<p>Democratic presidential nominee and United States Vice President&nbsp;Kamala Harris refused to call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a close ally during an interview with American broadcaster CBS, covering wide-ranging issues, aired on Monday (Oct 7).</p>

<p>Speaking about&nbsp;the Russia-Ukraine war, the current vice president&nbsp;said she would not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin for peace talks if Ukraine were not also represented. She ruled out a bilateral meeting with Putin, saying, "Without Ukraine? No."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Further, she defended her economic plans while getting grilled during CBS'&nbsp;<em>60 Minutes</em> prime-time election special.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As the presidential race between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Harris tightens ahead of the November elections, the VP has increased her media presence and recently appeared for podcasts, talk radio, a battleground state town hall, daytime television, and late-night shows.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-white-house-disgusted-as-trump-blames-illegal-immigrants-for-bad-genes-in-us-765407"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Watch: White House 'disgusted' as Trump blames illegal immigrants for ‘bad genes in US’</strong></a></p>

<p>Before the interview was aired, CBS correspondent Scott Pelley detailed his attempts to secure a similar <em>60 Minutes</em> sit-down with Trump.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pelley said, "Unfortunately last week, Trump cancelled", adding that the Republican candidate's&nbsp;campaign provided “shifting explanations” for why he declined to participate, including that the former US president&nbsp;did not want to be fact-checked.</p>

<p>Harris, during the interview with CBS'&nbsp;Bill Whitaker, was pressed on how she would pay for her economic proposals, including her plans to build millions of new housing units, tax breaks for new parents, and $25,000 down-payment assistance for new homebuyers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She vowed to raise taxes on the country's billionaires and biggest corporations.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;U.S. Presidential Election: How Swing States Can Make Or Break Campaigns | WION originals</strong></p>

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<p>However, Whitaker found it dubious and said, "We’re dealing with the real world here."&nbsp;</p>

<p>He asked how Harris would persuade Congress to raise taxes on the country’s highest earners. To this, Harris said there were lawmakers who would listen to her pitch if she were president.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I cannot afford to be myopic in terms of how I think about strengthening America’s economy,” the Democratic presidential candidate&nbsp;said in the interview. “Let me tell you something. I am a devout public servant. You know that I’m also a capitalist, and I know the limitations of government.”</p>

<p>Shifting to the question of whether Netanyahu was “a real close ally", Harris said, "The better question is: Do we have an important alliance between the American people and the Israeli people? And the answer to that question is yes.”</p>

<p>She added Israel had a right to defend itself, but went on to say that “far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed.”</p>

<p>Israel’s war has levelled Gaza and killed almost 42,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza&nbsp;health ministry.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Democratic presidential nominee and United States Vice President Kamala Harris refused to call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a close ally during an interview with American broadcaster CBS, covering wide-ranging issues, aired on Monday (Oct 7).

Democratic presidential nominee and United States Vice President Kamala Harris refused to call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a close ally during an interview with American broadcaster CBS, covering wide-ranging issues, aired on Monday (Oct 7). Speaking about the Russia-Ukraine war, the current vice president said she would not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin for peace talks if Ukraine were not also represented. She ruled out a bilateral meeting with Putin, saying, "Without Ukraine? No." Further, she defended her economic plans while getting grilled during CBS' 60 Minutes prime-time election special. As the presidential race between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Harris tightens ahead of the November elections, the VP has increased her media presence and recently appeared for podcasts, talk radio, a battleground state town hall, daytime television, and late-night shows. Also read: Watch: White House 'disgusted' as Trump blames illegal immigrants for ‘bad genes in US’ Before the interview was aired, CBS correspondent Scott Pelley detailed his attempts to secure a similar 60 Minutes sit-down with Trump. Pelley said, "Unfortunately last week, Trump cancelled", adding that the Republican candidate's campaign provided “shifting explanations” for why he declined to participate, including that the former US president did not want to be fact-checked. Harris, during the interview with CBS' Bill Whitaker, was pressed on how she would pay for her economic proposals, including her plans to build millions of new housing units, tax breaks for new parents, and $25,000 down-payment assistance for new homebuyers. She vowed to raise taxes on the country's billionaires and biggest corporations. Watch | U.S. Presidential Election: How Swing States Can Make Or Break Campaigns | WION originals × However, Whitaker found it dubious and said, "We’re dealing with the real world here." He asked how Harris would persuade Congress to raise taxes on the country’s highest earners. To this, Harris said there were lawmakers who would listen to her pitch if she were president. “I cannot afford to be myopic in terms of how I think about strengthening America’s economy,” the Democratic presidential candidate said in the interview. “Let me tell you something. I am a devout public servant. You know that I’m also a capitalist, and I know the limitations of government.” Shifting to the question of whether Netanyahu was “a real close ally", Harris said, "The better question is: Do we have an important alliance between the American people and the Israeli people? And the answer to that question is yes.” She added Israel had a right to defend itself, but went on to say that “far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed.” Israel’s war has levelled Gaza and killed almost 42,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry. (With inputs from agencies)

Kamala Harris refuses to call Netanyahu 'close ally' during 60 minutes interview

<p>Tehran's top diplomat in Damascus on Saturday threatened an "even stronger" reaction to any aggression, as Israel readied its response to an Iranian missile attack earlier this week.</p>

<p>"Our reaction to any attack by the Zionist regime is completely clear," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters in the Syrian capital, where he met top officials including Tehran's ally President Bashar al-Assad.</p>

<p>"For every action, there will be a proportional and similar reaction from Iran, and even stronger," he said.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-khamenei-had-gun-during-first-public-sermon-in-5-years-slamming-israel-not-for-first-time-764510"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Iran's Khamenei had gun during first public sermon in 5 years slamming Israel. Not for first time</strong></a></p>

<p>He spoke after an Israeli military official told AFP on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorised to discuss the issue publicly, the army was "preparing a response to the unprecedented and unlawful Iranian attack".</p>

<p>In Damascus earlier, Araghchi renewed his call for ceasefires in the Gaza Strip and in Lebanon.</p>

<p>Araghchi's visit, his first since he took office in August, comes almost a year after Iran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel, triggering the war in Gaza.</p>

<p>The conflict has also drawn in Iran's Lebanese ally Hezbollah, and on September 23 Israel sharply intensified its campaign against the militant group.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Iran-Israel War: Nuclear Devastation Looms Over Iran, Israel</strong></p>

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<p>"The most important issue today is the ceasefire, especially in Lebanon and in Gaza," Araghchi said.</p>

