FIFA has announced a new tradition in the history of the World Cup, introducing championship rings for the winning team for the first time. The organization confirmed on Friday that the 2026 World Cup champions will receive customized rings in addition to the trophy, gold medals, and prize money. The initiative draws inspiration from American professional sports, where leagues such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL have long awarded similar rings to their champions.

According to FIFA, a total of 2,026 rings will be produced. Thirty rings will go to the players and staff of the winning team, while the remaining 1,996 will be sold as limited-edition licensed memorabilia for fans. Each ring will feature the World Cup trophy design, the identity of the champion team, a unique serial number, and a certificate of authenticity. Symbolic rings will be presented to the winning captain and coach during the post-final award ceremony, with the rest delivered later.

The 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain will take place on July 19 at the New York–New Jersey Stadium, where the first-ever championship rings in football history will be awarded.

Iranian opposition groups based in Iraq’s Kurdistan region claimed on Friday morning that eight drones targeting their positions near Erbil were shot down. According to an Al Jazeera correspondent in the area, the drone attack occurred in the Alana Valley northwest of Erbil, where several opposition factions are stationed.

Kurdistan-based outlet Rudaw reported that the region’s counterterrorism department confirmed in a statement that coalition forces destroyed and brought down eight explosive-laden drones over Erbil’s airspace at dawn. No casualties have been reported so far. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether Iran was involved in the attack.

The incident adds to ongoing tensions in northern Iraq, where Iranian opposition groups have long maintained bases. The lack of confirmation regarding Iran’s role leaves uncertainty about potential escalation or retaliatory actions.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General and Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged that several talk show participants were attempting to defend what he termed as the fascist rule of Sheikh Hasina. Speaking as the chief guest at a discussion marking ‘Jatrabari Resistance Day’ in Dhaka on Friday, Rizvi said those who had gone into hiding after August 5 had now become active again. He questioned why Sheikh Hasina fled if she was so courageous, contrasting her with Khaleda Zia, who he said did not leave the country during political pressure.

Rizvi recalled that during the 1/11 government, Khaleda Zia stayed in Bangladesh despite threats, while Sheikh Hasina went to the United States. He accused Hasina of cruelty and claimed her leadership caused bloodshed. Referring to historical figures, he compared her rule to that of Yahya and Tikka Khan, asserting that fascist politics should not return. He also criticized Jamaat-e-Islami for allegedly aligning with Hasina’s tone after August 5 and urged all to strengthen democratic practices.

Rizvi praised the resistance in Jatrabari and Rayerbagh during the July uprising, calling it a glorious chapter in history.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard has arrested Imam Hossain Mintu, the alleged leader of the notorious 'Mintu Bahini', from Maheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar. The arrest took place on Friday, July 17, 2026, following a coordinated operation involving several Coast Guard stations. Authorities seized 14 locally made firearms, including five long guns and nine pistols, along with ammunition, weapon-making equipment, and other materials from the hideout.

According to Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon, the operation was based on intelligence indicating that an armed group was secretly manufacturing and distributing illegal firearms in the hilly area near Keruntali of Hoanak Union. The group was reportedly involved in piracy, robbery, and attacks on tourists, spreading fear among local residents. Mintu, a resident of Hoanak, faces 15 criminal cases and is described as a long-time ringleader of violent activities.

The Coast Guard stated that Mintu’s capture marks a significant step toward ensuring safer seas for local fishermen. Further legal proceedings and efforts to apprehend other members of the group are underway.

In Dubai, widespread job losses have followed the outbreak of war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Migrant workers, including domestic helpers and accountants, are struggling to find employment as the city’s tourism- and aviation-driven economy suffers from Iranian missile and drone attacks. Many wealthy expatriates have left, while low- and middle-income workers face layoffs and pay cuts. The government has released little data on the economic damage, though the UAE’s economy and tourism minister described the disruption as temporary.

