Iran’s military headquarters has issued a strong warning to the United States, declaring that the Strait of Hormuz is not a playground for Washington and asserting it as an undisputed part of the Islamic Republic’s sovereignty. The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters stated that any U.S. interference in the area would be met with a swift and decisive military response.

According to the statement, all commercial vessels must use Iran-designated maritime routes for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, or face consequences. Citing Fars News Agency, the statement described the security and stability of this vital waterway as a “red line” for Iran’s armed forces. The warning follows heightened tensions after the United States and Israel reportedly began military actions against Iran on February 28, prompting Tehran to block the strait.

The declaration underscores Iran’s determination to maintain control over the strategic passage, signaling potential risks for international shipping and regional stability if tensions persist.

Major General Ali Abdollahi, head of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbia Central Command, has warned the United States, Israel, and their allies against making any wrong decisions regarding Iran. Speaking on July 2, 2026, he said that any miscalculation about Iran would lead to devastating consequences. His remarks came in a message issued on the occasion of the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Abdollahi credited Khamenei’s leadership for strengthening Iran’s defense capabilities through advancements in missile and drone technology, scientific progress, and national security. He claimed that despite possessing modern weapons, Iran’s enemies had suffered heavy losses and humiliation in past confrontations. He also urged citizens to attend Khamenei’s funeral in large numbers to demonstrate national unity.

The commander affirmed that Iran’s armed forces are fully prepared to defend the country’s independence, security, and territorial integrity, and he expressed full allegiance to the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has announced a new reduction in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices for consumers across the country. The price of a 12-kilogram LPG cylinder has been lowered by 357 taka to 1,528 taka, effective from Tuesday evening. The commission also reduced the price of autogas from 86.93 taka to 70.40 taka per liter.

This latest adjustment follows an earlier price cut on June 2, when BERC reduced the price of a 12-kilogram LPG cylinder from 1,940 taka to 1,885 taka and autogas from 89.50 taka to 86.93 taka per liter. The commission periodically revises LPG and autogas prices to reflect changes in market conditions.

The new rates are expected to provide some relief to consumers and transport operators as energy costs continue to fluctuate in the domestic market.

The United States is reducing its military presence in Saudi Arabia as tensions between Washington and Riyadh escalate over the ongoing war with Iran. Reports from multiple media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and The Times of Israel, indicate that Saudi Arabia’s refusal to allow the use of its bases and airspace for a planned US operation, codenamed 'Project Freedom', has strained bilateral relations. The operation aimed to weaken Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, but was canceled after Saudi denial.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the White House reacted angrily to Riyadh’s stance, threatening to suspend the supply of missile interceptors that Saudi forces use against Iranian drones and missiles. US officials confirmed that Washington is now considering scaling back its military footprint in the kingdom. The diplomatic chill was further underscored when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio skipped Saudi Arabia during a Gulf tour, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman declined to attend the G7 summit in France.

The reports suggest that Saudi Arabia’s frustration stems from its limited influence over US policy despite close ties, and from fears that prolonged conflict with Iran could destabilize the region and global energy markets.

The Turkish mega-series 'Kudus Fatihi Selahaddin Ayyubi', based on the life and struggles of Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi, will now be broadcast in Bangla. The show, depicting the legendary Muslim leader and conqueror of Jerusalem, will air from August 2 through a joint initiative of Nagorik TV and the OTT platform Bongo. Viewers can watch it on Nagorik TV every Sunday to Thursday at 8 p.m. and on Bongo at 9 p.m.

The series centers on the liberation of Jerusalem from Crusader control and portrays the political and military efforts to unite the Muslim world. It highlights Ayyubi’s pursuit of justice and his heroic leadership. The production features large-scale sets, striking cinematography, and dynamic performances that recreate the 12th-century historical setting.

At the launch event, senior officials from Nagorik TV and Bongo, along with journalists from leading media outlets, attended the unveiling of the Bangla trailer and poster. The event concluded with a raffle draw awarding prizes including an air conditioner, television, and smartphone.

