Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Friday to attend the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Al Jazeera. Upon arrival, he was received by Iran’s Defense Minister Seyed Majid Ibn Reza, the Interior Minister, and senior civilian and military officials. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also departed from Islamabad for a one-day visit to Iran to participate in the funeral rites.

The formal funeral proceedings for Khamenei are scheduled to begin in Tehran on July 4, followed by mourning ceremonies in Qom and Iraq. The burial is planned for July 9 in Mashhad, his birthplace. The events mark a significant moment in Iran’s political and religious landscape, drawing participation from regional leaders.

The attendance of Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership underscores the close diplomatic and religious ties between the two neighboring countries, as both nations observe the passing of Iran’s long-serving leader.

Five members of parliament have jointly taken an initiative to build a sustainable embankment along the left bank of the Jamuna River, stretching from Bhuyapur in Tangail to Manikganj. The announcement came from Amirul Islam Khan Alim, MP for Sirajganj-5 (Belkuchi-Chauhali), during his visit to the erosion-affected Char Salimabad area of Bagutia Union in Chauhali on Friday, July 3, 2026.

Before the announcement, the MP distributed free saplings under the government’s annual tree plantation program and provided relief to families affected by river erosion, including corrugated iron sheets, cash, and rice. He also inaugurated a geo-bag dumping operation aimed at temporarily controlling the ongoing erosion.

Alim stated that the geo-bag dumping is an emergency measure to curb the immediate damage, while the proposed embankment project seeks permanent protection for the region. He expressed optimism that once approved, the project would free local residents from the recurring threat of river erosion.

Three Israeli soldiers were injured, one critically, during a military operation in Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon, according to reports published on Friday by Lebanon-based outlet Al Mayadeen. The Israeli army stated that the incident occurred when a unit from the 679th Brigade entered a building and came under fire from an armed fighter. Following the clash, Israeli warplanes carried out an airstrike on the building and conducted a search operation, but the fighter’s location remained unconfirmed.

Despite a ceasefire framework brokered by the United States and regional understandings, Israeli forces have continued operations in parts of southern Lebanon. Earlier in the week, two Israeli reserve soldiers were injured, one seriously, in an explosive attack targeting a field command post in Aita al-Shaab. A day before that, a Hezbollah fighter’s assault in Deir Siryan killed an Israeli captain and wounded another soldier.

According to Israel’s Channel 12, between April 17 and June 20, 2026, Israeli forces carried out 637 military operations in Lebanon, including 440 inside the so-called “Yellow Line” and 187 in occupied Palestinian territories.

Representatives of Bangladesh’s 11-party alliance offered prayers for the soul of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in front of his coffin in Tehran. The delegation arrived in the Iranian capital on Friday to attend the funeral and state mourning ceremonies. The group was led by Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Professor Mujibur Rahman MP and included several parliament members and political leaders.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed (Bir Bikrom) and other alliance leaders reached Tehran early Friday morning to join the funeral events. According to NCP leader Nasiruddin Patwari, leaders from various countries gathered at Tehran’s Grand Musalla to pay their respects as Khamenei’s body was brought there. Ten members of the Bangladeshi delegation, including the Speaker, were present at the ceremony.

Ayatollah Khamenei’s funeral is scheduled for Saturday, followed by burial on July 9 in his birthplace, Mashhad. The Bangladeshi delegation is expected to return home after attending the funeral.

Israel has claimed responsibility for killing a Hamas commander named Muhammad Naim Zandia in an airstrike in Gaza. According to the Israeli military, Zandia served as the head of military security for Hamas’s Shuja'iyya Battalion. The army announced on Telegram that the operation took place on Wednesday.

The Israeli military further alleged that Zandia had been involved in the October 7, 2023 attack, during which he reportedly kidnapped three Israelis and held them in an underground tunnel. The army stated that Israeli forces later mistakenly shot and killed those captives, believing them to be Palestinians. Hamas has not issued any comment regarding Zandia’s reported killing.

