Millions of mourners filled the streets of Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on Thursday to bid a final farewell to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Revolution. The funeral procession and final prayers took place before his burial at the Imam Reza shrine. The bodies of Khamenei and his family members, killed in a February 28 attack by the United States and Israel, arrived at Shahid Hasheminejad International Airport earlier in the day. Due to the massive turnout, the funeral schedule was delayed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time.

Before the procession began, all roads leading to the shrine were packed with mourners carrying red flags symbolizing vengeance for the martyrs’ blood. The crowd demanded justice for the slain leader. Officials said the funeral convoy had not yet reached the main procession area due to the overwhelming number of participants.

The Mashhad ceremony followed large-scale farewell events in Tehran, Qom, and Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala, where millions also paid their respects before the final burial in Mashhad.

The Gaza Health Ministry has reported that at least 73,118 Palestinians have been killed and 173,615 injured since Israel’s military campaign began in October 2023. The figures were confirmed in the ministry’s latest update, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian toll of the conflict.

According to the report, a U.S.-mediated ceasefire was announced in October 2025, but Israeli operations across the besieged enclave have not ceased. Since the ceasefire declaration, an additional 1,092 Palestinians have been killed and 3,507 wounded in continued attacks. The report cited Al Jazeera as its source.

Despite repeated international appeals for a lasting ceasefire, Israeli aggression in Gaza has persisted, causing the death toll to climb steadily.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for launching ten ballistic missiles at the Azraq military base in Jordan. According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, the IRGC stated that the main target of the attack was a US command and control center located within the base. The incident reportedly took place amid heightened regional tensions.

In a statement, the IRGC warned that similar attacks would continue if US forces in the Middle East persist with their operations. The group declared that other American bases in the region would not remain safe from future strikes. Jordanian authorities, however, reported that eight missiles launched from Iran were intercepted midair, and no casualties or damage were reported from the incident.

The exchange of claims underscores ongoing friction between Iran and the United States over military presence and actions in the Middle East, with Jordan caught in the middle of escalating hostilities.

A major fire reportedly broke out at an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force facility in Iran’s Bushehr province following recent US airstrikes. The claim emerged from social media videos and open-source intelligence, though the authenticity of the footage has not been independently verified. Iranian authorities have not released any official information on possible damage or casualties.

Earlier, the US Central Command announced that it had carried out strikes on more than 80 targets across Iran, saying the operation aimed to weaken Iran’s military capabilities and counter threats to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The attacks were described as a response to recent Iranian actions against maritime traffic in the region.

Iranian state-linked media confirmed reports of explosions in Bushehr and nearby areas but did not specify which facilities were hit or provide casualty figures. Speculation has arisen that missile depots, drone infrastructure, or command sites may have been affected, though neither Washington nor Tehran has released detailed assessments.

Hasnat Abdullah, chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP) for the southern region, accused the BNP of failing to provide electricity and instead leaving citizens dependent on lanterns and candles. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon at the opening rally of NCP’s ‘July March’ in Sonagazi municipality square, Feni, organized to demand a referendum, job creation, and price control.

During his speech, Abdullah acknowledged that the July movement’s goals had not been fully achieved, citing persistent issues such as drug abuse, corruption, extortion, unemployment, and high commodity prices. He claimed that despite a change of government through a mass uprising, divisive politics still exists in society and the state.

Abdullah further alleged that while people demanded an end to corruption and extortion, only the beneficiaries had changed. He criticized the government for failing to deliver on its promise of one crore jobs, saying employment generation in the past six months had not met expectations.

France is considering Syria as an alternative route for transporting oil from the Gulf region, according to Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. In an interview with French television network TF1 on July 9, 2026, Barrot said that following recent retaliatory attacks between the United States and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring reliable global energy supply requires developing diversified energy corridors and backup routes.

Barrot emphasized that France has been working to prepare alternative routes to avoid dependence on any single corridor that could be blocked or disrupted. His remarks come shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Syria, where he discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation with Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara’s government.

The consideration of Syria as a potential energy route reflects France’s broader strategy to secure energy supply chains amid rising geopolitical instability in the Gulf region.

At least 28 people were killed in a massive fire at a shoe factory in Jinjiang city, Fujian province, southeastern China. The blaze broke out around noon local time on Thursday at the Huiteng Footwear factory, according to the state news agency Xinhua. About 500 rescue workers were deployed to the site, and footage released by Xinhua showed thick black smoke and flames rising from the building, with several people trapped on the roof.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said the fire caused a significant number of casualties, and authorities fear the death toll could rise further. Jinjiang is known as China’s “shoe capital” and is one of the country’s largest footwear manufacturing hubs.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, and rescue operations are continuing as officials warn that the number of victims may increase.

Harichur Rahman Harich, general secretary of the Gournadi Upazila Awami League and former mayor of Gournadi municipality, was released from Barishal Central Jail on Wednesday evening after securing bail in all ten cases filed against him. He had been imprisoned for about 21 months since his arrest in October 2024 from Dhaka’s Rampura area. Prison officials confirmed that he received bail in eight cases from local courts and in the remaining two from the High Court before his release.

Rahman, known locally for his controversial role during the previous government, had faced multiple charges related to alleged abuses against political opponents. His release has stirred political reactions in Gournadi, with several BNP leaders expressing dissatisfaction over the decision. They criticized the manner and timing of his bail, describing it as undeserved given his alleged past actions.

