Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Shakhawat Hossain announced that mobile courts will be conducted every two to three days to strengthen dengue prevention efforts. Institutions where dengue mosquito larvae are found will face fines. He made the announcement on Saturday morning at the inauguration of a three-month special anti-dengue campaign at Rabindra Sarobar in Dhanmondi.

The minister warned that this year’s dengue infections could be more severe, with risks of hemorrhagic dengue leading to bleeding soon after infection. He urged early awareness and preventive action to reduce the threat. Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam also emphasized public awareness as a key factor in prevention.

According to Abdus Salam, 63 wards of Dhaka South City Corporation are at risk of dengue, with 28 wards identified as highly vulnerable. He stated that dengue prevention requires joint responsibility, with citizens and the city corporation each contributing 50 percent of the effort.

Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard has called on Israel to end what she described as 'cruelty' and to release Dr. Husam Abu Safiya, director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital. Her appeal followed reports that Abu Safiya had been placed in solitary confinement at Israel’s Nafha Prison.

In a post on social media platform X, Callamard questioned the reasons behind such treatment, asking why those with the power to hold Israeli authorities accountable for their actions continue to fail. She emphasized that Dr. Abu Safiya should be with his loved ones and serving the many people who depend on his care, not confined in isolation.

Callamard leads Amnesty International’s global human rights advocacy, campaigns, and strategic direction. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera and shared by the Bangladeshi outlet Amar Desh.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) announced that it successfully prevented eight separate push-in attempts by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) along different border points within the past 24 hours. According to a BGB press release issued on Saturday, the incidents occurred in areas under the responsibility of several battalions, including Maheshpur, Naogaon, Teesta, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, and Netrakona. In each case, groups of people were reportedly brought near the border from the Indian side but were stopped by BGB patrols before they could enter Bangladesh.

The BGB stated that its personnel acted with maximum alertness and professionalism to ensure border security. In Nilphamari, a flag meeting was held between BGB and BSF company commanders after ten people were positioned outside the barbed wire fence. BSF claimed those individuals were Bangladeshi nationals but failed to provide proof. BGB reaffirmed that any push-in attempts violating international border management norms or bilateral agreements are unacceptable.

The force emphasized its firm commitment to protecting Bangladesh’s sovereignty and maintaining strict vigilance along the border to prevent illegal entry.

FIFA has reversed its earlier decision to ban spectators from bringing water bottles into stadiums during the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The organization announced on Friday via social media that fans will now be allowed to carry factory-sealed, single-use soft plastic bottles of up to 20 ounces (approximately 590 milliliters). The initial restriction, applied to all 16 venues, had been justified on security grounds, citing risks of bottles being thrown onto the field. However, reusable hard bottles will still not be permitted.

The ban had sparked strong backlash from fans, politicians, and organizations, particularly given forecasts of extreme heat across most venues, where temperatures are expected to exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Critics argued that preventing spectators from bringing their own water was unreasonable. England’s supporter group Free Lions accused FIFA of using the policy as a revenue tactic benefiting sponsor Coca-Cola, which will sell beverages inside stadiums. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the original decision “wrong,” while New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani emphasized the need to ensure adequate water access for fans.

The 23rd edition of the World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19 across the three host nations.

A push-in attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) at three border points in Lalmonirhat district failed early Friday when the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) blocked the entry of 33 men and women. The individuals were detected near the Barokhata, Poyshottibari, and Digholtari-Durgapur border areas. BGB deployed additional personnel and took strategic positions to prevent their entry into Bangladesh. Later, BSF members returned all 33 people to Indian territory between Friday night and Saturday morning.

According to BGB sources, the individuals were taken back inside India through fenced areas by BSF personnel from the 157th and 98th battalions. The Rangpur Sector Headquarters stated that such push-in attempts without following legal repatriation procedures violate international border management norms and bilateral agreements. BGB has maintained heightened patrols and intelligence surveillance to prevent illegal crossings.

