Global oil prices declined following reports that the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon had strengthened. Investors interpreted the development as a sign of renewed diplomatic momentum toward resolving the broader conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. As of 12:15 a.m. GMT on Wednesday, Brent crude futures dropped by 67 cents, or 0.69 percent, to trade at 97.14 dollars per barrel. Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell by 62 cents, or 0.65 percent, to 95.40 dollars per barrel. The decline reflected market optimism about reduced geopolitical risks in the Middle East. The ceasefire understanding was reached after talks in Washington mediated by the United States. Both Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement the truce, though they emphasized that Hezbollah must completely halt its attacks for the agreement to hold.

India is preparing to purchase military drones worth more than $2 billion from domestic manufacturers this year, marking the country’s largest drone acquisition program to date. The plan, currently in an advanced stage, was confirmed by the Drone Federation of India (DFI), which works closely with the government. DFI president Smitt Shah said the drones could be delivered within 18 to 24 months under a fast-track procurement process to meet urgent operational needs. The Indian defense ministry has not yet commented on the plan. The initiative follows last year’s border clashes with Pakistan, during which both sides used drones extensively for the first time. The conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have also accelerated global drone adoption, highlighting their cost-effectiveness and tactical advantages. India’s defense ministry had earlier approved a $24.85 billion proposal for aircraft, missile systems, and armed drones, though spending details were not specified. Analysts say drones have become central to India’s military planning, with over 600 domestic firms now producing drones and components. The government’s policy support and procurement clarity are driving investment and partnerships across major defense groups and startups.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened immediately after a deal is signed with Tehran. Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump said he intends to keep the effort to reopen the strategic waterway separate from the ongoing war in Lebanon. He emphasized that the reopening would happen quickly. The report noted that Israeli forces continue heavy attacks across southern Lebanon, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the military operation there will proceed as planned. Trump also told reporters that Washington is interested in taking control of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, saying he wants to obtain it. According to Trump, only the United States and China possess the necessary equipment to extract the material, and he added that the U.S. would go and retrieve it. The remarks were reported by Middle East Eye.

US President Donald Trump has again emphasized Washington’s interest in taking control of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Speaking at the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump said he wanted to obtain the material, adding that only the United States and China possess the necessary equipment to recover it. He told reporters that the US would go and bring it back. On the same day, the US House of Representatives passed a war powers bill aimed at limiting President Trump’s authority to conduct military operations against Iran. The proposal, introduced by Democrats, was approved by a vote of 215 to 208 in Washington. The developments highlight renewed tensions between the US administration and Iran, as well as growing congressional efforts to restrict unilateral military action by the president.

Police in Haimchar, Chandpur, have arrested seven people, including five women and two teenagers, in connection with the killing of Omar Faruk, who was found with his throat slit. The arrests were made following a murder case filed by the victim’s father, Abdul Khalek Rarhi, under relevant sections of the Penal Code. The detainees were sent to court on Wednesday afternoon. According to Haimchar Police Station, the arrests were carried out under the direction of Officer-in-Charge Nazmul Hasan and led by Sub-Inspector Priolal Ghosh. The women arrested are Akhi Akter, Nazma Begum, Laki Begum, Sonia Begum, and Toymunnesa, all residents of Chhoto Laxmipur village in Uttar Algi Durgapur Union. The two teenage suspects are named Jumman and Abdullah. Police said operations are continuing to identify and apprehend others involved in the brutal killing.

Bahrain has arrested 15 individuals accused of working for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The announcement came just hours after Iran reportedly launched attacks on Bahrain and neighboring Kuwait. The Bahraini Interior Ministry said investigations are ongoing to identify all persons linked to the suspected Iranian cell. Security operations in Bahrain have been continuing since late February, when Iran began attacks on the country. Last month, Bahraini courts sentenced nine people to life imprisonment for allegedly conducting terrorist activities with IRGC support. In April, authorities revoked the citizenship of 69 people accused of backing Iranian attacks on Bahrain. Bahrain, which has a large Shia population, has long faced internal tensions. Many Shia citizens claim political and economic marginalization, while the government denies discrimination and repeatedly accuses Iran of inciting unrest in the kingdom.

