UKRAINE: The Ukrainian Security and Defence Council announced today that it has banned government officials, military personnel and other defence and critical infrastructure workers from installing the popular Telegram messaging app on state-issued devices, describing the move as necessary for national security during the war with Russia.

IRAN: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has pardoned thousands of prisoners including foreigners and people accused of anti-state crimes, the IRNA news agency reported today.

IRNA reported that the Iranian leader had agreed to pardon and commute the sentences of 2,887 prisoners. The death sentences of 59 people were commuted to imprisonment, it said.

NORTHERN IRELAND: A Belfast court ruled today that the Troubles Legacy Act gives the British government too much veto power over the disclosure of material to a new commission which is investigating killings.

The Northern Ireland Court of Appeal made its judgement in a case brought by a number of bereaved relatives. The relatives argued that the new commission was not sufficiently independent.

The case focused on whether the legislation passed by the previous Tory government met international human rights law.

PAKISTAN: Nine soldiers were killed in separate attacks in the country’s north-west, security officials said today.

The assaults happened in the tribal districts of north and south Waziristan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan.

A military post was attacked after midnight in the village of Misha, South Waziristan, killing six troops. An additional 11 troops were injured. In North Waziristan, militants attacked a patrol on Thursday, killing three security forces.