Workers from countries such as the Philippines, India, Egypt, and Cameroon report severe financial strain, with some unable to send remittances home. A ManpowerGroup survey found that one in four employers plans to reduce staff in the third quarter of 2026. Dubai Investments’ CEO expressed confidence in the city’s resilience, citing its history of recovery from crises. However, the downturn’s impact is extensive, threatening livelihoods and remittance flows across Asia and Africa.

Although a ceasefire between the United States and Iran has been reached, uncertainty over renewed conflict continues to weigh on Dubai’s labor market and economic outlook.

Member of Parliament Hasnat Abdullah of Cumilla-4 (Debidwar) held a meeting with residents of Barshalghar Union in Debidwar upazila on Friday, July 17, 2026. The discussion, held at the office of local Awami League leader and union president Alhaj Auwal Chairman, focused on local issues such as infrastructure, communication, and public services. Awami League leaders including the union president, general secretary, and other party activists attended the meeting.

Local BNP leaders expressed anger over the presence of Awami League figures at the event. According to multiple local sources, the incident sparked political debate in the area. Debidwar BNP convener Jasim Uddin Sarkar criticized Hasnat Abdullah, alleging inconsistency between his words and actions and questioning his decision to meet with Awami League leaders. Attempts to contact both Hasnat Abdullah and Auwal Chairman for comment were unsuccessful.

The meeting and subsequent reactions have stirred political discussion in Debidwar, highlighting tensions between local Awami League and BNP factions.

Germany could face annual economic losses exceeding €20 billion if extreme heatwaves become a regular occurrence, according to a study by the economic research institute Prognos. The analysis, prepared for the business newspaper Handelsblatt, found that each day with temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius costs Europe’s largest economy around €1 billion.

The study reported that the late-June heatwave alone caused an estimated €6.32 billion in losses. Prognos warned that if three to four similar heatwaves occur each year, the total annual damage could surpass €20 billion. The manufacturing sector is the most affected, followed by health and social services, retail, construction, and the food industry.

Researchers noted that their calculations did not include factors such as high electricity prices, equipment failures, supply chain disruptions, or long-term infrastructure damage. Including these could significantly increase the total losses. The report concluded that climate change-driven extreme weather poses growing risks to industrial economies like Germany’s.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will not visit India for now, focusing instead on upcoming trips to Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. Senior officials from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Rahman will attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York at the end of September 2026, with preparatory work already underway. His potential visits to Tokyo and Riyadh are under active discussion, with Japan seeking to host him soon and Saudi Arabia having extended a formal invitation through its ambassador in Dhaka.

Diplomatic sources said Japan and Bangladesh will hold a foreign secretary-level meeting in Dhaka on August 12 to discuss Rahman’s possible visit. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan may travel to Dhaka soon or meet Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman in New York to finalize details of the Saudi trip. Analysts have welcomed Rahman’s decision to delay his India visit, citing strained bilateral relations and urging caution to preserve strategic ties with China.

Sources indicated that unless relations with New Delhi improve, a visit to India this year remains unlikely.

The Israeli military has claimed responsibility for killing a Hamas commander during an operation in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. According to a statement from the Israeli army, the raid was conducted on Thursday with the assistance of the internal security agency Shin Bet. The military identified the slain individual as Anas Mahmoud Ahmad Hamdan, describing him as a close aide to Hamas’s top leadership.

The statement further alleged that Hamdan played a key role in holding hostages in Gaza and in efforts to return them to Israel. As of the time of the announcement, Hamas had not issued any comment or response to Israel’s claim.

The incident adds to ongoing tensions in the region, though no further details about the operation or its aftermath were provided in the report.

Kuwait’s army reported that several of its soldiers were injured on Friday morning following drone attacks launched by Iran. According to an official statement, Iranian drones targeted multiple military installations and army camps across the country, resulting in injuries among members of the Kuwait Land Forces. The statement did not disclose the number of injured personnel or specify which facilities were hit.

The army added that Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Khaled Dirz Saad Al-Shuraian and Deputy Chief of General Staff Air Vice Marshal Sabah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah visited the injured soldiers in hospital to assess their condition. Medical teams briefed the senior officers on the soldiers’ health status and progress of treatment.

