Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s coffin has been draped with a red flag from the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, a symbol associated with the Battle of Karbala. The flag was brought from the holy shrine, and Khamenei is scheduled to be buried there on July 9. The country is currently observing mourning and farewell ceremonies following his death in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike in February at the onset of the war. Nader Hashemi, associate professor of Middle East and Islamic politics at Georgetown University, told Al Jazeera that the red flag represents the sacrifice of Imam Hussein ibn Ali, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, who was martyred in the 7th-century Battle of Karbala. He explained that Iran’s leadership is drawing a symbolic parallel between Khamenei’s death and Imam Hussein’s martyrdom, portraying it as a moral and spiritual continuation of that historic struggle. The symbolic gesture underscores Iran’s effort to frame Khamenei’s death within a broader narrative of resistance and religious sacrifice, reinforcing national unity during the mourning period.

Israel has bulldozed at least 500 olive trees owned by Palestinians near the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, according to a report published on July 3, 2026. The destruction occurred just a few months before the olive harvest season, a critical period for many Palestinian farmers. The report, citing Al Jazeera, also revealed that since 2020, more than 120,000 olive trees belonging to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have been destroyed. These trees were either uprooted, poisoned, or damaged through other means. The incident adds to a growing record of agricultural losses faced by Palestinian communities in the region. The large-scale destruction of olive trees, a key source of livelihood and cultural identity for Palestinians, underscores ongoing tensions in the occupied territories and raises concerns about the sustainability of local agriculture.

A local leader of the Jubo Dal in Jhenaidah has been temporarily expelled after an audio recording of him allegedly demanding extortion money went viral on social media. The decision was made on July 2 by the Jhenaidah district unit of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal following an emergency meeting. The expelled leader, Atiar Rahman, was a member of the convening committee of the Jhenaidah Sadar Upazila Jubo Dal. According to the report, the audio clip featured Atiar Rahman demanding five lakh taka from a member of the minority community and threatening severe consequences if the demand was not met. The recording sparked widespread anger and fear among local residents and caused significant controversy in the political arena, damaging the party’s image. A press release signed by district office secretary Mashiur Rahman confirmed that Atiar Rahman was found guilty of violating party discipline and engaging in criminal activity. Acting on the instructions of the district president and general secretary, he was expelled from all party positions with immediate effect.

Former U.S.-Iran negotiator Alan Eyre has said that the United States should move faster in its discussions with Tehran following the funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Khamenei. He told Al Jazeera that maintaining momentum in the dialogue is essential and that the current pace has been too slow. Eyre, a diplomatic fellow at the Washington-based Middle East Institute, stated that both sides now need to engage in longer and more frequent talks. He noted that while the funeral required a temporary pause, the U.S. should significantly increase the pace of negotiations once the ceremonies conclude. He also pointed out that the two sides have yet to progress beyond the initial stages on key issues such as managing and keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. Eyre further mentioned that resolving the Lebanon issue remains necessary, while the nuclear question continues to underlie the broader regional tensions.

During secret peace talks between the United States and Iran earlier this year, Israeli authorities allegedly planned to assassinate senior Iranian representatives, according to US officials. The plan reportedly targeted Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Washington feared that such attacks would derail the fragile negotiations, prompting the US to warn Tehran through several Middle Eastern intermediaries. The conflict began on February 28 when an Israeli airstrike, aided partly by US intelligence, killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures. While the US initially shared Israel’s goal of weakening Iran’s leadership, their objectives diverged once peace discussions began in April. The US sought a ceasefire and eventual peace deal, while Israel opposed halting the war, aiming instead to topple Iran’s government. Despite assassination threats, Araghchi and Ghalibaf continued diplomatic efforts, leading to a preliminary US-Iran agreement in June to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear talks. Israeli officials viewed the deal as a strategic setback, fearing it would strengthen Iran economically and militarily.

