Three of late Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s sons made a rare public appearance at his funeral on Sunday but there was still no sign of his successor and other son, Mojtaba Khamenei.

Crowds of thousands filled the Grand Mosalla religious complex in Tehran for the second day in a row to attend the funeral ceremonies of Khamenei and four family members killed on February 28 in Israeli airstrikes based on US intelligence.

As well as laying to rest the man who ruled the Islamic republic for over three-and-a-half decades, the funerals are a chance for the Iranian authorities to burnish their resilience after five weeks at war with Israel and the US.

Iran’s speaker of parliament and chief negotiator with the United States, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, one of the most prominent faces of the post-Ali Khamenei era, hailed on X how the “proud and invincible nation of Islamic Iran unanimously” paid tribute to its “martyr”.

A funeral procession is planned for Monday in Tehran, followed by similar events in the clerical hub of Qom on Tuesday and in Iraq’s holy cities of Najaf and Karbala on Wednesday, culminating in Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s burial in his hometown of Mashhad in northeastern Iran on Thursday.

The ceremonies on Sunday were marked by the appearance of Ali Khamenei’s eldest son Mostafa and the two younger siblings Masoud and Meysam, all clerics.

‘Blessed end’ 

But their presence further highlighted the absence from the funeral ceremonies of Mojtaba Khamenei, who was named supreme leader shortly after his father’s killing but has yet to appear in public.

Officials have said he was wounded in the airstrikes but the severity of his injuries remains unclear. So far, Mojtaba Khamenei has only communicated through written statements amid speculation he is too badly wounded or too concerned over the risks of being targeted to emerge.

The remaining days of the funerals — in particular the burial on Thursday — will be closely watched to see if Mojtaba Khamenei appears in public.

The new commander of the powerful Revolutionary Guards, Ahmad Vahidi, whose predecessor was killed in the February 28 strikes, appeared at the funerals for a second time on Sunday, this time in the open air, after he went unseen throughout the war.

Esmail Qaani, the shadowy head of the Guards’ Quds Force — responsible for its foreign operations — also made a rare appearance, telling Iranian TV that Khamenei’s “blessed end” was fitting after a lifetime of “striving”.

While Iranian authorities have been keen to present a united front, none of President Masoud Pezeshkian’s surviving predecessors — Mohammad Khatami, Mahmood Ahmadinejad and Hassan Rouhani who all had tensions in their relationship with Khamenei — have so far been seen at the ceremonies.

‘Demand revenge’

The government is also eager to tout the mass mobilisation in support of the authorities after mass protests in January that rights groups say were quelled by a crackdown that left thousands dead.

With Sunday a public holiday across Iran, crowds thronged the vast religious complex, kept cool by a sprinkler system in temperatures of 35C and overlooked by a giant portrait of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Middle East war is on hold following a ceasefire and an initial accord struck with the US. But both Washington and Tehran have warned they are ready to resume military action, and vengeance has been a major theme at the funerals.

“The killers (of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) must face punishment,” a 38-year-old man who gave his surname as Miremadi told AFP as he attended the prayers.

“We’re here to show the world that we back our revolution and our leader, and we demand revenge for the blood of our loved ones,” added a 39-year-old woman who gave her surname as Bakand.

Khamenei long pursued a course of confrontation with the West, and Tehran for years has provided support to anti-US and anti-Israel armed groups around the Middle East, including Palestinian Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah who both sent delegations to the ceremonies.

The visiting head of the Hamas political bureau, Mohammed Darwish, on Sunday met Ghalibaf who told him “we do not have peace with America and will not recognise Israel”, state television said.

Iran’s army commander Amir Hatami meanwhile told state TV he had vowed to Mojtaba Khamenei that he “will not let go of the collar of those who killed” the new leader’s father.

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has opened subscriptions for its July “Sah” savings sukuk, offering retail investors a fixed annual return of 4.60 percent through the digital channels of accredited financial institutions.

The subscription period began at 10 a.m. Saudi time on July 6 and will close at 3 p.m. on July 7, according to the National Debt Management Center.

As with previous offerings, the Shariah-compliant sukuk is denominated in Saudi riyals, has a one-year maturity, and pays a fixed return at maturity.

The continued issuance of government sukuk comes as the Kingdom taps debt markets to finance its Vision 2030 economic diversification agenda, including infrastructure projects, tourism development, industrial expansion, and giga-projects.

In a post on X, the NDMC stated that the minimum subscription is SR1,000 ($266), while the maximum investment is capped at SR200,000 per individual.

The June issuance was divided into six tranches maturing between 2029 and 2041, while May’s offering comprised five tranches with maturities ranging from 2031 to 2041.

The sukuk is available exclusively to Saudi citizens aged 18 and above through approved platforms, including SNB Capital, Aljazira Capital and Alinma Investment, as well as SAB Invest and Al Rajhi Capital.

Saudi Arabia issues “Sah” sukuk monthly, with returns determined by prevailing market conditions and government funding costs to maintain its appeal to retail investors.

