North Korea Intensifies Efforts to Attract Russian Tourists
Pyongyang is actively courting Russian visitors as part of a concerted strategy to revitalize its tourism sector and secure vital foreign currency. This initiative, marked by the reopening of borders specifically to Russians and the development of new tourism infrastructure, underscores the deepening relationship between the two countries.
The Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone
A centerpiece of North Korea’s efforts is the recently completed Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone on the east coast. This expansive resort, inaugurated in late June 2025, is a key component of North Korea’s strategy to draw Russian tourists. Featuring hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, a water park, and accommodations for approximately 20,000 people, the zone is explicitly designed with Russian visitors in mind. The presence of Russian Ambassador Alexander Matsegora at the opening ceremony highlighted the target audience for the development.
High-Level Diplomatic Engagement and Facilitation
The push for Russian tourism is supported by high-level diplomatic cooperation. Following the signing of a “comprehensive strategic partnership” treaty in June 2024, officials from both nations have focused on expanding people-to-people exchanges.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit to Wonsan in July 2025 further emphasized the commitment to boosting tourism. During his visit, Lavrov pledged that Russia would facilitate increased tourist flows to the new resort, including efforts to resolve air travel arrangements.
Resumption of Travel and Specific Initiatives
North Korea reopened its borders to international tourism in February 2024, with Russian visitors being the first to be admitted following the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. This preferential treatment signals North Korea’s strategic prioritization of Russian tourism.
Specific measures aimed at improving accessibility for Russian travelers include:
* Resumption of Direct Transport: The resumption of direct passenger rail service between the two nations, coupled with discussions about establishing direct air routes from Moscow to Pyongyang and Vladivostok to Wonsan, aims to make travel more convenient.
* Targeted Tour Packages: Russian travel agencies have already begun offering specific tour packages, including vacation programs for children, to destinations such as Pyongyang, Wonsan, and the Masikryong ski resort.
Economic and Political Motivations
North Korea views tourism as a significant avenue for earning foreign currency, particularly as the country faces international sanctions. The focus on attracting Russian tourists aligns with the broader strengthening of political and economic ties between Pyongyang and Moscow. By welcoming Russian delegations and tourists, North Korea aims to bolster its struggling economy while leveraging its relationship with Russia amidst political isolation from much of the international community.

Based on the search results, obtaining a precise, cumulative number of Indian citizens who have been sentenced to death in the Middle East “so far” is challenging because the data provided by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and reported by news outlets primarily focuses on the number of Indian nationals currently on death row and those executed in recent years (specifically 2020-2024).
However, the available data provides a clear picture of the situation as reported to the Indian Parliament:
Current Death Sentences (as of February and March 2025 reports):
* According to a February 13, 2025, report from the MEA to Parliament, 54 Indian citizens had been awarded death sentences by foreign courts globally. Of these, 45 were in the Middle East:
* United Arab Emirates (UAE): 29
* Saudi Arabia: 12
* Kuwait: 3
* Qatar: 1
* Yemen: 1
* Bahrain: 0
* Iraq: 0
* Oman: 0
* (Note: The data for Bahrain, Iraq, and Oman was explicitly 0 in the provided table.)
* A subsequent report from the MEA in March 2025 indicated that 49 Indians were currently sentenced to death in eight countries. The breakdown for Middle Eastern countries in this report was slightly different regarding the number of Indians on death row awaiting implementation of the sentence:
* UAE: 25
* Saudi Arabia: 11
* Kuwait: 3
* Qatar: 1
* Yemen: 1
Executions (2020-2024):
The MEA has also provided data on Indians executed or given capital punishment in specific countries between 2020 and 2024.
* Kuwait: 25 executions/capital punishment cases
* Saudi Arabia: 9 executions/capital punishment cases
* Qatar: 0 (based on the provided table)
* UAE: The MEA noted that the UAE authorities do not share this data, but based on informal information available with the Indian Mission, no Indians were executed in the UAE between 2020 and 2024. However, some reports mention three Indians were executed in the UAE in February 2025.
Summary of Information:
While a definitive historical total (“so far”) of all death sentences ever handed down to Indian citizens in the Middle East is not readily available in the search results, the most recent official data highlights the number of Indians currently on death row and the executions that have occurred in the specified timeframe (2020-2024).
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that as of February and March 2025, there were 45 to 47 Indian nationals on death row in Middle Eastern countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Yemen). Additionally, a significant number of Indians have been executed in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia between 2020 and 2024.

