<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-protesters-target-trains-urge-general-strike-247052">Hong Kong</a> police said on Sunday that 71 people were arrested during the riots on Saturday.

According to Kowloon West Regional Headquarters, a total of 63 people, 54 men and nine women aged 13 to 36, were arrested for offenses including unlawful assembly and possession of explosives and offensive weapons.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/flights-cancelled-after-hong-kong-protesters-target-airport-247043">Flights cancelled after Hong Kong protesters target airport</a>

Speaking at a press conference, Acting Senior Superintendent Tsui Suk-yee of Kowloon West Regional (Crime) said that during the arrest operations, the police seized evidences including petrol bombs, gas masks, laser guns, steel balls, armors, helmets and umbrellas.

According to Tsui, two petrol bombs and lighters were found among the belongings of a 13-year-old suspect. A batch of petrol bombs were also seized by police on the platform of Prince Edward MTR Station.

In the above-mentioned cases, suspects had posed a severe threat to public safety and social order, said Tsui.

After obtaining legal advice from the Department of Justice, some arrested suspects would be prosecuted, said Tsui, adding that the police did not rule out more arrests in coming days.

During an arrest operation in a store at Sai Ying Pun Saturday afternoon, six men and two women were also arrested for possessing offensive weapons, said Chief Inspector (Crime) of Western District Ng Kei-chun at a press conference.

During the arrest operation, 12 press cards were seized, three of which contained personal data matching those of the three arrested persons, said Ng.

However, initial probes by the police found no information available about the media organizations on the press cards.

The police had also seized suspected assault weapons including axes, steel balls, steel ball launchers and corrosive liquids, said Ng.

Noting that in recent protests, some radical protesters had used corrosive liquids against police officers, Ng said there were reasonable grounds to believe that the suspects were making offensive weapons.

Hong Kong police said on Sunday that 71 people were arrested during the riots on Saturday. According to Kowloon West Regional Headquarters, a total of 63 people, 54 men and nine women aged 13 to 36, were arrested for offenses including unlawful assembly and possession of explosives and offensive weapons.

Hong Kong police said on Sunday that 71 people were arrested during the riots on Saturday. According to Kowloon West Regional Headquarters, a total of 63 people, 54 men and nine women aged 13 to 36, were arrested for offenses including unlawful assembly and possession of explosives and offensive weapons. Also read: Flights cancelled after Hong Kong protesters target airport Speaking at a press conference, Acting Senior Superintendent Tsui Suk-yee of Kowloon West Regional (Crime) said that during the arrest operations, the police seized evidences including petrol bombs, gas masks, laser guns, steel balls, armors, helmets and umbrellas. According to Tsui, two petrol bombs and lighters were found among the belongings of a 13-year-old suspect. A batch of petrol bombs were also seized by police on the platform of Prince Edward MTR Station. In the above-mentioned cases, suspects had posed a severe threat to public safety and social order, said Tsui. After obtaining legal advice from the Department of Justice, some arrested suspects would be prosecuted, said Tsui, adding that the police did not rule out more arrests in coming days. During an arrest operation in a store at Sai Ying Pun Saturday afternoon, six men and two women were also arrested for possessing offensive weapons, said Chief Inspector (Crime) of Western District Ng Kei-chun at a press conference. During the arrest operation, 12 press cards were seized, three of which contained personal data matching those of the three arrested persons, said Ng. However, initial probes by the police found no information available about the media organizations on the press cards. The police had also seized suspected assault weapons including axes, steel balls, steel ball launchers and corrosive liquids, said Ng. Noting that in recent protests, some radical protesters had used corrosive liquids against police officers, Ng said there were reasonable grounds to believe that the suspects were making offensive weapons.

71 arrested over riots in Hong Kong on Saturday: Police

Daniil Medvedev tried to make peace Sunday with US Open fans who have booed him for two matches after using their energy to help him reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final.

"I need to be a better person on the court," said Medvedev, who was fined after each of his first three matches at Flushing Meadows.

The Russian fifth seed booked a berth in the last eight by defeating 118th-ranked German qualifier Dominik Koepfer 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7/2) at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Medvedev was fined $9,000 for an obscene gesture and unsportsmanlike conduct in a third-round victory Friday. After his middle-finger gesture was shown on video screens, fans booed him unmercifully.

"Talking about last match, I was an idiot, to be honest," Medvedev said Sunday. "I did some things that I'm not proud of and that I'm working on to be a better person on the court because I do think I'm a good person out of the court."

There was a bit more kindness Sunday from the crowd in the form of mostly hearty cheers for Koepfer, but when Medvedev had won and boos followed, Medvedev encouraged more and said jeers helped energize him.

"I was painful in my attitude," Medvedev told the crowd. "I was painful in my shoulder. I was wondering if I was going to play. And you guys gave me the energy.

"Guys continue to give me this energy. You are the best."

Medvedev says he is still working on being his best but learned some lessons after reading social media comments about himself after Friday's match.

"I do like to read comments about me, to learn what people think about me, where should I be better or what should I keep?" Medvedev said.

"To be honest with you, especially after the last match, I learned a lot to myself. As I say, I need to be a better person on the court than I was the last match."

'Most electric crowd'

He said he enjoyed the give and take with the New York crowd Sunday.

"During my match, I was completely focused. After the match, I engaged a little bit with the crowd," he said.

"But we all know how New York crowd can be. It's probably the most electric crowd in the world. Especially this week, playing this week on big courts, I could feel it.

"They reacted less than the last match. I was a little bit surprised, because as I say, it was not against them. It was something with myself.

"Today I was just engaging with the crowd and hopefully it was fun for them and for me. As I said, it gave me a lot of energy to win."

Medvedev, a winner at Cincinnati and runner-up at Montreal and Washington in hardcourt tuneup events, had enough energy for a happy dance after the victory.

"I was just so happy about my win that I just decided to do something special," Medvedev said. "Some people think it was against the crowd. It was not at all. It was just showing how happy I was to be in the quarters." 
&nbsp;

Daniil Medvedev tried to make peace Sunday with US Open fans who have booed him for two matches after using their energy to help him reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final.

