PMDC issues advisory for Afghan medical students

North Korea is highlighting traditional foods, health advice and leisure activities as an intense heatwave sweeps across the Korean Peninsula. State media reported that temperatures in the country reached 36.7°C, the highest recorded since modern weather observations began. The extreme heat has also brought a series of unusually warm nights. With the hottest period of summer underway, North Korean media has focused heavily on ways for people to stay cool and maintain their health. One of the recommendations receiving particular attention is dog-meat soup. State media described the dish as a traditional summer food and promoted a long-standing belief that it can help people cope with extreme heat. Other foods recommended by state media include watermelon, cucumbers, mung beans, fish porridge and red-bean porridge. Chicken soup prepared with ginseng, sticky rice and dates has also been promoted as a popular summer meal. Health programmes on North Korean television have urged people to remain hydrated and take precautions while swimming or exercising outdoors. The country has not released figures on deaths linked to the current heatwave. South Korea, meanwhile, has reported more than 20 heat-related deaths. North Korean state media has also used the extreme weather to highlight leader Kim Jong Un’s image as a leader who shares difficult conditions with ordinary citizens. A recent report recalled a 2013 visit by Kim to a construction site during hot weather. The report said his clothes became soaked with sweat during the inspection. According to the account, Kim insisted that important work for the people should continue despite the heat. State media also highlighted other past inspections in difficult weather conditions. These included a trip through mountainous terrain during heavy rain and a visit to a seafood factory where temperatures were reportedly around 39°C. There has been no detailed report on Kim’s activities during the current heatwave. Meanwhile, state television has shown large crowds visiting beaches, swimming pools and water parks to escape the extreme temperatures. Thousands of people have reportedly visited the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, one of Kim’s major tourism projects on the country’s eastern coast.

US President Donald Trump claimed during an address in Las Vegas that the word ‘affordability’ was invented by the press and political opponents to criticize his administration’s economic record. Speaking at the Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa, the president reflected on tax policies and economic performance, arguing that costs were coming down significantly compared to high inflation during his initial transition into office. Trump asserted that reporters began using affordability as a newly devised buzzword on his first day in office to framed cost-of-living concerns. The remarks build on earlier statements from late 2025 where Trump characterised affordability as a political narrative promoted by Democrats to downplay economic progress.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended warm greetings to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Pakistan’s Independence Day. In his message, Putin congratulated the Pakistani leadership and people on the national occasion and conveyed his wishes for peace, prosperity and continued progress for Pakistan. The Russian president said relations between Russia and Pakistan were developing successfully. He noted that the two countries were steadily expanding cooperation across several areas. Putin said Moscow and Islamabad maintained productive ties in political, trade, economic and humanitarian fields. He also highlighted their cooperation on important regional and international issues. According to the Russian president, continued engagement between the two countries is important for promoting stability in the region. He expressed confidence that bilateral cooperation would continue to grow in the years ahead. Putin reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to further strengthening the partnership with Pakistan across all areas of mutual interest. He said continued cooperation would serve the interests of both countries and their peoples. The Russian leader also expressed hope that the two countries would maintain constructive joint efforts to deepen their relationship and contribute to greater regional and international stability. The message comes as Pakistan marks its 79th Independence Day, with countries across the world extending greetings and reaffirming their ties with Islamabad.