Officials said the situation at all three border points is now normal, though BGB remains on high alert to counter any future attempts. The incident underscores ongoing humanitarian and diplomatic tensions surrounding cross-border expulsions.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and residents of Benapole’s Sadipur area in Jashore jointly prevented an alleged attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to push Indian nationals into Bangladesh on the night of May 31, 2026. According to BGB officials, BSF had gathered around 100 to 120 people near the border and tried to send 8–10 individuals, including women and children, across the fence. BGB blocked the move, forcing those individuals to remain in the no-man’s land.

Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Saiful Islam, commanding officer of BGB’s Jashore 49 Battalion, said the action violated international law and that BGB’s response was lawful and supported by local residents. He emphasized that any repatriation of verified Bangladeshi citizens should occur through official international checkposts, not through illegal nighttime operations. Local villagers, including Rakib Ahmed and Shakil Hossain, confirmed their active participation in guarding the border alongside BGB.

Following the failed attempt, a flag meeting was held between the two border forces, where BSF reportedly denied the allegations. BGB continues public announcements urging residents to remain alert against further push-in attempts.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has uncovered evidence of widespread irregularities within the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) over the past 15 years. The findings include illegal recruitment, unauthorized promotions, budget mismanagement, and corruption in multiple projects. Following a raid on April 23, 2025, the ACC seized documents and confirmed violations of government rules in recruitment and project-to-revenue transfers. Around a dozen officials have been implicated, and a detailed report has been submitted for further legal action.

According to ACC sources, a powerful syndicate within BTRC manipulated recruitment and promotion processes, misused public funds, and even used fake documents for promotions. The investigation also found irregularities in the TMS project worth 118 crore taka, where specifications were allegedly tailored to benefit specific vendors. Additional allegations include misuse of authority, data leaks, irregular foreign trips, and biased policymaking under the 2025 Telecom Policy.

The ACC stated that the investigation is nearing completion and that legal proceedings will be initiated against the involved officials under relevant anti-corruption laws.

At least 21 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA). The report said the dead included a municipal councilor from Sidon, two Syrian children riding a motorcycle with their father in Nabatieh, and a paramedic in Zebdine. The NNA added that an ambulance was targeted in Zebdine while attempting to deliver bread to a family described as being under blockade.

Lebanon’s Ministry of Health condemned the attack in a statement, saying that targeting paramedics during rescue operations constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law. The ministry’s remarks followed reports that the ambulance strike occurred during a humanitarian mission.

The incident underscores the growing civilian toll in southern Lebanon amid ongoing cross-border hostilities, with Lebanese authorities calling attention to the protection of medical and rescue personnel in conflict zones.

Prime Minister Tarek Rahman’s adviser on information and broadcasting affairs, Zahed Ur Rahman, stated that the recent electricity price increase will not significantly affect market prices. He made the comment during a press briefing at the Secretariat’s Press Information Department on Saturday, responding to questions about the timing of the price adjustment ahead of the national budget.

Rahman explained that while subsidies have become costly, the government must balance spending on development, health, education, and social safety programs. He emphasized that vulnerable groups are being protected, as electricity and fuel prices were not raised for them, and many will receive allowances or family cards under the upcoming budget. Existing safety net programs, including those run by the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), will continue.

He added that the Commerce Ministry will remain vigilant against any unjustified price increases in the market and that the government will act if irregularities occur.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has directed his country’s navy to enhance its nuclear deterrence capabilities. According to a report published by state media on Saturday, Kim issued the order while overseeing a naval operation test aboard the warship Kang Kon. The directive comes just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned visit to North Korea from June 8 to 9, jointly announced by Beijing and Pyongyang.

Kim emphasized that the navy must quickly become a reliable component of the nation’s nuclear deterrence system, capable of delivering “deadly strikes” both above and below water. Strengthening naval power is one of the main goals of the ruling party’s current five-year defense development plan. State media photos showed Kim accompanied by senior military and government officials, as well as his daughter Ju Ae.

