Military analysts say the United States is struggling to counter Iran’s asymmetric warfare tactics in the Persian Gulf, particularly the threat of naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Former US Marine Corps officer Dan Grazier told Al Jazeera that Iran could effectively disrupt global trade with minimal action, as even a few mines could turn clearance operations into a massive undertaking.

Grazier explained that the high value of ships passing through the region means even minor incidents could have a major impact on world commerce. He said the situation highlights the complexity of asymmetric warfare and presents a dilemma for US policymakers, who are unsure how to withdraw without appearing weak. According to Grazier, Iran holds a strategic advantage because it does not need to project power far from its own shores.

He urged Washington to seek a swift end to the conflict, acknowledging that the United States has yet to find a solution. Grazier added that while the current situation is difficult, valuable lessons could be learned once the conflict ends.

At least six people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, according to Gaza’s civil defense department. The attacks occurred on Thursday, including a drone strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza that killed two people and injured several others. Four more deaths were reported in other parts of the enclave, including one person killed when a car was targeted in a crowded area of Gaza City.

Al Jazeera’s correspondent reported that the attacked street in Gaza City is among the busiest in the area, filled with shops, supermarkets, and displaced Palestinians seeking shelter. Earlier on Thursday, Gaza’s health ministry said at least eight people had been killed and 17 injured in the past 24 hours, though it provided no further details on the circumstances.

The report noted that despite a ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas on October 10, 2025, Israeli forces have continued operations in Gaza. Al Jazeera said the Israeli military has violated the truce more than 3,000 times since it came into effect.

Severe weather has disrupted Bangladesh’s import-export trade, leaving more than fifty cargo ships stranded off Chattogram Port for four consecutive days. Continuous heavy rainfall and rough seas have prevented lighter vessels from approaching mother vessels anchored offshore, halting unloading operations. Port officials reported that only three of fifty-five vessels are unloading on a limited scale during brief breaks in the rain. Several off-docks have also been flooded, damaging containerized goods, while traders estimate financial losses exceeding hundreds of crores of taka.

According to the port authority, the stormy conditions in the Bay of Bengal have made unloading unsafe, prompting restrictions to prevent accidents. Perishable goods are being prioritized for limited unloading. Although container handling at the main jetty remains normal, delivery volumes have dropped sharply due to flooding across the city. Daily container deliveries have fallen from 3,500–4,000 to about 2,500–2,600 units.

Business leaders said the disruption is affecting factory production and market supply, while importers face daily waiting charges of $15,000–$25,000 per vessel. The port expects congestion to ease once weather conditions improve.

A Bangladeshi expatriate businessman, Belal Hossain alias Sumon from Begumganj upazila of Noakhali, was shot dead by armed assailants in Johannesburg, South Africa. The incident occurred on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in the Mayfair area, where Sumon was attacked inside his own business establishment. He sustained gunshot wounds to the head and neck and died on the spot.

According to local accounts, Sumon had been running a business in South Africa for the past 15 years and had visited Bangladesh a year earlier. His death has cast a shadow of grief over his home village in Noakhali. Begumganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shamsuzzaman said he learned of the incident from media reports and would contact the victim’s relatives for further information.

The report did not mention whether South African authorities have launched an investigation or identified any suspects in connection with the killing.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has sent letters to several offices, including the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC), to collect documents related to the alleged theft of data from the National Identity (NID) database. The letters were sent on Thursday following reports that personal information of millions of registered citizens under the Election Commission (EC) had been stolen. According to the report, data of at least 110 million citizens out of more than 120 million in the country were compromised.

Sources said the EC and BCC had signed a bilateral agreement in October 2022 to protect citizens’ data, prohibiting any exchange or sale of personal information. However, allegations claim that a mirror copy of the data was given to BCC, and Digicon Global Service Limited later sold 46 types of personal data to 182 domestic and foreign organizations, violating the agreement.

The ACC has requested documents from the EC, BCC, and other offices to uncover the details of the illegal data sale. A related case was filed in October 2024 against 19 individuals, including Sajib Wazed Joy and former state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak.

