Iran launched missile attacks on two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one sailor and injuring eight others, according to a statement from the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday. Among the injured were six Indian and two Ukrainian crew members. The incident adds to a series of deadly maritime attacks in the region since the Iran–US-Israel conflict began on February 28.

The United Nations reported last month that at least 14 sailors have been killed in attacks around the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began, with most of the victims being Indian nationals. Previous incidents include a March 1 strike on the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker MKD Byom, which killed one Indian sailor, and another attack the same day on the Palau-flagged Skylight tanker that killed two more Indians. Additional attacks in May and June also claimed Indian lives, including a U.S. strike on June 9 that killed three Indian sailors near Oman.

The repeated attacks underscore escalating maritime risks in the Hormuz region amid ongoing hostilities between Iran and U.S.-aligned forces.

Bangladesh’s position in the global apparel trade has come under renewed pressure as its export growth lags behind global trends. According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), global apparel exports grew by 4.46 percent this year, while Bangladesh’s growth was only 0.89 percent. The country’s market share fell from 7 percent in 2024 to 6.76 percent, reversing earlier gains. In contrast, Vietnam’s export value reached 37.51 billion dollars in 2025, just 1.31 billion dollars below Bangladesh’s 38.82 billion, sharply narrowing the gap from previous years.

The WTO data indicates that Vietnam and Cambodia have become key drivers of global apparel trade expansion, benefiting from China’s shrinking market share. Cambodia’s exports grew by 16.88 percent and Vietnam’s by 10.53 percent, while Bangladesh failed to capitalize on shifting orders. Industry analyst Mohiuddin Rubel attributed Vietnam’s advantage to free trade agreements, shorter lead times, better port management, and stable supply chains. He added that Bangladesh’s garment sector remains strong but needs policy support and a business-friendly environment to regain momentum.

Export data from Eurostat and Otexa show sharp declines in Bangladesh’s shipments to the EU and US. The Export Promotion Bureau has recommended a 58 billion dollar export target for 2026–27, urging diversification beyond garments.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended a special event titled 'Youth, Startups and the Potential of Bangladesh' held at the Nawab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building of Dhaka University on Tuesday morning. The program aimed to integrate young people's innovative thinking, creativity, and entrepreneurial potential into the mainstream of national development. The event was also attended by Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Fakir Mahbub Anam and the Prime Minister’s Adviser on the same affairs, Rehan Asif Asad, as special guests. Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A. B. M. Obaidul Islam delivered the vote of thanks.

The government has prioritized startup and entrepreneurship development in its 2026 election manifesto to promote economic growth, job creation, and technological transformation. As part of this initiative, a startup fund of 500 crore taka has been established to support promising entrepreneurs, aiming to strengthen innovation financing and development across the country.

Police have launched an investigation after a brick fragment was thrown at a vehicle in Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s security convoy while he was traveling to Barishal. The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. on Monday near the Sadhur Bridge bus stand along the Dhaka-Barishal highway. A video of the event quickly spread on social media, prompting authorities to determine whether it was an accident or a deliberate act.

Eyewitnesses and the circulated footage showed the prime minister greeting crowds from inside his bus when a brick piece suddenly struck the third vehicle in the convoy. The video, lasting one minute and forty-nine seconds, captured a festive atmosphere with large crowds lining both sides of the highway.

Madaripur Superintendent of Police Habibur Rahman confirmed that a brick fragment hit one of the vehicles and said investigators are analyzing whether it came from a moving tire or was intentionally thrown. He added that there is no cause for public alarm and that police are working to uncover the true circumstances of the incident.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran has been pushed 'largely back to the Stone Age' following American military strikes. In an interview with US media outlet Newsmax, Trump said Iran’s military capabilities had been severely diminished, asserting that the country’s power had been largely stripped away.

Trump detailed the extent of the reported damage, saying Iran’s 159 naval vessels were now underwater and that all 200 of its aircraft had been destroyed. He added that Iran’s radar systems, air defense networks, and weapons production capacity were mostly wiped out, estimating an 84 percent loss in manufacturing capability. According to him, Iran is now a completely different country from what it was four months ago.

The president further stated that the US had taken Iran back to a different era within four months, though he acknowledged that Iran still retained some missiles and limited capabilities. He described Iran as the 'bully of the Middle East' that could not intimidate him.

