The death toll from the powerful twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 4,333, with 16,740 people injured, according to National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez. He announced the updated figures at a press conference on Saturday, noting that 315 victims remain unidentified. Rescue teams have so far saved 6,462 people, while around 17,000 have been left homeless.

Rodríguez stated that the government will begin distributing new housing to affected families next week. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez will allocate the first 200 new homes to victims. A total of 856 buildings were damaged, including 190 that either collapsed completely or suffered severe structural damage. Authorities estimate that at least 25,000 new homes will be needed for rehabilitation efforts.

To support reconstruction, approximately 40 plots of land covering 584,000 square meters have been identified in the Osma and Chuspa areas. Rodríguez added that rescue operations remain ongoing in a few uncertain zones where teams continue searching for survivors.

Dhaka experienced heavy overnight rainfall that caused widespread waterlogging across major roads and neighborhoods on Saturday night. Areas including Dhanmondi, Mirpur, Malibagh, Karwan Bazar, Motijheel, and parts of Old Dhaka were submerged, with water levels reaching knee to waist height in some places. The flooding disrupted traffic, leaving many vehicles stalled and commuters stranded. Office-goers faced severe delays and reported that rickshaw and auto-rickshaw drivers were charging extra fares amid the transport shortage.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecasted more rain and thunderstorms across most parts of the country on Sunday, accompanied by gusty or squally winds blowing at 45 to 60 kilometers per hour. River ports in 13 regions, including Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, and Chattogram, were advised to hoist cautionary signal number one. The department also maintained a high-risk alert for landslides in Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, Bandarban, Rangamati, and Khagrachhari due to heavy to very heavy rainfall.

Authorities urged caution for river transport and residents in hilly areas as unstable weather conditions were expected to continue.

A catla fish weighing one maund was caught in the Padma River at Rayta Pathorghat area of Veramara upazila in Kushtia on Saturday evening. The fish was sold for 46,800 taka at a rate of 1,200 taka per kilogram. Local fisherman Murad and several others caught the fish while casting their regular fishing nets in the river.

According to the fishermen, they had never before caught such a large catla fish in their nets. The fish was later purchased by local resident Ripon Ali and his friends, who divided it among themselves. Residents of the area said they had not seen such a large catla in their lifetime, nor had they heard of one being caught in that part of the Padma River before.

The unusual catch has become a topic of local interest, highlighting the continued livelihood of fishermen in the Padma River region.

Students of the 105th batch of Dhaka University have announced an emergency public relief fund campaign to assist flood-affected residents in Chattogram, which is experiencing one of the most severe floods in recent memory. The initiative will begin on Sunday, July 12, with two collection booths set up at the TSC and Arts Building on campus. Relief items and cash donations will also be collected from residential halls, classrooms, and nearby areas.

According to organizers, a representative team from the 105th batch is maintaining constant communication with local volunteers and officials in the affected low-lying areas. Once the collection phase ends, the gathered funds will be used to purchase dry food, clean water, saline, polythene sheets, and essential medical supplies, which will be distributed directly to stranded residents through coordination with local volunteers.

Coordinator Ifthekhar Islam Tanvir said the campaign aims to ensure broad participation through faculty-based teams, hall-level promotion, and crowdfunding. He described the effort as a collective act of humanity, urging everyone to contribute within their means.

Continuous heavy rainfall has submerged large areas of Pekua upazila in Cox’s Bazar, leaving homes, roads, and fields underwater. In response, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Rafiqul Islam personally waded through waist-deep water to deliver food relief to stranded residents. From early morning until late night on Thursday, he distributed dry and cooked food, including rice, lentils, oil, and biscuits, to isolated families.

Local residents said it is rare to see an administrative officer working directly in the field during such disasters. Rafiqul Islam stated that daily wage earners and low-income families were the hardest hit, as work stopped and many households could not cook due to soaked fuel. He emphasized that the administration is monitoring every area and delivering aid wherever shortages are reported.

Several low-lying villages remain waterlogged. The upazila administration has opened shelters and a control room to ensure continuous assistance, while local representatives and volunteers are also working to support affected residents.

Bangladeshi actress Pori Moni has alleged that her 2021 arrest by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) was carried out unlawfully and to serve the interests of certain influential groups. In a Facebook post published late on July 10, 2026, she recalled being detained from her Banani residence and later charged under the Narcotics Control Act. She stated that the incident severely damaged her personal, social, and professional life, and questioned whether the state could ever restore her lost dignity and peace of mind.

In her post, Pori Moni thanked former RAB intelligence chief Lt. Col. (Retd.) Khairul Islam for recently acknowledging certain truths about the operation during an online talk show. She reiterated that she was unjustly arrested under the direction of then RAB chief and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun. The actress emphasized her desire for justice, accountability, and the protection of innocent citizens from similar experiences.

Pori Moni expressed hope that the court would soon grant her relief from the case but lamented that the time and respect she lost could never be recovered.

Bollywood singer, composer, and pianist Adnan Sami has released a special four-song musical project dedicated to Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The project, unveiled on Friday, July 10, 2026, has already drawn significant international attention. Each of the four original songs explores themes of leadership, resilience, endurance, and remembrance, marking a distinctive addition to Sami’s extensive musical repertoire.

According to the official X handle of the Iranian Embassy in Australia, the Padma Shri award-winning artist created this project as a tribute to Khamenei, with one of the songs titled “Ya Allah” shared through the embassy’s post. Over his three-decade career, Sami has performed across South Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, blending Indian classical, pop, and orchestral styles to build a unique musical identity.

The new project is viewed by observers as another exceptional chapter in Adnan Sami’s long artistic journey, further expanding his creative legacy in international music circles.

UNESCO has reported that in 2025, 113 developing countries spent more on foreign debt repayments than on education. The agency’s latest report highlights that sub-Saharan African nations, on average, allocated 3.6 times more funds to debt servicing than to education, undermining education systems and threatening long-term economic growth. The report warns that the situation could worsen as low and lower-middle-income countries have already lost 21 percent of international education aid compared to 2023, with projections of a further 30 percent decline by 2027.

Debt Justice, a UK-based campaign group, attributed the growing debt burden to the COVID-19 pandemic, rising energy prices, higher interest rates, and climate-related disasters. In 2024, poor countries’ debt repayments reached a 35-year high, with 56 nations spending about one-fifth of their total government income on debt servicing. UNESCO noted that the funding shortfall has disrupted school operations, delayed teacher salaries, and hindered educational activities.

UNESCO called for reforms in global debt restructuring mechanisms and urged the creation of long-term debt-assistance frameworks to help developing countries maintain investment in education and essential public services while managing debt obligations.

Continuous heavy rainfall for six days has submerged large parts of Hatiya in Noakhali, leaving around fifty thousand people waterlogged. The flooding has been aggravated by illegal structures built over canals, obstructing water drainage. Many residents in Hatiya municipality and surrounding unions are trapped in their homes, with cooking stoves submerged and roads, schools, and markets under water.

Local residents and farmers reported severe hardship, with crop seedbeds and fish ponds destroyed. Business owners blamed the construction of shops and markets over the Martin Canal for blocking water flow, causing extensive waterlogging in six municipal wards. Farmers fear that if the water does not recede soon, the Aman cultivation season will be severely disrupted.

According to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Rasel Iqbal, discussions are underway with higher authorities to remove illegal structures from government canals. Medical teams have been formed in every union and municipality, and dry food and government relief have been distributed in affected areas.

More than 600,000 people have been evacuated from vulnerable areas in eastern China as Super Typhoon Bavi moves toward the coast. Although meteorologists report that the storm has weakened slightly, it remains extremely dangerous, with forecasts warning of heavy rainfall and strong winds. Over 500,000 people were relocated from Zhejiang province and nearly 100,000 from neighboring Fujian. The typhoon, which earlier passed near Japan’s Sakishima Islands and northern Taiwan, is expected to make landfall near Wenzhou in Zhejiang early Sunday.

China’s national weather agency has issued an orange alert, the second-highest warning level, prompting the cancellation of hundreds of flights, suspension of ferry services, and closure of schools. In Ningde, Fujian, more than 3,700 coastal residents have been moved to safety, and over 17,000 emergency workers are on standby. Residents in Wenzhou have stocked up on food and water, expressing cautious optimism about managing the storm.

Meteorologists warn that despite weakening over the Pacific, Bavi’s moisture-laden clouds could still trigger heavy rain, flash floods, and landslides. Southern regions are still recovering from Tropical Storm Maysak, which caused deadly flooding earlier in the week.

Continuous rainfall and a sudden flash flood in Rangamati’s Rajsthali upazila submerged the Sadek Poultry Farm, killing around 1,500 chickens. The incident occurred late Friday night in Dak Bangla Para of Bangalhalia Union, causing losses estimated at over five lakh taka. The farm’s owner, young entrepreneur Md. Sadek, said he and his workers tried to save the birds but failed as floodwaters from a nearby mountain stream inundated the area.

Sadek explained that he had established the poultry farm with loans from various NGOs to overcome unemployment. Now, with his home flooded and his livestock lost, he has been left destitute. He appealed for assistance from the administration and local benefactors to recover from the disaster.

Following the incident, Major Md. S. Arefin, commander of the Bangalhalia Army Camp, visited the damaged farm and assured Sadek of support. Local Union Parishad member Shimul Das was also present during the visit.

Continuous heavy rainfall has caused severe waterlogging at Benapole, the country’s largest land port, submerging imported goods worth crores of taka. Several sheds and yards near Gate No. 3 were flooded, disrupting storage, transport, and unloading operations. The port authority has deployed power pumps to remove water, but the effort has been hampered by ongoing rain.

Port users and traders have blamed the recurring problem on the absence of an effective drainage system despite multiple infrastructure projects. They alleged that authorities were repeatedly informed but took no lasting action. A committee formed earlier to address drainage issues has shown no visible progress. Many importers, lacking insurance coverage, are now facing significant financial losses.

Business leaders expressed frustration that despite Benapole generating around Tk 10,000 crore in annual revenue for the government, the drainage crisis persists. The port director said water removal is underway and expects improvement once the rain stops.

Bangladeshi actress Pori Moni has publicly spoken in detail for the first time about her 2021 arrest by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). In a Facebook post published at midnight on Friday, she claimed that her detention on August 4, 2021, was completely unlawful and carried out under the direction of then RAB chief and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun. She expressed gratitude to former RAB intelligence head Lt. Col. Khairul Islam for recently acknowledging certain truths about the incident in an online talk show.

Pori Moni stated that she was falsely implicated in fabricated cases, placed on a seven-day remand, and kept in jail for 20 days, which caused severe personal and professional damage. She described the experience as a painful chapter in Bangladesh’s history, saying her dignity and character were unjustly questioned. She emphasized that she seeks truth, justice, and humanity rather than revenge, urging that no innocent person should face similar injustice in the future.

She expressed hope that the court would soon clear her of the charges and questioned whether the state could restore the honor and peace she lost.

Dhaka district administration has launched a cleanup and beautification drive along the Aminbazar-Hemayetpur road after nearly 20 years. The initiative, directed by the Prime Minister, aims to remove garbage dumps, eliminate foul odors, and enhance the area’s appearance. The program was inaugurated on Saturday at Hemayetpur by State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam, with senior district and upazila officials present.

The Prime Minister issued the directive after observing the long-standing waste piles and stench along the road during a recent visit to Singair, Manikganj. Following her instruction, the State Minister ordered the Dhaka district administration to act swiftly. The ongoing project includes transferring waste to designated landfills, filling and stabilizing roadside areas, planting trees such as neem, betel nut, and coconut, and constructing fences to prevent future dumping. Continuous monitoring and legal enforcement will also be strengthened.

Dhaka Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanam stated that the administration, local government division, and related agencies are working jointly to complete the project within the set timeframe and ensure the area remains clean and visually appealing.

China is constructing one of the world’s largest hydroelectric dams on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, sparking environmental concerns in Bangladesh and India, as the river flows downstream into both countries. A group of Chinese geologists recently warned that the project site lies directly above an active fault line, posing potential structural risks to the dam.

According to a study supervised by the state-owned China Geological Survey, the Paizhen fault runs through the reservoir area of the project, which began construction last year. Researchers from Chengdu University of Technology and other institutions found that the fault has been active since the Pleistocene era and continues to threaten the stability of dams, bridges, and tunnels in the region. The study also noted that the dam’s foundation and surrounding slopes could weaken, increasing the risk of landslides or collapses during earthquakes or prolonged submersion.

The researchers recommended reinforcing mountain slopes, building retaining walls, and implementing additional safety measures during construction to mitigate seismic and landslide risks.