Daniil Medvedev tried to make peace Sunday with US Open fans who have booed him for two matches after using their energy to help him reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final. "I need to be a better person on the court," said Medvedev, who was fined after each of his first three matches at Flushing Meadows. The Russian fifth seed booked a berth in the last eight by defeating 118th-ranked German qualifier Dominik Koepfer 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7/2) at Louis Armstrong Stadium. Medvedev was fined $9,000 for an obscene gesture and unsportsmanlike conduct in a third-round victory Friday. After his middle-finger gesture was shown on video screens, fans booed him unmercifully. "Talking about last match, I was an idiot, to be honest," Medvedev said Sunday. "I did some things that I'm not proud of and that I'm working on to be a better person on the court because I do think I'm a good person out of the court." There was a bit more kindness Sunday from the crowd in the form of mostly hearty cheers for Koepfer, but when Medvedev had won and boos followed, Medvedev encouraged more and said jeers helped energize him. "I was painful in my attitude," Medvedev told the crowd. "I was painful in my shoulder. I was wondering if I was going to play. And you guys gave me the energy. "Guys continue to give me this energy. You are the best." Medvedev says he is still working on being his best but learned some lessons after reading social media comments about himself after Friday's match. "I do like to read comments about me, to learn what people think about me, where should I be better or what should I keep?" Medvedev said. "To be honest with you, especially after the last match, I learned a lot to myself. As I say, I need to be a better person on the court than I was the last match." 'Most electric crowd' He said he enjoyed the give and take with the New York crowd Sunday. "During my match, I was completely focused. After the match, I engaged a little bit with the crowd," he said. "But we all know how New York crowd can be. It's probably the most electric crowd in the world. Especially this week, playing this week on big courts, I could feel it. "They reacted less than the last match. I was a little bit surprised, because as I say, it was not against them. It was something with myself. "Today I was just engaging with the crowd and hopefully it was fun for them and for me. As I said, it gave me a lot of energy to win." Medvedev, a winner at Cincinnati and runner-up at Montreal and Washington in hardcourt tuneup events, had enough energy for a happy dance after the victory. "I was just so happy about my win that I just decided to do something special," Medvedev said. "Some people think it was against the crowd. It was not at all. It was just showing how happy I was to be in the quarters."

Medvedev says 'I was an idiot' and working to be better

UN chief Antonio Guterres started a three-day tour of the Democratic Republic of Congo Saturday, expressing "solidarity" with a region ravaged by violence and an Ebola epidemic.

The UN secretary-general first visited Goma, the capital of North Kivu province which is trying to roll back an epidemic of Ebola that has <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ebola-death-toll-in-east-congo-outbreak-climbs-above-2000-246590">claimed more than 2,000 lives</a> in a year. &nbsp;

Guterres was received by Leila Zerrougui, his special representative in DR Congo.&nbsp;

The two did not shake hands, in line with health protocols aimed at curbing the spread of the highly infectious and very often fatal disease.

Guterres said he had come to express his support "with the armed forces of DRC in the fight against terrorism" which represents "a threat not only for the Congo but the whole of Africa."

The UN peacekeeping mission in the country known by its French acronym MONUSCO comprises some 16,000 troops and has an annual budget of over $1 billion.

A total of 130 militias and armed groups roam the North and South Kivu provinces of DR Congo, a vast country the size of western continental Europe.

At a centre for demobilised former militia fighters in Goma, Guterres appealed to the militias to choose peace.

"It's always possible to choose peace," he said, urging all combatants to come "to a centre like this (for) a new life in peace in their home community."

He added he had heard moving testimony from people living in the bush under the illusion that by being in an armed group they could have a better life. The reality, he insisted, was that meant "a tragic life, a life without a future."

According to the Group of Experts on Congo from New York University and Human Rights Watch, armed groups killed 1,900 civilians and kidnapped more than 3,300 people in the region between June 2017 and June 2019.

Watch: Ebola death toll tops 2,000 in eastern Congo outbreak

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- Ebola toll rising -

The demobilisation of militias is a priority for MONUSCO, which has been present in the DR Congo since 1999.

On Sunday, Guterres will visit Beni, one of the epicentres of the Ebola epidemic, about 350 kilometres (220 miles) north of Goma. &nbsp;

DR Congo health officials said late Thursday that there have been "2,006 deaths (1,901 confirmed and 105 probable)" since August 2018.

It is the second-worst Ebola outbreak in history after more than 11,000 people were killed in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia between 2014 and 2016.

Containment efforts have been hindered by the conflict in the country's east, as well as attacks on health workers tackling Ebola.

Guterres will visit the remote area of Mangina in the bush outside Beni, where the epidemic first broke out at the end of July 2018, visiting a treatment centre and meeting survivors and health workers.

As the battle against Ebola continues, former health minister Oly Ilunga, who stepped down after criticising plans by the UN's World Health Organization to introduce a second, unlicensed vaccine to the country, has been banned from leaving the country pending a probe into improper use of public funds, according to migration service documents seen by AFP on Saturday.

Ilunga has been questioned as part of an inquiry into the misuse of Ebola funds. Shortly before he stepped down, the minister was replaced by President Felix Tshisekedi as the head of the country's Ebola response team.

- Militia attacks -

Apart from Ebola, Beni has been reeling under militia attacks since October 2014 with civilians and farmers bearing the brunt of the violence.

Most of the killings have been attributed to the Islamist-rooted Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) &nbsp;group that arose in western Uganda in 1995 and has been accused of butchering hundreds of civilians.

"We are entirely by the side of the Congolese authorities in the fight against ADF," Guterres said in Goma.

The country's armed forces Saturday put at 1,662 the number of soldiers killed since 2014 fighting the ADF in and around Beni.

ADF fighters have also targeted UN troops, killing 15 people in an attack in December.

Under the terms of its latest mandate spanning April to December this year, the UN has closed bases in the DR Congo, reviewed its intervention strategy and cut civilian staff by 764 since the beginning of July.

But in Beni, prominent locals called for the UN to beef up the capacity of its rapid intervention force.

"We want more military means to be put at their disposal to finish the ADF in Beni," mayor Bwanakawa Masumbuko said.

Guterres will end his tour in the capital Kinshasa, where he will meet Tshisekedi, who recently unveiled a new coalition government after a delay of nearly eight months.

UN chief Antonio Guterres started a three-day tour of the Democratic Republic of Congo Saturday, expressing "solidarity" with a region ravaged by violence and an Ebola epidemic.

