Police in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, reported that the main accused in the rape and murder of a Muslim girl was killed in an encounter. According to police, the accused, Prabhas Mondal, tried to snatch a gun and escape during a late-night operation, prompting officers to open fire. His death has sparked debate, with some describing the incident as a 'Yogi model' encounter similar to those seen in Uttar Pradesh.

During interrogation, Prabhas allegedly mentioned the name of a BJP leader, Raja, suggesting possible involvement in the crime. However, police have not arrested Raja, raising questions about the investigation’s transparency. Meanwhile, police have arrested three other suspects—Ananda Sardar, Dibakar Sardar, and Kabir Molla—bringing the total arrests to four.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited Baruipur and announced a 'zero tolerance' policy toward both the crime and subsequent violence. Authorities have identified 200 individuals from protest footage and arrested 20 for obstructing police work, as the case continues to stir political and public scrutiny.

Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), also known as Hashd al-Shaabi, announced that more than 2.3 million people participated in a mourning procession for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the holy city of Najaf. The statement, broadcast on Iran’s state media IRIB on Wednesday, said people from across Iraq joined the event, with the number of mourners continuing to rise.

As part of several days of farewell ceremonies, Khamenei’s body was taken to Najaf. Similar commemorations were also organized in Qom, Karbala, and his hometown of Mashhad. The funeral prayer was first held at the shrine of Hazrat Ali (RA), followed by the official mourning procession that began at 6 a.m. local time in Najaf.

The procession moved from the shrine through Kufa Bridge and Thawrat al-Ashreen Square toward Al-Sadrin Square before Khamenei’s body was taken to Karbala, marking a major moment in the multi-day mourning events.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has defended recent United States airstrikes on Iran, calling them necessary. Speaking to reporters in Ankara ahead of a NATO summit, Rutte said that if Iran violated the ceasefire, a strong US response was essential. His remarks came after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that at least 80 strikes had been carried out on specific Iranian targets.

According to CENTCOM, the attacks targeted Iran’s air defense systems, command and control networks, coastal radar installations, and anti-ship missile capabilities. The US military said these actions were in retaliation for Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The exchange underscores escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, with NATO leadership publicly backing the US position just before a key alliance meeting in Turkey.

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs in Bangladesh has identified around 200 fake applications among more than 3,000 new submissions from individuals claiming to have been injured during the July Uprising. According to ministry sources, the Special Branch (SB) and Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) verified 2,388 applications, confirming the authenticity of 1,590. The process to officially recognize these individuals as July fighters is underway. Approximately 600 other applications showed inconsistencies, including duplicate submissions and false claims under the names of deceased persons.

The ministry stated that the verification was conducted through intelligence agencies to prevent controversy similar to earlier disputes over published gazettes. Previously, names of 13 martyrs and 219 injured fighters were removed from the official list due to irregularities. The ministry emphasized that anyone found to have been listed through false information would be removed. The investigation also revealed that most new applications came from Dhaka Division.

Under existing regulations, fraudulent listing as a martyr or July fighter carries a maximum two-year prison sentence and a fine of up to two lakh taka.

Chattogram experienced its highest rainfall in 43 years, with 394 millimeters recorded in 24 hours on Tuesday, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. The previous record was 407 millimeters on July 5, 1983. The heavy and continuous downpour submerged large parts of the city, including major roads and low-lying areas, causing severe disruption for residents. Authorities have warned people living near hills to move to safer places due to landslide risks.

Other regions also saw significant rainfall, including Bandarban with 176 millimeters, Sitakunda 170, Hatiya 143, Khepupara 106, and Teknaf 94. Even Dhaka experienced waterlogging after 46 millimeters of rain. The weather office stated that rainfall above 88 millimeters in 24 hours is considered very heavy. A warning signed by meteorologist A.K.M. Nazmul Haque said heavy to very heavy rain may continue in several divisions over the next 48 hours.

The Bangladesh Weather Observatory Team reported that a strong monsoon belt has entered the country and may remain active until July 13, with risks of flash floods and landslides in Sylhet and the Chattogram Hill Tracts.

A cargo aircraft from the United Arab Emirates bound for Pakistan has gone missing with five people on board. The plane, a Boeing 737-400 operated by K-2 Airways, lost contact on Tuesday night about 155 nautical miles west of Karachi. No wreckage or trace of the five crew members has been found so far.

