Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing offensive in southern Lebanon, describing it as a devastating act of aggression. In a televised address delivered ahead of a new round of negotiations mediated by the United States, he called for an immediate ceasefire and warned that Israel’s so-called “scorched-earth policy” would not ensure its security.

The statement followed Israel’s warning for civilians to evacuate the area, after which Tel Aviv launched renewed attacks across southern Lebanon. Salam emphasized that his government had consciously chosen the path of dialogue as the most responsible and appropriate option to protect Lebanon and its people.

The “scorched-earth policy” refers to a destructive military tactic aimed at denying the enemy access to resources, food, or infrastructure during retreat or defense. The remarks highlight Lebanon’s preference for diplomatic engagement amid escalating regional tensions.

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Primary and Mass Education, Bobby Hajjaj, remains at the center of public controversy despite retracting a contentious comment about Dhaka University. The dispute began after he referred to the university as a “coaching center” during a podcast, sparking anger among students and faculty. On Friday, protesters at the university’s TSC area declared him unwelcome on campus, while the teachers’ group ‘Sada Dal’ issued a statement condemning his remarks as irresponsible and disrespectful.

Hajjaj later apologized on his verified Facebook page, claiming his words were taken out of context and not reflective of government policy. He said his intention was to encourage Dhaka University to strengthen its global research standing, not to undermine its legacy. Despite his retraction, social media platforms such as Facebook, X, and TikTok have remained flooded with criticism, memes, and calls for his resignation.

Analysts noted that the episode highlights how political figures’ statements can rapidly escalate online, and that public outrage often persists even after apologies or clarifications.

Bangladesh’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has warned that no terrorist or criminal group will be allowed to maintain a safe haven in Chattogram’s Jungle Salimpur area. He issued the warning on May 31, 2026, during a press briefing after inspecting the site in Sitakunda upazila. Senior government and law enforcement officials, including the state minister for land and the Chattogram city mayor, were present during the visit.

The minister said that past political criminalization had fostered a “state within a state,” with Jungle Salimpur serving as a visible example. Following reports of armed attacks and extortion, the government launched a joint law enforcement operation on March 9 to dismantle the parallel control system established by criminals. He noted that some objectives were not fully achieved due to information leaks but confirmed that ringleaders and land grabbers behind the violence were being identified.

Ahmed assured residents that no immediate evictions would occur and that a sustainable resettlement plan would be developed. He also announced plans for a modern road network and new security infrastructure linking Salimpur with nearby areas to permanently eliminate criminal activity.

The United States has warned that it is prepared to resume military action against Iran if a peace agreement is not reached under President Donald Trump’s strict conditions. Trump stated that any deal must ensure Iran will never develop nuclear weapons, calling it one of his key red lines. According to AFP, White House officials said Trump is close to a decision on a possible agreement but has not yet given final approval. Iran, meanwhile, has confirmed that no final understanding has been reached to end the conflict.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in Singapore that Washington is fully prepared to restart the war if necessary, emphasizing that US military assets are ready. The US Central Command announced on social media that its forces remain deployed and on alert across the region. Despite a ceasefire in effect since April, sporadic clashes continue, and Iran claimed to have downed a US-Israeli drone.

Diplomatic talks are ongoing, including discussions on halting the conflict in Lebanon, which Iran insists must be part of any agreement. Israeli forces have reportedly advanced further inside Lebanon.

Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced plans to strengthen the country’s military capabilities despite China’s objections. Speaking at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Koizumi indirectly responded to Beijing’s criticism of Tokyo’s growing security posture, rejecting claims that Japan is pursuing a “new militarism.” He emphasized that Japan lacks nuclear weapons and strategic bombers, contrasting its position with China’s expanding arsenal.

Under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan has accelerated its shift toward a more active defense policy, moving away from its post–World War II pacifism with encouragement from the United States. Beijing has repeatedly condemned this shift, accusing Tokyo of destabilizing the region. Koizumi countered that China’s military buildup lacks transparency and poses serious concerns for Japan’s security.

Koizumi said Japan will continue to modernize its defense forces with transparency, focusing on artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, and cyber and space defense. He reaffirmed Japan’s identity as a peace-loving nation and expressed regret that no bilateral meeting with Chinese officials took place during the forum.