UN chief Antonio Guterres started a three-day tour of the Democratic Republic of Congo Saturday, expressing "solidarity" with a region ravaged by violence and an Ebola epidemic. The UN secretary-general first visited Goma, the capital of North Kivu province which is trying to roll back an epidemic of Ebola that has claimed more than 2,000 lives in a year. Guterres was received by Leila Zerrougui, his special representative in DR Congo. The two did not shake hands, in line with health protocols aimed at curbing the spread of the highly infectious and very often fatal disease. Guterres said he had come to express his support "with the armed forces of DRC in the fight against terrorism" which represents "a threat not only for the Congo but the whole of Africa." The UN peacekeeping mission in the country known by its French acronym MONUSCO comprises some 16,000 troops and has an annual budget of over $1 billion. A total of 130 militias and armed groups roam the North and South Kivu provinces of DR Congo, a vast country the size of western continental Europe. At a centre for demobilised former militia fighters in Goma, Guterres appealed to the militias to choose peace. "It's always possible to choose peace," he said, urging all combatants to come "to a centre like this (for) a new life in peace in their home community." He added he had heard moving testimony from people living in the bush under the illusion that by being in an armed group they could have a better life. The reality, he insisted, was that meant "a tragic life, a life without a future." According to the Group of Experts on Congo from New York University and Human Rights Watch, armed groups killed 1,900 civilians and kidnapped more than 3,300 people in the region between June 2017 and June 2019. Watch: Ebola death toll tops 2,000 in eastern Congo outbreak × - Ebola toll rising - The demobilisation of militias is a priority for MONUSCO, which has been present in the DR Congo since 1999. On Sunday, Guterres will visit Beni, one of the epicentres of the Ebola epidemic, about 350 kilometres (220 miles) north of Goma. DR Congo health officials said late Thursday that there have been "2,006 deaths (1,901 confirmed and 105 probable)" since August 2018. It is the second-worst Ebola outbreak in history after more than 11,000 people were killed in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia between 2014 and 2016. Containment efforts have been hindered by the conflict in the country's east, as well as attacks on health workers tackling Ebola. Guterres will visit the remote area of Mangina in the bush outside Beni, where the epidemic first broke out at the end of July 2018, visiting a treatment centre and meeting survivors and health workers. As the battle against Ebola continues, former health minister Oly Ilunga, who stepped down after criticising plans by the UN's World Health Organization to introduce a second, unlicensed vaccine to the country, has been banned from leaving the country pending a probe into improper use of public funds, according to migration service documents seen by AFP on Saturday. Ilunga has been questioned as part of an inquiry into the misuse of Ebola funds. Shortly before he stepped down, the minister was replaced by President Felix Tshisekedi as the head of the country's Ebola response team. - Militia attacks - Apart from Ebola, Beni has been reeling under militia attacks since October 2014 with civilians and farmers bearing the brunt of the violence. Most of the killings have been attributed to the Islamist-rooted Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) group that arose in western Uganda in 1995 and has been accused of butchering hundreds of civilians. "We are entirely by the side of the Congolese authorities in the fight against ADF," Guterres said in Goma. The country's armed forces Saturday put at 1,662 the number of soldiers killed since 2014 fighting the ADF in and around Beni. ADF fighters have also targeted UN troops, killing 15 people in an attack in December. Under the terms of its latest mandate spanning April to December this year, the UN has closed bases in the DR Congo, reviewed its intervention strategy and cut civilian staff by 764 since the beginning of July. But in Beni, prominent locals called for the UN to beef up the capacity of its rapid intervention force. "We want more military means to be put at their disposal to finish the ADF in Beni," mayor Bwanakawa Masumbuko said. Guterres will end his tour in the capital Kinshasa, where he will meet Tshisekedi, who recently unveiled a new coalition government after a delay of nearly eight months.

UN chief expresses solidarity with Ebola-hit DR Congo

Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters threw morning rush hour train travel into chaos on Monday, kicking off another day of potential turmoil after a weekend featuring some of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-reels-from-worst-clashes-in-months-as-protesters-battle-police-246937">worst violence in three months</a> of anti-government protests.

The global financial hub is in the midst of an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tear-gas-petrol-bombs-as-hong-kong-centre-engulfed-by-chaos-246844">unprecedented crisis </a>as a largely leaderless movement has drawn millions on to the streets to protest against what they see as an erosion of freedoms and increasing interference in their affairs by Beijing.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/flights-cancelled-after-hong-kong-protesters-target-airport-247043">Flights cancelled after Hong Kong protesters target airport</a>

In the latest action, protesters dressed in their signature black stood at doorways of trains, stopping them from closing, at a series of stations on the underground system on Monday morning, causing major delays on the network.

The protesters have also called for a general strike on Monday, while university students are due to rally in the afternoon.

Hong Kong is a semi-autonomous southern Chinese city that operates under a "one country, two systems" framework, which gives citizens rights unseen on the mainland.

China committed to giving the people of Hong Kong those rights in an agreement that saw the city return from British colonial rule in 1997.

China's erosions of those rights has been one of the driving forces behind the protest movement.

The protests started in opposition to government plans to allow the extradition to the mainland of people wanted by Beijing, but have widened to include broader demands.

These include demands for the extradition bill to be formally scrapped and for an independent inquiry into alleged police brutality during the protests.

The protesters also want the city's leader and all its lawmakers to be directly elected, scrapping the current system that heavily favours the Chinese government.

Student boycott&nbsp;

The new round of protest actions on Monday came after yet another weekend of violence on the streets as well as efforts by protesters to disrupt the city's airport, one of the busiest in the world.

On Sunday at least a dozen flights were cancelled after protesters blocked routes to the airport, although police fended off demonstrators' efforts to converge on the terminal itself.

On Saturday, hardcore protesters rampaged through the city centre, setting fires and throwing petrol bombs at riot police in defiance of a rally ban.

Police hit back with tear gas, baton charges and water cannon laced with chemical dye.

Video footage captured by local media showed police charge and beat a crowd cowering inside a train carriage, with Amnesty International calling their actions "horrifying".

Universities were due to resume classes Monday after a summer break, but students -- who make up the backbone of the protest movement -- are planning a two-week boycott.

Protesters were also urging a general strike.&nbsp;

In early August, a city-wide strike -- a rare occurence in a freewheeling finance hub where unions traditionally have little sway -- brought transport chaos to the city.

