North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reaffirmed his country’s full support for Russia’s war in Ukraine during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. British intelligence estimates that over 6,000 North Korean troops have died in Ukraine, with thousands more deployed alongside military equipment. The U.S. and South Korea have expressed concern that North Korea may receive advanced technology in return for this support.

Hong Kong’s commercial property sector is under renewed stress as property values continue to drop and office and retail vacancies rise. JLL warns values may fall another 5–10% this year, with developers and banks increasingly strained. Office rents have fallen over 40% since 2019, and retail vacancies are at record highs. The crisis may spread to luxury residential properties as owners seek liquidity. Some developers have already defaulted on large debts, raising concerns over broader financial sector stability.

Following a social media post where Israeli journalist Israel Frey expressed jubilation over the deaths of Israeli soldiers in Gaza, Tel Aviv court extended his detention. Frey criticized the military’s actions, stating the world is better off with the death of “five war criminals.” He also urged Israeli mothers to bring their children back from the war. Previously, he had been interrogated multiple times for “inciting terrorism” and described Palestinian resistance as “heroic.” In an interview with Haaretz, Frey declared, “I will not bow to oppression. Free Gaza.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held their first direct meeting in Malaysia, describing it as “constructive and positive.” The talks came amid escalating US-China tensions due to Trump’s new tariff policies. Rubio said the meeting laid the groundwork for future dialogue and raised hopes for a Trump-Xi Jinping summit. Although China criticized the tariffs as “bullying,” it kept channels open for discussion. Rubio aims to position the US as a better strategic partner for Asia than China, despite Southeast Asian concerns that Trump’s unilateral tariffs are deepening global economic divisions.

Tesla is set to open its first showroom in India on July 15, marking a significant step into the country’s growing electric vehicle (EV) market. The “Experience Center” will be located in Mumbai, the financial capital of India. The EV giant signed an agreement in March to establish the showroom. Meanwhile, Tesla is also scouting for a suitable site in New Delhi to expand its presence further in the Indian market. The move signals Tesla’s serious intent to invest in India’s EV future.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that the ongoing military ceasefire between India and Pakistan is still in effect, though India’s political leadership is unwilling to acknowledge it. Dar claimed that India initiated the conflict but later requested a ceasefire over a phone call from the U.S. Secretary of State. Following intense four-day clashes in April this year between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, the ceasefire was brokered through U.S. mediation.

Dar also asserted that Pakistan conducted a major military operation named “Operation Bunyan-e-Marsus,” destroying six Indian warplanes. He criticized India’s decision to annul the “Indus Waters Treaty,” calling it provocative, and highlighted Pakistan’s economic progress and its ambition to join the G20. Speaking at the ASEAN Regional Forum in Malaysia, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.

Germany is expected to be the hardest hit in Europe by U.S. tariffs, particularly targeting the auto industry. Analysts warn of a 0.4% drop in Germany’s GDP, with ripple effects across Central and Eastern Europe. Ireland also risks major losses if pharmaceutical tariffs are enforced, potentially shrinking its GDP by up to 5%. The EU’s total trade could fall by 8% over five years. Uncertainty may harm investment and jobs, even in countries with limited U.S. exports like France and Spain.

China’s economy grew 5.2% year-on-year in the April–June quarter, supported by strong export performance despite U.S. trade tensions and tariffs. Analysts warn that growth may slow in the second half due to continued external pressure. While exports to the U.S. dropped 43% in May, China increased exports to ASEAN and the EU to offset the loss. Government initiatives to reduce external dependency and boost domestic consumption have helped maintain stability amid a struggling property sector and geopolitical uncertainty.

To compensate for recent disruptions in import-export activities caused by server issues, the Benapole Customs House will remain open on Friday and Saturday, despite these being government holidays.
Additional Commissioner Shariful Islam confirmed that all operations will continue as per directives from the National Board of Revenue (NBR). While the presence of traders remains relatively low on holidays, customs officers and staff are actively maintaining full operations. Port authorities have also ensured necessary preparations for loading and unloading activities.

Bangladesh will collaborate with Malaysia to assist investigations into Bangladeshi nationals arrested on terrorism allegations, Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain stated. Speaking at the ARF ministerial meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Hossain reaffirmed Bangladesh’s stance against terrorism during a bilateral meeting with Malaysia’s Foreign Minister and requested cooperation in information sharing and investigations. He also discussed the Rohingya crisis, reform agendas, and post-LDC (Least Developed Country) support with various foreign ministers.

OPEC's latest World Oil Outlook 2025 projects global crude oil demand will grow by 7.9% over the next five years, reaching 113.3 million barrels per day by 2030. While demand forecasts for China have been revised downward due to slower economic growth and increased EV usage, OPEC expects rising consumption in developing regions like India, Africa, and the Middle East. The organization also called for $18.2 trillion in global energy investment by 2050 to meet future demand.

During the second day of discussions between Bangladesh and the United States on tariff-related matters, both sides reached a general consensus on several aspects concerning current and future trade dynamics, though some issues remain unresolved, according to Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser.

A post from the Chief Adviser’s official Facebook page stated that Bangladesh Trade Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin engaged in a constructive dialogue with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The discussions focused on tariffs and other trade-related interests. Bangladesh reiterated its commitment to improving both exports and imports, and expressed hope for U.S. cooperation in ensuring fairness and a competitive trade environment. Further talks are scheduled in the coming days.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a 35% tariff on Canadian goods, set to take effect from August 1. This follows earlier tariffs of 25% imposed on select Canadian imports. In a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump stated that U.S.-based manufacturing would be exempt from the tariffs. He cited Canada's protectionist dairy policies, trade imbalance with the U.S., and failure to prevent fentanyl trafficking as key reasons behind the move. The new tariff is expected to have a significant impact on the Canadian economy.

All seven operational units at the Ghorashal Thermal Power Plant in Narsingdi have been forced to shut down due to a severe gas crisis, confirmed Chief Engineer Md. Enamul Haque.

The crisis, ongoing for the past two years, has worsened since Eid. Units 3, 4, 5, and 7 are currently offline. The government’s prioritization of fertilizer factories for gas supply has further strained operations. Unit 6 has remained permanently out of service since a fire in 2010, and Units 1 and 2 have long been shut due to mechanical issues.

Bangladeshi and U.S. officials successfully concluded the second day of a three-day bilateral dialogue on tariff and trade agreements in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.

Bangladesh’s Trade Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer at his office to discuss mutual trade interests. All key aspects of bilateral trade relations were reportedly covered. Further meetings are scheduled for Friday night, Bangladesh time.