The Bangladesh government borrowed about Tk 330 billion more than its target from the banking system during the 2025–26 fiscal year to cover a widening budget deficit. According to updated data from Bangladesh Bank, the government’s net bank borrowing reached over Tk 1.37 trillion by June 23, exceeding the original budget target of Tk 1.04 trillion. The revised budget had raised the borrowing goal to Tk 1.18 trillion. Officials attributed the higher borrowing to a significant shortfall in revenue collection, slower-than-expected foreign loan inflows, and increased public expenditure. The National Board of Revenue reportedly fell short of its revenue target by about Tk 880 billion. Bangladesh Bank data showed that net government borrowing from banks rose by Tk 297.46 billion, or 27.71 percent, compared with the same period a year earlier. At the end of the fiscal year, total government debt from the banking sector stood at Tk 6.88 trillion, up from Tk 5.51 trillion a year earlier. For the new 2026–27 fiscal year, the government has set a bank borrowing target of Tk 1.12 trillion.

Serious allegations have surfaced over irregularities worth millions of taka in providing internet services to government primary schools in Thakurgaon. Teleower Communication (EDC), a company contracted by the Directorate of Primary Education, reportedly installed routers and devices in many schools but collected monthly bills without ensuring regular internet connectivity. The company has agreements with 654 of the district’s 998 schools, each billed at 1,000 taka per month. Teachers have expressed frustration, claiming that bills were paid despite inactive connections. Upazila education officers confirmed receiving complaints. In Ranisankail, 122 schools reported service issues, leading to partial bill deductions. In Pirganj and Baliadangi, officials acknowledged full payments but admitted service quality concerns. They plan to summon company representatives in upcoming coordination meetings to address the matter. Teleower’s local manager argued that the company received only 12 months of payment over 22 months and cited issues like cable theft and missing routers. The district primary education officer stated that future payments will require written confirmation from school teachers verifying receipt of internet service.

Farzana Akter, daughter of Abul Bashar from Chhanuya village in Feni Sadar upazila, has been missing for 22 days. Her relatives have searched in various places with the help of law enforcement agencies. Police claim they are actively working to locate her, but say the search has been delayed due to non-cooperation from her husband’s family. According to police and family sources, Farzana married Shahadat, a Dubai expatriate from Cumilla’s Nangalkot upazila, in 2018. Since the marriage, family tensions reportedly arose because of her brother-in-law, Shahporan. Farzana went missing from her in-laws’ house on June 9. Her relatives allege that Shahporan abducted her after she rejected his inappropriate proposal. Farzana’s mother, Sabina Yasmin, accused Shahporan of spreading false stories to cover up the incident. The report states that despite Farzana’s disappearance since June 9, her husband’s family has not filed a case or general diary. Her parents and aunt have appealed to the Nangalkot police for proper action. Investigating officer SI Ashraf said the police are looking into the matter.

Two fish farms in Khanpur Union of Bagerhat Sadar upazila were allegedly poisoned by miscreants early Wednesday, resulting in the death of fish worth around one million taka. The incident occurred in the South Khanpur area, where fish from the ponds of local residents Sheikh Miranuzzaman and Jalal Sheikh were reportedly killed and taken away. According to local sources, the remaining fish in the ponds also died from poisoning. The farms contained large prawns and various species of white fish, with total losses estimated at over one million taka. Sheikh Miranuzzaman, one of the affected owners, suspected that local drug users or members of a gang displaced from the Sundarbans might be involved. Residents have demanded a prompt investigation and punishment for those responsible. Police investigation center in-charge BM Alamgir Hossain confirmed awareness of the incident and said authorities would examine the matter and take legal action accordingly.

In Osmaninagar upazila of Sylhet, the family of slain Jubo Dal activist Turon Mia has expressed anger as no suspects have yet been arrested in connection with his alleged murder. Turon was found dead at his home on June 19 after reportedly protesting irregularities in a local government road project. His younger brother, Elaich Mia, broke down in tears before the Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir on July 1, pleading for justice. The adviser later instructed the Sylhet police superintendent to ensure a proper investigation. According to the family, influential local figures are attempting to portray the killing as a natural death to conceal the truth. They claim Turon had previously filed a written complaint on June 6 after being attacked by neighbors, but police did not record the case due to pressure. Turon allegedly refused to withdraw his complaint despite pressure from local mediators. Police officials stated that senior authorities are aware of the case and that a detective team is working to identify the real culprits. The family continues to demand a transparent investigation and exemplary punishment for those responsible.

