Iran has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the funeral of its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint U.S.-Israel airstrike on February 28. According to NDTV, the invitation was sent on behalf of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and delivered to Indian authorities through the Iranian embassy in New Delhi. India has not yet confirmed whether Modi will personally attend or send a delegation.

Iran’s state media reported that the funeral ceremonies will begin on July 4 in Tehran with the first prayer service and three days of national mourning. Khamenei’s body will lie in state at the Grand Mosalla complex on July 4 and 5 for public homage, followed by a state mourning procession on July 6. During the ceremonies, Tehran province will observe a public holiday.

The invitation underscores the diplomatic significance of the event, as Iran prepares for large-scale national observances following the death of its long-serving leader.

Two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.5 and 7.2 magnitude struck Venezuela, causing severe damage in the capital Caracas. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency following the quakes, which led to the collapse of several buildings. The Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía was closed after sustaining major damage, and all schools, metro, and rail services were suspended. Non-essential activities across the country were also ordered to halt.

Rodríguez announced that the General Staff of the armed forces had been activated, with the commander general of the Bolivarian National Guard leading the response. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the first quake occurred near San Felipe, about 284 kilometers west of Caracas, followed 39 seconds later by a second quake near Yumar, roughly 293 kilometers west of the capital.

The USGS estimated that the death toll could exceed 10,000, citing that most buildings in Venezuela are not constructed with earthquake-resistant technology, which could lead to even higher casualties.

A series of reports and eyewitness accounts describe escalating violence, discrimination, and state-backed repression against Muslims across India in 2026. In Purulia, West Bengal, a Muslim street vendor was killed by extremist mobs, while others faced police harassment and false charges. Human rights organizations documented widespread attacks, including the demolition of at least 23 mosques, madrasas, and shrines in BJP-ruled states such as Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. The demolitions often occurred without legal notice, targeting centuries-old religious sites.

Post-election violence in West Bengal reportedly intensified under the new BJP government, with bulldozer operations destroying Muslim homes and businesses. The Association for Protection of Civil Rights recorded dozens of violent incidents and property attacks across multiple districts. Human Rights Watch and international observers accused Indian authorities of using collective punishment, unlawful demolitions, and public beatings of Muslim men. U.S. human rights envoy Stephen J. Rapp warned that the persecution could amount to crimes against humanity, citing forced evictions and extrajudicial killings in Assam and Uttar Pradesh.

The reports collectively depict a deteriorating human rights environment for India’s 250 million Muslims, with growing fear, displacement, and erosion of religious freedom.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh has issued an urgent warning to all Bangladeshi expatriates in Saudi Arabia, advising them not to sign or provide fingerprints on any blank papers. The advisory, signed by Counselor Md. Mehbub Zaman and released on Wednesday, emphasized that such actions could expose individuals to serious legal and financial risks.

According to the embassy notice, signing blank documents at the request or instruction of any person or organization is highly dangerous. Unscrupulous individuals or groups may exploit such signatures for financial fraud, forgery, illegal transactions, or other criminal activities. Victims could face criminal charges, financial losses, imprisonment, fines, or other legal penalties as a result.

The embassy urged all expatriates to fully understand and verify the content of any written document before signing or providing fingerprints, and to exercise utmost caution to avoid potential exploitation or legal complications.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has declared that Israeli forces will not withdraw from southern Lebanon even if pressured by the United States. According to Al Jazeera, citing The Times of Israel, Katz stated that Israel will maintain its military presence in the area despite Washington’s demands.

Katz explained that around 200,000 residents displaced by Israeli attacks and aggression would not be able to return to their homes in southern Lebanon. He argued that previous experiences showed that allowing civilians to live in the security zone led to roadside bombings and attacks on Israeli soldiers. Based on those incidents, he said Israel would not allow a repeat of such situations and would not retreat from the area.

The statement underscores Israel’s firm stance on maintaining control over southern Lebanon, highlighting ongoing tensions in the region amid international calls for de-escalation.

