The United States and Iran are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding in Geneva on Sunday aimed at ending ongoing hostilities. According to reports, US Vice President JD Vance may travel to Geneva to sign the document with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Both sides intend to finalize the contents of the memorandum by Saturday, with discussions still underway on its key points.

Sources cited by Reuters indicate that Iran is emphasizing the cessation of Israeli attacks in Lebanon as part of the agreement. The Wall Street Journal reported that any easing of US sanctions will depend on Iran meeting specific conditions related to its nuclear program. The memorandum’s unresolved technical issues may later be discussed in Islamabad, Pakistan.

A US official also stated that President Donald Trump plans to consult with world leaders to strengthen surveillance in the Strait of Hormuz, signaling continued diplomatic engagement following the potential signing.

The United Arab Emirates has agreed to release up to $20 billion to Iran on the condition that Tehran stops its attacks, according to a Reuters report citing four sources. The payments follow a series of Iranian strikes on the UAE in response to joint U.S.-Israeli assaults. Two regional sources said the UAE initially agreed to release $10 billion, with more than $3 billion already transferred.

Two additional sources familiar with the matter said the total amount could reach $20 billion, contingent on Iran ceasing further attacks. It remains unclear whether the funds are from the UAE’s own reserves or Iranian assets previously frozen in Emirati banks. A UAE official stated that the country is working to reduce tensions and restore calm.

Sources indicated that the arrangement allows both the United States and Iran to avoid crossing their respective “red lines,” while giving Iran grounds to claim compensation and Washington the ability to deny direct payment. The deal also includes provisions for renewed intelligence sharing and economic cooperation between Iran and the UAE.

Co-host United States began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with an emphatic 4-1 win over Paraguay in a Group D match held in Los Angeles. Under coach Mauricio Pochettino, the team dominated from the start, with Folarin Balogun scoring twice to lead the victory. The match also saw an early own goal by Paraguay’s Damian Bobadilla and a late strike from substitute Giovanni Reyna.

Balogun’s brace made him only the second American player to score multiple goals in a single World Cup match, following Bert Patenaude’s hat-trick in 1930, also against Paraguay. The 4-1 result equaled the United States’ largest winning margin in World Cup history, matching their 3-0 victories over Paraguay and Belgium in 1930. Christian Pulisic played a key role in creating the opening goal and assisting Balogun’s first.

The win gave the United States a confident start to their home World Cup campaign, while Paraguay faced early disappointment in the tournament.

The United States and Iran have reached agreement on a final draft of a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the ongoing Middle East war, according to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Pakistan has played a key mediating role in the process. The announcement came after three days of intense fighting among Iran, the United States, and Israel earlier in the week. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that both sides are working toward signing a preliminary agreement to end hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon.

The conflict began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, disrupting oil and gas supplies from the Persian Gulf. A fragile truce has been in place since April 7. Under the emerging deal, the Strait of Hormuz would reopen for energy shipments, and sanctions on Iran would be gradually lifted. A 60‑day period following the signing will finalize nuclear program conditions and technical details related to enriched uranium removal.

Regional officials said the agreement could be signed within days, pending approval from Washington and Tehran. Israel has stated it is not a party to the deal and will not withdraw its forces from Lebanon or other occupied areas.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman departed for Cox’s Bazar on Saturday morning, June 13, 2026, from his residence in Gulshan to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, accompanied by his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman. According to his additional press secretary Atikur Rahman Rumman, the prime minister is traveling by air to Cox’s Bazar for a series of official programs.

During the visit, he will inspect Dulahazara Safari Park and inaugurate a nationwide tree-planting campaign involving 250 million trees at the Malumghat reserved forest. He will then visit the grave of Shaheed Wasim Akram in Pekua, meet his family, and lay foundation stones for the newly formed Pekua Municipality and Matamuhuri Upazila. Later, he will attend a BNP-organized public rally in front of the Chakaria municipal bus terminal, visit the Marine Drive road and beach, and join a civic gathering at Long Beach Hotel in the evening before returning to Dhaka.

This marks Tarique Rahman’s first trip to Cox’s Bazar since becoming prime minister following the BNP’s landslide victory in the February 12 election. Local authorities have strengthened security and made extensive preparations for his arrival.

