Israel is moving forward with plans to construct 1,024 new settlement units on 1,264 acres of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission. The commission alleged on Friday that these projects are intended to strengthen Israel’s integration of the occupied territories with its mainland and expand Jewish settlements.

The commission stated that Israel’s Higher Planning Council, under the Civil Administration, has discussed nine settlement construction plans since early July. Of these, 455 units have been approved, while 569 are awaiting further planning stages. The projects include the expansion of the Mevo Dotan settlement on land near Arraba in southern Jenin, and additional plans for Beit Hagai and Asael settlements in the Hebron governorate.

According to the commission, Israel is prioritizing expansion of existing settlements by revising construction plans, land-use policies, and zoning regulations to increase density. The United Nations has repeatedly affirmed that Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories are illegal under international law and undermine prospects for a two-state solution.

Seven people were killed and at least 24 others injured in a Ukrainian drone attack on a logistics center in Russia’s western Tambov region, according to Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov on Saturday. The strike targeted a Wildberries logistics facility located in the city of Kotovsk during the night shift, resulting in casualties among workers on duty.

Rescue operations and damage assessments were underway following the attack, the governor said. Ukraine has not issued any immediate comment regarding the incident. The report was carried by AFP and published by Amader Desh Online on July 18, 2026.

The attack comes amid a surge in drone strikes across border and interior regions of both Russia and Ukraine, reflecting an escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two countries.

Kuwait Airways has announced a temporary suspension of flight takeoffs and landings at Kuwait International Airport following a recent Iranian attack. The airline stated that it has adjusted the schedules of most of its flights in response to the situation. Passengers have been advised to stay updated on the latest flight information through official channels.

According to the airline’s statement, notifications and text messages will be sent to phone numbers registered during booking to inform passengers of any updates. The decision comes amid heightened regional tensions linked to the Iranian attack, which has affected air travel operations in the area.

The airline’s advisory underscores the uncertainty surrounding flight operations and the need for travelers to monitor official communications for further developments.

Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal will play in the World Cup final against Argentina on Sunday, but his father, Munir Nasraoui, will not be in the stands. While Yamal’s mother, younger brother, and friends have been cheering from the gallery throughout the tournament, Nasraoui’s absence has drawn attention. He had accompanied his son during Spain’s Euro 2024 campaign but could not travel to the United States for the World Cup due to health issues.

According to Spanish outlet El Español, Nasraoui suffers from epilepsy, making long flights risky for him. Before the tournament, he expressed concern that the excitement and stress of the final could trigger severe seizures. He explained that he takes daily medication and decided to stay home for his own safety and the comfort of others. Nasraoui said watching the match from home was the best choice for everyone.

Despite his father’s absence, Yamal continues to receive strong support from his family, with his mother and brother actively cheering from the stands throughout the competition.

The United States has decided not to extend the national emergency declared over Hong Kong’s autonomy under China’s national security law. U.S. officials confirmed the decision on Friday, noting that the emergency order, first imposed in 2020, will expire. However, Washington has not yet decided whether to restore Hong Kong’s previous special trade privileges.

China’s Ministry of Commerce welcomed the move, calling it an important step toward implementing recent economic and trade understandings between the two countries. The emergency was originally declared during Donald Trump’s presidency after Beijing enacted the national security law, which Washington said undermined Hong Kong’s autonomy and posed an extraordinary threat to U.S. national security. The order had been renewed annually until now.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said that while the emergency order will lapse, other provisions of the 2020 executive order remain in effect. The Treasury Department added that sanctions on 39 of 48 individuals will continue under a separate law to avoid duplication. Hong Kong’s government also welcomed the policy shift, expressing hope for renewed normal trade relations.

In Rajshahi, the scholarship results for 238 students from 11 schools have gone missing, sparking widespread concern among teachers, parents, and students. The incident occurred at the Rajshahi Upashahar Model Government Primary School examination center, where none of the students appeared on the list of scholarship recipients published on July 12, 2026. Following the discovery, teachers, students, and guardians held a human chain protest and submitted a memorandum demanding a re-evaluation, impartial investigation, and corrected results within five working days.

