Venezuela has been devastated by two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 that struck on Wednesday, leaving more than 51,000 people missing and at least 920 confirmed dead. The number of injured has reached 3,360, and authorities estimate that around 172 people may still be trapped alive under the rubble. Despite ongoing rescue operations, hopes of finding survivors are diminishing. Hospitals, morgues, and shelters in Caracas and nearby areas are overwhelmed as families search for loved ones.

The worst-hit region, La Guaira, has seen growing anger over the slow pace of rescue and relief work, with residents and volunteers using limited tools to clear debris. Reports of looting have emerged in Katia La Mar, while the UN estimates direct financial losses at about 6.7 billion US dollars. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has spoken with US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the crisis.

International aid is increasing, with the United States pledging 150 million dollars in emergency assistance and sending ships, helicopters, and aircraft. The USGS warned that the death toll could exceed 10,000, potentially making this one of Latin America’s deadliest earthquakes in a century.

A bill to amend the Cyber Security Act was introduced in the Bangladesh Parliament on Saturday. The bill was presented by Post, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam. It proposes to repeal the section of the law that defines gambling in cyberspace as a crime and prescribes penalties. After being introduced under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Kaysar Kamal, the bill was sent to the parliamentary committee on the Ministry of Law, which was asked to submit a report within three working days.

According to the statement of objectives, the Cyber Security Act 2026 was enacted to ensure a safe and secure cyberspace. Section 20 of the Act currently includes provisions on gambling and related offenses. However, since the Ministry of Home Affairs has already introduced the Gambling Prevention Act 2026 to address such crimes, the new amendment seeks to remove the gambling-related section from the Cyber Security Act.

The proposed amendment aims to avoid overlapping legal provisions and streamline the legislative framework for cyber and gambling offenses in Bangladesh.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) successfully concluded the final round of the Idea Contest 2026 in Savar on Saturday, aiming to promote renewable energy expansion and achieve 100 percent renewable energy production by 2050. Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology’s team “Roddur” won the championship, followed by the University of Dhaka’s “SwasthyaShakti” as first runner-up and Bangladesh Agricultural University’s “SolarCluster” as second runner-up.

The contest, organized under TIB’s project “Promoting Good Governance and Integrity in the Energy Sector in Bangladesh,” sought innovative proposals from youth to support the country’s renewable energy transition. Over 300 ideas were submitted by university teams nationwide, with 30 advancing to the first round and 10 to the final. TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman presented the awards, emphasizing youth leadership in achieving energy self-reliance.

The winning project “Roddur AI” uses artificial intelligence to assess solar installation feasibility across the country. The runner-up teams proposed hybrid renewable energy solutions for rural health centers and solar mini-grids for coastal shrimp farming clusters. Cash prizes and crests were awarded to the top three teams.

A mobile court in Fulbari upazila of Dinajpur fined three diagnostic centers a total of 30,000 taka for irregularities. The operation took place on Saturday afternoon, led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Ahmed Hasan. The fined institutions were Al-Shifa Advanced Medicare and Lab, Maa Diagnostic and Diabetic Corner, and New City Diagnostic Center.

According to the report, the mobile court was conducted following complaints received from various sources. During the inspection, inconsistencies were found in the documentation of the institutions, and defects were detected in their pathology testing equipment. As a result, fines were imposed on the three centers. The operation was carried out in the presence of Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Moshior Rahman and Upazila Family Planning Officer Hasanul Haque Banna.

The fines were collected immediately after the inspection, and the authorities indicated that such drives would continue to ensure compliance with health regulations in the area.

Education authorities in several countries are alarmed by the growing use of AI-powered smart glasses in exam cheating. Recent incidents in South Korea and Taiwan revealed students using such devices to access answers during high-stakes tests. The issue has drawn particular attention in East Asia, where exam results often determine academic and career opportunities.

Experts note that while cheating with smart glasses is not new, the latest AI-enabled wearable devices are smaller, more advanced, and harder to detect. Governments are tightening exam security, with China inspecting all glasses during its national university entrance exams and the UK’s exam regulator warning about rising risks from AI-enabled eyewear and earpieces. South Korea and Taiwan are reviewing new policies to curb misuse.

