Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has sharply criticized India’s central government for failing to restore full statehood to the region, even two years after the national elections. Speaking at a public rally in Jammu on Sunday, Abdullah questioned the Modi government’s repeated delays and shifting explanations. Expressing frustration, he rhetorically asked whether the demand for statehood should now be taken to U.S. President Donald Trump and whether a protest should be staged outside the White House.

Abdullah announced that his party would hold demonstrations in the national capital until the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government clarifies its position on the issue. He said protests would begin in New Delhi on the first day of the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, scheduled for July 20.

Jammu and Kashmir lost its statehood on August 5, 2019, when Article 370 of the Indian Constitution was revoked, splitting the region into two union territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The central government had promised to restore statehood at an appropriate time, but the pledge remains unfulfilled.

A Dhaka court has ordered the arrest of Selim Pradhan, a figure previously linked to the casino scandal, as a suspect in a case filed under the Explosives and Attempted Murder Act at Gulshan Police Station. The order was issued on Monday, July 13, 2026, by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Sefatullah. The prosecution confirmed the decision, stating that Pradhan’s involvement was suspected based on evidence of incitement and financial support related to the incident.

According to the case documents, the allegations stem from an attack on August 5, 2024, during an anti-discrimination student movement in the Bashatala area of Gulshan. Protesters were reportedly fired upon, injuring victim Touhid Mia, who later filed the case. The case names 88 identified and 100 to 200 unidentified individuals as accused. The defense opposed the arrest, but after hearing both sides, the court denied bail and ordered Pradhan’s detention.

The court’s decision allows investigators to proceed with questioning Pradhan as part of the ongoing probe into the violent incident.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Shakhawat Hossain announced that modern pathological laboratories will be established in every upazila hospital across Bangladesh within this year. He made the statement on Monday, July 13, at the inauguration of the ‘Sustaining Play, Learning and in Humanitarian Contexts (SPLASH)’ program organized by BRAC and the LEGO Foundation at the Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka. The minister said necessary equipment for the labs will be imported this month.

He added that dialysis centers with 50 beds in medical college hospitals, 10 beds in district hospitals, and 10 beds in upazila hospitals are being set up to expand dialysis services. The government has also taken steps to ensure healthcare at the grassroots level, including deploying midwives and caregivers equipped with screening machines to conduct home visits. As part of family planning efforts, a nationwide birth control campaign will be launched to reduce the rising population growth rate.

The minister highlighted the historical development of upazila hospitals and said modernization under current leadership will include breastfeeding corners, prayer spaces, pathology units, and dialysis centers.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has formed a new subcommittee focusing on media, publicity, and branding. The announcement was made on Sunday night, July 12, through a notice signed by Sadia Farzana Dinar from the party’s office cell. The subcommittee is led by Sarowar Tushar, who serves as the party’s joint convener and a member of its political council.

According to the notice, NCP convener Nahid Islam and member secretary Akhtar Hossain approved the formation of the subcommittee to make the party’s public communication, publicity activities, branding, media coordination, and digital communication system more organized, effective, and modern. The committee includes members responsible for various areas such as print and web media, electronic media, social media, branding, fact-checking, AI, and digital investigation.

The new subcommittee is expected to enhance the NCP’s outreach and coordination across traditional and digital platforms, aligning its communication strategy with contemporary needs.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on United States military bases across several Middle Eastern countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. In a statement released on July 13, 2026, the IRGC said the operations targeted multiple facilities, asserting that the United States had failed to learn from its recent defeats by Iranian forces.

According to the statement, fuel storage tanks and a Patriot air defense system were destroyed at Kuwait’s Ali Al-Salem Air Base, while a radar system at Ahmad Al-Jaber Air Base was also reportedly demolished. The IRGC further claimed that missile launchers and ammunition depots were hit at another US site in Kuwait. In Jordan, the group said it struck the Prince Hassan Air Base, igniting fuel and ammunition depots. In Bahrain, the IRGC alleged that US drone fleets and maintenance centers at Sheikh Isa Air Base were destroyed.

The statement framed the attacks as retaliatory operations against longstanding US military actions in the region.

