‘CONFIDENT RUSSIA WILL LOSE THIS WAR’: ZELENSKY

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Denmark brought a surge of optimism as Denmark and the Netherlands pledged to supply F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. The initial six F-16s are set to arrive around New Year, following Washington's timely approval. Zelensky, addressing a crowd outside the Danish parliament, declared, "Today we are confident that Russia will lose this war," emphasizing the stakes for Russia's neighbors.

Russia, however, cautioned against escalation, stating that donated weapons should be used within Ukraine's borders. Denmark will provide 19 F-16s in total, marking a significant development in Ukraine's counteroffensive that began in June.

Despite the F-16s' importance in securing air superiority, making Ukrainian squadrons combat-ready could take "four or five years," according to US Air Force Gen. James Hecker. Initial pilot training, focused on language skills, has commenced. Challenges remain, including maintenance, spare parts, runway upkeep, protective shelters, and determining weapon supplies.

Nevertheless, Ukraine's commitment to defending its sovereignty remains unwavering as it navigates these complexities to bolster its military capabilities.

‘SAUDI BORDER GUARDS KILLED HUNDREDS OF ETHIOPIAN MIGRANTS’

Saudi border guards fired “like rain” on Ethiopian migrants trying to cross into the Gulf kingdom from Yemen, killing hundreds since last year, Human Rights Watch said in a report on Monday.

The allegations, described as “unfounded” by a Saudi government source, point to a significant escalation of abuses along the perilous route from the Horn of Africa to Saudi Arabia, where hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians live and work.

One 20-year-old woman from Ethiopia said Saudi border guards opened fire on a group of migrants they had just released from custody. “They fired on us like rain. When I remember, I cry,” she said.

Systematic abuse

The New York-based group has documented abuses against Ethiopian migrants in Saudi Arabia and Yemen for nearly a decade, but the latest killings appear to be “widespread and systematic” and may amount to crimes against humanity, it said.

UKRAINIAN DRONE DESTROYS RUSSIAN SUPERSONIC BOMBER

A Ukrainian drone reportedly destroyed a Russian Tu-22 bomber at the Soltsy-2 airbase near St Petersburg. Moscow claims the drone was damaged by small-arms fire but damaged the plane. Two attack drones were downed over Moscow, with two more intercepted near the Ukrainian border. Flights were temporarily suspended at Moscow's major airports but later resumed. The Tu-22 bomber, capable of supersonic speeds, has been used in Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. The incident raises tensions between the two nations, though Ukraine has not commented on the situation.

TWO HURT IN DRONE ATTACK IN MOSCOW, FLIGHTS DISRUPTED

At least two people were injured on Monday when parts of a Ukrainian drone destroyed by Russian air defences fell on a house in the Moscow region, the regional governor said. Nearly 90 airplane flights in and out of the capital were disrupted after Russia said it jammed a Ukrainian drone in the Ruzsky district west of the capital and destroyed another one in the Istrinsky district. Arrivals and departures from Moscow’s four main airports were restricted, disrupting 45 passenger planes and two cargo planes, the aviation authority said.

WAGNER CHIEF PRIGOZHIN SEEN IN FIRST VIDEO ADDRESS SINCE COUP ATTEMPT

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, has surfaced in a video suggesting he is in Africa, though the location is unverified. The video, posted on Telegram, shows Prigozhin in combat gear, discussing Wagner's activities on the continent, including mining exploration and fighting militants. Wagner is believed to have thousands of fighters in Africa, particularly in countries like Mali and the Central African Republic, where allegations of war crimes have arisen. The UK has recently imposed sanctions on Wagner's leaders in the Central African Republic, accusing them of torture and civilian killings. Prigozhin also claims the group is combating ISIS and Al-Qaeda in Africa.

CHINA LODGES COMPLAINT OVER CAMP DAVID REMARK BY KOREA, JAPAN, U.S.

BEIJING: China said it had lodged complaints over a statement released at a first-of-its-kind summit of the leaders of the U.S., South Korea and Japan in which they criticised Beijing's "aggressive behaviour" in disputes in the East and South China Sea. U.S. President Joe Biden hosted the summit at the Camp David presidential retreat.

PAKISTAN TO COMPENSATE OVER 100 CHRISTIANS WHO LOST THEIR HOMES IN RIOTS

Authorities in Pakistan are promising 2 million Pakistani rupees ($6,800) in compensation for each of the nearly 100 poor Christians who lost their homes when a Muslim mob angered over the alleged desecration of a Koran stormed their neighbourhoods, burning at least 19 churches and damaging houses.