Researchers warn that these cases may represent only a fraction of a wider problem. As AI-integrated glasses become thinner and more autonomous, they pose threats not only to exam integrity but also to personal privacy. Academics argue that education systems must shift toward assessing critical thinking and problem-solving rather than rote memorization.

A strong earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale struck Afghanistan on Saturday evening, shaking parts of northern India and Pakistan as well. According to India’s National Center for Seismology, the quake occurred at 7:04 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located about 215 kilometers below the surface. No immediate reports of casualties or major damage were received from Afghanistan, though the tremors caused panic in several northern Indian regions, prompting residents to move outdoors for safety.

Experts noted that Afghanistan lies in a high-risk seismic zone, particularly in the Hindu Kush region, which is known for frequent earthquakes. The Red Cross has identified the country’s position at the junction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates as a key reason for recurring seismic activity. Additionally, major fault lines running through provinces such as Herat make the region prone to moderate to strong earthquakes.

Authorities are monitoring the situation, though no official damage assessments or emergency declarations had been reported at the time of publication.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis chief Allama Muhammad Mamunul Haque warned that if the referendum verdict is not implemented, BNP leader Tarique Rahman could face the same fate as former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He made the remarks on Saturday at a divisional rally in Mymensingh organized by the 11-party alliance demanding implementation of the referendum verdict and relief from public suffering. Mamunul accused some BNP leaders and interim government figures of betraying the people by undermining the July Charter and the national reform consensus.

He said about 70 percent of voters supported the July Revolution in the referendum held on the day of the 13th national election, and that peaceful implementation of this mandate must be ensured. Mamunul also warned that ignoring the people’s reform aspirations or manipulating votes through the “farmer card” and “family card” systems would lead BNP to the same downfall as Sheikh Hasina. He emphasized that their movement aims to protect people’s rights and democratic dignity, not personal power.

Other alliance leaders, including Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar and NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, echoed similar criticism of BNP and the interim government, alleging election engineering and policy failures.

Bangladesh is not making any immediate decision regarding the proposed China-Myanmar-Bangladesh economic corridor, Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman said on Saturday, June 27, 2026. Speaking at a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the Prime Minister’s recent visits to Malaysia and China, he stated that the matter remains under observation and evaluation.

The minister explained that the government has not taken a final position on the corridor project and is carefully reviewing its potential benefits and drawbacks. He added that China has given positive assurances on Bangladesh’s inclusion in BRICS, cooperation on the Teesta mega project, and support in addressing the Rohingya crisis. Feasibility studies for the Teesta project are expected to begin soon, and China will assist in Bangladesh’s efforts to join BRICS.

During the Prime Minister’s Malaysia visit, discussions focused on regularizing undocumented Bangladeshi workers, recruiting new labor, and Malaysia’s assurance to support Bangladesh’s bid for ASEAN membership.

RAB-10 conducted an operation at the Rajbari Road intersection in Faridpur, seizing 880 bottles of cough syrup valued at approximately Tk 2.6 million. The raid took place late Friday night under the leadership of Company Commander Major Farhan. During the operation, a private car used to transport the drugs was also confiscated.

The arrested individual was identified as Md. Rana Gazi, aged 32, from Sakhpur village under Debhata police station in Satkhira district. According to RAB, he is a professional drug dealer with existing narcotics cases against him. He allegedly collected drugs from border areas and distributed them in Faridpur and other parts of the country.

Authorities stated that legal action would follow as part of ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking in the region.

Police in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj have filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act against 130 individuals, including named leaders and activists of the Awami League’s affiliated organizations Chhatra League and Jubo League. The case, lodged by Sub-Inspector Mohammad Shah Alam on Saturday morning, names 40 people and lists 80 to 90 others as unidentified. Twelve individuals detained during preparations for a flash procession have been shown arrested and sent to court.

According to the case statement, around 2:45 p.m. on June 26, a group allegedly gathered secretly at the Mouchak U-turn area on the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway to organize a flash procession. The report claims they chanted anti-government slogans, created public panic, and conspired to destabilize the state. Police recovered five provocative posters from the scene, though most suspects fled upon sensing police presence.

Siddhirganj Police Inspector Mohammad Emdadul Haque stated that operations are ongoing to apprehend the remaining fugitives.

Israel’s upcoming general election, scheduled for October, is being described as the most critical test of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s long political career. The vote comes amid regional conflict, policy controversies, and corruption allegations that could determine his political future. Analysts suggest that this election could potentially bring an end to his decades-long dominance in Israeli politics.

Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, is facing mounting challenges as the country’s political landscape grows increasingly complex. Reports indicate that on February 28 he persuaded U.S. President Donald Trump to join military action against Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks by Tehran on Israel, several Gulf states, and ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Simultaneously, Israel remains engaged in conflict with Hezbollah along its northern border, while balancing U.S. pressure to halt operations in Lebanon with domestic demands for a tougher stance against Iran and its allies.

Public dissatisfaction has also intensified over Netanyahu’s refusal to establish an independent inquiry into government failures before and after the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack in southern Israel, further straining his leadership ahead of the election.

A violent attack in Mashalia village of Sreepur upazila, Magura, resulted in vandalism and looting at around 20 houses on Saturday morning. Police confirmed that one person has been detained in connection with the incident.

According to local sources, the attack stemmed from a long-standing dispute over local dominance between residents Abdur Rashid and Akbar Mondal. Following Akbar Mondal’s death in a previous attack on Monday, his opponents reportedly went into hiding. On Saturday, Akbar Mondal’s son Hasan Ali allegedly led a group that carried out the vandalism and looting.

Sreepur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Oli Mia stated that the situation is now under control, with additional police deployed in the area to maintain order.

Congress MP Sonia Gandhi has sharply criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for its stance and silence on the Gaza issue. In an opinion article published on June 27, 2026, she accused the government of abandoning India’s historic support for Palestine in favor of closer ties with Israel. Citing a UN commission report, she alleged that Israel committed genocide in Gaza following Hamas’s 2023 attack, causing massive civilian casualties, including over 20,000 children killed and 44,000 injured. Gandhi also condemned the international community’s inaction in stopping the conflict.

She argued that New Delhi’s silence on the suffering of Gaza’s civilians is morally indefensible and contrary to India’s national interests. According to her, moving away from India’s traditional pro-Palestine position could harm the country’s global image. She urged the government to take a clearer stand in support of Palestinian rights.

The BJP strongly rejected her comments, calling them misleading. Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said India has repeatedly clarified its position, provided humanitarian aid, and supported ceasefire resolutions at the UN, accusing Congress of mixing foreign policy with vote-bank politics.

Opposition lawmaker Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan from Sirajganj-4 has described Bangladesh’s proposed 2026–27 national budget as anti-poor and not people-friendly. Speaking in parliament on Saturday, he said the budget increases the cost of living through higher prices of essentials and added taxes on daily goods. He cited price hikes in LPG, diesel, kerosene, and petrol, arguing that the poor are disproportionately burdened. The session was chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal.

Khan criticized the government’s economic targets, saying the projected 6.5 percent GDP growth and 7.5 percent inflation goals are unrealistic given current inflation above 9 percent. He noted that only about 48 percent of the Annual Development Programme had been implemented in eleven months, warning that last-minute spending could fuel corruption. He also highlighted rising non-performing loans, now totaling about Tk 5.88 trillion, and warned of growing foreign debt repayment pressures.

The MP further alleged deterioration in law and order, citing killings and drug abuse, and called for reforms, anti-corruption measures, and fair treatment of officials. He demanded budget allocations for Qawmi madrasa students, religious leaders, and victims of political violence.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Amir Maulana Mamunul Haque said that the 2013 Shapla Chattar movement, the 2021 anti-Modi protests, and the demonstrations following Allama Sayeedi’s death sentence were all part of the people’s struggle for rights. He made these remarks on Saturday at 2 p.m. during a divisional rally held at the Railway Krishnachura Chattar in the city.

At the same event, Mia Golam Porwar questioned why the BNP refused to accept the referendum results. He stated that the main reason was the BNP’s rejection of the proposal by the 11-party alliance and the Consensus Commission to balance power between the president and the prime minister by limiting the latter’s authority. According to him, the BNP wanted to retain the prime minister’s sole power to appoint key constitutional positions such as the judiciary, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Public Service Commission.

Porwar added that the July Charter proposed separating the roles of party chief and prime minister, but the BNP opposed it, believing that such separation would prevent them from exercising the same level of control as previous authoritarian governments.