According to Pakistan’s airport authorities, communication with the aircraft was lost shortly after takeoff. Flight tracking data showed the plane cruising normally at 35,000 feet and 790 kilometers per hour before making a sudden U-turn and descending rapidly. Within five minutes, it dropped nearly 34,000 feet and was last detected at 1,100 feet and 211 kilometers per hour before disappearing from radar over the Arabian Sea.

Pakistan’s Navy and Air Force have intensified search operations, deploying additional warships and surveillance aircraft. Commercial vessels of the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation are also assisting in the search effort.

Train operations between Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar were disrupted as four scheduled services were canceled due to waterlogging on the railway line. Two trains, the Prabal Express from Chattogram and the Saikat Express from Cox’s Bazar, had their entire journeys canceled. The remaining two, Cox’s Bazar Express and Parjotok Express, suspended only the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar leg, with alternative arrangements made to transport passengers to their destinations. Ticket refunds began Wednesday morning for affected passengers.

According to railway officials, the cancellations were caused by flooding that submerged about two feet of track between Soloshahar and Janalihut in Chattogram city. The Cox’s Bazar Express could not depart for Cox’s Bazar but was rescheduled to leave for Dhaka at 4 p.m. Passengers holding tickets for the canceled route who wished to travel to Dhaka were allowed to use the same tickets for the rescheduled train.

Railway authorities stated that refunds were being processed at ticket counters and that operations would resume once water levels recede.

The Sahati River in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur is facing a severe existential crisis due to encroachment and pollution. Local residents report that influential individuals have occupied large portions of the riverbanks, planting trees and converting the land for private use. They are demanding immediate government intervention to reclaim the occupied areas, dredge the river, and construct embankments on both sides to prevent further damage.

Residents of Chapajhora village say the river is a key drainage route for hill runoff in northern Jhenaigati, but water flow has deteriorated drastically. The absence of embankments causes annual flooding, damaging homes and farmland. Over the past two years, about 40–50 feet of land along the northern bank has turned into sand, threatening 100–150 acres of cropland.

Officials from the Sherpur Water Development Board stated that a proposal has been sent to higher authorities for excavation and drainage improvement. They emphasized the river’s importance to local agriculture and pledged to expedite necessary work.

In June 2026, around 2,800 migrants arrived in Italy by sea, bringing the total since the start of the year to 14,388. Among them, Bangladeshi nationals formed the largest group, followed by migrants from Somalia and other African countries. From Asia, Pakistanis ranked second after Bangladeshis. According to Italy’s Interior Ministry, the data was recorded up to the morning of July 7 and may undergo minor revisions after verification.

The number of sea arrivals in 2026 has dropped significantly compared with the same periods in 2025 and 2024. Between January 1 and July 7, 2026, Italy received 14,623 migrants, about 53 percent fewer than in 2025 and 45 percent fewer than in 2024. Monthly figures also show lower arrivals each month from January to June 2026 compared with the previous two years.

Bangladeshis accounted for 4,314 arrivals, roughly one-third of the total. Somalia followed with 1,702, then Sudan, Pakistan, Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Tunisia, Mali, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Iran, South Sudan, and Guinea. Another 1,163 migrants from various countries remain under identification.

The state-owned National Jute Mill in Sirajganj, one of northern Bangladesh’s largest industrial units, has remained closed for two years, leaving thousands of workers unemployed. Machinery has rusted due to prolonged inactivity, while the government continues to spend around Tk 6.5 to 7 million monthly on salaries for 189 officials and employees, as well as electricity bills. Despite generating no income, the mill continues to drain public funds.

The mill, originally built in 1960 as Qaumi Jute Mill, was once a major source of employment for about 5,000 people. It faced repeated closures due to corruption and bureaucratic complications, first in 2007, then again in 2020. A private group briefly leased and operated it in 2022 but shut down in 2024, leaving unpaid wages and bonuses. Workers and local leaders have demanded the mill’s reopening to restore livelihoods and prevent further waste of public money.

The mill’s general manager said efforts are underway through the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation to lease the facility again, expressing hope that operations could resume soon.