Managed by the Ministry of Finance through the NDMC, the “Sah” program is designed to encourage personal savings and broaden financial inclusion.

Launched under Vision 2030’s Financial Sector Development Program, it aims to raise the Kingdom’s national savings rate to 10 percent by 2030 from around 6 percent currently.

Separately, the Kingdom raised SR10.57 billion through its June domestic sukuk issuance, up 338.6 percent from SR2.42 billion in May, according to the NDMC.

The latest offering also follows Moody’s affirmation of Saudi Arabia’s Aa3 sovereign credit rating with a stable outlook, citing the Kingdom’s economic resilience, continued progress under Vision 2030 and improving institutional effectiveness.

ISLAMABAD  –  The Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement), Hyderabad recorded a strong operational performance during financial year 2025–26, registering significant improvements in anti-smuggling enforcement, revenue realization, infrastructure development and disposal of contraband goods.

During the year, the Collectorate registered 914 seizure cases, compared to 730 cases in FY2024–25, reflecting an increase of 25%. The seizures involved goods with a CIF value of Rs 2.591 billion, while the duty and taxes amounted to Rs 1.964 billion, an increase of 11% over the previous year. The total realizable value of seized goods stood at Rs. 4.555 billion.

Enforcement trends during the year reflected changing smuggling patterns. Non-duty-paid (NDP) vehicle seizures increased by 60% in quantity, while the value of betel nut seizures increased by 18%. At the same time, the value of POL product seizures declined by 57%, and gutka seizures declined by 37%.

The Collectorate achieved exceptional growth in auction revenue during FY2025–26. A total of 954 lots were auctioned, compared to 416 lots in the previous financial year, registering an increase of 129%. Auction proceeds reached Rs. 1.329 billion, up from Rs 640 million, representing a 108% increase. Revenue realized through administrative measures also recorded substantial growth. Total recoveries increased from Rs 698.708 million in FY2024–25 to Rs 1.353899 billion in FY2025–26, reflecting an increase of 94%. While revenue from the release of seized goods on payment of duty and taxes declined from Rs 59.763 million to Rs 25.005 million, auction proceeds increased from Rs 638.945 million to Rs 1.328894 billion, indicating stronger enforcement and successful adjudication of confiscation cases.

The Collectorate completed several important infrastructure and staff welfare projects during the year, including the installation of racking systems in Warehouses I and II, establishment of a Central Control Room, repair of Category-IV residential flats, construction of a dispensary at Customs House Hyderabad, and development of containerized warehouses for destroyable goods.

The Collectorate also conducted two destruction ceremonies, during which 640 lots of contraband goods worth Rs. 864.781 million were destroyed. The destroyed goods included narcotics, liquor, counterfeit cigarettes, tobacco products, betel nuts and other prohibited items. To strengthen field enforcement, the Collectorate now operates six fully functional Digital and Mobile Enforcement Stations (DES/MES) at Kotri Bridge, Amri–Qazi Ahmed, Aral–Sehwan Bridge, Sukkur Barrage, Bhan Saeedabad–Sehwan and Arror–Sukkur (M-5). Land acquisition for all six sites has been completed, providing permanent infrastructure for enhanced anti-smuggling operations.

The Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement), Hyderabad remains committed to strengthening enforcement against smuggling, protecting legitimate trade, safeguarding government revenue and modernizing operational infrastructure in support of Pakistan Customs’ enforcement objectives.

On her special day, Taylor Swift was heartbroken to learn that her beloved teacher, Kirk Schwabe, tragically passed away the same day she married Travis Kelce.

After the highly private ceremony at Madison Square Garden in New York on July 3,  Taylor Swift learned her former criminal justice teacher, who taught her at Hendersonville High School in Tennessee from 2004 to 2006, passed away at 69 due to renal cancer; his family informed The Telegraph.

Kirk’s daughter, Sarah Gordon, posted an update on Facebook Thursday, indicating his health worsened quickly over recent weeks and resulted in his transition to hospice care.

She expressed that anyone who knew her dad knew he poured his heart into everything he did, adding that he always loved teaching and his students. Before stepping into the classroom, Kirk was a Chicago police officer and shared a close bond with Taylor. After her music career took off, her family reportedly made a special request that he serve as her bodyguard.

READ MORE: Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce wedding guest shares inside details

The Life of a Showgirl singer once honored him during her cameo in Garry Marshall’s 2010 romantic comedy Valentine’s Day by naming her character’s teacher “Mr. Schwabe.”

Before passing away, Kirk praised Taylor’s talent during a chat with The Telegraph. He recalled telling her, “You’re a superstar. This is no longer just fun and games. You are it. Everything continues to rise, and the sky’s the limit for you.”

The proud teacher also commented on Taylor Swift’s marriage to Travis, noting that he trusted Taylor’s judgment and knew she would do what was best.

