Pakistan's worst monsoon floods leave over a thousand dead

Today's headlines: Trump discusses the future of TikTok in the United States with Xi Jinping; Chinese executive convicted in the US for trafficking fentanyl precursors; Taliban remove university books written by women, British couple freed after eight months; South Korean court fines internet user for defaming virtual K-pop band; Israel halts aid to Gaza from Jordan after deadly attack on Allenby crossing.

PAKISTAN

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has declared the 2025 monsoon season officially over, calling it one of the deadliest and most destructive in Pakistan's history. Torrential rains and flooding that began on 26 June have caused at least 1,006 deaths nationwide. Punjab was one of the worst-hit regions, recording nearly 300 deaths since the start of the monsoon season. More than 44.7 million people in the province have suffered damage; authorities warn that the damage could have serious long-term consequences for food security.

USA - CHINA

Trump said he had agreed with Xi Jinping during a telephone call on a deal for the future of TikTok's operations in the United States, which would involve the sale of the business to US investors. Then, in the United States, the US Department of Justice announced a 25-year prison sentence for the executive of a Chinese company for trafficking chemicals used in the production of fentanyl. Along with Wang Qingzhou, 37, an executive at Amarvel Biotech, a Wuhan-based company, Chen Yiyi, 33, a marketing manager, was also sentenced to 15 years. The substances were disguised as “everyday goods”, and the company collected payment “via cryptocurrency”.

AFGHANISTAN

The Taliban government has removed books written by women from university curricula as part of a new ban that also prohibits the teaching of human rights and sexual harassment. Approximately 140 books written by women are among the 680 texts considered “troubling” due to “anti-Sharia and anti-Taliban content”. Meanwhile, a British couple has been released after being detained for nearly eight months by the Taliban

SOUTH KOREA

A court in South Korea has ordered a social media user to pay 500,000 won (approximately £300) for defaming a K-pop boy band whose members are virtual characters. The five members of the K-pop group Plave are voiced and animated using motion capture technology by real artists, who remain anonymous. The ruling, which has been public since May, was made public this month: it emphasises that one can be sued for defamation against virtual stars.

ISRAEL - GAZA - JORDAN

As bombing and the Israeli ground offensive continue in Gaza City, the IDF declares that it is using “unprecedented force”. Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has announced the closure of the aid entrance from Jordan due to Thursday's deadly attack at the Allenby crossing, favouring “other routes” until the investigation is complete. Two Israeli soldiers were shot dead by a Jordanian citizen driving a truck carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.

ARMENIA - AZERBAIJAN

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pašinyan, told the press that he is not opposed to disarming the “Trump Corridor” leading to the Azerbaijani enclave of Nakhchivan, transferring all positions and weapons to other areas, provided that this “takes place on a completely reciprocal basis” with Azerbaijan, including in all other directions and critical areas.

POLAND - BELARUS

The closure of the border between Belarus and Poland, initially decided as a temporary measure during the Zapad -2025 military exercises, has been confirmed by Warsaw “until full security is guaranteed” and risks creating an international crisis, as 90% of commercial rail transport from China to Europe passes through Belarus, amounting to a total of €25 billion per year, and now everything is blocked.

• Asia
• Today