World

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif marked Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day with calls for unity and defence of sovereignty. Leaders invoked the recent military clash with India and reaffirmed support for Kashmiris, urging all parties to join hands.

Over 100 NGOs, including Oxfam and Doctors Without Borders, accused Israel of using aid as a political tool in Gaza. They warn new vetting rules endanger staff and block relief, as Israel denies the claims and blames Hamas exploitation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London ahead of the US-Russia summit in Alaska. Starmer emphasised protecting Ukraine’s borders and warned that further sanctions could follow if Russia fails to engage in meaningful ceasefire talks.

Britain’s economy expanded 0.3% in the second quarter, above forecasts of 0.1%, despite slowing from Q1’s 0.7% growth. Officials attribute the boost to a strong June performance, offering relief to the Labour government and easing pressure on public finances.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar will visit Dhaka on August 23 to meet Bangladeshi officials, including Foreign Minister Touhid Hossain. The visit reflects improved bilateral relations, resumption of direct trade, and recent visa-free agreements for officials.

World markets showed mixed performance Thursday as investors anticipate the Trump-Putin summit and US wholesale inflation data. Bitcoin briefly surged past $123,000, while global equities remained volatile amid uncertainty over Ukraine, energy sanctions, and monetary policy moves.

Heavy rains battered Seoul and nearby cities for two days, leaving at least one person dead and nearly 1,000 evacuated. Flooded roads, landslides and power outages disrupted daily life, while emergency teams rescued over 140 people and worked to restore services.

A New York woman, Micherre Fox, discovered a 2.3-carat white diamond at Arkansas’s Crater of Diamonds State Park after weeks of searching. She plans to use it in her engagement ring. It’s the park’s third-largest diamond find this year

Bitcoin surged to a record \$124,210 before easing slightly, driven by expectations of US Fed rate cuts, Trump administration’s pro-crypto reforms, and institutional buying. Ether also hit a multi-year high as overall crypto market capitalisation crossed $4.18 trillion

Yemeni authorities have launched a crackdown on migrant smuggling networks after a boat capsized off Abyan province, killing 92 Ethiopian migrants. Security forces will seize smuggling vessels and urge public cooperation to prevent further tragedies.

Three people, including an eight-year-old girl and a senior citizen, were killed and over 60 injured in Karachi due to reckless aerial firing during Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations. Authorities condemned the practice, arrested 20 suspects, and seized weapons.

The IOA has already submitted an Expression of Interest to host the CWG 2030 and now has until August 31 to put up the final bid proposal

Yemen’s Houthi group says it launched six drones targeting Haifa, Negev, Eilat and Be’er Sheva, claiming successful hits in response to Israel’s actions in Gaza. Israel has not commented. Houthis pledge more attacks until the blockade ends.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin for talks with European and US leaders ahead of the Trump-Putin summit. Kyiv and EU allies fear being sidelined from peace efforts that could hand Russia major concessions.

A Dhaka court has begun hearing a corruption case against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her nieces Azmina Siddiq and UK MP Tulip Siddiq, and others over alleged irregularities in Purbachal housing plot allocations. All accused have been listed as fugitives.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has called on Israel and Kurdish-led forces to halt actions that threaten Syria’s stability. Speaking alongside Syria’s foreign minister, he accused them of exploiting post-war instability and warned of wider regional consequences if unrest continues.

India and Singapore are expanding cooperation in semiconductors, green infrastructure, digital integration, and maritime connectivity. The Third India–Singapore Ministerial Roundtable aims to strengthen economic and strategic ties, building resilient supply chains and sustainable growth while boosting India’s access to ASEAN and Indo-Pacific markets

South Korea’s jailed ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, has been arrested over alleged bribery, stock manipulation, and political meddling. She and Yoon are the first former presidential couple jailed simultaneously, amid multiple special prosecutor probes into their conduct

Shivam Arora entered the World Games heyball semifinals in Chengdu, beating Yip Kin Ling 5-4. Sourav Kothari exited the snooker quarterfinals after a 0-2 loss to Xiao Guodong

Experience from 2018-19 shows tariffs get passed on to consumers; the 2025 round may be more inflationary, leaving US consumers with higher prices and fewer choices

Taylor Swift announced her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, after a cryptic countdown on her website. No release date was given, but vinyls ship before October 13. It’s her first album since regaining ownership of her catalog

A global study of 199 events reveals interspecies interactions between dolphins and whales, especially humpbacks, are more common than thought, often involving playful or cooperative behaviours. Using drones and social media footage, researchers found these encounters suggest complex emotional and social capabilities

A small plane carrying four people crashed into parked aircraft while landing at Montana’s Kalispell City Airport, sparking a massive fire. All aboard escaped with no serious injuries. Multiple planes were damaged as FAA and NTSB launched investigations into the cause

EU leaders urged US President Donald Trump to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty in his upcoming summit with Vladimir Putin, warning against land concessions without Kyiv’s consent. They stressed peace must respect international law, as fears grow over Russia’s ambitions and potential territorial swaps