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.

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.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General and Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi stated that Bangladesh’s economic and strategic relations with China will deepen further. Speaking at a press conference at the BNP central office in Naya Paltan, Dhaka, he said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s ongoing visit to China would play a key role in strengthening these ties. Rizvi noted that China has major investments in Bangladesh’s industrial, infrastructure, and service sectors, with bilateral trade reaching around 18 billion dollars.

He added that world leaders at the World Economic Forum in China praised Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s initiatives, particularly on climate change and renewable energy. Rizvi highlighted Bangladesh’s goal to generate 20 percent of its electricity from solar power by 2030. He described China as a country that does not interfere in other nations’ internal politics and said Bangladesh’s current foreign policy reflects a shift toward multidimensional diplomacy initiated by late President Ziaur Rahman.

Rizvi also discussed domestic economic issues, opposing VAT on small grocery shops and urging measures to protect low-income groups. He criticized the renaming of a Kolkata road previously dedicated to Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, calling it inappropriate.

Cumilla-6 Member of Parliament Monirul Haque Chowdhury has instructed the withdrawal of a case filed against Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s senior Nayeb-e-Amir Mufti Faizul Karim. The case, lodged at Cumilla Sadar Dakshin Model Police Station, accused the religious leader of spreading provocative, defamatory, and hateful remarks on social media about the MP. Monirul Haque issued the directive through a verified Facebook post at noon on Thursday, June 25, 2026.

In his post, the MP stated that he was unaware of the case and felt embarrassed upon learning about it. He said he had asked his party members to contact the complainant and request the case’s withdrawal. The complainant, Jalal Ahmed Khokon Talukdar, a local youth leader, confirmed that he filed the case on June 20 after offensive comments about the MP circulated online but later applied to withdraw it following party advice.

The MP reiterated his commitment to maintaining law, order, and mutual harmony, noting that any parliamentary issues had been addressed through proper procedures.

A Bangladeshi man was found dead inside Indian territory near the Companiganj border in Sylhet on Wednesday evening. The body of 60-year-old Mik Kond Dani, a resident of Turung village in Dumdumia area, was discovered about 100 yards inside the border, lying among rocks in a river. Local sources said he often crossed into India to collect firewood and work in Khasi gardens. He had gone across the border on Wednesday morning and did not return home by evening, prompting his brother to search for him. The body was later found near border pillar 1260.

According to locals, there were marks of injury on his head and body. Family members recovered the body and brought it home. Sylhet Battalion 48 BGB Commander Lieutenant Colonel Md Nazmul Haque stated that there was no incident of firing by the BSF or Indian nationals and that the death appeared accidental. Police from Companiganj station visited the site and sent the body to Sylhet MAG Medical College Hospital for autopsy to determine the cause of death.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has warned that strict legal action will be taken against anyone using wireless devices or walkie-talkies without a valid license. In a press release issued on Thursday, the commission said joint operations with law enforcement agencies are ongoing in Dhaka and other regions to identify and seize illegal telecommunication equipment. During these drives, unlicensed walkie-talkies have been confiscated from various organizations, and related cases have been filed at local police stations.

According to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulation Act, 2001 (Amendment-2026), obtaining frequency allocation and a license from BTRC is mandatory for the use, storage, import, marketing, or operation of any wireless communication device. The commission emphasized that using such devices without authorization is a punishable offense under the law.

BTRC has urged all businesses, security service providers, hotels, restaurants, and shopping malls to ensure compliance with licensing requirements. It also confirmed that enforcement operations against illegal wireless devices will continue nationwide.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates told a closed-door hearing of the US House Oversight Committee that financier Jeffrey Epstein may have tried to use information about his private life to pressure him. Gates admitted to having romantic relationships with three women, including Russian bridge player Mila Antonova, nuclear scientist Karima Nigmatulina, and medical entrepreneur Alice Jacobs Nesselrodt. He said Epstein knew about two of these relationships and may have sought to exploit that knowledge.

Gates stated that Epstein never directly blackmailed or threatened him but believed Epstein considered doing so, citing a 2013 draft email referencing Gates’s personal life and former aide Boris Nikolic. Gates described the message as an attempt to mix truth and falsehood for leverage. He denied any involvement in Epstein’s crimes and called his past meetings with Epstein a mistake, saying they were focused on philanthropy and donor outreach.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced an independent review of its past contacts with Epstein after new documents revealed communications between some staff and Epstein.

Police in Lohagara upazila of Narail district arrested two men, Md. Majnu Talukdar and Motayer Molya, on June 24 for allegedly organizing a gathering and cutting a cake while chanting the 'Joy Bangla' slogan to mark the founding anniversary of the Awami League, despite a ban on such activities. The arrests took place around 2 a.m. in Chachai village of Jaypur Union, following a police operation led by Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) Ajit Kumar Roy.

According to police sources, the two men had reportedly enticed people to join the event by offering biryani. The incident allegedly began earlier that afternoon at the Lohagara railway station, where the cake-cutting and slogan chanting occurred. Later that night, police detained the suspects from their village.

Lohagara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Abdur Rahman confirmed the arrests and stated that a case has been filed against the accused, who have since been sent to court.