ASIA
North Korea- North Korea showed off its latest arsenal, as it was put up on display during a parade in the heart of the Pyongyang. There were pictures shown on state television of soldiers marching in formation alongside tanks, balloons, and cheering crowds. Their leader, Kim Jong Un, was shown clapping and smiling from inside the reviewing box. The soldiers also dedicated a chant towards their leader, screaming, “We will die for you.”
Citizens showed their enthusiasm and revolutionary fervor by having a beautiful celebration at the Kin II Sung square. As jets tracked the colors of the North Korean flag, people saw processions of submarines launch ballistic missiles (missiles that are capable of being launched from a mobile launcher) and a very large missile, which is speculated to be an intercontinental ballistic missile.
Afghanistan- The US Military dropped its most powerful non-nuclear bomb on ISIS positions in Afghanistan on Thursday night, and is now defending its actions as a tactical move.
The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or MOAB, was dropped on a network of fortified underground tunnels that ISIS had been using to stage attacks on the government forces. The strike happened in the province of Nangarhar near the Pakistan border and killed 36 ISIS fighters, as reported by the Afghan officials.
The US Military had estimated 600 to 800 active ISIS fighters in the area, but has not commented whether it will strike again or not. The blast destroyed three underground tunnels, weapons, and ammunition, and no civilians were reported hurt, both Afghan and the US officials said.
EUROPE
Russia- Russia vetoed a draft resolution at the UN Security Council that would have condemned last week’s alleged chemical attack in Syria and demanded that Damascus cooperate with the international investigation of events on the ground. This has been the eighth time Russia vetoed on Syria during their civil war. The attack killed more than 80 people and the Western allies blame the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad and US President Donald Trump for ordering a missile strike in response.
United Nation’s Nikki Haley told the council that “with its veto, Russia said no to accountability, Russia said no to cooperating with the UN investigation, Russia said no to helping keep peace in Syria, Russia chose to side with (Syrian President Bashar al-) Assad, even as rest of the world, even the Arab world, comes together to condemn the murderous regime.”
