Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev stated that Iran possesses a 'backup weapon' that could also be used in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. He described Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz as a tool as powerful as nuclear weapons. Medvedev warned that renewed large-scale conflict in the region could disrupt shipping through these vital maritime routes but expressed hope that the situation would not escalate that far.

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, located between Yemen, Djibouti, and Eritrea, connects the Arabian Sea to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, making it a key global trade route. Medvedev’s remarks come after Yemen’s Houthi rebels previously threatened to close the Bab al-Mandeb passage. He also sharply criticized recent U.S. attacks on Iran, calling them unprovoked and a violation of international law, noting that Iran posed no threat while negotiations were ongoing.

Medvedev urged all parties seeking to inflame conflict in the Middle East to consider the potential consequences of disrupting these strategic waterways.

A protest march was held in Gulistan on Sunday in response to what organizers described as a brutal attack by extortionists, occupiers, and terrorists on local traders. The demonstration, organized by the Committee for Prevention of Extortion, Land Grabbing, and Terrorism, began with a rally at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque and proceeded through several key points before ending at Gulistan Zero Point. Many traders and shop employees from Gulistan, Baitul Mukarram Mosque Market, and Stadium Market participated.

Speakers at the rally, including business leaders and Jamaat-e-Islami-affiliated figures, alleged that extortionists attacked traders on Saturday afternoon as they prepared for a protest march. Several traders, including Kabir Hossain, were reportedly injured, but police had not made any arrests. They accused law enforcement of protecting the attackers instead of ensuring public safety.

Committee president and labor leader Abdus Salam condemned the attack and warned that any group sheltering extortionists or terrorists would face consequences similar to those of the ruling Awami League, urging authorities to bring all offenders to justice regardless of political affiliation.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that members of the President Guard Regiment (PGR) are performing their duties with patriotism but emphasized that, as a specialized force, the PGR cannot afford to lag behind in training and technology. He made these remarks on Sunday afternoon at the 51st founding anniversary ceremony of the PGR held at Dhaka Cantonment.

The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of preparedness across all forces to face socioeconomic and cyber challenges. He said the government has taken initiatives to further modernize the armed forces, stressing that courage, honesty, and loyalty are essential alongside modern security strategies and technological skills. He also underscored the need for all officers and employees to strictly follow the chain of command.

Rahman noted that the armed forces’ significant role in the 1971 Liberation War has deeply connected them with the people of Bangladesh. He praised the PGR’s challenging duties and their commendable performance in difficult situations.

Millions of people attended the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Between 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 7:00 a.m. Sunday, more than seven million passengers used the Tehran Metro, marking a record number of travelers within just 13 hours and 30 minutes. The funeral prayer took place at Imam Khomeini Mosalla in Tehran on Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m., led by Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani.

The funeral prayer was conducted in three stages. The first stage was dedicated to the late leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The second stage included prayers for Boshra Hosseini Khamenei, Mesbah al-Huda Bakeri, and Zahra Haddad Adel. The third stage was held for Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani, Khamenei’s granddaughter.

The report highlights the massive turnout and logistical scale of the event, with Tehran’s metro system handling unprecedented passenger volumes during the funeral period.

The Cabinet Division of Bangladesh has issued a circular prohibiting the use of the Prime Minister’s image on banners, festoons, and billboards used for publicity at any government event. The directive, signed by Deputy Secretary Tania Afroz, was released on Sunday and made effective immediately. It specifies that no three-dimensional or other forms of the Prime Minister’s image may appear in such materials.

According to the circular, designs for promotional materials must clearly reflect the purpose, message, and content of the event, giving priority to the event’s subject matter. The Cabinet Division emphasized that all ministries, departments, and field-level officials should implement the directive with utmost importance.

The instruction aims to ensure that government event materials focus on institutional objectives rather than individual representation, reinforcing a standardized approach to official publicity.

An official Israeli investigation has revealed that the country’s security establishment failed to prevent the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack not because of a lack of intelligence, but due to long-standing misjudgments about Hamas’s capabilities. The preliminary military report found that Israeli officials wrongly believed Hamas had been effectively contained, leading to complacency and a failure to act on repeated warnings.