The leader of Bangladesh’s opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami chief expressed deep sorrow over a deadly fire at the Huiteng shoe factory in Jinjiang city, Fujian province, China. The incident occurred on July 9, 2026, killing at least 28 workers and injuring or trapping many others. In a condolence message issued on Thursday, he described the tragedy as extremely painful and extended sympathy to the bereaved families.

He noted that the victims were working people who supported their families and that their sudden deaths had left their relatives in severe distress. The Jamaat chief prayed for proper respect for the deceased and for the full recovery of those injured or burned in the fire. He also expressed hope that the Chinese authorities would rescue those still trapped inside the factory and take effective measures for their rehabilitation.

He further wished that the Chinese government and people would soon overcome the extensive losses caused by the disaster.

Police in Panchagarh’s Atwari upazila have concluded that the recent vandalism of a Kali idol was not a communal incident but stemmed from a long-running land dispute. The incident occurred on July 8 in the Jugikata area of Dhamor Union, where two families—those of Anil Chandra Roy and Lakshmicharan Roy—have been contesting ownership of 6.66 acres of land. Police said a temporary temple and idol had been set up months earlier on the disputed land, and that the idol was later broken to mislead the public and inflame tensions.

Authorities reported that Anil Chandra’s group entered the land to cultivate it despite a local administration order prohibiting access before a scheduled July 12 mediation. A clash ensued with Zakir Hossain, who had purchased the land from Lakshmicharan Roy, leaving Zakir seriously injured. Police said a video was circulated online showing the broken idol placed in Zakir’s hands to frame him.

Officials confirmed that the situation is now under control, with additional police deployed. Both sides later attended a meeting at the Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office and announced a settlement.

Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to visit flood and landslide-affected areas in Chattogram on Friday morning. The visit aims to assess the situation in regions severely impacted by continuous rainfall and hill torrents that have caused widespread devastation.

According to Jamaat’s central publicity department, heavy rains and hill torrents have triggered severe landslides and flash floods across Chattogram and nearby hilly areas. The disaster has resulted in multiple casualties and left numerous families stranded in waterlogged conditions, disrupting normal life and causing extensive damage.

During his visit, Dr. Rahman will meet affected families, hold discussions with local administration officials, organizational leaders, and other concerned parties, and review the ongoing rescue and relief operations in the region.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met with teachers and students from Lalmai upazila of Comilla on Thursday night, July 9, 2026, at the National Parliament Building after concluding a long day of official duties, including a cabinet meeting. The students, who had come from remote areas, expressed joy and excitement at the unexpected opportunity to meet the head of government and witness a parliamentary session in person.

During the meeting, the prime minister inquired about the students’ studies and encouraged them to focus on education to become responsible citizens. He urged teachers to remain dedicated in shaping the next generation into ideal and capable individuals. The visit was part of an ongoing initiative allowing students and teachers from various institutions to observe parliamentary activities firsthand.

In this round, 127 students from grades six to ten and 43 teachers from 45 institutions in Lalmai participated. They toured the parliament complex, including the South Plaza, LD Hall, and library, and observed the ongoing budget session. The prime minister’s engagement underscored his emphasis on nurturing future leadership alongside state governance.

A luxury travel firm, Knightsbridge Circle, has introduced the most expensive package in FIFA World Cup history, priced at four million US dollars—about 49 crore Bangladeshi taka. The exclusive offer, available only to invited clients, sold out in less than 24 hours. Buyers and their guests will enjoy six front-row seats at the center of the field and a rare opportunity to enter the pitch moments before the trophy presentation. Knightsbridge Circle president Stuart McNeill described the phenomenon as proof that money can now buy almost anything.

The package includes private jet travel to host cities, helicopter or limousine transfers to stadium VIP lounges, and full royal-style hospitality even for last-minute attendees. Other agencies, such as Magma Global, offer comparatively modest packages for two people priced between 25,000 and 75,000 dollars, including five-star accommodation and business-class flights. For those who missed the top-tier offer, two exclusive seats near the field are available at 1.5 million dollars each.

The soaring prices and lavish experiences highlight how modern football has increasingly become an elite spectacle dominated by the ultra-wealthy.

