RUSSIA HAS SUFFICIENT STOCKPILE OF CLUSTER BOMBS, SAYS PUTIN

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview published on Sunday that Russia has a “sufficient stockpile” of cluster munitions, and warned that Russia “reserves the right to take reciprocal action” if Ukraine uses the controversial weapons.

In his first comments on the delivery of cluster munitions to Ukraine from the U.S., Mr. Putin said that Russia has not used cluster bombs in its war in Ukraine so far. The use of cluster bombs by both Russia and Ukraine has been widely documented, including by the Associated Press and international humanitarian organisations, and cluster rounds have been found in the aftermath of Russian strikes.

“Until now, we have not done this, we have not used it, and we have not had such a need,” he said.

Rossiya TV reporter Pavel Zarubin published excerpts of the interview to his Telegram channel on Sunday.

The Pentagon said on Thursday that cluster munitions provided by the U.S. had arrived in Ukraine.

Cluster bombs have long been criticised by humanitarian groups, and some U.S. allies, because those used in previous conflicts have had a high “dud rate,” meaning that they often leave behind unexploded bomblets that can harm civilians long after a battle has ended.

US SECRETARY CALLS FOR CHINA'S COOPERATION IN ADDRESSING GLOBAL CHALLENGES

Speaking before a meeting with G20 finance ministers, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen emphasized the shared responsibility of the United States and China to address global economic needs. Yellen highlighted the significance of China's economic slowdown, given its role as a major importer for many countries. She stressed the necessity for US-China cooperation in order to make progress in tackling global challenges. Yellen mentioned that debt and climate change were specific topics discussed. During her recent visit to China, Yellen engaged in conversations with her Chinese counterparts, who expressed a welcoming and favorable business environment in China. There is a mutual desire for foreign investment in the country, which was echoed by American businesses eager to invest in China.

PAK POLL IN NOV? PM SAYS GOVT TO QUIT BEFORE TERM’S END NEXT MONTH

Islamabad : Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif announced Sunday that his government would transfer power to an interim setup before the current National Assembly’s tenure concludes next month, indicating that general elections may be held in November thisyear.

The five-year term of the National Assemblyis set to end on August 12 with the coalition led by PMSharif. With only four weeks remaining in office, PM Sharif has intensified his political engagements, holding meetings with his coalition partners to determine the timing of upcoming elections and finalise the interim government team that will assume power upon completion or dissolution of the National Assembly. One of themeetings took place between PM Sharif and former President Asif Ali Zardari in Lahore on Saturday.

Sources disclosed they discussed the possibility of dissolving National Assembly a few days before its term ends to facilitate polls in November.

BLACK SEA GRAIN DEAL HANGS ON 11TH-HOUR TALKS

The final ship under a UN-brokered deal for safe Black Sea export of Ukrainian grain left Odesa port on Sunday. Russia has not registered any new ships since June 27, and the agreement will expire on Monday unless extended. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres awaits a response from Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding an extension proposal. Putin stated that obstacles to Russian food and fertilizer exports have not been resolved. Russia has threatened to quit the deal, which was brokered by the UN and Turkey in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Both Ukraine and Russia are major grain exporters.

DANGEROUS HEATWAVES FELT ACROSS GLOBE AS WILDFIRES RAGE

Scorching weather across Asia, Europe, and the U.S. is fueling wildfires and threatening to break temperature records as the impacts of global warming become evident. Japan issued heatstroke alerts to millions of people as near-record high temperatures and heavy rain battered the country. The United States is experiencing an extreme heatwave from California to Texas, with Death Valley potentially reaching temperatures exceeding 54 degrees Celsius. Southern California is also dealing with multiple wildfires. In Europe, Italians were warned of an intense heatwave, with predictions of historic highs triggering red alerts in cities like Rome, Bologna, and Florence.

US’ KERRY IN CHINA TO RESTART CLIMATE TALKS

US climate envoy John Kerry arrived in China on Sunday, to restart stalled talks between the world’s two biggest emitters of planet-warming gases. Starting on Monday, “China and the US will have an in-depth exchange of views” on climate issues, state broadcaster CCTV said. Kerry’s trip to China, where he will meet with his counterpart Xie Zhenhua, follows weeks of record-setting summer heat that scientists say is being exacerbated by climate change. Nearly 200 nations will gather in United Arab Emirates for COP28 to thrash out ways to mitigate global warming and its impacts.

DEADLY FLOODING IN SOUTH KOREA KILLS 37

Rescuers battled on Sunday to reach people trapped in a flooded tunnel in South Korea, where at least 37 people have died and nine are missing after heavy rains caused flooding and landslides. South Korea is at the peak of its summer monsoon season, and there has been heavy rainfall for the last four days, causing a major dam to overflow.

U.K. FORMALLY SIGNS UP TO TRANS-PACIFIC TRADING BLOC

The U.K. government on Sunday hailed what it said was its biggest trade deal since Brexit, as it formally signed a treaty to join a major Indo-Pacific bloc.

