BANGKOK: Cambodia shut its border crossings with Thailand on Saturday, after Bangkok denied US President Donald Trump&#39;s claim that a truce had been agreed to end days of deadly fighting.&nbsp;Violence between the Southeast Asian neighbours, which stems from a long-running dispute over the colonial-era demarcation of their 800-kilometre (500-mile) border, has displaced around half a million people on both sides.&nbsp;At least 25 people have died this week, including four Thai soldiers the defence ministry said were killed in the border area on Saturday.&nbsp;The latest fatalities were followed by Phnom Penh announcing it would immediately &quot;suspend all entry and exit movements at all Cambodia-Thailand border crossings&quot;, the interior ministry said.&nbsp;Each side blamed the other for reigniting the conflict, before Trump said a truce had been agreed.&nbsp;Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Trump &quot;didn&#39;t mention whether we should make a ceasefire&quot; during their Friday phone call.&nbsp;The two leaders &quot;didn&#39;t discuss&quot; the issue, Anutin told journalists on Saturday.&nbsp;Trump had hailed his &quot;very good conversation&quot; with Anutin and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Friday.&nbsp;&quot;They have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord&quot; agreed in July, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.&nbsp;The United States, China and Malaysia, as chair of the regional bloc ASEAN, brokered a ceasefire in July after an initial five-day spate of violence.&nbsp;In October, Trump backed a follow-on joint declaration between Thailand and Cambodia, touting new trade deals after they agreed to prolong their truce.&nbsp;But Thailand suspended the agreement the following month after Thai soldiers were wounded by landmines at the border.&nbsp;In Thailand, evacuee Kanyapat Saopria said she doesn&#39;t &quot;trust Cambodia anymore&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;The last round of peace efforts didn&#39;t work out... I don&#39;t know if this one will either,&quot; the 39-year-old told AFP.&nbsp;Across the border, a Cambodian evacuee said she was &quot;sad&quot; the fighting hadn&#39;t stopped despite Trump&#39;s intervention.&nbsp;&quot;I am not happy with brutal acts,&quot; said Vy Rina, 43.

Asia

Cambodia closed all Thailand border crossings after renewed deadly fighting, displacing hundreds of thousands, at least 25 died. Thailand denied Trump’s truce claim, while both sides blamed each other and civilians expressed fear and distrust.

