The temperature in Seoul soared to 37.7 degrees Celsius at around 3 p.m. (local time) on Tuesday, the highest temperature ever recorded for early July in South Korea's capital city since record-keeping began in 1908, the state weather agency said.

The record was broken after 86 years as the previous record high for the first 10 days of July in Seoul was 36.8 degrees Celsius filed on July 9, 1939, according to the agency.

As many as 18 people are missing following sudden flash floods that struck Nepal's Rasuwa district early on Tuesday, according to local media reports.

The missing included three police personnel, nine civilians, and six Chinese nationals, according to the Assistant Chief District Officer of Rasuwa.

Additionally, according to the official, the massive flood swept away the Nepal-China Friendship Bridge and several newly imported electric vehicles (EVs) parked at the dry port.

"The flood has swept away the Friendship Bridge and several EVs at the dry port. There is suspicion that some people were inside vehicles when the flood hit, but that is yet to be confirmed," leading Nepalese newspaper The Kathmandu Post, quoted Arjun Paudel, chief district officer of Rasuwa, as saying.

He mentioned that many individuals caught in the flood, including security personnel, who were involved in the rescue operation, were brought to safety.

The South Korean economy remains subdued amid weak domestic demand and worsening external uncertainties stemming from the United States' aggressive tariff policy, among other factors, a state-run think tank said on Tuesday.

"The Korean economy remains at a similarly subdued level as in the previous month. Construction remains depressed, while manufacturing is experiencing a downturn, dampening production growth," the Korea Development Institute (KDI) said in a monthly economic assessment report.

Despite strong chip sales in the global market, the overall exports to the U.S. weakened, particularly in such sectors as vehicles affected by the U.S.' aggressive tariff policy, resulting in slower growth in manufacturing production, the think tank said, reports news agency.

As anti-government protests swept Kenya, 11 people lost their lives while 567 were arrested, according to the National Police Service (NPS).

Additionally, dozens, including police officials, were left injured during the demonstrations.

The protests on Monday marked the 35th Saba Saba (seven-seven) anniversary -- July 7, 1990, protests that paved the way for Kenya's transition from a one-party state to a multiparty democracy.

"Regrettably, preliminary reports indicate fatalities, injuries, damage to motor vehicles, and several incidents of looting. Additionally, a number of suspects have been arrested, including Gitonga Mukunji, MP for Manyatta Constituency," said the Kenyan police in a statement

The death toll from a passenger ship sinking in Indonesia's Bali Strait last Wednesday evening has risen to 10, according to senior rescue officials on Tuesday.

"The number of casualties has reached 10 today. Thirty passengers were saved and 25 others are still missing," I Nyoman Sidakarya, head of the Search and Rescue Office in Bali, told news agency.

He said Tuesday's search and rescue efforts would include underwater operations involving several divers and vessels equipped with underwater detection technology.

"Surface searches are still ongoing, using ships and rigid inflatable boats," Nyoman added. "Aerial searches are also being conducted."

Novita Nirmala, a senior official from the Search and Rescue Office in East Java province, told that two of the 10 victims were recovered this morning.

US President Donald Trump's country-specific tariffs are now scheduled to take effect from August 1, offering a temporary reprieve as trade talks intensified with several countries, including India.

Earlier, the US tariffs were set to take effect from July 9.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced the tariff reprieve on Sunday (US time) while speaking to the media. He noted that President Trump was “setting the rates and the deals right now”.

Trump told reporters that “I think we’ll have most countries wrapped up by July 9, either through letters or finalised agreements”, adding that notification letters warning of upcoming tariff hikes would begin going out from Monday (US time), with more expected to follow on Tuesday.

The combined market value of listed firms in South Korea increased sharply in the second quarter from three months earlier, driven by a rally in the country's stock market, a corporate tracker said on Monday.

The market capitalisation of 2,758 companies listed on the country's main and secondary markets came to a combined 2,856 trillion won (US$2.09 trillion) as of end-June, up 22.9 percent, or 532 trillion won, from the previous quarter, according to the Korea CXO Institute, reports news agency.

A total of 2,066 firms, or 74.9 percent, saw their market cap rise over the cited period, while 599 companies, or 21.7 percent, posted declines. The remaining 93 firms, or 3.4 percent, either remained unchanged or were newly listed.

In the first quarter, in contrast, more than 60 percent of the listed firms had experienced a drop in their market cap.

Up to 80 people have died while more than 40 people remain missing, three days after hours of heavy rain led to major flash flooding in the south-central US state of Texas, authorities said.

US President Donald Trump said Sunday he is planning to visit Texas on Friday, hours after signing a major disaster declaration, unlocking key federal resources as search and rescue efforts continue, news agency reported.

Kerr County, the hardest hit among 20 affected counties in the region, alone accounts for at least 68 of the fatalities, including 21 children, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said Sunday.

Four other counties have reported a combined total of 12 deaths.

Leitha said 10 girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic were still unaccounted for as of Sunday afternoon, noting search and rescue efforts are still underway.

US President Donald Trump has announced that an additional 10 per cent tariff will be imposed on countries that "align themselves with the anti-American policies of BRICS".

He said this after the BRICS leaders, caught in a trade war initiated by the US, expressed their "grave concern" about the "indiscriminate rise in tariffs".

The declaration was made via Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, in which the US President stated: “Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

In a follow-up message, Trump also announced that formal documentation outlining the new tariff policy will be dispatched to the relevant countries starting Monday afternoon:

“I am pleased to announce that the UNITED STATES TARIFF Letters, and/or Deals, with various Countries from around the World, will be delivered starting 12:00 P.M. (Eastern), Monday, July 7th. Thank you for your attention to this matter! ”

US President Donald Trump has signed tariff letters on exports from 12 countries, which are expected to be sent out on July 7 (Monday).

Speaking to the media aboard Air Force One, the US President said the names of the countries which will receive the letters would only be revealed on Monday.

"I signed some letters and they'll go out on Monday, probably 12. Different amounts of money, different amounts of tariffs,” he told reporters.

"The letters are better. It is much easier to send a letter," Trump added.

Trump has suggested that the reciprocal tariffs could go even higher, potentially reaching 70 per cent for some countries, and take effect from August 1.

The US President in April unveiled a base tariff of 10 per cent on most goods entering the country, along with higher rates for certain countries, including China. Those elevated tariffs were later suspended till July 9.