Hong Kong' flagship carrier Cathay Pacific has warned staff they risk being sacked if they joined Monday's strike after the last walkout was supported by the airline's flight attendant union.

Cathay has already fired at least four staff -- including two pilots -- for supporting the protests.

Hong Kong's reputation as a stable place to do business has been shaken by the ongoing protests.

Visitor arrivals have plummeted, hotel vacancies have soared and retailers have reported huge losses as a result of the protests, but the government has offered little in the way of concessions or suggestions on how to end them.

Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters threw morning rush hour train travel into chaos on Monday, kicking off another day of potential turmoil after a weekend featuring some of the worst violence in three months of anti-government protests.

Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters threw morning rush hour train travel into chaos on Monday, kicking off another day of potential turmoil after a weekend featuring some of the worst violence in three months of anti-government protests. The global financial hub is in the midst of an unprecedented crisis as a largely leaderless movement has drawn millions on to the streets to protest against what they see as an erosion of freedoms and increasing interference in their affairs by Beijing. Also read: Flights cancelled after Hong Kong protesters target airport In the latest action, protesters dressed in their signature black stood at doorways of trains, stopping them from closing, at a series of stations on the underground system on Monday morning, causing major delays on the network. The protesters have also called for a general strike on Monday, while university students are due to rally in the afternoon. Hong Kong is a semi-autonomous southern Chinese city that operates under a "one country, two systems" framework, which gives citizens rights unseen on the mainland. China committed to giving the people of Hong Kong those rights in an agreement that saw the city return from British colonial rule in 1997. China's erosions of those rights has been one of the driving forces behind the protest movement. The protests started in opposition to government plans to allow the extradition to the mainland of people wanted by Beijing, but have widened to include broader demands. These include demands for the extradition bill to be formally scrapped and for an independent inquiry into alleged police brutality during the protests. The protesters also want the city's leader and all its lawmakers to be directly elected, scrapping the current system that heavily favours the Chinese government. Student boycott The new round of protest actions on Monday came after yet another weekend of violence on the streets as well as efforts by protesters to disrupt the city's airport, one of the busiest in the world. On Sunday at least a dozen flights were cancelled after protesters blocked routes to the airport, although police fended off demonstrators' efforts to converge on the terminal itself. On Saturday, hardcore protesters rampaged through the city centre, setting fires and throwing petrol bombs at riot police in defiance of a rally ban. Police hit back with tear gas, baton charges and water cannon laced with chemical dye. Video footage captured by local media showed police charge and beat a crowd cowering inside a train carriage, with Amnesty International calling their actions "horrifying". Universities were due to resume classes Monday after a summer break, but students -- who make up the backbone of the protest movement -- are planning a two-week boycott. Protesters were also urging a general strike. In early August, a city-wide strike -- a rare occurence in a freewheeling finance hub where unions traditionally have little sway -- brought transport chaos to the city. Hong Kong' flagship carrier Cathay Pacific has warned staff they risk being sacked if they joined Monday's strike after the last walkout was supported by the airline's flight attendant union. Cathay has already fired at least four staff -- including two pilots -- for supporting the protests. Hong Kong's reputation as a stable place to do business has been shaken by the ongoing protests. Visitor arrivals have plummeted, hotel vacancies have soared and retailers have reported huge losses as a result of the protests, but the government has offered little in the way of concessions or suggestions on how to end them.

Hong Kong protesters target trains, urge general strike

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dorian-to-hit-bahamas-as-devastating-hurricane-then-menace-georgia-and-carolinas-246935">Hurricane Dorian</a> blasted the northern Bahamas as a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dorian-strengthens-to-powerful-category-5-hurricane-as-it-nears-bahamas-247011">monster Category 5 storm </a>on Sunday, pummeling the low-lying island chain with torrential rains and winds of a violence unprecedented in its history.

Packing winds of 185 miles per hour (295 kilometers per hour), Dorian made landfall twice in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bahamas-braces-for-hurricane-dorian-florida-on-high-alert-246956">Bahamas</a>' Abaco Islands, and was tied for the second most powerful hurricane ever in the Atlantic basin, the National Weather Service said.

Footage posted on social media showed major destruction. There was no immediate word on casualties.

Parts of the Abaco Islands were reported to be under water as forecasters warned it was facing a towering 18 to 23 foot storm surge. Winds were gusting over 220 mph, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

Video posted on the website of the Bahamian newspaper Tribune 242 showed water up to the roofs of wooden houses in what appeared to be a coastal town. Capsized boats floated in muddy brown water dotted with wooden boards, tree branches and other debris.

In other social media footage of what appears to be an inland area, cars were smashed or turned over, telephone poles and trees were snapped like twigs and debris filled the yards of severely damaged homes. AFP could not immediately confirm the authenticity of any of this footage.

Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis broke down in tears as he addressed a news conference, calling it "probably the most sad and worst day of my life," the Nassau Guardian reported.

"We're facing a hurricane... one that we've never seen in the history of the Bahamas," he said.

Footage shot in Cooper's Town, Abaco and obtained by AFP showed waves crashing violently onshore, sending up huge clouds of spray along the coastline.

Local radio reported that people were calling for help after winds blew the roof off the Island Breezes Hotel in Marsh Harbour, a commercial hub in the Abacos.

"Things are really starting to rock and roll," a post on the Facebook page of the Hope Town Bulletin in Abacos said at 10:00 am local time.&nbsp;

As of 2200 GMT, the storm was 75 miles (120 kilometers) east of Freeport on the island of Grand Bahama and moving slowly west.

In Grand Bahama, thousands have evacuated to get out of Dorian's predicted path.

"It feels like we are standing in a line waiting for a beating," Yasmin Rigby, a resident of Freeport, the island's main city, told AFP.&nbsp;

Watch: Weather expert on Hurricane Dorian

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- Strongest storm to hit Bahamas -

The NHC said Dorian had become "the strongest hurricane in modern records for the northwestern Bahamas."

Describing "catastrophic" conditions in the Abacos Islands, it said the storm was "heading with all its fury towards Grand Bahama," where it was expected Sunday night into Monday.

NHC director Ken Graham on Facebook Live said the Bahamas would be under major hurricane conditions for a punishing 30 hours or more.