A man named Md. Ashik, 23, was arrested with a firearm in connection with the shooting of his 70-year-old grandfather, Nazrul Islam, in Chandraganj, Lakshmipur. The incident occurred on July 4 during a family arbitration meeting that escalated into an argument. RAB-11 confirmed the arrest and recovery of the weapon, stating that Ashik was detained in Dhaka’s Jatrabari area on Monday night and later taken to his village home, where the firearm was found.

According to case and local sources, Ashik’s parents, Faruk and Ayesha Begum, had ongoing family disputes. During a meeting on July 3 to resolve the issue, Ayesha became angry after a heated exchange with Nazrul and informed her son Ashik over the phone. Ashik returned home and allegedly shot Nazrul the next day, injuring his left wrist. Nazrul later filed a case with Chandraganj Police Station on July 6.

RAB officials said Ashik had been on the run since the incident. After his arrest, he was handed over to Chandraganj police for further legal action.

Yemen’s Houthi rebel group launched a missile attack on Saudi Arabia, claiming it was in retaliation for an alleged Saudi airstrike on Sanaa airport. The attack, which targeted Abha International Airport in Saudi Arabia’s southern highlands, marked the end of a four-year informal truce between the Iran-backed group and Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition said on social media that its forces intercepted and destroyed the missiles midair.

The Houthis described the strike as a response to what they called “naked aggression” by Saudi Arabia, saying it ended a period of de-escalation. The group had previously accused Riyadh of bombing Sanaa airport. The last major Houthi attack on Saudi energy infrastructure occurred in March 2022, after which the informal ceasefire took effect. The renewed hostilities now raise the risk of conflict along Saudi Arabia’s southern border.

Analysts noted that a major confrontation with the Houthis could threaten Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea, as the group has previously targeted shipping routes there. Saudi authorities have not yet commented on the incident.

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Iraq’s newly elected Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi in Washington on Tuesday. The meeting is viewed as highly significant given the escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran. This marks Zaidi’s first foreign trip since taking office, during which he will also meet senior US officials and representatives from major energy companies.

Analysts note that Zaidi’s visit comes as Iraq struggles to balance its relations with both the United States and Iran, two of its key allies. Zaidi, who rose to power with US support, has pledged to restore Iraq’s fragile economy and disarm Iran-backed militias. His government has set a September 30 deadline for disarmament, coinciding with the end of the US-led coalition’s mission in Iraq. Some armed groups have resisted, while others have expressed conditional cooperation.

During the visit, Zaidi is expected to sign major energy and infrastructure agreements with US companies, including a deal to deposit 500,000 barrels of crude oil daily into a special fund in exchange for stable electricity supply. Observers believe the trip could shape Iraq’s political stability and economic future.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast heavier rainfall across the country from Thursday, warning that the ongoing flood situation could persist or worsen. The monsoon trough currently extends over the northern Bay of Bengal and is expected to strengthen, bringing heavy to very heavy rainfall across coastal and inland regions. Three districts are already flooded, and six more may face flooding within 48 hours. Over one million people have been affected so far, with 51 deaths and 39 injuries reported.

Officials said the rainfall pattern is shifting from the southeast toward central and northwestern regions, with Sylhet and Chattogram seeing some relief while Dhaka, Rajshahi, and Khulna brace for more rain. The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre reported that several rivers in Sylhet, Sunamganj, and Netrokona are flowing above danger levels, and short-term flooding may develop in northern and northeastern low-lying areas.

The government has opened 1,131 shelters and allocated funds and food aid to affected districts. Health authorities have launched emergency medical operations in 11 high-risk districts, ensuring medicine supplies and deploying senior doctors to monitor the situation.

Continuous rainfall has once again brought Jamalpur city to a standstill, with two-thirds of the area submerged under knee- to waist-deep water. Roads, markets, schools, and residential zones have been inundated, severely disrupting daily life and business activities. Residents report that transport has nearly halted, with rickshaws and auto-rickshaws operating on a limited scale. Despite recurring monsoon flooding, no lasting solution has been implemented.

Local residents blame the crisis on years of canal encroachment, unplanned urbanization, and a failing drainage system. Many canals have been filled or built over, blocking natural water flow. Drainage projects worth millions have failed to deliver results, as many drains are undersized, disconnected, or clogged with waste. Environmental activists and engineers argue that restoring canals, improving drainage design, and adopting coordinated urban planning are essential for a permanent fix.

Municipal officials said multiple teams are working to remove stagnant water and that long-term planning is underway to prevent future flooding.

