Trump extends truce with Iran until a “comprehensive proposal” is reached. Naval blockade continues

Today's headlines: Indonesia passes legislation legalising domestic workers. Myanmar: the “Proof of Life” initiative goes online, calling for concrete evidence that Aung San Suu Kyi is alive. Pakistan suspends a .5 billion arms deal with Sudan. Hong Kong government attempts to seize over million from Jimmy Lai.

IRAN - UNITED STATES

US President Trump has stated that the truce with Iran will be extended indefinitely at Pakistan’s request, to allow more time for negotiations, whilst maintaining the US naval blockade on the country’s ports. Trump wrote on social media that he would “extend the ceasefire” until Iran presented a “comprehensive proposal” to end the conflict. The extension came just hours before the scheduled deadline.

INDONESIA

The Indonesian Parliament has passed a law protecting the rights of domestic workers, more than twenty years after it was first introduced. The country has around 4.2 million domestic workers: 90% are women. Previously, they were not legally classified as workers. They will now be entitled to health insurance, rest periods and a pension. Furthermore, agencies will no longer be allowed to deduct wages, and it will be illegal to employ people under the age of 18.

MYANMAR

Aninitiative called “Proof of Life” has been launched online – shared on social media – to demand concrete proof that Aung San Suu Kyi, 80, is still alive and in good health. Activists and supporters are calling for action on social media and urging governments and international institutions to put pressure on Myanmar’s military junta, in power since the 2021 coup, to obtain transparent information on her condition whilst in captivity.

PAKISTAN - SAUDI ARABIA

According to Reuters, Pakistan has suspended a .5 billion deal to supply arms and fighter jets to Sudan, after Saudi Arabia requested its cancellation and stated it would not finance the purchase. Saudi Arabia is one of Pakistan’s closest allies, a source of loans and funding vital to Islamabad’s struggling economy. Their relationship was strengthened last year with a mutual defence pact.

HONG KONG

According to a court document made public on Tuesday, the Hong Kong government is seeking to seize over HK7 million (US.22 million) from pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai, 80, who has been in prison since 2020 and was sentenced last February to 20 years’ imprisonment. The order issued by the High Court details bank accounts, several small-scale industrial properties and shareholdings in private companies linked to Lai, who built his fortune in the clothing sector before moving into the media world.

RUSSIA - UKRAINE

The Russians attempted to eliminate Sergei “Flash” Beskrestnov, the chief adviser to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence, with four Shahed rocket-propelled missiles; he later posted a photo of himself on Facebook from his hospital bed with a victory sign and a message: “My home no longer exists; this makes me angry, but the most important thing is that I am alive by a miracle. I was mentally prepared for this turn of events, but this will not stop me”.

GEORGIA

Georgia imported .9 million worth of electricity from Russia in the first four months of this year, a record amount for the last 10 years, according to the National Statistics Institute in Tbilisi, 22 times more than in 2025, and purchased a similar amount from Turkey, as well as further supplies from Azerbaijan and Armenia, exceeding pre-pandemic energy consumption levels for the first time.