"That's major hurricane winds, that's storm surge of 10 and even 20 feet in some of those areas," he said. "That's also torrential rainfall of 15 to 20 inches, isolated 30 inches."

In Washington, US President Donald Trump met with his emergency management chiefs and declared "this looks monstrous."

"We expect that much of the eastern seaboard will be ultimately impacted and some of it very, very severely," he said.

Tropical storm warnings were in effect for parts of the Florida coast, and residents up and down the Atlantic coast braced for a brush with danger.

Florida issued its first evacuation orders in parts of Palm Beach, home of Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, and Martin Counties.

'Very great danger'

Kevin McAleenan, acting homeland security secretary, said hurricane force winds could hit Florida, followed by a prolonged rain event combined with a storm surge.

"That's going to be very difficult as the storm starts to move northward, mostly like, up the coast of Florida and toward Georgia and South Carolina," he said on ABC's "This Week."

While Miami appeared likely to be largely spared, 30-year-old David Duque, picking up sandbags there on Saturday, noted that "everything could change... I know it could be a scare, but better prepare instead of doing nothing."

The Florida National Guard said roughly 2,000 service members had been mobilized, with another 2,000 poised to join them.

'Absolute monster'

Trump has declared a federal state of emergency in Florida, authorizing US assistance to supplement state and local efforts.

Following a similar state order in Florida, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency Saturday, saying, "Given the strength and unpredictability of the storm, we must prepare for every possible scenario."

Neighboring North Carolina also declared a state of emergency, and Georgia announced a state of emergency for 12 counties.

Orlando International Airport was to protectively halt commercial flights at 2:00 am (0600 GMT) Monday, and Florida's NASA Kennedy Space Center said it was moving an enormous mobile rocket launcher inside to protect it. 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Hurricane Dorian blasted the northern Bahamas as a monster Category 5 storm on Sunday, pummeling the low-lying island chain with torrential rains and winds of a violence unprecedented in its history.

Hurricane Dorian blasted the northern Bahamas as a monster Category 5 storm on Sunday, pummeling the low-lying island chain with torrential rains and winds of a violence unprecedented in its history. Packing winds of 185 miles per hour (295 kilometers per hour), Dorian made landfall twice in the Bahamas' Abaco Islands, and was tied for the second most powerful hurricane ever in the Atlantic basin, the National Weather Service said. Footage posted on social media showed major destruction. There was no immediate word on casualties. Parts of the Abaco Islands were reported to be under water as forecasters warned it was facing a towering 18 to 23 foot storm surge. Winds were gusting over 220 mph, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. Video posted on the website of the Bahamian newspaper Tribune 242 showed water up to the roofs of wooden houses in what appeared to be a coastal town. Capsized boats floated in muddy brown water dotted with wooden boards, tree branches and other debris. In other social media footage of what appears to be an inland area, cars were smashed or turned over, telephone poles and trees were snapped like twigs and debris filled the yards of severely damaged homes. AFP could not immediately confirm the authenticity of any of this footage. Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis broke down in tears as he addressed a news conference, calling it "probably the most sad and worst day of my life," the Nassau Guardian reported. "We're facing a hurricane... one that we've never seen in the history of the Bahamas," he said. Footage shot in Cooper's Town, Abaco and obtained by AFP showed waves crashing violently onshore, sending up huge clouds of spray along the coastline. Local radio reported that people were calling for help after winds blew the roof off the Island Breezes Hotel in Marsh Harbour, a commercial hub in the Abacos. "Things are really starting to rock and roll," a post on the Facebook page of the Hope Town Bulletin in Abacos said at 10:00 am local time. As of 2200 GMT, the storm was 75 miles (120 kilometers) east of Freeport on the island of Grand Bahama and moving slowly west. In Grand Bahama, thousands have evacuated to get out of Dorian's predicted path. "It feels like we are standing in a line waiting for a beating," Yasmin Rigby, a resident of Freeport, the island's main city, told AFP. Watch: Weather expert on Hurricane Dorian × - Strongest storm to hit Bahamas - The NHC said Dorian had become "the strongest hurricane in modern records for the northwestern Bahamas." Describing "catastrophic" conditions in the Abacos Islands, it said the storm was "heading with all its fury towards Grand Bahama," where it was expected Sunday night into Monday. NHC director Ken Graham on Facebook Live said the Bahamas would be under major hurricane conditions for a punishing 30 hours or more. "That's major hurricane winds, that's storm surge of 10 and even 20 feet in some of those areas," he said. "That's also torrential rainfall of 15 to 20 inches, isolated 30 inches." In Washington, US President Donald Trump met with his emergency management chiefs and declared "this looks monstrous." "We expect that much of the eastern seaboard will be ultimately impacted and some of it very, very severely," he said. Tropical storm warnings were in effect for parts of the Florida coast, and residents up and down the Atlantic coast braced for a brush with danger. Florida issued its first evacuation orders in parts of Palm Beach, home of Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, and Martin Counties. 'Very great danger' Kevin McAleenan, acting homeland security secretary, said hurricane force winds could hit Florida, followed by a prolonged rain event combined with a storm surge. "That's going to be very difficult as the storm starts to move northward, mostly like, up the coast of Florida and toward Georgia and South Carolina," he said on ABC's "This Week." While Miami appeared likely to be largely spared, 30-year-old David Duque, picking up sandbags there on Saturday, noted that "everything could change... I know it could be a scare, but better prepare instead of doing nothing." The Florida National Guard said roughly 2,000 service members had been mobilized, with another 2,000 poised to join them. 'Absolute monster' Trump has declared a federal state of emergency in Florida, authorizing US assistance to supplement state and local efforts. Following a similar state order in Florida, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency Saturday, saying, "Given the strength and unpredictability of the storm, we must prepare for every possible scenario." Neighboring North Carolina also declared a state of emergency, and Georgia announced a state of emergency for 12 counties. Orlando International Airport was to protectively halt commercial flights at 2:00 am (0600 GMT) Monday, and Florida's NASA Kennedy Space Center said it was moving an enormous mobile rocket launcher inside to protect it.

'Catastrophic' Dorian strikes Bahamas with full fury

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kulbhushan-jadhav-case-what-is-consular-access-that-india-was-denied-16-times-247144">Kulbhushan Jadhav</a>, a retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by the Pakistan military court on charges of “espionage and terrorism” after a closed trial in April 2017.

