Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Israel protects Christians and that some Christian villages in Lebanon have sought annexation for protection. He made the remarks during an interview on Fox News’ The Sunday Briefing, asserting that Israel safeguards its friends, particularly Christians in the Middle East, from Hezbollah. His comments came amid reports of Israeli strikes on churches and Christian sites in Lebanon, sparking new controversy. Analysts noted that Netanyahu’s statements contradict reports from international human rights groups and media outlets documenting Israeli attacks that damaged or destroyed churches, convents, and other Christian religious institutions in Lebanon. In May, a French organization reported that Israeli forces demolished a convent in Yaroun, while videos circulated in April showed Israeli soldiers desecrating Christian symbols. The destruction of a church in Deir Dghaya village last year was also cited. The remarks followed a recent statement by Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who wrote that all of Lebanon should burn. Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

The Directorate of Madrasa Education in Bangladesh has issued a directive requiring all madrasas under its jurisdiction to organize daily assemblies and sports activities. The instruction, sent on Monday from the directorate’s Training and Physical Education Branch, was signed by Director (Training and Development) Md. Abul Kalam Talukder. It emphasizes that the government is committed to expanding sports practices at grassroots and educational levels to build a youth-driven, prosperous Bangladesh. According to the directive, assistant teachers of physical education in each madrasa must ensure daily assemblies and sports with active student participation. In institutions where the physical education assistant teacher post is vacant, the head of the madrasa must temporarily assign a qualified and sports-proficient teacher from among existing staff to carry out these duties. The directorate also instructed that necessary steps be taken to fill the vacant posts according to regulations. The directive reflects the government’s broader initiative to promote physical education and youth engagement across educational institutions nationwide.

A Dhaka court has rejected the bail petition of television actor Niamat Ullah Bhuiyan, known as Zaher Alvi, in a case filed over the alleged incitement of his wife Ikra’s suicide. The order was issued on Monday, July 6, by Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Shahjahan Kabir after hearing arguments from both sides. State counsel Harun Or Rashid confirmed the court’s decision, while Alvi’s lawyer Sheikh Robayet Islam had argued for bail. Earlier, on June 24, the court had granted a two-day remand for Alvi following his surrender on June 18, when his initial bail plea was denied and he was sent to jail. The Detective Branch later sought a ten-day remand for further questioning. Alvi’s mother, Nasrin Sultana Shiuli, a co-accused in the case, surrendered on June 4 and was granted bail. The case stems from the March 1 incident when Ikra was found hanging from a ceiling fan at their Mirpur residence. Her uncle Sheikh Tanvir Ahmed filed the case that night, alleging that prolonged family disputes and abuse had driven her to suicide.

In Mirzapur upazila of Tangail, a family already devastated by two separate road accidents has now lost its final means of livelihood to theft. Ripon Hossain, who worked as an operator at a garment factory in Gorai, lost his right leg in a road accident on the Dhaka–Tangail highway. His father, Arfan Hossain, suffered the same fate while rushing to visit him at Kumudini Hospital. Despite their disabilities, the family continued to survive through a small mobile financial service business that Ripon started four years ago near their home in Salimnagar. On the night of June 24, unidentified thieves broke into their house and stole about 350,000 taka and five mobile phones used for the business. Ripon filed a written complaint with Mirzapur Police Station the next day. Sub-Inspector Pradip Chandra Sarker confirmed that a case had been filed against unknown suspects and that efforts were underway to recover the stolen money and phones. The family, now left without any source of income, is seeking quick administrative action and community support to rebuild their lives.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku has emphasized the need to ensure high-quality medicines and modern services in animal healthcare. Speaking as the chief guest at a meeting with officials of institutions located on the Central Veterinary Hospital campus in Dhaka, he instructed that no expired medicines be used in hospitals and that the highest standards of veterinary care be maintained. He described the Central Veterinary Hospital as a trusted institution for animal treatment and noted that the number of pets in the country has increased significantly alongside population growth. In this context, he stressed the importance of expanding and modernizing veterinary services nationwide. The minister said the government would prioritize enhancing hospital capacity, ensuring quality services, and expanding necessary infrastructure to make animal healthcare more effective and accessible. Earlier, the minister inaugurated the distribution of 90 types of medicines and chemicals and 40 types of modern equipment and surgical tools purchased for the 2025–2026 fiscal year to field-level livestock offices.