Officials acknowledged the irregularity but said the cause remains unclear. The Boalia Thana Education Officer explained that answer scripts were sent to the district treasury and then to external examiners, suggesting that the issue could have occurred at any stage. The District Primary Education Officer noted that a technical error in the OMR-based result preparation might be responsible. The incident has raised serious questions about the reliability of the entire evaluation system.

Parents and teachers fear the episode has deeply affected students’ confidence, as many now doubt their own abilities despite the uncertainty surrounding their actual results.

Two years after the 2024 revolution, Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur still has no memorial for Abu Sayeed, the young man whose death during the quota reform movement became a national symbol. Although his name appears on a few plaques, no monument or museum has been built in his honor. A Tk 1,090 crore development project announced after the revolution included plans for a gate, museum, memorial, and street memory stamps, but none of these have materialized.

Students expressed frustration that despite government approval, construction of the Abu Sayeed monument and related structures has not begun. They urged the authorities to act swiftly so that future generations can remember his sacrifice. Abu Sayeed’s father and brother also demanded the swift implementation of the murder verdict and the promised mosque in his name, lamenting delays and lack of visible progress.

University officials said the process to name the gate after Abu Sayeed is complete and that one of four new dormitories will bear his name. They added that the Liberation War Affairs Minister will inspect the proposed site for the memorial before construction begins.

The United States Department of State has issued a travel advisory urging American citizens to reconsider any plans to visit or transit through the Middle East. The warning, released on social media platform X on July 18, 2026, comes amid escalating tensions across the region. The department stated that the overall security situation has become highly complex and could deteriorate unexpectedly at any time.

According to the statement, Americans currently in the Middle East are advised to exercise maximum caution and stay informed by regularly monitoring news updates. Travelers passing through the region are also urged to contact their airlines to confirm flight schedules and ensure operations are proceeding as planned.

The advisory reflects growing concern over instability in the Middle East, where recent incidents have heightened security risks for foreign nationals, including Americans.

A young man died from electrocution while allegedly trying to steal an electric transformer in Magura’s Sadar upazila on Saturday morning. The incident occurred in the Chandpur Paschimpara area, where the body of Firoz Biswas, 25, was found beneath a rural electricity pole. He was the son of Bisharat Biswas and worked as a driver of an engine-run vehicle.

Local residents claimed that the accident happened during an attempt to steal the transformer. Police recovered tools suspected to have been used in the theft from the scene. Sub-inspector Ataul Gani of Magura Sadar Police Station said locals discovered the body and informed police, who sent it to Magura Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Authorities stated that the initial assumption is death by electrocution, but the exact cause will be confirmed after the post-mortem report. Legal procedures related to the incident are currently underway.

U.S. President Donald Trump remains firm in his belief that heavy military strikes will force Iran’s leaders to negotiate on his terms, despite nearly five months of conflict. In a Fox News interview, Trump threatened to destroy Iran’s power plants and bridges if Tehran refuses talks. The campaign, which began in late February, saw the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and top commanders in an Israeli strike, followed by extensive U.S. attacks on Iranian military targets. A ceasefire in April collapsed this month, reigniting hostilities.

The conflict has revived debates within the Pentagon and the White House over the limits of American military power and lessons from past wars. Officials note that Iran has rebuilt much of its missile and drone infrastructure, while Trump’s threats to hit civilian infrastructure have raised internal legal concerns about potential war crimes. Retired generals remain divided: some argue for intensified strikes on Iran’s power grid, while others warn that excessive force rarely secures lasting victory.

