Gohar Rasheed shares powerful reminder about love and respect

At least 13 people, including a child, were killed after Ukrainian drones struck the Russian republic of Tatarstan, according to local officials. The overnight attack targeted areas around Nizhnekamsk, located more than 1,100 kilometres from Ukraine. Authorities said another 75 people were injured in the strikes. Ukraine’s Armed Forces said a major oil facility in the city was hit. The attack reportedly continued for several hours, with explosions, fires and thick smoke reported in the area. Images circulating online showed large columns of smoke rising over Nizhnekamsk as emergency sirens sounded. The authenticity of all footage and details could not be independently verified. The Uzbek consulate in Tatarstan said seven of those killed were Uzbek citizens. Russian media reported that many of the victims were staying at a hostel when the attack occurred. Russia’s Investigative Committee said civilians were present in the area where the drones struck. Russian officials condemned the attack and warned that those responsible would face severe punishment. Tatarstan leader Rustam Minnikhanov expressed condolences to the families of those killed. Nizhnekamsk Mayor Radmir Belayev described the loss of life as a major tragedy for the city. Ukraine has increasingly carried out long-range drone attacks against Russian energy and industrial facilities. Kyiv says such sites contribute to Russia’s military operations by supporting its economy, logistics and weapons production. Ukrainian officials said the facilities targeted in Nizhnekamsk are connected to Russia’s war effort. They argued that striking such infrastructure is intended to reduce Moscow’s ability to sustain its military campaign. Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air-defence forces intercepted or destroyed more than 450 Ukrainian drones overnight across several regions. Authorities also reported fires at an industrial facility in the Siberian Tyumen region after several drones were reportedly brought down nearby. The Nizhnekamsk facility had previously been targeted in a drone attack in June, highlighting the growing reach of Ukraine’s campaign against Russian energy infrastructure. The latest strike is among the deadliest reported attacks inside Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Ukraine has intensified its use of long-range drones in recent months, frequently targeting oil refineries, warehouses and other facilities it considers strategically important. Russia has continued its own large-scale missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities. The escalation has increased concerns over civilian casualties on both sides. Last week, a combined Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv reportedly killed 21 people.

The United States and Japan have launched an extraordinary joint currency intervention to prop up the Japanese yen after it plummeted toward a fresh 40-year low. The coordinated market operation aimed to curb severe exchange rate volatility and lower the escalating costs of imported food and energy burdening Japanese consumers and businesses. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the bilateral action, while financial analysts noted that the move helped prevent Tokyo from dumping massive tranches of US government bonds to raise capital. Bank of Japan data indicates that Tokyo sold approximately 59 billion dollars in market reserves alongside parallel purchasing from Washington following political support from US President Donald Trump.

Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing has arrived in Thailand for an official state visit, marking his first international trip to a neighbouring democracy since assuming the role of civilian president following highly contested national elections. The visit comes despite international condemnation surrounding Min Aung Hlaing’s role as the chief commander responsible for the 2017 campaign of mass violence and expulsion against Muslim Rohingyas in Rakhine State. Already subject to Western sanctions and target of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant application for crimes against humanity, the former general faces renewed calls for accountability. Human rights organisations, including the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, have petitioned international judiciaries to coordinate with Thai authorities to execute active arrest warrants regarding acts of genocide and persecution. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul received Min Aung Hlaing with full diplomatic honours at Government House in Bangkok, including an official guard of honour and a scheduled state dinner. The two leaders are set to preside over a bilateral business forum aimed at bolstering economic ties, cross-border security, and trade infrastructure between the nations. Thailand’s formal reception of Min Aung Hlaing highlights a policy of “calibrated re-engagement” with Naypyidaw, separating Bangkok from several Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) members that continue to exclude Myanmar’s leadership over unfulfilled peace commitments. While Thai officials maintain that direct high-level dialogue is essential to address shared border concerns and transnational crime, rights campaigners argue that hosting the general grants undeserved diplomatic legitimacy to an administration accused of severe human rights violations.