The development has reignited political debate in Barishal, highlighting ongoing tensions between Awami League and BNP supporters in the region.

TikTok has released its Community Guidelines Enforcement Report for the first quarter of 2026, detailing actions taken between January and March to maintain platform safety. According to the report, the company removed 13,218,004 videos from Bangladesh for violating community guidelines, representing about 0.8 percent of total uploaded content during that period. The platform’s automated moderation system identified and deleted 99.6 percent of these videos before any user complaints, with 94.4 percent removed within 24 hours. Following review, 320,593 videos were later reinstated.

Globally, TikTok deleted 184,012,576 videos during the same quarter, amounting to 0.5 percent of total uploads. The global rate of automated detection and removal stood at 99.3 percent. The company also deleted 86,288,705 fake accounts and closed 25,764,372 accounts suspected to belong to users under 13 years old.

In addition to video moderation, TikTok removed 237,517,128 comments worldwide, marking an increase from the previous quarter. The report noted that 18.6 percent of deleted videos contained sensitive content, while others violated safety, behavioral, or decency policies.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam stated that there is no shortfall in diplomatic efforts to bring back former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India. Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday afternoon, she said the process is continuing through established diplomatic channels and that such procedures take time. She emphasized that the repatriation process began during the interim government and resumed after the current government took office following the national election.

Shama Obaid explained that the process of returning a convicted person under an extradition treaty or other legal framework must follow established procedures and international regulations. She noted that the Ministry of Home Affairs is also actively involved, and the legal aspects are being reviewed by the Law and Home ministries. From the foreign ministry’s perspective, she said, all required diplomatic steps are being followed.

She further remarked that comments made by a fugitive and convicted individual are irrelevant to the ongoing legal and diplomatic process. Communication with the Indian government on this matter has been ongoing since the interim government period.

At least ten police officers were injured when a group of people attacked Agailjhara Police Station in Barishal on Thursday afternoon. The violence erupted after rumors spread that a detainee had died in police custody. The injured officers were admitted to the local upazila health complex for treatment.

Police said that on Wednesday night, Riaz Fakir, aged 26, was detained near a filling station in Agailjhara while allegedly intoxicated. Authorities claimed he faced multiple drug and theft cases. After being taken to the station, Riaz fell ill and was transferred first to the Agailjhara Upazila Health Complex and later to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal for advanced care.

The officer-in-charge, Masud Khan, confirmed that Riaz Fakir is alive and receiving treatment. He said a group spread false news of Riaz’s death on social media, triggering the attack. Police have regained control of the situation and are preparing legal action against those involved.

A total of 78 tourists stranded in Sajek due to continuous rainfall in Khagrachhari were brought back under special arrangements. The evacuation took place on Friday with the assistance of the army and police, using boats and rafts to ensure their safe departure from the area.

Authorities stated that other tourists remain in Sajek as water on the roads has not yet receded, preventing normal vehicular movement. They assured that once road conditions improve, the remaining stranded visitors will also be safely returned in phases.

The situation highlights the impact of persistent rain on travel and safety in the hilly region, with officials prioritizing emergency needs in the ongoing rescue efforts.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that his country will not respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s provocative and offensive comments. He rejected calls from within Iran for a strong verbal reaction, stating that Iran would not learn policies from someone whose hands are stained with children’s blood. His remarks appeared to reference a U.S. attack on an Iranian school that reportedly killed more than a hundred children.

Pezeshkian added that anyone unable to express thoughts without using insulting language reveals the offensive nature of their own ideas. He emphasized Iran’s determination to defend its rights firmly. His comments came after Trump, speaking at a NATO summit in Ankara, declared that the ceasefire with Iran was “over” and described Iranian leaders as “liars,” “filthy,” and “violent and sick people.”

The exchange highlights renewed verbal tensions between Washington and Tehran following Trump’s statements at the NATO meeting.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s son, Yair Netanyahu, has officially changed his name to Yonatan Hun. According to a report published by Israeli newspaper Haaretz on July 8, 2026, Yair, the second of three siblings, had previously used the surname ‘Hun’ on social media as ‘Yair Hun’. Tax documents issued in December 2024 listed his name as Yair Netanyahu, but the latest records now show the new name ‘Yonatan Hun’, with the same address listed as ‘Balfour 0’, a location described as fictional.

Haaretz reported that the name change comes at a time when the Netanyahu family is facing multiple political and legal controversies both domestically and internationally. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the Gaza conflict. Yair has also faced past criticism in the United States over his links with wealthy individuals and conservative groups.

Yair has been living in the United States since 2018, following public backlash over a leaked audio recording that drew widespread criticism in Israel.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has claimed that American forces carried out strikes on more than 170 Iranian military targets near Iran’s coastal areas close to the Strait of Hormuz over the past two days. According to a report by The New York Times citing CENTCOM, the targets included Iran’s air defense systems, drone and missile storage facilities, military speedboats, and logistical infrastructure. The report was also referenced by Al Jazeera.

CENTCOM stated that the purpose of these operations was to weaken Iran’s ability to attack commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The New York Times further reported that the number of strikes conducted in the last two days was nearly 14 times higher than those carried out during the escalation between the United States and Iran in June.

The report did not mention any Iranian response or independent verification of the claimed strikes.