Barrister Rumin Farhana, Member of Parliament for Brahmanbaria-2 (Sarail-Ashuganj), stated that there is no legal obstacle preventing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from returning to Bangladesh. She said that upon her return, Sheikh Hasina would surrender before the court as per existing law and then apply for bail. Rumin made these remarks on Monday afternoon while speaking to journalists after attending a Rural Development Day event organized by the Sarail Upazila administration. She explained that under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), the process of surrender and bail would follow the standard legal procedure. Rumin also welcomed the opposition party’s announcement of a shadow cabinet, saying she viewed it positively. The event was chaired by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Saiful Islam and attended by local representatives, government officials, and journalists. The statements highlight that any future legal steps regarding Sheikh Hasina’s return would proceed through established judicial channels, according to Rumin Farhana’s interpretation of the law.

Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad, Secretary General of the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, said in a recent private television talk show that India suffered a humiliating defeat in the military conflict known as ‘Operation Sindure’. He claimed that during the conflict, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar sought help from U.S. President Donald Trump to negotiate and calm the situation. Fuad criticized the Awami League government’s foreign policy of ‘friendship to all, malice toward none’, calling it bogus and meaningless. He argued that neighboring countries like India and Myanmar continuously challenge Bangladesh’s sovereignty and that India is working to reduce Bangladesh’s importance on the international stage. As an example, he cited India’s opposition to Bangladesh in the United Nations General Assembly presidential election and its campaign for Cyprus. He further stated that China’s stance on the Teesta project sends a strong message to Delhi and that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s assurance to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman reflects China’s commitment to defend Bangladesh’s sovereignty if external interference occurs.

At least 25 inmates have been killed and around 100 injured following a violent clash between two groups of prisoners at a jail in Negombo, a coastal city about 35 kilometers north of Colombo. The incident began on Sunday between convicted prisoners and those awaiting trial, according to police and hospital sources cited by Reuters on Monday. Authorities said searches inside the prison are ongoing as officials work to confirm the full number of casualties. The Sri Lankan Army spokesperson, Waruna Gamaga, stated that the military has been instructed to remain on standby to assist police if necessary, though they have not yet been deployed. Local broadcaster Derana TV aired footage showing a heavy police presence outside the prison and a police bus carrying injured inmates away from the facility. The cause of the clash and the current condition of the injured prisoners were not immediately detailed in the reports.

A total of 160 daily wage workers, reportedly aligned with the Awami League, have been prevented from entering the Jamuna Fertilizer Factory in Tarakandi, Sarishabari upazila of Jamalpur for the past 13 days. Factory authorities said the obstruction has disrupted operations in several departments. According to an administrative report, on June 24 a group of outsiders blocked the workers’ entry, prompting an internal investigation that found preliminary evidence supporting the complaint. The factory’s managing director subsequently sent a situation report to the chief of staff at the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) on June 25. The report identified several individuals from nearby villages as being involved in preventing access at multiple points near the factory. The factory’s CBA general secretary stated that Awami League–backed workers had been employed on a daily wage basis for two years and were now being told not to attend work. He added that legal action would follow if assault allegations were proven. The local police officer-in-charge said no written complaint had been filed yet but that the matter was under observation. The upazila executive officer confirmed that the issue was being examined. A deputy general manager of the factory confirmed that the investigation report had been forwarded to BCIC for further review.

Bangladesh Bank has granted Abdul Monem Sugar Refinery Limited special permission to open import letters of credit (LC) with a 100 percent cash margin, even though the company is a corporate guarantor of a defaulted loan. The central bank issued the directive on Monday, suspending the application of Section 27Ka(3) of the Bank Company Act, 1991, for the company until June 30, 2027. The decision was made under the authority of Section 121 of the same law, with the condition that no financial loss to the government or Bangladesh Bank may result from this facility. According to the source, Abdul Monem Sugar Refinery is the corporate guarantor of a defaulted loan of Abdul Monem Limited at state-owned Agrani Bank. As of March 2025, Abdul Monem Limited had defaulted loans totaling Tk 698 crore across 24 banks and financial institutions, including Tk 455 crore owed to Agrani Bank. The refinery sought the special LC facility on June 7, citing existing international contracts for raw sugar imports and potential daily penalties of about USD 23,000 if delayed. The refinery is currently operated by Abul Khair Limited under a sales agreement, marketing sugar under the 'Starship Sugar' brand, though ownership transfer is still pending.

U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited his public dispute with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by posting an edited photo of her on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Sunday, writing that a restrictive order was needed. The post comes just days before both leaders are expected to attend the upcoming NATO summit in Turkey. The tension between Trump and Meloni has been escalating in recent weeks. Last week, Trump claimed that Meloni repeatedly asked to take photos with him during the recent G7 summit, a claim Meloni dismissed as completely fabricated. She stated that she has never bowed to anyone and believes in a united and strong West, emphasizing that strong relationships require open and direct communication. Amid the dispute, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled a planned visit to Washington. Media reports indicate that the rift has deepened particularly over Italy’s reluctance to support U.S. initiatives against Iran.

A Dhaka court has postponed the hearing on showing former Chief Justice A B M Khairul Haque arrested in a case filed under attempted murder and explosives charges at Banani Police Station. The hearing, initially scheduled for July 6, was deferred to July 8 after the case documents were unavailable. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sefatullah set the new date for a virtual hearing, confirmed prosecution sub-inspector Moktar Hossain. According to the case, during the July Movement on August 4, 2024, protesters were attacked near Mohakhali Setu Bhaban, resulting in injuries to 25–30 people, including Ujjal Mia, who later filed the case. Police recently sought to show Khairul Haque arrested in connection with this incident. He is already on bail in eight other cases, including those related to the caretaker government verdict and Anti-Corruption Commission charges. Khairul Haque was arrested from his Dhanmondi residence on July 24 last year and remains in custody. Despite multiple bail orders, new arrest applications in separate cases have prevented his release.

On the third day of the ongoing Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations in Bangladesh, 33,129 students were absent and 48 were expelled, according to official statistics released on Monday. The number of absentees and expulsions increased compared to the previous two exam days. On the second day, 27,327 students were absent and 17 expelled, while on the first day, 24,784 were absent and 7 expelled. The Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee, chaired by Professor Syed Akhteruzzaman of the Dhaka Board, reported that among 997,021 candidates under nine general education boards, 25,034 were absent in the English first paper exam. In the Madrasa Board’s Bangla first paper exam, 5,152 students were absent out of 83,333, and in the Technical Board exams, 2,943 were absent out of 83,776. Expulsions were recorded across multiple boards, with the highest numbers in Dhaka and Cumilla. This year’s HSC exams began on Thursday across 2,697 centers and 9,439 institutions, involving 1,270,583 students—22,766 more than last year. The written exams will continue until August 8, followed by practical exams by August 15, under CCTV surveillance for the first time to prevent question leaks.

A Muslim girl, around 11 years old, was allegedly raped and murdered in Baruipur, a southern suburb of Kolkata, sparking widespread unrest across West Bengal. Her body was recovered from a pond on Sunday morning after she went missing the previous evening. Police have filed a case under the POCSO Act following a preliminary autopsy report and formed a six-member special investigation team to probe the incident. Three suspects have been arrested, and three others detained. One suspect was reportedly beaten to death by an angry mob. Authorities have imposed restrictions on gatherings under Section 163 to prevent further violence. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has assured justice for the victim’s family, who are scheduled to meet him at the state police headquarters. Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s supporters alleged she was prevented by police from visiting Baruipur, a claim denied by state minister Dilip Ghosh. Trinamool Congress leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee, expressed solidarity with the victim’s family and demanded swift punishment. Members of the Muslim community accused the current government of discrimination and claimed police were detaining Muslims who protested for justice.

Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT) has temporarily suspended its Public Relations Officer, Zinat Zowardar Ripa, for allegedly mocking and demeaning the martyrs of the July uprising. The suspension order, signed by Registrar Dr. Md. Harun-or-Rashid, was issued on Sunday, July 5, 2026, citing violations of the university’s employee conduct and zero-tolerance policy toward political involvement. The order will remain effective until the investigation, disciplinary committee recommendation, and syndicate decision are finalized. Zowardar has been instructed to stay off campus and return all official documents and property. Earlier, BUBT students held a protest in front of the university’s main gate in Mirpur’s Rupnagar area, demanding her removal and exemplary punishment. Students alleged that Zowardar mocked the killing of children during the July–August period through a Facebook post and disrespected the spirit of the July Revolution. They said such actions dishonor the sacrifices of martyrs Sujan Mahmud and Tahmid Abdullah, who are regarded as campus heroes. When contacted, Zowardar said she was on leave and unaware of the developments.