The police said they have arrested dozens more rioters in ongoing raids, bringing the total number of detainees to 160.

Mohsin Naqvi, the top official in Punjab province, made the compensation announcement a day after he visited Jaranwala in Punjab, where hundreds of Muslims went on a rampage on last Wednesday over allegations that a Christian man and his friend had desecrated the Koran.

Mr. Naqvi held a Cabinet meeting at a burned church in Jaranwala to get approval for the compensation in the presence of local priests and residents.

Hundreds of terrified Christians who fled their homes have returned only to see destruction everywhere. They have been living outside their burned homes, fearing the structures may collapse.

TRUMP SLAMS HIGH INDIA TAXES, SAYS WILL RECIPROCATE IF VOTED TO POWER

WASHINGTON: Former U.S. President and Republican candidate Donald Trump has once again raised the issue of high taxes in India on certain American products, in particular the iconic Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and has threatened to slap reciprocal tax if he is voted to power in the 2024 presidential elections.

TRUMP SAYS HE WILL BE ARRESTED ON THURSDAY IN GEORGIA ELECTION CASE

Donald Trump plans to turn himself in on Thursday in Georgia to face charges of election interference. A judge has set bail at $200,000 with conditions that Trump does not intimidate witnesses or obstruct justice. He faces 13 charges, including racketeering and false statements. The court order also restricts his social media posts related to the case. Trump criticized the district attorney and suggested the conditions imply a risk of him fleeing the country, adding a sarcastic remark about flying commercially.

PAK’S TOP PROBE AGENCY GETS CUSTODY OF IMRAN’S FOREIGN MINISTER IN CIPHER CASE

Former Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has been granted four days' physical remand in a cipher case. He is accused of revealing classified information from a diplomatic cable for political gain, along with former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The Federal Investigation Agency presented Qureshi before a special court for a case under the Official Secrets Act. The law was amended to allow the trial and possible conviction of Imran Khan under the same act. President Arif Alvi has stirred controversy by claiming he did not approve the amendments to the act, but it became law after he neither approved nor disapproved the bills.

IMRAN FACES CHARGES OVER STATE SECRETS

Pakistani authorities have opened a criminal investigation against jailed former PM Imran Khan on charges of leaking state secrets, after naming him and three aides in a fresh case, a top security source said on Monday. Khan is currently serving a three-year sentence in a graft case. “Our investigation is collecting evidence to stand a case in a court to indict Imran Khan on charges of leaking official secrets,” a security source, who is directly responsible for the investigation, said. Under the Official Secrets Act, a guilty sentence could range from two to 14 years in prison or even death.

NZ PROBING EXPLOITATION OF WORKERS FROM INDIA, B’DESH

Wellington : New Zealand is investigating the exploitation of 115 Indian and Bangladeshi nationals who were promised employment but faced unhygienic and unsanitary living conditions. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is conducting an in-depth probe into the case. These individuals paid substantial sums for visas and jobs but have not received paid employment. The Indian High Commission has provided support to these workers, who arrived on Accredited Employment Work Visas (AEWV).

BEZOS’ BLUE ORIGIN METHANE EMISSIONS SPOTTED FROM SPACE

Methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, is thought to be responsible for more than a quarter of global warming experienced to date. Most of the problem stems from just a few kinds of places: natural gas wells and pipelines, cattle feedlots, coal mines, rice paddies, and landfills.But occasionally, the scientists who hunt for large methane releases find them in surprising spots. Such was the case on June 4, when a plume of the gas was detected at the sprawling ranch in West Texas where billionaire Jeff Bezos tests space rockets. It turns out that Bezos’s space company, Blue Origin, routinely emits the stuff because it’s developing a rocket that runs on liquefied natural gas, which is almost pure methane. The June release was detected by an instrument on board the

International Space Station. Nonprofit Carbon Mapper analysed the readings and estimated the gas was escaping at about 1.5 metric tonnes per hour. There’s no indication of how long it lasted. A spokeswoman for Blue Origin declined to comment on how much gas was released. “There were no issues or reporting thresholds exceeded,” she said.

GAS PRICES RISE ON FEARS OF STRIKES IN AUSTRALIA

Concerns about a potential strike at Australia's North West Shelf liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility have led to an increase in wholesale gas prices in Europe. The Offshore Alliance union has warned of a possible strike if a pay deal isn't reached by September 2. This has caused benchmark gas prices in the EU and UK to rise by about 10%. The strike could disrupt LNG shipments from Australia, a major global supplier. Workers at two other LNG facilities, Gorgon and Wheatstone, are also considering strike action, collectively making up about 10% of the world's LNG supply.