SBS News

Venezuela Devastated by Worst Earthquake in 126 Years; Fears of Massive Casualties Rise While the official death toll remains in the double digits so far, fears are growing that casualties will snowball due to the large number of collapsed buildings. SBS Jun 25, 2026 5:07 PM

7.5 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Venezuela: At Least 32 Dead, 700 Injured A series of powerful earthquakes, with magnitudes exceeding 7, have struck Venezuela in South America, leaving at least 32 people dead and over 700 injured. SBS Jun 25, 2026 5:03 PM

BOJ Board Member: Neutral Rate Around 2%, Rates Should Be Raised Every Few Months Stating that this was his personal opinion, he suggested that there is still significant room for the BOJ to raise interest rates, saying, "My basic policy is to raise rates by 0.25 percentage points every few months until we reach the neutral rate level of 2%." The neutral interest rate refers to a level that neither stimulates nor cools the economy. SBS Jun 25, 2026 4:59 PM

Earthquakes Strike Venezuela, Japan, and the U.S. Around the Same Time; Experts See No Connection However, experts explain that these events appear to be unrelated. According to the United States Geological Survey , the earthquakes in Venezuela occurred at 7:04 AM and 7:05 AM today . SBS Jun 25, 2026 4:27 PM

Imprisoned Maduro Calls for "Maximum Unity and Solidarity" in Earthquake-Stricken Venezuela According to CNN on June 24 , President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who are being held at a detention center in New York, stated through their official Telegram channel that day, "Today, there is only one message: maximum unity, maximum solidarity, and maximum action." In the post, President Maduro urged citizens to support rescue teams and medical personnel, stating, "Do not leave anyone alone; each community must take care of children, the elderly, and sick neighbors." He emphasized, "Venezuela has endured countless trials, and this time, too, we will overcome this strongly based on faith, discipline, and solidarity." The couple was arrested during a surprise U.S. SBS Jun 25, 2026 4:23 PM

U.S. Dispatches Rescue Teams to Venezuela Following 'Serial Earthquakes'; Trump Says, 'We Are Willing to Help' The United States is dispatching emergency rescue teams to Venezuela following a series of powerful earthquakes. SBS Jun 25, 2026 4:18 PM

IRGC Warns of Countermeasures Against Vessels Deviating from Iran-Designated Strait of Hormuz Routes On June 25 , the IRGC claimed that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is only possible via the routes designated by Iran, asserting that "new routes announced without coordination with the Iranian side" are "unacceptable and dangerous." The IRGC further warned that vessels must coordinate their routes with the IRGC Navy via Maritime Channel 16, and that measures will be taken against any ships that violate these conditions. SBS Jun 25, 2026 4:15 PM

War Risk Insurance Premiums for Ships in Strait of Hormuz Halved as Cease-fire Effects Take Hold The Financial Times reported on June 24 that war risk insurance premiums applied to vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz have fallen by more than half just six days after the cease-fire agreement between the United States and Iran. SBS Jun 25, 2026 4:15 PM

Consecutive Strong Earthquakes Up to Magnitude 7.5 Hit Venezuela, Leaving at Least 32 Dead and 700 Injured Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela's interim president, said in a national address on the state-run Venezolana de Televisión on Wednesday, "At least 32 deaths have been confirmed so far, and more than 700 victims have been admitted to the emergency rooms of public hospitals and private medical centers." She noted that La Guaira State suffered the heaviest damage, and the death toll is expected to rise further as rescue teams search collapsed buildings. SBS Jun 25, 2026 3:00 PM

Oil Tankers Stuck in Hormuz Face New Hurdle: Barnacles Analysts suggest that as the sea route through the Strait of Hormuz reopens and the global energy supply chain begins to recover, a new obstacle has emerged. SBS Jun 25, 2026 1:22 PM