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.

Iran has claimed responsibility for shooting down a US-made drone near the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. According to the Tasnim news agency, the drone, identified as a US-manufactured 'Lukas' suicide drone, was precisely targeted and destroyed. The Mehr news agency, citing a military statement, reported that Iran’s southeastern air defense forces detected, intercepted, and destroyed the drone near Hajiabad in Bandar Abbas County.

The incident occurred as the United States launched attacks across Iran, targeting military and infrastructure sites in provinces including Bushehr, Khuzestan, and Hormozgan. In response, Tehran has reportedly carried out missile and drone strikes on US military installations located in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar.

The exchange marks a sharp escalation in hostilities between Iran and the United States, with both sides engaging in direct military actions across the Gulf region.

A former additional director of Bangladesh Bank, Md. Rezaul Karim, aged 62, died after being electrocuted in Dhaka’s Shanir Akhra area under Kadamtali police station. The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 12, 2026, when he was checking a submerged water pump during heavy rain. He was rescued unconscious and taken to several hospitals before being declared dead at Dhaka Medical College Hospital around midnight.

According to his brother-in-law, Rezaul Karim was examining the pump on the ground floor of his residence, which had been flooded by rainwater. The pump was connected to electricity, causing him to be electrocuted instantly. Family members rushed to the scene after being informed by a tenant and took him to Imperial Royal Hospital for initial treatment. As his condition worsened, he was transferred to another hospital and later to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors confirmed his death.

The incident occurred amid continuous rainfall and waterlogging in Dhaka, which has caused widespread public suffering and prompted police to issue special alerts.

Dhaka’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) police have arrested Haridas Chandra Tarani Das, the creator of the widely discussed Ram statue in Palashbari, Gaibandha. The arrest took place last night during a special operation by a CID team from Dhaka. Palashbari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sarowar Alam Khan confirmed the arrest to local media.

Haridas, founder of the Ram Temple at the Sri Sri Radha Govinda and Kali Temple complex, had drawn nationwide attention for constructing what was described as the largest Ram statue in Bangladesh. The project sparked widespread criticism and protests, particularly among the Muslim-majority population, who viewed the large-scale statue construction with suspicion. Demonstrations demanding his arrest and the removal of the statue had been ongoing across the country for several months.

The controversy surrounding the statue also triggered debate in both Bangladesh and India, with many citing concerns over religious sensitivity and political stability.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has carried out a fifth round of attacks on US military installations in Oman and Bahrain. According to an IRGC statement, the strikes targeted an FPS long-range air radar and a ship detection radar in Oman, both of which were destroyed. The attacks involved missiles and drones and also hit US military facilities and infrastructure in Juffair, Bahrain.

The IRGC described the operation as a retaliatory action and warned that the only way to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to navigation is to end what it called aggressive US military interference in the region. The statement emphasized respect for the sovereignty of coastal nations over their territorial waters.

Iran further cautioned that continued US involvement in the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a larger crisis in the global oil and gas sector, underscoring the potential for escalating regional tensions.

Former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, known as the 'Father Emir' of Qatar, has died at the age of 74. During his 18-year rule from 1995 to 2013, Qatar transformed from a small, oil-dependent economy into a major global energy exporter and investment powerhouse. Under his leadership, the country began large-scale gas extraction and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, becoming the world’s largest LNG exporter within 15 years.

Qatar’s GDP grew from about 8 billion dollars in 1995 to nearly 199 billion dollars in 2013, driven by rapid expansion in the gas sector. Sheikh Hamad established the Qatar Investment Authority in 2005 to channel surplus energy revenues into global investments, including stakes in Barclays, Volkswagen, and Harrods. He also prioritized education, healthcare, and infrastructure, founding the Qatar Foundation and initiating projects such as Hamad International Airport and Lusail City.

His long-term vision, embodied in the Qatar National Vision 2030, aimed to reduce reliance on natural resources and build a knowledge-based economy. Analysts credit Sheikh Hamad with laying the foundation for Qatar’s sustained prosperity and global economic influence.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for destroying US military missile launchers in Kuwait. According to a statement issued by the IRGC, the attack took place on Monday morning as part of the fourth phase of a retaliatory operation. The strike reportedly targeted a US ground-to-ground missile base located in Kuwait.

The IRGC stated that two HIMARS missile launchers and a missile storage facility caught fire and were completely destroyed in the attack. The statement also alleged that the launchers were being prepared for missile strikes against Iran. The report was carried by Al Jazeera, citing the IRGC’s official communication.

No independent confirmation of the attack or details of potential casualties were mentioned in the source report.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman’s visit to Barishal created a festive atmosphere across Madaripur on July 13, 2026. Despite continuous monsoon rain, thousands of BNP leaders, activists, and supporters gathered along the Dhaka-Barishal highway from early morning to greet him. Carrying flowers and national and party flags, they waited to see and welcome their leader as his motorcade entered the district through Kathalbari in Shibchar upazila.