A report from Bangladesh highlights the difficulties faced by families of deceased expatriate workers when collecting bodies from airports. One case involved Omar Faruk from Gaibandha, whose body arrived in Dhaka from Riyadh but was handed over to relatives after a 14-hour delay due to paperwork complications. Families often allege harassment and corruption during the release process, particularly when they lack proper documentation.

Officials from the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board have denied these allegations, stating that bodies are handed over without unnecessary delay and that each family receives an immediate payment of 35,000 taka for burial expenses. The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment recently reported that 34 bodies arrived from Kuwait, Malaysia, and Libya after being delayed by conflict in the Middle East, and all families received financial support. The ministry has also arranged free transport of bodies from Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet airports and added two new ambulances for this service.

According to government data, 4,813 expatriate workers’ bodies were repatriated in 2024, compared to 4,552 in 2023.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrault stated that sanctions on Iran will not be lifted as long as Tehran continues its nuclear program. He emphasized that France will review the terms of any potential agreement between Iran and the United States before supporting the removal of United Nations sanctions. France, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, holds veto power over such decisions.

Barrault had earlier expressed France’s interest in playing a role in discussions related to Iran’s nuclear activities. Western nations, including the United States, have been pressuring Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions, while Iran maintains that its program is entirely peaceful and insists it will not give up nuclear capabilities.

The statement underscores France’s firm stance within the broader international effort to restrict Iran’s nuclear development and signals potential diplomatic friction if the upcoming US-Iran deal fails to meet French expectations.

Drug addiction in Israel has surged sharply since the Gaza war began in October 2023, with one in four Israelis now using harmful narcotics or addictive substances, according to a report by Haaretz citing the Israel Center for Addiction and Mental Health. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, one in ten Israelis used drugs; during the pandemic, the rate rose to one in seven, and after the Gaza conflict, it reached about 25 percent.

The study found that the use of sleeping pills has increased 2.5 times, while consumption of opioids and stimulants has nearly doubled. Alcohol and cannabis use have also risen, and 54.2 percent of those with post-traumatic stress disorder are now misusing drugs. Professor Shauli Lev-Ran, the center’s founder, warned that repeated crises have entrenched stress-related habits, making drug use persistent even after immediate stress subsides.

Interviews revealed that Israelis and Palestinian citizens alike are turning to substances such as ketamine, cocaine, amphetamines, and prescription sedatives to cope with trauma, fear, and daily violence. Experts warn that ongoing war and constant alertness could deepen the crisis further.

As the United States celebrates 250 years of independence, Bangladesh reflects on five decades of bilateral relations that have shifted from post-war aid to a multifaceted partnership rooted in trade, technology, and innovation. The relationship, formally established in 1972, now spans sectors including apparel exports, agriculture, health, education, and climate resilience. In 2025, bilateral trade reached about 11.8 billion US dollars, with Bangladesh exporting roughly 9.5 billion dollars’ worth of goods to the US.

The article highlights how cooperation once centered on development assistance through USAID has expanded into investment, research, and knowledge exchange. US programs have supported Bangladesh’s progress in public health, agriculture, disaster management, and women’s empowerment. Educational exchanges such as Fulbright and Humphrey fellowships have fostered leadership and institutional capacity.

This evolving partnership is increasingly defined by mutual economic interests and shared goals in innovation, human capital, and sustainable growth. The shift from “aid to trade” symbolizes a new era of collaboration, positioning Bangladesh as a key Indo-Pacific partner in global supply chains and technology-driven development.

The Kaptai-Karnaphuli Hydropower Plant in Rangamati achieved its highest electricity production of the year following heavy rainfall and upstream water flow that raised the Kaptai Lake level. On Monday morning, the lake’s water level reached 100.60 feet mean sea level, surpassing Sunday night’s 99.15 feet. As a result, the plant’s five units generated a total of 206 megawatts of electricity by 9 a.m. Monday, marking the highest output so far in 2026.

According to plant manager engineer Mahmud Hasan, the increase in water level directly contributed to the surge in power generation. The control room engineers reported that units 1, 3, 4, and 5 each produced 40 megawatts, while unit 2 generated 46 megawatts. The combined capacity of the five units is 240 megawatts.

Last year, electricity generation exceeded 200 megawatts until November but dropped below that level from December due to reduced water levels in the lake.

