.

In the post, Shishir said leaders remember workers when they need them but questioned whether they ever check how those workers are managing. He said there was still time to act for workers rather than making personal pockets heavier. Chhatra Dal leader Atikur Rahman Bhuiyan commented that workers were dying without food while leaders lived luxurious lives.

Another commenter, Sohag Hossain, said workers were like unpaid labourers and that he heard discussion of workers only from Shishir. Shishir served as president of Cumilla South district Chhatra Dal during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Central Chhatra Dal left them out when it formed a new committee last year. Several former district leaders said they had not received proper recognition despite 17 years of movement and struggle.

Premier League champions Arsenal are assessing the possibility of signing Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior, according to a report published on July 29, 2026. Any formal move would depend on progress in his contract talks with the Spanish club. Arsenal could act if Vinicius does not renew his deal with Real Madrid.

The Athletic journalists David Ornstein and James McNicholas reported that Arsenal have considered several players to strengthen their attack, with Vinicius among the biggest names on the list. The interest remains at an early stage, and there is no certainty that a transfer will materialise. No formal talks have taken place between Arsenal and Real Madrid, although the idea has received positive support across Arsenal.

Vinicius has one year remaining on his current contract, with no progress reported in renewal discussions despite eight consecutive seasons at Real Madrid. The club would not want to lose him without a transfer fee and would also owe him a significant loyalty bonus if his contract expires next season. He scored 22 goals in all competitions in 2025-26, and has recorded 128 goals and 100 assists in 375 Real Madrid appearances since joining from Flamengo in 2018.

Bangladesh’s government has sought Malaysian technical assistance after a technical fault shut gas supplies from the Maheshkhali floating LNG terminal to the national grid on July 21. The outage has cut about 450 million cubic feet of gas daily, worsening shortages for households, factories, power plants, CNG stations and other users. State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit outlined the government’s response at a Secretariat press conference on July 29.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman sent a letter to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and later spoke with him by phone, requesting help to address the energy crisis. Education Adviser Mahdi Amin delivered the letter in Kuala Lumpur. Amit said Anwar had pledged to consult his team and relevant ministries quickly and inform Bangladesh’s prime minister. The government has also discussed possible LNG imports from Malaysia and using Malaysian experience and advice.

The energy division expects daily supplies of 280 to 300 million cubic feet to resume early next week, with the FSRU expected to be fully operational by the end of the following week. Residents of Mohammadpur and Adabor have announced a Friday protest over severe household shortages, low pressure and prolonged service problems.

In an article published on July 29, 2026, Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman examined social media’s growing influence on politics in Bangladesh and India. He cited the expulsion of an elderly Jamaat-e-Islami MP after videos went viral, saying the case again demonstrated the platform’s power in political and social life. Rahman wrote that Amar Desh spoke with relevant people in Dhaka and Satkhira and verified information before publishing its report.

The article also referred to a viral telephone conversation involving Education Minister Ehsanul Haq Milon, arrests over alleged online propaganda concerning the family of the prime minister’s security adviser, retired Major General Shamsul Islam, and anxiety among leaders from several political groups. Rahman argued that Facebook and YouTube had previously become tools of movements as trust in mainstream media weakened.

He discussed India’s satirical “Cockroach Janata Party” online platform and its role in mobilising protest. However, he warned that weak accountability can make social media a vehicle for false information, privacy violations and cyberbullying. He added that artificial intelligence has increased risks of authoritarian governments spreading false, distorted and defamatory material against dissenters, making balanced social media use a major challenge.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has called nationwide protest rallies for Wednesday, July 29, over an alleged attack on its march in Habiganj. In a statement issued by the party’s office cell on Tuesday night, NCP said the protest programme was in response to an attack on the motorcade of chief organiser Sarjis Alam and chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary during a peaceful march.

The party instructed all of its metropolitan, district, upazila and police-station branches to organise local protests and rallies. It also asked relevant organisational units to make necessary preparations for orderly implementation of the programme and ensure that party leaders and activists attend on time.