The report was sourced from Al Jazeera, and no independent confirmation or further details were provided in the source text.

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez announced on Thursday that the death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 2,295, with 12,400 people injured. She said the figures were verified through a rigorous process, noting that five individuals initially listed as dead were later found alive through fingerprint-based identification used in the country’s subsidized fuel system.

Rodríguez stated that the government is in talks with the U.S. State Department and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to secure funds for rebuilding damaged infrastructure. Discussions are also underway with the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), both of which have offered grants and loan assistance. According to official data, at least 855 buildings were damaged, and the government has allocated an initial 200 million U.S. dollars for reconstruction. A special fund has been opened with the Latin American and Caribbean Development Bank (CAF) to receive international donations.

An Israeli expert team has arrived to assist in assessing structural damage, while the UNDP estimated total losses at around 6.7 billion dollars. The UNHCR reported that about 16,000 people have been displaced by the disaster.

U.S. President Donald Trump described the current relationship between the United States and NATO as 'one-sided' and 'ridiculous' in a post on his social media platform Truth Social. His remarks came less than a week before the NATO summit scheduled to take place in Ankara, Turkey. Trump wrote that 'they were not on our side' and claimed that Washington’s relationship with NATO was not reciprocal.

The comments follow Trump’s previous criticisms of European allies regarding their roles in the Iran war situation. His latest statement underscores continuing tensions between Washington and its NATO partners over burden-sharing and mutual support within the alliance.

The timing of Trump’s remarks, just days before the Ankara summit, may influence discussions among member states about alliance commitments and U.S. expectations of its European partners.

The United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that the ongoing El Niño event is expected to strengthen rapidly between July and September 2026. The agency said the phenomenon, which has already begun, could reach the “strong” category—the third-highest level in its classification system. WMO urged countries to prepare for potential impacts, including increased risks of extreme weather events across many regions.

El Niño is a natural climate pattern marked by rising sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, disrupting global wind, pressure, and rainfall patterns. The WMO’s Global Seasonal Climate Update indicated that sea surface temperature anomalies could exceed 2°C in key monitoring areas. The organization noted high confidence in forecasts showing continued warming, with effects expected to intensify through the Northern Hemisphere’s autumn.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said the strengthening El Niño could heighten risks of droughts, heavy rainfall, and heatwaves on land and at sea. The agency is expanding early warning support, particularly for climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture and health, to help reduce impacts on lives and economies.

At least 40 people were killed and eight others injured when a passenger bus fell into a ravine near the border of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces in Pakistan on Friday. The accident occurred shortly after the bus crossed from Sherani district’s Dana Sar area in Balochistan into Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Rescue operations began immediately after the crash.

According to a statement from Shahid Rind, media and political affairs adviser to the Balochistan Chief Minister, initial reports confirmed 40 deaths and eight injuries. Sherani Deputy Commissioner Wali Khan Kakar told Dawn that rescue teams and ambulances reached the site soon after the incident and transported the injured to hospitals. The bus had departed from Quetta for Peshawar carrying 36 passengers, but additional travelers boarded after another bus broke down along the route.

Authorities continued rescue efforts at the scene, with local administration coordinating emergency response and medical support for the victims.

In Lohagara upazila of Chattogram, hundreds of makeshift shops have occupied footpaths and parts of the highway near the motor station, collecting daily extortion payments ranging from 200 to 1,000 taka per stall. The illegal occupation has led to severe traffic congestion and difficulties for pedestrians and passengers. Despite several eviction drives, the stalls reappear within hours, creating persistent disruption in the area.

Local residents and commuters have expressed frustration over the lack of effective action. Shopkeepers revealed that they must pay money three times a day to different groups, including shop owners, leaseholders, and the town management committee. The issue has sparked criticism on social media, while disputes continue between rival political groups over control of the market committees.

Authorities said multiple eviction operations have been conducted with the Roads and Highways Department, and a permanent clearance drive is being planned. Officials added that no written complaints about extortion have been filed yet, but investigations will follow if complaints are submitted.

