Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s first bilateral foreign tour to China and Malaysia from June 21 to 26, 2026, has been hailed as a major success for Bangladesh. Parliament unanimously adopted a motion of thanks for the trip, highlighting China’s commitment to support the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project and Malaysia’s decision to reopen its labor market to Bangladeshi workers. Rahman told Parliament that his government prioritized national interests throughout the visits, emphasizing the “Bangladesh First” foreign policy.

During the China visit, President Xi Jinping assured full cooperation in implementing the Teesta Master Plan, valued at about one billion US dollars, to restore the river’s flow and protect livelihoods in northern Bangladesh. The two sides also signed 17 memorandums of understanding covering infrastructure, trade, and investment. In Malaysia, both governments agreed on a 33-point joint declaration across nine sectors, including labor migration, investment, and cultural exchange.

The Teesta project will involve dredging, embankment construction, and reservoir development over ten years, with PowerChina conducting feasibility studies. China described its involvement as humanitarian and research-based, while Bangladesh reaffirmed its sovereign right to pursue the plan for environmental and economic security.

Israel’s military announced it destroyed a 200-meter-long tunnel used by Hezbollah in the southern Lebanese town of Maydal Zoun. The operation, confirmed Sunday in a joint statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, was reportedly coordinated with the United States beforehand. The tunnel allegedly contained hundreds of weapons and rocket launchers. Hours earlier, Israeli forces said they had struck Hezbollah fighters and a rocket launcher in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon.

The strike came two days after Lebanon and Israel agreed to a U.S.-mediated security arrangement aimed at easing border tensions. The deal includes deploying Lebanese troops and a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of southern Lebanon, while allowing Israel to maintain a presence in an expanded security zone. Hezbollah condemned the Israeli attacks as a clear violation of the ceasefire, asserting its right to defend Lebanon and its people.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected the new security agreement, calling it a surrender to Israel and vowing to continue armed resistance. The conflict, running parallel to the Iran war, has displaced over one million Lebanese citizens, according to the report.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar have reportedly purchased advanced military equipment from Israel, including air defense systems and computerized battle helmets for F-15 fighter jets, according to Israeli media outlet Haaretz. The report states that Qatar’s royal fleet includes three aircraft equipped with Elbit Systems’ C-MUSIC air defense system, installed between 2020 and 2022 during maintenance in Basel, Switzerland. The system uses radar and laser technology to detect and neutralize incoming shoulder-fired missiles.

Haaretz further reported that when Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited Tehran, his aircraft was equipped with the Israeli-made C-MUSIC system. The report also cited U.S. defense documents showing that Israeli companies won subcontracts worth $150–250 million to supply advanced components for Qatar’s F-15QA Ababil jets, including 160 JHMCS helmets and night-vision goggles. Similarly, Saudi Arabia received 462 JHMCS helmets and matching night-vision goggles as part of its F-15SA deal.

Neither Saudi Arabia nor Qatar maintains formal diplomatic or defense relations with Israel, though reports before October 2023 suggested Riyadh was considering normalization.

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Neymar will not start in the upcoming World Cup round of 32 match against Japan in Houston at 11 p.m. Bangladesh time. Although Neymar has recovered from injury and shown improvement over the past week, Ancelotti said the forward is not yet ready to play a full match. The coach emphasized that Neymar could play more than 15 minutes, but his exact playing time will depend on the match situation.

Neymar had been sidelined for 981 days due to a right calf injury and missed Brazil’s first two World Cup matches. He returned as a substitute in the group stage match against Scotland, where he showed glimpses of his old form. Ancelotti stated that he plans to use Neymar’s experience and creativity as a late-game advantage rather than taking early risks.

Ancelotti also warned that Japan is one of the world’s best teams and said Brazil is approaching the match with a final-like mindset. He reminded his players to be mentally strong and ready for any scenario, including extra time or penalties.

South Korea’s national football coach Hong Myung-bo is facing an official investigation following the team’s early exit from the World Cup. The team failed to advance beyond the group stage after consecutive losses to Mexico and South Africa, finishing third in Group A. The disappointing performance triggered widespread criticism across the country, with President Lee ordering a probe into alleged favoritism in team selection and coaching appointments.

In a message on social media platform X, President Lee expressed shock over the team’s elimination and questioned the integrity of the selection process. He directed the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to conduct a thorough investigation and identify weaknesses in the team’s management system. The president also called for reforms to prevent similar failures in the future.

Public frustration has intensified, with a petition demanding the coach’s dismissal quickly gaining support on the National Assembly’s website. Images of posters banning Coach Hong from entering shops and businesses have circulated widely, reflecting growing anger among South Korean football fans.