Cambodia shuts Thailand border crossings over deadly fighting

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Customs, in coordination with national security and maritime agencies, has seized smuggled goods and narcotics worth more than Rs37.9 billion ($135.3 million) in a series of intelligence-led anti-smuggling operations carried out across airports, inland provinces and maritime routes, according to official statements.&nbsp;Earlier this week, Pakistan Customs recovered gold, silver and commercial goods worth Rs925 million ($3.31 million) during enforcement actions nationwide.&nbsp;According to a statement issued by the information, authorities intercepted 234.133 tolas (2.73 kilograms) of gold and 30,785 tolas (359 kilograms) of silver at international airports.&nbsp;&ldquo;The seized gold is valued at Rs100.67 million, while the silver is worth Rs205.67 million, bringing the total to over Rs306 million [$1.10 million],&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;In Balochistan, Customs Enforcement Quetta conducted multiple raids on warehouses in and around Quetta, seizing smuggled goods worth approximately Rs500 million ($1.79 million), including betel nuts, cigarettes, Chinese salt, Indian medicines, skimmed milk powder, spare parts and misdeclared dates.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Collectorate of Customs, Sargodha seized Rs119.38 million ($427,000) worth of smuggled consignments through intelligence-based operations.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO), Sargodha seized 584 non-duty-paid, foreign-origin high-end mobile phones valued at Rs72.43 million [$259,000],&rdquo; the statement said. &ldquo;In a separate operation, a used Toyota Prius worth Rs6.7 million was also seized for violations of customs laws.&rdquo;&nbsp;Additional enforcement actions by ASO Mianwali led to the seizure of foreign-origin sheesha, supari, smokeless tobacco (niswar) and cigarettes valued at over Rs28 million ($100,000), while ASO Faisalabad recovered walnuts and walnut kernels worth Rs12.25 million ($44,000).&nbsp;Major maritime narcotics seizure&nbsp;In the largest operation, a joint intelligence-based counter-narcotics operation near Gadani, Balochistan resulted in the seizure of 500 kilograms of methamphetamine (ICE) and 3,500 bottles of foreign liquor, valued at Rs37 billion ($132 million).&nbsp;According to a statement &nbsp; issued by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the operation was conducted jointly by the Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) and the Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement), Gadani.&nbsp;&ldquo;The joint team intercepted the illicit consignments during coordinated maritime operations,&rdquo; the statement said. &ldquo;The foreign liquor was being smuggled into Pakistan through international sea routes, while the narcotics consignment was intended for an international destination.&rdquo;&nbsp;Following the interception, custody of the seized contraband was formally transferred to the Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement), Gadani at a ceremony held at the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency Headquarters in Karachi, in accordance with legal procedures.&nbsp;The operation was carried out under the coordination framework of the Joint Maritime Information Coordination Center (JMICC).&nbsp;&ldquo;This successful counter-narcotics operation reflects enhanced inter-agency cooperation, effective intelligence sharing and swift operational response,&rdquo; the FBR said.&nbsp;The Federal Board of Revenue said the cumulative nationwide seizures demonstrate Pakistan Customs&rsquo; continued focus on intelligence-driven enforcement, preventing smuggling and protecting the national economy.&nbsp;&ldquo;These actions underscore the vigilance, professionalism and unwavering commitment of Pakistan&rsquo;s enforcement and maritime security agencies,&rdquo; the FBR said.&nbsp;

Security

Pakistan Customs and national security agencies have seized smuggled goods and narcotics worth over $135.3 million through coordinated intelligence-based operations nationwide, including a major maritime interception of methamphetamine and foreign liquor near Gadani.

Pakistan security agencies seize over $135 million in nationwide anti-smuggling operations

LIVERPOOL: Arne Slot said there was &quot;no issue to resolve&quot; after bringing Mohamed Salah on as a substitute in Liverpool&#39;s 2-0 win against Brighton on Saturday -- a week after the forward&#39;s explosive comments about the club.&nbsp;Hugo Ekitike scored at Anfield after 46 seconds and Salah, introduced in the 26th minute, set up the Frenchman for a second goal with half an hour to go.&nbsp;Salah accused Liverpool of throwing him &quot;under the bus&quot; after he was left on the bench for last week&#39;s 3-3 draw at Leeds -- the third match in a row that he did not start.&nbsp;He also said that he had no relationship with Liverpool manager Slot when he spoke to reporters after the match at Elland Road.&nbsp;He was omitted from the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan, which Liverpool won 1-0, and he was the subject of intense scrutiny in the build-up to Saturday&#39;s game at Anfield.&nbsp;Slot said at Friday&#39;s pre-match press conference that he would speak to the forward later in the day, adding: &quot;I have no reasons (for) not wanting him to stay.&quot;&nbsp;Speaking after the win against Brighton, Slot said that there was &quot;no issue to resolve&quot; with Salah, whose corner was headed home by Ekitike in the 60th minute.&nbsp;&quot;For me he&#39;s now the same as any other player,&quot; he said. &quot;You talk to your players if you&#39;re happy or unhappy with things, but there&#39;s nothing for me to talk about after what happened against Leeds, after the game.&quot;&nbsp;Slot confirmed that Salah was left out of the squad for the fixture in Italy due to his interview.&nbsp;&quot;Every manager makes different decisions... but he wasn&#39;t involved in the game against (Inter) Milan, and I spoke to him yesterday,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Actions louder than words&nbsp;&quot;I think, as I usually never say anything about (what) we talk about, I&#39;m not going to make an exception now, but I think actions speak louder than what has been said.&nbsp;&quot;He was in the squad again and when I had to make my first substitutions, I brought him in. And he performed as I think every fan, including me, would like him to perform today.&quot;&nbsp;Salah, 33, who signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool in April, will now depart for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).&nbsp;The length of his absence depends on how far Egypt go in the competition in Morocco, with the final on January 18.&nbsp;The forward, who has been linked with a move to the wealthy Saudi Pro League, had invited his family to the Brighton game as speculation swirled over his future.&nbsp;Slot laughed off a question about whether the match could have been Salah&#39;s last for the club.&nbsp;&quot;He wasn&#39;t the only player who walked around the pitch thanking the fans, because the fans deserved a thank you from us,&quot; he said.&nbsp;The Dutchman added: &quot;Mo is going to go to the AFCON now, I hope he&#39;s going to do very well, and in the meantime, we have to play here without him, with not that many players available at the moment.&quot;

