The flash floods triggered by glacial lake burst has left a trail of destruction in India’s northeastern Sikkim state. More than 25,000 people are affected while 14 people are dead, with at least 100 people, including 22 army men, still missing.

The Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim — a glacial lake situated in the state’s northwest at 17,000 feet — burst, unleashing a flood of water that eventually rose the water levels of Teesta River to alarming levels.

The rise of water levels in river flooded at least four districts, including Mangan, Gangtok, on Wednesday (October 4), the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) said.

“The lake outburst in portions of Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim caused a rise in water levels with very high velocities near about 15m/sec, crossed the&nbsp;CWC&nbsp;(Centre Water Commission) Melli site measuring 227 m, near about 3m above Danger Level, at 0600 am,” it added.

The lake outburst also resulted in the breach of the Chungthang dam, which is the largest hydropower project in Sikkim.

The National Remote Sensing Centre, one of the ISRO’s arms which conducted a satellite-based study on the lake outburst, said, “It is observed that Lake is Burst and about 105 hectares area has been drained out (28 September 2023 image).”

The National Disaster Management Authority believes that the possible cause of the flash flood in Sikkim could be a combination of excess rainfall and a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) event at South Lhonak lake in North Sikkim.

Though an official statement from the Sikkim government is awaited over the cause of the lake outburst, the latest episode has turned the attention towards the GLOF incident in Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath in 2013 where a sudden burst of floods killed thousands of people. The GLOF was caused by the Chorabari Tal glacial lake.

<h2>What is GLOF?</h2>

Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) is a type of catastrophic flood that happens when the dam containing a glacial lake fails, releasing a large volume of water.

This type of flood is&nbsp;typically caused by rapid melting of glaciers or the buildup of water&nbsp;in the lake due to heavy rainfall or the inflow of meltwater.

As the volume of the glacial lake grows, so does the pressure on the dam containing it. Failure of the dam can also occur due to internal processes, such as water seeping through the structure.

Occurrences of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) have become increasingly frequent and caused a lot of havoc for the people living in the Himalayan foothills.

The formation of these lakes, which vary in size from 5 to 10 hectares, has been primarily attributed to global warming, climate change and local factors.

<h2>Was Sikkim flood&nbsp;a result of GLOF?</h2>

Sikkim, which lies on the foothills of the Himalayas, is house to an estimated 300 glacial lakes.

One of those lakes is the South Lhonak. Indian Express newspaper, which cited a report by the Sikkim Forest and Environment Department, stated that the glacier lake has been under the observation of the officials for the past five decades.

A report published by the Sikkim Forest and Environment Department found that the lake’s area had significantly increased in the past five decades, the newspaper reported.

<h2>Did the state govt take any action?</h2>

The Indian Express reported that the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority and Sikkim’s Department of Science and Technology and Climate Change, among others, immediately took note and tried to siphon off the lake water.

The authorities installed three eight-inch wide and 130-140 metres long High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes in the lake to take out the water. They siphoned off 150 litres of water per sec, the Sikkim SDMA said.

While it is difficult to pinpoint the Sikkim flash floods to the GLOF incident, the state government has maintained that it was caused by cloud burst.

<h2>What happened in Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath?</h2>

In the early hours of June 17, 2013, a flash flood came bursting through the overflowing banks of the Chorabari lake in Uttarakhand.

The floods happened due to an unusual amount of rainfall June 13 and 17, which resulted in the melting of the Chorabari glacier, and the Mandakini river erupted due to excess water.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sikkim-floods-dalai-lama-expresses-grief-as-14-dead-102-missing-over-3000-stranded-in-flash-floods-642752">Sikkim floods: Dalai Lama expresses grief following devastation</a>

The floods rocked large parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Western Nepal.

According to figures provided by the Government of Uttarakhand, more than 5,700 people were "presumed dead." The death toll was later revised to 6,054. Most of the dead were pilgrims.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-india-relations-may-get-worse-us-amb-to-india-warns-state-department-report-642846">‘US-India relations may get worse,’ Garcetti warns State Department</a>

The heavy rainfall caused massive flash floods and landslides resulting in the death of residents and tourists as well as extensive damage to property. Reportedly the worst hit was the Kedarnath valley popular for the 8th century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The flash floods triggered by glacial lake burst has left a trail of destruction in India’s northeastern Sikkim state. More than 25,000 people are affected while 14 people are dead, with at least 100 people, including 22 army men, still missing.

The flash floods triggered by glacial lake burst has left a trail of destruction in India’s northeastern Sikkim state. More than 25,000 people are affected while 14 people are dead, with at least 100 people, including 22 army men, still missing. The Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim — a glacial lake situated in the state’s northwest at 17,000 feet — burst, unleashing a flood of water that eventually rose the water levels of Teesta River to alarming levels. The rise of water levels in river flooded at least four districts, including Mangan, Gangtok, on Wednesday (October 4), the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) said. “The lake outburst in portions of Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim caused a rise in water levels with very high velocities near about 15m/sec, crossed the CWC (Centre Water Commission) Melli site measuring 227 m, near about 3m above Danger Level, at 0600 am,” it added. The lake outburst also resulted in the breach of the Chungthang dam, which is the largest hydropower project in Sikkim. The National Remote Sensing Centre, one of the ISRO’s arms which conducted a satellite-based study on the lake outburst, said, “It is observed that Lake is Burst and about 105 hectares area has been drained out (28 September 2023 image).” The National Disaster Management Authority believes that the possible cause of the flash flood in Sikkim could be a combination of excess rainfall and a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) event at South Lhonak lake in North Sikkim. Though an official statement from the Sikkim government is awaited over the cause of the lake outburst, the latest episode has turned the attention towards the GLOF incident in Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath in 2013 where a sudden burst of floods killed thousands of people. The GLOF was caused by the Chorabari Tal glacial lake. What is GLOF? Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) is a type of catastrophic flood that happens when the dam containing a glacial lake fails, releasing a large volume of water. This type of flood is typically caused by rapid melting of glaciers or the buildup of water in the lake due to heavy rainfall or the inflow of meltwater. As the volume of the glacial lake grows, so does the pressure on the dam containing it. Failure of the dam can also occur due to internal processes, such as water seeping through the structure. Occurrences of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) have become increasingly frequent and caused a lot of havoc for the people living in the Himalayan foothills. The formation of these lakes, which vary in size from 5 to 10 hectares, has been primarily attributed to global warming, climate change and local factors. Was Sikkim flood a result of GLOF? Sikkim, which lies on the foothills of the Himalayas, is house to an estimated 300 glacial lakes. One of those lakes is the South Lhonak. Indian Express newspaper, which cited a report by the Sikkim Forest and Environment Department, stated that the glacier lake has been under the observation of the officials for the past five decades. A report published by the Sikkim Forest and Environment Department found that the lake’s area had significantly increased in the past five decades, the newspaper reported. Did the state govt take any action? The Indian Express reported that the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority and Sikkim’s Department of Science and Technology and Climate Change, among others, immediately took note and tried to siphon off the lake water. The authorities installed three eight-inch wide and 130-140 metres long High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes in the lake to take out the water. They siphoned off 150 litres of water per sec, the Sikkim SDMA said. While it is difficult to pinpoint the Sikkim flash floods to the GLOF incident, the state government has maintained that it was caused by cloud burst. What happened in Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath? In the early hours of June 17, 2013, a flash flood came bursting through the overflowing banks of the Chorabari lake in Uttarakhand. The floods happened due to an unusual amount of rainfall June 13 and 17, which resulted in the melting of the Chorabari glacier, and the Mandakini river erupted due to excess water. Also read | Sikkim floods: Dalai Lama expresses grief following devastation The floods rocked large parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Western Nepal. According to figures provided by the Government of Uttarakhand, more than 5,700 people were "presumed dead." The death toll was later revised to 6,054. Most of the dead were pilgrims. Also read | ‘US-India relations may get worse,’ Garcetti warns State Department The heavy rainfall caused massive flash floods and landslides resulting in the death of residents and tourists as well as extensive damage to property. Reportedly the worst hit was the Kedarnath valley popular for the 8th century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained | Is Sikkim flash flood not caused by cloud burst but glacial lake outburst?

