Chinese President Xi Jinping told a gathering of around 20 world leaders on Sunday evening that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) now bears a “greater responsibility” for safeguarding regional peace, stability, and promoting the development and prosperity of its member states. Speaking at a welcome banquet in Tianjin, President Xi said the ongoing SCO Summit shoulders the important mission of building consensus and stimulating momentum in cooperation, as reported by China’s state news agency, Xinhua. The two-day summit, being held in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin, is the largest annual meeting in the group’s history. Xi expressed confidence that…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
In a bid to quell widespread anti-government protests, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced Sunday that political parties have agreed to revoke a number of perks and privileges for parliamentarians. The protests, which began over excessive pay and allowances for lawmakers, have escalated into the worst violence in decades, leaving five people dead. The unrest, which began last Monday with student-led rallies, intensified into riots on Friday after a delivery driver was killed during a police action at a protest site. Homes of politicians and state buildings were ransacked and set on fire. The violence has taken a toll on the…
US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he plans to issue an executive order to require voter identification for every ballot cast, stating there would be “no exceptions.” He also said the order would restrict mail-in voting, allowing it only for the “very ill, and the far away military.” This move is part of his ongoing effort to overhaul the US electoral system, which he has long claimed, without evidence, is compromised by widespread fraud. Key Provisions of the Proposed Order: Voter ID Mandate: Every voter would be required to show identification to cast a ballot. Limited…
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced early Monday that a suspect has been arrested in the shooting of former parliament speaker Andriy Parubiy. According to Zelensky, the suspect has given an initial statement to investigators. Parubiy, a leading figure in Ukraine’s pro-European protest movements, was shot and killed in the city of Lviv on Saturday. Internal Affairs Minister Igor Klymenko and security service chief Vasyl Maliuk informed the president of the arrest. “I thank our law enforcement officers for their prompt and coordinated work,” Zelensky said. He later added that the suspect has provided an initial testimony and that “urgent investigative…
Chinese President Xi Jinping used the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin to criticize “bullying behavior” in the world and advocate for a new global security order that challenges US dominance. In a speech to regional leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and India’s Narendra Modi, Xi called on the group to “adhere to fairness and justice… oppose Cold War mentality, camp confrontation, and bullying behavior.” The SCO, which is holding a two-day summit, includes China, Pakistan, India, Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus as permanent members, with 16 more countries as observers or…
China is set to showcase a range of new, domestically-produced weapons at a massive military parade on Wednesday, September 3, in Beijing. The event, which commemorates the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, is being viewed as a significant display of strength and a challenge to US military dominance. While the full list of hardware remains a secret, military enthusiasts and analysts have identified several key new systems from recent rehearsals: Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missiles: Four new missiles from the “Ying Ji” (Eagle Attack) series—the YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20—are expected to be displayed. The YJ-17, YJ-19, and…
A powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, resulting in the deaths of at least 622 people and injuring more than 1,500. The disaster has further strained the resources of a country already facing significant humanitarian challenges. Initial reports from Afghanistan’s state-run broadcaster, RTA, put the death toll at around 500, but the Taliban-run Interior Ministry later confirmed the higher number of casualties. The quake’s shallow depth of just 10 kilometers (about 6 miles) contributed to the widespread destruction, with entire villages in provinces like Kunar flattened by the tremors. Homes made of mud and stone were reduced…
Officials confirmed on Monday that a powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, killing at least 622 people and injuring over 1500 across multiple districts in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the quake hit at 11:47 pm local time with a shallow depth of only 8 kilometers. Its epicenter was 27 kilometers east of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province. The tremors were felt in Kabul, across northern Pakistan—including Islamabad, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—and as far as India, causing widespread panic as residents rushed outdoors. Afghanistan’s state-run Bakhtar News Agency initially confirmed at…
President Donald Trump announced his plan to issue an executive order that would require voter identification for every ballot cast, stating there will be “no exceptions.” On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Voter I.D. must be part of every single vote. NO EXCEPTIONS! I will be doing an executive order to that end!!!” This move comes as Trump and his Republican allies continue to question the integrity of U.S. elections, despite a lack of evidence to support claims of widespread fraud. Key Points from Trump’s Announcement Voter ID Mandate: Trump says every voter will be required to present identification. Mail-in Voting…
Indonesian authorities have ramped up security in major cities after violent protests, fueled by economic grievances and alleged police brutality, led to the deaths of six people. The demonstrations began last week in Jakarta over financial benefits for lawmakers but escalated after footage showed an elite police unit’s vehicle running over 21-year-old delivery driver Affan Kurniawan late Thursday. The incident sparked widespread outrage, with protests turning violent against the country’s paramilitary police. What started as student-led rallies quickly spread to Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya, and Medan, marking the worst unrest since President Prabowo Subianto took office. Facing mounting pressure, President…