Earlier, Kuwait had announced that its air defense systems intercepted missiles and drones launched from Iran, though details of those incidents were not elaborated in the latest statement.

Andy Burnham formally assumed leadership of the UK Labour Party on Friday, paving the way for him to become the country’s next prime minister. According to a New York Times report, King Charles III is expected to invite Burnham to form a government on Monday, after which he will take office as the United Kingdom’s 59th prime minister. The former mayor of Greater Manchester takes charge at a time when the nation faces slow economic growth, high public debt, a strained National Health Service, and deep political divisions.

In his speech at a special Labour Party conference in central London, Burnham pledged to confront long-ignored national issues and to challenge political and economic systems that fail ordinary citizens. He emphasized restoring public hope, empowering local communities, and building a business-friendly yet distinctly Labour government focused on practical solutions rather than internal divisions.

Burnham also criticized the economic policies of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, promising a new path for governance that departs from the direction followed over the past four decades.

A 21-year-old police constable named Saidul Islam was found hanging in his room at the Demra Police Lines in Dhaka early Friday morning. Preliminary reports suggest that he took his own life due to frustration stemming from family disputes. About sixteen hours before his death, Saidul posted a long message on Facebook expressing deep despair and apologizing to his parents. He also shared a video titled 'The End' before the incident.

According to family sources, Saidul, who hailed from Lemua Uttar Chandpur village in Feni Sadar, had been suffering from severe depression for several days. His uncle, Md. Sohag, said that the young officer used a bedsheet tied to a ceiling fan to hang himself in his room on the seventh floor of a 20-story building. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival.

Police confirmed that the body has been sent for autopsy and that the concerned police station has been informed of the incident.

In Tehran’s Friday sermon, Imam Mohammad Jawad Haji Ali Akbari called for punishing those he described as the 'criminals' behind the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Speaking during the sermon, he said the first step in taking revenge should be to ensure justice for the perpetrators.

Akbari stated that the next steps should include expelling the United States from the region, erasing the Zionist regime from the map of West Asia, and ending America’s dominance in global affairs. He emphasized that the demand for revenge was not driven by emotion but was based on logic, Islamic law, and rights.

He added that the Supreme Leader’s message had endorsed the nation’s collective demand for justice, which has now become one of the main demands of the Islamic nation, according to the sermon reported by Al Jazeera.

Prominent lawyer Mohammad Tajul Islam has clarified the distinction between constitutional reform and amendment, stating that certain fundamental pillars of the constitution cannot be altered even by parliament. He explained during a television talk show on Thursday night that while the Supreme Court protects these core structures through its rulings, reforms can still be undertaken. He warned that major changes made solely through parliamentary amendments could face future legal challenges, citing the annulment of the Fifth Amendment as an example.

Tajul Islam emphasized that amendments bring only superficial changes and cannot address the nation’s deep-rooted issues. He recalled that the July revolution aimed for a complete overhaul of the state system, leading to proposals for forming a Constitutional Reform Council or Constituent Assembly. According to him, the current government, formed after a violent uprising outside the existing constitutional framework, required a separate order for reform, which has gained moral and political legitimacy through a public referendum.

He added that the BNP prefers the amendment route instead of supporting the proposed Reform Council, opposing its name and approach.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has renewed allegations of Israeli influence over U.S. foreign and domestic policy, criticizing Washington for allowing such sway. In a post on social media platform X, Araghchi claimed that Israel uses American taxpayers’ money to silence its critics and accused the U.S. administration of being drawn into an unwinnable conflict due to Israeli influence.

He referred to a Time magazine report alleging that former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale ran a pro-Israel operation targeting supporters of the “Make America Great Again” movement. Araghchi asserted that the situation was even worse because Israel was allegedly using U.S. funds to suppress dissenting voices, adding that the truth would soon be revealed.

According to the report, neither the United States nor Israel has issued an immediate response to Araghchi’s accusations, which were reported by Al Jazeera.