South Korea's military has detected North Korea dismantling some propaganda loudspeakers along the border, following similar moves by South Korea. This comes as President Lee Jae Myung's engagement policy towards Pyongyang appears to be yielding cautious optimism in Seoul. However, North Korean diplomat Kim Yo-jong has denied reports of a potential US-North Korea dialogue, calling them "false suppositions."
Pakistan's National Assembly passed the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which restores preventive detention powers for military and civil forces to detain individuals suspected of terrorism for up to three months. The bill was presented by Talal Chaudhry, Pakistan's Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control, and was approved after a clause-by-clause reading. The amendment reintroduces Section 11EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), which had expired in 2016 due to a sunset clause. The law allows authorities to detain individuals based on credible intelligence or reasonable suspicion to preempt terrorist activities, and establishes Joint Interrogation Teams (JITs) to carry out in-depth investigations.
Pakistan's Economic Affairs Division has identified Rs98.56 billion in financial irregularities for the 2023-24 fiscal year, mainly due to non-recovery of long-outstanding foreign loans. The Auditor General urges the government to pursue these un-recovered loans at high diplomatic and political levels. A significant case involves a cement plant loan of €67.646 million (approximately Rs20.57 billion) from a French bank in 1994, which remains unpaid despite multiple interventions by the Economic Coordination Committee and legal consultations. The audit also reports non-recovery of foreign loans worth US$304.50 million (around Rs85.26 billion) provided to countries including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Iraq, Sudan, and Guinea Bissau during the 1980s and 1990s.
The Philippines and Laos reaffirmed their commitment to supporting each other's national development priorities, including human resource development, gender equality, and women's empowerment. Laos pledged closer cooperation in these areas as well as in energy, agriculture, ICT, and education. The agreement was made during ASEAN bilateral cooperation, with Singapore playing a key role in facilitating the talks.
Pakistani Acting Governor of Punjab, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, emphasized the importance of mutual respect, trust, and affection in Pakistan-China relations. He highlighted China's cooperation as crucial to Pakistan's development and progress, stating that CPEC is key not only for Pakistan but also for regional prosperity. During a meeting with Chinese Consul General Zhao Shiren, they agreed on promoting bilateral ties, exchanging parliamentary delegations, and expanding cooperation in new sectors.
Vladimir Putin has outlined his conditions for a broader peace in Ukraine, demanding that Kyiv cede the annexed regions of Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk, despite Russia's limited control over these areas. He also wants Ukraine to renounce its bid to join NATO, limit the size of its armed forces, and recognize Russian as an official language alongside Ukrainian. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected these conditions, insisting that any peace deal must include robust security guarantees for Ukraine to protect it from future Russian aggression.
Aid officials and truckers have reported obstacles in delivering humanitarian supplies to Gaza, including rejections due to minor issues with packing and paperwork, as well as scrutiny over potential dual military use of goods. The cargo, carrying medical supplies from the World Health Organization, was blocked at Egypt's Rafah border crossing without explanation. The Israeli military authority failed to respond to questions about the issue, hindering aid efforts organized by the Elders group, led by Nelson Mandela.
Rehan Naseem Bharara, President of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI), congratulated Pakistan on its 78th Independence Day, urging the nation to make collaborative efforts for solidarity and progress. He praised the country's armed forces under Field Marshal Hafiz Asim Munir for their military and diplomatic successes. Bharara emphasized the need for environmental conservation, noting that despite low global warming impact, Pakistan is among the most affected countries. He encouraged Pakistani youth to plant saplings on Independence Day instead of engaging in reckless stunts, highlighting the importance of extensive plantation to make Pakistan a lush green country and mitigate threats like floods.
The US State Department has acknowledged Russia's concerns over Telegram and WhatsApp, stating they are aware of the issues. Russian officials have repeatedly requested these platforms to take action against fraud and terrorism on their services. In response, Telegram and WhatsApp had ignored these requests, prompting Russia to block their voice calls and messaging services. The Russian government is now demanding that these platforms comply with local laws by opening legal entities in Russia and cooperating with authorities, after which the blocking measures will be lifted.