The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit is widely seen as China’s effort to deepen non-Western alliances. President Xi Jinping has not only extended a rare invitation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, but also pledged support for Malaysia’s bid to join BRICS. We speak to Professor Jastwan Singh from the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Taylor’s University about the implication of the summit.

Other stories we covered:

• Inquest proceedings for Zara Qairina: The inquest into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina has begun, with 70 witnesses expected to testify over 19 days. We break down what this inquest means as well get insights from criminal lawyer and former deputy public prosecutor Kee Shu Min about the importance of this process.

• Selangor to resume DRT: Selangor plans to revive its demand-responsive transit service by year-end, after a pilot phase left gaps and unmet expectations. We speak to Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, the founder of My Mobility Vision, and Professor Ahmad Farhan Sadullah, Vice Chancellor and Professor of Transport at Universiti Putra Malaysia for their thoughts on the DRT initiative.

• Death toll rises after Afghanistan earthquakes: The earthquakes that hit the country recently have left more than 1,400 dead and over 3,000 injured. With rescue efforts proving difficult and global financial aid struggling to meet its target, we reached out to Nusrat Hassan, Operations Coordinator for South Asia with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for an insight into the chaos.

• Southeast Asian stands with Indonesia: As protests rage across Indonesia, Southeast Asians are using Grab to send food and aid to delivery riders caught in the chaos. We explore this spontaneous wave of cross-border solidarity, and what it reveals about regional empathy and community instinct.

Image Credit: Bernama

Produced by: Alia Zefri, Sneha Harikannan, Dashran Yohan, Lim Sue Ann, Sudais Ferhard

Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Susan Tam

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Categories:  technology,  controversies,  Law/Activism,  international,  environment,  Cars/Motoring,  politics,  government,  economy,  travel

Tags:  inquest,  indonesia protest,  grab,  afghanistan,  earthquake,  DRT,  selangor,  public transport system,  zara qairina,  coroner court,  china malaysia relations,  china president xi jinping,  Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim,