The Taliban government has condemned Iran for forcibly deporting Afghan refugees despite previous commitments. Deputy Finance Minister Enayat Alkozai stated that Afghan migrants in Iran are living in constant fear, accusing Tehran of acting contrary to its promises to the Islamic Emirate.

Abdul Latif Nazari, another senior Taliban official, criticized the mass deportations, while Afghan migrants in Pakistan have also reported increasing pressure, especially in Punjab province. Over 820,000 Afghan refugees have been deported from Iran in just one month — the highest in recent times.

A 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck northern Iran on Sunday, with a shallow depth of just 3 kilometers, increasing the intensity of surface tremors and potential damage. The same day, Tajikistan experienced a 4.0-magnitude quake, with an epicenter 160 kilometers deep. Two days earlier, on July 18, a 3.8-magnitude quake struck Tajikistan at a depth of 10 kilometers. Experts warn that Tajikistan's mountainous terrain and glacier-fed rivers make it highly vulnerable to natural disasters, including earthquakes, landslides, avalanches, droughts, and floods.

The United States has revoked the visas of Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, his allies, and relatives over alleged political persecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the move is part of the Biden administration’s stance against the suppression of free speech. Brazilian courts have placed Bolsonaro under surveillance, barred him from contact with foreign officials, and restricted his use of social media. Bolsonaro has called the legal proceedings politically motivated. The U.S. has also threatened tariffs on Brazil amid rising tensions.

China has commenced construction of a massive hydropower project on the Tibetan stretch of the Brahmaputra River, despite international objections. The project was inaugurated by Chinese Premier Li Qiang. While China claims the project aligns with its carbon neutrality goals and Tibetan development, India has raised concerns over downstream water flow disruptions. Costing approximately 1.2 trillion yuan, it is expected to be one of the world’s largest dams. Experts warn it could severely impact livelihoods and ecosystems in northeast India and southern Bangladesh.

Renowned Telugu film actor and comedian Fish Venkat passed away on July 18 in Hyderabad due to complications related to kidney and liver failure. He was 53 years old.

With a career spanning over two decades, Venkat began his journey in the Telugu film industry with the 2001 hit Khushi. Over the years, he acted in more than 150 films and earned a loyal fanbase for his comedic timing and character roles. His final appearance was in the film Coffee with a Killer.

Despite the critical nature of his illness, Venkat's family reportedly struggled to raise the ₹50 lakh needed for his treatment. According to the family, they were misled by a fraudster who claimed to be an assistant of superstar Prabhas and promised financial support. The claim turned out to be false, and due to delays in receiving a kidney transplant, his condition deteriorated beyond recovery.

Fish Venkat's death has sparked conversations in the Telugu film industry about the need for better support systems for veteran artists facing health and financial crises.

Japan's exports have dropped for a second straight month, primarily due to a sharp decline in shipments to the United States amid tariff threats from former President Donald Trump. In June, exports to the U.S. fell 11%, with car exports plunging 26.7%. Overall exports declined by 0.5%, resulting in a trade deficit of 2.2 trillion yen in the first half of the year. Although tariff implementation was delayed until August 1 for further talks, no deal has been reached, raising fears of another economic slowdown.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has labeled Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza as "unacceptable" and has called for an immediate ceasefire along with humanitarian aid for Palestinians.

Speaking at a press conference in Berlin, Merz said he is in discussions with European leaders and has conveyed his concerns directly to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He also mentioned ongoing talks with the British Prime Minister and the French President regarding the situation.

Merz’s remarks come amid reports that over 58,000 people have been killed in Gaza, marking a significant shift in Germany's stance on the conflict.

Pakistan has extended its airspace restrictions for Indian aircraft and flights related to India by another month.

According to a notice issued by the Pakistan Airport Authority, the ban will remain in effect until 5:19 AM on August 24. The restrictions were initially imposed after a deadly militant attack in Kashmir on April 22 that killed 25 Indian nationals. In response, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, prompting Pakistan to restrict Indian air traffic. India later reciprocated by banning Pakistani flights.

The diplomatic and aviation standoff between the two nations remains unresolved.

U.S. special envoy Tom Barrack announced that Israel and Syria have agreed to a ceasefire, which has been welcomed as a major diplomatic achievement by countries including Turkey and Jordan. Calls have been made for peace among the Druze, Bedouin, and Sunni communities in Syria. Earlier, an Israeli airstrike in Damascus killed three people. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa stated that troops have begun withdrawing from Sweida and confirmed a separate ceasefire deal with the Druze. He accused Israel of deliberately fostering division within Syria.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a pointed remark against the Modi government of India, suggesting that ousted leaders from Bangladesh’s Awami League are currently residing in Kolkata with the support of the Indian government. She emphasized that when neighboring countries face crises, India offers refuge, but in Bengal, anyone speaking up is quickly labeled a ‘Bangladeshi’ and calls for their eviction arise.

Mamata reminded that under the 1971 Indira-Mujib Agreement, those who sought shelter in India became Indian citizens, and many residents of West Bengal were born in India even before the 1947 Partition or the 1971 Liberation War. Highlighting the importance of the Bengali language, she called for unity against divisive rhetoric and discrimination.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has firmly rejected any foreign interference in national governance, addressing former U.S. President Donald Trump. In response to new U.S. tariffs, which he called “unacceptable blackmail,” Lula condemned American threats and misinformation, saying they harm bilateral trade. Asserting Brazil’s sovereignty, he also highlighted efforts to shield the nation from foreign digital platform influence. While the government consults with industry leaders to address tariff impacts, Lula said he is open to discussions with Trump—if the right conditions are met.

France, the UK, and Germany have warned that they will trigger the UN’s ‘snapback’ mechanism to reinstate prior sanctions on Iran unless significant progress is made on nuclear talks by the end of summer. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) had relaxed sanctions in exchange for nuclear oversight. The UN-authorized agreement is set to expire on October 18. Following a joint Israeli-US strike on an Iranian nuclear facility last month, the E3 bloc and EU diplomats held their first virtual meeting with Iran's foreign minister. The timeline for a sixth round of Iran-US negotiations remains unclear.

The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka has issued a stern warning regarding fraudulent practices in visa applications, stating that submitting fake documents or concealing information may result in a permanent ban from entering the United States. In certain cases, criminal charges may also be filed.

In an official alert, the embassy emphasized that applicants are responsible for providing accurate information and maintaining transparency throughout the visa process. It also noted that withholding information, including data from social media, could lead to visa rejection.

Applicants have been strongly advised to avoid relying on brokers or fraudsters and to submit their own information truthfully and independently.

Additionally, as of July 10, it is mandatory to include all social media handles used by applicants in the visa application form.

In response to a recent attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, the United States has officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-based affiliate of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the decision, identifying TRF as a proxy group responsible for several violent incidents, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks. India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar welcomed the move, calling it a strong reaffirmation of counterterrorism cooperation. Tensions have escalated along the India-Pakistan border following the attack.

In Illinois, USA, an Indian woman was caught shoplifting items worth approximately ₹1.1 lakh from a daily shopping store. According to NDTV, the woman wandered inside the store for seven hours before attempting to leave without paying, when staff stopped her. The incident’s video and police bodycam footage have gone viral. A police officer was seen asking her, “Is theft legal in your country?” Following the incident, the US Embassy has issued a warning to Indian nationals, stating that such offenses could lead to visa cancellation and future bans, emphasizing that crimes abroad can also impact passport and visa statuses.