As the motorcade passed through areas including Panchchar, Bandarkhola, Sannyasirchar, Dattapara, and Suryanagar, crowds showered flowers and cheered. The Prime Minister waved from his car, prompting loud applause and slogans. The entire route turned vibrant with music, chants, and mobile recordings by attendees. Similar scenes were reported in Rajair, Sadar, and Kalkini upazilas, where banners and flags lined the roads.

Local MPs Jahandar Ali Mia, Helen Jerin Khan, and Anisur Rahman Khokon Talukder joined supporters in welcoming the Prime Minister. The participation of BNP’s affiliated organizations transformed the district into a colorful celebration.

A debate arose in Bangladesh’s National Parliament on Monday over the territorial responsibilities of BNP’s reserved women members of parliament. NCP MP Akhtar Hossain questioned whether assigning BNP’s reserved women MPs to constituencies held by opposition members signaled an attempt to establish a one-party system. He raised the issue after BNP MP Jiba Amina Khan mentioned visiting Pirganj and Mithapukur as part of her additional duties.

Responding to the query, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed stated that reserved women MPs do not have specific regional constituencies and can perform parliamentary duties across the entire country. He cited Article 65 of the Constitution, explaining that while general MPs are elected from defined territorial constituencies, the reserved women MPs’ jurisdiction covers the whole of Bangladesh. The minister emphasized that they are full members of parliament with authority to allocate resources anywhere in the country.

Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal presided over the session, allowing both Akhtar Hossain and the Home Minister to address the matter formally in parliament.

Police in Shahrasti, Chandpur recovered the hanging body of Jubo League leader Nazmun Nahar Swapna, aged 33, from a rented apartment in the Doabhanga area on Monday morning. The body was found on the fifth floor of the New Life Hospital building, where she had rented a two-room flat four days earlier. Local residents said her children were at home at the time of the incident. Police have begun an investigation to determine the cause of death.

Swapna, originally from Banglaish village in Monoharganj upazila of Cumilla, had contested the last upazila parishad election for the post of female vice-chairman with the “Kolosh” symbol. Family sources said she had been married three times, with her most recent marriage to expatriate Russell Chowdhury Raju from Krishnapur village. She had previously run a ladies’ tailoring shop and later a beauty parlor in Khila Bazar.

The Shahrasti Model Police Station officer-in-charge said the incident is being treated as a case of recovering a hanging body, and the actual cause will be confirmed after autopsy and investigation.

A Seoul district court has sentenced former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to two years in prison for violating the country’s political funding law. According to the court ruling, Yoon accepted public opinion polling services worth about 270 million won (approximately 179,800 US dollars) from a political broker without payment. The court found that he benefited from 14 such polls and later used his political influence to secure a party nomination for a former lawmaker in return. Yoon has consistently denied the allegations, claiming he neither requested the surveys nor made any promises in exchange.

The verdict contrasts with earlier court decisions involving former First Lady Kim Keon-hee, where no evidence of mutual benefit or exchange was found. The court noted that Yoon retains the right to appeal the latest ruling to a higher court.

Yoon, aged 65, is currently facing multiple legal cases. He was previously sentenced to life imprisonment in February for involvement in a 2024 coup-related case and received a separate seven-year sentence for obstructing an arrest attempt, which the Supreme Court recently upheld.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam indicated in Parliament that bridge tolls under the Road Transport and Highways Division and the Bridges Division will not be waived. He stated that toll collection follows an established policy and that the Communication Ministry has limited authority to halt toll collection. The minister made this remark on Monday while responding to a question from reserved seat MP Shawkat Ara Akter under Rule 71 concerning urgent public importance.

Sheikh Robiul Alam explained that although many lawmakers had promised toll exemptions before elections, such decisions fall under the jurisdiction of the Finance Division, as toll revenues are part of national revenue. He emphasized that without revenue collection, the government’s financial operations would be hampered. The minister added that any relaxation of toll policies would require policy-level discussions with the Finance Division.

He also addressed demands for intercity train stoppages and four-lane road construction, noting that both are guided by existing policies and traffic considerations, and that not all requests can be accommodated.

An armed group of masked men attacked the office of an internet service provider named DDN on the Chawkbazar–Baklia access road in Chattogram city on Monday around 12:30 p.m. The attackers vandalized equipment and furniture and allegedly looted about Tk 3.5 million in cash. The company later filed a written complaint with Chawkbazar Police Station regarding the incident.

According to DDN’s head of sales, Md. Robiul Hossain Rakib, 30 to 35 masked individuals, some carrying firearms, entered the office, threatened employees, and caused extensive damage to computers, laptops, and other equipment. He claimed that the attackers took away the cash and that the company suffered major financial losses. The company also alleged that a group had earlier demanded Tk 20 million in extortion money, which they suspect may be linked to the attack.

Chawkbazar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Nur Hossain Mamun confirmed receiving the complaint and said an investigation is underway to identify those involved and determine the motive behind the attack.