People looking for adult content on YouTube have discovered that they were able to view and host porn videos on the platform, which is scrambling to delete them.

This is happening thanks to a bug that the Alphabet-owned platform is unable to resolve despite taking action.

404Media news outlet uncovered that a group of self-proclaimed "YouTube hackers" were able to get around the platform’s content moderation rules to upload explicit videos.

These porn videos encompassed hentai and videos featuring well-known adult actress "Sweetie Fox."

In some cases, they were able to lift videos straight out of pornographic websites like Pornhub and transfer them to YouTube.

<h2>Bypassing algorithms</h2>

A reporter from 404Media, Emanuel Maiberg, was the first one to discover such an anomaly.

To understand how the hackers were able to bypass the algorithms, he joined a Discord group called "YouTube porn hunters”—a group that shares pornographic content.

One of the users told 404Media that they could bypass YouTube’s algorithm by exploiting the video tagging system—the field where users can add tags to the video when uploading.

They use something called a “newline” character, which YouTube rarely counts as an actual character. It is essentially what is written when you press the enter key on your keyboard. Users spammed millions of these characters in the video tags. This prevented the visibility of these videos.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beanless-coffee-to-soon-become-available-will-help-save-forests-642639">'Beanless coffee' to soon become available, will help save forests</a>

Another user shared a text (.txt) file that contains 4 million of these newline characters, claiming that it can be used to upload “undeletable” videos to YouTube.

<h2>YouTube cracks&nbsp;down&nbsp;</h2>

Though YouTube has since cracked down on such videos, the platform is struggling to find all of the videos that were uploaded using this technique.

A YouTube spokesperson told 404Media that they are aware the situation, and trying to remove all the explicit videos that have been uploaded.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/same-sex-behaviour-in-animal-kingdom-and-its-evolution-study-642510">Over 1,500 species of animals display some degree of same-sex sexual behaviour: Study</a>

“We’re aware that a small number of videos may have remained on YouTube following a channel termination. We’re working to fix this and remove the content from the platform,” said YouTube spokesperson Jack Malon to Maiberg, admitting to the difficulty.

(With inputs from agencies)

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People looking for adult content on YouTube have discovered that they were able to view and host porn videos on the platform, which is scrambling to delete them.

People looking for adult content on YouTube have discovered that they were able to view and host porn videos on the platform, which is scrambling to delete them. This is happening thanks to a bug that the Alphabet-owned platform is unable to resolve despite taking action. 404Media news outlet uncovered that a group of self-proclaimed "YouTube hackers" were able to get around the platform’s content moderation rules to upload explicit videos. These porn videos encompassed hentai and videos featuring well-known adult actress "Sweetie Fox." In some cases, they were able to lift videos straight out of pornographic websites like Pornhub and transfer them to YouTube. Bypassing algorithms A reporter from 404Media, Emanuel Maiberg, was the first one to discover such an anomaly. To understand how the hackers were able to bypass the algorithms, he joined a Discord group called "YouTube porn hunters”—a group that shares pornographic content. One of the users told 404Media that they could bypass YouTube’s algorithm by exploiting the video tagging system—the field where users can add tags to the video when uploading. They use something called a “newline” character, which YouTube rarely counts as an actual character. It is essentially what is written when you press the enter key on your keyboard. Users spammed millions of these characters in the video tags. This prevented the visibility of these videos. Also read | 'Beanless coffee' to soon become available, will help save forests Another user shared a text (.txt) file that contains 4 million of these newline characters, claiming that it can be used to upload “undeletable” videos to YouTube. YouTube cracks down Though YouTube has since cracked down on such videos, the platform is struggling to find all of the videos that were uploaded using this technique. A YouTube spokesperson told 404Media that they are aware the situation, and trying to remove all the explicit videos that have been uploaded. Also read | Over 1,500 species of animals display some degree of same-sex sexual behaviour: Study “We’re aware that a small number of videos may have remained on YouTube following a channel termination. We’re working to fix this and remove the content from the platform,” said YouTube spokesperson Jack Malon to Maiberg, admitting to the difficulty. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

YouTube bug is allowing people to upload ‘undeletable’ porn videos

India has issued a fresh weapons import ban list featuring 98 weapons in its drive to attain self-sufficiency in defence manufacturing.

The so-called “positive indigenisation list” was released by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday (Oct 4) during the plenary session of ‘Swavlamban 2.0’—the two-day seminar of Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO).

The list includes futuristic infantry combat vehicles, articulated all-terrain vehicles, remotely piloted airborne vehicles up to 25 km with a 2kg Payload for the army, naval shipborne unmanned aerial system, medium upgrade low endurance class tactical drone, an electric light vehicle for the army, medium range precision kill system for artillery, next-generation low-level light radar for the army.

<h2>Five indigenisation lists issued so far</h2>

This was the fifth indigenisation list released by the ministry in the last three years, in which a total of 509 defence items have been placed under the import ban.

“The list lays special focus on import substitution of components of major systems, besides important platforms, weapon systems, sensors and munitions, which are being developed and likely to translate into firm orders in the next five to 10 years,” the defence ministry said in a statement.

“The items in the list will provide ample visibility and opportunity to the domestic industry to understand the trend and futuristic needs of the Armed Forces and create requisite R&amp;D and manufacturing capacity within the country,” it said.

The list has been prepared by the Department of Military Affairs.

<h2>India's reliance on foreign weapons&nbsp;</h2>

India, which remains one of the world’s largest arms importers, relies heavily on foreign defence manufacturers to fulfil its security needs.

It launched the import bans list around three years ago to attain twin objectives—cut down import costs and boost defence manufacturing.

Russian weapons continue to dominate India’s weapons armoury and it has remained the largest supplier between 2018-22.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sikkim-floods-dalai-lama-expresses-grief-as-14-dead-102-missing-over-3000-stranded-in-flash-floods-642752">Sikkim floods: Dalai Lama expresses grief following devastation</a>

According to the Swedish Think Tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), France was the second largest supplier between 2018-22.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-following-mccarthys-ouster-jim-jordan-to-run-for-house-speakers-post-642689">US: Following McCarthy's ouster, Jim Jordan to run for House speaker's pos</a>

Among the top 10 arms exporters for the period 2018-22, India was the biggest arms export market for three countries — Russia, France and Israel&nbsp; —and the second largest export market to South Korea.

India was also the third largest market for South Africa which was ranked 21st on the list of arms exporters.