<p>"There are initiatives in this regard. There have been consultations that we hope will be successful."</p>

<p>His meetings in Damascus follow a visit to Beirut on Friday during which he voiced support for a truce in Lebanon acceptable to Hezbollah, "simultaneously with a ceasefire in Gaza".</p>

<p>He travelled to Syria's capital by air after Lebanon said an Israeli air strike on Friday severed the main international highway linking the two countries.</p>

<p>Israel said the strike aimed to prevent the flow of weapons to Hezbollah from neighbouring Syria.</p>

<p>Iran has been a staunch ally of Assad throughout the civil war that erupted in 2011 following the suppression of anti-government protests.</p>

<p>Earlier on Saturday, Assad's office quoted him as saying Iran's missile attack on Israel was "a strong response and taught the Zionist entity a lesson".</p>

<p>The attack came just days after an Israeli air strike in southern Beirut killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.</p>

<p><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.</em></p>


Tehran's top diplomat in Damascus on Saturday threatened an "even stronger" reaction to any aggression, as Israel readied its response to an Iranian missile attack earlier this week.

Tehran's top diplomat in Damascus on Saturday threatened an "even stronger" reaction to any aggression, as Israel readied its response to an Iranian missile attack earlier this week. "Our reaction to any attack by the Zionist regime is completely clear," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters in the Syrian capital, where he met top officials including Tehran's ally President Bashar al-Assad. "For every action, there will be a proportional and similar reaction from Iran, and even stronger," he said. Also read: Iran's Khamenei had gun during first public sermon in 5 years slamming Israel. Not for first time He spoke after an Israeli military official told AFP on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorised to discuss the issue publicly, the army was "preparing a response to the unprecedented and unlawful Iranian attack". In Damascus earlier, Araghchi renewed his call for ceasefires in the Gaza Strip and in Lebanon. Araghchi's visit, his first since he took office in August, comes almost a year after Iran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel, triggering the war in Gaza. The conflict has also drawn in Iran's Lebanese ally Hezbollah, and on September 23 Israel sharply intensified its campaign against the militant group. Watch | Iran-Israel War: Nuclear Devastation Looms Over Iran, Israel × "The most important issue today is the ceasefire, especially in Lebanon and in Gaza," Araghchi said. "There are initiatives in this regard. There have been consultations that we hope will be successful." His meetings in Damascus follow a visit to Beirut on Friday during which he voiced support for a truce in Lebanon acceptable to Hezbollah, "simultaneously with a ceasefire in Gaza". He travelled to Syria's capital by air after Lebanon said an Israeli air strike on Friday severed the main international highway linking the two countries. Israel said the strike aimed to prevent the flow of weapons to Hezbollah from neighbouring Syria. Iran has been a staunch ally of Assad throughout the civil war that erupted in 2011 following the suppression of anti-government protests. Earlier on Saturday, Assad's office quoted him as saying Iran's missile attack on Israel was "a strong response and taught the Zionist entity a lesson". The attack came just days after an Israeli air strike in southern Beirut killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Iranian foreign minister warns 'even stronger' reaction to any Israeli attack

<p>Israel President Isaac Herzog on Saturday (Oct 5) said that the wounds from the October 7 Hamas attack 'cannot fully heal', stressing that the hostages are still executed and dying in captivity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Herzog made a statement, ahead of marking one year of Hamas'&nbsp;October 7 attack.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Our wounds still cannot fully heal because they are ongoing. Because hostages are still being tortured, executed, and dying in captivity," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Iran 'ongoing threat to Israel'</h2>

<p>Israeli president further said that Iran remains an "ongoing threat" to Israel, adding that Tehran&nbsp;and its proxies are blinded by hatred.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"In many senses, we are still living the aftermath of October 7... It is in the ongoing threat to the Jewish State by Iran and its terror proxies, who are blinded by hatred and bent on the destruction of our one and only Jewish nation-state," Herzog said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier on Saturday, Iran-backed Hezbollah said it fired rockets at a defence company in northern Israel.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="Israel likely to launch symbolic attack on Iran nuclear-related facilities, says former PM Ehud Barak"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Israel likely to launch symbolic attack on Iran nuclear-related facilities, says former PM Ehud Barak</strong></a></p>

<p>Hezbollah said in a statement that it launched "a rocket salvo" towards a "military industries company" east of Acre.</p>

<h2><strong>Israel's army chief vows to continue striking Hezbollah</strong></h2>

<p>Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt&nbsp;Gen&nbsp;Herzi Halevi said that Israel must continue to strike the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon without "relief".&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We must continue exerting pressure on Hezbollah and creating additional and lasting damage to the enemy. Without relief and without allowing a respite for the organization,” he said.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>France halts arms deliveries to Israel&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>French President Emmanuel Macron urged on Saturday to halt arms deliveries to Israel, saying that the priority is to return to a 'political situation'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I think that today, the priority is that we return to a political solution, that we stop delivering weapons to fight in Gaza," Macron told broadcaster France Inter.</p>

<p>"France is not delivering any," the French PM&nbsp;added during the interview recorded early this week.</p>

<h2><strong>Israel preparing to use 'great force' against Hamas&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Israel issued a warning to thousands of displaced Palestinians sheltering in central Gaza and said that its military is preparing to use "great force" against Hamas in the area.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Iran-Israel War: Israel PM Netanyahu Says, 'Iran Has Made A Big Mistake &amp; Will Pay For It'</strong></p>

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<p>The call for evacuation signals another possible humanitarian crisis with a new wave of mass displacement as Israel's war approaches its one-year mark.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Thousands join anti-Israel march in UK&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Ahead of marking a year of the Hamas'&nbsp;October 7 attack on Israel, thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters march through central London.&nbsp;The protesters called&nbsp;on&nbsp;Israel to halt its military operations&nbsp;in Gaza against Hamas and in Lebanon against Hezbollah.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The protesters began marching from Russell Square to Downing Street, demanding an end to the conflict.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.</strong></em></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Israel President Isaac Herzog on Saturday (Oct 5) said that the wounds from the October 7 Hamas attack 'cannot fully heal', stressing that the hostages are still executed and dying in captivity.