Sarjis Alam said two marches scheduled in Moulvibazar on Wednesday under the northern region’s July march roadmap would be temporarily suspended in protest. He said a protest procession and rally would instead be held in Habiganj town at 3 pm. NCP convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam, member secretary Akhtar Hossain, Sarjis Alam, Hasnat Abdullah, joint convener Dr Atiq Mujahid MP, Sarwar Tushar and other central leaders were listed as expected attendees.

A 211-page report by Bangladesh’s National Independent Investigation Commission into the Pilkhana killings has not been officially released eight months after its submission, according to Amar Desh. The seven-member commission, led by retired Major General A L M Fazlur Rahman, submitted the report to then interim chief adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus on November 30, 2025. The commission chief had said the report was unclassified and could be made public.

The report reportedly alleges evidence of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s “green signal,” a parallel command structure and direct Indian involvement. The commission worked for 114 days, took testimony from more than 300 witnesses, imposed travel restrictions on 33 people and sought information from six countries’ embassies and the UN resident coordinator. Commission member Professor Shariful Islam said passport records showed 827 Indian passport holders had been present at Pilkhana.

The commission made more than 70 specific recommendations, but the report says none has been implemented. It also says no judicial commission has been formed and no criminal cases have been brought against those accused. Families of slain army officers have demanded full publication of the report, criminal proceedings, a special tribunal, an official response from India, and security for witnesses and bereaved families.

Fire Service personnel rescued seven students trapped inside a lift at the six-storey Department of Social Services building in Netrokona town on July 28. The lift stopped on the fourth floor at about 10:45am because of a mechanical fault. The students had gone to the building to attend a training programme organised by the department.

Those rescued were Mehedi Hasan, 19; Rifat, 16; Shuvo, 16; Moun, 17; Srabon, 18; Payel, 17; and Siam, 17. They are students of different educational institutions. An eight-member team led by Netrokona Fire Station Senior Station Officer Khane Alam Khan reached the site around 11am after receiving the report and began the rescue operation.

Fire Service members used a hydraulic spreader to open the lift door and bring all seven students out safely. The operation ended at 11:20am. Khan said the incident resulted from the lift's mechanical malfunction. None of the students was injured.

National Citizen Party chief organiser Sarjis Alam announced a protest march and rally in Habiganj town at 3pm on Wednesday over what he described as an attack on the NCP in Habiganj. In a Facebook post made late Tuesday night, he said two planned marches in Moulvibazar district would be temporarily suspended under the northern region’s July march roadmap.

Sarjis described the incident as a “shameful terrorist attack” by the BNP and directed strong remarks at BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman. He wrote that they wanted to see how much blood could be shed, how many teenagers’ eyes could be gouged out, and how many lives could be taken by what he called Rahman’s “terrorist force.”

According to the post, NCP convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam, member secretary Akhtar Hossain, Sarjis Alam and southern region chief organiser Hasnat Abdullah are expected to attend the Habiganj programme. Central joint convener Dr Atik Mujahid MP, Sarwar Tushar and leaders from various central levels are also expected to be present.

The 8 Armed Police Battalion arrested a Rohingya youth in connection with the abduction of a six-year-old child from a Rohingya camp in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. Battalion commander Riaz Uddin Ahmad confirmed the arrest on the night of July 29. The suspect, Zakaria, 30, is the son of Saiful Islam and a resident of Block 1 in Camp 18.

Police began gathering information after a Facebook page called “Rohingya Lens” uploaded a video on July 27 showing the child’s hands tied while a knife was held in front of him. The child could be heard screaming in fear. Through local camp leaders, police identified the child as Rahmat Ali, son of Mohammad Junaid and a resident of Camp 11.

According to police, Rahmat Ali was abducted on July 22 and the abductors demanded Tk320,000 in ransom. His family recovered him after paying the demanded amount on July 26, but did not initially seek legal action because of continuing threats. Acting on confidential information, police arrested Zakaria at a tea stall in Block K/09 of Camp 18 at about 10:30pm. He was handed to Ukhiya police and sent to a Cox’s Bazar court in the related case.

