Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has expressed optimism that construction of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport will be completed within the scheduled time, aiming for inauguration by mid-December this year. He made the remarks during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dhaka with a Japanese delegation led by Japan’s Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Shimada Tomaki, which included the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The meeting discussed progress on several JICA-funded development projects in Bangladesh, including the Matarbari deep seaport, MRT lines, and the airport’s third terminal. Japan responded positively to increasing its energy assistance to Bangladesh from 312 million to 500 million US dollars. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the Bangladesh–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

During the talks, Japan also informed that it would provide five patrol boats to the Bangladesh Navy. The two sides discussed the Rohingya crisis, with the Prime Minister seeking Japan’s continued support for safe and sustainable repatriation. The Japanese delegation invited the Prime Minister to visit Japan, and he expressed hope to do so at a convenient time.

Pirzada Sayeed Uddin Ahmad Hanzala, Member of Parliament from Madaripur-1 (Shibchar), is set to travel to Iran to attend the state funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He will depart from Dhaka tomorrow, according to information he shared on Wednesday.

The funeral had been postponed several times due to the ongoing war situation. A brief state ceremony was held in April, but it was not the full funeral. Khamenei, aged 86, was killed along with family members during a joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28. He had served as Iran’s Supreme Leader for 36 years.

Iranian state television announced that the funeral and burial ceremonies will take place between July 4 and 8 in Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad, with an expected attendance of around 20 million people. Additional ceremonies will also be held in Baghdad, Kazmain, Karbala, and Najaf, while Iranian authorities are working to ensure full security and proper arrangements for the events.

Police in Comilla have arrested Abu Hanif alias Opu, an accused in 25 cases, in connection with the shooting of school student Ethan Ahmed Prem. The arrest took place early Wednesday in Lakshmipur during a special operation by the district detective branch (DB). Authorities confirmed that Opu was apprehended with a foreign-made pistol. The incident stems from a violent clash between two groups, ‘Opu Group’ and ‘Sabbir Group,’ over drug trade disputes in Comilla’s Katabil area on June 25, which left 12-year-old Ethan seriously injured.

According to police, four suspects have been arrested so far, and one foreign pistol has been recovered. Opu, identified as the main suspect, had been in hiding for a long time before being tracked down using technology. Based on his information, police later recovered another pistol, two magazines, and six rounds of ammunition from Comilla’s Jagannathpur area.

Ethan’s father, Yunus Mia, filed a case naming six individuals, including Sabbir and Opu, and six unidentified suspects. Ethan remains under treatment in Dhaka.

A total of 583 Bangladeshi nationals were rescued from cyber scam compounds in Cambodia during June, following operations by Cambodian law enforcement agencies. According to BRAC Migration Program, 109 of the victims returned to Bangladesh on a Thai Airways flight last Tuesday night, while 362 others came back over the previous four days. The Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) reported that 15,921 Bangladeshis had gone to Cambodia for employment in the past one and a half years.

Victims said many Bangladeshis remain trapped in Cambodia, living in dire conditions after being deceived with promises of high-paying jobs. One victim from Lakshmipur described paying 530,000 taka to recruiters for a computer operator job, only to be sold to a cyber scam compound upon arrival. Another said they were forced to commit online fraud targeting foreigners and were tortured if they failed to meet targets.

Shariful Hasan of BRAC’s Migration Program said the rescues highlight the growing link between cyber scams and human trafficking, urging authorities to identify and prosecute the traffickers and agencies involved.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Venezuela faces a heightened risk of multiple disease outbreaks following a recent earthquake. WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said hospitals are operating beyond capacity due to a surge in injured patients. He cautioned that low vaccination rates before the quake have increased the risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and diphtheria. The organization also noted the potential spread of mosquito- and water-borne illnesses, including yellow fever, malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez reported that 38 hospitals were damaged in the earthquake, leaving the remaining facilities overwhelmed. She said disruptions in infection control and extreme fatigue among medical staff have deepened the health system crisis. In response, Japan announced it will send emergency relief supplies, including water purification equipment, containers, and tarpaulins for temporary shelters. South Korea pledged 5 million US dollars in humanitarian aid through international organizations and expressed readiness to dispatch rescue teams if requested by Venezuela.