Israel President Isaac Herzog on Saturday (Oct 5) said that the wounds from the October 7 Hamas attack 'cannot fully heal', stressing that the hostages are still executed and dying in captivity. Herzog made a statement, ahead of marking one year of Hamas' October 7 attack. "Our wounds still cannot fully heal because they are ongoing. Because hostages are still being tortured, executed, and dying in captivity," he said. Iran 'ongoing threat to Israel' Israeli president further said that Iran remains an "ongoing threat" to Israel, adding that Tehran and its proxies are blinded by hatred. "In many senses, we are still living the aftermath of October 7... It is in the ongoing threat to the Jewish State by Iran and its terror proxies, who are blinded by hatred and bent on the destruction of our one and only Jewish nation-state," Herzog said. Earlier on Saturday, Iran-backed Hezbollah said it fired rockets at a defence company in northern Israel. Also read: Israel likely to launch symbolic attack on Iran nuclear-related facilities, says former PM Ehud Barak Hezbollah said in a statement that it launched "a rocket salvo" towards a "military industries company" east of Acre. Israel's army chief vows to continue striking Hezbollah Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt Gen Herzi Halevi said that Israel must continue to strike the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon without "relief". “We must continue exerting pressure on Hezbollah and creating additional and lasting damage to the enemy. Without relief and without allowing a respite for the organization,” he said. France halts arms deliveries to Israel French President Emmanuel Macron urged on Saturday to halt arms deliveries to Israel, saying that the priority is to return to a 'political situation'. "I think that today, the priority is that we return to a political solution, that we stop delivering weapons to fight in Gaza," Macron told broadcaster France Inter. "France is not delivering any," the French PM added during the interview recorded early this week. Israel preparing to use 'great force' against Hamas Israel issued a warning to thousands of displaced Palestinians sheltering in central Gaza and said that its military is preparing to use "great force" against Hamas in the area. Watch | Iran-Israel War: Israel PM Netanyahu Says, 'Iran Has Made A Big Mistake & Will Pay For It' × The call for evacuation signals another possible humanitarian crisis with a new wave of mass displacement as Israel's war approaches its one-year mark. Thousands join anti-Israel march in UK Ahead of marking a year of the Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel, thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters march through central London. The protesters called on Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza against Hamas and in Lebanon against Hezbollah. The protesters began marching from Russell Square to Downing Street, demanding an end to the conflict. Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel's president labels Iran an 'ongoing threat'; IDF chief vows to hit Hezbollah 'without relief'

<p>Hundreds of people joined for a silent march in support of French woman Gisele Pelicot and other female victims of sexual violence on Saturday (Oct 5) in Mazan, the village where Gisele’s husband is accused of drugging her and inviting over 80 men to rape her at their home.</p>

<p>Men and women came out in solidarity with Gisele, 72. However, members of the woman's family did not attend the march but said that they appreciated the public support.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One woman at the march said, “I am there as a woman, mother and grandmother … I am here firstly to support Gisèle who is really very brave, and other women and girls.”</p>

<p>She said she hoped the case would persuade people to "listen to women...and not close their eyes" to sexual abuse.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The march by French people comes a day after judges at the mass rape trial in Avignon agreed to allow videos made by Dominique Pelicot of the alleged abuse of his wife to be shown to the press and public in the courtroom.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-mass-rape-case-accused-man-a-father-of-three-admits-to-sexual-assault-of-gisele-pelicot-760285"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;France mass rape case: Accused man, a father of three, admits to sexual assault of Gisele Pelicot</strong></a></p>

<p>The president of the bench, Roger Arata, argued the court should be cleared of those not directly involved in the case because the videos represented an affront to public decency and were too "shocking".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The bench agreed to allow them to be screened in open court after Pelicot's lawyers insisted their client wanted them shown.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gisele was drugged to the point, that she had no memory of the rapes and said that the videos are proof of what she suffered.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Mass Rape Trial: 'I Am A Rapist' Frenchman Dominique Pilot Admits Raping Wife</strong></p>

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<p>Meanwhile, as the case continues, a majority of 50 men accused of raping&nbsp;Gisele&nbsp;have denied the charge and said that they thought she was pretending to be asleep and they had acted with the consent of her husband.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gisele&nbsp;was drugged by her now-former husband Dominique into a 'deep coma' state between 2011 and 2020. He then invited men to rape her in her bedroom in southern France.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The accused, 50 men in total, are aged 26 to 74 and include a fireman, jailor, nurse and journalist.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Hundreds of people joined for a silent march in support of French woman Gisele Pelicot and other female victims of sexual violence on Saturday (Oct 5) in Mazan, the village where Gisele’s husband is accused of drugging her and inviting over 80 men to rape her at their home.

Hundreds of people joined for a silent march in support of French woman Gisele Pelicot and other female victims of sexual violence on Saturday (Oct 5) in Mazan, the village where Gisele’s husband is accused of drugging her and inviting over 80 men to rape her at their home. Men and women came out in solidarity with Gisele, 72. However, members of the woman's family did not attend the march but said that they appreciated the public support. One woman at the march said, “I am there as a woman, mother and grandmother … I am here firstly to support Gisèle who is really very brave, and other women and girls.” She said she hoped the case would persuade people to "listen to women...and not close their eyes" to sexual abuse. The march by French people comes a day after judges at the mass rape trial in Avignon agreed to allow videos made by Dominique Pelicot of the alleged abuse of his wife to be shown to the press and public in the courtroom. Also read: France mass rape case: Accused man, a father of three, admits to sexual assault of Gisele Pelicot The president of the bench, Roger Arata, argued the court should be cleared of those not directly involved in the case because the videos represented an affront to public decency and were too "shocking". The bench agreed to allow them to be screened in open court after Pelicot's lawyers insisted their client wanted them shown. Gisele was drugged to the point, that she had no memory of the rapes and said that the videos are proof of what she suffered. Watch | Mass Rape Trial: 'I Am A Rapist' Frenchman Dominique Pilot Admits Raping Wife × Meanwhile, as the case continues, a majority of 50 men accused of raping Gisele have denied the charge and said that they thought she was pretending to be asleep and they had acted with the consent of her husband. Gisele was drugged by her now-former husband Dominique into a 'deep coma' state between 2011 and 2020. He then invited men to rape her in her bedroom in southern France. The accused, 50 men in total, are aged 26 to 74 and include a fireman, jailor, nurse and journalist. (With inputs from agencies)

