Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi paid a one-day visit to Kabul on Sunday, accompanied by Interior Secretary Khurram Agha and other senior officials. They were welcomed by Afghanistan’s Deputy Interior Minister at the Kabul airport. During meetings with Afghan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, discussions centered on joint counter-terrorism efforts, border security, drug control, and regulation of legal border crossings. Naqvi emphasized the need for collaborative measures, noting Pakistan’s long-standing support for Afghan refugees. Haqqani stressed shared responsibility for regional peace and cooperation.

More than 2,000 Bangladeshi nationals working in Libya have registered to return home, the Bangladesh Embassy in Tripoli confirmed. The information was shared during a public hearing in Misrata, led by Ambassador Major General Khandaker Khairul Bashar. The embassy has initiated several support programs, including the rollout of e-passports, security assurances, visa renewals, legal remittance processes, and guidance on illegal migration. In the last 18 months, over 5,500 migrants have been repatriated with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The newly registered individuals will also be repatriated gradually.

Shafiqul Alam, former Press Secretary of the interim government and then head of AFP’s Bangladesh bureau, has revealed his personal concerns during the student uprising period.

Despite receiving warnings from international journalists about possible arrest, his primary worry was not imprisonment itself but the lack of access to a “high commode” toilet facility, which he required due to a knee injury.

In a recent Facebook post, he shared how the fear of being detained without adequate sanitary provisions continues to haunt him.

Three powerful earthquakes struck Russia’s Pacific coast near Kamchatka Peninsula within 32 minutes, with the strongest measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) and German monitoring agency GFZ confirmed the tremors, which also included two quakes of magnitude 6.7 and one of 5.0. Following these events, authorities issued a tsunami warning to alert residents of potential coastal dangers in the affected areas.

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is set to travel to New York and Washington next week, where he will preside over a high-level UN Security Council debate on multilateralism and peaceful conflict resolution.

Dar is also expected to participate in discussions on the Middle East crisis, the Palestinian issue, and OIC-UN cooperation. He will hold bilateral meetings with foreign ministers from various countries during the visit, which is being described as an effort to strengthen Pakistan’s diplomatic ties with the U.S. and enhance its multilateral engagement.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained six individuals—four women, one child, and one man—attempting to illegally enter India through Maheshpur, Jhenaidah. The arrests were made in separate operations across Shrinathpur, Khosalpur, and Baghadanga areas by the 58 BGB Battalion. The detained man, Nur Islam, has been handed over to police, while the women and child were sent to the Justice and Care Center in Jessore. Police said preparations for legal proceedings are underway.

A fierce wildfire has scorched over 593 acres near Marseille, France’s second-largest city, injuring two firefighters. Around 1,000 firefighters and several helicopters have been deployed to control the blaze. Though the fire is now partly contained due to cooler temperatures and higher humidity, over 150 people were evacuated and 120 homes remain at risk. Meanwhile, in Spain’s Toledo province, wildfires have burned 3,200 hectares. Experts warn that climate change and rising summer heatwaves are increasing wildfire threats across Europe.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, seeking $1 billion in damages.

In the lawsuit, filed in Miami, Trump alleges that the publication falsely claimed he sent a controversial letter in 2003 for Jeffrey Epstein’s birthday. Trump contends the article damaged both his reputation and financial interests.

The suit names not only the journalists involved but also Dow Jones, News Corp, and CEO Robert Thomson as defendants. Trump described the legal action as a step not just for himself but on behalf of the American people against what he calls the “fake news media.”

The 34 Battalion of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has provided financial assistance to four Bangladeshi nationals injured by a landmine explosion planted by Myanmar forces along the Naikhongchhari border in Bandarban. The victims, residents of Tumbru and Ukhiya areas, were collecting firewood near the zero line when the explosion occurred. BGB sources report that the Arakan Army has been planting landmines along the border, leading to such tragic incidents. BGB Commander Lt. Col. Khairul Alam stated that support for the injured and underprivileged will continue.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has described Bangladesh and Pakistan as “two branches of the same tree, with roots embedded in shared history and culture.” During a meeting with Bangladesh High Commissioner Iqbal Hossain in Lahore, she expressed keen interest in forging partnerships with Bangladesh in the industrial and digital sectors. The two sides agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in agriculture, industry, and trade. Nawaz also discussed the export of rice and medical equipment to Bangladesh and endorsed the idea of establishing a joint chamber of commerce in Dhaka. She assured support for a single-window service to create a more investment-friendly environment.

Amid ongoing diplomatic strains between Bangladesh and India, a unique gesture of goodwill arrived at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in New Delhi—1,000 kilograms of the prized Bangladeshi "Himsagar" mangoes, known locally as Haribhanga, sent by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

This continuation of “mango diplomacy” by Bangladesh’s interim government has surprised many political observers. In South Asia, mangoes are not merely fruit—they have historically served as diplomatic tools, symbols of political overture, and even the center of intrigue.

Geopolitical analysts view this move as a strategic attempt by the Yunus-led administration to thaw frosty ties with India, leveraging cultural diplomacy rooted in regional tradition.

Two leading Pakistani TV channels, Geo News and ARY, have retracted reports claiming former U.S. President Donald Trump would visit Pakistan this September. Geo News issued an apology for publishing the unverified information.

Reuters confirmed the White House has no such visit planned. The channels had initially reported the visit as confirmed, prompting a denial from Pakistan’s Foreign Office. The last official U.S. presidential visit to Pakistan was made by George W. Bush in 2006.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami organized a protest march and rally in Chattogram on July 17, condemning recent attacks, arson, and unrest in Gopalganj. Starting from the north gate of Anderkilla Shahi Jame Mosque, the procession moved through major city streets before concluding at a rally in front of the Press Club. Addressing the gathering, acting city Ameer Muhammad Nazrul Islam described the 2024 July Uprising as a public rebellion against fascism, symbolized by martyrs like Abu Saeed. He accused authorities of attempting to destabilize the situation by orchestrating attacks in Tungipara on the anniversary of the uprising. Nazrul also referenced the country’s liberation war, national unity, and the historical context of political oppression in his speech.

Severe flooding in Pakistan’s Punjab province has claimed 63 lives and injured 290 within 24 hours due to continuous heavy rainfall. The National Disaster Management Authority reports most deaths were caused by collapsing homes, electrocution, or drowning. The government declared a holiday in Rawalpindi and urged residents near swollen rivers to evacuate. Punjab’s Chief Minister announced an emergency in several areas, with thousands of rescue workers deployed. The monsoon season has caused widespread disruption, with roads closed and flights canceled.

Despite suspending normal visa operations after the fall of the Awami League government, India is now issuing a "significant number" of visas to Bangladeshi nationals, confirmed MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. He stated that visas are being granted for travel, medical, and educational purposes. However, he did not specify the exact number of visas issued.