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Pakistan’s Senate Deputy Chairman Syed Ali Khan Nasar reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), calling it crucial for national and Balochistan development.

Speaking at the “CPEC in My Eyes” event, Nasar noted that travel from Quetta to Gwadar now takes 12 hours instead of 34, reflecting CPEC’s impact on ordinary citizens. He stressed involving local communities in agriculture, education, and trade to strengthen Pakistan-China cooperation, Xinhua reported.

Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong highlighted CPEC’s role in consolidating Pakistan’s development and pledged to jointly upgrade the corridor for a shared future.

At least 60 people have died and over 200 remain missing after a cloudburst struck Chositi village in Kishtwar district, Indian-controlled Kashmir, on Thursday.

The sudden downpour triggered a landslide, destroying roads and bridges and hindering rescue efforts. Authorities described the situation as challenging, with teams working to reach those affected in the remote area, according to Xinhua.

The disaster occurred about 290 km southeast of Srinagar, the region’s summer capital.

Florida, United States Governor Ron DeSantis has announced plans to open a second detention facility for undocumented immigrants, converting the closed Baker Correctional Institution in northern Florida into a “Deportation Depot” with capacity for 1,300 detainees.

The move comes just over a month after the state opened its first temporary center, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” in the Everglades, which is now facing legal challenges over environmental impact and alleged inhumane conditions. A federal judge has temporarily halted construction at that site for 14 days. The new facility is expected to be operational within three weeks, Xinhua reported.

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.