Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have made their first social media post since being detained in the United States. The couple, held for about three months in a Brooklyn prison after being taken from Caracas by U.S. commandos, thanked their supporters and said they were well. The message, shared on Maduro’s X account, expressed gratitude for the love, letters, and prayers they had received, saying these had strengthened them spiritually. It remains unclear who posted the message on their behalf.

According to a source close to the Venezuelan government cited by AFP, Maduro reads the Bible in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where some inmates refer to him as “President.” The facility is known for its poor conditions. The source added that Maduro is allowed up to 15 minutes per phone call with his family and lawyers.

In their post, Maduro and Flores also praised the unity and solidarity of Venezuelans at home and abroad during this difficult time.

The government of Bangladesh has appointed new deputy commissioners (DCs) and district magistrates in 11 districts. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification on Sunday, March 29, 2026, signed by Deputy Secretary Aminul Islam. The order stated that the appointments were made in the public interest and would take immediate effect.

According to the notification, Kazi Shahidul Islam has been appointed to Rajshahi, Lutfun Nahar to Chuadanga, Hure Jannat to Khulna, Marzina Akter to Madaripur, Abu Sayeed to Brahmanbaria, Ahmed Ziaur Rahman to Chandpur, G.M. Sarfaraz to Habiganj, Israt Jahan Keya to Narsingdi, Shilpi Rani Roy to Meherpur, Md. Rashedul Haque Pradhan to Lalmonirhat, and Md. Saniul Ferdous to Bandarban.

The circular emphasized that the new appointments were made for administrative purposes and would be implemented without delay.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has strongly condemned an Israeli attack in Lebanon that killed three journalists. In a statement on his official Telegram channel, Araghchi described the incident as a “planned assassination,” saying it represents a deep wound for the media in the region and the world, as well as a serious warning to global conscience.

He asserted that the attack was not merely an attempt to eliminate individuals but a deliberate effort to intimidate truth-tellers and silence voices that speak out. Araghchi also claimed that Israel has a long history of targeting media professionals, which he said constitutes a clear violation of international law and conventions.

The condemnation follows reports of the journalists’ deaths in the Israeli strike in Lebanon, drawing renewed attention to the safety of media workers in conflict zones.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education has issued 11 special directives to ensure fair and cheat-free Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations across Bangladesh. The instructions, sent to center secretaries and institution heads on Saturday, include mandatory installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in every exam hall. The SSC and equivalent exams are scheduled to begin on April 21, 2026. The government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward any irregularities during the examinations.

The directives also require all non-functional CCTV cameras to be repaired before the exams, proper storage of recorded footage, installation of wall clocks in every room, and deployment of adequate security personnel in consultation with local authorities. Mobile phone use will be restricted to center secretaries only, and examinees will undergo body searches before entering exam halls, with female teachers conducting searches for female students. Centers must also display special instructions for students and guardians at main gates and ensure clean, well-lit environments.

Authorities warned that any negligence in implementing these measures could result in strict legal action against responsible officials.

Kenya’s National Police Service reported on Saturday that the death toll from weeks of heavy rain and flooding has risen to 108. The floods, which began on March 6, have caused extensive damage across the East African nation, sweeping away vehicles, disrupting air travel, and damaging electrical infrastructure. Authorities said more than 2,700 families have been displaced nationwide.

Although rainfall intensity has decreased in some areas, police warned that poor drainage and waterlogging continue to pose flooding risks. In early March, overnight downpours in Nairobi led to flash floods that killed at least 23 people, swept away dozens of cars, and disrupted flights at the city’s main airport. Since then, fatalities and damage have continued to rise throughout the month.

Meteorologists and environmental scientists cited global warming as a factor worsening floods and droughts across East Africa. A 2024 World Weather Attribution study found that climate change has doubled the likelihood of destructive rainfall in the region.

Attorney General Barrister Ruhul Kudddus Kajol announced that legal officers at the Attorney General’s Office accused of note trading and unethical activities will face action following investigation. He made the statement on his first working day as the country’s 18th Attorney General while speaking to journalists at his office on March 29, 2026.

Earlier in the day, he began his duties with prayers alongside senior lawyers, who congratulated him with flowers. Present at the event were Supreme Court Bar Association President Barrister A M Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Acting Secretary Mahfuzur Rahman Milon, former Attorney General Fida M Kamal, Member of Parliament and senior lawyer Fazlul Rahman, and Additional Attorneys General Arshadur Rauf, Muhammad Abdul Jabbar Bhuiyan, and Mohammad Anik R Haque.

President appointed Barrister Ruhul Kudddus Kajol as the 18th Attorney General of Bangladesh on the preceding Wednesday.

Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain stated that the government is making maximum efforts to prevent corruption in the health sector. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon after inaugurating the 17th Asia Pharma Expo at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Purbachal, Dhaka. The minister said new crises are emerging and instructions have been given to address them promptly.

He mentioned that the government is taking swift steps to resolve the ventilator shortage at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where five ventilators have been arranged privately and four will be sent to Rajshahi. Due to the rise in measles cases, ICU facilities have been prepared at the Children’s Hospital, Dhaka Medical College, and DNCC Dedicated Hospital. The minister expressed sorrow over the deaths of 33 children in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital within 11 days due to lack of ventilation.

He added that a vaccination campaign is being considered to cover children who have not yet received measles vaccines. The government has allocated Tk 604 crore for this purpose and plans to launch a nationwide campaign once vaccine procurement is complete.

The United States and Israel carried out the highest number of attacks in a single day since the start of the war in Iran. According to reports, between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday, at least 701 strikes were launched across the country, with about 74 percent concentrated around the capital, Tehran. The attacks caused extensive damage in the city and surrounding areas.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), cited by the BBC, reported that civilian casualties have reached 1,551 within the first month of the conflict, including at least 236 children. The scale of the attacks and the rising death toll underscore the severity of the ongoing conflict.

Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East have further escalated as Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a second round of missile strikes targeting Israel. Observers warn that the violence could spread across the region if the situation continues to deteriorate.

Aviation Security (Avsec) officials seized 153 gold bars from the cargo compartment toilet of a Biman Bangladesh Airlines aircraft at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. The seizure took place on Saturday night, according to an airport authority statement released on Sunday. The flight, BG-348, had arrived from Dubai around 9 p.m. and was parked at boarding bridge C-2. No arrests were made in connection with the incident.

Authorities said the aircraft had been under surveillance based on intelligence information before landing. After arrival, a joint operation involving intelligence agencies and Avsec personnel was conducted. During the search, officials found the gold bars wrapped in white cloth behind a toilet panel in the cargo hold. Each bar weighed 116 grams, totaling 17.784 kilograms, with an estimated market value of about Tk 38 crore.

The seized gold has been handed over to the airport customs authorities. Intelligence agencies have launched a detailed investigation to identify those involved in the smuggling attempt.

Police in Naogaon recovered 325 rounds of .303 rifle ammunition buried underground in a crop field in Badalgachhi upazila. The discovery was made on Sunday morning, March 29, 2026, in Deuliya village under Adhaipur Union. Local farmers found the ammunition while digging soil and immediately informed the police, who then retrieved the bullets from the site.

According to the investigation officer of Badalgachhi Police Station, the ammunition was found in an abandoned condition. The bullets were hidden beneath the soil and were noticed accidentally by the farmers during their fieldwork. Law enforcement officials collected all 325 rounds from the location for further examination.

Authorities have not yet disclosed how the ammunition came to be buried in the area or whether any investigation has been launched to trace its origin.

A drone attack launched from Iraq targeted a US military base in Kasrak, Syria, on the morning of March 29, 2026, according to Syrian Deputy Defense Minister Sipan Hamo. He stated that four drones were fired from Iraqi territory toward the base but were intercepted without causing any casualties. The Syrian official confirmed that the attack was successfully repelled.