At least eight Buddhist monks were killed and 14 others injured when a pickup truck struck a group of pilgrims in northeastern Thailand on Thursday. The accident occurred in Mukdahan province, about 600 kilometers northeast of Bangkok, as 35 monks were walking toward Ubon Ratchathani province on a 260-kilometer pilgrimage. Five monks died at the scene, and three more succumbed to injuries in hospital, according to Mukdahan governor Warayan Bunnarath.

Security footage released by the Ruam Jai Mukdahan Rescue Association showed the monks walking in a line along the roadside when the pickup lost control and veered into them. Police said the vehicle was being driven by an 11-year-old boy, who has been taken into custody. Child protection officials are expected to question him once they arrive.

Authorities said the cause of the crash remains under investigation. Some monks reported seeing the truck swerving before it left the road and hit them.

A group of Israeli settlers forcibly entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem’s Old City under heavy police protection, according to a report published on July 2, 2026. The Palestinian state news agency Wafa said the settlers performed Talmudic religious rituals inside the mosque compound during the incursion.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, located on a hilltop in East Jerusalem, was captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed, a move not recognized by most of the international community. The site holds deep religious significance for Muslims worldwide as Islam’s third holiest site, encompassing both the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the seventh-century Dome of the Rock, from where Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven.

The report cited Al Jazeera as its source but did not provide details about any immediate response or consequences following the settlers’ entry.

A Dhaka court has once again postponed the submission of the investigation report in the Bangladesh Bank reserve theft case. On Thursday, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Joshita Islam set August 9 as the new date for the report’s submission. This marks the 96th time the deadline has been extended. The prosecution’s Sub-Inspector Rokunuzzaman confirmed the court’s order after the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) failed to present the report on the scheduled date.

The case stems from the February 5, 2016 incident when hackers fraudulently transferred 81 million US dollars from Bangladesh Bank’s account at the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States using the SWIFT system. The stolen funds were later sent to the Philippines. Investigators suspect that a local group assisted the hackers in laundering the money.

Following the theft, on March 15, 2016, Zobayer Bin Huda, Deputy Director of the Accounts and Budgeting Department of Bangladesh Bank, filed a case under the Money Laundering Prevention Act and the Information and Communication Technology Act. The CID is currently conducting the investigation.

Iran’s parliament speaker, Bagher Ghalibaf, has called for a massive public turnout at the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a statement, Ghalibaf urged Iranians to attend the ceremony to mark what he described as a glorious chapter in the nation’s history. He also declared that the nation’s call for revenge should be heard around the world.

According to the report, Khamenei was killed on February 28 in a joint attack by the United States and Israel. He had led Iran since 1989, following the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who spearheaded the Islamic Revolution a decade earlier. The funeral and burial ceremonies are scheduled to take place from July 4 to 9, with strict security measures in place across the country.

The call for mass participation reflects the government’s effort to project unity and national strength during the mourning period, as Iran prepares for several days of ceremonies honoring its long-serving leader.

Police have arrested Mokhlesur Rahman Mukul, the prime accused in the murder case of Islami Chhatra Shibir leader Saifullah Bari in Gaibandha’s Saghata upazila. The arrest was made on Wednesday night in the Hariken area of Gazipur using information technology, according to Saghata Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mahbub Alam. Mukul, who was recently expelled from his position as convener of the Bonarpara Union unit of Jubo Dal, is the fifth suspect detained in connection with the case.

Saifullah Bari, president of the Bonarpara Union unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir and a third-year student of Al-Quran studies at Satgara Model Kamil Madrasa in Rangpur, was stabbed to death on June 21 in the Bonarpara Choumatha area. Witnesses said Mukul and his associates attacked him with knives in the afternoon. Following the incident, the district Jubo Dal expelled Mukul for violating party discipline.

Saifullah’s father filed a murder case naming six individuals and 10–15 unidentified others. Police have so far arrested five suspects in total.

Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan announced plans to recruit more than 100,000 new teachers in Bangladesh. He made the statement on Thursday afternoon at the InterContinental Hotel in Dhaka during a UNESCO event titled ‘Global Partnership for Education System Transformation Grant and Multiplier Grant for Bangladesh.’