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch signed the accession protocol for the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in New Zealand.

It makes the U.K. the first new member and first European nation to join the bloc since it was created in 2018.

The CPTPP comprises Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

DACOITS ATTACK TEMPLE IN PAK. WITH ROCKET LAUNCHERS

A Hindu temple was attacked with rocket launchers by a gang of dacoits in the southern Sindh province of Pakistan on Sunday, in the second such incident of vandalism of a place of worship belonging to the minority community in less than two days.

The assailants attacked the small temple built by the local Hindu community and adjoining homes belonging to members of the minority community in the Kashmore area of the Sindh province.

The attack came after the Mari Mata Temple in Karachi’s Soldier Bazar was razed to the ground by bulldozers in the presence of a heavy contingent of police force late on Friday night.

150-YR-OLD TEMPLE RAZED IN KARACHI OVER ‘STRUCTURAL ISSUES’

A Hindu temple, believed to be built nearly 150 years ago, has been demolished after being declared an old and dangerous structure in Karachi, leaving the Hindu community inshock. The Mari Mata Temple in Soldier Bazar was razed to the ground by bulldozers in the presence of police late on Friday night. Ram Nath Mishra Maharaj, who looks after the old temple, said the area had been the target of land grabbers for years now.

TWITTER OWNER MUSK SAYS PLATFORM HAS LOST HALF ITS ADVERTISING REVENUE

NEW YORK: Twitter has lost roughly half of its advertising revenue, according to owner Elon Musk, since he bought the social media platform for $44 billion last October. “We’re still negative cash flow, due to ~50% drop in advertising revenue plus heavy debt load,” the billionaire tweeted on Saturday.

WALLACE, DEF SECY UNDER 3 UK PMS, TO QUIT POST

London : British defence secretary Ben Wallace said Sunday he plans to resign at the next Cabinet reshuffle after four years in the job.

Wallace has served as defence secretary under three prime ministers and played a key role in the UK’s response to Russia’s invasion ofUkraine. He told Sunday Times his departure was due to the strain his job had put on his family. He also said he would stand down as a lawmaker at the next general election.

Wallace is the longest continuously serving minister in government. He was security minister under former PM Theresa May, before being promoted to defense secretary by her successor Boris Johnson. Wallace drew criticism last week when he suggested that Ukraine should show “gratitude” for the West’s military support. He made the remark at the Nato summit in Lithuania . British

PM Rishi Sunak distanced himself from Wallace’s comments, saying Zelensky had “expressed his gratitude for what we’ve done on a number of occasions. ”

7.2 QUAKE TRIGGERS BRIEF TSUNAMI ALERT IN ALASKA

Washington : A 7. 2 magnitude earthquake triggered a brief tsunami advisory for southern Alaska late Saturday, but the advisory was cancelled about an hour later, monitoring bodies reported.

The earthquake was felt widely throughout the Aleutian Islands, the Alaskan Peninsula and Cook Inlet regions, according to the Alaska Earthquake Center. In Kodiak, Alaska, sirens warned of a possible tsunami and sent people driving to shelters at night, according to video posted to social media. The US Geological Survey wrote in a social media post the earthquake occurred 106 kilometers south of Sand Point, Alaska, at 10. 48pm Saturday. The quake initially was reported as 7. 4 magnitude butdowngraded to 7. 2 soon after.

MORALITY POLICE RETURN IN IRAN 10 MONTHS AFTER AMINI’S DEATH

TEHRAN: The Iranian police relaunched patrols to catch the women leaving their hair uncovered in public in defiance of a strict dress code. The move comes exactly 10 months after the September 16 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22, triggered protests and saw morality police disappear from the streets, while flouted the law.

OIL TO BE PUMPED FROM DECAYING YEMEN TANKER

A UN-owned ship arrived off war-torn Yemen on Sunday for a risky operation to pump more than a million barrels of oil from a decaying tanker and prevent a catastrophic spill.

After years of tense diplomacy between the United Nations, Yemen’s Houthi rebels and the internationally recognised government, the Nautica will soon moor alongside the FSO Safer, a rusting super-tanker in the Red Sea.

The delicate operation to transfer 1.14 million barrels of Marib Light crude to the Nautica, bought by the United Nations for the operation, is expected to begin in the coming days.

“The risk is high. The risk is very high,” said Mohammed Mudawi, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) project manager for the ship Safer.

“But we are hoping with the completion of the project that this will be eliminated.”

Maintenance operations on the Safer were suspended in 2015 because of Yemen’s war, and the UNDP has for years warned it could “explode at any time”.

A major spill could result in ecological disaster, devastate Yemeni fishing communities, and close lifeline ports and desalination plants.

The potential spill — which could cost more than $20 billion to clean up — would possibly reach Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia.