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.

The government of Bangladesh has decided to continue customs and related services at airports even on weekends to address the ongoing cargo congestion. Commerce Minister announced the plan during a meeting at the ministry on Thursday, emphasizing that limited operations on Fridays and Saturdays have prevented a reduction in the backlog. He said the measure would remain in place until a permanent solution is established.

The meeting discussed the European Union’s concerns over non-tariff barriers, including the airport cargo handling crisis. The Commerce Minister stressed that airports are transit points, not storage facilities, and called for the establishment of a modern cargo village outside the airport with safe storage and specialized management for different types of goods. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam warned that the congestion is harming both businesses and Bangladesh’s international image, urging visible progress within seven days.

Officials and business representatives agreed that modernizing cargo management and ensuring faster clearance could enhance Bangladesh’s export competitiveness in global markets, particularly in the European Union.

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.

French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Serre-Charlet paid a courtesy call on Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP on Thursday at the opposition leader’s office in the National Parliament building. The meeting was also attended by the French Embassy’s Political Attaché Emilie Palauan.

According to a press release from Jamaat’s central publicity department, the meeting was held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere. Discussions covered the post-election political situation in Bangladesh, the strengthening of democratic and constitutional institutions, human rights, and the enhancement of Bangladesh-France relations, including trade and economic cooperation. Both sides emphasized the importance of good governance and accountability, as well as the need for responsible efforts to curb corruption and uphold the rule of law to attract foreign investment.

The opposition leader praised the long-standing diplomatic relationship between Bangladesh and France and urged continued French cooperation in Bangladesh’s overall development, expressing hope for further strengthening of bilateral friendship in the future.

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.

Pakistan has expressed deep sorrow and solidarity following a powerful earthquake that struck Venezuela on Wednesday, killing at least 32 people and injuring more than a hundred. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conveyed condolences to the Venezuelan government and people, particularly to the families of the victims, through a post on social media platform X.

Sharif stated that Pakistan stands with those affected during this difficult time and offered prayers for the injured. President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed grief over the loss of lives and destruction caused by the earthquake. In a statement issued by the presidential media office, he wished a speedy recovery for the injured.

The earthquake caused significant damage across Venezuela, prompting international responses and expressions of support from various countries, including Pakistan.

At a meeting in Switzerland’s Alpine resort of Bürgenstock, US Vice President JD Vance, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani stood together, with Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir nearby. Vance praised Munir’s leadership, crediting him for progress in recent peace efforts. Pakistan has acted as a key mediator between the US and Iran, facilitating informal contacts and hosting talks in Islamabad. The ongoing 60-day dialogue and a peace framework agreed on June 18 are seen as outcomes of these efforts.

Economically, Pakistan’s fragile recovery remains uncertain despite 3.7% GDP growth and rising remittances. Analysts warn that mediation may bring limited economic benefits, such as reduced energy import costs and potential revival of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline if sanctions ease. Pakistan remains under a $7 billion IMF program, its 25th since the 1950s. Experts note that diplomatic goodwill alone cannot fix structural weaknesses like low tax revenue and weak exports.

Observers say Pakistan’s military has emerged as the main institutional beneficiary of this diplomacy. Analysts caution that real progress will depend on whether economic gains reach marginalized regions like Balochistan, long affected by insurgency and poverty.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon announced that all teachers across Bangladesh will be brought under training programs to improve education quality. He made the statement on Thursday morning at a views-exchange meeting held at the Barishal District Shilpakala Academy with officials from the Barishal region’s education boards ahead of the upcoming HSC and equivalent examinations. The minister said the government is identifying and addressing factors that hinder education quality and is working to ensure a fair and transparent examination process.

He stated that teachers will conduct classes in technology-based classrooms and that the government is committed to building a better education system. The minister also mentioned that the Public Examination Act was amended in 2001 to ensure accountability, with measures such as police body cameras and legal provisions against irregularities in answer scripts and mark distribution. He emphasized timely publication of results within two months of exams and completion of two-year courses within the scheduled period.

The meeting discussed maintaining discipline, managing exam centers, and ensuring a conducive environment for examinees, with officials instructed to act responsibly.

Police in Sunamganj arrested Abdur Rahim, 52, vice president of the district Jubo Dal, in connection with an extortion case. The arrest took place early Thursday morning during a raid at his home in Kaitak village under Jauabazar Union. Following his arrest around 3:30 a.m., he was sent to court later in the morning, according to police sources.