Venezuelan opposition figure Edmundo González Urrutia, who claims to be the rightful winner of the 2024 presidential election against Nicolás Maduro, has called for a new national vote. The 76-year-old former diplomat, now exiled in Spain, made the appeal on Saturday, expressing support for fellow opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado, who also demands a fresh election. Several countries, including the United States, had recognized González as the legitimate winner, according to AFP.

Following a U.S. military operation in January that removed Maduro from power, his deputy Delcy Rodríguez assumed leadership of Venezuela. The 2024 election, widely dismissed by opposition groups and many nations as fraudulent, had declared Rodríguez the winner. The U.S. administration under President Donald Trump reportedly accepted her rule due to her cooperation with Washington’s demands.

González’s renewed call for elections adds pressure on both Venezuelan authorities and Washington to support a democratic transition. Machado, also in exile and labeled a fugitive by Caracas, praised González’s commitment and reiterated her determination to negotiate a democratic path forward with Rodríguez, urging U.S. assistance in the process.

More than 400 people were arrested across France after violent clashes erupted between football fans and police following Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) Champions League final victory over Arsenal. The unrest disrupted bus, train, and rail services in Paris, prompting the deployment of thousands of police officers. Fireworks and flares were set off during celebrations, injuring several officers, while police used tear gas to disperse crowds in central Paris.

According to the French Interior Ministry, 416 people were detained, including 280 in Paris, and six vehicles, two businesses, and a bus shelter were damaged. Interior Minister Laura Núñez described the violence as completely unacceptable. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen criticized the situation on social media, saying only in France does a football club’s victory lead to riots. The unrest followed PSG’s second consecutive Champions League title, secured after a penalty shootout win in Budapest.

A victory parade is scheduled later in the day, including a march near the Eiffel Tower and a reception hosted by President Emmanuel Macron. Last year’s celebrations were also marred by violence that left two people dead.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed stated that the government will completely eradicate extortion and ensure there are no safe havens for terrorism in Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon while visiting Jungle Salimpur in Chattogram, where he also announced plans to build a new prison. The minister clarified that no one will be evicted from Jungle Salimpur at this stage.

He further said that special tribunals will be established to expedite the disposal of drug-related cases, as thousands of such cases remain pending for years. According to him, the formation of these tribunals will help protect the youth and safeguard the nation from the drug menace.

Expressing concern over the growing brutality and reckless activities of teenage gangs, the minister emphasized the need for legal reforms. He noted that some provisions of the existing juvenile laws are being misused, leading many young offenders toward serious crimes and eventual involvement in terrorism. Necessary legal changes will be introduced to address this issue.

Dhaka has returned to the list of the world’s ten most polluted cities as air quality worsened following a reduction in rainfall. According to the international Air Quality Index (AQI) at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, the city recorded a score of 107, placing it ninth among 127 major polluted cities worldwide. The AQI categorized Dhaka’s air as ‘unhealthy’ for sensitive groups, reversing the temporary improvement seen during the Eid holidays and continuous rain.

The index showed Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at the top with a score of 273, followed by Johannesburg in South Africa with 163 and Santiago in Chile with 156. Kolkata in India and Lahore in Pakistan ranked fourth and fifth respectively. The AQI defines scores between 50 and 100 as ‘moderate,’ 101 to 150 as ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups,’ 151 to 200 as ‘unhealthy,’ 201 to 300 as ‘very unhealthy,’ and above 301 as ‘hazardous.’

The report highlights renewed health concerns for Dhaka residents as pollution levels rise again after a brief period of cleaner air.

An Israeli soldier was killed and four others were injured during a military operation in southern Lebanon, according to a statement from the Israeli military. The deceased soldier was 21 years old. The incident occurred on Saturday, though the military did not release further details about the operation or the circumstances of the attack.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the soldier died in a drone strike, while the four injured soldiers are receiving medical treatment. Following the incident, Israeli authorities launched an investigation to determine the source and nature of the attack.

The clash comes amid escalating tensions and frequent confrontations between Israeli forces and Hezbollah along the Lebanon border, which have resulted in casualties on both sides, according to the report.

