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.

Iran is grappling with a serious water shortage due to an intense heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 50°C in some areas. The government has appealed to citizens to cut water consumption by at least 20% to manage the crisis. Tehran City Council and provincial authorities have warned of water pressure drops and temporary supply interruptions lasting up to 18 hours in certain parts of the capital. Similar appeals have been made across several provinces to conserve water amid the ongoing heatwave.

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.

Acclaimed Bangladeshi sculptor and artist Hamiduzzaman Khan has died at the age of 78. He passed away on July 20 after being taken off life support at a hospital in Dhaka, where he was admitted with pneumonia and dengue. A pioneer in modern sculpture, Khan taught at Dhaka University for over four decades. His works include iconic pieces like Unity, Jagrat Bangla, and Steps. He received the Ekushey Padak in 2006 and was made a Bangla Academy Fellow in 2022.

Scholars from Qawmi madrasas have formally appealed to the Chief Advisor to ensure job opportunities for their students in various government sectors. A delegation representing Allama Mahmudul Hasan, Chairman of Al-Haiatul Ulya Lil-Jamiatil Qawmia Bangladesh, met with the Religious and Education Advisor to present their demands.

The appeal requests employment opportunities for holders of the Dawra-e-Hadith certification as religious teachers, imams, khatibs, qazis, as well as positions in various government and semi-government institutions. Additionally, they have sought opportunities for higher education at universities.

Education Advisor Professor Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar assured that the demands would be given serious consideration.

The Cumilla Education Board has rescheduled the HSC and equivalent exams that were postponed on July 10 due to severe flooding in several districts, including Feni, Noakhali, Chandpur, Laxmipur, Brahmanbaria, and Cumilla. The affected exams—Physics 1st Paper, Accounting 1st Paper, and Logic 1st Paper—will now be held on August 12 at 10:00 AM. Exam Controller Runa Nasrin confirmed the new date, citing natural disasters and worsening weather conditions as the reason for the initial postponement.

China has begun construction of a massive hydropower dam on the Brahmaputra River, which flows from Tibet through India and into Bangladesh — triggering serious concerns in India over environmental and geopolitical impacts.

The project, estimated to cost 1.2 trillion yuan (approximately $167 billion), will include five major hydropower stations. Once completed, the dam is expected to surpass the scale of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River.

Downstream countries, particularly India and Bangladesh, fear that the dam could disrupt the river’s natural flow, negatively impact agriculture, and harm local ecosystems. Despite these concerns, China appears to be proceeding without addressing the objections raised by its neighbors.

Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain stated that while the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord has been in place for 27 years, its implementation remains complex and cannot be achieved overnight. Speaking at an event in Bandarban, he emphasized the government’s commitment to peace and development. He also expressed concern over declining educational standards, citing GPA-5 inflation. Hill Affairs Advisor Supradip Chakma highlighted extreme poverty in the hill districts and mismanagement of government allocations. The event concluded with distribution of saplings, livestock, sewing machines, and health vouchers to local farmers and women.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed six cases against 23 individuals over alleged land allocation fraud in the Purbachal New Town Project. The accused include former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, sister Sheikh Rehana, and other family members. The charges allege that they illegally obtained diplomatic zone plots despite being ineligible. The ACC claims that the allocations were made through abuse of power and corruption. Senior government and former RAJUK officials have also been implicated. These cases were filed earlier in January.

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.

In the wake of the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, an anti-corruption campaign by the interim administration has prompted the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to freeze several high-value properties in London linked to Hasina’s close associates. These assets—worth hundreds of crores of Bangladeshi taka—were allegedly purchased using illicit funds siphoned through government contracts and the banking sector. Many individuals are now scrambling to liquidate their properties. While some label the crackdown as politically motivated, joint investigations by The Guardian and Transparency International have uncovered substantial evidence of corruption. Bangladesh has requested the UK to freeze more properties as investigations continue.

The International Crimes Tribunal has directed investigators to submit reports by October 15 in seven separate cases involving genocide and crimes against humanity committed during July-August 2024. A total of 45 individuals are accused, including prominent political figures such as Obaidul Quader, Anisul Huq, Dipu Moni, Amir Hossain Amu, Salman F Rahman, and Zunaid Ahmed Palak. The list also includes 23 former law enforcement officials. On Sunday, July 20, 39 of the accused were presented before the tribunal.

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.

Prince Al-Waleed bin Khalid bin Talal, famously known as Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’, has passed away at the age of 36 after spending nearly two decades in a coma.

He fell into a coma following a severe brain injury from a car accident in London at the age of 15. Since then, he had been on life support at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. His death has sparked emotional reactions globally. His father mourned his loss by sharing a Quranic verse. Funeral prayers were held on Sunday, with the family declaring a three-day mourning period.