Several recently renovated roads in Ruma upazila of Bandarban have collapsed shortly after completion, raising serious concerns among residents about the quality of government-funded infrastructure projects. Despite large investments aimed at improving connectivity in the hilly region, asphalt has peeled off and cracks have appeared in multiple areas soon after repair work was finished. Locals expressed frustration over the rapid deterioration and questioned the effectiveness of the development spending.

Residents and local representatives alleged that substandard materials, irregularities by contractors, and poor supervision were responsible for the early damage. The projects, implemented under the Local Government Engineering Department’s (LGED) “Rural Road Infrastructure Development in Hill Areas” initiative, include the Ruma–Rowangchhari internal link road to Paindu Headman Para, with a budget of about Tk 27.5 million for 1.3 kilometers. LGED officials acknowledged contractor noncompliance and reported the issue to the district office.

The LGED executive engineer stated that partial damage to new roads is not unusual and that repairs could be made later using future allocations or the contractor’s security deposit.

Italy is facing a severe heatwave that has claimed five lives and prompted authorities to issue red alerts in 18 cities on Friday. The victims include two farmers from Lodi and Piacenza, a homeless man in Naples, and another person who died near Pavia in Lombardy. The decision to declare the red alert was made during a technical committee meeting chaired by Health Minister Orazio Schillaci.

The alert covers major cities such as Rome, Milan, Florence, Venice, Turin, Bologna, Bari, and Genoa. Officials warned that the extreme weather poses health risks not only to vulnerable groups like the elderly, children, and chronically ill individuals but also to healthy people. The heatwave has disrupted cultural and public services, forcing Florence’s Uffizi Gallery to suspend ticket sales until at least June 28 due to air-conditioning failure.

Tourist sites such as Juliet’s House in Verona have partially closed, and court hearings in Palermo have been postponed. Local media reported a 20 percent rise in emergency admissions across Lombardy. Meteorologists expect temperatures to peak over the weekend.

Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, editor of Citizens for Good Governance (SUJAN), has called for the establishment of a dedicated ministry for the Haor region to ensure sustainable development and good governance. Speaking as the chief guest at a press conference organized by SUJAN’s Sunamganj district committee at Dhaka Reporters Unity, he said the nation’s interests are tied to the development of the Haor areas and that governance problems, corruption, and lack of coordination must be addressed.

Presenting the keynote paper, SUJAN Sunamganj general secretary Fazlul Karim Saeed said multiple ministries currently handle Haor-related issues, leading to duplication, weak accountability, and poor coordination. He argued that a separate Haor ministry could ensure integrated planning, research, budgeting, and project implementation. The paper also highlighted environmental degradation, poor water management, and biodiversity loss as major threats to the region.

Speakers emphasized that protecting the Haor ecosystem is essential for Bangladesh’s food security, environment, and economy, as the area supports boro rice cultivation, native fish breeding, and migratory bird habitats.

Spain has experienced its hottest June days in 76 years, according to preliminary data released on Thursday by the national meteorological agency AEMET. The agency reported that on Tuesday, the average temperature across mainland Spain was 7.1 degrees Celsius higher than normal, marking the hottest June day since records began in 1950. Monday was the second hottest June day, while Sunday ranked eighth.

Although temperatures slightly decreased on Thursday, conditions remained extremely hot on Wednesday, prompting red alerts in northern regions due to severe heat risks. At Bilbao Airport, temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius on Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, the first time this has occurred three times in one year. In Cantabria, northern Spain, a record high of 43.7 degrees Celsius was recorded.

Meteorologists attributed the heatwave to a persistent “heat dome” over Western Europe and hot, dry air moving north from the Sahara Desert. Preliminary estimates suggest at least 212 people died from heat-related causes between Sunday and Wednesday.

Two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.5 and 7.2 magnitude struck Venezuela, causing severe destruction and killing at least 164 people, according to reports published on June 25, 2026. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) warned that the death toll could rise significantly, possibly reaching into the hundreds of thousands. Rescue and recovery operations are ongoing in Caracas and other affected regions as authorities assess the full extent of the damage.

Fearing aftershocks and the collapse of damaged buildings, thousands of residents have set up tents on streets or are sleeping on mattresses and mats in gardens and sidewalks. Many are waiting for confirmation that it is safe to return to their homes. The USGS has stated that the risk of major aftershocks remains high.

The situation has left much of the population displaced and anxious, with emergency teams continuing to work amid uncertainty about further tremors and the scale of the disaster.

