Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain said the government aims to create equal opportunities for all citizens. He made the remarks on Friday, June 26, at the inauguration of a registration camp for the Mother and Child Assistance Program held at Dinajpur Municipal High School field. The minister emphasized that this initiative aligns with the Prime Minister’s broader efforts toward social welfare and inclusivity.

During his speech, Dr. Hossain highlighted the importance of maternal health and nutrition, noting that childbirth at around 20 years of age generally ensures better health for both mother and child, while pregnancies after 35 may lead to complications. He also underscored the need for balanced nutrition during and after pregnancy to build a healthy and strong nation.

The minister added that family cards are being delivered directly to households, eliminating the need for citizens to visit offices. The event was presided over by District Commissioner Md. Rafiqul Islam and attended by several local officials.

National Citizen Party (NCP) member secretary and Rangpur-4 MP Akhtar Hossain told parliament that Bangladesh’s government debt has increased by over one trillion taka within four months of the current administration taking office. He said the total debt rose from about 23 trillion to 24 trillion taka. Hossain made the remarks during Thursday’s budget session chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal.

He questioned the government’s commitment to implementing the referendum mandate, including forming a constitutional reform council and ensuring judicial independence. Hossain cited the finance minister’s statement acknowledging economic disruption and the need for political reform. He also claimed that the International Monetary Fund withheld loans due to the absence of economic reforms and criticized the government for not addressing banking sector irregularities.

Hossain further alleged that the economy has become fragile, with high inflation and rising defaulted loans. He criticized the government for increasing electricity and fuel prices twice in three months before announcing the budget, arguing that price hikes began even before the budget was presented.

Iraq’s new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has launched a wide-ranging anticorruption campaign that has led to multiple arrests of senior officials and the seizure of tens of millions of dollars. The Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council reported that about $86 million in cash, 70 properties, 21 vehicles, and three kilograms of gold were confiscated in a probe involving detained Oil Ministry Undersecretary Adnan al-Jumaili. Al-Jumaili, also head of the Iraqi North Refineries Company, was arrested on May 30 in al-Ishaqi, north of Baghdad. The arrests followed al-Zaidi’s order to review government contracts for evidence of corruption, and the cancellation of a $764 million airport project over suspected irregularities.

The prime minister has also created the Supreme Sovereign Council for Integrity, Oversight and Recovery of Public Funds to monitor ministries and recover state assets. Iraq ranks 136th out of 182 countries in Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, reflecting persistent structural issues. Activists and experts say corruption remains deeply embedded in Iraq’s political system, with outdated laws hindering accountability.

Observers have welcomed the initiative but remain cautious, noting that older and politically sensitive corruption cases have yet to be addressed.

A Moroccan court in Casablanca has sentenced 29 individuals, including prominent politicians and sports figures, to prison terms of up to 12 years after a two-year trial over international drug trafficking and corruption. The verdicts, delivered late on Thursday, conclude one of the largest anti-corruption operations in Morocco’s history. Among those convicted were Abdennebi Bioui, a construction tycoon and former regional council president, Said Naciri, former president of Casablanca’s Wydad AC football club, and former MP Belkacem Mir, all senior members of the governing PAM party. Naciri received 10 years, Bioui 12, and Mir 10, while others received between two and nine years depending on their roles.

The case originated from testimony by El Hadj Ahmed Ben Brahim, a Malian trafficker known as the “Pablo Escobar of the Sahara,” who accused Moroccan associates of betrayal after his 2019 arrest. The network was found to have trafficked Moroccan cannabis resin across North Africa to Europe and handled Latin American cocaine shipments. Convictions included drug and gold trafficking, corruption, forgery, and money laundering.

The court ordered asset seizures and imposed hundreds of millions of dollars in fines. The scandal prompted King Mohammed VI to call for a binding code of ethics to reform parliamentary conduct.

The United States is reassessing its military presence in the Middle East following Iranian attacks on bases in Gulf countries. According to a Wall Street Journal report, US officials are considering reducing their presence in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia while planning to rebuild the heavily damaged naval base in Bahrain. The Pentagon has not yet disclosed the extent of the damage.