A new report has alleged that Israel has been conducting what it calls a 'reproductive genocide' against Palestinians for decades. The report, published by the Palestinian Feminist Collective, claims that Israel’s destruction of medical facilities, killing of women and children, and creation of unlivable conditions have led to rising infertility among Palestinians. It states that these actions intensified after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, with the aim of making normal life and future generations impossible for Palestinians.

A separate report from the United Nations’ top investigative body on Israel and Palestine also found that Israeli forces deliberately targeted Palestinian children as part of their Gaza operations. The UN report documented sniper and drone attacks, torture in detention, reproductive-related violence, and the destruction of schools and hospitals.

According to UN data, more than 21,000 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, with about 5,160 more trapped under rubble. By October 2024, at least 15,000 children had lost their mothers.

Authorities in India’s Gujarat state demolished three mosques and several other structures in Kutch district without prior notice, according to reports published on July 1, 2026. The operation reportedly destroyed a total of 30 structures, including 11 religious sites, 17 commercial buildings, and two residential properties. Turkish media outlet TRT World released a video showing the demolition of the mosques.

Following the incident, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, the country’s largest Muslim social organization, expressed concern and sent a delegation to inspect the site. The delegation, led by Secretary General Maulana Hakimuddin Qasemi, alleged that the demolitions occurred without any warning and that authorities failed to provide a satisfactory explanation. Among the demolished sites was the historic Juna Kandla Mosque, registered as a waqf property since 1965 and known for its distinctive architecture.

Local residents and mosque committee members claimed they were prevented from approaching the site during the demolition and faced intimidation from law enforcement personnel.

Bangladesh’s opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has extended greetings and best wishes to students appearing in the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC), Alim, and equivalent examinations beginning Thursday. In a statement issued on Wednesday, he noted that 1,270,583 students from 11 education boards will take part in the exams and prayed for their health and success.

Rahman urged parents, teachers, and school authorities to ensure a supportive and fair environment during the examination period. He called on teachers, law enforcement, and officials to cooperate in maintaining discipline and fairness so that students can perform well and contribute to the nation’s future.

He also advised students to carry only approved materials, plan travel time carefully in congested cities, and prepare for adverse weather. Additionally, he requested traffic police to take special measures to facilitate smooth transportation for examinees.

Ripon Kazi, 35, president of the Gulishakhali Union unit of the Labour Party in Amtali upazila of Barguna, was hacked to death late Tuesday night near Faruk Doctor’s house in Gagan Kha area of Patuakhali Sadar upazila. Police said the killing stemmed from a long-standing family and political dispute. Ripon’s father, Mizanur alias Bhutto Kazi, has been accused of leading the attack.

Family members claimed that Ripon had long opposed his father’s multiple marriages, which caused ongoing tension between them. He also had a political rivalry with his cousin Rifat Kazi, president of the local Chhatra Dal unit. Ripon’s younger brother Sabbir Kazi alleged that their father, cousin, and associates planned the murder. Eyewitness Rajib Kazi said several attackers stopped their motorcycle and assaulted Ripon with sharp weapons before locals took him to Patuakhali Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Two suspects, Mostafa Kazi and Firoz Kazi, were detained by locals and handed over to police. Authorities recovered a mobile phone believed to belong to Mizanur Kazi. Police said a case is being processed and legal action will follow after investigation.

A Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court has ordered the imprisonment of Sylhet Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner (ASP) Md. Soheluddin Prince in a case involving allegations of fraud and embezzlement. The order was issued on Wednesday by Magistrate Nazmin Akter Eva, following a petition from the complainant’s lawyer, Kamruzzaman Shahin, seeking cancellation of Sohel’s bail.

According to the case, filed on November 23, 2022, by Assistant Tax Commissioner Mosammat Tanzina Sathi, Soheluddin allegedly misappropriated Tk 23.2 million from her after promising marriage. Both had passed the 36th BCS examination in 2017 and developed a relationship. The complainant claimed that Sohel took money under various pretexts but neither married her nor returned the funds. The court had earlier framed charges under Penal Code sections 406 and 420.

The defense lawyer, Abul Kalam Khan, argued that the allegations were false and intended to harass Sohel. After hearing both sides, the court revoked his bail and ordered his detention. Another dowry case filed by Sohel’s wife is also pending trial.

Iran’s National Security Council has declared that those responsible for the killing of the country’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei will face punishment at an appropriate time. The announcement came as preparations were underway for Khamenei’s funeral and burial. In a statement on Wednesday, Council Secretary Mohammad Baqer Zolkadr said the late leader’s clenched fist would remain a lasting symbol of Iran’s national security policy.

