U.S. President Donald Trump held separate telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday, days before the NATO summit scheduled in Ankara on July 7–8. Both Kremlin and Kyiv confirmed that the discussions covered the ongoing war in Ukraine and other international issues. The calls also coincided with greetings exchanged on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.

According to Russian foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, the 85-minute conversation between Trump and Putin focused on the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis and Trump’s participation in the upcoming NATO summit. The two leaders also discussed the situation in Iran and the Middle East. Zelensky described his own call with Trump as “very productive,” noting that they discussed the battlefield situation, diplomatic efforts, and the possibility of ending the war. Both agreed to continue talks during the NATO summit in Ankara.

The source noted that despite Russia’s claims of progress, recent months have seen little change on the front lines, with heavy losses on both sides and stalled diplomatic efforts.

A drug dealer named Jasim Uddin Mithu, aged 30, was arrested with yaba tablets in Dakshin Bhuterdiya area of Kedarapur Union under Babuganj upazila in Barishal. The arrest took place around 12:10 a.m. on Sunday, July 5, 2026, during a police operation in the area. Law enforcement recovered illegal yaba tablets from his possession.

Following the arrest, Jasim Uddin Mithu, son of Babul Hawlader from Dakshin Bhuterdiya village, was presented before a mobile court. Babuganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Asma Ul Husna sentenced him to 15 days of simple imprisonment and fined him 100 taka.

According to the Babuganj upazila administration, regular anti-drug operations are ongoing in the area, and authorities remain active in efforts to eliminate drug abuse from society.

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has protested the demolition of mosques and Muslim homes in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Delhi. The organization alleged that these demolitions were carried out under the pretext of development and security without following proper legal procedures and with political motives. JIH also expressed concern over the ongoing voter list revision process.

In an interview with NDTV, JIH vice president Salim Engineer said that targeting religious structures of a specific community is alarming. He noted that while a few Hindu sites were also affected, the overall approach was biased. He accused the government of using development and security narratives to instill fear and claimed that the demolitions lacked due legal process.

JIH further stated that it does not oppose voter list revisions but criticized the rushed process, warning that legitimate citizens might be excluded. The group urged authorities to ensure that no eligible voter is removed and that no community is unfairly targeted.

Reports have emerged of mismanagement in the ongoing Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations across Bangladesh, with wrong question papers distributed at several centers during the first two days of tests. Students and parents expressed anger and concern, fearing the errors could negatively affect results. The Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee issued warnings to those involved and promised strict action. Despite assurances, uncertainty remains among examinees.

In Jamalpur, 100 students from Government Zaheda Safir Mohila College reportedly sat for the Bangla second paper using 2025 syllabus questions instead of 2026. Similar incidents occurred in Narsingdi and Tangail, where teachers were relieved of duty for negligence. Officials explained that mixed bundles of question papers caused the confusion, and affected answer scripts would be reviewed leniently.

The Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee has instructed all centers to seat regular and irregular candidates separately to prevent further mix-ups. It warned that any future violations of exam protocols would result in disciplinary action against responsible officials.

Begum Rokeya University (BRUR) in Rangpur has once again observed July with deep remembrance of Abu Sayeed, the first martyr of the 2024 July movement. Two years after his death, his friends, classmates, teachers, and fellow activists continue to honor his courage and sacrifice. The campus, from its roads to memorial sites, still bears witness to his presence and the ideals he stood for—resistance against injustice and unwavering solidarity with fellow students.

Friends recall Abu Sayeed as humble, compassionate, and always ready to help others. He was active in social and humanitarian causes, regularly donated blood, and inspired others through his leadership during the student movement. Teachers describe him as a bright, respectful student who dreamed of becoming a civil servant based on merit and protested against educational inequality. University authorities, led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Shawkat Ali, announced plans to build a residential hall, memorial gate, museum, and monument in his name.

Students have urged the administration to expedite these initiatives to preserve Abu Sayeed’s legacy, which they say remains alive in their collective consciousness.