Journalist Raihan Ali, injured during the July Revolution protests in Nilphamari, is now fighting for his life at Vejthani Hospital in Thailand. He was attacked by police on August 4, 2024, while covering events at Chourangi intersection. After receiving treatment at Nilphamari Sadar Hospital, Rangpur Medical College Hospital, and CMH, doctors advised his transfer abroad for advanced care.

According to his family, Raihan has undergone more than 18 surgeries in Thailand, with several more procedures still ahead. His condition remains critical, and his recovery is uncertain. Meanwhile, his elderly parents and four-year-old son Labib are living in deep anxiety back home in Nilphamari, struggling emotionally and financially as the family’s resources have been exhausted.

Colleagues and members of the journalist community have called for urgent financial and institutional support for Raihan’s treatment and his family’s survival, describing it as both a humanitarian and moral responsibility.

Iran carried out missile and drone attacks on 85 United States military installations located in Bahrain and Kuwait, according to a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC said its naval and air forces jointly executed the strikes, targeting the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain and the Ali Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait. The operation was described as Iran’s first retaliatory response against the United States.

The IRGC accused the US of violating a ceasefire and the Islamabad Agreement by launching airstrikes on Iran’s coastal bases and civilian facilities in Hormozgan and Mahshahr. It further claimed that the US attacks were intended to undermine the significance of the funeral ceremony of Iran’s former supreme leader.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not provide details on casualties or damage, and there was no immediate comment from US authorities regarding the incident.

Continuous heavy rainfall has caused severe waterlogging across low-lying areas of Chattogram, disrupting daily life and transport. Streets have gone underwater, slowing vehicle movement and forcing residents to wade through water to reach destinations. The city recorded 237.5 millimeters of rain in 24 hours until Wednesday morning, following 412 millimeters the previous day. Despite city corporation claims of improved drainage, incidents such as a wall collapse in East Nasirabad killing one person and road damage near Patenga have highlighted the impact.

Transport and port operations have been severely affected. Train services on the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar route remain suspended, and several flights failed to land at Shah Amanat International Airport due to adverse weather. The district administration has issued warning signal number three, citing increased landslide risks. Evacuation drives are underway in 26 risky hill areas, with schools and mosques prepared as temporary shelters.

Meteorologists attribute the heavy rain to active monsoon winds and moisture from the Bay of Bengal. Forecasts warn of continued heavy rainfall and potential flash floods in Chattogram and nearby districts over the next 48 to 72 hours, with gradual improvement expected after July 11.

Global oil prices climbed again after the United States launched airstrikes on Iran and reinstated trade sanctions. According to a Reuters report, oil prices rose more than 2 percent on Wednesday, with Brent crude increasing by 1.92 dollars to 76.08 dollars per barrel and West Texas Intermediate rising by 1.82 dollars to 72.26 dollars per barrel. The renewed sanctions on Iranian oil sales and the breakdown of a temporary truce between the two countries have fueled market instability.

Analysts noted that while the decision may not cause major structural changes in the oil market, investor anxiety has increased. The United States said its strikes followed Iranian attacks that damaged three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Experts warned that the incident underscores ongoing risks to shipping in the region, and prolonged tensions could reduce global oil supply if vessel traffic falls below half of normal levels.

Oil prices had previously declined after a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran last month, which had raised expectations of increased Middle Eastern oil supply.

An opinion analysis by Dr. Shafiul Islam, published on 8 July 2026, highlights growing instability in Bangladesh’s health sector, driven by dissatisfaction among intern doctors, trainees, and FCPS candidates. The unrest stems from proposed policies, poor working conditions, insecurity, and uncertainty about professional futures. The author argues that the quality of medical education underpins the entire healthcare system, and current weaknesses threaten both service delivery and public health.

The article traces the crisis to long-standing mismanagement and inadequate governance. Despite an expansion in the number of medical colleges since independence, quality improvements have lagged behind. Problems include outdated infrastructure, teacher shortages, limited research capacity, political interference, and lack of effective accreditation. Many medical colleges operate in unsafe and unhygienic environments, with insufficient laboratories and modern learning tools.

Dr. Islam calls for a comprehensive reform plan emphasizing infrastructure upgrades, faculty development, research investment, and internationally recognized accreditation. He stresses that sustainable improvement requires dialogue, accountability, and depoliticized regulation to ensure Bangladesh produces competent doctors and a resilient health system.