Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel must stop depending on US military assistance and develop its own weapons systems. According to a video shared by the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu made the remarks last week while addressing soldiers, expressing appreciation for US support but emphasizing the need for independence in defense capabilities.

His comments come at a time when the United States is increasing pressure on Israel to reduce its attacks in southern Lebanon, a region largely occupied by Israeli forces. Despite this pressure, Netanyahu reaffirmed that Israeli troops would continue to hold their positions in southern Lebanon and destroy the infrastructure of the armed group Hezbollah.

The remarks highlight ongoing tensions between Israel’s security policies and US diplomatic efforts in the region, suggesting potential friction over military strategy and regional stability.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has formed a three-member committee to investigate an unexpected attack on a journalist during an anti-fascism protest organized by the party’s Dhanmondi zone under its Dhaka South unit. The announcement came through a statement issued on Tuesday by Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud, a central executive council member and secretary of Dhaka South Jamaat. He expressed regret over the incident and reaffirmed the party’s respect for independent journalism and commitment to journalists’ safety.

According to the statement, the committee is headed by Professor Nurunnabi Manik, director of the Dhanmondi zone and member of the metropolitan working council. The committee has been instructed to submit its investigation report by the next day. Dr. Masud said that if any Jamaat member is found involved, organizational action will be taken based on specific allegations. Video footage is being reviewed to identify the attackers.

Meanwhile, Dhaka South Jamaat’s assistant publicity secretary, Abdus Sattar Suman, was sent to check on the injured journalist, Mahfuzur Rahman Shishir, and conveyed the organization’s regret while urging journalists to remain patient.

The Washington Post reported on June 23, 2026, that former U.S. intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard may have received political guidance from individuals linked to the Hindu religious organization Science of Identity Foundation, which she has known since childhood. The report was based on more than 25,000 pages of documents provided by former member Rebecca Saltzberg. Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman who later joined the Republican Party, served as national intelligence director under President Donald Trump and resigned on May 22 citing her husband’s health issues.

According to the report, Gabbard had long-standing ties with the foundation and previously referred to its leader, Chris Butler, as her “guru.” The Washington Post said Butler influenced followers’ major life decisions and sought political influence, though the organization denied being a cult. Documents linked to Butler’s office reportedly contained memos advising Gabbard on congressional work, policy positions, and media appearances.

Some memos included advice on opposing U.S. efforts to remove Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2016. The report claimed similarities between those recommendations and Gabbard’s later political actions. Gabbard has denied that Butler directed her politically, and her representatives accused the newspaper of targeting her Hindu identity.

Leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) organized a protest and motorcycle rally in Tongi, Gazipur, on Tuesday afternoon against what they described as the anarchy, subversive activities, and conspiracies of the banned Awami League. The demonstration was led by BNP leader Sarkar Shahnoor Islam Roni, with separate processions also organized by local units of the party’s volunteer and youth wings.

The rallies started from various points including Tongi Station Road, Asia Petrol Pump, College Gate, and Tongi Bazar, and moved through key areas such as Tongi Bazar, Anarkali Road, Mill Gate, Cherag Ali, College Gate, Hossain Market, Ershadnagar, and Gazipura. Each procession ended with brief gatherings at different locations. Speakers at the rallies accused the Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League of spreading propaganda and destabilizing the country.

According to the organizers, BNP, Jubo Dal, and Swechchhasebak Dal members in Tongi have taken to the streets to resist these alleged acts of violence and disorder.

University student Md. Sakib Ahmed Tulon testified before International Crimes Tribunal-1 as the first witness in a case against Awami League leader Kamrul Islam and Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon over alleged crimes against humanity during the July uprising. In his statement on Tuesday, Sakib described how police and Border Guard Bangladesh opened fire on protesters near Brac University and Rampura Bridge on July 18 and 19, resulting in multiple casualties.

Sakib recounted that his friend Maruf was shot in the abdomen during the protest and later died while being taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital after delays caused by police and BGB at Rampura Bridge. He said hospital authorities confirmed Maruf’s death and initially refused to release the body, citing higher orders. Sakib also described further gunfire in the Brac University area on July 20.