A body was discovered near the hotel where Iran’s national football team is staying in Tijuana, Mexico, as the team trains for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Local police reported that a gray Toyota SUV had been left abandoned for several days in a supermarket parking area close to the team’s hotel and the Caliente Stadium training venue. When a strong odor emerged from the vehicle on Friday, residents alerted authorities. Police found a body wrapped in a black plastic bag inside the trunk, showing clear signs of violence and physical injury.

According to AFP, a special forensic team, under the direction of the Tijuana Prosecutor’s Office, examined the vehicle and collected evidence before sending the body for autopsy. Authorities confirmed that there is no indication of any connection between the incident and the Iranian national team. Police are treating it as a separate criminal case.

Iran had chosen Tijuana as its World Cup base after canceling a planned training camp in the United States due to ongoing political and military tensions between the two countries.

The European Union has begun implementing its new European Migration and Asylum Pact from last Friday, introducing uniform rules for all 27 member states to manage irregular migration and asylum seekers. The European Commission urged countries to update laws, train officials, and strengthen border infrastructure, though it acknowledged that none are fully prepared. Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner called the pact a milestone, marking the start of a new phase in EU migration policy.

Under the new system, all foreign nationals entering the EU will undergo screening of up to seven days at the border. Applications from those deemed security threats or from countries listed as safe will be processed within three months, and rejected applicants will have only one chance to appeal. The pact also aims to expedite deportations, with rejected asylum seekers to be returned to countries considered safe, such as Syria and Bangladesh. Member states are also working on establishing return hubs in third countries.

Human rights groups have voiced concern that the new rules could undermine asylum rights and increase hardship for vulnerable people seeking protection in Europe.

Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh’s southernmost district, has become a focal point for yaba trafficking and tobacco cultivation despite ongoing law enforcement operations. The district’s proximity to Myanmar through land and sea routes has made it a key entry point for drugs. In recent months, authorities have seized millions of yaba tablets in multiple operations across Teknaf and Ukhiya, yet the flow continues. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to the district has prompted local calls for stronger anti-drug measures.

Law enforcement officials report that about 80 percent of yaba enters Bangladesh via sea routes along the Ukhiya-Teknaf and Naikhyangchhari borders. Despite frequent raids and court verdicts, many key traffickers remain at large. Meanwhile, economic hardship and unemployment have driven many locals into the drug trade. Police officials warn that enforcement alone cannot solve the problem without broader social and economic reforms.

Alongside the drug crisis, tobacco farming has rapidly expanded across 27 unions along the Bankkhali and Matamuhuri rivers, replacing food and flower crops. Experts and officials warn that the spread of tobacco cultivation is depleting soil fertility, damaging forests, and threatening local ecosystems.

Bangladesh national team cricketer Nayeem Hasan has alleged that he was assaulted and harassed by individuals identifying themselves as members of the Detective Branch (DB) in Chattogram late Friday night. According to Nayeem, he was stopped near Lalkhan Bazar after arriving from the airport, questioned, and then physically assaulted before being taken to Khulshi Police Station, where he faced further mistreatment. He said he was released only after the officer-in-charge recognized him.

The Khulshi Police Station officer-in-charge, Ariful Islam, confirmed that Nayeem was brought in based on information from another agency about alleged smuggling activities. He stated that Sub-Inspector Shafik acted without informing him and that a preliminary investigation found Shafik at fault, leading to his removal from duty. Police later searched Nayeem’s bag and found nothing illegal or suspicious.

The incident has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many in the sports community calling for a proper investigation and accountability for the mistreatment of a national athlete.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has directed the Metropolitan Police to investigate a controversial housing fair promoting properties from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The event, titled 'The Great Israeli Real Estate Event,' is scheduled to take place in London on Sunday, though its exact location remains undisclosed. Khan confirmed the investigation order while responding to a question from Green Party leader Zack Polanski in the London Assembly, emphasizing that such settlements are illegal under international law and linked to the displacement of Palestinians.

The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, the European Legal Support Centre, and the Public Interest Law Centre have jointly requested police intervention to halt the fair, citing possible violations under the Serious Crime Prevention Order. The UK Foreign Office reiterated that Israeli settlements breach international law and warned citizens against economic activities in those areas. Amnesty International also urged the government to act swiftly to stop the event.

Media reports identified several sponsors tied to settlement construction, while organizers denied wrongdoing, claiming all properties promoted are within Israel’s recognized borders.

Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) prevented an attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to push 12 people, including women and children, into Bangladesh through the Daulatpur border in Kushtia early Friday morning. The incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. near the Chak Bilgatuya–Pragpur border area. Local residents alerted the Pragpur BOP camp, prompting BGB personnel to intervene and stop the group from entering Bangladesh. The individuals then retreated about 50 yards inside Indian territory near the zero line.

According to BGB and local sources, the 12 individuals claimed to be Bangladeshi citizens from families in Chapainawabganj, Satkhira, and Khulna districts. They are currently staying on the Indian side adjacent to the Pragpur border. To maintain control, BGB and local residents have remained on alert in the area.

BGB has formally requested a flag meeting with BSF to resolve the situation peacefully, but no positive response had been received at the time of reporting. The border area remains tense, with BGB closely monitoring developments.

A major tender scandal has surfaced inside Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB), where senior officials are accused of manipulating the international bidding process to award the Narsingdi Madhabpur–Monohardi substation project to a blacklisted company. Despite a board decision in 2025 banning Energypac Engineering Limited from all PGCB tenders until 2028 for severe negligence and financial irregularities, insiders allegedly helped the firm re-enter under a joint venture with a little-known local company, Rivary Power and Automation Engineering.

The scheme reportedly sidelined several leading Chinese state-owned firms that had submitted bids, prompting concerns of diplomatic strain between Bangladesh and China. A Chinese company, CMC, has formally written to the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister, alleging bias and demanding suspension of the tender and an independent investigation. A top security agency has also begun probing the alleged masterminds and hidden financial transactions.

Officials fear the controversy could damage Bangladesh’s credibility with international partners such as the Asian Development Bank and World Bank, both financiers of the project, and jeopardize future foreign investment in the power sector.

US President Donald Trump has temporarily suspended a planned high-risk ground operation by American forces to seize highly enriched uranium stored in underground tunnels in Iran. The decision followed an emergency briefing at the US Central Command headquarters in Florida, where senior military officials outlined the mission’s objectives and potential consequences. According to CNN, Trump withheld final approval after being informed of the risks involved.

Sources cited in the report said intelligence assessments warned that such an operation could trigger severe Iranian retaliation, prolong conflict, and destabilize the global economy. Trump also expressed concern over possible heavy US casualties. The report emerged as Washington and Tehran continued negotiations over a potential nuclear agreement and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

A senior US official said the proposed deal would require Iran to destroy enriched uranium, halt its nuclear program, and reopen the strait. However, Iranian state media countered that Tehran would not relinquish control of the waterway and demanded the release of $24 billion in frozen assets before any agreement.

A new study has identified a large cooling zone in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Greenland and Iceland, known as the 'cold blob' or 'warming hole'. While global ocean temperatures are rising, this region has cooled by about one degree Celsius since 1900. Researchers now confirm that the phenomenon signals a weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a vital ocean current system that transports warm water northward and cold water southward.

The study, led by Professor Stefan Rahmstorf of Germany’s Potsdam University, combined satellite data, ocean instruments, and climate models to show that the cooling extends deep below the ocean surface, beyond the influence of atmospheric factors. Other studies indicate that AMOC is now at its weakest in a thousand years. Scientists warn that human-driven global warming and melting ice are disrupting the delicate balance of heat and salinity that sustains the current.

If AMOC collapses, researchers caution it could trigger severe global consequences, including rising sea levels along the U.S. East Coast, extreme cold in Europe, and prolonged droughts in Africa.

Transport owners and workers have announced a strike in five districts under Khulna and Barishal divisions, starting Sunday, June 14. The decision was confirmed by Fakir Shahidul Islam, general secretary of the Bagerhat Inter-District Bus, Minibus, Coach and Microbus Owners’ Association. The strike will cover Bagerhat, Khulna, Pirojpur, Jhalokathi and Barishal districts, halting all types of vehicle movement. The groups said their three-point demand, including a ban on illegal three-wheelers on highways, remains unmet despite several meetings with local authorities.

The demands include stopping unauthorized BRTC and leased vehicles, removing illegal counters, ending local passenger pickups by long-distance buses, and banning unlicensed three-wheelers on regional highways. According to the association, repeated assurances from the administration have not led to any resolution, prompting the joint decision by owners and unions.

Bagerhat Deputy Commissioner Golam Mohammad Baten stated that the administration is aware of the three-point demand and discussions are ongoing to prevent an indefinite strike on highways.