Gulf countries are demanding clear security assurances from the United States in any future agreement with Iran. The issue has gained prominence during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s current visit to the United Arab Emirates, following recent conflicts in which Iranian counterattacks targeted several Gulf nations. During the war, the UAE faced around 2,800 missile and drone strikes, underscoring its vulnerability.

After his UAE visit, Rubio is scheduled to travel to Kuwait, where key infrastructure such as airports, commercial ports, and desalination plants were also attacked during the conflict. Kuwait considers these facilities critical, as nearly 90 percent of its drinking water comes from desalination plants. The Gulf states view the Strait of Hormuz as strategically vital for their oil and gas exports.

They are therefore seeking U.S. commitments that any future U.S.-Iran deal will include measures to secure the Strait of Hormuz and ensure regional stability, reflecting their heightened security concerns after recent hostilities.

The Australian government has signed a humanitarian assistance agreement with UNICEF to improve the living standards of Rohingya refugees and local communities in Bangladesh. The signing ceremony took place on Wednesday at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Dhaka, where Australian High Commissioner Susan Ryle and UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh, Sheldon Yett, signed the $16 million (approximately 1.37 billion taka) agreement. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed attended the event and expressed gratitude to Australia for its continued support.

According to the report, the agreement is part of Australia’s 2026–2028 humanitarian aid package worth 370 million Australian dollars (about 31.62 billion taka) for Rohingya and local populations in Myanmar and Bangladesh. Since 2017, Australia has provided a total of 1.26 billion Australian dollars (around 107.7 billion taka) in humanitarian assistance to address the regional crisis. UNICEF will use the new funds to support education, nutrition, child protection, and safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services for Rohingya and host communities.

The Home Minister expressed hope that such international cooperation would continue until the voluntary, safe, and dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar becomes possible.

Omar Faruk, a 26-year-old from Ukhrashal village in Katiadi upazila of Kishoreganj, died in a gas cylinder explosion in Albania. His body arrived in Bangladesh on Wednesday morning and was buried in the family graveyard after funeral prayers. Faruk had gone to Albania about two years ago seeking better financial prospects and worked as a factory worker at NCP Company. The fatal explosion occurred on May 24 in the Sihadcity area of Albania.

Family sources said Faruk was the youngest of four brothers and two sisters and a key support for his family. His sudden death has cast deep sorrow over relatives and neighbors, with the entire village mourning his loss.

The incident highlights the risks faced by Bangladeshi migrant workers abroad and the emotional toll on families who depend on them for livelihood and hope.

Three Italian human rights activists detained in Libya while participating in a land convoy delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza have been released, according to Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. The freed individuals were identified as Domenico Centrone, Leonarda Alberizia, and Matias Alvarez Rodriguez, the latter also holding Uruguayan citizenship. Tajani said they were held for about a month and are now under the custody of the Italian consul in Benghazi, with plans to return to Italy the same day.

The activists were members of the Global Sumud Land Convoy, which began its journey from Mauritania to deliver aid to Gaza. At the same time, a related maritime mission, the Global Sumud Flotilla, faced obstruction by Israeli forces in international waters. According to the convoy organizers, ten members from eight countries were detained near the Libyan city of Sirte, including four men and six women.

No details were released regarding the charges or reasons for their detention, leaving the circumstances of the arrests unclear.

The United Nations reported that more than 11,000 residential buildings in southern Lebanon have been completely destroyed in recent clashes, leaving many families without homes to return to. UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters in New York that an assessment found another 2,200 buildings partially damaged. He said the widespread destruction, ongoing uncertainty, and the presence of unexploded ordnance are major obstacles to safe and sustainable returns.

Despite the devastation, many people are returning to southern Lebanon. According to UN data, about 19,000 people left shelters in a single night to go back to their areas, reducing the number of displaced people in shelters to around 90,000. The UN added that restoring normal life in the affected areas remains a major challenge due to destroyed infrastructure, security risks, and the lack of essential services.

The report underscores the scale of humanitarian and reconstruction challenges facing southern Lebanon following the recent conflict.