In its verdict on July 17, 2019&nbsp;the International Court of Justice stopped his execution and said that Jadhav's trial by a military court in Pakistan was not accepted. The ICJ also gave consular access to Jadhav and upheld India's stand that Pakistan has violated the 1963 Vienna Convention.

India on September 2 accepted Pakistan's offer of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-get-consular-access-to-kulbhushan-jadhav-today-247059">consular access to&nbsp;Jadhav</a>.&nbsp;

Earlier, Pakistan had offered consular access on August 1, but with conditions - that one Pakistani official would be present alongside. India responded to this and asked Pakistan to provide "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-must-provide-unimpeded-consular-access-to-kulbhushan-jadhav-india-240164">unimpeded consular access</a>", in an environment "free from the fear of intimidation and reprisal".

The consular access was granted to India after years of denial by Pakistan. India had made 16 such requests to Pakistan seeking consular access for Jadhav in the last 3 years. However, all such requests were denied by Pak.

India first sought consular access from Islamabad on March 29, 2016, within a month of his arrest.&nbsp;

On December 8, 2017, Pakistan had <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pak-tightens-security-ahead-of-jadhavs-meeting-with-family-27648">allowed Jadhav's wife and mother to meet him</a> on December 25 at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Islamabad for 45 minutes. During the meeting, Pakistan had said that it did not constitute "consular access". During the meeting, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Faisal had said that all decisions on consular access of Jadhav will be taken on the basis of law and interests of Pakistan.

Pakistan has repeatedly denied India consular access to Jadhav on the ground that it was not applicable in cases related to spies.

The verdict in Kulbhushan Jadhav's&nbsp;high-profile case of came nearly five months after a 15-member bench of ICJ led by Judge Yusuf had reserved its decision on February 21 after hearing oral submissions by India and Pakistan. The proceedings of the case took two years and two months to complete.

Kulbhushan Jadhav, a retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by the Pakistan military court on charges of “espionage and terrorism” after a closed trial in April 2017.

Kulbhushan Jadhav, a retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by the Pakistan military court on charges of “espionage and terrorism” after a closed trial in April 2017. In its verdict on July 17, 2019 the International Court of Justice stopped his execution and said that Jadhav's trial by a military court in Pakistan was not accepted. The ICJ also gave consular access to Jadhav and upheld India's stand that Pakistan has violated the 1963 Vienna Convention. India on September 2 accepted Pakistan's offer of consular access to Jadhav. Earlier, Pakistan had offered consular access on August 1, but with conditions - that one Pakistani official would be present alongside. India responded to this and asked Pakistan to provide "unimpeded consular access", in an environment "free from the fear of intimidation and reprisal". The consular access was granted to India after years of denial by Pakistan. India had made 16 such requests to Pakistan seeking consular access for Jadhav in the last 3 years. However, all such requests were denied by Pak. India first sought consular access from Islamabad on March 29, 2016, within a month of his arrest. On December 8, 2017, Pakistan had allowed Jadhav's wife and mother to meet him on December 25 at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Islamabad for 45 minutes. During the meeting, Pakistan had said that it did not constitute "consular access". During the meeting, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Faisal had said that all decisions on consular access of Jadhav will be taken on the basis of law and interests of Pakistan. Pakistan has repeatedly denied India consular access to Jadhav on the ground that it was not applicable in cases related to spies. The verdict in Kulbhushan Jadhav's high-profile case of came nearly five months after a 15-member bench of ICJ led by Judge Yusuf had reserved its decision on February 21 after hearing oral submissions by India and Pakistan. The proceedings of the case took two years and two months to complete.

After repeated denials, India finally gets consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav

The US envoy leading efforts to forge a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-taliban-on-threshold-of-deal-us-afghan-envoy-246925">deal with the Taliban</a> has met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul, an official said Monday, as a historic agreement with the insurgents appeared close.

Zalmay Khalilzad has spent about a year meeting with the Taliban in Doha in a series of talks aimed at ending America's 18-year-old war in Afghanistan.

The deal centres on a US troop withdrawal in return for several security guarantees from the Taliban, broader peace talks between the insurgents and the Afghan government, and an eventual ceasefire.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official told AFP that Khalilzad arrived in Kabul Sunday evening and met with Ghani to discuss the latest developments after a ninth round of talks wrapped up in the Qatari capital.

Consultations were expected to continue Monday with other Afghan officials, probably again including Ghani, the official said.

The discussions are significant because the Afghan government has been largely sidelined from talks until now, though any eventual deal would require the Taliban to talk to Ghani, whom they view as a US stooge.

On Sunday, Khalilzad said the US and the Taliban were at the "threshold" of a deal that would reduce violence and pave the way for "sustainable" peace.

But even as negotiations have entered their apparent final stage, violence has continued apace across Afghanistan.

On Saturday, the Taliban attempted to seize Kunduz in the north, and on Sunday, they launched an operation in the city of Pul-e Khumri, the capital of neighbouring Baghlan province.

Afghan officials Monday said Pul-e Khumri had been cleared of Taliban fighters.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has previously said he hoped a peace deal would be finalised before September 1, ahead of Afghan polls due September 28.

Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban's spokesman in Doha, said Saturday a deal was "near to finalised" but did not specify what obstacles remain.

The US envoy leading efforts to forge a deal with the Taliban has met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul, an official said Monday, as a historic agreement with the insurgents appeared close.

The US envoy leading efforts to forge a deal with the Taliban has met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul, an official said Monday, as a historic agreement with the insurgents appeared close. Zalmay Khalilzad has spent about a year meeting with the Taliban in Doha in a series of talks aimed at ending America's 18-year-old war in Afghanistan. The deal centres on a US troop withdrawal in return for several security guarantees from the Taliban, broader peace talks between the insurgents and the Afghan government, and an eventual ceasefire. Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official told AFP that Khalilzad arrived in Kabul Sunday evening and met with Ghani to discuss the latest developments after a ninth round of talks wrapped up in the Qatari capital. Consultations were expected to continue Monday with other Afghan officials, probably again including Ghani, the official said. The discussions are significant because the Afghan government has been largely sidelined from talks until now, though any eventual deal would require the Taliban to talk to Ghani, whom they view as a US stooge. On Sunday, Khalilzad said the US and the Taliban were at the "threshold" of a deal that would reduce violence and pave the way for "sustainable" peace. But even as negotiations have entered their apparent final stage, violence has continued apace across Afghanistan. On Saturday, the Taliban attempted to seize Kunduz in the north, and on Sunday, they launched an operation in the city of Pul-e Khumri, the capital of neighbouring Baghlan province. Afghan officials Monday said Pul-e Khumri had been cleared of Taliban fighters. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has previously said he hoped a peace deal would be finalised before September 1, ahead of Afghan polls due September 28. Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban's spokesman in Doha, said Saturday a deal was "near to finalised" but did not specify what obstacles remain.