Zolkadr, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was appointed as the council’s secretary on March 24 after the previous secretary, Ali Larijani, was killed in a U.S.-Israeli attack. He stated that avenging the blood of Khamenei and other Iranian martyrs remains an open issue and that those who carried out or ordered the assassination would soon face just punishment.

In a separate statement, Iran’s Guardian Council condemned the killing as a heinous crime aimed at breaking the nation’s morale. It described Khamenei’s funeral as a historic turning point demonstrating the resilience of the Islamic system and called on citizens to join the funeral procession as a show of unity and loyalty.

A Dhaka court has scheduled July 23 for the charge hearing against Beximco Group’s Salman F Rahman and five others in a money laundering case involving about 2.83 million US dollars allegedly transferred abroad under the guise of export. The date was set on July 1 by Judge Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court No. 5 after the defense requested more time.

According to the case, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) found that the funds were moved through Beximco subsidiaries Autumn Loop Apparels Ltd and Peerless Garments Ltd. Goods were exported under three letters of credit from Janata Bank’s Local Office branch, but the export proceeds were not repatriated within the stipulated time. The shipments were sent to RR Global Trading FZE in Sharjah, owned by family members of the accused.

CID’s Financial Crimes Sub-Inspector Golam Mostafa filed the case on September 17, 2024, and Inspector Md. Chayedur Rahman submitted the charge sheet on November 11, 2025, naming six accused including Salman F Rahman and ASF Rahman.

France continued their dominant run in the 2026 World Cup knockout stage with a 3-0 victory over Sweden, securing a place in the last sixteen. Led by Kylian Mbappé’s brace and Bradley Barcola’s goal, Didier Deschamps’ team has impressed with speed, creativity, and cohesion. Former England defender Gary Neville, speaking on ITV after the match, said France are currently far ahead of other teams and that only Argentina have the mentality, experience, and unity to challenge them.

Neville praised France’s attacking quartet of Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, and Barcola, calling them a nightmare for defenders. He added that while England, Spain, or Portugal could still improve as the tournament progresses, France’s current form makes them clear favorites. Former England striker Ian Wright echoed this view, saying opponents should fear France more than any other team.

France will face Paraguay, who eliminated Germany, in the quarterfinals. A win could set up a semifinal clash with Spain or Portugal, but Neville believes Argentina remain France’s toughest potential test for the title.

France continued their dominant run in the 2026 World Cup knockout stage with a 3-0 victory over Sweden, securing a place in the last sixteen. Led by Kylian Mbappé’s brace and Bradley Barcola’s goal, Didier Deschamps’ team has impressed with speed, creativity, and cohesion. Former England defender Gary Neville, speaking on ITV after the match, said France are currently far ahead of other teams and that only Argentina have the mentality, experience, and unity to challenge them.

Neville praised France’s attacking quartet of Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, and Barcola, calling them a nightmare for defenders. He added that while England, Spain, or Portugal could still improve as the tournament progresses, France’s current form makes them clear favorites. Former England striker Ian Wright echoed this view, saying opponents should fear France more than any other team.

France will face Paraguay, who eliminated Germany, in the quarterfinals. A win could set up a semifinal clash with Spain or Portugal, but Neville believes Argentina remain France’s toughest potential test for the title.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has launched a month-long 'July Awakening' campaign to mark the second anniversary of the July Revolution. The program began with a visit to the mass grave of July martyrs at Rayerbazar in Dhaka, led by NCP convener and opposition chief whip Md. Nahid Islam along with senior party leaders. Nahid Islam stated that the aspirations of a reformed, discrimination-free democratic Bangladesh envisioned after the July uprising have not yet been achieved.

Expressing dissatisfaction with a recent tribunal verdict involving Hasanul Haq Inu, Nahid Islam said the judgment failed to satisfy the people and the families of those killed or injured during the uprising. He demanded harsher punishment for Inu and called for the repatriation and trial of Sheikh Hasina and others allegedly involved in the July killings. Nahid also urged the government to implement the July Charter and structural reforms promised in the referendum.

He warned that if the July National Museum remains closed beyond August 5, citizens would open it themselves. The NCP leader paid tribute to the 1,400 martyrs and numerous injured participants of the July uprising, including students, workers, professionals, and expatriates who supported the movement.