India scored a diplomatic win at the 2025 SCO summit in Tianjin as member nations condemned the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. This marks a reversal from the Qingdao summit two months prior, where India’s walkout over the omission of the attack in the joint statement made headlines. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s firm stance pushed SCO members including China and Pakistan to acknowledge the incident. The Tianjin declaration emphasized zero tolerance for terrorism, rejected double standards, and called for justice for victims. It also reinforced the role of sovereign states in countering extremist threats, aligning with India’s strategic autonomy and its uncompromising position on cross-border terrorism.

At the 25th SCO summit in China, a viral clip captured Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif rushing to greet Chinese President Xi Jinping, only to be seemingly ignored as Xi walked alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin. The moment sparked a wave of online trolling, with users mocking Sharif as “a kid in men’s world” and “ignored like a non-living object.” Critics called the gesture desperate and embarrassing, especially given Pakistan’s financial dependence on China. Meanwhile, PM Modi and Xi held bilateral talks to restore ties post-Ladakh standoff. The SCO declaration may also include condemnation of cross-border terrorism, potentially targeting Pakistan.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Shanghai Cooperation Organization members to strengthen AI cooperation while rejecting "Cold War mentality" at the largest-ever SCO summit in Tianjin. Over twenty foreign leaders attended, including Putin and Modi. Xi announced China's $84 billion investment in SCO countries and pledged support for 10,000 students in Beijing's vocational education program. He proposed a new "Global Governance Initiative" and emphasized peaceful coexistence without targeting third parties. Modi and Xi met Saturday, affirming partnership over rivalry for their 2.8 billion peoples. Putin will stay for Beijing's WWII commemoration military parade. Leaders signed the "Tianjin Declaration" and approved a decade-long development plan through 2035, adopting twenty-four cooperation documents covering security, economy, and humanity. (PC: X)

A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, killing at least 800 people and injuring over 1,300. The quake hit near Jalalabad in Nangarhar province and also caused massive destruction in Kunar, where three villages were razed. Homes built of mud and stone collapsed, leaving survivors trapped under debris. Rescue teams from Nangarhar, Kunar, and Kabul rushed to the site, while hospitals struggled to treat the injured. The United States Geological Survey reported the quake’s shallow depth of 8 km made it more deadly. No foreign aid has arrived yet, officials confirmed. Aftershocks are expected this week. (PC: HT)

The ICC has announced record prize money for the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup, which will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2. The total prize pool is set at $13.88 million, a 297% increase from 2022. The winners will receive $4.48 million, while the runners-up will get $2.24 million. Semi-finalists will earn $1.12 million each. The prize pot is higher than the $10 million offered at the 2023 Men’s World Cup. ICC said the move is a “defining milestone” to boost women’s cricket and ensure pay parity in the sport. (PC: NDTV)

At the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was seen looking on as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin walked past him. The two leaders walked together, speaking warmly, while Sharif stood nearby observing. A widely shared video showed the moment on social media. Modi and Putin later exchanged a hug and posed with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Modi also shared a group picture from the summit on X. The SCO summit, hosted by China, brought together leaders from 10 member states and several international organisations. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin made headlines at the SCO Summit in Tianjin by sharing a ride in a Russian-made Aurus sedan. Modi later posted on X, calling their conversation “insightful.” The warm gesture followed a hug earlier in the day, highlighting strong India-Russia ties. Their bilateral talks focused on energy, defence, and global trade, amid US tariffs on Indian goods. Modi was also seen with China’s Xi Jinping, exchanging smiles and handshakes. In his address, Modi urged joint action against terrorism and called for fair, trust-based connectivity projects. (PC: X )

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea challenging the rollout of E20 petrol, which has 20% ethanol mixed with petrol. A bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai heard the petition that sought an option of ethanol-free petrol for older vehicles. The petitioner argued that E20 lowers fuel efficiency and damages cars made before 2023. However, Attorney General R Venkataramani defended the policy, saying it helps farmers and saves foreign exchange. He asked, “Will people outside the country dictate what kind of fuel India should use?” The court dismissed the case. (PC: HT)

More than 600 people are feared dead after a powerful magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, the Taliban interior ministry said. Officials reported that dozens of houses are “under rubble” and entire villages have been destroyed. “The situation is catastrophic,” a Taliban spokesperson added, warning that casualty figures could rise. The quake, at a shallow depth of 8km, shook buildings from Kabul to Pakistan’s capital Islamabad. Locals said landslides cut off areas near the epicentre, making rescue difficult. “We heard screams under collapsed roofs,” one resident told BBC. Hospitals are overwhelmed as the injured are rushed in. (PC: BBC)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China. Modi emphasized India-Russia partnership, stating both nations "have always stood shoulder to shoulder even in difficult situations." Their cooperation remains crucial for global peace, stability, and prosperity. Modi addressed the ongoing Ukraine conflict, welcoming recent peace efforts and urging all parties to move forward constructively to establish lasting peace quickly, calling it "humanity's call." Separately, Putin revealed he would share details from his Alaska meeting with US President Trump during bilateral sessions, claiming the Ukraine crisis resulted from a Western-supported coup in Kyiv rather than invasion, suggesting Trump summit understandings could enable Ukrainian peace. (PC: X & India TV News)