The testimony forms part of the tribunal’s proceedings against the two political leaders, whose parties were banned in connection with the July uprising, as the court examines allegations of crimes against humanity during that period.

Former Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Mohammad Tazul Islam, described June 23 as a day of sorrow, recalling the loss of Bengal’s independence in 1757 at the Battle of Plassey. In a Facebook post, he said that although the country is now independent, the successors of Mir Jafar, symbolizing betrayal, remain active.

The source recounts that on June 23, 1757, Bengal lost its independence for 200 years due to the conspiracy of local traders, traitors, and the British. Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah was defeated in a brief battle because of Mir Jafar’s betrayal, making his name synonymous with treachery in history. The text notes that history did not forgive those who betrayed the nation, as they faced tragic ends.

Tazul Islam emphasized that Bangladesh continues to face challenges from those who act against national interests, warning that the influence of modern-day traitors threatens the country’s independence and identity. He urged citizens to remain vigilant against such conspiracies.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahid Uddin Swapon is set to leave Dhaka for Beijing tonight to join Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s ongoing state visit to China. According to a press release from the ministry on Tuesday, the minister will depart at 10:30 p.m. on an Air China flight for a three-day official trip.

During the visit, Swapon will attend several high-level bilateral meetings between the Bangladeshi Prime Minister and China’s President and Premier. A key focus of the trip will be the signing of multiple bilateral agreements aimed at advancing cooperation in the media and information technology sectors, witnessed by the leaders of both nations.

The minister is also scheduled to sign several memorandums of understanding with China Media Group (CMG) and Xinhua News Agency to strengthen media collaboration. The delegation, led by Swapon, is expected to return to Dhaka on June 26.

On June 23, 2026, the United Kingdom marked ten years since the Brexit referendum that took it out of the European Union. The political fallout continues as Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation after two years in office, citing a sluggish economy, government inefficiency, and voter fatigue—issues linked to Brexit’s lingering effects. The country is now preparing for its seventh prime minister since the 2016 vote.

The 2016 referendum, called by then-Conservative leader David Cameron, split the nation 52–48 in favor of leaving the EU. Successive leaders, including Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak, struggled to manage the consequences of the separation. Analysts say Brexit’s promises of control over laws, borders, and spending quickly collided with economic and political realities, leaving Britain divided and disillusioned.

Public regret over Brexit is growing, with recent polls showing a majority now favor rejoining the EU. Yet politicians remain wary of reopening the debate, as the country faces economic stagnation, rising political cynicism, and sporadic anti-immigrant unrest rooted in the unresolved legacy of Brexit.

Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman has stated that the recent transfer of Sylhet Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md. Sarwar Alam had no connection with any shrine-related issue. He made the clarification on Tuesday during a regular press briefing at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room in the Secretariat, responding to a journalist’s question.

Dr. Rahman explained that some people online were trying to link the transfer with an incident involving a shrine, but such perceptions were unfounded. He emphasized that the government does not always provide explanations for every administrative decision, as certain matters fall under state confidentiality. He also noted that the Ministry of Public Administration had already issued a statement on the matter.

The adviser added that speculation often arises around government actions due to various interest groups on social media. He reiterated that the government’s official position remains unchanged and that there was no shrine-related issue. He further mentioned that the government supports ensuring transparency in the management of donations at shrines.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for complete adherence to the commitments made in the ongoing discussions with Washington. In a statement posted on social media platform X, he emphasized that the effectiveness of the talks depends on full commitment to the agreed obligations and their precise implementation.

Pezeshkian stated that progress in this process will be measured by realistic adherence to the accepted responsibilities. He warned that statements made outside the agreed text of the deal do not help advance the negotiations. However, he did not provide further details about which specific remarks he was referring to.

The report noted that it remains unclear which comments Pezeshkian meant, though recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump have been disputed by Iranian officials. Those remarks reportedly included claims that Iran had agreed to allow nuclear inspections and would use released funds to purchase U.S. agricultural products.

