Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir is expected to visit Tehran on Thursday as peace negotiations continue, according to reports from the Iranian news agency ISNA. The agency stated that Munir is likely to arrive as part of ongoing consultations with Iranian officials linked to mediation efforts between Tehran and Washington.

Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi visited Tehran for the second time this week, where he met Iranian officials including the Interior Minister and President Masoud Pezeshkian. Discussions reportedly covered recent regional developments, indirect Iran–US talks, and efforts to advance diplomatic engagement. ISNA also noted that during Naqvi’s meeting, President Pezeshkian reviewed the latest status of indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States, along with ongoing diplomatic exchanges and agreement-building efforts.

These developments come amid continued pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has warned Iran to seriously consider reaching a peace agreement as diplomatic activity intensifies in West Asia. Earlier, Iranian state media outlet Nour News quoted Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei as saying that US proposals have been received and are under review.

Iran has indicated that the American proposal was delivered through Pakistani intermediaries, with Islamabad reportedly facilitating message exchanges between Tehran and Washington. Iranian officials also said several rounds of communication have taken place based on Iran’s proposed framework.

US President Trump has issued a strong warning, saying Iran must provide satisfactory responses or face rapid consequences. Separately, White House adviser Stephen Miller also warned that Iran must accept US terms or risk severe military repercussions, describing the situation as critical. As tensions remain high, West Asia stands at a delicate point, with diplomatic efforts continuing alongside the risk of further escalation.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ISPR.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday met South Korea’s Minister of Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), Lee Yong-Cheol, during his official visit aimed at strengthening defence ties between the two countries. The visit is part of Singh’s broader engagement in South Korea to deepen bilateral defence cooperation. Earlier, he held talks with South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back in Seoul, where both sides agreed to expand collaboration in defence, cybersecurity, and strategic areas under their growing special strategic partnership.

In a post on X, Singh described the meeting as “excellent,” noting that discussions focused on enhancing defence industry cooperation and advancing technological collaboration between India and South Korea. He said both countries reaffirmed their commitment to regional peace, stability, and stronger technological ties.

According to Singh, the meetings also led to the exchange of several agreements designed to boost institutional cooperation in defence and security. These include initiatives to promote cyber defence collaboration between India’s National Defence College and the Korea National Defence University, along with cooperation in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

He added that the agreements would further strengthen the partnership by making it more comprehensive and multidimensional, particularly in the areas of cyber security and defence training. In a key development, India and South Korea also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to expand cooperation in defence, cyber security, and defence information sharing. The MoU was signed in Seoul during Singh’s visit, in the presence of South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back.

The agreement focuses on addressing emerging cyber threats, protecting critical military infrastructure, and improving information sharing mechanisms to enhance situational awareness and regional security. Singh arrived in Seoul on Tuesday after visiting Vietnam. He was received by India’s Ambassador to South Korea, Gourangalal Das, along with senior officials.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Animal rights groups have accused local authorities of violating court orders and Punjab’s approved TNVR (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Release) policy by allegedly resuming the killing of stray dogs in Lahore and other parts of the province, according to a report by The Express Tribune.

Representatives from the Give Us Life Animal Welfare Society and the National Alliance of Animal Rights Activists and Advocates Pakistan raised these concerns at a press conference held at the Lahore Press Club. They also alleged that activists speaking against these actions were being harassed. The groups said the Lahore High Court had endorsed the TNVR approach in 2021 as a humane method for controlling the stray dog population through sterilisation and vaccination instead of culling.

Animal rights activist and co-founder Aafia Khan stated that the World Health Organization also supports the TNVR model in countries like Pakistan, where both urban and rural populations are present. She alleged that despite court directives, local authorities have continued dog culling operations in Lahore in recent years. According to her, staff from the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore reportedly capture stray dogs, keep them for a few days, and then transport them near Saggian where they are allegedly killed. She claimed these actions violate court orders and undermine environmental and animal welfare standards.

