US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iran could have become the richest country in the Middle East if it had chosen a different path. Speaking at a press conference in the Philippines, Rubio said Iran is destroying its own future under the leadership of hardline clerics who neglect economic issues.

He accused Iran’s leadership of diverting national wealth to groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Shia militias instead of investing in its own development. Rubio emphasized that the United States’ main goal remains a nuclear weapons–free Iran, warning of the potential global consequences if Tehran were to possess such weapons.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, reflect Washington’s continued concern over Iran’s regional activities and nuclear ambitions, highlighting ongoing tensions between the two nations.

Vegetable prices across Bangladesh, including the capital Dhaka, have surged sharply, with most items now selling above Tk100 per kilogram. According to a report published on July 23, 2026, prices have risen by Tk20 to Tk50 per kg due to continuous rainfall disrupting supply chains. Retailers report that eggplant, bitter gourd, and okra are selling between Tk100 and Tk120 per kg, while cucumber and tomato prices have reached Tk130 and Tk160 respectively. Green chili prices have doubled or tripled within a month, now retailing between Tk200 and Tk280 per kg.

Traders attribute the price hike to rain-induced supply shortages, as waterlogging has damaged crops and limited farmers’ ability to harvest. A vegetable seller from Keraniganj said wholesalers are receiving fewer supplies, forcing retailers to sell at higher prices. Consumers, particularly middle- and lower-income families, expressed frustration over the escalating costs of daily essentials.

Agricultural expert Dr. Jamal Uddin warned that continued adverse weather could further strain local supply chains. However, traders expect prices to ease once weather conditions improve and new harvests reach the markets.

A student of Bangladesh Open University, Md. Sabbir Hossain, aged 22, lost his right eye after being struck by a stone thrown at a moving train between Ullapara and Jamtoil stations in Sirajganj on Tuesday afternoon. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. when the Dhaka-bound Drutajan Express was traveling from Panchagarh. Sabbir, from Keshabpur village in Akkelpur, Joypurhat, suffered severe injuries to his right eye and head and was later admitted to the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital in Dhaka.

Doctors confirmed that Sabbir’s right eye has permanently lost vision, and a CT scan will determine the extent of his head injuries. His brother Sultan said the family plans to take legal action after completing medical treatment. Local residents suspect that drug users or miscreants in the area might be involved, though no evidence has yet been found.

Police said the incident likely occurred between Ullapara and Jamtoil stations and that no case has been filed yet. Authorities are investigating and assured legal assistance once the family proceeds with a complaint.

Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt has expressed her support for the ongoing student protests in Delhi against exam paper leaks and irregularities. In an emotional message shared on social media on July 23, 2026, she praised the students’ courage and determination in demanding a fair and transparent education system. Bhatt said the recent days had been both painful and inspiring, acknowledging the sacrifices and dreams behind each protesting student.

She emphasized that the movement for accountability reminds society to listen to the voices of the younger generation. Bhatt described the students’ resilience as a mirror reflecting a question to all—whether the nation truly hears those shaping its future. Her message concluded with the sentiment that the future belongs to the students themselves.

Earlier, actor Salman Khan had also expressed solidarity with the protesters but voiced sorrow that the initially peaceful demonstrations had turned violent. He called the exam paper leak a serious issue and extended sympathy to affected students and their families.

WASHINGTON, July 22 (Reuters) – The United States has accused China's Moonshot AI of stealing technology from Anthropic's advanced large language model, Fable, to develop its latest K3 model. Michael Kratsios, a top Trump administration technology official, said Moonshot engaged in large-scale industrial distillation to extract proprietary U.S. technology. He added that the company had also obtained Nvidia GB300 chips and used them in Thailand to train its models. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he was considering adding Moonshot AI to a trade blacklist and imposing sanctions.

The accusations come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing over artificial intelligence and technology security. A Chinese embassy spokesperson in Washington dismissed the claims as unfounded, asserting that China respects intellectual property rights. Anthropic’s public policy executive Sarah Heck warned that such alleged theft poses serious national security risks for the United States.

The dispute follows earlier reports that several Chinese AI firms, including Moonshot, used Anthropic’s Claude model through fake accounts to enhance their own systems. Moonshot recently launched its Kimi K3 model, claiming it is the world’s largest open-weight AI system, rivaling Anthropic’s Fable.

Lawyers in Gopalganj staged a protest on Thursday morning demanding the removal and punishment of a judge accused of injuring a trainee female lawyer during a court session. The demonstration began around 10:30 a.m. and took place in the court premises and several nearby streets. After the march, several lawyers, including Advocate Habibur Rahman, Advocate Milon Sharif, and Advocate Rukaiya Akter Rupa, addressed the gathering.

According to the protesters, the incident occurred on Wednesday at Gopalganj Judicial Magistrate Court-2, where Judge Md. Sujon Mia allegedly threw a glass paperweight after becoming angry when some lawyers and relatives of litigants continued talking despite his warning. The paperweight reportedly struck trainee lawyer Sabiha Sultana on the head, causing injury. She was immediately taken to Gopalganj Medical College Hospital for treatment.

The protesting lawyers stated that a judge responsible for such an act should no longer be allowed to conduct judicial duties and urged authorities to take swift disciplinary action.

Bangladesh’s Education Minister A N M Dr. Ehsanul Haque Milon has promised full educational and financial support to Ekon, a student from Bagerhat who buried his father in the afternoon and worked a night shift at a Bangladesh Krishi Bank ATM booth before sitting for his HSC exam. The minister’s personal assistant, Farhan Ishtiaq, confirmed that the minister will personally speak to Ekon and has already ordered immediate financial assistance.

The story of Ekon’s struggle drew widespread attention on social media, prompting an outpouring of sympathy and offers of help from home and abroad. Ekon’s father, Israfil Daria, a motorcycle driver and the family’s only earner, died suddenly at age 46, leaving the family in severe hardship. Ekon now lives with his mother and mentally unwell brother in a small rented house.

Ekon expressed gratitude for the minister’s initiative, saying it gave him new courage to continue his studies despite financial constraints. His family also thanked the minister for taking responsibility for Ekon’s education.

Six candidates vying to become the next United Nations Secretary-General will participate in a televised debate on Thursday at the historic General Assembly Hall, one week before the formal selection process begins to choose a successor to outgoing Secretary-General António Guterres. The 90-minute event, broadcast by Bloomberg, will feature questions from diplomats, UN staff, and civil society representatives. The candidates include Michelle Bachelet of Chile, María Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, Rafael Grossi of Argentina, Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana, and Macky Sall of Senegal.

UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock said the debate offers a rare opportunity to understand the candidates’ priorities and leadership visions for one of the world’s most important positions. The UN currently faces financial and credibility challenges, with the United States urging a focus on peace and security, while many other nations emphasize human rights and development as equally vital pillars.

The Security Council will hold its first secret ballot on July 30 to rank the candidates. The new Secretary-General is scheduled to take office on January 1, 2027.

A Mumbai police officer has been accused of threatening protesters with false drug charges, according to a video shared by the Mumbai Congress. The video allegedly shows the officer warning a group of students that if they join protests again, they will be framed in narcotics cases. The incident reportedly occurred in several protest sites across the city, including Shivaji Park, Chembur, and Azad Maidan.

Mumbai Police has taken the matter seriously and initiated an investigation to verify the authenticity and context of the video. Pending the outcome of the inquiry, the officer seen in the footage has been removed from his current duties. The police stated that further action will depend on the investigation’s findings.

The Congress post accompanying the video described the alleged threat as an attack on democratic rights and urged that students’ questions be met with accountability rather than intimidation. The report also noted growing concerns about police tactics, including digital surveillance and home visits to warn protesters.

Austria has officially opened a police station in Adolf Hitler’s birthplace in Braunau am Inn to prevent neo-Nazi gatherings and unwanted glorification of the Nazi past. The decision follows years of debate over how to handle the site’s dark legacy. The building, where Hitler was born on April 20, 1889, has been renovated at a cost of about 20 million euros and now hosts a special anti-drug police unit.

Authorities said the location near the German border is a key route for drug trafficking, and a permanent police presence will help curb illegal Nazi displays. Austria’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner described the move as a “new chapter,” symbolizing democracy, rule of law, and security while acknowledging that history will not be erased.

Experts had advised against demolishing the building, arguing it would erase part of Austria’s history, while turning it into a museum could attract extremists. Public opinion surveys also favored using the site for administrative or educational purposes. The initiative comes amid political tension following the far-right Freedom Party’s recent electoral gains.

A feature published on July 23, 2026, in Amar Desh highlights students’ reflections on the 2024 July Uprising, describing it as a defining moment of protest against injustice, inequality, and authoritarianism. The article, written by Eden Mohila College student Umme Zobaida, portrays the uprising as a collective struggle for rights, democracy, and human dignity that reshaped the nation’s conscience.

Students quoted in the piece view the July movement as a lesson in courage, unity, and sacrifice. Afia Sultana Akhi from Eden College’s economics department emphasizes that the spirit of July inspires youth to build a just, corruption-free Bangladesh where equality, accountability, and freedom of expression prevail. The uprising, which began as a quota reform movement, evolved into a nationwide protest against oppressive governance, marked by casualties and widespread participation.

The article concludes that the July Uprising remains a lasting emblem of resistance and hope, motivating future generations to pursue a fair, humane, and democratic Bangladesh.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has shown Mozzafar Hossain as arrested in connection with alleged crimes against humanity committed between 2009 and 2024 alongside retired Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury. The tribunal, chaired by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury with judges Manjurul Basid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir, issued the order on Thursday. It also granted permission for two days of interrogation at a convenient time.

Mozzafar Hossain was produced before the tribunal from the military prison earlier in the day following a prosecution request for his formal arrest and interrogation. The court approved the request and scheduled September 23 for submission of the investigation report and the next hearing. During this period, Mozzafar will remain in military custody but may be brought to the tribunal’s safe house for questioning.

The tribunal had earlier set July 23 for his appearance after the prosecution sought a production warrant on July 21.

An eleven-party alliance, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, held a human chain in front of the International Crimes Tribunal on Thursday morning, demanding a fair investigation and speedy trial of the July genocide. The alliance later submitted a memorandum to the tribunal’s chairman and chief prosecutor, calling for immediate action against those accused of genocide and fascism. Alliance coordinator and Jamaat assistant secretary general Hamidur Rahman Azad urged that Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League be brought to justice, warning of mass protests if justice is delayed.

Speakers at the event alleged that the current BNP government has slowed down the judicial process and accused it of election engineering. They criticized the appointment of partisan prosecutors and warned that any attempt to obstruct justice would face public resistance. The memorandum submitted by the alliance outlined seven demands, including completion of investigations at all crime scenes, arrest of accused law enforcement officials, and protection for witnesses and victims.

The alliance also called for urgent measures to ensure justice for enforced disappearances and to strengthen the rule of law, emphasizing that justice for victims is essential to prevent future atrocities.

Tensions in the Red Sea have escalated sharply after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia. Ship tracking data shows that at least seven oil tankers and commercial vessels have reversed course near Yemeni waters following the threat. The crude carrier ‘Rodos,’ bound for India with Saudi oil, turned north near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, while another tanker, ‘Maika,’ also changed direction after leaving Saudi Arabia’s Jazan port. Several vessels from China to Saudi ports have similarly diverted routes through the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.

The Houthis warned shipping companies via email that loading or unloading at Saudi ports is banned and violators could face attacks. They said the move responds to Saudi blockades on Yemeni ports and airports. Saudi Arabia denied the allegations and pledged to protect its shipping under international law. The European Union’s naval mission Aspides advised vessels linked to Israel, the U.S., and Saudi Arabia to avoid the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden until risks subside.

Analysts warned that the disruption could raise global oil prices and force Saudi Arabia to reroute exports via longer, costlier paths around Africa, threatening global energy stability.

A tunnel under construction for a hydropower project in Namchi district of Sikkim, India, collapsed on Monday, leaving 22 workers dead. The incident occurred after an explosion inside the tunnel, reportedly caused by the ignition of flammable gas trapped within rock layers. At the time of the collapse, 25 workers were inside and became trapped deep within the tunnel.

Officials said that rescue operations have been extremely dangerous due to the presence of toxic gas, fallen rocks, and unstable conditions inside the tunnel. Despite these challenges, efforts to locate the remaining missing workers are ongoing. Authorities are also working to support the affected families and ensure all necessary assistance for the rescue mission.

The administration has pledged to continue search and recovery operations while providing aid to those impacted by the disaster.