Retired Major General Roni Numa, who led the inquiry into Hamas’s “Jericho Wall” intelligence documents, said Israeli intelligence had been tracking Hamas’s plans to breach Gaza’s border defenses since 2016, with updates in 2019 and 2022. Despite these alerts reaching senior officers, they were dismissed as isolated data rather than signs of a broader strategy. The report also criticized excessive reliance on automated translation technology instead of Arabic language experts, weakening analytical understanding of Hamas’s intentions.

The investigation concluded that the failure was rooted in analysis, not intelligence collection. It described the October 7 events as a systemic breakdown in Israel’s assessment, planning, and decision-making processes.

Israeli intelligence agencies have dismissed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office’s claim that Iran’s nuclear program was completely destroyed. According to a report published by the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Netanyahu’s office sought intelligence endorsement for the claim following last year’s 12-day war with Iran, but officials refused due to insufficient evidence. The report said satellite and drone imagery, along with classified data, showed Iran’s nuclear facilities suffered serious damage but were not fully destroyed.

The report added that senior intelligence officers and scientists from Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission rejected a draft statement labeling Iran’s program as permanently disabled. They described the draft as “seriously distorted” and refused to sign it, arguing that such a claim would undermine their credibility. A compromise document was later produced, acknowledging major damage to Iran’s Fordow enrichment site and delays in its nuclear progress, but avoiding any assertion of total destruction.

The article also noted that Netanyahu’s office pressured intelligence officials to support Washington’s position after the Pentagon questioned the effectiveness of U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.

U.S. President Donald Trump declared that America has entered a golden age during a speech marking the country’s 250th Independence Day. Speaking at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., he highlighted his administration’s achievements and future plans, describing the moment as the dawn of America’s golden era. Despite adverse weather, thousands of citizens gathered to hear his address, which lasted about 40 minutes.

In his speech, Trump emphasized the passage of the 'Save America Act,' reaffirming his commitment to require proof of citizenship and identification for voting. He also announced that mail-in ballots would be restricted except in cases of illness, military deployment, or other exceptional circumstances. Repeatedly referring to socialism as a “specter” and comparing it to cancer, he said it must be eliminated.

Trump introduced the crew of 'Artemis 2' on stage and presented them with a special flag. The event concluded with fireworks and an aerial display by fighter jets, as Trump thanked attendees for braving the weather and ended with a blessing for America.

Political activity has intensified across Cumilla’s unions ahead of the expected local government elections, likely to be held between September and October 2026. According to local observers, Jamaat-e-Islami is currently ahead in campaign preparation, having already announced single candidates in most unions. In contrast, multiple BNP hopefuls are campaigning separately, raising concerns within the party about vote division and internal challenges.

BNP leaders acknowledged that participation by multiple candidates outside official party decisions could lead to electoral losses. The party’s central leadership has warned of organizational action against rebel contenders. Jamaat leaders said they have finalized most of their candidates, while BNP leaders indicated that final nominations will follow directives from the central leadership. The National Citizen Party (NCP) stated it will field its own candidates, though local-level coordination with Jamaat remains possible.

Analysts believe that unless BNP unites behind single candidates, Jamaat’s organized campaign could secure victories in many unions. The Election Commission is considering holding the polls by year-end to restore local governance disrupted after the fall of the previous ruling party.

The funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and four members of his family, who were killed in a joint attack by the United States and Israel, has been completed. Millions of people attended the ceremony, along with Khamenei’s sons Masoud, Mesam, and Mostafa. The commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ahmad Vahidi, was also present at the event.

According to the Associated Press, Khamenei’s son and current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei did not attend due to security risks following Israeli threats of assassination. The funeral drew massive crowds, reflecting the scale of public mourning across Iran. The report cited Al Jazeera as a source for additional details.

The ceremony took place under heightened security conditions, underscoring the tense atmosphere in Iran after the attack that killed the country’s top leader and members of his family.

In June 2026, Bangladesh recorded 472 road accidents that killed 438 people and injured 561, according to a monthly report released by the Road Safety Foundation on Saturday. Among the dead were 44 women and 56 children. Motorcycle accidents accounted for nearly one-third of all fatalities, with 134 deaths in 145 incidents. The report was compiled using data from newspapers, online portals, electronic media, and the foundation’s own sources.