A report by The Atlantic, cited by Amar Desh on June 24, 2026, describes how Ukrainian women, known locally as 'Vidma' or 'witches', are playing a key role in resistance operations against Russian forces in occupied territories. These women gather intelligence, often through covert online interactions, and pass it to Ukrainian military units for precision drone strikes. One example involved a Russian soldier deceived by a fake online persona operated by a Ukrainian intelligence officer, leading to a successful drone attack on his base.

The report notes that Ukraine’s resistance tactics have evolved over four years of war, focusing on collecting small pieces of information to identify military targets. Former MP Lesia Orobets said Ukrainian society respects the 'Vidma' for their skills, while resistance organizer Petro Andriushchenko emphasized women’s ability to access areas men cannot. The Ukrainian Women’s Guard has trained over 60,000 women in self-defense and resistance since 2014.

According to the report, intelligence gathered from occupied zones enables rapid drone operations, sometimes within minutes of target identification. However, the publication cautions that independent verification of such wartime claims remains difficult.

A new report by the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry has accused Israel of deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza, describing the ongoing actions as part of a continuing genocide. Released on Tuesday, the report found that about 30 percent of those killed in Israeli attacks since the start of the Gaza war were children. It said that even after a ceasefire in October 2025, Israeli forces continued to target and kill children, demonstrating what the commission called a genocidal intent to destroy Palestinians in whole or in part.

Commission chair Srinivasan Murlidhar stated that evidence clearly showed Israeli security forces intentionally targeted and killed Palestinian children. The report also documented heavy use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas, widespread displacement, and blockades that created famine-like conditions. Attacks on hospitals and maternity wards reduced newborn survival rates and increased miscarriages, leaving nearly all children in Gaza in need of urgent mental health support.

Israel’s mission in Geneva rejected the UN report as false and fabricated, while human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have echoed concerns about systematic destruction of Palestinian life.

The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) has begun an operation to evacuate more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the Strait of Hormuz due to recent Middle East conflicts. The initiative follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States aimed at achieving a ceasefire and restoring peace. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the effort is being carried out with cooperation from Iran, Oman, other Gulf coastal states, the United States, and maritime industry stakeholders.

According to the IMO, necessary security measures have been ensured for the safe relocation of the sailors, and maritime safety conditions have been thoroughly assessed. The crisis began after U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28 triggered regional hostilities, prompting Iran to close the strategic strait and trapping numerous commercial vessels. Following last week’s peace memorandum, shipping activity has gradually resumed.

Data from monitoring firm Kpler showed at least 36 commercial ships crossed the strait on Monday, marking a rare level of traffic since the conflict began. Oman’s defense ministry confirmed that discussions on the evacuation plan had been ongoing for months and are now being implemented in phases.

Prime Minister Tarek Rahman departed from Dalian to Beijing on Wednesday afternoon after attending the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos. He traveled by bullet train accompanied by his wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman. His main bilateral engagements in Beijing are scheduled to begin soon, including meetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping on June 25 and 26.

Earlier in the day, Rahman participated in the WEF conference held at the Dalian International Conference Center. The 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions brought together over 1,700 participants from more than 90 countries and regions, including political leaders, business figures, academics, and media representatives. Prime ministers from Guinea, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Mongolia, and Montenegro also attended the event.

According to the report, Rahman’s participation in the Summer Davos is expected to help Bangladesh expand investment and employment opportunities while enhancing national capacity through the adoption of best practices from other countries.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has declared that no solution other than ending Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon will be accepted. He made the statement on the day new rounds of diplomatic talks between Lebanese and Israeli representatives began in Washington, D.C. Aoun’s remarks were shared through the Lebanese presidency’s official account on X, emphasizing that recent developments have proven diplomacy to be the right path for achieving national goals and reclaiming the country’s rights.

Aoun expressed hope that the ongoing negotiations would help secure Lebanon’s interests and ensure full sovereignty over every inch of its territory. He reaffirmed that Lebanon’s only path lies in national sovereignty and trust in the state to protect all citizens and guarantee freedom and dignity. Despite the diplomatic efforts, clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have not fully ceased, even after a new ceasefire agreement last Friday.

According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health, Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed at least 4,192 people and injured 12,171, though no breakdown between civilians and fighters has been released.