France mass rape case: Hundreds join silent march in support of Gisele Pelicot

<p>Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group said on Saturday (Oct 5) that they had lost contact with their potential next leader&nbsp;Hashem Safieddine, a high-level&nbsp;source from the Lebanon-based group&nbsp;told news agency AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Contact with Sayyed Safieddine has been lost since the violent strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs" early Friday, the source told AFP, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We don't know if he was at the targeted site, or who may have been there with him," the source added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Israeli airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs in Lebanon have kept rescue workers from searching the site of another attack&nbsp;suspected to have killed Hezbollah's potential next leader&nbsp;Hashem Safieddine, reported Reuters citing three Lebanese security sources, on Saturday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One of the sources said Safieddine, who was reportedly supposed to take over the Lebanon-based militant group after the death of Hezbollah chief&nbsp;Hassan Nasrallah,&nbsp;has been "unreachable" since the Israeli&nbsp;strike on Friday (Oct 4), which targeted an underground bunker in Beirut.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Friday morning, the Israeli military said that the airstrike in Beirut targeted Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters. However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not reveal who was at the underground bunker.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Israel-Hezbollah War: Nasrallah's Presumed Successor Safieddine Said to Be Target of Latest Strikes</strong></p>

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<p>Israel carried out a large strike on Beirut's southern suburbs late&nbsp;Thursday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Friday, Israeli Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said that the military is still assessing the Thursday night strikes, which he said targeted Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Israeli strikes on Hezbollah's HQ killed its chief Hassan Nasrallah last week.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-strikes-near-beirut-airport-reportedly-targeted-nasrallahs-successor-764339"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Israeli strikes near Beirut airport reportedly targeted presumed Nasrallah successor</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Israeli strike reportedly targeted Safieddine</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier on Friday, Axios reporter Barak Ravid, citing an Israeli source, said in a post on social media platform X that Israel reportedly targeted senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine.</p>

<p>He is said to be the heir of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. However, no official statement has been released to confirm Ravid's report.</p>

<p><strong><em>Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.</em></strong></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group said on Saturday (Oct 5) that they had lost contact with their potential next leader Hashem Safieddine, a high-level source from the Lebanon-based group told news agency AFP.

Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group said on Saturday (Oct 5) that they had lost contact with their potential next leader Hashem Safieddine, a high-level source from the Lebanon-based group told news agency AFP. "Contact with Sayyed Safieddine has been lost since the violent strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs" early Friday, the source told AFP, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. "We don't know if he was at the targeted site, or who may have been there with him," the source added. Israeli airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs in Lebanon have kept rescue workers from searching the site of another attack suspected to have killed Hezbollah's potential next leader Hashem Safieddine, reported Reuters citing three Lebanese security sources, on Saturday. One of the sources said Safieddine, who was reportedly supposed to take over the Lebanon-based militant group after the death of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, has been "unreachable" since the Israeli strike on Friday (Oct 4), which targeted an underground bunker in Beirut. On Friday morning, the Israeli military said that the airstrike in Beirut targeted Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters. However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not reveal who was at the underground bunker. Watch | Israel-Hezbollah War: Nasrallah's Presumed Successor Safieddine Said to Be Target of Latest Strikes × Israel carried out a large strike on Beirut's southern suburbs late Thursday. On Friday, Israeli Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said that the military is still assessing the Thursday night strikes, which he said targeted Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters. The Israeli strikes on Hezbollah's HQ killed its chief Hassan Nasrallah last week. Also read: Israeli strikes near Beirut airport reportedly targeted presumed Nasrallah successor Israeli strike reportedly targeted Safieddine Earlier on Friday, Axios reporter Barak Ravid, citing an Israeli source, said in a post on social media platform X that Israel reportedly targeted senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine. He is said to be the heir of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. However, no official statement has been released to confirm Ravid's report. Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Contact 'lost' with Hezbollah chief Nasrallah's presumed successor Hashem Safieddine: Reports

<p>Several people died, including a young child, when an overcrowded boat attempted to cross the Channel to Britain, French authorities said on Saturday.</p>

<p>Another would-be asylum seeker was injured and airlifted to hospital after the dinghy issued a call for assistance on Saturday morning.</p>

<p>A French tow vessel, the Abeille Normandie, picked up 14 people on board, including the deceased during a rescue mission between 8:00 and 9:00 am, officials said.</p>

<p>"Yet again, several migrants lost their lives trying to reach Britain by crossing the Channel," the Pas-de-Calais prefecture in northern France said.</p>

<p>"A child was trampled to death," France's hard-line interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, said on X, adding that several other people had died in the "appalling drama".</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/search-resumes-for-48-missing-after-migrants-boat-capsizes-near-canary-islands-763011"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Search resumes for 48 missing after migrants boat capsizes near Spain's Canary Islands</strong></a></p>

<p>"The smugglers have the blood of these people on their hands and our government will intensify the fight against these gangs who enrich themselves by organising these deadly crossings," Retailleau added.</p>

<p>French officials said the accident was not a shipwreck and the dead child had been found in the boat, not in the water.</p>

<p>Olivier Barbarin, the mayor of the coastal town of Le Portel in northern France, said the child was around four years old.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The injured person was airlifted to hospital in Boulogne, northern France.</p>

<p>The other passengers continued their journey.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Spain: 9 Migrants Dead, 48 Missing After Boat Capsizes Near Canary Islands | World News | WION</strong></p>

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<p>French authorities seek to stop people taking to the water but do not intervene once they are afloat except for rescue purposes, citing safety concerns.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>'Misery and despair'&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutor's office confirmed the dead child had been "very young" but did not immediately release other details.</p>

<p>Barbarin said the 14 passengers rescued had disembarked at the town's commercial port.</p>

<p>Channel crossings to Britain by undocumented asylum seekers have ballooned since 2018 despite repeated warnings about the perilous journey.</p>

<p>The Channel has heavy maritime traffic, icy waters, and strong currents.</p>

<p>The French and British governments have sought to stop the flow of undocumented migrants, who may pay smugglers thousands of euros per head for the passage to England from France aboard small boats.</p>

<p>France's new right-wing prime minister, Michel Barnier, said on Tuesday the country needed a stricter immigration policy.</p>

<p>He vowed to be "ruthless" with people traffickers, who he said "exploit misery and despair" that pushed undocumented asylum seekers to risk trying to cross the Channel and the Mediterranean.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The latest tragedy comes after eight migrants died in mid-September when their overcrowded vessel capsized while trying to cross the Channel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In early September at least 12 people including six minors, mostly from Eritrea, died off the northern French coast when their loaded boat capsized.</p>

<p>The number of migrants arriving in Britain by crossing the Channel in small boats has topped 25,000 since the start of the year.</p>

<p>Stopping the small boat arrivals on England's southern coast was a key issue in Britain's general election in July.</p>

<p>British Interior Minister Yvette Cooper has said the government aims over the next six months to achieve the highest rate of deportations of failed asylum seekers in five years.</p>

<p><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.</em></p>


Several people died, including a young child, when an overcrowded boat attempted to cross the Channel to Britain, French authorities said on Saturday. Another would-be asylum seeker was injured and airlifted to hospital after the dinghy issued a call for assistance on Saturday morning.