Shafiqul Islam, headteacher of Kishamat Ronchondi Government Primary School in Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari, has been temporarily suspended for allegedly making objectionable comments about Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The suspension order, signed by Azizul Islam, Deputy Director of the Directorate of Primary Education in Rangpur Division, was issued on Thursday, July 3, 2026.

According to the official order, a recent media report titled ‘Headteacher calls Prime Minister’s office hours a showpiece’ alleged that Shafiqul Islam arrived at school after official hours and made inappropriate remarks about the Prime Minister. The order stated that such behavior constitutes misconduct under Rule 3(b) of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018, and harms the image of public primary education.

Officials from the Primary Education Department said a departmental investigation and subsequent legal administrative procedures will follow as per regulations. The incident has sparked widespread discussion in the district, with education professionals emphasizing the importance of discipline, professional conduct, and responsible speech among government employees.

A man identified as Debashish Chowdhury, 45, was detained at Jahangirnagar University for allegedly taking secret photos of two female students. The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. near the Bot Tola area of the campus. Chowdhury, a resident of Dhamrai’s Baishakanda area and former joint general secretary of the Dhamrai Upazila Jubo Dal, was released by the university administration after signing a written pledge.

According to the university’s security office, Chowdhury admitted in a written confession that he had secretly photographed several female students after dining at Bot Tola. He apologized, acknowledged his wrongdoing, and promised not to repeat such actions without consent. Two cans of beer were also recovered from him and his companion, which were later destroyed in the presence of university officials.

Assistant Proctor Professor Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzak stated that Chowdhury was released after pledging not to enter the campus again with his vehicle and after offering an unconditional apology to the students.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Israel has turned into a problem not only for Turkey but for the entire world. In an interview with CNN Turk, he said Israel’s current policies have made the country a burden that humanity can no longer bear. Fidan emphasized that Turkey will not change its stance on Israel and that global concern has grown because of Israel’s actions.

He further noted that Turkey was among the first countries to halt trade with Israel in protest against the ongoing war in Gaza. According to Fidan, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suspended trade worth 10 billion dollars with Israel overnight, describing the move as a demonstration of firm and practical action.

The minister’s remarks underline Turkey’s continued criticism of Israel’s policies and its decision to maintain a strong diplomatic and economic stance amid the Gaza conflict.

The Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board has directed all HSC examination centers under its jurisdiction to arrange shaded seating areas and chairs for guardians waiting outside exam venues. The order, issued on Thursday through a letter signed by Examination Controller Professor Jesmin Taslima Banu, also instructs the deployment of Rover Scouts, Girls Guides, or BNCC members to maintain discipline and manage crowds around the centers.

The directive follows inspections that revealed many guardians remain outside centers for long periods without proper seating or shelter, often enduring rain, heat, or adverse weather. The board noted that the absence of organized supervision outside centers has led to congestion and disorder in some areas.

Copies of the letter have been sent to all deputy commissioners, upazila executive officers, district education officers, and relevant departments under the Dhaka Board to ensure awareness and prompt implementation of the measures.

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Youth and Sports, Aminul Haque, has sought cooperation from Brazil and Argentina to advance the country’s football development. He also expressed the government’s interest in organizing a friendly football match between the two nations in Bangladesh. The minister made these remarks on Friday morning at the opening ceremony of the ‘ATJFB Football Championship’ held at Gulshan Youth Club in Dhaka.

Aminul Haque stated that the government is emphasizing ‘sports diplomacy’ to enhance the nation’s sports sector, believing that with proper planning and support, Bangladesh could one day play football at the level of Brazil and Argentina. The ambassadors of Brazil and Argentina in Dhaka attended the event, welcomed the initiative, and expressed joy over their countries’ large fan bases in Bangladesh. The minister also requested their assistance in improving the skills and training of Bangladeshi footballers.

Senior officials from Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines, Dhaka Post, and ATJFB were also present at the ceremony, showing institutional support for the initiative.