Twelve years have passed since the widely discussed Narayanganj seven-murder case, yet the court verdict has not been executed. The case remains pending due to prolonged judicial procedures, appeals, and legal complexities, leaving victims’ families in frustration and uncertainty. The 2014 killings involved the abduction and murder of panel mayor Nazrul Islam, senior lawyer Chandan Kumar Sarkar, and five others, whose bodies were later recovered from the Shitalakkhya River.

Following extensive investigations, charges were filed in 2015 against 35 accused. In 2017, the Narayanganj District and Sessions Judge’s Court sentenced 26 people, including former RAB-11 officers and Nur Hossain, to death, while nine others received varying prison terms. The High Court later upheld 15 death sentences, and the case is now at the Appellate Division’s leave-to-appeal stage. Prosecutors and lawyers expressed hope for a swift conclusion, while victims’ families continue to demand execution of the verdict.

The case remains one of Bangladesh’s most notable criminal proceedings, symbolizing both public demand for justice and the challenges of lengthy legal resolution.

The funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and four of his family members was held in Tehran on Sunday morning, the third day of a seven-day mourning and burial process. The ceremony took place at 8 a.m. local time, led by Shia cleric Jafar Sobhani. Khamenei, aged 86, was killed on February 28 in a joint U.S.-Israeli attack that also claimed the lives of his daughter Bushra Khamenei, granddaughter Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani, and other relatives. State media showed Zahra’s small coffin placed beside her grandfather’s.

Iran declared a national holiday for the funeral, with large crowds gathering in the capital under tight security. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed the arrangements, and authorities warned of overcrowding risks. Millions of Iranians had joined earlier mourning events, marking one of the largest gatherings since the 1989 funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Following Khamenei’s death, his son Mojtaba Khamenei was named the new Supreme Leader but has not appeared publicly due to security threats. The funeral procession will continue through Qom, Iraq, and Mashhad, where Khamenei will be buried on Thursday.

According to the report, India has allegedly resumed efforts to push Bangladeshi nationals across the border as part of a deliberate strategy to weaken Bangladesh. The Indian government recently initiated the process of sending back 50 Bangladeshis detained in Tamil Nadu’s Salem district, transferring them under heavy security toward West Bengal for handover at the Haridaspur land border.

The detainees, including 44 men and six women, were moved from a special detention camp in Attur to Tiruchirappalli and then placed on a special coach of the Howrah Express. A 40-member armed police team led by Deputy Superintendent Shaktivel escorted them. Indian officials said the Border Security Force would formally hand them over to Bangladeshi authorities.

The report adds that over 130 foreign nationals remain detained in the same camp, many with pending legal cases. Experts cited in the report view these repeated push-in incidents as part of a broader Indian strategy to maintain tension along the border and politically and socially weaken Bangladesh.

Iran and the United States are preparing for their next round of talks, expected to take place on July 11. According to a report by Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper citing diplomatic sources, Islamabad is the most likely venue, though Switzerland’s Burgenstock Resort is also under consideration. The final location has not yet been officially confirmed.

The agenda of the meeting includes discussions on Iran’s nuclear program, easing of sanctions, and the release of Iranian funds or assets frozen abroad. Regional security issues will also be addressed, particularly ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining the recently established ceasefire in Lebanon.

The meeting follows an Islamabad memorandum of understanding signed two weeks earlier, which set a 60-day goal to reach a comprehensive agreement on Iran’s nuclear activities and related matters. The July 11 session is part of efforts to advance that process.

Iran’s ambassador to China, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, announced that ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz will soon be subject to new service fees. Speaking at the World Peace Forum in Beijing, he said countries that supported Iran during difficult times would receive special privileges. Fazli clarified that the charges would not be considered tolls but service fees aimed at ensuring maritime safety, monitoring vessel movement, and addressing environmental impacts from heavy traffic.

Earlier, a preliminary agreement between Iran and the United States had allowed commercial vessels to transit the strait without fees for 60 days following the suspension of hostilities. However, the rules beyond that period remain unclear. Fazli also revealed that Iran and Oman are jointly developing a new management system for the strait’s operations.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime routes, carrying about one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas. During recent Middle East conflicts, Iran nearly closed the passage, causing a sharp rise in global energy prices.

