Richard Grenell, a key aide to Donald Trump, met former Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s sons in California, calling Khan’s imprisonment “political prosecution.” Grenell, who praised the US-Pakistan ties under Khan’s leadership, said the PTI leader’s outsider status and common-sense approach made him a strong ally. He drew parallels between Khan’s legal troubles and those faced by Trump, alleging that political motivations were at play in both. PTI continues to decry Khan’s conditions in Adiala Jail, calling them inhumane. The party warns Pakistan is edging toward a constitutional and humanitarian crisis.
INDIA’S CHOLA ERA PORT REVIVED
India will develop a new deep-water port at Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu — the country’s first major port in 24 years — with an $800 million investment. Designed to revive ancient maritime routes of the Chola dynasty, the port aims to become a key trade hub on India’s eastern coast. It will be built in two phases and offer strategic access to Southeast Asia, boosting regional trade and employment. Once complete, the port will handle 54 million tonnes annually, enhancing India’s Indo-Pacific outreach and reviving historical links to ASEAN and East Asian nations.
EARTH’S SPIN ACCELERATES
Earth is spinning faster than usual, raising alarms among scientists over potential disruptions to global timekeeping systems. July 10 records the shortest day of the year, at 1.36 milliseconds less than 24 hours. Experts predict we may need a negative leap second — something never done before — by 2035. This rare adjustment could trigger malfunctions in technologies like telecom networks, satellites, and financial systems, much like the Y2K scare. Surprisingly, climate change and melting ice caps may be slowing the planet’s spin slightly, temporarily delaying this digital doomsday.
GOLDEN DOME EYES NEW PARTNERS
The Trump administration is actively expanding its search for partners in its $175 billion “Golden Dome” missile defence initiative. Tensions with Elon Musk have prompted a strategic pivot away from relying solely on SpaceX’s Starlink and Starshield networks. The Pentagon has approached Amazon’s Project Kuiper, alongside traditional defence giants such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, and newer entrants like Rocket Lab. While SpaceX may still manage launch components, the government aims to distribute contracts more broadly to reduce dependency. This diversification also signals heightened scrutiny over cybersecurity and system resilience as the project scales.
INDIA SLAMS PAKISTAN AT UN
India strongly rebuked Pakistan during a high-level UN Security Council debate, branding it a “serial borrower from the IMF” and a nation mired in terrorism and fanaticism. Representing India, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish contrasted India’s democratic, pluralistic progress with Pakistan’s international behaviour, accusing Islamabad of violating norms of peace and neighbourliness. Citing the April Pahalgam attack, he highlighted India’s measured military response under Operation Sindoor. Harish also criticised Pakistan for offering moral posturing while backing cross-border terrorism. The remarks come amid growing regional tension and reflect India’s sharpened diplomatic stance on global platforms.
