Pakistani militants kill six police in eight coordinated attacks across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Reuters,

Militants launched eight overnight gun-and-grenade assaults on police stations, checkpoints and patrols across seven districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing six officers and wounding at least nine more, authorities said. Some attackers used rocket-propelled grenades. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility. The spike in violence underscores the strain on Pakistan’s under-resourced provincial police as the country marks Independence Day. Islamabad accuses the TTP of staging operations from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan, a charge Kabul denies. The attacks highlight continuing cross-border security frictions and raise concerns over further escalation in Pakistan’s northwest.

E3 warn Iran of UN ‘snapback’ sanctions as talks deadline nears

AP,

Britain, France and Germany formally warned they will trigger the UN “snapback” mechanism if Iran does not re-engage on its nuclear commitments by the end of August. In a letter posted by France’s foreign minister, the E3 said Tehran must resume cooperation with the IAEA after contact collapsed in the wake of June strikes on Iranian nuclear-related sites. A former Iranian foreign minister warned Tehran could quit the NPT if snapback proceeds. Diplomats say limited cooperation could delay sanctions, but the E3 insist Iran still has time to return to talks.

Germany pledges $500m more for Kyiv as Zelenskyy says Putin is ‘bluffing’ before Alaska summit

The Guardian,

Germany announced a fresh €460–€500 million military aid package focused on air defense as European leaders coordinate ahead of Friday’s Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska. NATO’s secretary-general welcomed the support amid intensified Russian strikes in eastern Ukraine. In consultations with EU leaders and the UK, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy argued Moscow is feigning interest in peace to gain leverage. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said a ceasefire is possible but stressed continued pressure on Russia. The package and statements signal Europe’s intent to shape any prospective ceasefire terms and maintain Ukraine’s air defense during a volatile phase of the war.

Israeli strikes kill scores in Gaza as humanitarian toll mounts

Al Jazeera,

Israeli attacks intensified around Gaza City and Rafah, with at least 100 Palestinians reported killed across the enclave in the past day and dozens more wounded, according to local authorities. Separate reports said several hunger-related deaths were recorded amid continuing access constraints for aid. Strikes hit residential areas and an aid point, as wide swaths of northern Gaza were described as “lifeless wastelands.” The surge comes as regional and international actors debate ceasefire frameworks and humanitarian corridors, and rights groups warn of worsening famine conditions. Israel says operations target armed factions embedded among civilians.

Trump’s 50% tariff shocks India’s factories; projects put on ice

Bloomberg,

India’s manufacturing plans absorbed a fresh blow after President Donald Trump doubled U.S. tariffs on Indian exports to 50%. India’s largest shoemaker, Farida Group, froze a major export-hub investment in Tamil Nadu following the announcement, highlighting risks for New Delhi’s ambition to win supply-chain shifts from China. The tariff shock lands amid broader U.S. trade moves that include novel revenue-sharing for China-bound AI chips. Indian exporters face thinner margins and potential layoffs if buyers pass on orders or demand price cuts, while policymakers weigh targeted relief and market diversification.

US-brokered Armenia–Azerbaijan deal reopens Silk Route corridor, shifting South Caucasus calculus

South China Morning Post,

A U.S.-mediated framework between Armenia and Azerbaijan paves the way to reopen a key corridor linking mainland Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan, reviving a shortest-path Silk Route between China and Europe for the first time since the Soviet collapse. The accord, reached last week and still facing political hurdles, could reroute trade flows, reduce Moscow’s leverage and complicate Tehran’s regional ambitions. Analysts say implementation, security guarantees and domestic ratification in Armenia remain critical. The deal underscores Washington’s renewed imprint on a strategic transit nexus bridging the Caspian, Turkiye and the Black Sea.

UN plastics treaty talks hit stalemate on final day over production caps

France 24,

Negotiators seeking a global pact to curb plastic pollution entered a decisive final day with “no agreement in sight,” as a widely criticized draft omitted limits on virgin plastic production and did not address toxic additives. Roughly 100 countries back binding caps, while oil-producing states favor a narrower waste-management focus. Civil society groups staged protests outside the UN offices, urging an ambitious, cradle-to-grave deal. Failure would prolong fragmented national rules and leave cleanup burdens on developing states already facing waste inflows, negotiators warned. Talks could spill over if delegates cannot bridge the core divide.

Seoul seeks Trump’s help after Pyongyang snubs outreach, disputes demilitarization signals

Anadolu Agency,

South Korea turned to President Trump to revive inter-Korean diplomacy after North Korea rejected conciliatory moves and questioned reports it had scaled back border loudspeaker propaganda. Following months of missile tests and stalled contacts, officials in Seoul said Washington’s leverage is pivotal ahead of broader U.S.–Russia and regional talks. Pyongyang’s messaging — via Kim Yo Jong and state media — signals little appetite for concessions. The appeal to Washington highlights Seoul’s balancing act: maintaining deterrence while keeping channels open to reduce miscalculation risks on the peninsula.