Sylhet metropolitan NCP, Jubo Shakti and Chhatra Shakti activists held a torch procession and protest rally against an attack on central leaders Sarjis Alam and Nasiruddin Patwary in Habiganj. The leaders were travelling to join the National Citizen Party’s July Awakening march. The procession began Tuesday night from in front of the Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar in Chouhatta.

The march moved through major city roads before ending in a brief rally in the Zindabazar area. Participants chanted slogans protesting the attack and demanded the swift arrest and trial of those responsible. Metropolitan NCP convener Advocate Md Abdur Rahman Afzal said an attack on central leaders during a peaceful political programme was an assault on democratic rights and political tolerance.

Afzal said tougher programmes would be announced with public participation if those involved were not brought under the law and given exemplary punishment. In a separate joint statement, Sylhet district NCP convener Juned Ahmed and member secretary Kamrul Arif demanded the arrest of attackers, planners and instigators within 24 hours. They also called for an impartial investigation, including scrutiny of the role of law enforcement agencies.

Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the US House Judiciary Committee, has opened an inquiry into FIFA’s relationship with President Donald Trump, his administration and his associates. In a letter sent Sunday to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Raskin requested records of communications, gifts, payments or benefits involving FIFA and Trump-linked figures. He also asked Infantino to take part in an interview for the congressional record.

Raskin sought visitor logs for FIFA’s office in Trump Tower, which opened last July. The letter cited controversy over Trump receiving the newly introduced FIFA Peace Prize at a World Cup draw in Washington and allegations that he contacted Infantino over the lifting of US forward Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension. FIFA later lifted the suspension, prompting criticism and dissatisfaction from football associations in several countries. The letter also questioned FIFA’s ethics accountability structure and ticket sales using dynamic pricing.

Raskin asked FIFA to provide the requested documents and arrange an interview by August 9. Without Republican support, he cannot compel Infantino to appear because Democrats do not hold a House majority. Infantino said Monday that critics were spreading hatred and false information, while describing the World Cup as a successful event. The report said he has support from more than 200 member countries before the FIFA presidential election in March.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has strongly condemned and protested an alleged attack on National Citizen Party’s July March in Habiganj, involving senior party figures Sarjis Alam, Nasiruddin Patwary and other activists. The position was announced in a joint statement on Tuesday, July 28, by the organisation’s central president Nurul Islam and secretary general Sibgatullah.

The group alleged that BNP and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal cadres carried out a surprise attack on the NCP’s peaceful programme. It said an NCP media team microbus, several journalists’ vehicles and state facilities inside the district circuit house were vandalised. The statement also alleged that journalists’ mobile phones and cameras were taken and that journalists were attacked and injured.

Chhatra Shibir also cited an earlier alleged egg-throwing and attack on Nasiruddin Patwary in Jhenaidah, as well as a bomb explosion at an NCP post-march rally in Savar. It called on BNP and Chhatra Dal senior leaders to identify those involved and take strict organisational action. The organisation also demanded exemplary punishment under existing law.

The National Citizen Party, or NCP, held a protest march in Dhaka against an alleged attack on its leaders and activists in Habiganj. The march began at Bangla Motor around 10pm on Tuesday and ended at Shahbagh intersection. Central leaders, including Zainal Abedin and Tarikul Islam, led the procession.

NCP leaders blamed Jubo Dal activists for the attack on Nasiruddin Patwary, Sarjis Alam and other party members. They said the government had failed to ensure the security of July’s heroes and warned of tougher protest programmes if those involved in the incident were not arrested quickly.

The party also called for protest rallies across the country on Wednesday. In a letter sent by its office cell on Tuesday night, NCP condemned what it described as a BNP terrorist attack on the vehicle convoy of chief organiser Sarjis Alam and chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary during a peaceful march in Habiganj. Metropolitan, district, upazila and thana units were instructed to organise local demonstrations and ensure disciplined implementation of the programme.