Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for renewed peace talks with Russia and has proposed a direct meeting with President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine’s National Security Chief, Rustem Umerov, is set to offer a new round of dialogue next week. While both nations have expressed interest in discussions, significant differences in their positions remain. Previous attempts at negotiations yielded limited results, though prisoner exchanges and the return of bodies have been facilitated under partial agreements. Zelensky urged maximum effort to achieve a ceasefire.

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.

Citigroup forecasts silver prices could exceed $40 per ounce within the next three months due to increased demand and supply constraints. The long-term target is set at $43 per ounce for the next 6 to 12 months. Silver prices have already risen over 30% this year, driven by strong fundamentals and anticipated Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. Meanwhile, gold reached a record $3,500 per ounce in 2025 but may decline gradually to between $2,500 and $2,700 next year.

Intel is no longer among the world’s top 10 semiconductor companies, according to CEO Lip-Bu Tan. Once a dominant force, Intel has fallen behind due to strategic missteps and late entry into AI development. Competitors like NVIDIA, AMD, and TSMC have surged ahead. While the company is trying to regain ground, experts say it faces an uphill battle. Despite challenges, Intel hopes recent leadership changes can help reclaim relevance in the rapidly evolving semiconductor and AI industries.

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.

Bangladesh and the United States have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under which Bangladesh will import 700,000 metric tons of wheat annually from the US at competitive prices over the next five years.

Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder stated that this initiative will play a vital role in strengthening the country's food security, nutrition, and supply chain. The agreement was signed by Director General of the Directorate General of Food, Abul Hasnat, and Vice President of the US Wheat Associates, Joseph Sowers. The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials from both countries, including US Chargé d’Affaires Tracy Ann Jacobson.

Controversial singer Mainul Ahsan Noble has once again landed in legal trouble. On the night of July 19, he was arrested by Mirpur Model Police for allegedly assaulting an Uber driver while under the influence of alcohol.

According to the driver, Noble refused to exit the vehicle after reaching his destination and proceeded to abuse and physically assault him. Noble was accompanied by his former wife, Salsabil, at the time. Locals intervened and called police, who took both parties to the station. This isn't Noble’s first controversy—he has previously faced allegations ranging from public misconduct in Kurigram to a rape case in Dhaka.

At the opening of the 2025 Army Promotion Board, Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus emphasized that promotion should be based on merit, highlighting the importance of honesty, professionalism, and political neutrality.

He instructed board members to prioritize leadership, integrity, and competence when selecting officers for promotion. Dr. Yunus also praised the military’s contributions to national security, peacekeeping, and disaster response, expressing gratitude to the Army Chief and other officials. Promotions for Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel ranks are currently under consideration.

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.

Government-issued prize bonds are facing increasing transaction deficits, as proceeds from new bond sales are insufficient to repay older liabilities. Investor confidence has waned due to lack of profitability, complex prize collection procedures, and a lottery-based system. As of January 2025, the deficit stands at Tk 20.9 crore, with similar trends continuing throughout the year. While sales spike before each quarterly draw, they quickly taper off, disrupting the original goal of encouraging savings. Currently, only Tk 100-denomination bonds are available, with limited promotional efforts and reduced public interest. The government is now forced to draw funds from other sectors to cover obligations—an alarming sign for the broader economy.

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.”

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.