The report also recalled that Kim had previously supervised the failed launch of the Kang Kon destroyer in May last year, which was later repaired and relaunched. Analysts cited in the report noted that Kim’s ties with Russia have deepened amid the Ukraine war, bolstering his international standing.

The Border Security Force (BSF) of India attempted to push ten Indian nationals into Bangladesh through the Auliarhat border in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat on Friday night. The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) intervened and prevented the entry, forcing the BSF to retreat. The incident occurred near the 846/1-2 S border pillar under the jurisdiction of the 65 Bari Border Outpost.

According to BGB and local sources, members of the BSF’s Mahanadi camp under the 98 Battalion tried to push in ten people, including women and children, under the cover of darkness. BGB personnel and local residents resisted the attempt and kept the group on the Indian side of the zero line. Following strong protests, the BSF took the ten individuals back into Indian territory early Saturday morning.

BGB officials stated that their firm stance and local resistance compelled the BSF to withdraw and return the pushed-in individuals, marking a resolution to the overnight border tension.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has rejected allegations that Tehran is using Lebanon as a bargaining tool in its negotiations with the United States to end the ongoing war. The accusation was made by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who claimed that Iran was leveraging Lebanon in its diplomatic dealings.

Responding on social media platform X, Araghchi dismissed Aoun’s remarks, saying they implied Iran had occupied part of Lebanon, displaced its people, and bombed the country daily. He urged the Lebanese president to focus on protecting Lebanon from its real enemies instead of blaming Iran.

The exchange highlights tensions between Tehran and Beirut over regional conflicts and diplomatic alignments, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Police reported multiple clashes early Saturday between members of ISKCON and local Hindus in the Nandankanan area of Chattogram city. The confrontation began around 4 a.m. following allegations that ISKCON attempted to seize land and a temple belonging to the local Hindu community. At least four people were injured, and one person was detained. A temple room and electrical equipment were damaged during the incident. Police deployed additional forces to restore order, and the situation is now under control.

According to local sources, the dispute centers on khas land adjacent to the Loknath Temple, which both ISKCON and local Hindus claim. Locals accuse ISKCON of gradually trying to take control of the temple and surrounding land, while ISKCON has faced similar allegations in the past regarding illegal land occupation and unauthorized fundraising. Police have urged both sides to remain calm and stated that legal steps will be taken after hearing all parties.

Authorities said patrols continue in the area to maintain peace, and the administration will work toward a permanent resolution of the dispute.

Thousands of people took to the streets in Tirana, Albania’s capital, this week to protest a luxury resort project financed by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump. The $1.6 billion complex is being built in one of the Mediterranean region’s most environmentally sensitive areas, where groundwork has already begun.

The site is home to nearly 200 bird species, including flamingos and Dalmatian pelicans. Public anger intensified after construction workers began laying concrete foundations and installing barbed-wire fencing around the project area. Protesters have voiced concerns over potential environmental damage and a perceived lack of political transparency surrounding the deal.

The controversy has drawn attention to the environmental and governance challenges facing large-scale foreign investment projects in Albania, though the government’s response to the protests was not detailed in the report.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s proposal for a face-to-face meeting, saying such talks currently have no meaning. Putin made the remarks on Friday at Russia’s main economic forum in St. Petersburg. Zelensky had earlier published an open letter on Thursday urging direct talks, warning that expecting renewed U.S. involvement in the war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 would be a mistake.

Putin described Zelensky’s letter as ‘inappropriate’ and questioned whether it was intended to create conditions for dialogue or to avoid it, concluding that it appeared to be the latter. When asked if he would meet the Ukrainian leader, Putin said he saw no justification for such a meeting at this time.

In response, Zelensky said Russia was once again choosing war and that Putin did not want to end the conflict. He added that many people around the world would be disappointed by Putin’s stance.