Forkan Haider Chowdhury, ambassador and adviser of Netherlands-based United Dutch Exporters (Unidex), said that opportunities for Bangladeshi food products in European markets are expanding. He emphasized that ensuring international standards, building long-term business relationships, and maintaining regular market connections could further increase demand for Bangladeshi goods. The current market value of these exports already exceeds hundreds of crores of taka annually.

Unidex, founded in 1989 by Roland Jansen, has grown from a small operation into one of Europe’s largest ethnic food distribution networks. The company operates in both ethnic and mainstream retail markets, supplying products across Europe from Helsinki to Malta. It sources food items from countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Norway, China, and Bangladesh. Under Chowdhury’s initiative, Bangladeshi brands such as Pran, BD Food, Ifad, and Danish have entered European markets through Unidex.

Recently, Unidex merged with the Europe-based Asian Food Group, significantly increasing its purchasing power and distribution capacity. Chowdhury noted that this expansion creates new opportunities for producers from Bangladesh and other countries to access European markets.

The United States has resumed airstrikes against Iran less than a month after announcing a ceasefire, a move ordered by President Donald Trump that analysts warn could trigger a long-term conflict. The decision follows the collapse of a memorandum of understanding signed in Versailles on June 17 aimed at ensuring lasting peace and addressing economic challenges. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks on US allies in the Persian Gulf, escalating tensions in the region.

Critics argue the agreement was a temporary tactic by Washington to stabilize oil prices while maintaining pressure on Tehran. With midterm elections approaching in November, experts say the renewed conflict could damage the Republican Party’s prospects as rising fuel and living costs anger voters. Commentators, including American Conservative editor Curt Mills, have described Trump’s actions as driven by personal motives that could lead to electoral defeat.

Former US military and diplomatic officials warn that the strikes could evolve into a ground operation, drawing the country into another protracted war. They also highlight the administration’s lack of experienced Iran specialists and urge renewed diplomatic coordination with NATO allies.

In Peterborough, United Kingdom, the local City Council sold a piece of land to the United Kingdom Islamic Mission, which plans to build a mosque and Islamic center on the site. The sale has angered members of the Hindu community, who claim that a temple previously stood on the land. The council stated that it followed standard property disposal procedures and acted within its legal authority, assessing bids based on planning, valuation, and administrative criteria rather than religious preference.

According to the council, the property was sold on the open market as part of efforts to reduce its £500 million debt, with the mosque group emerging as the highest bidder. The Hindu community has taken legal action over the sale, but the council’s lawyer, Catherine Rowlands, told the court that the process was transparent, fair, and lawful. After hearing both sides, the judge issued an interim injunction on the sale.

The mosque authorities said their current premises are inadequate and that the new site would include prayer space, classrooms, and sports facilities.

Local Government Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said confusion is being created over the implementation of the July Charter. He explained that the charter clearly states that issues unresolved among the signatory political parties will be addressed by the party that assumes state responsibility through elections, following its manifesto. He made these remarks on Sunday noon at the Engineers Institution in Dhaka during a discussion on the role of the media under fascist rule and in tribute to journalists who died in the 2024 uprising.

Mirza Fakhrul emphasized that the controversy surrounding the July Charter should end through dialogue. He noted that a parliamentary committee has already been formed on the matter and called on opposition parties to join it for a negotiated resolution. He added that the July Movement created an opportunity to build a new state, which must now be realized.

He further stated that the government is working to fulfill the promises made by the BNP and expressed confidence in establishing a state based on justice and fairness.

Russia launched airstrikes on Kyiv following a Ukrainian drone attack that destroyed e-commerce warehouses in Moscow and Tambov regions. The Russian assault injured several people, with conflicting casualty reports from different authorities. Kyiv’s military administration reported one death, while the city’s mayor Vitali Klitschko mentioned seven injuries and no fatalities. Fires broke out across multiple districts, damaging residential and commercial buildings.

The escalation comes in the fifth year of the war, as Ukraine faces both relentless Russian attacks and internal political turbulence following sudden changes in military leadership. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine’s drone strikes targeted logistics sites supplying banned components for drone production. Russia claimed to have intercepted hundreds of Ukrainian drones aimed at Moscow in recent days.

Meanwhile, rare protests erupted across Ukrainian cities for a third consecutive day after Zelensky dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The move, part of a government reshuffle, sparked public discontent amid ongoing military pressure and speculation about possible changes in top command.

An Israeli military analyst has stated that Turkey is unlikely to receive U.S. F-35 fighter jets even if it sells its Russian-made S-400 missile defense system to Qatar or the United Arab Emirates. The report, published by Eurasian Times on July 19, 2026, follows Turkish media claims that Ankara is exploring the sale to lift U.S. sanctions. Turkey’s defense ministry confirmed that multilateral discussions on the issue are ongoing.

The United States expelled Turkey from the F-35 program and imposed CAATSA sanctions after Ankara purchased the S-400 system from Russia, citing risks to the aircraft’s stealth technology. Although U.S. President Donald Trump recently suggested reconsidering the sanctions and F-35 sales, former Israel Aerospace Industries vice president Shai Gal noted that such approval requires consent from Congress, the Pentagon, and intelligence agencies, making it unlikely within Trump’s term.

Analysts also argue that removing the S-400 will not erase U.S. mistrust, as Russian experts were involved in its operation. Israel and Greece have voiced opposition to any F-35 sale to Turkey, warning it could upset the regional military balance.

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.