جی ہاں، ذیا بیطس کے مریضوں کو جان لیوا کیفیت سے بچانے کے لیے جدید ترین ٹیکنالوجی پر مبنی آلات تیار کیے جا رہے ہیں اور دستیاب بھی ہیں۔ یہ ڈیوائسز خاص طور پر شوگر کی سطح میں خطرناک تبدیلیوں کو روکنے میں مدد دیتی ہیں، جو مریضوں کے لیے جان لیوا ثابت ہو سکتی ہیں۔
اس سرخی کا اشارہ ممکنہ طور پر ذیابیطس کی دیکھ بھال میں حالیہ پیش رفت کی طرف ہے، خاص طور پر مسلسل گلوکوز مانیٹرنگ (Continuous Glucose Monitoring – CGM) سسٹمز اور خودکار انسولین ڈیلیوری (Automated Insulin Delivery – AID) سسٹمز کی طرف۔
ڈیوائسز کا مقصد: خطرناک کیفیات سے بچاؤ
ذیابیطس کے مریضوں میں دو سب سے خطرناک کیفیات جن سے بچاؤ ضروری ہے وہ یہ ہیں:
* شدید ہائپوگلائسیمیا (Severe Hypoglycemia): خون میں شوگر کی سطح کا خطرناک حد تک کم ہو جانا۔ یہ صورتحال بے ہوشی یا کوما کا باعث بن سکتی ہے۔
* ڈائیابیٹک کیٹوایسیڈوسس (Diabetic Ketoacidosis – DKA): خون میں شوگر کی سطح کا بہت زیادہ بڑھ جانا جس سے جسم میں تیزابی مادے جمع ہو جاتے ہیں۔ یہ خاص طور پر ٹائپ 1 ذیا بیطس کے مریضوں میں ہوتا ہے اور اگر فوری علاج نہ کیا جائے تو جان لیوا ہو سکتا ہے۔
یہ ڈیوائسز کس طرح کام کرتی ہیں؟
جدید ٹیکنالوجی پر مبنی یہ ڈیوائسز مریضوں کو جان لیوا پیچیدگیوں سے بچانے میں کلیدی کردار ادا کرتی ہیں۔
1. مسلسل گلوکوز مانیٹرنگ (CGM)
مسلسل گلوکوز مانیٹرنگ (CGM) ڈیوائسز جلد کے نیچے ایک چھوٹا سینسر استعمال کرتی ہیں جو ہر چند منٹوں میں خون میں گلوکوز کی سطح کو مسلسل مانیٹر کرتا ہے۔
* فوری الرٹ: اگر گلوکوز کی سطح تیزی سے گر رہی ہو یا خطرناک حد تک بڑھ رہی ہو، تو CGM مریض یا اس کے نگراں کو فوری طور پر الرٹ بھیجتا ہے۔
* پیش گوئی کی صلاحیت: کچھ جدید CGM سسٹمز پیش گوئی بھی کر سکتے ہیں کہ شوگر کی سطح اگلے چند منٹوں میں کہاں جا سکتی ہے، جس سے مریض کو قبل از وقت حفاظتی اقدامات کرنے کا موقع ملتا ہے۔ یہ خاص طور پر رات کے وقت ہائپوگلائسیمیا کو روکنے کے لیے اہم ہے۔
2. خودکار انسولین ڈیلیوری سسٹمز (AID) یا “آرٹیفیشل پینکریاس”
خودکار انسولین ڈیلیوری (AID) سسٹمز، جو اکثر “آرٹیفیشل پینکریاس” کہلاتے ہیں، CGM کو انسولین پمپ کے ساتھ جوڑتے ہیں۔
* آٹو میٹک ایڈجسٹمنٹ: یہ نظام CGM سے حاصل ہونے والے ڈیٹا کی بنیاد پر خود بخود انسولین کی مقدار کو ایڈجسٹ کرتا ہے۔
* محفوظ انتظام: یہ ڈیوائسز شوگر کی سطح کو ایک محفوظ حد میں رکھنے میں مدد کرتی ہیں، جس سے شدید ہائپوگلائسیمیا اور ہائپرگلائسیمیا (شوگر کا زیادہ ہونا) دونوں کے خطرات کم ہوتے ہیں۔
ذیا بیطس کے مریضوں کے لیے فوائد
* جان کی حفاظت: یہ ڈیوائسز خون میں شوگر کی خطرناک سطح کو فوری طور پر شناخت کرکے مریض کی جان بچا سکتی ہیں۔
* بہتر انتظام: یہ مریضوں کو اپنی شوگر کی سطح کو بہتر طور پر سمجھنے اور کھانے، ورزش اور دواؤں کے بارے میں بہتر فیصلے کرنے میں مدد فراہم کرتی ہیں۔
* ذہنی سکون: CGM اور AID سسٹمز مریضوں اور ان کے اہل خانہ کو ذیابیطس کے انتظام کے بارے میں زیادہ ذہنی سکون فراہم کرتے ہیں، خاص طور پر رات کے وقت۔

Karachi Weather Update: Low Chance of Drizzle Today; Hot and Humid Conditions Expected Over the Weekend
Karachi is experiencing hot and humid weather, with only a low chance of drizzle or isolated light rain expected today, July 12, 2025. The forecast for the upcoming three days indicates a continuation of humid conditions with generally high temperatures and a possibility of intermittent light showers.
Current Conditions and Chance of Drizzle (Saturday, July 12, 2025)
While the weather is predominantly dry, there is a minimal chance of precipitation in Karachi today. Some sources indicate a probability of light rain or drizzle, particularly during early morning or late evening hours, offering a slight respite from the prevailing heat. Temperatures are expected to reach highs of approximately 31°C to 33°C (88°F to 91°F).
3-Day Weather Forecast for Karachi
The weather for the next three days (July 12 – July 14) will remain characterized by high humidity and warm temperatures.
Sunday, July 13, 2025
The forecast for Sunday suggests partly cloudy conditions. Temperatures are expected to remain high, with maximum temperatures around 31°C to 33°C (88°F to 91°F) and minimum temperatures around 27°C to 28°C (81°F to 82°F). There is a slight chance of passing showers.
Monday, July 14, 2025
Monday’s weather is predicted to be mostly cloudy with a chance of passing showers. The humidity will remain high. High temperatures are forecast to be around 31°C to 33°C (88°F to 91°F), while lows will hover around 27°C to 28°C (81°F to 82°F).
General Conditions:
Throughout the weekend, winds are expected to be fresh, predominantly blowing from the southwest. Due to the high humidity, the “feels like” temperature may be significantly higher than the actual recorded temperature.

Based on the available information, while it is noted that Humaira Asghar’s brother, Naveed Asghar, claimed her body and “demanded scrutiny into the circumstances surrounding her death and her dealings with her landlord,” the provided context does not specify the reasons why he expressed suspicion of murder.