Several people died, including a young child, when an overcrowded boat attempted to cross the Channel to Britain, French authorities said on Saturday. Another would-be asylum seeker was injured and airlifted to hospital after the dinghy issued a call for assistance on Saturday morning. A French tow vessel, the Abeille Normandie, picked up 14 people on board, including the deceased during a rescue mission between 8:00 and 9:00 am, officials said. "Yet again, several migrants lost their lives trying to reach Britain by crossing the Channel," the Pas-de-Calais prefecture in northern France said. "A child was trampled to death," France's hard-line interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, said on X, adding that several other people had died in the "appalling drama". Also read: Search resumes for 48 missing after migrants boat capsizes near Spain's Canary Islands "The smugglers have the blood of these people on their hands and our government will intensify the fight against these gangs who enrich themselves by organising these deadly crossings," Retailleau added. French officials said the accident was not a shipwreck and the dead child had been found in the boat, not in the water. Olivier Barbarin, the mayor of the coastal town of Le Portel in northern France, said the child was around four years old. The injured person was airlifted to hospital in Boulogne, northern France. The other passengers continued their journey. Watch | Spain: 9 Migrants Dead, 48 Missing After Boat Capsizes Near Canary Islands | World News | WION × French authorities seek to stop people taking to the water but do not intervene once they are afloat except for rescue purposes, citing safety concerns. 'Misery and despair' The Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutor's office confirmed the dead child had been "very young" but did not immediately release other details. Barbarin said the 14 passengers rescued had disembarked at the town's commercial port. Channel crossings to Britain by undocumented asylum seekers have ballooned since 2018 despite repeated warnings about the perilous journey. The Channel has heavy maritime traffic, icy waters, and strong currents. The French and British governments have sought to stop the flow of undocumented migrants, who may pay smugglers thousands of euros per head for the passage to England from France aboard small boats. France's new right-wing prime minister, Michel Barnier, said on Tuesday the country needed a stricter immigration policy. He vowed to be "ruthless" with people traffickers, who he said "exploit misery and despair" that pushed undocumented asylum seekers to risk trying to cross the Channel and the Mediterranean. The latest tragedy comes after eight migrants died in mid-September when their overcrowded vessel capsized while trying to cross the Channel. In early September at least 12 people including six minors, mostly from Eritrea, died off the northern French coast when their loaded boat capsized. The number of migrants arriving in Britain by crossing the Channel in small boats has topped 25,000 since the start of the year. Stopping the small boat arrivals on England's southern coast was a key issue in Britain's general election in July. British Interior Minister Yvette Cooper has said the government aims over the next six months to achieve the highest rate of deportations of failed asylum seekers in five years. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Child 'trampled to death' on asylum seekers' Channel crossing boat, says French minister

<p>United States President Joe Biden said he&nbsp;is unsure whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is avoiding the Gaza ceasefire deal to influence the US presidential elections in November.&nbsp;The US president made the statement in response to a&nbsp;question during a press&nbsp;conference at the White House on Friday (Oct 4).</p>

<p>"Whether he’s trying to influence the election, I don’t know - but I’m not counting on that," Biden said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US president bluntly added, "No administration has helped Israel more than I have. None, none, none," he said. "And I think [Netanyahu] should remember that."</p>

<p>The Biden administration for months now has ignored the narrative that Israel could intentionally hold up the peace deal for Gaza and instead blamed the several breakdowns in talks with Hamas on the Palestinian militant group.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-us-not-expecting-ceasefire-before-joe-biden-leaves-white-houses-760240"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Israel-Hamas war: US not expecting ceasefire before Joe Biden leaves White House</strong></a></p>

<p>Meanwhile, some Democrats (Biden's party)&nbsp;have raised concerns that Netanyahu is ignoring the calls to negotiate a hostage release and ceasefire deal to harm the party's chances of winning the presidential election in&nbsp;November.</p>

<p>Earlier this week, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy told CNN: “I don’t think you have to be a hopeless cynic to read some of Israel’s actions, some of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s actions, as connected to the American election.”</p>

<p>According to the polls, the intensifying West Asia crisis and the failure to secure a diplomatic agreement are affecting Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced him as the Democratic presidential candidate.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Israel-Hamas war: Iran- Israel War: US President Biden Says, 'Will Not Support Attack On Iran's Nuclear Sites' |US not expecting ceasefire before Joe Biden leaves White House</strong></p>

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<p>Biden has been pushing for a diplomatic agreement between Israel and Hamas for months now and on several occasions said that they are close to making a deal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A deal before the election would be a major boost for the president and the Democratic Party, however, it appears to be increasingly unlikely.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Netanyahu rejected the White House's suggestion that the deal was close. "Hamas is not there with a deal. There’s not a deal in the making, unfortunately,” the Israeli prime minister said earlier this month just hours after a US official said it was 90 per cent complete.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


United States President Joe Biden said he is unsure whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is avoiding the Gaza ceasefire deal to influence the US presidential elections in November.

United States President Joe Biden said he is unsure whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is avoiding the Gaza ceasefire deal to influence the US presidential elections in November. The US president made the statement in response to a question during a press conference at the White House on Friday (Oct 4). "Whether he’s trying to influence the election, I don’t know - but I’m not counting on that," Biden said. The US president bluntly added, "No administration has helped Israel more than I have. None, none, none," he said. "And I think [Netanyahu] should remember that." The Biden administration for months now has ignored the narrative that Israel could intentionally hold up the peace deal for Gaza and instead blamed the several breakdowns in talks with Hamas on the Palestinian militant group. Also read: Israel-Hamas war: US not expecting ceasefire before Joe Biden leaves White House Meanwhile, some Democrats (Biden's party) have raised concerns that Netanyahu is ignoring the calls to negotiate a hostage release and ceasefire deal to harm the party's chances of winning the presidential election in November. Earlier this week, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy told CNN: “I don’t think you have to be a hopeless cynic to read some of Israel’s actions, some of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s actions, as connected to the American election.” According to the polls, the intensifying West Asia crisis and the failure to secure a diplomatic agreement are affecting Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced him as the Democratic presidential candidate. Watch | Israel-Hamas war: Iran- Israel War: US President Biden Says, 'Will Not Support Attack On Iran's Nuclear Sites' |US not expecting ceasefire before Joe Biden leaves White House × Biden has been pushing for a diplomatic agreement between Israel and Hamas for months now and on several occasions said that they are close to making a deal. A deal before the election would be a major boost for the president and the Democratic Party, however, it appears to be increasingly unlikely. Meanwhile, Netanyahu rejected the White House's suggestion that the deal was close. "Hamas is not there with a deal. There’s not a deal in the making, unfortunately,” the Israeli prime minister said earlier this month just hours after a US official said it was 90 per cent complete. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden unsure if Israel's Netanyahu is delaying Gaza peace deal to influence US elections

