Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) President Pervez Elahi was arrested on corruption charges on Thursday. The arrest comes amid a recent crackdown on the party’s leaders, including Imran Khan, whose arrest had resulted in country-wide protests on 9 May.
US President Joe Biden said on Thursday that Sweden would join NATO “as soon as possible,” even as Turkey and Hungary are stalling the Nordic country's membership bid. He also said the alliance was more energised, united, and robust.
On Thursday, the Indian Strategic Forces Command carried out a successful training launch of a Medium-Range Ballistic Missile, Agni-1, from A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha. The missile has a proven track record of attacking its targets with high precision. The operational and technical parameters of the training launch were reported successful.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka reduced policy interest rates by 250 basis points yesterday in an effort to catalyse economic growth. This is the first interest cut after Sri Lanka experienced a “historic contraction” last year. The Central Bank claimed that a fall in inflation necessitated a cut in interest rates. Moreover, the bank believes the cut will result in high growth and further reduce inflation.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that he sees potential for India and NATO to work together. Stoltenberg also expressed concerns over Beijing’s coercive behaviour and said that NATO is working closely with its Pacific partners and India to tackle China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. During the two-day NATO informal ministers meeting in Oslo, the Sec Gen further remarked that NATO and India share common values.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi endorsed the ruling Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Responding to a question on Congress’ assessment of India’s bilateral ties with Russia given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Gandhi said that his party would react to the conflict similarly, given the significance of New Delhi’s relations with Moscow.
A regular meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan took place in Chisinau on Thursday as part of the European Political Community summit. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, convened the meeting. This time, the discussions included participation from French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “Today’s talks were very productive and were good preparation for the July 21 meeting in Brussels,” said Michel, announcing the date for the next session of negotiations.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday, following talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Moldova, that France and Germany had urged Kosovo and Serbia to hold new elections as quickly as possible in regions affected by the recent civil upheaval. Macron informed reporters, “What we have asked the two parties is very simple: the organisation as soon as possible of new elections in these four municipalities with a commitment from Kosovo.”
Japanese PM Fumio Kishida unveiled a $25 billion plan on Thursday to increase support and “increase income for the young, and the child-rearing generation,” to raise the country’s birth rate, which has been falling at “an unprecedented scale.” The policies include larger direct subsidies for those with children and more financial help for education and prenatal care.
Taiwan donated $5 million towards Lithuanian-led reconstruction projects in war-torn Ukraine, Lithuania said on Wednesday. The funds will be dedicated to rebuilding a school in Borodianka and a kindergarten in Irpin, Lithuania’s Central Project Management Agency said in a statement.