WORLD
Russia to enlarge armed forces by 137,000 soldiers
The amount of military staff will be increased to 1,150,628 from 1,013,628 as was stipulated in a presidential decree signed in November 2017, Xinhua news agency reported. The new order will enter into force on January 1, 2023. The announcement by the Russian president came a day after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine reached its six-month mark.
Shehbaz Sharif cancels UK visit as Pakistan declares floods as national emergency
On his part, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has cancelled his visit to the United Kingdom and is heading back from Qatar to chair a meeting to review flood relief activities, Samaa TV reported. In a statement issued on Thursday, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb termed the flood situation in the country as a national emergency.
'Didn't have any advance notice': Biden breaks silence on FBI's Trump raid
"I didn't have any advance notice. None, zero. Not one single bit. Thank you," replied Biden when asked by a journalist about it after he concluded his speech announcing student forgiveness. Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked the President if he knew about the raid ahead of time. "Mr President, how much advance notice did you have of the FBI's plan to search Mar-a-Lago," he asked.
Taiwan boosts defence budget by 13.9%
According to the proposal, the total expenditure involving national defence in 2023 will amount to 586.3 billion Taiwan dollars (TWD) ($19.4 billion), reports dpa news agency. It includes 108.3 billion TWD for the purchase of advanced fighter jets, among other things. The Chinese military held large-scale manoeuvres around Taiwan earlier this month in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island on August 2.
Negotiations inch forward on deal to restore Iran nuke deal
Iran received a response from the US administration on Wednesday to EU foreign affairs envoy Josep Borrell's compromise proposal for the text of the agreement, reports dpa news agency. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Thursday that Tehran would now carefully examine the US response and then immediately announce its decision to the EU.
Japan's police chief steps down over Abe assassination
"As we push ahead with new security arrangements, it is natural to approach the matter with a new line-up of people," Nakamura told reporters here. The 67-year-old former leader was shot in the back at close range by an ex-military man with a home-made gun during a campaign speech in the city of Nara on July 8. The assassination shocked the country, known for its low crime rate and extremely strict gun laws.
Imran being told to stop confrontation with military
Pervez Khattak, the former Defence Minister, is also making efforts, they added. From the PML-Q, the coalition partner of PTI in Punjab, the province's Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi and his son Moonis are also pressing Khan to cool down. The PTI Chairman is being advised that confrontation with the establishment will not benefit the party or him. He is warned that it will be damaging for the PTI as well as for the institution and the country, The News reported. These sources indicate that these efforts may soften Khan vis-a-vis the military establishment and in the coming days such a change could be noticed.
President Biden admin issues final rule on protections for 'Dreamers'
The rule, set to go into effect October 31, codifies into federal regulation the 2012 programme that shields more than 600,000 undocumented immigrants from deportation and allows them to work legally in the US, reports dpa news agency. For the past 10 years, the programme has been governed by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memorandum. "Today, we are taking another step to do everything in our power to preserve and fortify DACA, an extraordinary program that has transformed the lives of so many Dreamers," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement late Wednesday.
Israeli Prime Minister blasts 'bad' proposal to restore Iran nuke deal
"On the table right now is a bad deal," Lapid told here on Wednesday, arguing it will result in Tehran having $100 billion more a year at its disposal due to lifting of sanctions. "This money will not build schools or hospitals. This is a $100 billion a year that will be used to undermine stability in the Middle East and spread terror around the globe."
Swedish Foreign Minister confirms NATO talks with Turkey on Friday
"The issue is how we should follow up on the agreement that Turkey, Sweden and Finland reached during the NATO summit in Madrid, which was a precondition for Turkey to agree to Sweden's and Finland's requests," Linde told broadcaster SVT on Wednesday. New members must be unanimously approved but Turkey has blocked Sweden and Finland's accession to NATO.
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