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India has issued a fresh weapons import ban list featuring 98 weapons in its drive to attain self-sufficiency in defence manufacturing. The so-called “positive indigenisation list” was released by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday (Oct 4) during the plenary session of ‘Swavlamban 2.

India has issued a fresh weapons import ban list featuring 98 weapons in its drive to attain self-sufficiency in defence manufacturing. The so-called “positive indigenisation list” was released by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday (Oct 4) during the plenary session of ‘Swavlamban 2.0’—the two-day seminar of Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO). The list includes futuristic infantry combat vehicles, articulated all-terrain vehicles, remotely piloted airborne vehicles up to 25 km with a 2kg Payload for the army, naval shipborne unmanned aerial system, medium upgrade low endurance class tactical drone, an electric light vehicle for the army, medium range precision kill system for artillery, next-generation low-level light radar for the army. Five indigenisation lists issued so far This was the fifth indigenisation list released by the ministry in the last three years, in which a total of 509 defence items have been placed under the import ban. “The list lays special focus on import substitution of components of major systems, besides important platforms, weapon systems, sensors and munitions, which are being developed and likely to translate into firm orders in the next five to 10 years,” the defence ministry said in a statement. “The items in the list will provide ample visibility and opportunity to the domestic industry to understand the trend and futuristic needs of the Armed Forces and create requisite R&D and manufacturing capacity within the country,” it said. The list has been prepared by the Department of Military Affairs. India's reliance on foreign weapons India, which remains one of the world’s largest arms importers, relies heavily on foreign defence manufacturers to fulfil its security needs. It launched the import bans list around three years ago to attain twin objectives—cut down import costs and boost defence manufacturing. Russian weapons continue to dominate India’s weapons armoury and it has remained the largest supplier between 2018-22. Also read | Sikkim floods: Dalai Lama expresses grief following devastation According to the Swedish Think Tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), France was the second largest supplier between 2018-22. Also read | US: Following McCarthy's ouster, Jim Jordan to run for House speaker's pos Among the top 10 arms exporters for the period 2018-22, India was the biggest arms export market for three countries — Russia, France and Israel —and the second largest export market to South Korea. India was also the third largest market for South Africa which was ranked 21st on the list of arms exporters. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India bans imports of 98 weapons, releases fresh indigenisation list

Russia has pulled out its Black Sea Fleet from the controlled Crimean region, several media reports claimed, indicating that it was the result of increased Ukraine missile and drone attacks.

Russia has moved three attack submarines and two frigates from Sevastopol to other ports in Russia and Crimea, the New York Times (NYT) newspaper claimed on Wednesday (Oct 5), citing Western officials and satellite images verified by naval experts.

The Telegraph newspaper also reported, citing British intelligence, that the Russian Black Sea Fleet is “struggling to deal with concurrent threats on the southern flank of the Ukraine war” and “fleet activities are likely relocating to Novorossiysk in the face of threats to Sevastopol”.

Russia is now “attempting to use naval air power to project force over the north-western Black Sea”, it reported.

If the reports are accurate, then this would be the biggest setback for Russian President Vladimir Putin who had occupied Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

<h2>Crimea important naval base for Russia</h2>

Crimea has served as the key hub supporting&nbsp;Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Sevastopol, the main base of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet since the 19th century, has had particular importance for navy operations since the start of the war.

Another reason is to use it as a logistics hub, shipping in munitions and materiel for the land battle to the north.

The decision to withdraw from Sevastopol comes in the wake of a series of attacks by Ukraine in recent weeks that have severely damaged Russian vessels and the fleet’s headquarters.

<h2>Ukraine's counteroffensive ops yielding results&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

The Ukrainian strikes obliterated the naval headquarters and damaged docked warships last month, making the port city untenable as a naval base.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japans-fukushima-nuclear-plant-begins-release-of-second-batch-of-treated-radioactive-wastewater-642747">Fukushima nuclear plant releases treated radioactive wastewater's second batc</a>

The recent assault has not only denied Russia access to parts of the Black Sea but has also allowed Ukraine to open a new corridor for it to dispatch vital grain shipments.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-what-led-to-kevin-mccarthys-exit-and-what-happens-next-642314">Explained | What led to Kevin McCarthy’s exit as US House speaker, and what happens next?</a>

The Russian withdrawal would give a major boost to Ukraine’s counteroffensive operations as it slowly makes advances amidst heavy losses.

Military experts argue that it is essential for Ukraine to keep up its attacks on targets in Crimea to degrade Russian morale and weaken its military.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Russia has pulled out its Black Sea Fleet from the controlled Crimean region, several media reports claimed, indicating that it was the result of increased Ukraine missile and drone attacks.

Russia has pulled out its Black Sea Fleet from the controlled Crimean region, several media reports claimed, indicating that it was the result of increased Ukraine missile and drone attacks. Russia has moved three attack submarines and two frigates from Sevastopol to other ports in Russia and Crimea, the New York Times (NYT) newspaper claimed on Wednesday (Oct 5), citing Western officials and satellite images verified by naval experts. The Telegraph newspaper also reported, citing British intelligence, that the Russian Black Sea Fleet is “struggling to deal with concurrent threats on the southern flank of the Ukraine war” and “fleet activities are likely relocating to Novorossiysk in the face of threats to Sevastopol”. Russia is now “attempting to use naval air power to project force over the north-western Black Sea”, it reported. If the reports are accurate, then this would be the biggest setback for Russian President Vladimir Putin who had occupied Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Crimea important naval base for Russia Crimea has served as the key hub supporting Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Sevastopol, the main base of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet since the 19th century, has had particular importance for navy operations since the start of the war. Another reason is to use it as a logistics hub, shipping in munitions and materiel for the land battle to the north. The decision to withdraw from Sevastopol comes in the wake of a series of attacks by Ukraine in recent weeks that have severely damaged Russian vessels and the fleet’s headquarters. Ukraine's counteroffensive ops yielding results The Ukrainian strikes obliterated the naval headquarters and damaged docked warships last month, making the port city untenable as a naval base. Also read | Fukushima nuclear plant releases treated radioactive wastewater's second batc The recent assault has not only denied Russia access to parts of the Black Sea but has also allowed Ukraine to open a new corridor for it to dispatch vital grain shipments. Also read | Explained | What led to Kevin McCarthy’s exit as US House speaker, and what happens next? The Russian withdrawal would give a major boost to Ukraine’s counteroffensive operations as it slowly makes advances amidst heavy losses. Military experts argue that it is essential for Ukraine to keep up its attacks on targets in Crimea to degrade Russian morale and weaken its military. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Setback for Vladimir Putin as Russia withdraws Black Sea Fleet from Crimea: Report

A flash flood&nbsp;hit India’s northeastern Sikkim state after the Teesta River swelled to an alarming level due to a sudden cloud burst in the northern part of Mangan district. Eight people have died while 69, including 22 army personnel, are missing.

An alert was issued in the north and east districts on Wednesday (Oct 10) by the state administration after a sudden rise in the river’s water was witnessed on Tuesday night.&nbsp;The flood started around 1.30 am.

The flash floods were caused due to a&nbsp;sudden cloudburst above Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim that made the Teesta River swell within Lachen Valley on Wednesday. The situation worsened&nbsp;after the release of water from Chungthang dam&nbsp;that submerged camps and vehicles, and resulted in the washing away of 22&nbsp;army personnel.