Dhaka is facing severe waterlogging as nearly half of its 41 sluice gates remain inactive, according to the engineering division of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). Only 19 gates are fully functional, while six are completely inoperative and 15 partially work but fail to drain water effectively. The city’s drainage system is further strained by a lack of manpower, malfunctioning pumps, and clogged canals. One of the three major pumps at the Kamalapur T&T Para station has been out of order for about a year and a half, limiting the city’s capacity to remove rainwater efficiently.

Officials said a new pump is planned to be installed next week to replace the broken one. Experts from the Bangladesh Institute of Planners emphasized that Dhaka’s current outlets and sluice gates are insufficient and called for immediate repairs and long-term urban planning. DSCC and DNCC officials stated that modernization of drainage, repair of nonfunctional sluice gates, and enhanced cleaning operations are underway to reduce flooding.

The authorities are monitoring the situation closely, but the city’s drainage infrastructure remains under heavy pressure during the monsoon season.

Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have accused each other of launching attacks, putting their four-year truce at serious risk. On Monday, the Houthis alleged that Saudi forces bombed Sanaa’s main international airport to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing. The Saudi-led coalition did not comment on the claim but said Houthi forces later fired ballistic missiles toward Saudi territory, which were intercepted by air defenses. The Houthis confirmed striking Abha airport in Saudi Arabia and warned airlines to avoid Saudi airspace. UN envoy Hans Grundberg expressed deep concern and said he was in contact with both sides to prevent escalation.

The renewed hostilities follow rising tensions since an Iranian plane landed in Sanaa on July 3, sparking disputes between Yemen’s Saudi-backed government and the Houthis. The government admitted responsibility for Monday’s strike, saying it aimed to block another Iranian flight. The Houthis blamed Saudi Arabia directly, declaring the end of the de-escalation phase. The UN warned that any escalation could worsen Yemen’s humanitarian crisis.

Fighting has also resumed in Hodeidah province, raising fears that Yemen’s fragile peace could collapse entirely.

United States referee Ismail Elfath has been appointed to officiate the highly anticipated 2026 World Cup semifinal between Argentina and England, scheduled for Wednesday at 1 a.m. Bangladesh time at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The 44-year-old referee has already handled three matches in the tournament, drawing attention for several controversial decisions.

Elfath previously officiated matches between the Netherlands and Japan, Spain and Uruguay, and Norway and Brazil, issuing a total of eight yellow cards and one red card. His red card to Uruguay’s Agustin Canobbio for a dangerous tackle on Spain’s Pau Cubarsi sparked debate in Spanish media. In the Norway-Brazil match, he initially denied a penalty before reversing the decision after a VAR review.

Born in Casablanca, Morocco, Elfath moved to the United States at 18 and has been on FIFA’s international referee list since 2016. He will be assisted by compatriots Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins, with Italy’s Maurizio Mariani serving as fourth official.

A week of continuous heavy rainfall and rough seas has severely disrupted import and export operations at Chattogram Port. Container handling at jetties and delivery from yards have slowed sharply, while more than 60 mother vessels remain idle offshore due to turbulent seas. The suspension of lighter vessel movement has also halted inland cargo transport, raising concerns about shortages of essential goods and industrial raw materials across Bangladesh.

Port sources report that daily container handling has dropped by nearly half, and deliveries have fallen from around 4,500 to 2,500 containers per day. Operators say general cargo unloading has decreased by 30–35 percent, while over 500 lighter vessels remain anchored at the Karnaphuli River and coastal areas. Importers are incurring significant demurrage costs, and garment factories are facing production slowdowns due to waterlogging, damaged containers, and reduced worker attendance.

Industry representatives have highlighted weaknesses in the port’s drainage and management systems. The port authority maintains that operations remain active and expects conditions to normalize once the weather improves.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacked two supertankers in the Strait of Hormuz after the vessels allegedly ignored repeated warnings. The semi-official Tasnim News reported the incident on Tuesday, citing an IRGC statement. The United Arab Emirates earlier claimed that Iran targeted two of its oil tankers in Omani waters, resulting in the death of at least one Indian sailor. Hours later, the IRGC confirmed responsibility for the attack.

According to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, the IRGC said the tankers had turned off their navigation systems and were attempting to move south of Oman’s waters under U.S. direction. The statement added that both ships became disabled following the strikes.

The attack came shortly after the United States reinstated a blockade on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Washington would charge ships a 20 percent fee to ensure safe passage through the strategic waterway, declaring the U.S. would act as the “guardian” of the strait.