At least eight people were killed and six others went missing after heavy rains triggered landslides and flash floods in India-administered Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and Rajouri districts. Rescue operations are underway in the affected areas, with the most severe damage reported in Surankote of Poonch, where a house was buried by a landslide. Two bodies were recovered from the site, while six people remain unaccounted for. Several others died as homes collapsed or they drowned in floodwaters.

In Rajouri town, floodwaters entered residential areas, forcing hundreds of residents to move to safer locations. Numerous vehicles were swept away, causing extensive property damage. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah cut short his Delhi visit to return to Jammu and oversee the situation, stating that the administration is prioritizing relief efforts for the victims.

The weather department has forecast moderate to heavy rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir until July 23, raising concerns about further flooding and landslides in the region.

Iran has carried out large-scale destructive drone attacks on two US military bases in Kuwait, according to a statement from the Iranian army. The announcement, broadcast on state-run IRIB, said that Iranian drones struck an ammunition depot at Camp Al Adiri and targeted Patriot and air defense radar systems at Ali Al Salem Air Base.

Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned that any act of aggression or brutality would be met with a decisive and destructive response. The statement framed the attacks as retaliation against what Iran described as US aggression.

The report, citing Al Jazeera as its source, did not provide details on casualties, damage assessments, or any official response from the United States or Kuwaiti authorities.

Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has alleged that large-scale corruption occurred in 2022 during the broadcasting of the FIFA World Cup under the Hasina government. He claimed that Tk 140 crore of state funds were misappropriated in the name of showing the tournament. The minister made the remarks on Sunday at a press conference held at the Department of Information in the Secretariat.

Swapan stated that at that time, Tk 140 crore was transacted under the name of Toma Construction. In contrast, the current arrangement has been reduced to between Tk 4 and 5 crore, and efforts are underway to further minimize the cost. He expressed hope that the government would eventually bear no expenses for the broadcast. The event was attended by Chief Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmad and senior officials from BTV and the Ministry of Information.

The minister’s comments indicate that an investigation is ongoing into the alleged corruption surrounding the previous administration’s handling of World Cup broadcasting funds.

Astronomers have discovered two of the lightest giant planets ever found, located about 1,100 light-years from Earth in a distant star system. The newly identified gas planets, named TOI-791b and TOI-791c, were first detected by volunteers from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite project. Despite being similar in size to Jupiter, their masses are only 3 to 6 percent of Jupiter’s, making their densities comparable to aerogel, the lightest man-made material.

The research, led by Oxford University astrophysicist George Dransfield, describes these planets as 'super-puffs'—gas giants with extremely small cores that defy conventional planetary formation models. The phenomenon challenges existing theories, as such small cores should not be able to retain vast gaseous atmospheres. The term 'super-puff' was first introduced in 2016 by astrophysicist Eve J. Lee, who suggested that these planets form only under very specific cold and dust-free conditions.

Scientists plan to use the James Webb Space Telescope to study the structure and composition of these planets in greater detail, though a complete understanding of their motion may take nearly a century.

An investigation report has been submitted to the tribunal’s prosecution naming 41 individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as accused in the 2013 Shapla Chattar killings case. The report was filed on Sunday morning and relates to the violence that occurred on May 5, 2013, during a Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel.

According to the report, Sheikh Hasina, who is currently absconding, has been listed as the prime accused. Other accused include former army chief General Aziz, former state minister for home Shamsul Haque Tuku, former inspectors general of police Benazir Ahmed and A.K.M. Shahidul Haque, and retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan. Media figures such as former Ekattor TV editor-in-chief Mozammel Haque Babu, former chief reporter Farzana Rupa, and journalist Shahriar Kabir are also among the accused.

The submission of the report marks a significant procedural step in the long-pending case concerning the 2013 incident, which drew national attention at the time.

The European Union has issued a binding directive requiring Google to provide equal access for rival artificial intelligence (AI) applications on its Android operating system. The order also mandates Google to share certain search-related data with competing search engines and qualified AI chatbots in anonymized form. According to the EU, Google’s own AI assistant, Gemini, currently enjoys privileged access to key Android features, limiting fair competition in the digital market.

Under the new rules, Android users will be able to choose their preferred AI assistant, similar to selecting a web browser. Google must ensure that chosen AI apps can be activated via voice commands and integrated with smart features. The company is required to start sharing search data by January 2027 and open Android functionalities to competitors by July of the same year. Data protection measures will be independently evaluated by a third party.

Google has opposed the decision, arguing it could endanger user privacy and device security. Apple has expressed similar concerns, warning that such obligations may increase risks to personal data protection. The EU maintains that the directive aims to foster fair competition, innovation, and user choice in the digital market.

The government of Bangladesh is preparing to implement a Tk 6,000 crore project aimed at improving border connectivity roads under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). A Development Project Proposal (DPP) titled 'Border Connectivity Road Rural Infrastructure Development Project' has been prepared, with an estimated cost of Tk 5,991.28 crore and a project duration from July 2026 to June 2031. A letter signed by LGED’s acting chief engineer Belal Hossain was sent to the Local Government Division secretary on July 12, requesting necessary approval.

According to the source, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has not yet been involved or informed about the project. However, a senior BGB officer acknowledged that poor road conditions currently hinder troop movement and welcomed the government’s initiative. Rangpur Range DIG Aminul Islam and Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Shahidul Islam both stated that improved border roads would help curb smuggling, illegal entry, and enhance rapid response capabilities.

The project proposal follows a series of reports published by the newspaper highlighting challenges faced by BGB and border residents, prompting LGED to take this development initiative.

Israel’s security forces have enlisted prominent Jewish rabbis to help counter Iranian espionage and recruitment efforts inside the country. The initiative follows reports that Iranian agents are using the internet and social media to lure Israelis into photographing sensitive sites, hiding weapons, or carrying out attacks. Rabbi Igal Cohen, a member of Israel’s Chief Rabbinical Council, released a video warning followers not to fall into such traps, calling the acts both criminal and religiously forbidden. The campaign also involves other influential figures from the ultra-Orthodox community, including Israel Cohen, who helped connect rabbis with security officials.

Authorities have opened more than 60 espionage-related cases in recent months involving soldiers, civilians, and members of various communities. Investigations reveal that Iranian operatives often use Telegram and fake SMS messages to target individuals, offering money for seemingly harmless photos before demanding sensitive military or infrastructure information. Several arrests have been made, including a U.S. student, Israeli soldiers, and civilians accused of leaking data or plotting attacks.

One of the most notable cases involves two brothers accused of using ChatGPT to forge intelligence documents and spread false claims about Iran’s president’s death, allegedly for payment in digital currency. Their court hearing is scheduled for Sunday.

Continuous rainfall and flooding have severely damaged Chattogram’s agricultural sector, affecting crops and water sources across 16 upazilas. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, more than 15,911 hectares of farmland, including Aus paddy, Aman seedbeds, and summer vegetables, have been damaged, with estimated financial losses exceeding Tk 400 crore. Around 20,000 tube wells and over 5,000 toilets were also damaged, creating acute shortages of food and safe drinking water in affected areas.

The worst-hit upazilas include Banshkhali, Sandwip, Chandanaish, Fatikchhari, and Satkania, where large portions of Aus paddy and vegetables were destroyed. Many farmers will need to replant Aman seedbeds, increasing production costs. Health experts have warned that contaminated tube wells could trigger outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea and typhoid if safe water is not ensured.

Officials from the Department of Public Health Engineering said damage assessments are underway, and efforts are being made to repair or reinstall tube wells and restore safe water supply to flood-affected communities.

Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus participated in the Global Nobel Laureates Assembly on Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear War, held at the Vatican’s Borgo Laudato Si’ from July 16 to 18, 2026. The three-day conference concluded at Rome’s Capitoline Hill with the signing of a joint declaration titled “Humanity at the Threshold,” endorsed by Nobel laureates including Romano Prodi, Jody Williams, Maria Ressa, Denis Mukwege, and Juan Manuel Santos.

The declaration warns that the convergence of artificial intelligence and nuclear weapons poses an unprecedented threat to humanity. It draws parallels between the dawn of the nuclear age and the current AI era, cautioning that an AI-driven arms race could intensify existing nuclear rivalries. The signatories emphasized that AI is undermining human decision-making in nuclear command systems, heightening cyber risks to critical infrastructure, and eroding trust essential for global peace.

The document outlines six principles, calling for restraint in AI and nuclear arms development, responsible technology governance, exclusion of AI from nuclear decision-making, creation of international oversight bodies, youth leadership in addressing global challenges, and verifiable nuclear disarmament within set timelines.

Since the onset of the war between Iran and the United States, the number of American soldiers killed has risen to sixteen. The latest incident occurred on Saturday in Jordan, where an Iranian attack claimed the lives of two US troops. More than 430 soldiers have been injured, and one remains missing.

The first fatalities were reported on March 1, when six US soldiers were killed in a drone strike by Iran at a civilian port in Kuwait. On the same day, another soldier wounded in an Iranian attack on Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base later died. Subsequently, on March 12, six more soldiers were killed when a fuel supply aircraft supporting a US military operation in Iraq crashed.

Additionally, on July 1, a US Navy pilot died when a helicopter went down in the Arabian Sea. The Navy stated there was no indication that the crash resulted from enemy action.

International human rights group Fortify Rights has reported that at least 140 people have died in Malaysia’s immigration detention centers since the government began a strict crackdown on undocumented migrants in 2024. The organization based its findings on data released by Malaysia’s Home Ministry in Parliament, noting that between 2021 and 2025, a total of 465 detainees died, including 393 men, 60 women, and 12 minors. Fortify Rights called for an independent investigation into the deaths, citing overcrowding, medical neglect, and inhumane conditions as major causes.

According to the group, the intensified operations against undocumented migrants and refugees have led to a surge in arrests, with 22,045 people currently held in facilities designed for 21,530. The Home Ministry attributed the deaths to diseases such as sepsis, leptospirosis, and meningitis, but Fortify Rights argued that poor sanitation, contaminated water, and delayed medical care worsened these conditions. Interviews with former detainees revealed allegations of severe neglect, punishment for requesting treatment, and reliance on basic painkillers instead of proper medical care.

Fortify Rights urged Malaysia to comply with international human rights standards, including the UN’s Nelson Mandela Rules, ensuring equal and timely healthcare for all detainees and accountability for preventable deaths.

Japan is witnessing a rise in anti-Muslim sentiment as mosque construction projects face growing resistance. In Fujisawa city, a planned mosque project in late 2025 sparked strong opposition, with over 32,000 people signing an online petition and raising about 1 million yen to halt construction. Despite meeting all legal requirements, the project triggered protests against the city government. Right-wing politicians and social media influencers have been accused of spreading anti-immigrant rhetoric and false claims linking mosques to crime or cemetery construction.

Japan’s Muslim population has grown to around 420,000, or 0.3 percent of the total population, with about 167 mosques nationwide as of 2025. Burial practices remain a major challenge, as 99.9 percent of bodies in Japan are cremated, leaving few options for Muslim burials. Attempts to establish private cemeteries since 1967 have faced local opposition, though some Buddhist monks have shared burial spaces, creating about ten Muslim cemeteries.

Experts cited by the East Asian Forum note that the lack of central government guidance and Japan’s refusal to identify as an immigrant nation have left local authorities struggling to manage integration and social harmony.

Iran has warned that it will deliver a devastating response to any act of aggression or brutality by the United States. Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, issued the warning on July 19, 2026, emphasizing that any U.S. attack would be met with a decisive and destructive reply.

Abdollahi pledged to strengthen unity among Iran’s armed forces, citizens, and officials, asserting that the country would make the United States pay a heavier price than in past conflicts. In a statement, he accused Iran’s enemies of attempting to sow division and discord between the Iranian people and their leaders following a series of military setbacks.

The remarks, reported by Middle East Eye, reflect Tehran’s continued stance of resistance amid tensions with Washington, underscoring its readiness to respond forcefully to perceived threats.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has deployed special teams across Bangladesh to strengthen monitoring and verification of tax deduction at source. According to an official statement issued on Sunday by NBR’s Public Relations Officer Al Amin Sheikh, the teams are inspecting various commercial and economic institutions under the authority granted by Section 147 of the Income Tax Act, 2023.

The NBR notice explained that under Section 147, tax officials are empowered to enter business premises, examine financial records, and access digital systems, including cloud servers and encrypted data, to verify the authenticity of tax deductions. They may temporarily seize relevant documents or electronic devices and mark or seal copies of records as needed. The law also provides for penalties in cases of obstruction or non-cooperation during these operations.

The NBR urged taxpayers to deposit deducted taxes into the government treasury through e-challan using the correct legal provisions and economic codes. It also advised taxpayers to contact the Section 147 committee’s member secretary via email for assistance in case of confusion, complexity, or grievances related to the enforcement of the law.