US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad meets Afghan president in Kabul

A local extremist group linked to Al-Qaeda was responsible for the murder of three prominent Maldivians, including a journalist missing for more than five years, an independent commission in the Indian Ocean island republic has found.

The Presidential Commission on Investigation of Murders and Enforced Disappearances said Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla, a reporter with the independent Minivan News website, was abducted on August 8, 2014 and murdered at sea.

Husnu Al-Suood, the president of the commission which was recently established by the Maldives government, told reporters in the capital Male late Sunday that the reporter popularly known as Rilwan received death threats from the group operating under the name Bilad-al-Sham on Facebook.

Al-Suood said the group was also responsible for the assassination of a moderate legislator in 2012 and liberal blogger Yameen Rasheed in 2017, and the attempted murder of another liberal blogger in 2012.&nbsp;

Rilwan's disappearance sparked international concern, with the UN and rights organisations pressing then strongman president Abdulla Yameen to look into his case and ensure the safety of independent journalists.

The commission said Yameen's government covered up his murder in the otherwise peaceful Indian Ocean archipelago known for its luxury tourism.

It said the group was also responsible for arranging for Maldivians to travel to Syria and join the ranks of Islamic extremist fighters. 
Maldives, a nation of 340,000 Sunni Muslims, is known to practise a liberal form of Islam.

A local extremist group linked to Al-Qaeda was responsible for the murder of three prominent Maldivians, including a journalist missing for more than five years, an independent commission in the Indian Ocean island republic has found.

A local extremist group linked to Al-Qaeda was responsible for the murder of three prominent Maldivians, including a journalist missing for more than five years, an independent commission in the Indian Ocean island republic has found. The Presidential Commission on Investigation of Murders and Enforced Disappearances said Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla, a reporter with the independent Minivan News website, was abducted on August 8, 2014 and murdered at sea. Husnu Al-Suood, the president of the commission which was recently established by the Maldives government, told reporters in the capital Male late Sunday that the reporter popularly known as Rilwan received death threats from the group operating under the name Bilad-al-Sham on Facebook. Al-Suood said the group was also responsible for the assassination of a moderate legislator in 2012 and liberal blogger Yameen Rasheed in 2017, and the attempted murder of another liberal blogger in 2012. Rilwan's disappearance sparked international concern, with the UN and rights organisations pressing then strongman president Abdulla Yameen to look into his case and ensure the safety of independent journalists. The commission said Yameen's government covered up his murder in the otherwise peaceful Indian Ocean archipelago known for its luxury tourism. It said the group was also responsible for arranging for Maldivians to travel to Syria and join the ranks of Islamic extremist fighters. Maldives, a nation of 340,000 Sunni Muslims, is known to practise a liberal form of Islam.

Missing Maldives journalist killed by radicals: Report

Sri Lanka presidential candidate <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-wartime-defence-chief-gotabaya-rajapaksa-launches-presidential-bid-242301">Gotabaya Rajapaksa </a>has been a polarising figure for much of his political life. It is an image he is trying to change.

When he was defence chief in his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa`s government he crushed ethnic Tamil separatist rebels, bringing a 26-year-long civil war to a close. But relatives of dead or missing Tamils have accused him of war crimes, including extra-judicial killings and abductions, in lawsuits filed against him in the United States.

Rajapaksa has denied the accusations.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-wartime-defence-chief-gotabaya-rajapaksa-launches-presidential-bid-242301">Sri Lanka wartime defence chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa launches presidential bid</a>

His failure to publicly distance himself from radical Buddhist monks makes him a figure of suspicion in the minority Muslim community, as well as among some in the small Christian community.&nbsp;

In 2013, he was chief guest at the opening of a leadership academy run by a hardline Buddhist group, the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS). Groups such as BBS see the minorities as a potential threat to the Sinhala Buddhist majority in Sri Lanka.

But that hasn`t stopped Rajapaksa and his Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party from seeking to woo Muslim and Christian voters after he recently declared he was standing in the election due to be held by December 9.&nbsp;

His overtures might work in parts of the Christian community fearful after Easter Sunday bombings of churches and hotels by Islamist militants that killed 250 people.&nbsp;

Some Christians say they are looking for stronger security policies, even if that means going with a hardliner like Rajapaksa.

But Muslims are less convinced because they suspect a Rajapaksa government may turn a blind eye to attacks by Buddhist extremists. That is what some say happened in 2014 when anti-Muslim riots in the southwestern Kalutara district displaced thousands during the time of his brother`s presidency.

A spokesman for the Rajapaksa`s SLPP, Keheliya Rambukwella, said the riots were orchestrated to turn Muslims away from the Rajapaksa camp.

As a politician who respected all communities and religions, Rajapaksa was doing the "right thing" by visiting houses of worship, Rambukwella said.&nbsp;

"It gives a message very clearly that he wants communal harmony." 
Rajapaksa`s office declined a request for an interview with him.

Tamil fears

He has yet to tour the Tamil-dominated north and east of Sri Lanka but has said he would work toward fulfilling their aspirations, including more regional autonomy.

Relatives of Tamils missing since the end of the war, former cadres of the Tamil Tiger insurgent group and people who say their land has been occupied by the military, interviewed by Reuters in recent days, said they feared a military clampdown if Rajapaksa rose to power.&nbsp;

But one Tamil party, the Eelam People`s Democratic Party, is pro-Rajapaksa and says only his leadership can fulfil regional demands.

The political calculations are clear. While Sri Lanka is 70%Sinhala Buddhist, some Buddhists support current Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe`s rival centre-right United National Party (UNP).

Muslims account for about 10% of the island nation`s 21 million population and Christians nearly 7%.