Bangladesh and China have reached a consensus to strengthen cooperation in managing the Teesta and other rivers across Bangladesh. The agreement was made during a meeting between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Chinese Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying on June 25, 2026, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. The discussions focused on expanding bilateral collaboration in flood risk management, environmental protection, and sustainable water resource management.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Rahman sought Chinese technical assistance for the Teesta management project and highlighted Bangladesh’s ongoing river dredging programs aimed at improving water flow and reducing flood risks. Minister Li responded positively, assuring full cooperation in Bangladesh’s water management initiatives. He referred to the 2005 memorandum of understanding between the two countries and last year’s visit by Chinese water experts as examples of their research-based partnership.

Li also invited Bangladeshi water experts and officials to receive training in China, emphasizing that Bangladesh could benefit from China’s experience in water management. Several senior Bangladeshi ministers and advisers attended the meeting.

A powerful earthquake struck rural Northern California on Wednesday morning, marking the region’s strongest quake since 1940. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the 5.6-magnitude quake was centered about 12 kilometers northwest of Willits, with tremors felt as far as the coastal city of Fort Bragg. The quake occurred at 8:10 a.m. Pacific Time, about 8 kilometers underground and 80 kilometers east of Fort Bragg. Officials reported some injuries but no major damage immediately after the event.

Mendocino County spokesperson Heather Rose confirmed that hospitals reported several injuries, though details were not yet available. More than 6,000 residents across six nearby towns lost power, and authorities urged people to avoid highways to allow inspection and repair work. Seismologist Lucy Jones said it was the largest quake in the area in nearly nine decades and not located on a major fault line. She added that aftershocks were likely but expected to be minor.

California’s Office of Emergency Services said over 657,000 early warning alerts were sent via the MyShake app, with total alerts likely exceeding one million as other systems also issued warnings.

Three powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, Japan, and the United States on June 25, 2026, causing widespread damage and triggering emergency responses. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), Venezuela experienced two major quakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude near San Felipe and Yumar, west of Caracas. The tremors caused severe destruction across several states, with buildings collapsing in multiple areas. The USGS estimated a 44 percent chance of 10,000 deaths and a 30 percent chance of fatalities exceeding 100,000. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency, closing Simón Bolívar International Airport, suspending schools, metro, and rail services, and halting nonessential activities.

In Japan, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck northeast of Kuji, but no tsunami warning was issued. Authorities reported no immediate casualties or major damage. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ordered an urgent assessment of losses, while Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara confirmed no abnormalities at nuclear facilities. East Japan Railway Company suspended bullet train services between Shin-Aomori and Tokyo.

In northern California, a 5.6 magnitude quake hit near Redwood Valley, cutting power to about 7,400 homes and businesses. The USGS’s ShakeAlert system successfully warned residents through the MyShake app.

Two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.5 and 7.2 magnitude struck Venezuela, causing widespread devastation across several regions. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the death toll could surpass 10,000 due to the poor earthquake resistance of most buildings. The first quake hit near San Felipe, about 284 kilometers west of Caracas, followed 39 seconds later by a stronger tremor near Yumar, roughly 293 kilometers west of the capital. A tsunami warning was initially issued but later withdrawn.

Severe damage has been reported in Trujillo, Carabobo, Miranda, and La Guaira states, where numerous buildings collapsed. A resident of La Guaira said the airport sustained major damage, though it was not completely destroyed, and roads cracked, disrupting transportation. Miranda’s Chacao mayor feared heavy casualties but did not specify numbers. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello confirmed extensive destruction nationwide and said authorities were still assessing the full extent of the damage.

The government has prioritized rescue operations as assessments continue to determine the total human and infrastructural losses.

Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain inaugurated canal and stream re-excavation works in the city’s South Pahartali area on Wednesday as part of an ongoing initiative to reduce waterlogging, improve the environment, and restore natural water flow. The mayor visited Dhulunia Dhala, Khagria, and Khoshal Shah canals during the launch and urged those occupying canal areas illegally to remove their structures voluntarily, warning that legal measures would follow if they failed to comply.

He noted that slabs and structures built over canals obstruct cleaning operations and said the city authority is identifying such problems to make the canal system clean and functional. Work is being carried out ward by ward to identify causes of waterlogging and implement planned solutions. The mayor added that development plans for 40 canals are being prepared, including deepening, constructing retaining walls, removing illegal encroachments, and building modern walkways.

