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Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang, delivering greetings from President Vladimir Putin and expressing gratitude for Pyongyang’s support of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Reuters reported.

The visit came shortly after a phone call between Putin and Kim, ahead of Putin’s planned talks with US President Donald Trump in Alaska on Friday.

According to Reuters, Kim marked the 80th anniversary of liberation from Japanese rule with a letter to Putin, praising the “friendship and unity” of Russian and North Korean soldiers. Both governments confirmed North Korean troop deployments to aid Russia’s offensive, while South Korea warned more forces could be sent.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged greater self-reliance in manufacturing, from fertilizers to jet engines and EV batteries, while vowing to protect farmers amid rising trade tensions with Washington, according to Reuters.

In his Independence Day address, Modi promoted “Swadeshi” goods, announced lower GST rates from October, and said India would soon launch homegrown semiconductor chips and boost critical mineral exploration.

The remarks follow US President Donald Trump’s steep new tariffs — up to 50 percent on some Indian exports — over New Delhi’s continued Russian oil imports. The move hit key sectors like textiles and jewellery and came after trade talks collapsed over farm and dairy market access. While avoiding direct mention of the US, Modi pledged to shield farmers from any harmful policy, Reuters reported.

Israel plans to build over 3,000 homes in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank, drawing criticism from the UN and EU for threatening a two-state solution and breaching international law.

Meanwhile, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens. Four more Palestinians died of hunger, bringing the total to 239, including 106 children. Israeli strikes killed at least 32 people, including aid seekers, according to Al Jazeera.

The conflict has so far killed over 61,700 in Gaza and 1,139 in Israel, with more than 200 taken captive

US President Donald Trump has vowed to help jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who faces national security charges over his pro-democracy activism. “I’m going to do everything I can to save him,” Trump told Fox News.

Lai, 77, founder of the now-closed Apple Daily, faces charges of colluding with foreign forces and sedition under Hong Kong’s 2020 national security law, and could face life imprisonment if convicted.

Detained since 2020, Lai has spent over 1,600 days in solitary confinement and has faced restrictions on legal and medical access. His trial, delayed for health reasons, is expected to conclude soon, Fox News reported.

Australia’s illicit drug use has surged, with cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and MDMA reaching record levels, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) reports. Between August 2023 and August 2024, Australians consumed an estimated 22.2 tons—a 34 percent increase from the previous year. Cocaine rose 69 percent, MDMA 49 percent, methamphetamine 21 percent, and heroin 14 percent, with a combined street value of A$11.5bn, Al Jazeera reported.

Wastewater analysis showed cannabis remains the most used illicit drug, especially in regional areas, while capital cities led in cocaine, MDMA, heroin, and ketamine use. ACIC warns organized crime is exploiting rising demand, and trends may continue until 2027.

South Korea plans to revive the 2018 September 19 Military Agreement to reduce border tensions and rebuild trust with North Korea, President Lee Jae-myung said. He stressed that Seoul will take gradual steps to prevent clashes and will not pursue hostile actions or forced unification, according to Al Jazeera.

The agreement was partially suspended in 2023 after North Korea’s satellite launch and subsequent military deployments near the Demilitarized Zone. Since taking office, Lee has halted cross-border propaganda broadcasts. North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong rejected Seoul’s gestures, saying the North has not removed any border loudspeakers.

Article 94 of our Constitution states: Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, no question or resolution shall be presented for decision in a meeting of either House of the Federal Parliament unless one-fourth of the total number of its members are present. For the members of our House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the bicameral Parliament, Aug 13 was just another day, so most of them chose to not attend the day’s meeting.

Subsequently, heeding to a request from a member of the HoR, the Speaker opted for a headcount and found only 66 members present in the 275-member chamber, short of the one-fourth of the total strength mentioned in the charter by three heads. If a request for a headcount had not come his way, would the Speaker have gone ahead with his proposal on deliberations over the Information Technology and Cybersecurity Bill?

Also, is it not the duty of the Speaker to scan the chamber, with or without a request, and see whether the required number of heads are present for discussions on matters at hand? What happened in the HoR on August 13 is nothing new, though. In the past, some big names have made their presence felt in national politics by remaining absent from HoR meetings for a record number of days. When even the stalwarts leading the nation a record number of times do not bother to ‘grace’  the parliament with their presence, there may not be much motivation for other ‘lawmakers’ to show up at the ‘talk shop’.

Also, even if the ‘lawmakers’ are physically present in the chamber, their minds appear elsewhere. A tampered Civil Service Bill making it through the chamber and reports about government plans to amend the law to legalize polygamy raise serious questions about the ‘lawmaking’ capabilities of our lawmakers.  

Besides, how many of our ‘lawmakers’ actually read draft laws, ponder over their short and long-term consequences for the country and the people, and suggest changes? How many of them opt for a vote of conscience rather than yielding to party whips? And how many even dare obstruct the House proceedings in the interest of the nation, rather than standing for powerful vested interests?

Arun Jaitley states: Parliament's job is to conduct discussions. But many a time, Parliament is used to ignoring issues, and in such situations, obstruction of Parliament is in the favour of democracy. Therefore, parliamentary obstruction is not undemocratic.

In the words of BR Ambedkar: However good a Constitution may be, if those who are implementing it are not good, it will prove to be bad. However bad a Constitution may be, if those implementing it are good, it will prove to be good. Wrapping up, the vivid image of a President paying his utmost respect to the Constitution during its promulgation in a very hard time comes to mind. Let this image frozen in time inspire our ‘lawmakers’ to take their duties as people’s representatives—and not as some overlords—more seriously. 

New Delhi is gearing up for India’s 79th Independence Day on Friday, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist the national flag and deliver his 12th consecutive address from the historic Red Fort. This year’s celebrations follow the theme ‘Naya Bharat’, reflecting the government’s vision of a developed India by 2047, Firstpost reported.

The Prime Minister will be received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, MoS Sanjay Seth, and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. Flying Officer Rashika Sharma will assist in the flag hoisting, after which flower petals will be showered from two Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopters, one carrying the national flag and the other the flag of Operation Sindoor, whose success is expected to be celebrated.

Around 5,000 guests, including winners of international sports events, the Special Olympics 2025 contingent, and Khelo India Para Games gold medalists, will attend the event. According to Firstpost, ahead of Independence Day, the Ministry of Culture also launched the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, encouraging citizens to bring the national flag into their homes as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.