Leaders of the US House Energy and Commerce Committee have reached a bipartisan agreement to require social media platforms to provide protective tools and safeguards for parents and children. The deal, announced on Monday by Committee Chair Brett Guthrie and top Democrat Frank Pallone, follows years of debate over how to protect minors online. While specific details were not disclosed, the lawmakers said the initiative would increase accountability for major technology companies.

The agreement excludes a proposed “duty of care” clause that would have required platforms to be designed with child safety in mind, a provision long supported by several lawmakers including Senator Marsha Blackburn. Its omission could complicate the bill’s passage. However, states will still be allowed to enact stricter social media laws, a concession seen as a win for Democrats. The bill must still pass the Senate and receive President Donald Trump’s approval before becoming law.

Major tech firms such as Meta, Google, Snap, and TikTok declined to comment on the deal. The move comes amid growing scrutiny of social media’s impact on youth and ongoing lawsuits accusing major platforms of harming children’s mental health.

Venezuelan interim leader Delcy Rodríguez said on Monday that the arrest of former president Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces has put the country on the right path. Rodríguez assumed leadership after Maduro was ousted in a U.S.-led operation in Caracas in January 2026. Since then, she has opened Venezuela to private investment and foreign interests, a process closely monitored by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Speaking at an event in Caracas, Rodríguez celebrated the restoration of diplomatic relations between Caracas and Washington, describing January 3, 2026, as a turning point in national and international politics. She noted that Venezuela could not have imagined a post-Maduro era a year earlier and said that six months into her leadership, she believes the country is moving in the right direction.

Relations between Venezuela and the United States have resumed after years of isolation, with Washington easing sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry. Maduro remains imprisoned in New York on drug trafficking charges, while his son Nicolás Maduro Guerra attended Monday’s event.

US President Donald Trump has accused NATO member states of failing to provide adequate support during the United States’ military operation in Iran. Speaking at a press conference in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said that despite Washington’s heavy spending, NATO allies were reluctant to assist when the US needed cooperation on smaller matters. He warned that the US might also withhold assistance from NATO countries in the future if such attitudes continued.

According to Trump, NATO partners often show unwillingness to help, which he described as unfair given the US’s financial contributions to the alliance. He suggested that the US could respond in kind, implying a potential shift in Washington’s approach to alliance commitments.

Despite the ongoing strain in relations with NATO, Trump is scheduled to attend the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, next month, signaling continued engagement amid tensions.

Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf announced that the Strait of Hormuz will remain under the administrative supervision of the Islamic Republic of Iran in accordance with international law. His remarks came after the first round of talks between Iran and the United States held in Switzerland, according to Iranian state media.

Following the discussions, both countries agreed to establish a direct communication system to keep the vital maritime route open and to work toward ending the conflict in Lebanon. Ghalibaf described the talks at Switzerland’s Burgenstock resort as productive, citing progress on issues including the Hormuz Strait, the Lebanon conflict, easing of sanctions on Iranian oil, and the release of frozen Iranian assets. The United States temporarily suspended some oil sanctions after the talks, while Tehran agreed to allow UN nuclear inspectors back into the country.

Ghalibaf emphasized that this was only the beginning of further efforts. After the Swiss meetings, he also visited Oman, another coastal state bordering the Strait of Hormuz.

Bangladesh’s opposition party Jamaat-e-Islami has finalized its mayoral candidates for eight city corporations ahead of the upcoming local government elections. The decision was made at the party’s central executive council meeting held on Monday at its headquarters in Moghbazar, Dhaka, presided over by party chief and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. Party sources said the selected candidates have been instructed to begin groundwork, and the full list will be officially announced after the election schedule is released.

The finalized candidates include Selim Uddin for Dhaka North, Sadiq Kayem for Dhaka South, Muhammad Shamsuzzaman Helali for Chattogram, Muazzam Hossain Helal for Barishal, Mahfuzur Rahman for Khulna, ATM Azam Khan for Rangpur, Abdul Jabbar for Narayanganj, and Hafizur Rahman for Gazipur. The meeting also reviewed the party’s 2025 organizational report and discussed political, parliamentary, and local election issues.

According to a party statement, the council discussed national political and law-and-order issues, the proposed 2026–2027 budget, border concerns, and the 11-party alliance’s programs, adopting several policy decisions.