The floods washed away a portion of Malli Road, the Indreni steel bridge in Gangtok's Singtam and the main highway connecting Sikkim to West Bengal state.

A "cloudburst in portions of Lhonak Lake, which caused the rise of water levels with very high velocities downstream along the Teesta River basin in the early hours of Wednesday", damaged many establishments in Mangan, Gangtok, Pakyong, and Namchi districts,&nbsp;the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) said in a press release.

"Three bodies have been recovered from Singtam during rescue and relief efforts," SSDMA said.

“Five bodies have been recovered from Golitar and Singtam region,” Gangtok Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Mahendra Chettri said.

The Sikkim government issued a notification declaring the floods as a natural disaster.

Along with 22 army personnel, 47 civilians are missing. Rescuers have been able to bring 166 people to safety, including 1 armyman.&nbsp;Defence Spokesperson Lt Col Mahendra Rawat has said that health of the rescued armyman is stable.

<h2>15,000 people affected by floods</h2>

Chief Secretary of the state VS Pathak said that around 15,000 people have been affected and at least eight major bridges have been washed away along the banks of the Teesta River.

“Some army establishments along the valley have been affected and efforts are on to confirm details,” Defence Public Relations Officer spokesperson, Guwahati, said in a statement.

&nbsp;

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Visuals from Chungthang as flash floods triggered from cloud burst wreak havoc in Sikkim. <a href="https://t.co/c8d9HdS8DZ">pic.twitter.com/c8d9HdS8DZ</a>
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1709462370567819622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The army vehicles were parked at Bardang near Singtam when the flash flood occurred after the release of water from the Chungthang dam.

"Flooding of Teesta River Basin has occurred due to cloud burst in the Northern Part of Mangan District. All are advised to stay alert and avoid travel along the River Basin," an alert message by Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority said.

<h2>PM Modi calls Sikkim CM</h2>

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Sikkim CM&nbsp;Prem Singh Tamang. The PM took stock of the situation and assured of all possible help.

"Spoke to Sikkim CM Shri @PSTamangGolay and took stock of the situation in the wake of the unfortunate natural calamity in parts of the state. Assured all possible support in addressing the challenge. I pray for the safety and well-being of all those affected," Modi said on X.

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Spoke to Sikkim CM Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/PSTamangGolay?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PSTamangGolay</a> and took stock of the situation in the wake of the unfortunate natural calamity in parts of the state. Assured all possible support in addressing the challenge. I pray for the safety and well-being of all those affected.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1709504918753542426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

<h2>Low-lying catchment areas cleared&nbsp;</h2>

All police stations in the low-lying areas have been alerted and told to evacuate the residents to safety.

Moreover, those living on the banks of the Teesta River have also been advised to evacuate their homes to ensure their safety.

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Sikkim has been receiving incessant rainfall since Tuesday night, with South Sikkim recording 98 mm of rain and Namthang 90.5mm. East and West Sikkim also witnessed moderate rain.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-police-registers-anti-terror-case-against-newsclick-raids-journalists-amid-china-funding-row-641971">Delhi Police register anti-terror case against NewsClick, raid journalists amid China funding row</a>

"As regards weather forecast over Sikkim, light to moderate rainfall is expected during next 3-4 days over Sikkim," the India Meteorological Department said on X.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang took stock of the situation as a flood-like situation arose after a cloud burst in Singtam.

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A flash flood hit India’s northeastern Sikkim state after the Teesta River swelled to an alarming level due to a sudden cloud burst in the northern part of Mangan district.

A flash flood hit India’s northeastern Sikkim state after the Teesta River swelled to an alarming level due to a sudden cloud burst in the northern part of Mangan district. Eight people have died while 69, including 22 army personnel, are missing. An alert was issued in the north and east districts on Wednesday (Oct 10) by the state administration after a sudden rise in the river’s water was witnessed on Tuesday night. The flood started around 1.30 am. The flash floods were caused due to a sudden cloudburst above Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim that made the Teesta River swell within Lachen Valley on Wednesday. The situation worsened after the release of water from Chungthang dam that submerged camps and vehicles, and resulted in the washing away of 22 army personnel. The floods washed away a portion of Malli Road, the Indreni steel bridge in Gangtok's Singtam and the main highway connecting Sikkim to West Bengal state. A "cloudburst in portions of Lhonak Lake, which caused the rise of water levels with very high velocities downstream along the Teesta River basin in the early hours of Wednesday", damaged many establishments in Mangan, Gangtok, Pakyong, and Namchi districts, the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) said in a press release. "Three bodies have been recovered from Singtam during rescue and relief efforts," SSDMA said. “Five bodies have been recovered from Golitar and Singtam region,” Gangtok Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Mahendra Chettri said. The Sikkim government issued a notification declaring the floods as a natural disaster. Along with 22 army personnel, 47 civilians are missing. Rescuers have been able to bring 166 people to safety, including 1 armyman. Defence Spokesperson Lt Col Mahendra Rawat has said that health of the rescued armyman is stable. 15,000 people affected by floods Chief Secretary of the state VS Pathak said that around 15,000 people have been affected and at least eight major bridges have been washed away along the banks of the Teesta River. “Some army establishments along the valley have been affected and efforts are on to confirm details,” Defence Public Relations Officer spokesperson, Guwahati, said in a statement. Visuals from Chungthang as flash floods triggered from cloud burst wreak havoc in Sikkim. pic.twitter.com/c8d9HdS8DZ — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 4, 2023 × The army vehicles were parked at Bardang near Singtam when the flash flood occurred after the release of water from the Chungthang dam. "Flooding of Teesta River Basin has occurred due to cloud burst in the Northern Part of Mangan District. All are advised to stay alert and avoid travel along the River Basin," an alert message by Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority said. PM Modi calls Sikkim CM Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang. The PM took stock of the situation and assured of all possible help. "Spoke to Sikkim CM Shri @PSTamangGolay and took stock of the situation in the wake of the unfortunate natural calamity in parts of the state. Assured all possible support in addressing the challenge. I pray for the safety and well-being of all those affected," Modi said on X. Spoke to Sikkim CM Shri @PSTamangGolay and took stock of the situation in the wake of the unfortunate natural calamity in parts of the state. Assured all possible support in addressing the challenge. I pray for the safety and well-being of all those affected. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 4, 2023 × Low-lying catchment areas cleared All police stations in the low-lying areas have been alerted and told to evacuate the residents to safety. Moreover, those living on the banks of the Teesta River have also been advised to evacuate their homes to ensure their safety. Also read | Watch: Indian Air Force shares 'first-look' of India's ISRO Gaganyaan Astronauts Sikkim has been receiving incessant rainfall since Tuesday night, with South Sikkim recording 98 mm of rain and Namthang 90.5mm. East and West Sikkim also witnessed moderate rain. Also read | Delhi Police register anti-terror case against NewsClick, raid journalists amid China funding row "As regards weather forecast over Sikkim, light to moderate rainfall is expected during next 3-4 days over Sikkim," the India Meteorological Department said on X. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang took stock of the situation as a flood-like situation arose after a cloud burst in Singtam. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India: Highways, buildings washed away in Sikkim flash floods; 8 dead, 22 army personnel among many missing

Delhi was adjudged the most polluted city in India in the past year despite its air quality seeing marginal improvement.

According to a study by independent think tank Climate Trends and tech firm Respirer Living Sciences, the concentration of PM2.5 was the highest in Delhi with 100.1 micrograms per cubic metre, which is three times more than the government's safe limit.

On the other hand, Manipur registered India's cleanest air with a PM2.5 level of only 11.1 micrograms per cubic metre.

PM2.5 is an umbrella term used to describe fine inhalable chemical particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometres and smaller.

While PM2.5 is more likely to travel into and deposit on the surface of the deeper parts of the lung, PM10 is more likely to deposit on the surfaces of the larger airways of the upper region of the lung.

Particles deposited on the lung surface can induce tissue damage and lung inflammation.

<h2>Report covers cities under NCAP</h2>

The report is based on the analysis of the government's PM2.5 data from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023, and focuses on the cities covered under the National Clean Air Programme, which aims to achieve a 40 per cent reduction in particulate matter concentration by 2026.

The study further noted that the cities surrounding Delhi, which are part of the National Capital Region, too recorded their worst air quality.

Faridabad (89 micrograms per cubic metre), Noida (79.1 micrograms per cubic metre), Ghaziabad (78.3 micrograms per cubic metre) and Meerut (76.9 micrograms per cubic metre) featured among the top 10 most polluted cities.

After Delhi, the second most polluted city was Patna in Bihar, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 99.7 micrograms per cubic metre. Notably, the city’s air quality deteriorated by 24 per cent compared to the previous year.

<h2>Cities with worst pollution&nbsp;part of the Indo-Gangetic Plains</h2>

The top seven polluted cities are Delhi, Patna, Muzaffarpur, Faridabad, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Meerut—all part of the Indo-Gangetic Plains—the report noted.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-sunny-solution-to-climate-change-woes-enters-accelerating-growth-phase-642226">India's sunny solution to climate change woes enters 'accelerating growth' phase</a>

"The analysis reflects that there has been improvement in the Indo-Gangetic Plain cities over the last few years. However, considering the enormous pollution load, these cities continue to experience the highest PM levels in the country," Aarti Khosla, the director of Climate Trends, said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/met-department-predicts-heavy-rainfall-in-several-parts-of-india-over-next-three-days-642355">India weather update: Heavy rainfall predicted in several states over next three days</a>

"While measures like the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana or hyperlocal developments like the peripheral highways around Delhi are positive actions, there is a need for a scientific approach to address air quality issues in a sustained manner through an airshed approach, she said.

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Delhi was adjudged the most polluted city in India in the past year despite its air quality seeing marginal improvement. According to a study by independent think tank Climate Trends and tech firm Respirer Living Sciences, the concentration of PM2.

Delhi was adjudged the most polluted city in India in the past year despite its air quality seeing marginal improvement. According to a study by independent think tank Climate Trends and tech firm Respirer Living Sciences, the concentration of PM2.5 was the highest in Delhi with 100.1 micrograms per cubic metre, which is three times more than the government's safe limit. On the other hand, Manipur registered India's cleanest air with a PM2.5 level of only 11.1 micrograms per cubic metre. PM2.5 is an umbrella term used to describe fine inhalable chemical particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometres and smaller. While PM2.5 is more likely to travel into and deposit on the surface of the deeper parts of the lung, PM10 is more likely to deposit on the surfaces of the larger airways of the upper region of the lung. Particles deposited on the lung surface can induce tissue damage and lung inflammation. Report covers cities under NCAP The report is based on the analysis of the government's PM2.5 data from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023, and focuses on the cities covered under the National Clean Air Programme, which aims to achieve a 40 per cent reduction in particulate matter concentration by 2026. The study further noted that the cities surrounding Delhi, which are part of the National Capital Region, too recorded their worst air quality. Faridabad (89 micrograms per cubic metre), Noida (79.1 micrograms per cubic metre), Ghaziabad (78.3 micrograms per cubic metre) and Meerut (76.9 micrograms per cubic metre) featured among the top 10 most polluted cities. After Delhi, the second most polluted city was Patna in Bihar, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 99.7 micrograms per cubic metre. Notably, the city’s air quality deteriorated by 24 per cent compared to the previous year. Cities with worst pollution part of the Indo-Gangetic Plains The top seven polluted cities are Delhi, Patna, Muzaffarpur, Faridabad, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Meerut—all part of the Indo-Gangetic Plains—the report noted. Also read | India's sunny solution to climate change woes enters 'accelerating growth' phase "The analysis reflects that there has been improvement in the Indo-Gangetic Plain cities over the last few years. However, considering the enormous pollution load, these cities continue to experience the highest PM levels in the country," Aarti Khosla, the director of Climate Trends, said. Also read | India weather update: Heavy rainfall predicted in several states over next three days "While measures like the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana or hyperlocal developments like the peripheral highways around Delhi are positive actions, there is a need for a scientific approach to address air quality issues in a sustained manner through an airshed approach, she said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India: Delhi-NCR remains top in worst polluted city rankings, Mizoram has cleanest air

Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly has said that Ottawa wants “private talks” with India to ease diplomatic tensions that arose after “Indian government agents” were held responsible for the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjer.

Talking to the media after reports emerged that India asked Canada to withdraw 41 diplomats, Melanie on Wednesday (Oct 3) said that they are in "close contact" with the New Delhi administration.

“We are in contact with the government of India. We take Canadian diplomats' safety very seriously and we will continue to engage privately because we think diplomatic conversations are best when they remain private," Reuters quoted Joly as saying to reporters.

“In moments of tensions — because indeed there are tensions between both our governments — more than ever it’s important that diplomats be on the ground and that’s why we believe in the importance of having a strong diplomatic footprint in India,” she said in Ottawa.

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"In moments of tensions—because indeed there are tensions between both our governments—more than ever it's important that diplomats be on the ground," says Foreign Affairs Min. Mélanie Joly when asked re: reports India has asked Canada to remove 41 of its 62 diplomats.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cdnpoli</a> <a href="https://t.co/c226XBLW3q">pic.twitter.com/c226XBLW3q</a>
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“That being said, we are in ongoing conversations with the Indian government and we will continue to protect Canada.”

<h2>India wants parity in envoy&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

The Financial Times earlier reported that India has asked Canada to repatriate 41 of its 62 envoys by October 10, and threatened to strip them of their diplomatic immunity if they fail to adhere to the order.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italy-at-least-20-dead-after-bus-falls-from-bridge-in-venice-642294">Italy: At least 21 dead after bus falls from bridge in Venice</a>

Canada has an embassy in Delhi and consulates in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greg-fergus-becomes-first-black-canadian-to-be-elected-as-house-speaker-642278">Greg Fergus becomes first Black Canadian to be elected as House speaker</a>

The foreign minister’s comments came hours after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau clarified that it doesn’t wish to escalate the situation with India and will continue to engage "responsibly and constructively with New Delhi”.

<h2>No evidence provided yet</h2>

The Trudeau administration has been under fire not only from the Indian government but also from the opposition parties who have been clamouring for the PM to provide evidence to suggest that India was involved in the murder of Nijjar.

Notably last week, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that Trudeau's allegation "was not consistent with our policy".

"If his government had anything relevant and specific they would like us to look into, we were open to looking at it. That's where that conversation is at this point of time."

Jaishankar further said that Trudeau&nbsp;has been giving space to Khalistan elements because of the “compulsions of Canadian politics"—a reference to sizeable Sikh voters in Canada.

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Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly has said that Ottawa wants “private talks” with India to ease diplomatic tensions that arose after “Indian government agents” were held responsible for the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjer.

Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly has said that Ottawa wants “private talks” with India to ease diplomatic tensions that arose after “Indian government agents” were held responsible for the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjer. Talking to the media after reports emerged that India asked Canada to withdraw 41 diplomats, Melanie on Wednesday (Oct 3) said that they are in "close contact" with the New Delhi administration. “We are in contact with the government of India. We take Canadian diplomats' safety very seriously and we will continue to engage privately because we think diplomatic conversations are best when they remain private," Reuters quoted Joly as saying to reporters. “In moments of tensions — because indeed there are tensions between both our governments — more than ever it’s important that diplomats be on the ground and that’s why we believe in the importance of having a strong diplomatic footprint in India,” she said in Ottawa. "In moments of tensions—because indeed there are tensions between both our governments—more than ever it's important that diplomats be on the ground," says Foreign Affairs Min. Mélanie Joly when asked re: reports India has asked Canada to remove 41 of its 62 diplomats.#cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/c226XBLW3q — CPAC (@CPAC_TV) October 3, 2023 × “That being said, we are in ongoing conversations with the Indian government and we will continue to protect Canada.” India wants parity in envoy The Financial Times earlier reported that India has asked Canada to repatriate 41 of its 62 envoys by October 10, and threatened to strip them of their diplomatic immunity if they fail to adhere to the order. Also read | Italy: At least 21 dead after bus falls from bridge in Venice Canada has an embassy in Delhi and consulates in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai. Also read | Greg Fergus becomes first Black Canadian to be elected as House speaker The foreign minister’s comments came hours after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau clarified that it doesn’t wish to escalate the situation with India and will continue to engage "responsibly and constructively with New Delhi”. No evidence provided yet The Trudeau administration has been under fire not only from the Indian government but also from the opposition parties who have been clamouring for the PM to provide evidence to suggest that India was involved in the murder of Nijjar. Notably last week, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that Trudeau's allegation "was not consistent with our policy". "If his government had anything relevant and specific they would like us to look into, we were open to looking at it. That's where that conversation is at this point of time." Jaishankar further said that Trudeau has been giving space to Khalistan elements because of the “compulsions of Canadian politics"—a reference to sizeable Sikh voters in Canada. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Canada wants ‘private talks with India’: Foreign Minister Melanie Joly as Nijjar Singh row escalates

A video of ultra-orthodox Jews spitting towards Christian worshippers in the Old City of Jerusalem has surfaced online, causing uproar in Israel amidst concerns over the rise in motivated attacks.

The video shared on X purportedly showed a group of foreign pilgrims exiting a church with a giant red wooden cross as they began their procession through the limestone labyrinth of the Old City, home to the holiest ground in Judaism, the third-holiest shrine in Islam and major Christian sites.

According to the Times of Israel newspaper, the incident occurred on Monday during the Sukkot holiday.

As they walked on the Old City route, which they believe Jesus Christ took before his crucifixion, at least seven Jews in dark suits can be seen spitting on the ground beside the Christian tour group.

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קבוצה של צליינים יוצאת עם הצלב לרחוב שער האריות ונתקלת בקבוצה של מתפללים יהודים עם 4 המינים ואז מתחילות היריקות. ספרתי לפחות 7 בכמה שניות. <a href="https://t.co/YjqaknATLw">pic.twitter.com/YjqaknATLw</a>
— نير حسون Nir Hasson ניר חסון (@nirhasson) <a href="https://twitter.com/nirhasson/status/1708833385819328700?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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But what made matters worse was when an ultranationalist settler leader and former adviser to a lawmaker in PM Netanyahu’s governing coalition, Elisha Yered, defended the spitters, arguing that spitting at Christian clergy and at churches was an “ancient Jewish custom”.

“Perhaps under the influence of Western culture we have somewhat forgotten what Christianity is,” he wrote on X.

“I think millions of Jews who suffered in exile from the Crusades … will never forget.”

Yered, who remains under house arrest, is suspected of involvement in the killing of a 19-year-old Palestinian.

<h2>PM, other ministers condemn incident</h2>

However, several ruling ministers and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu distanced themselves from the comments of Yered and condemned the incident.

“Israel is totally committed to safeguard&nbsp;the sacred right of worship and pilgrimage to the holy sites of all faiths. I strongly condemn any attempt to intimidate worshippers, and I am committed to taking immediate and decisive action against it,” Netanyahu posted on X.

“Derogatory conduct towards worshipers is sacrilege and is simply unacceptable. Any form of hostility towards individuals engaged in worship will not be tolerated,” he added.

Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi David Lau spoke out against the incident, saying “such phenomena are unwarranted and certainly should not be attributed to Jewish law.”

There are roughly 15,000 Christians in Jerusalem today, according to &nbsp;AP news agency, with the majority of them Palestinians who consider themselves living under occupation.

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A video of ultra-orthodox Jews spitting towards Christian worshippers in the Old City of Jerusalem has surfaced online, causing uproar in Israel amidst concerns over the rise in motivated attacks.

A video of ultra-orthodox Jews spitting towards Christian worshippers in the Old City of Jerusalem has surfaced online, causing uproar in Israel amidst concerns over the rise in motivated attacks. The video shared on X purportedly showed a group of foreign pilgrims exiting a church with a giant red wooden cross as they began their procession through the limestone labyrinth of the Old City, home to the holiest ground in Judaism, the third-holiest shrine in Islam and major Christian sites. According to the Times of Israel newspaper, the incident occurred on Monday during the Sukkot holiday. As they walked on the Old City route, which they believe Jesus Christ took before his crucifixion, at least seven Jews in dark suits can be seen spitting on the ground beside the Christian tour group. קבוצה של צליינים יוצאת עם הצלב לרחוב שער האריות ונתקלת בקבוצה של מתפללים יהודים עם 4 המינים ואז מתחילות היריקות. ספרתי לפחות 7 בכמה שניות. pic.twitter.com/YjqaknATLw — نير حسون Nir Hasson ניר חסון (@nirhasson) October 2, 2023 × But what made matters worse was when an ultranationalist settler leader and former adviser to a lawmaker in PM Netanyahu’s governing coalition, Elisha Yered, defended the spitters, arguing that spitting at Christian clergy and at churches was an “ancient Jewish custom”. “Perhaps under the influence of Western culture we have somewhat forgotten what Christianity is,” he wrote on X. “I think millions of Jews who suffered in exile from the Crusades … will never forget.” Yered, who remains under house arrest, is suspected of involvement in the killing of a 19-year-old Palestinian. PM, other ministers condemn incident However, several ruling ministers and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu distanced themselves from the comments of Yered and condemned the incident. “Israel is totally committed to safeguard the sacred right of worship and pilgrimage to the holy sites of all faiths. I strongly condemn any attempt to intimidate worshippers, and I am committed to taking immediate and decisive action against it,” Netanyahu posted on X. “Derogatory conduct towards worshipers is sacrilege and is simply unacceptable. Any form of hostility towards individuals engaged in worship will not be tolerated,” he added. Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi David Lau spoke out against the incident, saying “such phenomena are unwarranted and certainly should not be attributed to Jewish law.” There are roughly 15,000 Christians in Jerusalem today, according to AP news agency, with the majority of them Palestinians who consider themselves living under occupation. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Watch | Video of ultra-orthodox Jews spitting on Christians sparks outrage  

The main opposition party leader in Seychelles, Patrick Herminie, has been booked in a case involving “witchcraft”.

Hermine, along with six others and a Tanzanian, was arrested on Friday (Sept 29) at his party’s headquarters and his office was searched before he was&nbsp;released.

On Monday (Oct 2), he and others were formally charged at the Seychelles magistrates’ court as part of a probe into “witchcraft” and “unnatural and superstitious” acts.

Herminie, who plans to run in the 2025 presidential election, was released on that day on bail of 30,000 Seychelles rupees ($2,100).

The case is about the discovery of unearthed bodies of an elderly woman and a young man in a cemetery on the main island of Mahé in August.

The police found Hermine’s name on the phone of the Tanzanian national, who was arrested at Seychelles International Airport at the end of September.

<h2>Herminie's named linked to demonic rituals&nbsp;</h2>

The Tanzanian was found in possession of witchcraft items like wooden artefacts, small bottles of brownish liquid, a collection of powders, and documents with strange language and "demonic and satanic" symbols, Seychelles News Agency reported.

Prosecutors alleged that the opposition leader's name appeared in a WhatsApp message between a Seychellois national and the Tanzanian suspect.

Prosecutors further claimed that the documents were similar to those found in Catholic churches and other places that had been vandalised in Mahé.

<h2>Leader slams 'political persecution'&nbsp;</h2>

Speaking to local media after he was released, Hermine slammed his arrest, saying that his prosecution is a "political show" to taint his image.

“This is a political show by the president (Wavel Ramkalawan) to eliminate those who he knows will remove him from power in the 2025 elections.”

Herminie has said he does not believe in witchcraft.

"In Seychelles' history, there has never been until now, a political party leader arrested for superstition and witchcraft. This is something new and it is shameful for Seychelles," he was quoted as saying.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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The main opposition party leader in Seychelles, Patrick Herminie, has been booked in a case involving “witchcraft”. Hermine, along with six others and a Tanzanian, was arrested on Friday (Sept 29) at his party’s headquarters and his office was searched before he was released.

The main opposition party leader in Seychelles, Patrick Herminie, has been booked in a case involving “witchcraft”. Hermine, along with six others and a Tanzanian, was arrested on Friday (Sept 29) at his party’s headquarters and his office was searched before he was released. On Monday (Oct 2), he and others were formally charged at the Seychelles magistrates’ court as part of a probe into “witchcraft” and “unnatural and superstitious” acts. Herminie, who plans to run in the 2025 presidential election, was released on that day on bail of 30,000 Seychelles rupees ($2,100). The case is about the discovery of unearthed bodies of an elderly woman and a young man in a cemetery on the main island of Mahé in August. The police found Hermine’s name on the phone of the Tanzanian national, who was arrested at Seychelles International Airport at the end of September. Herminie's named linked to demonic rituals The Tanzanian was found in possession of witchcraft items like wooden artefacts, small bottles of brownish liquid, a collection of powders, and documents with strange language and "demonic and satanic" symbols, Seychelles News Agency reported. Prosecutors alleged that the opposition leader's name appeared in a WhatsApp message between a Seychellois national and the Tanzanian suspect. Prosecutors further claimed that the documents were similar to those found in Catholic churches and other places that had been vandalised in Mahé. Leader slams 'political persecution' Speaking to local media after he was released, Hermine slammed his arrest, saying that his prosecution is a "political show" to taint his image. “This is a political show by the president (Wavel Ramkalawan) to eliminate those who he knows will remove him from power in the 2025 elections.” Herminie has said he does not believe in witchcraft. "In Seychelles' history, there has never been until now, a political party leader arrested for superstition and witchcraft. This is something new and it is shameful for Seychelles," he was quoted as saying. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Seychelles’ opposition leader booked for witchcraft, released on bail after arrest

Apple has started requiring new apps to provide proof of a Chinese government licence before being made available on Apple's China App Store, joining local rivals that had adopted the policy years earlier to comply with the stringent state regulations.

According to information on Apple's website for developers, the company started forcing app developers last Friday (29 Sep) to submit the "internet content provider (ICP) filing" whenever they publish new apps on the App Store.

<h2>What is ICP filing?&nbsp;</h2>

An ICP &nbsp;filing is a long-standing registration method, which is necessary for websites to operate lawfully in China. Since at least 2017 most local app stores, including those run by Tencent and Huawei, have adopted it.&nbsp;

To obtain an ICP filing licence, developers need to have a firm in China or collaborate with a local publisher, which has been a barrier for many overseas apps.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-out-of-forbes-400-list-of-wealthy-americans-642364">Also read:&nbsp;Donald Trump out of Forbes 400 list of wealthy Americans</a>

Due to its lax ICP policy, Apple has been able to sell significantly more mobile apps than its local competitors, which has increased the US tech giant's popularity in China, its third-largest market after the Americas and Europe.

Apple made its decision after China further tightened its regulation of mobile applications in August by issuing a new rule requiring all app stores and app developers to submit an "app filing" with the regulators that contains information about their businesses.

Chinese regulators last week released names of the first batch of mobile app stores that completed app filings last week, but Apple's App Store was not on the list.

Apple has not responded to a request for comment.

<h2>Impact on the accessibility of apps</h2>

The accessibility of hundreds of thousands of apps on Apple's App Store in China, including well-known international apps like X, formerly known as Twitter, and Telegram, which gained popularity during protests over COVID-19 lockdowns last year, may depend on Apple's compliance status.

As Beijing places a greater emphasis on security, Apple is also having issues in China, as evidenced by some government organisations forbidding staff from using iPhones, as Reuters reported last month.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-perseverance-rover-captures-footage-of-martian-dust-devil-642359">NASA's Perseverance rover captures footage of Martian 'dust devil'</a>

Rich Bishop, CEO of app publishing firm AppInChina, said demanding ICP filings from developers brings Apple one step closer to being fully compliant in China.

<h2>What developers and users have to say</h2>

Many developers have expressed their concerns about Apple's move on social media, fearing that the company may impose stricter rules to fully adhere to China's regulations.

Several iPhone users from China have reported on X that they might need to switch to Apple accounts from other countries to use their favourite apps.

Under the new rule, apps without proper filings will be penalized after the grace period, which will end in March next year, while newly built apps must comply with the law from September.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Apple has started requiring new apps to provide proof of a Chinese government licence before being made available on Apple's China App Store, joining local rivals that had adopted the policy years earlier to comply with the stringent state regulations.

Apple has started requiring new apps to provide proof of a Chinese government licence before being made available on Apple's China App Store, joining local rivals that had adopted the policy years earlier to comply with the stringent state regulations. According to information on Apple's website for developers, the company started forcing app developers last Friday (29 Sep) to submit the "internet content provider (ICP) filing" whenever they publish new apps on the App Store. What is ICP filing? An ICP filing is a long-standing registration method, which is necessary for websites to operate lawfully in China. Since at least 2017 most local app stores, including those run by Tencent and Huawei, have adopted it. To obtain an ICP filing licence, developers need to have a firm in China or collaborate with a local publisher, which has been a barrier for many overseas apps. Also read: Donald Trump out of Forbes 400 list of wealthy Americans Due to its lax ICP policy, Apple has been able to sell significantly more mobile apps than its local competitors, which has increased the US tech giant's popularity in China, its third-largest market after the Americas and Europe. Apple made its decision after China further tightened its regulation of mobile applications in August by issuing a new rule requiring all app stores and app developers to submit an "app filing" with the regulators that contains information about their businesses. Chinese regulators last week released names of the first batch of mobile app stores that completed app filings last week, but Apple's App Store was not on the list. Apple has not responded to a request for comment. Impact on the accessibility of apps The accessibility of hundreds of thousands of apps on Apple's App Store in China, including well-known international apps like X, formerly known as Twitter, and Telegram, which gained popularity during protests over COVID-19 lockdowns last year, may depend on Apple's compliance status. As Beijing places a greater emphasis on security, Apple is also having issues in China, as evidenced by some government organisations forbidding staff from using iPhones, as Reuters reported last month. Also read: NASA's Perseverance rover captures footage of Martian 'dust devil' Rich Bishop, CEO of app publishing firm AppInChina, said demanding ICP filings from developers brings Apple one step closer to being fully compliant in China. What developers and users have to say Many developers have expressed their concerns about Apple's move on social media, fearing that the company may impose stricter rules to fully adhere to China's regulations. Several iPhone users from China have reported on X that they might need to switch to Apple accounts from other countries to use their favourite apps. Under the new rule, apps without proper filings will be penalized after the grace period, which will end in March next year, while newly built apps must comply with the law from September. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

As Beijing tightens oversight, Apple imposes new check on apps in China

Just days after a Dutch scientist predicted a massive quake in Pakistan, a temblor rocked South Asia, but thousands of miles away in Nepal, and it was 6.2 on the Richter scale, making its tremors shake Indian capital Delhi and adjoining areas in northern region.

Frank Hoogerbeets, a researcher of the Solar System Geometry Survey (SSGEOS) — an organisation based in The Netherlands — on September 29, claimed that Pakistan would face a catastrophic earthquake.

He claimed to have detected an unusual increase in electric charge fluctuations along the fault lines in Balochistan’s Chaman area.

He even predicted the date of the earthquake, anywhere between October 1 and 3, adding that this would be “critical” for Pakistan.

“Planetary geometry is difficult to interpret with four conjunctions spread out over the next 10 days. As far as I can tell, 1-3 October will be more critical,” he said on social media X on Sept 29.

<h2>Earthquake in Nepal and India </h2>

On Wednesday, that is October 3, this is exactly what happened. A major earthquake occurred in the afternoon, but not in Pakistan.

Rather the tremors were recorded well over a thousand&nbsp;miles away in neighbouring Nepal and in northern parts of India.

Nepal was jolted by four earthquakes that occurred in a span of one hour, leaving a trail of damage&nbsp;in western Bajhang district, and at least 12 injured.

So far, no reports of casualties have emerged either in India or Nepal.

<h2>Prediction came right yet again</h2>

Notably, this is not the first time that Hoogerbeets made a bold earthquake prediction which turned out to be accurate.

He earlier claimed that tremors would devastate Turkey and Syria, which in fact came true in February this year which killed more than 50,000 people.

He estimated 'strong to major' seismic activity of 7.1 magnitude&nbsp;on March 16 in the Kermadec Islands and a 6.8 magnitude earthquake near the coast of Ecuador on March 18. Both his predictions were accurate.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/catastrophic-earthquake-to-strike-pakistan-dutch-scientist-makes-startling-prediction-641802">Catastrophic earthquake to strike Pakistan? Dutch scientist makes startling prediction</a>

Furthermore, he explained that he based his predictions on the analysis of the planetary geometry and pointing to lunar (red) heights in the SSGI graph. According to him, the planetary conjunction of Sun-Mercury-Jupiter converged with New Moon on March 21. Thus, he anticipated a 'mid-6 magnitude range' earthquake on March 22.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/earthquake-jolts-indias-new-delhi-tremors-also-felt-across-nepal-642088">Four earthquakes in an hour rock Nepal, tremors felt in India too</a>

Frank Hoogerbeets consistently uploads YouTube videos and Twitter posts with seismic updates on SSGEOS's social media handles.

In the one of the videos titled 'NOT EVERY FULL MOON IS THE SAME,' he briefed the viewers about the correlation between the full moon and planetary positions with earthquakes.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Just days after a Dutch scientist predicted a massive quake in Pakistan, a temblor rocked South Asia, but thousands of miles away in Nepal, and it was 6.2 on the Richter scale, making its tremors shake Indian capital Delhi and adjoining areas in northern region.

Just days after a Dutch scientist predicted a massive quake in Pakistan, a temblor rocked South Asia, but thousands of miles away in Nepal, and it was 6.2 on the Richter scale, making its tremors shake Indian capital Delhi and adjoining areas in northern region. Frank Hoogerbeets, a researcher of the Solar System Geometry Survey (SSGEOS) — an organisation based in The Netherlands — on September 29, claimed that Pakistan would face a catastrophic earthquake. He claimed to have detected an unusual increase in electric charge fluctuations along the fault lines in Balochistan’s Chaman area. He even predicted the date of the earthquake, anywhere between October 1 and 3, adding that this would be “critical” for Pakistan. “Planetary geometry is difficult to interpret with four conjunctions spread out over the next 10 days. As far as I can tell, 1-3 October will be more critical,” he said on social media X on Sept 29. Earthquake in Nepal and India On Wednesday, that is October 3, this is exactly what happened. A major earthquake occurred in the afternoon, but not in Pakistan. Rather the tremors were recorded well over a thousand miles away in neighbouring Nepal and in northern parts of India. Nepal was jolted by four earthquakes that occurred in a span of one hour, leaving a trail of damage in western Bajhang district, and at least 12 injured. So far, no reports of casualties have emerged either in India or Nepal. Prediction came right yet again Notably, this is not the first time that Hoogerbeets made a bold earthquake prediction which turned out to be accurate. He earlier claimed that tremors would devastate Turkey and Syria, which in fact came true in February this year which killed more than 50,000 people. He estimated 'strong to major' seismic activity of 7.1 magnitude on March 16 in the Kermadec Islands and a 6.8 magnitude earthquake near the coast of Ecuador on March 18. Both his predictions were accurate. Also read | Catastrophic earthquake to strike Pakistan? Dutch scientist makes startling prediction Furthermore, he explained that he based his predictions on the analysis of the planetary geometry and pointing to lunar (red) heights in the SSGI graph. According to him, the planetary conjunction of Sun-Mercury-Jupiter converged with New Moon on March 21. Thus, he anticipated a 'mid-6 magnitude range' earthquake on March 22. Also read | Four earthquakes in an hour rock Nepal, tremors felt in India too Frank Hoogerbeets consistently uploads YouTube videos and Twitter posts with seismic updates on SSGEOS's social media handles. In the one of the videos titled 'NOT EVERY FULL MOON IS THE SAME,' he briefed the viewers about the correlation between the full moon and planetary positions with earthquakes. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Dutch scientist’s prediction of earthquake on Oct 3 turns out be accurate, but…

In pics| Sikkim: Cloud burst-triggered flash floods washes away buildings, highways; 15,000 affected

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