Hamo said Syria holds Iraq responsible for the incident and urged it to prevent such actions that threaten regional stability. The statement was posted on social media platform X, where he emphasized the need to stop the recurrence of similar attacks.

The report added that a day earlier, the Syrian army claimed to have intercepted another drone attack from Iraq targeting the Al-Tanf base in southeastern Syria, a site previously used by US forces.

The government has decided to appoint 'tag officers' at petrol pumps across the country to ensure the normal supply of fuel and prevent illegal hoarding or artificial shortages. These officers will perform 13 specific duties, including recording daily stock levels, verifying fuel quantities received from depots, monitoring sales registers, and checking the accuracy of dispensing machines. They will also inspect storage capacities, detect unauthorized tanks or installations, and ensure transparency in the supply chain from depots to consumers.

According to the directive, tag officers must oversee daily operations such as measuring fuel deliveries, reconciling depot receipts, and confirming that retail sales begin within one hour of receiving fuel. They are also required to report on compliance issues, including whether pumps are open, registers are accurate, and cash memos are issued. Each pump must update its stock at least three times a day, and violations may lead to warnings, mobile court actions, or temporary suspensions.

The initiative aims to strengthen monitoring of fuel distribution and maintain stability in the energy supply chain nationwide.

At least six Palestinians, including a child, were killed in two Israeli airstrikes on police checkpoints in Gaza on March 29, 2026. The attacks targeted Hamas-led police positions in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to local medical workers. Three police officers and three civilians were among the dead, and four others were injured. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the latest strikes.

Local health officials reported that since a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began in November, more than 680 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. The continued airstrikes have raised concerns about the durability of the truce and the ongoing humanitarian toll in the region.

The incident underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the persistent violence affecting civilians in Gaza, with no immediate indication of de-escalation from either side.

A Los Angeles jury has found Meta and Alphabet’s Google liable for $3 million in damages in a landmark social media addiction case. The verdict, delivered after more than 40 hours of deliberation, held the companies responsible for the addictive design of their platforms. The plaintiff, a 20-year-old identified as Kaley, said she became addicted to YouTube and Instagram at a young age, worsening her mental health. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri testified during the trial, while YouTube’s chief executive did not.

Kaley’s legal team argued that features such as notifications and autoplay were intentionally designed to hook young users. Jurors were instructed not to consider user-generated content due to Section 230 protections. Meta maintained that Kaley’s mental health issues stemmed from other causes, while Google argued YouTube is a video platform, not social media. Google said it disagreed with the verdict and planned to appeal. Snap and TikTok had previously settled with the plaintiff before the trial.

Legal experts said the decision could shape future litigation against social media companies, with additional bellwether trials and a federal case scheduled later this year.

In Kano, northern Nigeria, second-hand electronics imported from Europe, America, and Asia are flooding markets like Sabon Gari, where low-income buyers seek affordable appliances. Many of these goods, often near the end of their lifespan, arrive damaged or fail shortly after purchase, worsening the country’s growing electronic waste problem. According to the United Nations, about 60,000 tonnes of used electronics enter Nigeria annually, with at least 15,700 tonnes already defective upon arrival.

The trade, largely driven by exporters from Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, China, the United States, and Ireland, often violates the Basel Convention, which restricts hazardous waste exports to developing nations. Informal recyclers in Kano dismantle broken devices without protection, exposing themselves to toxic substances such as mercury and refrigerant gases banned in Western countries. Health experts warn of serious respiratory, neurological, and reproductive risks linked to such exposure.

Despite Nigeria’s environmental regulations and inspections, weak enforcement and loopholes allow mislabeled shipments to enter the country. Environmental advocates and traders call for stricter border checks, certification systems, and international accountability to curb the inflow of unsafe electronic waste.