Analysts suggest the U.S. faces a hardened Iranian leadership unwilling to compromise, echoing past failures to turn battlefield success into political resolution.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose additional tariffs on Canada, blaming the country for smoke from its wildfires spreading into North American cities. On Friday, Trump complained on social media about poor air quality, accusing Canada of failing to properly maintain its forests and vegetation. He described the air entering the United States as dirty, polluted, and unhealthy, calling it dangerous and unacceptable.

Trump said he plans to speak with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney about the issue and indicated that the resulting damages would be added to existing tariffs. According to the report, Canada currently has 896 active wildfires, with about 200 in Ontario, where 81 remain out of control. Since returning to office in January 2025 for his second term, Trump has increased tariff pressure on Canada over various issues, including border security and trade policy, and has even made remarks about making Canada the 51st U.S. state.

The statement marks another escalation in trade tensions between the two neighboring countries amid ongoing environmental challenges.

Apple has reclaimed its position as the world’s most valuable company, overtaking Nvidia after more than a year. According to the latest figures, Apple’s market capitalization reached 4.88 trillion dollars, while Nvidia’s fell to 4.86 trillion dollars following a 3.5 percent drop in its share price. The shift comes as investor interest in the artificial intelligence sector changes direction, affecting market dynamics.

Apple recently introduced a new version of its AI-powered digital assistant Siri, which can better understand user context, access real-time online information, and perform more complex tasks. Michael Monaghan, founder of investment firm Founder ETFs, noted that investors are now focusing more on companies that can translate AI technology into practical services and commercial benefits rather than solely on AI model developers and chipmakers.

Analysts believe Apple’s vast user data could become a key competitive advantage in the AI race. The company is set to release its third-quarter financial results on July 30, forecasting 14 to 17 percent sales growth, while CEO Tim Cook is expected to hand over leadership to hardware chief John Ternus in September.

At least 14 Palestinians were killed across the Gaza Strip following Israeli attacks, according to reports on July 18, 2026. Most of the victims were attending a funeral when Israeli forces launched a drone strike in the Al-Balata market area of the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Witnesses said the attack occurred outside Ahmad Yasin Mosque as mourners gathered for a funeral of another person killed earlier in the same area.

The Israeli military acknowledged conducting the strike, claiming it targeted a “terrorist group,” but said it was investigating reports of civilian casualties. The attack came about nine months after a ceasefire with Hamas was declared, yet Israeli operations have reportedly continued almost daily. Al Jazeera journalist Hani Mahmoud stated that the ceasefire was being disregarded as civilians were attacked during a funeral.

Hamas condemned the strike, accusing Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire and killing innocent civilians while the international community fails to take effective action.

Iran has launched attacks on US military installations in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, according to reports published on July 18, 2026. Tehran claimed that American air bases, radar systems, weapons depots, and fighter jets in these countries were damaged. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that the strikes were carried out in retaliation for recent US attacks inside Iran.

The IRGC said its forces destroyed Bahrain’s main AI center and a US drone vessel depot. It accused the United States of committing war crimes by attacking several Iranian bridges and killing civilians the previous night. Axios reported that the strike on a US base in Saudi Arabia, involving ballistic missiles, was Iran’s first direct attack in the Gulf in about four months.

Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain announced that they intercepted several Iranian missiles and drones, while Qatar said its armed forces thwarted multiple air raids. Jordan’s military confirmed intercepting ten missiles early Saturday without casualties or property damage.

The United States carried out airstrikes in Iran for the seventh consecutive day, according to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). The attacks targeted Iranian surveillance centers, military supply infrastructure, underground arsenals, and maritime capabilities. CENTCOM stated that the latest strikes concluded on the night of July 17 and were conducted under presidential directives to hold Iran accountable.

The command further reported that U.S. forces are enforcing a strict naval blockade on Iranian ports and maintaining heightened readiness across the Middle East. More than 50,000 American troops are currently deployed in the region, with CENTCOM emphasizing their preparedness to take any necessary action.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, highlights the ongoing escalation between the United States and Iran, with continued military operations and regional tensions remaining high.