Advocate Altamash Saeed said the TNVR policy was developed under a Lahore High Court case involving coordination between local government, livestock, and health departments. He alleged that responsible institutions are failing to implement the policy and continuing with dog killings instead. He added that monitoring committees were formed from the chief secretary level down to the tehsil level, but claimed they have not been meeting regularly. He also stressed the need for stronger enforcement of animal protection laws and increased public awareness.

Saeed further suggested that animal rights, environmental protection, and civic responsibility should be included in educational curricula to promote more humane attitudes. Qaiser Sharif, president of the Jamaat-e-Islami Public Aid Committee Lahore, said that culling is not a sustainable solution. He noted that government efforts remain insufficient and called for full-scale implementation of TNVR, along with shelters and a dedicated helpline.

Sharif added that his organization has been working on this issue for the past 10 months and has prepared eight recommendations focused on controlling stray dog populations through sterilisation and preventing attacks. Participant Haider Shah also claimed he accompanied Aafia Khan to the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore office to obtain information about captured dogs. He alleged that officials first said the dogs would be vaccinated and released, but later changed their stance, leading to a dispute that resulted in police being called, according to the report.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Iran on Tuesday night rejected Kuwait’s claims that members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attempted to enter Kuwaiti territory and conduct “hostile activities,” following Kuwait’s announcement that four Iranian nationals were arrested after allegedly arriving by sea near Bubiyan Island, according to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry called the accusations “completely baseless and unacceptable,” strongly criticizing Kuwait for what it described as “political and propaganda exploitation” of the incident involving four Iranian individuals who it said were on a routine maritime patrol mission. Tehran added that the group had unintentionally entered Kuwaiti waters due to a navigation system malfunction.

The ministry reiterated Iran’s commitment to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of regional states, including Kuwait, and urged Kuwaiti authorities to avoid “hasty accusations” and instead handle the matter through diplomatic channels. It also demanded consular access to the detained citizens and called for their immediate release.

The response came after Kuwait’s Interior Ministry claimed it had disrupted an infiltration attempt linked to the IRGC, stating that the detainees confessed to being tasked with entering Bubiyan Island by fishing boat to carry out hostile operations. Kuwait also alleged that a confrontation occurred with its security forces, during which one officer was injured and two suspects fled.

Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry described the incident as a serious breach of sovereignty and international law, summoning Iran’s ambassador and delivering a formal protest. It accused Iran of violating its territory and referenced international legal obligations, while affirming Kuwait’s right to defend itself under the UN Charter and warning that it reserves the right to take necessary measures to protect its security and sovereignty.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@MOFAKuwait.

In “Destination Anywhere,” Melanie Oliveiro interviews Julian Artopé, the founder and CEO of Zenyum, a company specializing in invisible braces and dental care products. He shares insights from his travels, beginning with Germany, his home country, and highlights Lake Ammersee near Munich as a must-visit destination. He then discusses his journey to Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island, where he experienced distinctive shrimp ramen and relaxed in a traditional onsen village.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

The 48th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit and associated meetings in Cebu, scheduled from May 6 to 8, will bring together heads of state and senior officials from all ten ASEAN countries as well as Timor-Leste. The gathering takes place at a critical moment for the region, amid concerns that the Middle East conflict could disrupt global oil supplies, driving up fuel prices and increasing inflationary pressure on ASEAN economies. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss the summit’s key issues in detail with Susannah Patton, a Non-Resident Fellow at the Lowy Institute.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Justin McCurry reports on Japan’s prime minister known for her interest in heavy metal music and her proposal to revise the nation’s pacifist constitution. His coverage highlights political and cultural dimensions of her leadership and the broader debate over Japan’s defense policies and constitutional reform efforts in modern times and its implications for regional security and international relations today globally.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

In “Destination Anywhere,” Melanie Oliveiro interviews travel content creator Chelsea Yap, who shares insights from her solo trip to Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. Yap reflects on her six-day yoga and meditation experience at the Suan Sati Retreat and discusses the effectiveness of its sustainability initiatives. She also highlights her other travel experiences, which she documents through snapshots on Instagram and TikTok under the handle @offbeatsingaporean.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.