Continuous monsoon rains and upstream water flow have worsened flooding across Bangladesh’s northeastern and southeastern districts, affecting more than one million people. According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, water levels in several major rivers, including the Surma, Kushiyara, and Someshwari, have risen above danger levels at multiple points. The Disaster Management and Relief Ministry reported 51 deaths from floods and landslides so far, with about 267,000 families trapped by floodwaters and 44,000 people taking shelter in 1,131 relief centers.

Heavy rainfall was recorded in multiple regions, including 209 millimeters in Jamalpur and over 150 millimeters in Sunamganj, while upstream rainfall in India’s Meghalaya has intensified the situation. Seven districts—Khagrachhari, Rangamati, Bandarban, Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, Moulvibazar, and Habiganj—remain severely affected, with disrupted transport and power outages in many areas.

Meteorologists forecast continued heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours in Sylhet, Rangpur, and Mymensingh divisions, raising short-term flood risks in low-lying areas. However, a slight improvement is expected in the Chattogram region as rainfall decreases and water drainage improves.

Flooding across several upazilas of Chattogram has led to a sharp rise in snake incidents, with at least 86 people injured by snake bites over the past week. According to the Chattogram Civil Surgeon’s Office, three of the victims were bitten by venomous snakes and are currently receiving treatment at Chattogram Medical College Hospital. The remaining cases involved non-venomous species.

Health officials reported that the flooding has submerged snakes’ natural habitats, forcing them into residential areas, shelters, and other human settlements. This displacement has increased the risk of snake bites in flood-affected communities. The Civil Surgeon’s Office provided detailed figures showing the highest number of cases in Boalkhali, Patiya, and Banshkhali upazilas.

Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious, especially at night, and to use flashlights, check water areas with sticks before entering, and keep surroundings clean. The health department confirmed that sufficient antivenom supplies are available across the division and that all government hospitals are prepared to treat snakebite cases.

At least nine workers were killed when a massive heap of waste collapsed at a waste-to-energy plant on the outskirts of Pune, in India’s western Maharashtra state. The incident occurred on Wednesday after heavy rainfall caused thousands of tons of waste from a nearby landfill to fall onto the plant’s administrative building. Operator Antony Waste said 23 workers were trapped inside the building when the collapse occurred.

Rescue teams recovered nine bodies after a prolonged operation, while 14 others were rescued alive. Continuous rain hampered the rescue efforts, and plant authorities reported severe difficulties in reaching those trapped under the debris. The plant’s operations have been temporarily suspended pending structural and safety assessments.

The report notes that such accidents are common during India’s monsoon season, which runs from June to September, as prolonged rainfall weakens older structures. Scientists have warned that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in India, and meteorologists fear that a strong El Niño this year could further disrupt normal weather patterns.

District Detective Police in Louhajong, Munshiganj, arrested three members of an inter-district motorcycle theft ring and recovered five stolen motorcycles along with a large quantity of drugs. The arrests were announced by Superintendent of Police Menhajul Alam during a press briefing at Padma Bridge North Police Station on Monday morning. The operation followed the theft of a motorcycle on July 9 from the West Kumarbhog area under Padma Bridge North Police Station.

According to the police, the investigation led to the arrest of a suspect named Suman from Bappi Chattar in Narayanganj’s Nitaiganj area. Based on his information, two others—Hridoy Dewan and Sajib Paik—were detained from Tongibari upazila. Acting on further leads, police raided Goali Manda in Louhajong and recovered two stolen motorcycles. During the same operation, a drug dealer named Alauddin was arrested with two motorcycles, 1,100 yaba tablets, and two kilograms of cannabis.

Superintendent Menhajul Alam stated that efforts are continuing to apprehend other members of the gang and that legal action is being taken against those arrested.

Iran carried out an attack on the United States’ Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan, according to a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The strike, described as a retaliatory operation, reportedly set fire to several fuel and ammunition depots within the base. The IRGC’s public relations department announced the attack on Monday morning, claiming that the base serves as a key operational hub for US forces in the region.

In its statement, the IRGC said its air force targeted multiple key facilities at the base, causing fires that disrupted US military supply and readiness. The group asserted that the operation was conducted in response to a US strike on an Iranian coastal military installation.

The report, sourced from Press TV, did not include details on casualties or the extent of the damage, leaving the full impact of the attack unclear.