Investigating officer Ranjan Kumar Ghosh of Chhatak Police Station stated that Abdur Rahim was a warrant-listed accused in extortion case number CR-174/25. The police team conducted the operation based on this warrant. Abdur Rahim is the son of the late Haris Ali of the same village.

District Jubo Dal’s acting president Aminur Rashid told the newspaper that he was unaware of Abdur Rahim’s arrest or the details of the case.

Government party lawmaker Dr. Mahabubur Rahman from Mymensingh-7 said in parliament that the Awami League has harmed three generations—school, college, and university students—and that the party’s return to popularity within the next 50 years is highly unlikely. He made the remarks on Thursday during a budget discussion session.

Rahman praised the proposed national budget, calling it exceptional and noting that allocations for education and health have nearly doubled compared to the previous fiscal year. He highlighted reductions in VAT and taxes, lower prices for medical supplies such as heart stents and dialysis, and the introduction of AI in medical education as transformative steps. He also mentioned new initiatives including a nationwide ambulance network and a health card system that would store patient information digitally.

The MP criticized the imposition of taxes on nonprofit private universities, urging the government to exempt trustee board–run institutions. He also commended the prime minister’s leadership and recent international visits as evidence of Bangladesh’s growing stature.

Cumilla-4 Member of Parliament Hasnat Abdullah has called for justice against media outlets that, according to him, created narratives supporting fascism. Speaking during the general discussion on the national budget session of the 13th Parliament on June 25, 2026, he questioned the status of the Anti-Corruption Commission’s case against Bashundhara Group filed during the interim government period. Abdullah noted that certain individuals linked to the group had not entered the country during that time but have since returned after the current government took office.

He demanded transparency regarding whether any under-the-table settlement had occurred and urged that any legal obstacles to action against the group be made public. Abdullah accused Bashundhara Group of money laundering, asset grabbing, and legitimizing enforced disappearances and killings through its media outlets. He also urged the BNP to take a firm stance against those who justified such acts, while welcoming the prime minister’s non-retaliatory approach but emphasizing that avoiding revenge is not the same as ensuring justice.

A woman and her two daughters were hacked to death on Thursday morning in a rented house on Godown Road in Ward 3 of Raipur municipality, Lakshmipur. The victims were identified as Shahinur Begum, 38, her eldest daughter and Dhaka University student Sayma Akter, 21, and her youngest daughter Shifa Akter, 9. Another daughter, Ikra Akter, a twelfth-grade student at Kazi Faruqi College, was seriously injured and sent to Dhaka for treatment.

Police and local sources said Shahinur had been living in the rented house with her children for several years following the death of her husband, Kamal, who was electrocuted. An unidentified young man suspected of involvement in the attack was beaten by locals and later taken to the district hospital for advanced treatment.

According to Raipur health officials, five people were brought to the hospital, three of whom were declared dead. Police confirmed that the bodies were kept at the hospital and that investigations were underway.

Gazipur-4 opposition lawmaker Salah Uddin told parliament that mega corruption has begun through the country's mega projects. Speaking during Thursday’s budget discussion, he accused officials of large-scale embezzlement, including Tk 17 crore weekly from the school feeding program and irregularities in canal excavation projects. He also claimed that honest officials were being removed to promote corruption.

Salah Uddin criticized the proposed budget, calling it a debt-dependent and anti-poor plan. He said prices of essential goods, electricity, fuel, and LPG had already risen before the budget presentation. He described the budget as one that burdens small traders through advance taxes and reduces allocations for agriculture, rural development, and anti-corruption efforts. He compared the tax system to colonial exploitation and argued that corruption within the National Board of Revenue was worsening the fiscal situation.

The MP demanded special allocations for his constituency, including a modern cold storage facility, anti-drug and youth gang operations, and expansion of a highway from Rajendrapur to Tok via Kapasia.

A Dhaka court has postponed the charge-framing hearing against former ruler Sheikh Hasina and 33 others in the murder case of truck driver Hossain, setting a new date for July 26. The hearing was delayed as several accused were absent from court. The decision was made by Judge Robiul Alam of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court No. 4, following a request from the prosecution for more time.

The case stems from the killing of truck driver Md. Hossain during the anti-discrimination student movement in Mohammadpur’s Chand Udyan area on July 19, 2024. Hossain was shot dead while returning home from work. His mother, Rina Begum, filed the murder case on August 31, 2024. Police submitted a charge sheet on November 23, 2025, naming Sheikh Hasina and 33 others, including several former ministers and leaders of the banned student organization Chhatra League.

Among the accused, Junaid Ahmed Palak, Sadeq Khan, Furkan Hossain, and Shahjahan Khan have been shown arrested and are currently in jail.