Supreme Court to hear Imran Khan meeting and treat…

SEOUL: South Korea is preparing legislation that would legally reaffirm its commitment to nuclear non-proliferation while it moves ahead with plans to develop nuclear-powered submarines. The proposed bill is expected to be released for public consultation by the Defence Ministry. It will set out five key principles governing the country’s nuclear-powered submarine programme. If approved, the legislation would formally establish in domestic law Seoul’s pledge not to develop, produce, possess or use nuclear weapons. The proposed law would also prevent the government from using nuclear materials specifically for weapons-related purposes. It would prohibit activities that could weaken the international nuclear non-proliferation system. The move is aimed at addressing concerns that South Korea’s submarine programme could eventually lead to a domestic nuclear weapons capability. The legislation would reaffirm Seoul’s commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It would also require cooperation with international organisations during the development of the submarines. The proposed framework would include safeguards for public safety and environmental protection against radioactive materials. The government also wants to speed up the submarine programme. The proposed law would reportedly allow the project to bypass a preliminary feasibility study. South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine project, known as Jang Bogo N, involves plans for attack submarines powered by low-enriched uranium. The programme is being developed with US approval. The two countries reached an agreement on the project during a leaders’ summit last October. Seoul plans to launch its first nuclear-powered submarine in the mid-2030s. The vessel is expected to enter operational service later in the decade. Defence authorities are reportedly considering three submarines weighing about 8,000 tonnes each. However, official technical details have not yet been released. South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back has previously stressed that the country will continue to follow its international non-proliferation commitments. Seoul also plans to work closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency throughout the programme.

Japan commemorated the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 2026. The ceremony was held as the country faces renewed debate over its nuclear policy and security strategy. Thousands gathered at Nagasaki Peace Park to remember the victims of the 1945 attack. Participants observed a moment of silence at 11:02am. It marked the exact time when the United States dropped the atomic bomb on the city. The bombing killed an estimated 74,000 people. The attack came three days after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, where about 140,000 people were estimated to have died. Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945. The surrender brought World War II to an end and marked a major turning point in Japan’s history. The anniversary has also become a focus of debate over Japan’s long-standing pacifist and non-nuclear policies. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attended the Nagasaki ceremony. She has opened discussion on Japan’s postwar non-nuclear principles at a time of growing security concerns in East Asia. The debate has intensified as China expands its military capabilities in the region. Questions have also emerged over the long-term reliability of the US security commitment to Japan. Takaichi has maintained that Japan should pursue a realistic and practical approach toward achieving a world without nuclear weapons. However, her position on all three of Japan’s non-nuclear principles remains unclear. Japan’s three principles have traditionally called for the country not to possess, produce or permit the introduction of nuclear weapons into its territory. Takaichi supports the principles against possessing and developing nuclear weapons. She has not given the same clear commitment regarding the third principle. Her position has sparked concern among pacifists and atomic bomb survivors. Critics fear that any change in Japan’s nuclear stance could weaken the country’s postwar commitment to nuclear disarmament. Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki strongly defended the city’s anti-nuclear position during the ceremony. Suzuki described nuclear weapons as an absolute evil. He rejected the argument that nuclear weapons could be considered a necessary evil for national security. He also urged the central government to uphold Japan’s war-renouncing Constitution. He called on Tokyo to maintain its non-nuclear principles and participate in the upcoming review conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The mayor’s remarks came as Japan considers changes to its defence policy. The government is seeking stronger military capabilities in response to growing regional security threats. The anniversary also highlighted concerns about atomic bomb survivors who have not been officially recognised as hibakusha. Some people exposed to radiation during the Nagasaki bombing remain outside the government’s official recognition criteria. Their exclusion is linked to their location at the time of the attack and the areas officially designated as part of the blast zone. Shigemitsu Tanaka, head of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors Council, raised the issue directly with Takaichi. Tanaka urged the government to provide support to both officially recognised survivors and those who remain unrecognised. He said the survivors are aging and that time is running out for them. Takaichi responded that the government already provides medical expense subsidies to unrecognised survivors on a level comparable to assistance given to officially recognised hibakusha. She said the government would continue implementing such support. The Nagasaki anniversary therefore carried both historical and political significance this year. Survivors and peace advocates continue to call for stronger commitments to nuclear disarmament. At the same time, Japan’s government is balancing its pacifist traditions with growing concerns over regional military threats.

A controversy has erupted in Bangladesh after a member of parliament from Jamaat-e-Islami, Ghazi Nazrul Islam, became the center of public debate over his alleged second marriage following the circulation of a viral video on social media. According to Bangladeshi media reports, the video showed Ghazi Nazrul Islam with a young woman whom he later identified as his second wife. The footage quickly spread online, prompting widespread discussion and speculation. A fact-checking organization examined the video and stated that it found no evidence suggesting it had been generated using artificial intelligence or digitally manipulated. Following that assessment, public attention shifted from the authenticity of the video to the identity of the woman and the nature of her relationship with the lawmaker. In a statement, Ghazi Nazrul Islam confirmed that the woman is his second wife. He said the marriage took place on June 17 with the consent of both families and the approval of his first wife. The lawmaker alleged that the viral video had been secretly recorded and later released as part of an extortion attempt and a politically motivated campaign to damage his reputation. His first wife also released a video supporting his account. She confirmed that her husband had married Maryam Begum as his second wife and said the marriage had taken place with her knowledge and consent. Maryam Begum also appeared in a separate video, identifying herself as Ghazi Nazrul Islam’s wife. She said the marriage ceremony was held on June 17 in the presence of both families and the lawmaker’s first wife. Despite these public statements, Bangladeshi media reported that documents related to Maryam Begum later surfaced on social media. The authenticity of those documents has not been independently verified, and neither the lawmaker nor Maryam Begum or her family has publicly addressed the apparent inconsistencies contained in them. According to the documents, Maryam Begum’s marital status was listed as “unmarried.” The papers also reportedly included a recommendation signed by Ghazi Nazrul Islam on June 22—five days after the claimed marriage—in support of her application for a government job. Reports said Maryam Begum had applied for public sector employment and that the MP had endorsed her application. Ghazi Nazrul Islam rejected all allegations arising from the documents. He claimed that on July 13 he visited an office in Dhaka’s Moghbazar area, where both of his wives were present. He alleged that his driver, his second wife’s uncle and several unidentified individuals held him captive, extorted 100,000 taka, demanded additional money and secretly recorded a private video, which was later circulated on social media. Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh said it is gathering information about the incident and will decide on any organizational action once all facts have been established. Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Haque Mahbub Zubair said the party is reviewing media reports as well as statements from the member of parliament, his two wives and the woman’s father before reaching any conclusion.