The report adds that Washington is also weighing the possibility of relocating some bases and operations to Israel. Citing current and former US military personnel, satellite imagery, and social media footage, the report notes that Iran’s strikes caused significant damage to the US command headquarters and at least a dozen other buildings.

These developments have prompted a reassessment of the risks faced by US bases that remain within range of Iranian missiles and drones, as officials evaluate future deployment and security strategies in the region.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was fully prepared to enter a war in support of Iran. Trump made the statement on Thursday during a conversation with journalists at the White House, according to a report by Middle East Monitor. He said Erdogan did not like Israel and was therefore the top candidate to side with Iran in the conflict. However, Trump asserted that Turkey eventually agreed to stay out of the confrontation following his personal intervention and request.

The report also noted that Trump gave a positive signal regarding Turkey’s request for U.S. F-35 fighter jets and engines to support its domestically produced warplane. He said he would likely do something to make Turkey happy. Additionally, Trump reaffirmed his intention to attend the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara as a gesture of respect toward Erdogan.

The statements highlight ongoing U.S.-Turkey diplomatic engagement amid regional tensions involving Iran and Israel, as reported by Middle East Monitor.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has expressed deep sorrow and sympathy over the loss of lives and extensive damage caused by a devastating earthquake in Venezuela. In a condolence message issued on Friday, he said he was deeply saddened by the large number of casualties and widespread destruction resulting from the disaster.

On behalf of the people of Bangladesh, the Prime Minister conveyed heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery for the injured. He also stated that the people of Bangladesh stand in solidarity with the people of Venezuela during this difficult time.

Tarique Rahman reaffirmed Bangladesh’s full support for the affected population and wished the Venezuelan government and citizens strength, courage, and a swift recovery from the crisis.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed stated that the government is working to build a country free from drugs and gambling. He made the remarks on Friday morning at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka during an event marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

The minister said that old laws are no longer sufficient to control drugs, emphasizing the need for new legislation. He noted that prevention, along with enforcement, is the most effective approach to combating drug abuse. Salahuddin Ahmed also announced that an amendment to the drug prevention law will be presented in parliament within the next few days.

He urged the youth to stay away from drugs to help drive national development and called on the administration to take a stronger stance in eradicating drug abuse across the country.

Iran has dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that Washington plans to use Iran’s unfrozen funds to purchase American agricultural products. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker and top negotiator, denied the claim, calling it completely false. In a post on social media platform X, Ghalibaf said the United States only exports genetically modified soybeans, broken promises, and nonsense.

Iran has emphasized that, under the terms of the ongoing agreement, it alone will decide how to spend its released assets, not the United States. The dispute follows reports from Iranian state media that Washington has agreed to release 12 billion dollars of Iran’s frozen funds and temporarily suspend sanctions on Tehran’s oil exports as part of the negotiations.

The exchange highlights continuing tensions between Tehran and Washington over financial assets and trade conditions, even as both sides discuss limited economic relief measures.

Several recently renovated roads in Ruma upazila of Bandarban have collapsed shortly after completion, raising serious concerns among residents about the quality of government-funded infrastructure projects. Despite large investments aimed at improving connectivity in the hilly region, asphalt has peeled off and cracks have appeared in multiple areas soon after repair work was finished. Locals expressed frustration over the rapid deterioration and questioned the effectiveness of the development spending.

Residents and local representatives alleged that substandard materials, irregularities by contractors, and poor supervision were responsible for the early damage. The projects, implemented under the Local Government Engineering Department’s (LGED) “Rural Road Infrastructure Development in Hill Areas” initiative, include the Ruma–Rowangchhari internal link road to Paindu Headman Para, with a budget of about Tk 27.5 million for 1.3 kilometers. LGED officials acknowledged contractor noncompliance and reported the issue to the district office.

The LGED executive engineer stated that partial damage to new roads is not unusual and that repairs could be made later using future allocations or the contractor’s security deposit.