Football

Liverpool beat Brighton 2-0 as Mohamed Salah, returning after bench controversy, assisted Hugo Ekitike’s goal. Manager Arne Slot said there was “no issue to resolve,” emphasizing Salah’s performance, now heading to the Africa Cup of Nations.


Liverpool's Slot says 'no issue to resolve' with Salah after outburst

Muhammad Usman Amin

PESHAWAR: Rising in red brick and white stone in the heart of Peshawar Cantonment in Pakistan&rsquo;s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the Peshawar Museum stands opposite the Governor House, its domes and arches holding firm against the dust, traffic and urgency of a modern city.&nbsp;To step inside is to step out of time.&nbsp;&ldquo;This place was never meant to be silent,&rdquo; said a senior museum official, Dr. Saqib Raza, standing beneath the soaring ceiling of the main hall. &ldquo;It was built to be seen, heard and remembered.&rdquo;&nbsp;Originally named the Victoria Memorial Hall, the structure was completed in 1907 to commemorate Queen Victoria&rsquo;s Golden Jubilee. Its architecture blends British colonial design with Mughal sensibilities, wide corridors, high ceilings, arched doorways and cupolas that draw the eye upward.&nbsp;For international visitors, the building itself serves as an introduction to Peshawar&rsquo;s historical role as a gateway between Central Asia and South Asia.&nbsp;The first sensation upon entering is space. The vast central hall, once a colonial-era ballroom, opens with a restrained grandeur. The original polished wooden floor remains intact, reflecting the white arches above. The room absorbs sound, creating a hush that feels almost ceremonial.&nbsp;&ldquo;You can feel the weight of history under your feet,&rdquo; said a local historian visiting with students. &ldquo;These floors have seen empire, independence and everything in between.&rdquo;&nbsp;The museum is globally renowned for its Gandhara collection, considered one of the largest and most significant in the world. The sculptures, carved nearly two millennia ago, narrate the life of the Buddha in stone, from scenes before his birth to his final moments. Excavated from ancient sites such as Takht-i-Bahi and Sahri Bahlol in what is now KP province, the artworks reveal a rare fusion of Greek and South Asian artistic traditions.&nbsp;&ldquo;This is where civilizations met and learned to speak each other&rsquo;s visual language,&rdquo; a curator explained, gesturing toward a serene stone figure draped in Greco-Roman folds.&nbsp;But the museum&rsquo;s story does not end with Buddhism.&nbsp;In the Ethnological Gallery, the living cultures of the region take center stage. Among the most striking objects are wooden effigies of the Kalash people, dating back nearly 3,000 years, alongside musical instruments, jewelry and ceremonial dress from Chitral and surrounding valleys.&nbsp;&ldquo;These are not relics of a dead culture,&rdquo; the curator said. &ldquo;They represent communities that are still here.&rdquo;&nbsp;The Islamic Gallery offers another turn in the region&rsquo;s layered history. Handwritten Qurans from the 16th and 17th centuries are displayed alongside Persian manuscripts nearly a thousand years old. Administrative records trace the mechanics of empire, including an original office order bearing the seal of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.&nbsp;Nearby, the Historical and Painting Gallery shifts the focus again, this time to colonial and post-colonial power. Portraits of King George V and Queen Mary, once displayed during formal dances in the hall, hang near images of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. An extensive coin collection spans centuries, with some pieces dating back to the 6th century BCE.&nbsp;&ldquo;For researchers, this museum is a map of continuity,&rdquo; said a visiting academic. &ldquo;You see how power, faith and culture overlap rather than replace one another.&rdquo;&nbsp;Today, the Peshawar Museum attracts scholars, artists and travelers from around the world. Yet it remains deeply rooted in its local context, standing between the ordered avenues of the cantonment and the dense, historic streets of Peshawar&rsquo;s old city.&nbsp;&ldquo;This museum doesn&rsquo;t just preserve history,&rdquo; the official said quietly. &ldquo;It reminds us that this region has always been connected to the wider world.&rdquo;&nbsp;In a city often defined by headlines of conflict and politics, the Peshawar Museum offers a different narrative. One of endurance, exchange and shared human heritage, told not in words alone, but in stone, wood and silence.

Culture

The museum stands as a monumental gateway to centuries of layered history, where architecture, art and culture quietly narrate the region’s enduring global connections.

Inside Peshawar Museum, where empires converge and centuries quietly speak

MADRID: Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said Kylian Mbappe is fit to play on Sunday against Alaves in La Liga, as his depleted team bid to turn around a run of bad results.&nbsp;Mbappe missed the Champions League defeat by Manchester City on Wednesday which left Madrid with just two wins in their last eight games and Alonso at risk of the sack.&nbsp;&quot;We&#39;ve got Kylian back, he&#39;s ready to play, and tomorrow we&#39;ll see and decide (if he starts), that&#39;s good news obviously,&quot; Alonso said on Saturday.&nbsp;Real Madrid are without several injured players for the game in Vitoria, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal and Eduardo Camavinga.&nbsp;Fran Garcia, Alvaro Carreras and Endrick are also suspended. Defender Dean Huijsen is likely to return for the clash at Alaves which could define Alonso&#39;s future.&nbsp;&quot;Evidently despite the players we&#39;ve got out we have strong enough players and a strong enough team,&quot; continued the coach.&nbsp;Alonso said he hoped Madrid&#39;s current struggles, lying four points behind La Liga leaders Barca, could make them stronger.&nbsp;&quot;We are having difficulties but we can grow, if we can get past these tough times, change the dynamic, maybe in a few weeks we&#39;ll look back and think &#39;we went through a lot but it made us stronger&#39;.&quot;

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso confirmed Kylian Mbappe is fit for Sunday’s La Liga clash against Alaves. With injuries and suspensions affecting key players, Madrid seek to reverse poor form and grow stronger through current challenges.

Mbappe back for Alonso's depleted Real Madrid

DAMASCUS: Several Syrian and American soldiers were wounded when shots were fired at a joint military delegation in Palmyra in central Syria on Saturday, state media said.&nbsp;The incident is the first of its kind to be reported since Islamist-lead forces overthrew longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in December last year, and rekindled the country&#39;s ties with the United States.&nbsp;&quot;Several members of the American forces&quot; were wounded in the shooting alongside &quot;two members of the Syrian security forces&quot;, state news agency SANA said, quoting a security source.&nbsp;SANA reported that the soldiers were taking part in a &quot;joint patrol&quot; in Palmyra, which was once under the control of the Islamic State (IS) group, and that the shooter was killed.&nbsp;Helicopters evacuated the wounded to the Tanf base in southern Syria, where American troops are deployed, SANA said.&nbsp;Last month, during Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa&#39;s visit to Washington, Damascus formally joined the US-led global coalition against the IS group.

