Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday, reiterating Islamabad’s strong condemnation of recent Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia’s civilian and economic infrastructure. The outreach came as Pakistan appeared to step back from its military posture against the Iran-backed group, prompting an apparent diplomatic damage-control effort. Islamabad sought to reassure Riyadh of its commitment to the defence pact while clarifying that the Mecca defence agreement does not automatically require Pakistani forces to launch offensive operations against the Houthis. The clarification appeared to temper Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s earlier suggestion that the pact could be activated if Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia continued, highlighting Pakistan’s effort to balance its commitments.

Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson criticised Vladimir Putin after a Russian drone targeted a railway line he was travelling on in Ukraine. Johnson was alerted at 5am on Sunday while returning from a security conference in Kyiv, after another passenger train behind his was evacuated near Yagodyn, close to the Polish border. Johnson said he did not know what “warped logic” drove Putin to target a stationary Ukrainian locomotive. The route was frequently used by foreign delegations returning from Kyiv, but Johnson was neither evacuated nor delayed. Ukraine’s railway operator said the drone may have been targeting a diplomatic train that departed earlier after schedules were adjusted due to Russian strikes. A train near Volyn was also hit, with no injuries reported.

The US government has linked high-resolution satellite imagery provided by Chinese entities to an Iranian ballistic missile strike that killed three American soldiers at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on July 17, according to a Wall Street Journal report. US officials said Washington had previously warned Beijing about Chinese companies allegedly providing targeting data to Iran. China has rejected the concerns and said its assistance to Tehran complies with international law. The findings could add tension ahead of a planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Experts said the satellite imagery was likely part of Iran’s wider intelligence operation. (PC: NDTV)

A Russian drone struck a passenger train near Ukraine’s border with Poland on Sunday, just minutes after a diplomatic train carrying former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other European officials had passed through the area. The attack occurred near Yahodyn, around 2 km from the Polish border. Ukraine’s railway operator said the diplomatic train had left earlier than scheduled because of security concerns and suggested it may have been the intended target. The passenger train was hit but no casualties were reported. The strike has raised fresh concerns about Russia’s attacks moving closer to NATO territory. (PC: India Today)

Leaders from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are expected to sign a joint declaration on Monday. The deal will seek the right to hold independence referendums. The leaders will meet at a summit in Cardiff. The move comes after US President Donald Trump said he would “love” to see a united Ireland. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently said he could allow another Scottish referendum if there was a “clear consensus”. However, he later said a second vote was “off-limits”. Scottish leader John Swinney said the current situation was not sustainable. Pro-independence parties now lead all three UK devolved nations.  

Israel spent around $470,000, or Rs 4.49 crore, on hair, makeup and other official expenses for its prime ministers between 2019 and August 2026. About 90% of the hair and makeup costs were linked to Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara. Spending rose sharply after Netanyahu returned as prime minister in 2023. The highest yearly spending was recorded in 2025, at about $111,000. Foreign trips also added to the costs. A four-day visit to Washington in February 2025 cost around $13,500 for hair and makeup. Officials redacted the names of stylists, citing security reasons.  

US President Donald Trump has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop attacks on Russian diesel facilities. Trump said the strikes are causing fuel shortages in Russia. “Let him go after targets but not diesel fuel,” Trump said, according to the Associated Press. He added that Ukraine’s attacks were creating a diesel shortage. Ukraine has carried out long-range strikes on Russia’s oil and gas industry in recent months. Russia has also stepped up air attacks on Ukraine, including strikes on its power grid. Meanwhile, two people were killed and 14 injured in overnight drone attacks in Russia’s Tatarstan region.

At least six people have died and around 130 remain missing after the passenger ferry Virgo Transport 8 capsized in the Java Sea on Sunday amid severe weather. The vessel was carrying 243 people, including 213 passengers and 30 crew members, while travelling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. Indonesian rescuers have so far brought more than 100 people to safety. High waves, reaching about 2.5 metres, are hampering rescue operations and creating risks for emergency teams. Helicopters and rescue vessels are searching the area, while authorities investigate the cause of the accident. 

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran wants to “turn the page” with the United Arab Emirates after a constructive meeting with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed in New Delhi. The talks, held on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, marked a significant diplomatic contact between the two countries amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Pezeshkian said Iran has no problem with the UAE or other regional countries and stressed the need to focus on future cooperation. The development comes as Gulf states seek greater regional security and dialogue. (PC: NDTV)

US President Donald Trump has dismissed growing warnings that artificial intelligence could pose an existential threat to humanity. His comments came as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and other AI leaders raised concerns about the rapid development of increasingly powerful systems. Trump said his priority was ensuring the United States remains ahead of China in AI, arguing that falling behind could put America in a difficult position. Meanwhile, researchers have warned that self-improving AI could become difficult to control and potentially cause catastrophic harm. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk have also weighed in on the growing debate over AI safety. (PC: AP)