Iran launched a drone attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, days after signing a peace agreement with the United States. The strike forced the United Nations to suspend its rescue operation for thousands of stranded sailors and hundreds of ships in the Persian Gulf. A US official confirmed the attack to CNN, while Iran has not officially claimed responsibility. The incident occurred shortly after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned against using unauthorized routes through the waterway.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) said it paused its evacuation mission, which had been underway to relocate over 11,000 sailors since the war began. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Domingo stated that safety must come first and the mission will remain suspended until conditions are clarified. The attacked vessel was not part of the IMO’s rescue framework. The strike also pushed global oil prices up by 2 percent to $74 per barrel.

The attack has cast uncertainty over the recently signed 60-day tariff-free maritime agreement between Washington and Tehran, which aimed to reopen the strait and ease economic sanctions while deferring nuclear discussions to later technical talks.

An Air India pilot has been dismissed after a passenger aircraft from Delhi to Amritsar accidentally entered Pakistan’s airspace on June 22, according to India’s civil aviation regulator DGCA. The Airbus A321 was instructed by air traffic control to hold in the air due to a bird strike inspection at Amritsar airport. During this holding pattern, at 10:08 p.m., the aircraft briefly crossed into Pakistani airspace before returning safely to Delhi.

DGCA stated that the aircraft entered Pakistani airspace for a short time while attempting to land under radar vectoring and that coordination was made with Pakistan’s air traffic control. The incident was not immediately reported, leading to disciplinary action against the pilot and an Amritsar air traffic controller. Air India confirmed the airspace violation and said an internal investigation is underway.

Airport officials said the incident occurred when Amritsar’s approach surveillance service was offline. After returning from Pakistani airspace, the flight diverted to Delhi due to low fuel and later completed its journey successfully.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has surged by 105 percent after months of disruption caused by conflict and regional tensions. According to maritime intelligence firm Kepler, a record 70 vessels passed through the strait on June 24, including 53 commercial ships now considered lower risk. The increase follows U.S.-Iran agreements, the end of a U.S. naval blockade, and the use of a safer route cleared of mines with Omani assistance.

Oman recently announced a new shipping corridor in coordination with the International Maritime Organization, but Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) objected, saying the route was declared without consultation and posed security risks. Oman defended the corridor as compliant with international rules and confirmed that no transit fees would be charged.

Amid these developments, a cargo ship was struck by a projectile on June 25 while using a UN-approved route, though no casualties occurred. The U.S. and Iran continue talks to finalize a peace deal within 60 days, while oil prices have temporarily fallen below $73 per barrel as shipping activity recovers.

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela’s capital Caracas and surrounding regions on Wednesday evening, causing widespread destruction and killing at least 235 people, according to the Health Ministry. Hundreds remain trapped under debris, and more than 46,000 people are listed as missing. The quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, hit near San Felipe and Yumar within 39 seconds of each other, marking the strongest seismic event in the country since 1900.

Authorities reported over 1,520 injuries and the destruction of more than 250 buildings, including hospitals, the Red Cross headquarters, and the French Embassy. The coastal state of La Guaira, home to Caracas’s main airport, was declared a disaster zone by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez. Power outages and aftershocks have hampered rescue efforts, while residents complain of delayed government aid.

International assistance is mobilizing rapidly. The United States, Russia, and several European and Asian nations have pledged rescue teams and financial support. The UN is coordinating global relief efforts, emphasizing the scale of the humanitarian crisis in a country already struggling with economic collapse.

At least 11,000 people have been reported missing in Venezuela following a powerful earthquake, according to a report by Al Jazeera. The figure is not yet official, but the situation has left residents in deep uncertainty and fear. Many are said to be psychologically distressed as buildings collapsed and large cracks appeared on roads during the quake, which struck during a long holiday weekend when most people were at home.

Rescue operations are ongoing in the capital, Caracas. An opposition political coalition has launched an online link for citizens to report missing relatives, and so far around 11,000 names have been registered. However, this number only includes those with internet access who could submit information to the authorities.

Officials fear the actual number of missing people could be significantly higher, as many affected individuals may not have been able to report their cases due to connectivity or logistical challenges.

Four European countries—France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Switzerland—have announced the deployment of rescue teams, search dogs, and heavy equipment to Venezuela following a devastating earthquake. According to the report, French President Emmanuel Macron said an 85-member expert team would be sent immediately and expressed solidarity with Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez. Spain’s defense ministry confirmed that a 54-member military emergency unit, equipped with trained dogs and modern rescue tools such as cameras and geophones, is ready for deployment.

The Netherlands announced both the dispatch of a rescue team and an allocation of about two million euros for personnel, dogs, and equipment. Switzerland stated that under its “Swiss Rescue Chain” program, an 80-member team, eight search dogs, and 18 tons of rescue materials would be sent as soon as possible.

Television footage on Thursday showed rescuers using electric machinery to clear debris from collapsed buildings in Caracas, where frightened residents fled their homes after the quake.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed solidarity with Venezuela following devastating earthquakes that struck the country. According to a Kremlin statement cited by Al Jazeera, Putin conveyed deep sympathy and support to the people of Venezuela during what he described as a difficult time.

The twin earthquakes, which occurred on Thursday, caused severe destruction in several regions of Venezuela. Rescue operations have been intensified in the worst-affected areas as authorities continue to search for survivors. Official reports indicate that at least 164 people have been killed and nearly one thousand others injured, while many remain trapped under debris.

The Kremlin’s message underscores Russia’s expression of friendship and support for Venezuela as the country grapples with the aftermath of the disaster.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed deep sorrow and sympathy following the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela early Thursday local time, causing numerous deaths, injuries, and extensive damage. The party’s Secretary General, Mia Golam Porwar, conveyed condolences in a statement released to the media on Thursday.

In his message, Porwar prayed for the proper honor of the deceased and extended heartfelt sympathy to the families of the victims and the injured. He noted that the people of Venezuela are enduring a difficult time and urged both the Venezuelan government and the international community to provide necessary humanitarian assistance and strengthen rehabilitation efforts for those affected.

Porwar also expressed hope that the Venezuelan government and its citizens would soon overcome the severe disaster and recover from the crisis.

At least 164 people have been confirmed dead and 971 injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced the updated figures on the country’s state television on Thursday. The quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, were among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century and were felt across the region.

Footage broadcast on state television showed rescuers pulling three dust-covered children alive from the rubble in La Guaira state, which suffered the most severe damage. Rodríguez declared La Guaira a disaster zone, noting that numerous buildings had collapsed and that rescue and relief operations were being intensified in the area.

Authorities have focused emergency efforts on search, rescue, and relief operations in the worst-affected zones as the country assesses the full extent of the destruction.

Israeli forces shot and killed an unarmed Palestinian man inside his bedroom during a raid in the occupied West Bank. The incident occurred on Tuesday in the village of Sarta, west of Salfit, according to local media reports. The victim, identified as Mustafa Taha Mustafa al-Khatib, was hit multiple times in the chest, head, and arm. His uncle, Yasin al-Khatib, said the soldiers broke into the house after Mustafa delayed opening the door because he had been asleep.

According to Yasin al-Khatib, Israeli troops entered the bedroom and opened fire as Mustafa was trying to get dressed. Local residents were prevented from providing first aid, and he died from his injuries before medical workers could reach him. After the soldiers withdrew, his body was taken to a hospital.

The report noted that such late-night raids by Israeli forces are frequent in the occupied West Bank, often resulting in deaths and arrests. Palestinian prisoner rights groups say around 9,300 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, nearly half without charge or trial.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States will provide assistance to Venezuela following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country. In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump said the U.S. is ready to offer all necessary support and has directed federal agencies to take swift action. According to Anadolu, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also expressed condolences to the families of the victims and confirmed that search and rescue teams, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid are being sent immediately to Venezuela.

Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodríguez expressed gratitude to the United States for its support during this difficult time, thanking the Trump administration for its solidarity with the Venezuelan people. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the first quake, measuring 7.2 magnitude, was followed about 40 seconds later by a 7.5 magnitude quake, the strongest recorded in Venezuela in 125 years.

No official figures on casualties or damage have yet been released. The Venezuelan government has declared a state of emergency nationwide, and a tsunami warning has been issued across the Caribbean region.

Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez said that saving human lives is the government’s top priority following a powerful earthquake that struck the country. She confirmed that authorities are working to rescue people trapped under collapsed buildings and that international rescue teams from the United States, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and El Salvador are expected to arrive within hours.

Rodríguez described La Guaira state, north of Caracas, as the most affected area, calling it a disaster zone and a true tragedy after dozens of buildings collapsed. She noted that at least 32 people have been killed and more than 700 injured, though the death toll does not yet include figures from La Guaira. The government has prepared hotels and shelters for those who lost their homes and suspended all nonessential public and educational activities.

The Venezuelan government also announced the closure of Simón Bolívar International Airport due to severe terminal damage, halting all operations until further notice.

At least five people, including two children, were killed in overnight Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia and the Russian-controlled Crimean Peninsula, according to local officials on June 25, 2026. The strikes also caused a fire at a large oil storage facility in southern Russia. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces shot down 269 Ukrainian drones over Russia and Crimea during the night.

Crimean leader Sergei Aksyonov reported two deaths, including a child, and two injuries in Crimea. In Russia’s Bryansk region, a 23-year-old driver and a 15-year-old girl were killed, while another person died in Belgorod. Officials in Krasnodar Krai said debris from a downed drone ignited a blaze at the Poltavskaya oil depot. Ukraine’s military stated that its operations targeted Russian military and energy infrastructure to reduce Moscow’s wartime fuel revenue.

Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 90 drones and one Iskander missile overnight, of which 83 drones were intercepted. The Ukrainian railway authority reported one worker killed in a Russian strike on a train in Zaporizhzhia. The report noted that Ukraine has intensified drone attacks inside Russia in recent months as retaliation for frequent Russian strikes.

India has reopened tourist visa services for Bangladeshi citizens after almost two years of suspension. The announcement was made on June 25, 2026, by Dinesh Trivedi, India’s new High Commissioner in Dhaka, following his visit to the Indian Visa Application Centre in the city. Applications for tourist visas will be accepted starting June 28.

According to the report, India had halted the issuance of tourist visas to Bangladeshis since August 5, 2024, following the fall of the Awami League government. Earlier, on February 18 of this year, India’s Assistant High Commissioner in Sylhet, Aniruddha Das, stated that while medical and double-entry visas were active, tourist and other categories remained suspended but efforts were underway to resume them. The latest announcement confirms the restoration of the tourist visa category.

The reopening of tourist visa services is expected to normalize cross-border travel between Bangladesh and India, which had been limited to essential and medical purposes during the suspension period.

Brazilian journalist and geopolitical analyst Pepe Escobar has claimed that Pakistan’s military intelligence foiled an alleged Israeli plot to assassinate Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, during a peace conference in Switzerland. Escobar made the claim in a discussion on social media platform X with Lebanese-Australian commentator Mario Nawfal, asserting that Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad was behind the plan targeting Munir and possibly other members of the Pakistani delegation.

According to Escobar, Pakistani intelligence acted after receiving what he described as highly reliable information about the plot. He said Pakistan then sent a direct warning to Israel through diplomatic channels, reportedly using Oman as an intermediary. Escobar linked the alleged plan to rising tensions between Israel and Pakistan, suggesting that the situation was more complex than publicly portrayed.

No officials from Israel, Pakistan, Switzerland, or the United States have confirmed the alleged assassination threat, and no public security alerts were issued during the conference. The event was attended by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir as part of peace discussions involving the United States and Iran.