Chinese military spokesperson Tian Junli stated that the People's Liberation Army conducted a routine patrol in the South China Sea on Friday. He accused the Philippines of escalating tensions by collaborating with non-regional nations for joint patrols. Junli warned that such actions threaten regional stability and reiterated that relying on external powers would not benefit the Philippines. The warning came a day after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed support for Manila against "Communist China's threats."

In a column for The New York Times, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sharply criticized the Trump administration, calling its policies “reckless displays of power.” She questioned Trump’s disregard for federal record-keeping laws and described his executive orders as harmful to national security. Clinton warned that if the U.S. continues operating like a corrupt state, it will lose its global standing against China and Russia. She also compared Trump’s business failures in Atlantic City to his handling of national security, cautioning that continued recklessness could lead to severe consequences.

The Bangladesh Armed Forces are set to dispatch a rescue and relief team to Myanmar following a devastating earthquake.

According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement, the military team will depart on Sunday with emergency medical supplies, relief goods, and rescue equipment. The move comes in response to Myanmar’s urgent humanitarian needs following the disaster.

As of Saturday evening, reports indicated that the death toll had exceeded 1,600, with over 3,400 injured.

Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves have exceeded $25 billion ahead of Eid, driven by record remittance inflows in March.

According to Bangladesh Bank data, the country’s total reserves rose to $25.44 billion on Thursday. Under the IMF’s BPM6 accounting method, reserves stood at $20.30 billion, while the usable reserves remain around $15 billion.

On March 9, Bangladesh Bank announced that it had cleared $1.75 billion in import payments through the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) for January and February, causing net reserves to drop to $19.75 billion at that time.

The Houthi Ansarullah movement has threatened missile strikes on the UAE, accusing it of espionage and military collaboration with the United States. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the group’s leader, Mohammad Al-Farah, warned that any Emirati individuals or entities providing intelligence or military aid to the U.S. against Yemen would be considered legitimate targets for Yemeni retaliation.

He emphasized that Yemen’s counterattacks will no longer be limited to Mocha and Shabwa but will extend to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. He condemned the UAE’s actions as reckless and an act of betrayal.

Jafar Iqbal, 46, has been arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) for forging signatures and seals of high-ranking officials, including the Home Adviser, to commit fraud. He deceived individuals by promising jobs, promotions, and import permits while misusing official documents. Authorities have filed a case against him at Sadullapur Police Station in Gaibandha.

After a four-day official visit to China, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus returned to Bangladesh on Saturday night. He arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8 PM. Earlier, he departed from Beijing International Airport, where he was seen off by senior Chinese officials, including Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei.

Saudi Arabia has officially confirmed that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Sunday after sighting the Shawwal moon. With this confirmation, Saudi Muslims will observe 29 days of fasting this year. The announcement came after an official moon-sighting effort, with astronomers verifying the visibility based on lunar calculations.

In Natore, police recovered a large number of official ballot papers from the 12th parliamentary elections, buried near an old Deputy Commissioner's bungalow. Deputy Collector Md. Rashedul Islam confirmed the discovery of at least 100 bags of ballot papers. According to election regulations, unused ballots are stored for six months before disposal. Previously, authorities had also recovered six firearms from the nearby pond.

Unlike previous years, the Dhaka-Chattogram highway has seen minimal traffic congestion during the Eid rush. Some traffic buildup was reported in the Cumilla region, but overall, the highway remains smooth. Authorities, including the army, police, students, and volunteers, have been deployed to ensure smooth traffic flow. Illegal roadside stalls have been removed, and executive magistrates are monitoring the situation.

A 40-year-old man, Shah Alam Mia, has been jailed for attempting to rape an 8-year-old girl in Kasba. The victim, who lives with her grandmother, was left alone when the incident occurred. A child witness raised an alarm, prompting the suspect to flee. Police later arrested him, and he was sent to court.

A Pakistani court has sentenced five people to death for posting blasphemous content online. Legal Commission on Blasphemy lawyer Rao Abdur Rahim stated that the convicted individuals were found guilty of spreading defamatory content against the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Additionally, they received life imprisonment for desecrating the Quran and 10-year sentences for hurting religious sentiments. Among the convicted, one is an Afghan national, while four are Pakistanis.

In a counterinsurgency operation in Chhattisgarh, Indian security forces killed 16 Maoist rebels. Two security personnel were injured. Acting on intelligence, a joint operation by the DRG and CRPF was launched in Sukma district, leading to a gunfight. Authorities recovered AK-47s, SLRs, Insas rifles, rocket launchers, and explosives from the site.

In an interview with China's Xinhua News Agency, Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, emphasized the country's strong trade and economic ties with China. He highlighted Bangladesh's goal of national reconstruction and learning from China's development model. China has been Bangladesh's largest trade partner for 15 years, with nearly 1,000 Chinese companies operating in Bangladesh, creating over 550,000 jobs. Recently, Bangladeshi businesses have also begun entering the Chinese pharmaceutical market.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the State Department and USAID have informed Congress about their restructuring plans. By July 1, certain USAID functions will be reorganized within departments. The State Department also plans to shut down USAID operations that do not align with administrative priorities. Rubio criticized USAID for deviating from its core mission, leading to high costs with minimal benefits. Earlier this year, the US administration had already paused foreign aid for 90 days through an executive order.