Afghanistan quakes leave nearly 1,500 dead, survivors struggle for aid

Eastern Afghanistan has been devastated by a series of earthquakes that killed at least 1,457 people and injured thousands. Entire villages in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces have been flattened, leaving families digging graves by hand and clinging to what little they have left.

Roads blocked by landslides and aftershocks have slowed rescue efforts, while aid groups warn of a looming crisis. The Red Crescent estimates more than 84,000 people are affected, but food and medical supplies are running dangerously low, Reuters reported.

With international funding limited and the country’s isolation under Taliban rule, survivors face hunger, disease, and worsening hardship unless urgent help arrives.

Trump says China should have mentioned US during 'beautiful ceremony'

President Donald Trump praised China’s military parade in Beijing as “beautiful” but said the United States should have been acknowledged in President Xi Jinping’s speech, citing America’s support to China during World War II, according to Reuters.

The ceremony, marking 80 years since Japan’s defeat, drew global attention with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un in attendance.

Afterward, Trump posted a sarcastic message suggesting Xi, Putin, and Kim were “plotting against the US,” a remark the Kremlin brushed off as irony, Reuters reported.

North Korea's Kim vows full support for Russia, discusses partnership with Putin

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged full support for Russia’s military efforts during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on September 3, 2025. The talks coincided with China’s World War II victory celebrations, marking a rare joint appearance of Kim, Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Reuters reported.

Kim described backing Russia as a “fraternal duty,” reaffirming North Korea’s commitment to its defense treaty with Moscow. Putin thanked North Korea for its military support in Ukraine, where around 2,000 North Korean soldiers are reported to have died, with more troops expected.

The summit highlighted strengthening ties among the three nations, signaling a united stance against Western influence. Putin also invited Kim to visit Russia, further deepening the growing partnership, according to Reuters.

US judge rules Trump unlawfully cut Harvard University research grants

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s decision to revoke over $2.2bn in research grants to Harvard University, calling the move ideologically driven and a violation of the First Amendment. The court found that claims of addressing campus anti-Semitism were a “smokescreen” for targeting the university.

Harvard had refused to comply with demands to change admissions, disciplinary policies, and diversity programs, arguing the measures threatened academic freedom. Critics said the funding cuts were politically motivated rather than a genuine effort to combat discrimination, according to Al Jazeera.