A large-scale tree plantation campaign was officially launched in Lalmai, Comilla, under the initiative of Comilla-10 (Lalmai-Sadar Dakshin) Member of Parliament Mobashwer Alam Bhuiya. The program, inaugurated on Sunday at Bagmara Girls’ High School, aims to plant one lakh trees during the 2026–2027 fiscal year to combat climate change and promote a greener, livable Bangladesh. The event featured a rally, discussion meeting, and symbolic tree planting, attended by teachers, students, government officials, and local dignitaries.

During his address, MP Mobashwer Alam Bhuiya described climate change as one of humanity’s greatest challenges and emphasized that tree planting is essential for maintaining ecological balance, ensuring clean oxygen, and protecting biodiversity. He urged citizens to plant and nurture at least one tree each. The initiative will cover educational institutions, government and private offices, roadsides, public lands, and homesteads, focusing on fruit-bearing, forest, and medicinal plants.

Organizers believe the program will expand greenery across Lalmai upazila and significantly raise public awareness about environmental conservation.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman is set to inaugurate a nationwide tree plantation program across more than 29,000 secondary-level educational institutions in Bangladesh. The event will be launched simultaneously from the Bangladesh-China Friendship International Conference Center in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at 2 p.m. on Monday, according to a press release from the Ministry of Education. The program was initially scheduled for 10 a.m. but was rescheduled to the afternoon for special reasons.

The initiative is part of the government’s electoral pledge to plant 2.5 billion trees over five years and to engage every child annually in tree planting under the “One Child, One Tree” campaign. The Ministry of Education plans to plant 50 million trees in schools, colleges, and madrasas within five years. Each institution will receive a climate awareness grant of 5,000 taka annually and will plant one fruit tree, one forest tree, and one medicinal tree this year.

The inauguration will be broadcast live on large screens in all participating institutions, where local ministers, lawmakers, community leaders, teachers, students, and parents will join the event in person.

Iran has been eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite remaining unbeaten in all three group-stage matches. The team, led by coach Amir Ghalenoei, faced a series of off-field challenges including visa denials for officials, disrupted training plans, and severe travel restrictions. They arrived at one match venue only 16 hours before kickoff, yet FIFA made no formal protest. Two of Iran’s goals were disallowed by VAR, including a controversial stoppage-time strike against Egypt that could have changed group standings.

FIFA’s earlier commitment to ensure equal access for all teams was questioned after its president, Gianni Infantino, said the organization was “not the king of the world.” Many observers viewed this as a moral failure to guarantee fairness. Iran’s elimination was sealed when Austria and Algeria drew 3–3, leaving Iran out of the knockout stage despite three draws.

In their farewell message, Iran’s players emphasized peace, coexistence, and respect, rejecting anger despite adversity. Captain Mehdi Taremi and coach Ghalenoei both called for keeping politics out of football and ensuring no team faces such institutional bias again.

The United States and Iran have agreed to stop attacks and resume discussions on the Hormuz Strait, according to a Reuters report citing a U.S. official. The two countries plan to meet in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday to address the ongoing dispute over the strategic waterway. The agreement follows several days of retaliatory strikes and raises hopes for maintaining an interim peace deal.

The U.S. official said that technical discussions on all aspects of a memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 will continue. Both sides will observe a ceasefire, allowing ships to move freely through the strait. The memorandum includes 14 points aimed at reopening the waterway for navigation. Media outlet Axios reported that technical-level talks will proceed while both sides refrain from further attacks.

The report also noted that early Sunday, Iran launched missile and drone strikes on U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. Shortly before that, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Iran’s existence could be at risk if it violated the ceasefire agreement.

International oil prices increased following several days of retaliatory attacks between the United States and Iran, which disrupted energy transport through the Strait of Hormuz and exposed the fragility of their interim peace agreement. On Monday, Brent crude rose by 58 cents, or 0.8 percent, to 72.57 dollars per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained 88 cents, or 1.3 percent, to reach 70.11 dollars per barrel.

Analysts from ING warned that significant risks remain in the oil market, noting that if supply normalization takes longer than expected, prices could rise further. ANZ Bank analysts added that earlier assumptions about a quick recovery of oil supply from the Persian Gulf may now be reassessed. The two countries have agreed to halt attacks and plan to meet in Doha on Tuesday to discuss resolving their Hormuz Strait dispute.

Saudi Aramco resumed crude loading at its Ras Tanuma terminal last Friday after a four-month suspension, despite a helicopter crash there on Sunday that killed 14 people. Analysts cautioned that tanker congestion, damaged infrastructure, and halted production could delay a full supply recovery for the rest of the year.

The Bangladesh Medical University (Second Amendment) Bill, 2026 was introduced in the National Parliament on Sunday by Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain. The bill aims to facilitate the operation of the university’s super specialized hospital and to authorize the establishment of companies and investments to expand medical education, research, and healthcare services. It was later referred to the relevant parliamentary committee for further examination, with a directive to submit a report within three working days.

According to the bill’s statement of objectives, the Bangladesh Medical University was established under the 1998 law to promote higher education, medical research, and advanced healthcare. However, despite constructing a super specialized hospital, the lack of adequate staff and a clear management structure prevented its full operation. The university’s syndicate decided to manage the hospital under the Companies Act, 1994, prompting the need for legal amendments.

The proposed changes would allow the university to form profit or non-profit companies, acquire and transfer shares, and reinvest earnings into education, research, and healthcare, thereby enhancing institutional excellence.

The Bangladesh Parliament has introduced the Public Examinations Offenses Amendment Bill, 2026, which proposes up to five years of imprisonment and fines for digital manipulation or unauthorized access to examination databases. The bill, presented by Education Minister Ehsanul Haque Milon on Sunday, also covers the use of electronic devices in exam centers and other examination-related crimes. The parliamentary committee has been asked to submit its report within three working days.

According to the bill’s explanatory statement, the existing Public Examinations (Offenses) Act of 1980 is outdated due to the rise of technology and digital crimes. The amendment aims to modernize the legal framework to address online and cyber-based examination offenses, ensuring a fair and malpractice-free testing environment. It introduces the definition of “digital manipulation,” encompassing cybercrimes involving unauthorized access or tampering with exam data.

The government stated that the amendment is essential to safeguard the transparency and credibility of public examinations in the digital era, addressing emerging challenges posed by technology-driven misconduct.

Rescue workers in Venezuela are continuing efforts to find survivors following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country last Wednesday, leaving nearly 1,500 people dead. The coastal state of La Guaira, located about 40 kilometers north of Caracas, suffered the most severe damage, with hundreds of buildings reduced to rubble. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced a presidential commission to oversee rescue and recovery operations, confirming that schools will remain closed for another week and that 75 percent of electricity in La Guaira has been restored.

According to National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, 3,150 people have been injured, 12,721 displaced, and 774 buildings collapsed. More than 2,600 foreign rescuers have joined local teams, though many volunteers have complained about limited equipment and restricted access. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated that the quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, could ultimately claim over 10,000 lives, potentially making them among Latin America’s deadliest in a century.

Foreign rescue teams from the United States, Colombia, and Mexico have saved several children from the debris, while aftershocks continue to hamper operations and heighten fear among residents.

Oishee Rahman, convicted of murdering her parents, is now serving as a librarian at the Kashimpur Women’s Central Jail in Gazipur. According to prison officials, she began her sentence at age 19 and has completed 13 years of her 30-year life term under Section 57 of the Penal Code. She spends her days working in the prison library, maintaining the book register, and reading English novels. Oishee reportedly suffers from respiratory illness and maintains good behavior, though she speaks little.

The 2013 murders of retired police officer Mahfuzur Rahman and his wife shocked Dhaka’s Chamelibagh area. Oishee surrendered to police the next day, confessing to the killings before later retracting her statement. In 2015, a lower court sentenced her to death, but the High Court commuted the sentence to life imprisonment in 2017, citing her mental instability, young age, and lack of prior criminal record.

Prison sources said Oishee’s conduct has remained disciplined, and she occasionally tends to flower gardens inside the prison. Her release remains distant, though she continues to await the end of her sentence.

A murder case has been filed naming 17 individuals in connection with the killing of college student Suman Sheikh, 24, in Alfadanga, Faridpur. The case was lodged on Saturday night by the victim’s elder brother, Shamim Sheikh, at Alfadanga Police Station. Alongside the named suspects, 20 to 25 unidentified persons were also accused. Police confirmed the case on Sunday afternoon.

According to the case details, the attack occurred around 6 p.m. on Friday in the Barovag Purbo Para area of Tagarband Union. Suman Sheikh, a third-year degree student at Kashiani M.A. Khalek College, was allegedly ambushed by a group led by Hossain Sheikh, son of former union council member Kuddus Sheikh, due to previous enmity. The assailants reportedly attacked him with sharp weapons, leaving him critically injured. He was taken to Kashiani Upazila Health Complex and later transferred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead around 8 p.m.

Police said operations are ongoing to arrest the suspects, who have gone into hiding. Additional forces have been deployed in the area to prevent further unrest.