An inmate named Mokbul Hossain, aged 54, died while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Wednesday, June 3. He was a prisoner from Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj. According to prison and hospital sources, Mokbul suddenly fell ill inside the prison around noon. Following instructions from the prison authorities, guards including Nazmul Islam took him to the hospital’s emergency department, where doctors conducted several tests before declaring him dead at 4:45 p.m. Sub-Inspector Md. Mahmudul Hasan of Shahbagh Police Station, who is stationed at the hospital police camp, confirmed the death and said the body has been kept in the hospital morgue for autopsy. After completing legal procedures, the body will be handed over to the family. Prison sources said Mokbul Hossain had been serving a sentence under Section 86 in case number CR 2877/26. He was a resident of Mirhajirbagh in Jatrabari, Dhaka, and the son of the late Ali Ahmed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CNBC that he has developed “strategic disagreements” with U.S. President Donald Trump, though they remain aligned on many issues. The interview in Jerusalem followed reports that Trump had insulted Netanyahu during a phone call over Israel’s continued military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, while the U.S. pursued peace talks with Iran. Netanyahu declined to elaborate on the alleged exchange but confirmed frequent communication with Trump. Netanyahu described Iran as an existential threat to both Israel and the United States, stressing the need to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. He criticized European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, for what he called appeasement of radical Islamic minorities. Despite the ongoing conflict, Israel’s central bank expects 3.8 percent economic growth in 2026, and Netanyahu urged investors to focus on Israel’s technology sector, citing rising market indicators and foreign investments such as Nvidia’s. Global oil prices have neared $100 per barrel due to the Iran conflict, but Netanyahu dismissed fears of supply disruption, saying alternative routes are being established to offset shortages.

A recent survey by Caritas Bangladesh revealed that 58.2 percent of children living in slums and on the streets lack birth certificates, leaving them excluded from education, healthcare, and social safety programs. The study, conducted in 2025 across Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Rajshahi, covered 667 street children and 1,246 slum-dwelling families. It found that 91.7 percent of these families are outside government social protection schemes, and over half of the children are not attending school. Officials from the Registrar General’s Office acknowledged that floating and addressless families face major challenges in birth registration despite daily progress nationwide. Caritas representatives described the lack of birth certificates as a human rights crisis, noting that many parents do not know their national ID numbers, making registration nearly impossible. They also highlighted weak coordination between health facilities and registration offices, which prevents newborns from being registered. Caritas recommended simplifying registration for parentless children, introducing hospital-based registration, and expanding conditional cash programs to improve child welfare and education access among marginalized groups.

Bangladesh’s leather industry is undergoing a major downturn despite strong global demand. The sector has been hit by poor management, lack of environmental compliance, and absence of international certification such as the Leather Working Group (LWG) standard, which has discouraged major global brands from purchasing Bangladeshi leather. Production and exports have fallen sharply, forcing local businesses to rely on imported leather. Large companies like Bata and Apex have reduced direct leather purchases, while many entrepreneurs cannot export despite having government-allotted plots. The crisis deepened after tanneries were relocated from Hazaribagh to Savar in 2017, where the central effluent treatment plant (CETP) remains only partially functional. Business leaders and officials acknowledge that mismanagement, substandard equipment, and corruption have crippled the CETP, driving away European and Korean buyers. Export earnings reached USD 1.145 billion in 2024–25, far below the sector’s potential in the USD 440 billion global market. Industry associations urge urgent modernization of the CETP, enforcement of environmental standards, and acquisition of LWG certification. They also call for action against misuse of government plots and for joint public-private investment to restore competitiveness.