Americas

Several Syrian and US soldiers were wounded when a gunman opened fire on a joint patrol in Palmyra, killing the attacker. Helicopters evacuated casualties to Tanf, the incident follows renewed US-Syria ties against IS group

US, Syrian soldiers wounded as shots fired at delegation: state media

MADRID: Spanish police on Saturday said they had thwarted a criminal gang that flew helicopters to smuggle hashish into the country from Morocco, in a rare operation against aerial drug trafficking. The helicopters were capable of transporting between 500 and 900 kilograms of drugs, which were stored in rural estates and warehouses in southern Spain before distribution by road to other European countries, the Civil Guard said in a statement. Police seized one of the helicopters, 657 kilograms (1,448 pounds) of hashish, five firearms, cash, and vehicles during raids in the provinces of Malaga, Almeria, and Murcia. Six arrests were made in the operation, which also involved Moroccan, Belgian, and Swedish law enforcement. Spain&#39;s close ties with Latin America and proximity to Morocco make it a key entry point for drugs into Europe, but smuggling typically takes place by sea. Spanish police have, in the past year, also uncovered networks that used drones to transport drugs from Morocco.

This handout photo, taken and released by Spain's Civil Guard on December 13, 2025, shows helicopter, capable of transporting between 500 and 900 kilograms of drugs, during a police raid in southern Spain. (Handout/ Civil Guard)

Europe

Spanish police seized 657 kg of drugs, a helicopter, firearms, cash, and vehicles. Six arrests were made; the operation involved Moroccan, Belgian, and Swedish authorities.

Spain busts gang flying hashish helicopters from Morocco

KOLKATA:&nbsp;Angry spectators broke down barricades and stormed the pitch at a stadium in India after football star Lionel Messi, who is on a three-day tour of the country, abruptly left the arena. As a part of a so-called GOAT Tour, the 38-year-old Argentina and Inter Miami superstar touched down in the eastern state of West Bengal early Saturday, greeted by a chorus of exuberant fans chanting his name. Hours later, thousands of fans wearing Messi jerseys and waving the Argentine flag packed into Salt Lake stadium in the state capital Kolkata, but heavy security around the footballer left fans struggling to catch a glimpse of him.<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/2ce5531b-722c-4bf1-a3ff-b463a45089cc.jpg" style="width: 727px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil">KOLKATA: Inter Miami&#39;s Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi arrives at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on December 13, 2025. (Photo: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP) Messi walked around the pitch waving to fans and left the stadium earlier than expected. Frustrated fans&nbsp;Frustrated fans, many having paid more than $100 for tickets, ripped out stadium seats and hurled water bottles onto the track. Many others stormed the pitch and vandalized banners and tents.<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/9c7e4f83-11c2-4bdd-9f67-8807a4d8cee9-Messi - - - - -.jpg" alt="Messi - - - - -.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 1000px; height: 563px;"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">KOLKATA: Security personnel shield themselves with chairs whilst the crowd reacts as Inter Miami&#39;s Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi departs from the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on December 13, 2025. (Photo: AFP/Dibyangshu Sarkar)</figcaption></figure> &ldquo;For me, to watch Messi is a pleasure, a dream. But I have missed the chance to have a glimpse because of the mismanagement in the stadium,&rdquo; businessman Nabin Chatterjee, 37, told AFP. Before the chaos erupted, Messi unveiled a 21-metre (70-foot) statue which shows him holding aloft the World Cup. He was also expected to play a short exhibition game at the stadium. Another angry fan told the Press Trust of India (PTI) that people had spent &ldquo;a month&#39;s salary&rdquo; to see Messi. &lsquo;Management is to blame&rsquo;&ldquo;I paid Rs5,000 ($55) for the ticket and came with my son to watch Messi, not politicians. The police and military personnel were taking selfies, and the management is to blame,&rdquo; Ajay Shah, told PTI. State chief minister Mamata Banerjee said she was &ldquo;disturbed&rdquo; and &ldquo;shocked&rdquo; at the mismanagement. &ldquo;I sincerely apologize to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident,&rdquo; she said in a post on X, adding that she had ordered a probe into the incident. Messi will now head to Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi as part of the four-city tour. Possible meeting with ModiHis time in India also includes a possible meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Messi won his second consecutive Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player award this week after propelling Inter Miami to the MLS title and leading the league in goals. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain attacker will spearhead Argentina&#39;s defense of the World Cup in June-July in North America.