A meteor traveling toward Earth exploded over the northeastern United States on Saturday, according to NASA. The agency reported that the blast released energy equivalent to about 300 tons of TNT, producing a loud explosion that echoed across the region. NASA Deputy News Chief Jennifer Doren stated that the fireball broke apart at 2:06 p.m. local time over northeastern Massachusetts and southeastern New Hampshire.

Doren clarified that the meteor was not part of any active meteor shower but a natural celestial object, unrelated to space debris or satellite reentry. NASA data indicated the meteor was traveling at more than 75,000 miles per hour and disintegrated roughly 40 miles above the ground, causing the intense sound.

Residents in the affected areas reported being startled by the sudden noise, with some saying their homes shook. NASA referenced the 2013 Chelyabinsk event in Russia for comparison, where a much larger meteor exploded with far greater energy and caused injuries and property damage.

U.S. President Donald Trump has sent a revised draft agreement to Tehran that includes tougher conditions than before, according to a report by The New York Times. The proposal, described as a framework for ending the ongoing conflict, was returned to Iran for reconsideration after Trump made several modifications. He also expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in receiving a response from Iran.

Officials familiar with the matter told the newspaper that Trump raised concerns about clauses related to the possible release of Iran’s frozen assets. The report added that the talks, conducted through intermediaries including Pakistani officials, have been slow, increasing Trump’s frustration. Communication with Iran’s top leadership has reportedly become extremely difficult, raising fears that any new changes could further delay the deal.

Earlier, Trump held a nearly two-hour meeting with senior advisers in the White House Situation Room to discuss efforts to end the war, but no formal announcement followed the meeting.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emerged as the long-term beneficiary of Iran’s war against the United States and Israel, using the global distraction to accelerate his domestic authoritarian consolidation. While international attention was diverted, Erdogan intensified crackdowns on opposition forces and strengthened Turkey’s global standing. Riot police recently stormed the headquarters of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) after its leader Ozgur Ozel was removed by court order, prompting clashes with supporters.

Analysts cited in the report say Erdogan is exploiting a favorable geopolitical environment created by the Iran conflict, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and declining Western influence. His government faces high inflation and waning popularity, prompting stronger control ahead of the 2028 elections. Meanwhile, Turkey has expanded its defense exports, signing deals with Iraq, Indonesia, and Portugal, and has become the world’s 11th-largest arms exporter.

Erdogan aims to turn Turkey into a major energy and trade hub while hosting a NATO summit in July 2026 from a position of greater strength. Experts warn that Western powers’ tolerance of democratic backsliding could embolden authoritarian consolidation and weaken alliance cohesion.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md. Anisul Huq stated that the government will seek the highest punishment in the Ramisa murder and rape case. He made the remark on Sunday afternoon, emphasizing the government’s commitment to ensuring justice in the case.

The minister also highlighted the independence of Bangladesh’s judiciary, noting that the government has no control over the posting or disciplinary matters of Supreme Court judges. He acknowledged that political influence had been alleged in the past but maintained that the judiciary remains largely independent. Addressing the issue of case backlogs, he mentioned that around 4.5 million cases are currently pending due to a shortage of judges and lawyers.

The report further notes that the state has appointed a lawyer at its expense for the Ramisa case, and charges have been framed against Sohel and his wife, with proceedings scheduled to begin on June 1.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that although rainfall has decreased across the country, there is no immediate risk of severe heat. On Sunday, skies over Dhaka were partly cloudy with no chance of rain, while temperatures were expected to rise nationwide. On Saturday evening, Rangamati recorded the highest temperature at 37°C, and Dhaka saw less than one millimeter of rain.

Meteorologist Dr. Omar Faruk said that scattered light rain may continue in parts of the country, with moderate to heavy rainfall possible in Sylhet and Chattogram divisions. He added that the southwest monsoon could begin advancing through the Teknaf coast around June 3, increasing rainfall and signaling the onset of the monsoon season. During that time, humidity may rise, leading to a humid atmosphere.

Despite the temperature increase, the weather office noted that the likelihood of oppressive heat remains low because the south wind has weakened and humidity levels are below normal.