Russia has temporarily suspended around 2% of its global oil supply following a Ukrainian strike on the Sheskharis oil terminal in Novorossiysk, a key Black Sea port in Krasnodar Krai. The attack caused fires and damage to coastal facilities, leading to a halt in exports of approximately 2.2 million barrels per day, according to Reuters. Local authorities confirmed that a civilian vessel was also hit, injuring three crew members. Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Novorossiysk due to its strategic importance to Russia’s energy infrastructure. Kyiv considers Russian oil refineries and petrochemical plants legitimate military targets, arguing they fund Moscow’s war effort. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently stated that Russia’s oil production and refining have declined this year, with projected losses of at least US$37 billion in oil and gas revenues. The strike coincided with a large-scale Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv that killed six people and injured 14 others.

Ethiopia has confirmed its first outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus, with nine cases detected in the southern Omo region. The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commended Ethiopia’s rapid response, noting that authorities are working diligently to contain the outbreak. The virus, part of the same family as Ebola, causes severe hemorrhagic fever and has a high fatality rate. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes Marburg as a rare but deadly disease transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials. There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine, and care focuses on supportive therapy. The outbreak’s proximity to South Sudan has raised regional concerns due to weaker health systems nearby. WHO and Africa CDC are assisting Ethiopia with patient care, contact tracing, and border surveillance to prevent further spread. Health officials urge the public to remain calm and follow medical guidance.

Police in Savar’s Ashulia area arrested two former leaders of the now-banned youth wing of the Awami League, Jubo League, in separate operations on Friday night. The detainees were identified as Md. Ali Azgar alias Jamal Hossain, former assistant organizational secretary of Ashulia Thana Jubo League, and Md. Zakir Hossain, former general secretary of Shimulia Union Jubo League. Acting on secret information, police conducted raids at Ashulia’s Unique area around 8 p.m. and Shimulia’s Konapara area around 9 p.m., leading to the arrests. Ashulia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Hannan confirmed the arrests and stated that legal proceedings are underway. The two suspects are expected to be presented before the court on Saturday morning. Authorities have not yet disclosed the specific charges or reasons behind the arrests, but investigations are ongoing to determine their alleged involvement in any unlawful activities.

US President Donald Trump announced plans to file a lawsuit against the BBC next week, seeking damages between $1 billion and $5 billion, despite the broadcaster’s apology for a misleading edit of one of his speeches. The BBC had issued a personal apology to Trump and admitted the edit was an 'error of judgment' but rejected his legal and financial demands, stating there was no basis for a defamation claim. The controversy stems from a Panorama documentary that spliced parts of Trump’s speech, creating a misleading impression. The program aired shortly before the US election and has since been withdrawn. The incident has already led to the resignations of BBC Director General Tim Davie and BBC News Chief Deborah Turness. Trump criticized the edit as 'corrupt' and said he had not yet discussed the issue with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer but planned to do so soon.

The United States has approved a $330 million military sale to Taiwan, marking the first such deal since President Donald Trump returned to office. The package includes spare parts and maintenance support for Taiwan’s F-16, C-130, and Indigenous Defense Fighter aircraft. Washington remains Taipei’s main arms supplier and a critical deterrent against potential Chinese aggression, though Trump’s mixed signals on Taiwan’s defense have raised uncertainty. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has pledged to boost defense spending and strengthen ties with the US, while facing opposition from the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang party, which controls parliament. The sale comes amid regional tensions, with Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting Tokyo could intervene militarily if Taiwan is attacked, a statement that drew sharp condemnation from Beijing.

At least seven people were killed and 27 others injured when a large cache of seized explosives detonated at a police station in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday night. Most of the victims were police officers and forensic experts who were examining the explosives at the Nowgam police station. Among the dead were two Srinagar administrative officials and a deputy tehsildar. Authorities fear the death toll may rise as five of the injured remain in critical condition. Senior police officials have cordoned off the area, and the injured have been admitted to the Indian Army’s 92 Base Hospital and Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences. The explosives were reportedly linked to an investigation into posters by the militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed. Several doctors had earlier been arrested in connection with the case, including Adil Ahmed Rather and Muzammil Shakil, from whose residence police recovered about 3,000 kilograms of ammonium nitrate.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has questioned the fairness and transparency of the government’s proposed four-question referendum, asking where citizens can express disagreement if they oppose even one of the questions. Speaking in Dhaka after providing financial assistance to an ailing radio artist on behalf of BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, Rizvi criticized the government for allegedly manipulating the referendum process. He warned that any attempt to impose a flawed or unclear referendum would not be sustainable and claimed that most citizens do not understand its purpose. Rizvi also accused the ruling Awami League of laundering large sums of money from India to create unrest in Bangladesh and destabilize the political situation. He urged that the referendum questions be made understandable to the general public to ensure genuine participation and transparency.

South Korea and the United States have finalized the draft of an expanded trade agreement, detailing new terms on automobiles, pharmaceuticals, defense cooperation, and South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine program. According to a joint statement released by both presidential offices, the agreement reduces tariffs on South Korean car exports to the US from 25% to 15%, aligning them with Japanese competitors. Similar tariff reductions apply to pharmaceutical exports. In return, South Korea will invest $200 billion strategically in the US, capped at $20 billion annually, a reduction from earlier proposals to avoid currency risks. The deal also reaffirms Washington’s support for Seoul’s nuclear submarine initiative and the broader US-South Korea security alliance, including commitments to extended deterrence and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Analysts believe the agreement will ease trade uncertainties that arose from former President Donald Trump’s tariff and investment demands. Both sides emphasized mutual trust and stability in implementing the accord.

