Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has arrived in Iran to attend the funeral of the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an attack by the United States and Israel. Upon arrival, Naqvi described Iran as his “second home.” According to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, representatives from more than 100 countries are expected to attend the funeral ceremonies that began on Saturday. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is also scheduled to participate in the event.

Pakistan is home to millions of Shia Muslims, making up about 20 percent of its total population. Many of them regard Khamenei as their spiritual leader. Following his killing, protests erupted across Pakistan, resulting in at least 23 deaths.

The large international attendance at the funeral underscores Khamenei’s influence across the Muslim world and the deep regional tensions following his death.

Bangladesh’s national telehealth service ‘Sastho Batayon 16263’, which has provided free medical advice to millions for nearly a decade, is now at risk of closure due to prolonged funding suspension and the expiry of its government contract. The service, operated by private firm Synesis IT under the Directorate General of Health Services’ e-Health program, has not paid staff for 22 months. Its contract expired on April 30, 2026, and no new tender has yet been issued, leading to reduced staffing and declining service quality.

Launched in 2015, the helpline became a vital source of remote healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering 24-hour access to doctors, health information, and emergency guidance. It has handled over 28 million calls since inception, but daily response capacity has dropped from 6,000 to about 3,500 calls due to staff cuts. Synesis IT has requested a one-year extension, while the health directorate proposed six months; the decision awaits ministry approval.

Officials said funding delays stem from the expiration of the previous health sector program and pending budget allocations. Experts warn that continued uncertainty could deprive rural and low-income populations of essential medical advice.

Despite being officially banned, members of the Chhatra League remain covertly active across Dhaka University and nearby areas. Investigations reveal that they operate in two segments—one inside the campus handling coordination and intelligence, and another outside executing activities such as flash processions and poster campaigns. Several incidents between May and June 2026 show their continued presence, including rallies, silent protests, and symbolic tributes under the organization’s banner.

Reports indicate that many members conceal their political identity, joining other student or cultural groups to maintain influence. Some have attempted to form a new platform called “Next Gen Bangladesh,” led by Abid Abdullah, to continue operations under a social banner. Funding for their activities reportedly comes from expatriate supporters and political allies. The group also maintains an online presence through fake accounts and coordinated messaging.

Dhaka University authorities, including the vice-chancellor and proctor, have acknowledged the group’s covert activities and pledged action. Political analysts describe the situation as a transitional phase for the banned organization, which may attempt to reemerge publicly if conditions become favorable.

Iran’s army chief Major General Amir Hatami has called on citizens to attend the farewell ceremony for the late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an attack attributed to the United States and Israel. In a statement issued Thursday, Hatami said the assassination was a tragedy not only for Iran but also for Muslims and freedom-seeking people worldwide. He emphasized that the Iranian people would never bow to enemies.

Hatami stated that the attackers had hoped to break the nation’s spirit, but instead, Iranians had become more united and determined. He described Khamenei as a symbol of courage and resistance who never abandoned the path of defiance until his final moments. The army chief urged citizens to reaffirm their commitment to the late leader’s ideals by joining the funeral and farewell events.

He added that a strong public turnout would send a clear message to adversaries that under new leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran would continue on the same path of resistance.

Representatives from around 100 countries are expected to attend the funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint attack by the United States and Israel. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei announced on Thursday via state television that heads of state, parliament speakers, foreign ministers, and special envoys from various governments will participate in the ceremony.

Baghaei described the farewell and burial ceremony as a historic and highly significant event for the people of Iran, the Middle East, and Muslims worldwide. He said that many government officials, dignitaries, and ordinary citizens from different countries are traveling to Iran to take part in the event.

The funeral is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. local time on Friday and continue until noon, with senior officials and political leaders joining between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. The Iranian government has called for a large public turnout at the ceremony.

Amid widespread speculation about their possible wedding at Madison Square Garden in New York this weekend, American pop star Taylor Swift and NFL player Travis Kelce have donated 26 million dollars to various charities. Their representative confirmed the donation to The Guardian, noting that the funds were distributed among 20 organizations connected to meaningful places in their lives, including Nashville, Kansas City, and New York City.

The donation list includes City Harvest, Food Bank for NYC, Harvesters in Kansas, and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, as well as Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Feeding America, ASPCA, and Education Through Music. Although the announcement did not mention any wedding, preparations in New York suggest a major event. City officials confirmed a special permit for a pre-event celebration at Madison Square Garden, with the main ceremony expected to run from Friday evening to early Saturday morning.

Reports indicate that the city has issued permits costing up to 66,000 dollars per day for street closures around the venue, further fueling speculation about the couple’s anticipated celebration.

A madrasa teacher in Godagari, Rajshahi, has been accused of severely beating a 13-year-old student, breaking his teeth and injuring his chest. The incident occurred in the Railbazar area at Darus Sunnah Islamia Hafizia Madrasa, where the student, Jubayer Hossain, is a resident pupil. He is currently receiving treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. The accused teacher, Yasin Ali, has been absent from the institution since the incident.

Local residents expressed anger over the assault, with a group of youths visiting the madrasa to protest and warning of locking the institution if justice is not served. Jubayer’s mother, Fatema Begum, described that the teacher allegedly grabbed her son by the neck and slapped him, causing him to hit a wall and lose part of a tooth. She demanded justice for the attack. The madrasa’s governing body president, Saiful Islam, said he had previously warned teachers against such behavior and promised proper action.

Police confirmed awareness of the incident but said no formal complaint had yet been filed. They stated that legal measures would follow upon receiving a complaint.

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.