According to the minister, the government plans to appoint 32,500 head teachers in government primary schools and around 70,000 teachers and lecturers in various MPO-affiliated private educational institutions. He added that the Appellate Division has delivered a verdict allowing the recruitment of the 32,500 head teachers, enabling the ministry to proceed with the appointments.

The minister described the inclusion of approximately 70,000 MPO-affiliated teachers and lecturers as a major development for the education sector.

Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC has launched a month-long campaign titled 'Customer Service Month' under the slogan 'Building Tomorrow’s Bangladesh through Welfare-Oriented Banking.' The program was inaugurated on July 1, 2026, at Islami Bank Tower by Acting Managing Director Md. Altaf Hossain as the chief guest. Additional Managing Director Engineer Mohammad Jamal Uddin Majumder attended as special guest, while the event was presided over by Additional Managing Director Dr. M. Kamal Uddin Jasim. Senior executives, including deputy managing directors and zonal heads, joined the event both in person and virtually.

During his remarks, Md. Altaf Hossain stated that all branches, sub-branches, agent outlets, and digital banking services of Islami Bank are operating normally. He noted that remittance customers are receiving uninterrupted services and that many clients who had previously closed their accounts have returned, reflecting renewed trust in the institution. He described Islami Bank as a strong and stable financial organization committed to transparency, accountability, good governance, and professionalism.

The campaign aims to enhance customer engagement and reinforce confidence in the bank’s welfare-based financial services.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) announced that its e-VAT system will remain unavailable until 5 PM on Friday, July 3, due to ongoing system upgrade work. According to a notice issued by the NBR’s e-VAT unit on Thursday, the upgrade process began at 6 AM Thursday and will continue until Friday evening. During this period, users will not be able to upload any data to the system.

The upgrade aims to introduce several key improvements, including enhancements to the Mushak-9.1 form and the addition of a new option in Note 15 for entering ‘reverse charge’ inputs under Section 20(2). The name of BOE data will be changed to “Input Against Bill of Entry,” and the system’s title will shift from iVAT to eVAT. Additionally, the DDO function and master data list function are being improved, incorporating updated VAT office jurisdiction mapping and revised search criteria for issue and expiry dates.

For users submitting returns through APL, the return submission process and BOE data processing within VAT software are also being upgraded to improve performance and accuracy.

Iran has accelerated its oil exports following a temporary easing of US sanctions, gaining a 60‑day window to secure new buyers and generate vital revenue. According to Bloomberg, more than 20 million barrels of Iranian crude have been floating in Asian waters for at least a week, an 18 percent increase from the previous week. Data from Vortexa and Bloomberg show that since the sanctions were lifted last week, Iran’s total seaborne oil volume has reached between 58 and 68 million barrels, including both in‑transit and waiting cargoes.

About 90 percent of these floating cargoes have no confirmed destination, with many ships awaiting orders or listing Singapore as a placeholder port, a tactic often used for ship‑to‑ship transfers near the Malacca Strait. The sanctions relief came as part of an interim peace agreement, with Washington lifting restrictions on Iranian oil and ports in June. Tehran now has until mid‑August to finalize new buyers.

Iran reported that since the US naval blockade was lifted, it has shipped over 40 million barrels of oil to various countries, potentially strengthening its economic position and leverage in ongoing talks with Washington.

At least seven workers were killed in a rock quarry collapse on the outskirts of Bengaluru, Karnataka, early on Thursday, July 2, 2026. Police confirmed that all the victims were residents of Bihar who had been working at the quarry on a daily wage basis. Several others were injured and are receiving treatment at a local private hospital. The incident occurred in the Madapatna area of Bengaluru South Taluk when a large rock, about 40 feet high, suddenly broke off and fell on the workers.

Rescue teams, police, and local officials quickly reached the site and began operations using heavy machinery to clear debris and search for anyone possibly trapped. The area was cordoned off for safety. Witnesses said around 18 workers were present at the time, and some managed to escape.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether safety regulations were properly followed and if negligence contributed to the collapse. Officials stated that legal action will be taken if any violations are found.