Bangladesh’s Annual Development Programme (ADP) implementation fell to its lowest level in 16 years during the first 11 months of the 2025–26 fiscal year. According to the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) report released on Thursday, only 48.23 percent of the allocated funds were spent between July and May. Ministries and divisions managed to use just over Tk 1.76 trillion out of a revised ADP allocation of Tk 2.08 trillion for 1,359 projects.

The report shows a sharp decline compared to previous years, with spending dropping by about Tk 10,242 crore from the same period last year. Historically, ADP implementation averaged 65–70 percent during July–May, but this year it fell below 50 percent, even lower than during the pandemic. The internal resources division recorded the lowest implementation rate at 12.23 percent, while the science and technology ministry led with 83.33 percent due to progress in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project.

Officials and economists cited delays in procurement, administrative inefficiencies, and a shortage of skilled project managers as key reasons. They warned that the slow implementation could hinder economic growth, job creation, and infrastructure expansion.

Bangladesh is witnessing an alarming rise in narcotics use across the country, with new drugs such as Thailand’s ‘Kush’ and shisha gaining popularity even among affluent youth. Despite the government and police maintaining a declared zero-tolerance stance, drug availability has expanded from cities to rural areas. The situation coincides with the observance of International Day Against Drug Abuse, for which the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) has launched several programs.

Experts warn that addiction is destroying the younger generation, urging a nationwide social movement involving all communities. They identify unemployment, frustration, peer influence, and easy access as key drivers of drug abuse. Law enforcement reports that narcotics are entering Bangladesh through land, sea, and air routes from Myanmar and Thailand, while smugglers are also using social media to sell drugs.

The DNC has initiated a national database to track drug addicts receiving treatment in government and approved private rehabilitation centers. The government is also restructuring the DNC with plans for an interrogation unit, criminal data system, and digital forensic lab to strengthen anti-drug operations.

International oil prices dropped by about 2 percent on Friday, even after a cargo ship near Oman’s coast was hit by a missile from an unidentified source. According to Reuters, Brent crude fell by $1.47, or 1.95 percent, to $73.79 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude declined by $1.44, or 2 percent, to $70.48. Both benchmarks are heading for an 8 percent weekly loss.

LSEG shipping data showed that Saudi Aramco resumed crude loading at its Ras Tanura terminal in the Persian Gulf after nearly four months of suspension. Two very large crude carriers were loading oil, with another waiting nearby. Analysts from Sparta Commodities attributed the price drop to increased oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz and weak demand from China.

The report also noted that oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have reached their highest level since the February conflict between Iran, the U.S., and Israel, though still below prewar levels. ING analysts warned that once previously trapped tankers clear the Gulf, supply could tighten again.

Three politicians critical of Israel won New York City’s Democratic Party primaries on Tuesday, signaling a shift in the party’s stance toward the Jewish state. The winners—Brad Lander, Claire Valdez, and Darieliza Avila Chevalier—were backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose activism began in the Palestinian rights movement. At Avila Chevalier’s victory rally in Harlem, supporters chanted “Free Palestine,” and she declared that the era of old politics was over.

The results reflect a broader transformation within the Democratic Party, where voters are increasingly critical of Israel’s actions. While many senior Democrats remain supportive of Israel, grassroots backing has declined. A recent New York Times/Siena poll found that 60 percent of Democrats sympathize more with Palestinians, compared to only 15 percent with Israel. Senator Chris Van Hollen noted that more Democrats now oppose unconditional U.S. aid to Israel.

Despite heavy spending by pro-Israel groups like AIPAC to influence upcoming elections, the organization appears to be operating defensively as Democratic sentiment continues to shift.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israeli forces will remain stationed in southern Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. Speaking at an event in southern Israel, he stated that the military would stay in those areas as long as necessary to ensure Israel’s security.

Netanyahu rejected calls for troop withdrawal under a U.S.-Iran agreement, asserting that Israel’s recent operations against Iran had significantly strengthened its strategic position. He emphasized that Israel had no intention of leaving the buffer zone in southern Lebanon and would maintain control over strategically important positions.

According to Netanyahu, the continued presence of Israeli forces in these regions is essential for national security, and the government will not compromise on that stance.