Putin meets Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing, calls for deeper ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, emphasizing the importance of Pakistan as a “traditional partner” in Asia, Firstpost reported.
The leaders discussed strengthening cooperation in trade, energy, agriculture, and infrastructure. Sharif highlighted a proposed trade corridor linking Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, aimed at boosting regional prosperity.
Both sides stressed continued dialogue to foster mutual growth and stability. Putin invited Sharif to the next SCO summit in Russia this November, an invitation the Pakistani Prime Minister welcomed.
The meeting marks a key step toward a more robust and multifaceted partnership between Pakistan and Russia, according to Firstpost.
North Korea's Kim arrives in Beijing with daughter to attend massive military parade
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Beijing on Tuesday, accompanied by his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, to attend China’s “Victory Day” military parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War Two surrender. This is the first time a North Korean leader has attended a Chinese parade since 1959, BBC reported.
Kim traveled by his heavily guarded armored train, a tradition started by his grandfather, with South Korean intelligence suggesting his daughter is his “most likely” successor. He was greeted by senior Chinese officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in what North Korean media described as a “warm atmosphere.”
The visit highlights Kim’s rare diplomatic engagement abroad, following limited recent contacts with world leaders, mainly Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and underscores Pyongyang’s strategic ties with Beijing amid regional and global tensions, according to BBC.
US regulators cancel bank exams as Trump rollback gathers pace
US financial regulators are scaling back bank examinations and enforcement, prioritizing core financial metrics like capital, liquidity, and risk management over non-core areas such as climate, diversity, and reputational risk. Agencies including the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Reserve, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) are postponing or reducing some exams and moving away from formal disciplinary notices toward informal guidance.
According to Reuters, the shift aims to align oversight with banks’ risk profiles and support economic growth, but critics warn it may overlook systemic risks highlighted by the 2023 bank collapses. Industry leaders welcome the move, calling previous processes overly complex, while some banks have pursued legal action over fairness and transparency.
Trump set to move Space Command headquarters to Alabama from Colorado, sources say
The Trump administration is set to relocate US Space Command from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Huntsville, Alabama, reversing a 2023 Biden-era decision. The command, which oversees US military space operations and employs around 1,700 personnel, will take several years to move at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars, Reuters reported.
Huntsville, a hub for aerospace and defense with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and major contractors, has long sought the command. Analysts say the move may also carry political motivations, as Alabama strongly supports Trump while Colorado leans Democratic.
