U.S. President Trump said two major earthquakes in Venezuela caused heavy casualties.

Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department: May merchandise export value rose 40.8% YoY to HK$611.2 bln (April +42.9%). Imports rose 42.0% YoY to HK$655.4 bln (April +44.4%). May visible trade deficit was HK$44.2 bln, equal to 6.7% of imports. Jan–May merchandise exports climbed 36.2% YoY and imports rose 39.6%, leaving a Jan–May visible trade deficit of HK$242.2 bln, or 8.0% of imports.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned international shipping on Wednesday that any new Strait of Hormuz transit routes established without Tehran’s coordination are unacceptable and dangerous, and threatened direct action against vessels that ignore its orders. The IRGC said only Iran-designated routes are safe, and its navy added all vessels seeking transit must coordinate with Iranian forces on VHF channel 16 — a requirement that places Iranian military permission at the centre of commercial navigation through the chokepoint.