Afghanistan earthquake kills more than 600 with around 1,500 injured
A powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, killing at least 622 people and injuring more than 1,500, according to the Taliban-run interior ministry. The quake destroyed several villages, with some communities losing dozens of residents, Reuters reported.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with helicopters evacuating the injured and locals helping medical teams reach remote areas. The disaster adds to Afghanistan’s humanitarian challenges, including limited international aid, displacement, and shortages of food and medical supplies.
Experts warn the country remains highly vulnerable to earthquakes due to its location along the tectonic boundary of the Hindu Kush Mountains. So far, no international governments have offered direct assistance, according to Reuters.
South Korea suspends anti-North Korea radio broadcasts
South Korea has suspended its military radio broadcast, “Voice of Freedom,” to North Korea for the first time in 15 years, aiming to ease cross-border tensions, the Defense Ministry said Monday. The program, which shares news, K-pop, and economic updates, has long been used for psychological operations against the North, according to Reuters.
President Lee Jae Myung has also ended border loudspeaker broadcasts, signaling a push for dialogue, though North Korea has so far rejected talks. This week, Kim Jong Un is set to visit China for a military parade with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin.
Indonesia tightens security after deadly protests
At least six people have died in violent protests across Indonesia, sparked by public anger over lawmakers’ financial perks and police brutality. Demonstrations began in Jakarta and spread to cities including Yogyakarta, Bandung, and Surabaya after a paramilitary police vehicle ran over 21-year-old delivery driver Affan Kurniawan, Al Jazeera reported.
Authorities have increased patrols and checkpoints, while President Prabowo Subianto reversed the controversial measures and canceled a trip to China. Several deaths and attacks on officials’ homes have been reported, prompting TikTok to temporarily suspend its live feature in the country.
We saw ugly face of terrorism in Pahalgam: PM Modi at SCO summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the third day of his China trip, attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders meeting in Tianjin on Monday (September 1, 2025).
He addressed the plenary session of the summit, in which he spoke on the Pahalgam attack, stating that “terrorism is a collective challenge to humanity,” The Hindu reported.
Modi will later participate in a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin before returning to India.
The SCO summit kicked off on Sunday in the northern port city of Tianjin, days before a massive military parade in the capital Beijing to mark 80 years since the end of World War II.
In his opening remarks, China’s President Xi Jinping called for setting up ‘SCO development bank’ for economic cooperation, according to Hindu.