The Adani Group has announced major investments totaling more than ₹1.63 lakh crore in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Assam. According to The Hindu, the conglomerate plans to invest ₹1 lakh crore in Andhra Pradesh across multiple sectors, including port infrastructure, creating over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs. Adani Ports and SEZ Managing Director Karan Adani described Andhra Pradesh as the gateway to eastern India. In Assam, Adani Power and Adani Green Energy have received government approval for a 3,200 MW ultra-supercritical thermal power plant and two pumped storage projects, together worth ₹63,000 crore. Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani said the investments represent the largest private sector commitment in the region, aimed at boosting energy security, industrial growth, and employment. The projects are expected to accelerate economic transformation across India’s northeastern corridor.

Global crude oil production is projected to increase in 2024, according to the US Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Short-Term Energy Outlook. The report forecasts total global fuel production, including refined products, to average 106 million barrels per day, up by 100,000 barrels from earlier estimates. Global consumption is expected to reach 104.1 million barrels daily. Due to higher supply, global oil inventories are likely to continue rising through 2026, reaching 31.8 billion barrels by the end of that year. The EIA anticipates the average Brent crude price to fall to $68.76 per barrel in 2024, down from $80.56 last year, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) may average $65.15 per barrel. US crude output is forecast to reach a record 13.59 million barrels per day this year before slightly declining in 2025 and 2026. Analysts note that the EIA’s monthly forecasts show only minor adjustments but maintain expectations of a supply surplus through next year.

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has returned 12 Bangladeshi nationals, including a child, through the Meherpur border following a flag meeting with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). The meeting took place about 100 yards inside Bangladeshi territory at the Kazipur border outpost in Gangni upazila. According to BGB officials, the individuals, hailing from Khulna, Rajbari, Sirajganj, Bagerhat, and Kushtia districts, had entered India illegally through brokers at different times and were later detained by Indian police. BSF company commander Sabvinder Singh formally handed them over to BGB company commander Subedar Shahabuddin. After the handover, the returnees were taken to Gangni police station. Officer-in-Charge Bani Israel stated that the returnees would be handed over to their families after completion of legal procedures.

Petrobangla plans to expand Bangladesh’s gas exploration capacity by adding six contract-based rigs to operate alongside Bapex’s five existing rigs, bringing the total to eleven rigs working simultaneously across the country. The move aims to accelerate drilling and well workover operations amid rapidly declining domestic gas reserves. The Energy Division targets drilling and rehabilitating 100 wells between 2026 and 2028 to meet growing energy demand. Several rigs, including those from Chinese companies CNPC and Sinopec, will be deployed under turnkey contracts, covering all materials and services. Petrobangla expects these efforts to add approximately 143 million cubic feet of gas per day to the national grid once completed. The initiative also includes new drilling projects in Titas, Sylhet, and Bhola, where pipeline construction is underway to transport surplus gas to the mainland. Officials emphasize that increasing local production is vital to reduce dependence on costly imported LNG, which poses economic risks for Bangladesh.

Nine months after Mohammad Ejaz took charge as administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), his pledge to build a 'just city' rooted in metmodern municipal ideals remains largely unfulfilled. Despite promises of equitable urban services, citizen participation, and nature-centered planning, Dhaka continues to suffer from severe traffic congestion, encroached sidewalks, poor waste management, and worsening dengue outbreaks. Experts say Ejaz, once a vocal river researcher, has failed to translate his theoretical commitments into tangible reforms. Parks and playgrounds remain under elite control, drainage systems are clogged, and infrastructure projects have created more disruption than relief. Environmentalists criticize his short-lived air purifier plan as misguided, while urban planners accuse him of catering to privileged groups. Ejaz defends his record, citing recovered playgrounds, pink toilets for women, and initiatives for marginalized communities. However, residents and specialists argue that the DNCC’s governance still reflects bureaucratic inertia rather than the participatory, equitable, and ecological principles promised under the metmodern urbanism framework.

The Bangladesh government has introduced the 'Fertilizer Dealer Appointment and Distribution Policy 2025' to streamline fertilizer supply to farmers and ensure transparency in distribution. Under the new policy, each union and municipality will have three dealers, each required to maintain a warehouse with a minimum capacity of 50 tons and two additional sales centers with 5–10 ton capacity. The policy bans multiple dealerships within the same family, prohibits government employees and convicted individuals from applying, and mandates digital record-keeping for sales and inventory. The security deposit has been raised from 200,000 to 500,000 taka, and dealer registration must be renewed every two years. The policy merges the dual dealership structures of BCIC and BADC, allowing dealers to sell both urea and non-urea fertilizers under one system. Violations of government contracts will result in dealership cancellation and forfeiture of deposits. The new policy takes effect Sunday, replacing all previous fertilizer distribution regulations.

US President Donald Trump has called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to launch a Department of Justice investigation into former President Bill Clinton’s ties with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump’s demand follows the release of thousands of emails that have reignited questions about his own relationship with Epstein. The newly surfaced correspondence, published by both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, includes references suggesting Trump’s awareness of Epstein’s activities. Trump dismissed the revelations as a political distraction, labeling them a 'hoax' and accusing Democrats of weaponizing the Epstein case to divert attention from the government shutdown. Bondi confirmed she had assigned US Attorney Jay Clayton to lead the probe. The controversy adds to ongoing bipartisan pressure on Trump’s administration to release all Epstein-related documents. Both Clinton and Trump have faced scrutiny for their past associations with Epstein, whose death in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges continues to fuel conspiracy theories.