At least nine Palestinians, including four children, were killed in overnight Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, according to initial reports. The attacks occurred without prior warning while many residents were asleep, leaving them shocked and disoriented. Rescue teams rushed to the scene after fires broke out in damaged buildings, where witnesses described chaotic conditions as families, including women and elderly people, were trapped inside. Several victims suffered severe burns, medical sources said. The strike took place amid ongoing violations of the ceasefire by Israeli forces. Gaza’s government information office reported that since the ceasefire took effect last October, Israel has breached it more than 3,000 times, resulting in at least 900 Palestinian deaths and over 2,000 injuries. Local residents said they had believed the situation was relatively calm before being awakened by explosions and destruction. Residents now fear that the fragile ceasefire could collapse entirely, potentially leading to further escalation and violence in the coming days.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has announced a record electricity price hike of nearly 20 percent at the consumer level, effective from June 2026 and payable in July. Wholesale rates will rise by 19.85 percent, while retail prices for middle-income households in the fourth usage tier will increase by 19.95 percent. The average increase for low-tension users is 18.21 percent. BERC Chairman Jalal Ahmed announced the decision at a press conference, stating that the adjustment was made after reviewing current conditions. The government will still provide Tk 41,000 crore in subsidies to the power sector. The decision follows public hearings held on May 19 and 20, where consumer groups strongly opposed the proposal. Despite earlier assurances from the energy minister that prices would not rise for two years, the commission approved the increase within four working days of the hearings. Consumers fear the hike will severely affect nearly 49.8 million users, raising living costs and impacting small industries, businesses, and households. The new rates also affect irrigation, religious institutions, and battery charging, with higher peak-hour tariffs. Critics argue that corruption and inefficiency in the power sector, rather than subsidies, are driving the need for such increases.

The US House of Representatives has passed a resolution aimed at restricting President Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations against Iran. The ‘War Powers’ resolution, introduced by Democrats, was approved in Washington on Wednesday by a 215–208 vote, with four Republican members joining Democrats in support. The measure succeeded partly due to some Republicans’ absence and growing discontent within the party over Trump’s Iran policy. Trump had pledged during his campaign not to start new wars and initially suggested that any conflict with Iran would end quickly. However, the source notes that resolving tensions through dialogue has become increasingly difficult. This is the first time such a resolution has passed the House after three previous failed attempts. The decision is expected to influence similar efforts in the Republican-controlled Senate, though any measure would still require the president’s signature to become law. Analysts in Washington described the passage of the resolution from a chamber under partial Republican control as a rare setback for Trump.

The US House of Representatives passed a war powers bill on Wednesday in Washington aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations against Iran. The resolution, introduced by Democrats, passed by a vote of 215 to 208. It requires the president to withdraw US forces from ongoing hostilities with Iran unless Congress explicitly authorizes military action. This marks the first successful passage of such a measure after three previous failed attempts. The House decision is expected to influence similar efforts in the Republican-controlled Senate, though any measure would still require the president’s signature to become law. Observers noted that Trump is likely to veto any attempt to restrict his powers. The US Constitution grants Congress, not the White House, the authority to decide on military deployments, and lawmakers have been criticized for neglecting this role in recent years. Four Republican representatives joined Democrats in supporting the bill, while six Republicans were absent. The Senate’s final vote on a similar proposal remains uncertain, though three Republican senators have already expressed support.

Former US President Donald Trump has told his associates that he would consider ending the ongoing ceasefire with Iran if any American soldiers are killed, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The report, citing US officials, indicates that despite minor clashes and tensions with Iranian forces, the United States has maintained its decision to suspend major military operations for several weeks. The report further notes that Trump’s reluctance to initiate a large-scale war suggests he may be willing to tolerate limited skirmishes or tensions for weeks or even months to avoid a broader conflict in the Middle East. However, Al Jazeera stated that it could not independently verify the authenticity of the Wall Street Journal report. The situation underscores the fragile balance in US-Iran relations, where isolated incidents could potentially escalate into renewed hostilities if American casualties occur.