Dr. Hossain emphasized that protecting the Halda River requires ensuring the natural flow of its connected canals and streams. He called for active participation from residents in monitoring the quality of ongoing excavation and renovation work to build a clean, environmentally friendly, and waterlogging-free Chattogram.

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale struck northeastern Japan shortly after two strong quakes hit Venezuela, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake occurred 35 kilometers northeast of Kuji at a depth of 51.7 kilometers. No tsunami warning was issued following the tremor.

Authorities reported no immediate major damage or casualties. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed the government to urgently assess the extent of the damage. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara confirmed there was no risk of a tsunami and said evaluations of possible damage were ongoing. He also noted that no irregularities had been detected at nuclear facilities.

Following the quake, East Japan Railway Company (JR East) suspended bullet train services between Shin-Aomori and Tokyo as a precautionary measure. Officials continue to monitor the situation closely.

Two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.5 and 7.2 magnitude struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, causing widespread damage and fears of heavy casualties. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the first quake of 7.2 magnitude hit near San Felipe, about 284 kilometers west of Caracas, at 6:04 p.m. local time. Just 39 seconds later, a second 7.5 magnitude quake struck near Yumar, roughly 293 kilometers west of the capital. Several buildings in Caracas collapsed as a result.

The USGS reported that the second quake’s epicenter was 23 kilometers southeast of Yumar at a depth of about 10 kilometers. The agency warned that the disaster likely affected a large area and that strong aftershocks could follow. Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged residents to stay outside their homes and said gas connections in several buildings had been cut off as a precaution. Reuters reported that residents in Caracas rushed outdoors, while AFP images showed a collapsed building believed to be a bank.

Authorities are assessing the extent of the damage as emergency measures continue across affected regions.

A college student and a farmer were killed by lightning strikes in Fulbaria upazila of Mymensingh on Wednesday evening, according to family and hospital sources. The victims were identified as Tuli Rani Sen, 16, daughter of Jhutan Chandra Sen of Debgram in Putijana Union, and Abdul Khalek, 58, of Nijpara village in the same upazila.

Tuli Rani Sen, a first-year student at Fulbaria Government Women’s College, was near her home when lightning struck during light rain, causing her to lose consciousness. She was taken to the Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared her dead. In a separate incident, Abdul Khalek collapsed after being struck by lightning while walking to Kaladah Bazar after Asr prayers. Locals rushed him to the same health complex, where he was also pronounced dead.

Both deaths occurred within the same evening under similar weather conditions, highlighting the recurring risk of lightning strikes during seasonal storms in the area.

The water level of the Teesta River at Dalia point in Nilphamari dropped slightly below the danger mark on Wednesday, measuring 52.1 centimeters against the danger level of 52.15 centimeters. According to the Water Development Board, the situation in four northern districts has improved as water levels receded, though some low-lying areas in Sylhet and Sunamganj remain temporarily affected by flooding. The board confirmed that all major rivers in the country are currently flowing below danger levels.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre reported that several rivers, including Teesta, Surma, Kushiyara, and Someshwari, are flowing near the warning level at various monitoring stations. Heavy to very heavy rainfall has been recorded in Sylhet and Chattogram divisions, with moderate to heavy rainfall in Rangpur. Upstream regions in India’s West Bengal, Meghalaya, and Tripura have also experienced heavy rainfall, contributing to rising river levels.

Forecasts indicate that water levels in the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and Ganga-Padma river systems may continue to rise over the next five days, potentially causing temporary flooding in some low-lying areas of Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, and Bogura districts.

A record-breaking heatwave sweeping across Europe has caused a major power outage in northwestern France, leaving around 68,000 households without electricity. Authorities said it was the country’s first large-scale power disruption in recent times linked to the ongoing extreme heat. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. Tuesday near Ergué-Gabéric in the Brittany region’s Quimper area, when a transformer fault disrupted the power transmission system. No casualties were reported.

According to the Finistère department administration, the malfunction was related to unusually high temperatures. Power transmission and distribution companies RTE and Enedis worked overnight to restore supply, but full service was expected only by the end of Wednesday. At the peak of the outage, about 106,000 customers across France were without power as the country faced one of its hottest days of the year.

Finistère is among 58 French departments under a maximum “red alert” for extreme heat. Meteorological forecasts warned that temperatures could reach 39 to 41 degrees Celsius from Brittany to the Paris region, with experts linking the persistent heat to atmospheric conditions and global warming.