China and Russia should work together to restore the authority of the UN and closely cooperate in BRICS and SCO forums to advance the international order in a more just and reasonable direction, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday. (Pics/AFP)

Israel carried out a series of intense airstrikes across Beirut, including its southern suburbs and parts of southern and eastern Lebanon, triggering panic among residents. The strikes mark one of the most violent assaults on the capital since the conflict with Hezbollah began, with Israel maintaining that its two-week truce with Iran does not apply to operations in Lebanon (Pics/AFP)