<p>Sky News political editor Beth Rigby pulled out of an interview with former United Kingdom&nbsp;Prime Minister Boris Johnson after she was told she could not record the audio or make a transcript of the conversation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The former prime minister had promised to “reveal what really happened during my time as [London] mayor, foreign secretary and PM” during the conversation next week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Beth Rigby shared a post on X, saying "I was looking forward to interviewing Boris Johnson at Cheltenham but regrettably, I can’t go ahead with the event because I am not allowed [to] make an audio recording or transcript of the interview."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bbc-cancels-former-british-pm-boris-johnsons-interview-over-pre-sent-notes-764173"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;BBC cancels former British PM Boris Johnson's interview over pre-sent notes</strong></a></p>

<p>“As a journalist in conversation with a former PM at a public event, I can only proceed if we do it on the record. I’m sorry to have to pull out," she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This comes days after the BBC cancelled Johnson's interview after the presenter Laura Kuenssberg mistakenly sent him her briefing notes.</p>

<p>Kuenssberg said she had sent Johnson the briefing notes “in a message meant for my team”, adding that the error was "embarrassing and disappointing" and meant it was "not right for the interview to go ahead".&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Former UK PM Boris Johnson Claims Netanyahu Bugged His Bathroom</strong></p>

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<p>“It’s very frustrating, and there’s no point pretending it’s anything other than embarrassing and disappointing, as there are plenty of important questions to be asked. But red faces aside, honesty is the best policy. See you on Sunday," Kuenssberg added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The former UK PM was expected to discuss Brexit, his government’s handling of the COVID-19&nbsp;pandemic, and the Partygate scandal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Boris Johnson served as the UK prime minister from 2019 to 2022 and has a memoir, <em>Unleashed</em>, being published next week.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Sky News political editor Beth Rigby pulled out of an interview with former United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson after she was told she could not record the audio or make a transcript of the conversation.

Sky News political editor Beth Rigby pulled out of an interview with former United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson after she was told she could not record the audio or make a transcript of the conversation. The former prime minister had promised to “reveal what really happened during my time as [London] mayor, foreign secretary and PM” during the conversation next week. Beth Rigby shared a post on X, saying "I was looking forward to interviewing Boris Johnson at Cheltenham but regrettably, I can’t go ahead with the event because I am not allowed [to] make an audio recording or transcript of the interview." Also read: BBC cancels former British PM Boris Johnson's interview over pre-sent notes “As a journalist in conversation with a former PM at a public event, I can only proceed if we do it on the record. I’m sorry to have to pull out," she added. This comes days after the BBC cancelled Johnson's interview after the presenter Laura Kuenssberg mistakenly sent him her briefing notes. Kuenssberg said she had sent Johnson the briefing notes “in a message meant for my team”, adding that the error was "embarrassing and disappointing" and meant it was "not right for the interview to go ahead". Watch | Former UK PM Boris Johnson Claims Netanyahu Bugged His Bathroom × “It’s very frustrating, and there’s no point pretending it’s anything other than embarrassing and disappointing, as there are plenty of important questions to be asked. But red faces aside, honesty is the best policy. See you on Sunday," Kuenssberg added. The former UK PM was expected to discuss Brexit, his government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Partygate scandal. Boris Johnson served as the UK prime minister from 2019 to 2022 and has a memoir, Unleashed, being published next week. (With inputs from agencies)

British broadcaster backs out of interview with former PM Boris Johnson over recording ban

<p>Israel Defense&nbsp;Forces (IDF) warned that they are planning a "serious and significant" response to Iran's ballistic missile attack, reported&nbsp;the Times of Israel, on Saturday (Oct 5)</p>

<p>The Israeli military said that Iran's attack which involved targeting Israel with around 200 ballistic missiles would "have consequences".</p>

<h2><strong>IDF's commandos demolished Hezbollah tunnel shafts</strong></h2>

<p>The troops of the IDF's Commando Brigade and elite Yaholam Unit demolished several Hezbollah tunnel shafts that according to the Israeli military were used by operatives to get closer to the Jewish state's&nbsp;border in southern Lebanon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The military also demolished underground caches of weapons, observation posts, and rocket launching sites in villages in southern Lebanon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The IDF added that they also killed dozens of Hezbollah operatives in airstrikes directed by the commandos.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-israel-military-struck-hezbollah-militants-inside-lebanon-mosque-top-updates-764730"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;West Asia crisis: Israeli military struck Hezbollah militants inside Lebanon mosque | Top updates</strong></a></p>

<p>According to the IDF, it has killed more than 400 Hezbollah operatives during ground operations in southern Lebanon so far.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The operatives were killed both in airstrikes and during fighting with IDF troops, the Israeli military claimed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Israeli ground operations in southern Lebanon have been described by the IDF as “limited, localized, and targeted raids,” with the goal of demolishing Hezbollah’s infrastructure in the border area, especially in the villages adjacent to Israel, to enable residents of northern Israel to return home.</p>

<p>Moreover, the raids are focusing on Hezbollah's "centers of gravity" in southern Lebanon villages, where troops have so far found massive amounts of weapons.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Israel-Hamas War: Hamas' Commander Saeed Attallah Killed in Israeli Strike</strong></p>

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<p>Earlier in the day, IDF said that it struck Hezbollah operatives at a command centre located in a mosque in southern Lebanon's BInt Jbeil, within the Martyr Salah Ghandour Hospital compound.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It added that the drone strike was "precise" and based on intelligence.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><em>Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.</em></strong></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Israel Defense Forces (IDF) warned that they are planning a "serious and significant" response to Iran's ballistic missile attack, reported the Times of Israel, on Saturday (Oct 5) The Israeli military said that Iran's attack which involved targeting Israel with around 200 ballistic missiles would "have consequences".

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) warned that they are planning a "serious and significant" response to Iran's ballistic missile attack, reported the Times of Israel, on Saturday (Oct 5) The Israeli military said that Iran's attack which involved targeting Israel with around 200 ballistic missiles would "have consequences". IDF's commandos demolished Hezbollah tunnel shafts The troops of the IDF's Commando Brigade and elite Yaholam Unit demolished several Hezbollah tunnel shafts that according to the Israeli military were used by operatives to get closer to the Jewish state's border in southern Lebanon. The military also demolished underground caches of weapons, observation posts, and rocket launching sites in villages in southern Lebanon. The IDF added that they also killed dozens of Hezbollah operatives in airstrikes directed by the commandos. Also read: West Asia crisis: Israeli military struck Hezbollah militants inside Lebanon mosque | Top updates According to the IDF, it has killed more than 400 Hezbollah operatives during ground operations in southern Lebanon so far. The operatives were killed both in airstrikes and during fighting with IDF troops, the Israeli military claimed. The Israeli ground operations in southern Lebanon have been described by the IDF as “limited, localized, and targeted raids,” with the goal of demolishing Hezbollah’s infrastructure in the border area, especially in the villages adjacent to Israel, to enable residents of northern Israel to return home. Moreover, the raids are focusing on Hezbollah's "centers of gravity" in southern Lebanon villages, where troops have so far found massive amounts of weapons. Watch | Israel-Hamas War: Hamas' Commander Saeed Attallah Killed in Israeli Strike × Earlier in the day, IDF said that it struck Hezbollah operatives at a command centre located in a mosque in southern Lebanon's BInt Jbeil, within the Martyr Salah Ghandour Hospital compound. It added that the drone strike was "precise" and based on intelligence. Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Israeli military plans 'serious and significant' response to Iran's missile attack on Israel

<p>Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 29 Palestinians on Friday, medics said, and sirens blared in southern Israel in response to renewed rocket fire from militants in the Palestinian enclave.</p>

<p>The new rocket salvoes indicated that Hamas-led militant factions in Gaza are still able to fire projectiles into Israel despite a year-long Israeli aerial and ground offensive that has turned wide areas of the enclave into wasteland.</p>

<p>On Friday, the Israeli military said sirens sounded in southern Israel for the first time in around two months.</p>

<p>"Almost a year after October&nbsp;7, Hamas is still threatening our civilians with their terrorism and we will continue operating against them," it added, referring to the anniversary of Hamas' cross-border attack that touched off the Gaza war.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-how-october-7-2023-became-israels-deadliest-day-764378"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Israel-Hamas war: How October 7, 2023 became Israel's deadliest day</strong></a></p>

<p>In Gaza City in north Gaza, Palestinian health officials said one Israeli aerial strike on a house killed at least seven people. Four people including two women and a baby were killed in the bombing of a home in the southern city of Khan Younis.</p>

<p>The rest were killed in airstrikes on several areas across the densely populated coastal enclave. Residents said Israeli forces operating in Gaza City's Zeitoun suburb and Rafah, near the southern border with Egypt, blew up clusters of homes.</p>

<p>Israel's military says Hamas combatants use crowded, built-up residential neighbourhoods as cover. Hamas denies this.</p>

<p>Israel media, reporting on the rocket fire, said one rocket was intercepted by air defence and another crashed in an open area. There were no reports of casualties or notable damage.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;West Asia Conflict: Longer Tarde Routes And Higher Shipping Costs For India?</strong></p>

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<p>Palestinians in Gaza will mark the first anniversary of the war next week with little hope of an end to the fighting in the foreseeable future, even as Israel pursues a new ground incursion into Lebanon against Hamas' major Iranian-backed ally Hezbollah.</p>

<p>Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel almost a year ago in support of Hamas after the Palestinian Islamist movement staged the deadliest assault in Israel's history on October&nbsp;7, 2023.</p>

<p>The attack, in which Israel says 1,200 people were killed and over 250 taken hostage, ignited the war that has devastated Gaza, displacing most of its 2.3 million population and killing over 41,800 people, according to Gaza health authorities.</p>

<p>International diplomacy led by the United States has so far failed to clinch a ceasefire deal in Gaza. Hamas wants an agreement that ends the war while Israel says fighting can only end when Hamas is eradicated.</p>

<p><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.</em></p>


Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 29 Palestinians on Friday, medics said, and sirens blared in southern Israel in response to renewed rocket fire from militants in the Palestinian enclave.

Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 29 Palestinians on Friday, medics said, and sirens blared in southern Israel in response to renewed rocket fire from militants in the Palestinian enclave. The new rocket salvoes indicated that Hamas-led militant factions in Gaza are still able to fire projectiles into Israel despite a year-long Israeli aerial and ground offensive that has turned wide areas of the enclave into wasteland. On Friday, the Israeli military said sirens sounded in southern Israel for the first time in around two months. "Almost a year after October 7, Hamas is still threatening our civilians with their terrorism and we will continue operating against them," it added, referring to the anniversary of Hamas' cross-border attack that touched off the Gaza war. Also read: Israel-Hamas war: How October 7, 2023 became Israel's deadliest day In Gaza City in north Gaza, Palestinian health officials said one Israeli aerial strike on a house killed at least seven people. Four people including two women and a baby were killed in the bombing of a home in the southern city of Khan Younis. The rest were killed in airstrikes on several areas across the densely populated coastal enclave. Residents said Israeli forces operating in Gaza City's Zeitoun suburb and Rafah, near the southern border with Egypt, blew up clusters of homes. Israel's military says Hamas combatants use crowded, built-up residential neighbourhoods as cover. Hamas denies this. Israel media, reporting on the rocket fire, said one rocket was intercepted by air defence and another crashed in an open area. There were no reports of casualties or notable damage. Watch | West Asia Conflict: Longer Tarde Routes And Higher Shipping Costs For India? × Palestinians in Gaza will mark the first anniversary of the war next week with little hope of an end to the fighting in the foreseeable future, even as Israel pursues a new ground incursion into Lebanon against Hamas' major Iranian-backed ally Hezbollah. Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel almost a year ago in support of Hamas after the Palestinian Islamist movement staged the deadliest assault in Israel's history on October 7, 2023. The attack, in which Israel says 1,200 people were killed and over 250 taken hostage, ignited the war that has devastated Gaza, displacing most of its 2.3 million population and killing over 41,800 people, according to Gaza health authorities. International diplomacy led by the United States has so far failed to clinch a ceasefire deal in Gaza. Hamas wants an agreement that ends the war while Israel says fighting can only end when Hamas is eradicated. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Israeli strikes kill 29 people in Gaza, militants renew rocket fire in southern Israel

<p>Minister from the Indian state of Telangana, Konda Surekha has triggered a row with her remarks on the Naga Chaitanya-Samantha divorce, saying that senior Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader KT Rama Rao may be responsible for his father K Chandrashekar Rao's alleged disappearance and not being seen in public for a while.</p>

<p>Surekha was speaking in the former Telangana chief minister's constituency of Gajwel on Thursday (Oct 3) and urged her party members to file a missing case for K Chandrashekar Rao, who is popularly known as KCR.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This comes a day after the Rao family released photos in which KCR can be seen attending the birthday celebrations of his wife Shobha.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier on Wednesday, Surekha sparked controversy by linking KT Rama Rao, or KTR, with the divorce of actors Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Lok Sabha Elections: Will Telangana be India's model state? | Decoding Telangana's economy</strong></p>

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<p>"It is KT Rama Rao because of whom Samantha's divorce happened. He was a minister at the time and used to tap the phones of the actresses to find out their weaknesses and use them for blackmail... He used to make them drug addicts, everyone knows this, everybody is aware," she said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Her remarks were criticised by Telugu actors.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Veteran actor Chiranjeevi said, "It is a shame that celebs and members of the film fraternity become soft targets as they provide instant reach and attention. We as the Film Industry stand united in opposing such vicious verbal assaults on our members."</p>

<p>Samantha Ruth Prabhu asked the minister to leave her out of political battles and respect people's privacy.</p>

<p>"My divorce is a personal matter and I request that you refrain from speculating about it... To clarify: my divorce was mutual consent and amicable, with no political conspiracy involved," the actress&nbsp;said.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-how-samantha-and-nagas-divorce-became-a-political-saga--explained-764230"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;Explained | How Samantha and Naga Chaitanya's divorce became a political saga</strong></a></p>

<p>Surekha later apologised to Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya but&nbsp;refused to withdraw her allegations against KTR, demanding his apology.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I spoke about a family. It was an unexpected slip of the tongue on my part. When I saw their tweets, I felt bad. I felt bad that I hurt someone. So I unconditionally withdraw my statement. But, in KTR's case, there is no going back. I demand his apology," the minister said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Minister from the Indian state of Telangana, Konda Surekha has triggered a row with her remarks on the Naga Chaitanya-Samantha divorce, saying that senior Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader KT Rama Rao may be responsible for his father K Chandrashekar Rao's alleged disappearance and not being seen in public for a while.

Minister from the Indian state of Telangana, Konda Surekha has triggered a row with her remarks on the Naga Chaitanya-Samantha divorce, saying that senior Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader KT Rama Rao may be responsible for his father K Chandrashekar Rao's alleged disappearance and not being seen in public for a while. Surekha was speaking in the former Telangana chief minister's constituency of Gajwel on Thursday (Oct 3) and urged her party members to file a missing case for K Chandrashekar Rao, who is popularly known as KCR. This comes a day after the Rao family released photos in which KCR can be seen attending the birthday celebrations of his wife Shobha. Earlier on Wednesday, Surekha sparked controversy by linking KT Rama Rao, or KTR, with the divorce of actors Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu. Watch | Lok Sabha Elections: Will Telangana be India's model state? | Decoding Telangana's economy × "It is KT Rama Rao because of whom Samantha's divorce happened. He was a minister at the time and used to tap the phones of the actresses to find out their weaknesses and use them for blackmail... He used to make them drug addicts, everyone knows this, everybody is aware," she said. Her remarks were criticised by Telugu actors. Veteran actor Chiranjeevi said, "It is a shame that celebs and members of the film fraternity become soft targets as they provide instant reach and attention. We as the Film Industry stand united in opposing such vicious verbal assaults on our members." Samantha Ruth Prabhu asked the minister to leave her out of political battles and respect people's privacy. "My divorce is a personal matter and I request that you refrain from speculating about it... To clarify: my divorce was mutual consent and amicable, with no political conspiracy involved," the actress said. Read more: Explained | How Samantha and Naga Chaitanya's divorce became a political saga Surekha later apologised to Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya but refused to withdraw her allegations against KTR, demanding his apology. "I spoke about a family. It was an unexpected slip of the tongue on my part. When I saw their tweets, I felt bad. I felt bad that I hurt someone. So I unconditionally withdraw my statement. But, in KTR's case, there is no going back. I demand his apology," the minister said. (With inputs from agencies)

Telangana minister Konda Surekha alleges KTR responsible for his father KCR's disappearance

<p>Elon Musk-owned social media platform X has filed a fresh request to resume services in Brazil after paying some pending fines that had been imposed by the country's Supreme Court, a document seen by Reuters on Friday showed.</p>

<p>X has been suspended since late August in Brazil, one of its largest and most coveted markets, after not complying with court orders related to hate speech moderation and failing to name a legal representative in the country, as required by law.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/brazilian-judge-issues-new-orders-to-lift-xs-suspension-763132">Also read:&nbsp;Brazilian judge issues new orders to lift X's suspension</a></strong></p>

<p>After reversing course and deciding to obey the orders in recent weeks, including blocking some accounts under investigation, the company initially asked the court on September&nbsp;26 to allow it to resume service in Brazil.</p>

<p>But top court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ruled at the time the platform still needed to pay just over $5 million in pending fines before the suspension was lifted.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Brazil: Elon Musk ordered to name x representative or face ban</strong></p>

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<p>Payments totalling 28.6 million reais ($5.24 million) have now been made and are "duly proven," the document filed by X lawyers said. "X Brasil requests that the platform be unblocked for free access by its users in national territory."</p>

<p><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.</em></p>


Elon Musk-owned social media platform X has filed a fresh request to resume services in Brazil after paying some pending fines that had been imposed by the country's Supreme Court, a document seen by Reuters on Friday showed.

Elon Musk-owned social media platform X has filed a fresh request to resume services in Brazil after paying some pending fines that had been imposed by the country's Supreme Court, a document seen by Reuters on Friday showed. X has been suspended since late August in Brazil, one of its largest and most coveted markets, after not complying with court orders related to hate speech moderation and failing to name a legal representative in the country, as required by law. Also read: Brazilian judge issues new orders to lift X's suspension After reversing course and deciding to obey the orders in recent weeks, including blocking some accounts under investigation, the company initially asked the court on September 26 to allow it to resume service in Brazil. But top court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ruled at the time the platform still needed to pay just over $5 million in pending fines before the suspension was lifted. Watch | Brazil: Elon Musk ordered to name x representative or face ban × Payments totalling 28.6 million reais ($5.24 million) have now been made and are "duly proven," the document filed by X lawyers said. "X Brasil requests that the platform be unblocked for free access by its users in national territory." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Elon Musk's X seeks resumption in Brazil after paying pending fines

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