Yasmin, convicted for murdering two neighbor children in Comilla’s Muradnagar, remains in the condemned cell of Chattogram Central Jail awaiting execution. Court and prison sources confirm that no relatives or acquaintances visit her, and she spends her days in prayer and solitude. The court sentenced her to death after finding her guilty of killing the children who had witnessed her extramarital affair.

According to case records, Yasmin, wife of expatriate Babul Hossain, murdered her nephew Arafat and another child, Jasim, on April 21, 2014, after they saw her in a compromising situation with her lover. She and her aunt-in-law Majeda Begum dumped the bodies in a nearby river. Locals caught Yasmin while she tried to flee, and police later arrested Majeda in 2022. In February 2023, a Comilla court sentenced Yasmin to death and Majeda to life imprisonment.

Prison officials report that Yasmin remains calm and quiet in the condemned cell, performing regular prayers and avoiding conflict with others.

A large state ceremony began in Tehran to honor former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a February 28 airstrike amid Iran’s war with the United States and Israel. The event emphasized preserving the Islamic Republic and avenging Khamenei’s death. Thousands gathered at the Grand Mosalla memorial site, where his glass-covered coffin was displayed under heavy guard by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Red flags symbolizing martyrdom and revenge were raised, and the official slogan, “We must awaken,” was widely displayed.

Strict security measures were in place across the capital, with armored vehicles, snipers, and electronic device checks at entry points. Authorities expect millions to participate nationwide, with Iran effectively shut down until Monday. Khamenei’s funeral procession is scheduled to move through Tehran and several holy cities before burial in Mashhad on Thursday.

Foreign dignitaries from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, China, and other nations attended to pay respects. The IRGC leadership called for defiant mourning, while Iran’s armed forces warned against any military action during the ceremonies.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump said he could have wiped out everyone attending Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral if he wanted to. In response, the Iranian embassy in Armenia issued a statement saying that while people can be killed, their ideals cannot be destroyed. The embassy’s post on social media platform X added that Trump lacks civilization, history, and respect.

The embassy’s message referenced Trump’s comments in an Axios interview, where he said Iran and the United States had agreed to temporarily pause discussions until after Khamenei’s burial. Trump also remarked that all Iranian leaders were gathered in one place and could be eliminated in a single strike, but he chose not to do so to preserve future talks. He expressed surprise at the large turnout at Khamenei’s funeral, noting he had assumed the late leader was not popular among ordinary Iranians.

The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran following Khamenei’s death and the uncertain future of bilateral dialogue.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has canceled his planned trip to New York, where he was scheduled to attend the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit. According to a report by Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the decision was made due to concerns that protests could erupt and that legal action might be initiated against him in the United States.

Security sources cited in the report indicated that the potential for demonstrations and legal challenges prompted the cancellation. The human rights organization Hind Rajab Foundation welcomed the move, claiming that their legal efforts, along with those of other rights groups, contributed to the decision.

The organization further stated that Israeli political and military leaders can no longer assume they are beyond legal scrutiny or accountability when traveling abroad.

Bangladesh’s new BNP-led government has initiated a large-scale reshuffle of police personnel assigned to the Secretariat as part of a post-July uprising security restructuring. A total of 169 officers who were posted before August 5, 2024, are being withdrawn in phases, with 82 already replaced. The Ministry of Home Affairs is also implementing new measures including visitor control, digital identity verification, additional CCTV cameras, and revised gate management to strengthen long-term security.

According to ministry sources, the Secretariat’s security branch sent a letter to the Inspector General of Police recommending the rotation of officers stationed at sensitive offices and entry points. The replacement list includes inspectors, sergeants, sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors, nayeks, and constables. Officials stated that the changes aim to make security more technology-driven and accountable rather than reacting to any immediate threat.

Security analysts cited in the report noted that periodic rotation of personnel and the introduction of digital monitoring systems align with international best practices. The combined measures are seen as part of a broader effort to modernize and reinforce security at Bangladesh’s central administrative hub.