The United States Department of Justice has initiated a large-scale investigation into alleged irregularities and corruption within the Argentine Football Association (AFA). The FBI, working with federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., and Miami, is leading the inquiry, which reportedly began its planning phase in 2025. The investigation centers on suspicious financial transactions amounting to about $300 million involving the AFA, with at least $260 million traced through accounts at major U.S. banks including Citibank, Synovus, Bank of America, JPMorgan, and PNC Bank. Around $57 million was transferred to shell companies with unclear origins and destinations.

As part of the probe, businessman Guillermo Tofoni has already been questioned for three hours via video conference, providing documents and information to U.S. authorities. However, investigators are primarily focused on AFA president Claudio Tapia, seeking to verify specific allegations against him. The investigation is now expanding beyond football into Argentina’s political circles, with plans to question several former officials from President Javier Milei’s government.

The U.S. Justice Department’s firm stance signals its intent to enforce transparency in Latin American football administration, though the report notes that Argentina’s World Cup performance will remain unaffected.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was buried on Thursday, July 9, 2026, in his birthplace Mashhad. The funeral took place at the Imam Reza shrine, where thousands gathered from early morning to attend the final prayers and mourning procession, according to Reuters.

Before the burial, Khamenei’s body was taken through several cities for ceremonies. After a large mourning procession in Qom, his coffin was transported to Iraq’s Najaf, where Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Khamenei’s eldest son Mostafa Hosseini Khamenei, and senior Iraqi officials received it. Another procession was held in Karbala at the shrines of Imam Hussein and Al-Abbas before the body returned to Iran.

The funeral occurred amid escalating tensions following mutual attacks between the United States and Iran. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed drone and missile strikes on 85 US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait in retaliation for earlier American attacks. Khamenei was killed on February 28 in a joint US-Israeli airstrike in Iran, according to Reuters and Press TV.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a telephone conversation with Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir on Thursday evening, according to Iran’s Foreign Ministry. During the call, Araghchi condemned recent statements from the United States, describing them as clear signs of treaty violations and a continuation of Washington’s war-oriented policy.

He further labeled US attacks in various parts of Iran as a blatant violation of the United Nations Charter and a breach of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. Araghchi warned against any reckless military actions by US forces and emphasized that Iran is fully prepared to defend itself if such attacks continue.

The report noted that Pakistan’s army chief has been acting as a mediator between Iran and the United States amid rising tensions, though no further details of the discussion were disclosed.

An Israeli-based outlet, i24 News, reported that a planned attack on Iran by Kurdish armed groups, allegedly supported by the United States and Israel, was canceled at the last moment due to diplomatic pressure from Turkey. The report, published Wednesday, claimed that for several months US intelligence agencies had overseen preparations involving Kurdish fighters, including meetings, weapons supply, and military training. Weapons were reportedly delivered a week before the scheduled assault.

According to i24 News, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s intervention led Washington to veto the plan, preventing the attack. The report cited Israeli sources saying that while Mossad’s role was not detailed, it was not fully denied. It also alleged that information about the plan reached Turkey through associates of US Vice President JD Vance, prompting Ankara to pressure Washington to stop the operation. None of the involved parties have officially commented.

Other outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, and Reuters, had previously reported on related Kurdish operations and intelligence activities along the Iran-Iraq border, describing them as part of a broader regime-change strategy.

Millions of mourners filled the streets of Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on Thursday to bid a final farewell to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Revolution. The funeral procession and final prayers took place before his burial at the Imam Reza shrine. The bodies of Khamenei and his family members, killed in a February 28 attack by the United States and Israel, arrived at Shahid Hasheminejad International Airport earlier in the day. Due to the massive turnout, the funeral schedule was delayed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time.

Before the procession began, all roads leading to the shrine were packed with mourners carrying red flags symbolizing vengeance for the martyrs’ blood. The crowd demanded justice for the slain leader. Officials said the funeral convoy had not yet reached the main procession area due to the overwhelming number of participants.

The Mashhad ceremony followed large-scale farewell events in Tehran, Qom, and Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala, where millions also paid their respects before the final burial in Mashhad.