He recalled the 36-year-old pop star’s rise to fame with a hint of panic, remembering his role as her bodyguard. He acknowledged that if anything had happened, he would have been the main person responsible and pointed out that managing security for hundreds of people with unfamiliar hired guards was a challenging task.

Kirk’s wife added that he treated the “August” singer as if she were his own daughter.

LONDON: OPEC+ is set to agree on Sunday another increase ‌in output targets from August, sources with knowledge of the matter said, adding to global supply amid falling oil prices due to a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for oil exports.

The oil-producing group has agreed in principle to increase quotas by 188,000 barrels per day ​from August, on top of similar increases for June and July, two sources with knowledge of OPEC+ thinking ​said ahead of the group’s online meeting later on Sunday.

Seven core members of OPEC+, which ⁠groups OPEC and allied producers including Russia, have increased their output quotas from April through July by almost 800,000 barrels ​per day.

PRODUCTION BEGINS TO RECOVER

Yet the increase has remained largely on paper because of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which closed the ​Strait of Hormuz for passage of tankers from some of the most important OPEC+ members including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq.

OPEC+ output fell to 33.13 million bpd in May, according to OPEC data, from 42.77 million bpd in February. It began to recover in June thanks to ​U.S. efforts to help the UAE and other OPEC+ nations to export more oil, but is still below pre-war levels.

Despite persisting ​supply disruptions, oil prices have returned to pre-war levels, pressured by lower Chinese imports, higher exports from non-Middle East producers, and a record ‌global strategic ⁠stock release coordinated by the International Energy Agency.

READ MORE: Saudi Arabia unveils new property ownership rules for foreigners

The memorandum of understanding to end the war has also helped convince traders that supply would ultimately return to normal levels.

IRAQ PRESSING FOR HIGHER QUOTAS

Brent crude prices traded near $72 per barrel on Friday, down from recent peaks of more than $120 per barrel, and back to levels traded just before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran ​on February 28.

Besides agreeing production ​targets, OPEC+ is also facing ⁠other challenges after the United Arab Emirates left the group and Iraq signaled it wants higher quotas.

The seven producers — Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Algeria, Kazakhstan and Oman — are boosting output ​as part of the phased rollback of a 1.65 million bpd supply cut agreed in ​2023, when the ⁠group still included the UAE.

The UAE quit the alliance in late April because it wanted to align its capacity more closely with its production, free of production restraints imposed by the group.

From August, the seven have about 379,000 bpd of the original cut ⁠to return ​to the market, taking into account the UAE exit from May 1, ​according to Reuters calculations.

That would mean that the group would unwind the remainder of the cut by the end of September if they continue increases ​at the same pace.

SARGODHA  –  Punjab Minister for Industry and Commerce Chaudhry Shafay Hussain on Saturday approved a Rs570 million grant for the restoration of basic infrastructure at the Sargodha Small Industrial Estate during a meeting with a delegation of the Sargodha Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

According to a press release issued by SCCI, the delegation was led by President Khawaja Yasir Qayyum and included former president Mirza Fazal-ur-Rehman and Board of Management Small Industrial Estate President Muhammad Iftikhar.

The meeting discussed issues related to the sustainable development of local industry and challenges being faced by the small industrial estate, which houses over 100 industrial units.

Briefing the minister, SCCI President Khawaja Yasir Qayyum said the estate was in a deteriorated condition due to lack of basic facilities, including poor drainage, damaged roads and water scarcity, which had discouraged investment and led to the conversion of industrial units into warehouses.

Accepting the demand for immediate rehabilitation, Chaudhry Shafay Hussain approved the Rs570 million grant and assured that he would soon visit Sargodha to inaugurate development work. The minister also announced that the Punjab government, in collaboration with the Bank of Punjab (BoP), would launch a Rs300 billion easy-loan scheme in October to boost industrialization.

The scheme will include interest-free loans of up to Rs100 million, loans of up to Rs1 billion at a three per cent markup and financing of up to Rs5 billion at a five per cent markup.

He further said a job placement portal would be established at the Punjab Board of Technical Education (PBTE) to link skilled labor with industry, adding that Sargodha and Multan chambers should jointly organize mango festivals in Spain and other European countries to promote Pakistani agricultural exports.

KARACHI: The Met Office on Sunday forecast hot and humid weather in most districts of Sindh while likely rainfall in southeastern parts of the province.

In a weather report weather department has predicted rainfall with strong winds and thunderstorm in Tharparkar, Islam Kot, Umarkot and adjoining areas while drizzling in Karachi and partly cloudy weather in coastal area of Sindh.

Most of the districts of Baluchistan experience an extremely hot weather while a partly cloudy weather in coastal areas.

The Met Office earlier said that moist currents from the Arabian Sea are penetrating the eastern and central parts of the country. Moist currents from the Bay of Bengal are expected to reach the upper parts in beginning of July.

Some parts of Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan likely to be lashed by the rainfall with thunderstorm, according to the weather report.