In Muladi upazila of Barishal, locals forcibly took an Awami League activist from police custody after his arrest on Thursday evening. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. at Ramarpul Bazar in Nazirpur Union, where police had detained Rasedul Islam Setu Bhuiyan, a local party worker whose organizational activities were banned. About fifty locals surrounded the officers and took Setu away while he was still handcuffed. The police later recovered the handcuffs through negotiation with local residents. Following the incident, police filed a case accusing several individuals of obstructing government work and rescuing an arrestee. Muladi Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Md Khondaker Sohel Rana confirmed the event and said the handcuffs were retrieved soon afterward. He added that Setu had been the fifth accused in an earlier case related to a cake-cutting event marking the Awami League’s founding anniversary. A new case has now been filed over the rescue, and police are attempting to arrest Setu and others involved. Authorities stated that efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend those responsible for the incident.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh is under pressure as thousands of citizens from across the country travel daily to its Dhaka headquarters to correct birth dates on their National Identity Cards (NID). The EC had earlier centralized all ‘Category D’ correction applications, removing the authority of field-level officials to prevent irregularities. However, this move has led to severe public suffering, long queues, and the rise of middlemen exploiting applicants. According to EC officials, around 1,000 ‘Category D’ applications are submitted daily, with a backlog of about 80,000 cases. The EC plans to introduce an appointment-based software system to manage hearings from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and reduce overcrowding. Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed stated that field officers will not regain authority over birth date corrections due to widespread document inconsistencies and fraudulent attempts. An internal policy dispute persists within the EC over whether to restore some authority to regional offices. A workshop is being planned to review the policy and finalize decisions aimed at easing public hardship and improving service efficiency.

Bangladesh’s Power Division has directed all electricity distribution companies to promptly resolve customer complaints regarding excessive electricity bills for June. The directive was issued during a review meeting held on July 2, chaired by Power Division Secretary Mirana Mahroukh via Zoom, with senior ministry officials, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, and distribution company representatives in attendance. Customers have been urged to contact their respective distribution companies or designated hotlines to report billing issues. The meeting followed widespread reports in media and social networks that many consumers across the country received inflated bills. While deputy commissioners said they had not received significant complaints, the Power Division emphasized immediate correction of any clerical or technical errors. It also warned that any proven misconduct by officials or employees would result in strict legal action. The meeting also reviewed load-shedding conditions and progress of rooftop solar power programs at the district level. Distribution companies were instructed to enhance customer service and ensure quick resolution of verified complaints.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has triggered a wave of coaching changes as seven national teams parted ways with their head coaches due to disappointing performances. Six coaches resigned voluntarily, while one was dismissed by his federation. Among those stepping down were Ronald Koeman of the Netherlands, Sebastián Beccacece of Ecuador, Steve Clarke of Scotland, Marcelo Bielsa of Uruguay, Hong Myung-bo of South Korea, and Miroslav Koubek of the Czech Republic. Tunisia’s Sabri Lamouchi was the only coach to be officially sacked after a heavy defeat to Sweden. The resignations and dismissal reflect the immense pressure national coaches face during the World Cup, where unmet expectations often lead to swift consequences. Each of the affected teams exited the tournament early, prompting their football associations to begin searching for replacements and reassessing strategies. For these seven nations, rebuilding their squads and developing new tactical approaches have become immediate priorities as they look beyond the 2026 tournament toward future international competitions.

A government primary school teacher in Kutubdia, Cox’s Bazar, has been deprived of her salary for two years due to complications with her National Identity Card (NID). Kaniz Tania Sultana, an assistant teacher at Ghilachhari Government Primary School, became a dual voter by mistake, leading to the suspension of her salary. Her family’s financial hardship reportedly drove her 14-year-old son, FTM Chowdhury Nu-Mim, to attempt suicide last Saturday. Police rescued him and took him to a hospital, where he survived. Sultana said she has been teaching for ten years and mistakenly registered as a voter in Chattogram’s South Halishahar area while working there. After obtaining a government job, she applied in 2017 to cancel her previous NID and register under her home address. Despite submitting all required documents and applying for correction three times, her NID remains unresolved, leaving her without pay for two years. The Upazila Primary Education Officer stated that her salary will resume once the NID issue is corrected, while the Upazila Election Officer said the matter will be settled by the Chattogram regional office.