The analysis showed that 91 pedestrians, 57 drivers and assistants, and 18 people in rail accidents were among the victims. Dhaka Division saw the highest number of deaths with 118, followed by Chattogram and Rajshahi. Most accidents occurred in the morning, and national highways recorded the largest share. Faulty vehicles and roads, reckless driving, unskilled drivers, poor traffic management, and weak regulatory capacity were cited as major causes.

The Road Safety Foundation urged immediate and effective measures to address these issues and improve road safety across the country.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has issued a warning to taxpayers after reports emerged that fraudsters are contacting individuals by phone, claiming their tax files have been selected for audit. These scammers are allegedly offering exemption from audits or threatening legal complications to extort money. The NBR’s Public Relations Department released a notice on Sunday urging taxpayers to remain vigilant and avoid falling victim to such schemes.

According to the notice, NBR officials never contact taxpayers about audits through personal mobile numbers or unauthorized channels. Any audit selection is officially communicated only through written notice. The NBR emphasized that all tax payments must be made through official government challans to the state treasury, not via personal accounts or mobile banking services such as bKash, Rocket, or Nagad.

The NBR advised taxpayers to verify any suspicious calls, messages, or emails with their respective tax offices and to report impersonation attempts to the nearest police station. The agency reaffirmed its commitment to transparent, harassment-free service and urged taxpayers not to engage in any unauthorized financial transactions.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Turkey’s success is Pakistan’s success during a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Saturday. He described Pakistan and Turkey as two hearts of the same soul and vowed to strengthen their special friendship and cooperation. Sharif expressed gratitude for Erdogan’s warm hospitality and said he always enjoys visiting Istanbul.

Sharif highlighted the deep historical and spiritual ties between the two nations, rooted in shared faith, mutual sacrifices, and brotherhood. He noted that Turkey has always stood by Pakistan during difficult times such as wars, earthquakes, and floods. The two leaders held what Sharif described as a productive and detailed discussion, focusing on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, and industry, and exploring ways to raise bilateral trade to five billion dollars.

Sharif also thanked Turkey for supporting the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and for backing Pakistan’s efforts toward regional peace. He emphasized that dialogue, diplomacy, and mutual respect are the most effective means to resolve disputes and maintain global peace.

Ukraine launched an attack on a major oil terminal in St. Petersburg, which President Volodymyr Zelensky described as part of Russia’s war-financing infrastructure. Ukrainian forces also claimed to have targeted a key naval base in Kronstadt. St. Petersburg Governor Aleksandr Beglov confirmed the terminal was hit but reported no casualties. The BBC verified the strike, while Kyiv said the facility’s annual capacity was 12.5 million tons.

Ukraine asserted that about 43 percent of Russia’s refining capacity has been disabled by recent long-range drone attacks, though this could not be independently verified. Moscow acknowledged energy shortages, and President Vladimir Putin signed a law to boost domestic fuel supply. Russia’s defense ministry said it intercepted over 500 drones and missiles overnight, calling Ukraine’s strikes an attempt to divert attention from battlefield setbacks.

Both sides are intensifying operations ahead of next week’s NATO summit in Turkey. Russia has warned of retaliation, while Putin sent a message to U.S. President Donald Trump urging constructive relations.

Bangladesh’s key export sector, ready-made garments, has seen a significant slowdown in its two largest markets—the European Union and the United States—during early 2026. According to Eurostat, Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the EU fell by 19.33 percent between January and April 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, dropping to 6.09 billion euros. The decline was sharper than that of other major suppliers such as China, Turkey, India, and Vietnam. In the US market, data from the Office of Textiles and Apparel showed a 17.21 percent year-on-year fall in April 2026, attributed by exporters to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

Analysts noted that Bangladesh’s export earnings from the US totaled 2.98 billion dollars in the first four months of 2026, down 11.24 percent from a year earlier, with both unit prices and shipment volumes decreasing. The overall export income for fiscal year 2025–26 fell by 0.58 percent to 48 billion dollars, missing the government’s 55 billion target. Economists warned that reduced demand in key markets could pressure industrial output, employment, and foreign exchange earnings.

While global apparel imports have weakened, competitors like Vietnam and Cambodia recorded export growth to the US, intensifying Bangladesh’s challenge to maintain market share.