Fifty-nine political activists were killed across Bangladesh between January and mid-June, according to rights data, highlighting persistent violence fueled by factional rivalries, elections, and local disputes.

England overcame an early scare to defeat DR Congo 2-1 in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout match. A late double from captain Harry Kane sealed the comeback, sending England to the pre-quarterfinals.

President Donald Trump gave an optimistic assessment of ongoing indirect negotiations with Iran, stating that technical de-escalation framework discussions are progressing "very well." While speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, Trump highlighted the economic and military leverage Washington maintained over the past weeks but drew an unshakeable red line, reiterating that under no circumstances will Iran be permitted to acquire nuclear weapons.

In a landmark high-level military transition, General Dhiraj Seth has officially assumed office as the 31st Chief of the Indian Army, succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi. The extensive tri-service leadership transition on July 1 also marks the appointment of Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain as the new Vice Chief of Army Staff and Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the new Vice Chief of Air Staff.

A bombshell Reuters report leveraging leaked military logs and European intelligence has exposed a covert training pipeline between Beijing and Moscow. Personally authorized by Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, the secret program sent nearly 200 Russian military personnel—including top brass like Colonel General Rustam Muradov—to specialized PLA facilities for intensive training in radiological, chemical, and biological warfare defense systems.