Frustrated fans, many having paid more than $100 for tickets, ripped out stadium seats and hurled water bottles onto the track; many others stormed the pitch and vandalized banners and tents.

Fans vandalize India stadium after Lionel Messi's abrupt exit

ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved two projects worth $540 million to support state-owned enterprise (SOE) reforms in Pakistan and strengthen disaster resilience in Sindh&rsquo;s coastal districts, state-run APP reported on Friday.&nbsp;The financing includes a $400 million results-based loan for the Accelerating SOE Transformation Program and a $140 million concessional loan for the Sindh Coastal Resilience Sector Project, according to an ADB press release received here. ADB Country Director for Pakistan Emma Fan said the SOE reform program aims to improve governance and commercial performance of Pakistan&rsquo;s SOEs, which are critical for economic stability and development. She said the program will also focus on restructuring and commercialization of the National Highway Authority, one of the largest entities in Pakistan&rsquo;s SOE portfolio. The initiative marks ADB&rsquo;s first results-based loan dedicated solely to public sector management reform. Over the past five years, ADB has supported Pakistan&rsquo;s SOE reforms, including enactment of the SOE Act and SOE Policy in 2023 and the establishment of a central monitoring unit. ADB has also approved a $750,000 technical assistance grant to support capacity building and effective implementation of the reforms. Sindh coastal resilience projectMeanwhile, the Sindh Coastal Resilience Sector Project aims to enhance disaster resilience in the coastal districts of Badin, Sujawal and Thatta. The project is expected to benefit more than 500,000 people, protect 150,000 hectares of agricultural land and restore 22,000 hectares of forest, in line with Pakistan&rsquo;s National Flood Protection Plan IV and Sindh Climate Change Policy. The project is co-financed by a $20 million grant and a $20 million concessional loan from the Green Climate Fund, administered by ADB.&nbsp;ADB said the project will focus on flood protection, improved drainage systems, restoration of mangroves and forests, and community-based resilience planning, with at least 25 percent of funds allocated to women-led initiatives.

People evacuating from a flood-struck area. — AFP/File

Economy

The Asian Development Bank approves $540 million for Pakistan to support state-owned enterprise reforms and boost disaster resilience in Sindh’s coastal districts, benefiting over 500,000 people.

ADB approves $540M Pakistan SOE reforms, Sindh coastal resilience projects

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir underscored the importance of technological adaptability and combat readiness during visits to the Gujranwala and Sialkot garrisons, according to a statement issued by the military&rsquo;s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).&nbsp;ISPR said the field marshal was briefed on the formations&rsquo; operational preparedness and initiatives aimed at strengthening combat capability.&nbsp;He also observed a field training exercise and an advanced simulator training facility, where he praised the troops&rsquo; professionalism and overall state of readiness.&nbsp;&ldquo;Modern warfare demands agility, precision, situational awareness and swift decision-making,&rdquo; Field Marshal Munir said, emphasizing the central role of technology in addressing evolving security challenges.&nbsp;During interactions with officers and soldiers, he commended their morale and commitment to national defense, while stressing the need for &ldquo;rigorous and mission-oriented training,&rdquo; ISPR added.&nbsp;The army chief further stated that the Pakistan Army remains &ldquo;fully focused on both internal and external challenges,&rdquo; including hostile hybrid campaigns, extremist ideologies and divisive elements that threaten national stability.&nbsp;Earlier, upon his arrival in Gujranwala, Field Marshal Munir was received by the Corps Commander Gujranwala. ISPR also released video footage showing the army chief observing a military demonstration featuring tanks and drone operations.

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir visits Gujranwala and Sialkot garrisons, reviews combat readiness, observes training, and stresses technological adaptability, agility, and preparedness against evolving internal and external security threats.