Hardline Buddhist monks enjoyed impunity during Mahinda Rajapaksa`s government, antagonising minorities who voted overwhelmingly against him in 2015, said Hilmy Ahamed, vice president of the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka.&nbsp;

Muslims would not be safe if Rajapaksa won the presidential election, said A.R.M Badiuddin, a former local council head in Dharga Town, about 80 km south of Colombo, which was caught up in the 2014 riots. 
"The Rajapaksas have betrayed us," said Badiuddin, on a day Rajapaksa was due to visit a historic mosque, near his village home. 
"Muslims won`t forget and won`t help them."&nbsp;

Blessings at the mosque

On August 17, the centuries-old Kechimale Mosque, which looks out over the Indian Ocean, was unusually busy for a Saturday evening as it prepared for the first-ever visit by Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother, Mahinda. Hundreds waited for nearly four hours before they arrived in the late evening.

Inside the mosque, a cleric sought blessings for Gotabaya Rajapaksa so he could ensure "unity and equality for all ethnicities in Sri Lanka".

Clerics said they welcomed everyone, declining to comment on the politics of the visit.

Rajapaksa is also trying to win over Sri Lanka`s Catholics, many of whom have traditionally voted UNP.

This month, he met senior Catholic priests in Kandy and Matara. He recently said his government would promptly act on a demand by the Archbishop of Colombo to set up an independent panel to investigate the Easter bomb attacks.

Some were sceptical of the motive but said Rajapaksa, nevertheless, might win the support of Christians.

"Everything is done to win votes, not in a genuine way," a senior clergyman told Reuters on condition of anonymity/ 
"There is a possibility this time that Catholics will vote for Gotabaya."

Mahinda Rajapaksa`s wife, Shiranthi, is Catholic and the couple met the Pope at the Vatican in 2014 and during his 2015 Sri Lanka visit.&nbsp;

Shiranthi also donated land and money to a Catholic church in Colombo during Rajapaksa`s term.&nbsp;

"They helped us a lot", the clergyman added.

But Rajapaksa`s authoritarian style worries many Protestants, who make up about 2% of the population.

"People are waiting to see whether he would actually say that he is moving from a very hardline stance to a more moderate stance," said Godfrey Yogarajah, deputy secretary-general of the World Evangelical Alliance.&nbsp;

"We haven`t heard him say anything at all to that effect."

Sri Lanka presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been a polarising figure for much of his political life. It is an image he is trying to change. When he was defence chief in his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa`s government he crushed ethnic Tamil separatist rebels, bringing a 26-year-long civil war to a close.

Sri Lanka presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been a polarising figure for much of his political life. It is an image he is trying to change. When he was defence chief in his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa`s government he crushed ethnic Tamil separatist rebels, bringing a 26-year-long civil war to a close. But relatives of dead or missing Tamils have accused him of war crimes, including extra-judicial killings and abductions, in lawsuits filed against him in the United States. Rajapaksa has denied the accusations. Also read: Sri Lanka wartime defence chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa launches presidential bid His failure to publicly distance himself from radical Buddhist monks makes him a figure of suspicion in the minority Muslim community, as well as among some in the small Christian community. In 2013, he was chief guest at the opening of a leadership academy run by a hardline Buddhist group, the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS). Groups such as BBS see the minorities as a potential threat to the Sinhala Buddhist majority in Sri Lanka. But that hasn`t stopped Rajapaksa and his Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party from seeking to woo Muslim and Christian voters after he recently declared he was standing in the election due to be held by December 9. His overtures might work in parts of the Christian community fearful after Easter Sunday bombings of churches and hotels by Islamist militants that killed 250 people. Some Christians say they are looking for stronger security policies, even if that means going with a hardliner like Rajapaksa. But Muslims are less convinced because they suspect a Rajapaksa government may turn a blind eye to attacks by Buddhist extremists. That is what some say happened in 2014 when anti-Muslim riots in the southwestern Kalutara district displaced thousands during the time of his brother`s presidency. A spokesman for the Rajapaksa`s SLPP, Keheliya Rambukwella, said the riots were orchestrated to turn Muslims away from the Rajapaksa camp. As a politician who respected all communities and religions, Rajapaksa was doing the "right thing" by visiting houses of worship, Rambukwella said. "It gives a message very clearly that he wants communal harmony." Rajapaksa`s office declined a request for an interview with him. Tamil fears He has yet to tour the Tamil-dominated north and east of Sri Lanka but has said he would work toward fulfilling their aspirations, including more regional autonomy. Relatives of Tamils missing since the end of the war, former cadres of the Tamil Tiger insurgent group and people who say their land has been occupied by the military, interviewed by Reuters in recent days, said they feared a military clampdown if Rajapaksa rose to power. But one Tamil party, the Eelam People`s Democratic Party, is pro-Rajapaksa and says only his leadership can fulfil regional demands. The political calculations are clear. While Sri Lanka is 70%Sinhala Buddhist, some Buddhists support current Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe`s rival centre-right United National Party (UNP). Muslims account for about 10% of the island nation`s 21 million population and Christians nearly 7%. Hardline Buddhist monks enjoyed impunity during Mahinda Rajapaksa`s government, antagonising minorities who voted overwhelmingly against him in 2015, said Hilmy Ahamed, vice president of the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka. Muslims would not be safe if Rajapaksa won the presidential election, said A.R.M Badiuddin, a former local council head in Dharga Town, about 80 km south of Colombo, which was caught up in the 2014 riots. "The Rajapaksas have betrayed us," said Badiuddin, on a day Rajapaksa was due to visit a historic mosque, near his village home. "Muslims won`t forget and won`t help them." Blessings at the mosque On August 17, the centuries-old Kechimale Mosque, which looks out over the Indian Ocean, was unusually busy for a Saturday evening as it prepared for the first-ever visit by Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother, Mahinda. Hundreds waited for nearly four hours before they arrived in the late evening. Inside the mosque, a cleric sought blessings for Gotabaya Rajapaksa so he could ensure "unity and equality for all ethnicities in Sri Lanka". Clerics said they welcomed everyone, declining to comment on the politics of the visit. Rajapaksa is also trying to win over Sri Lanka`s Catholics, many of whom have traditionally voted UNP. This month, he met senior Catholic priests in Kandy and Matara. He recently said his government would promptly act on a demand by the Archbishop of Colombo to set up an independent panel to investigate the Easter bomb attacks. Some were sceptical of the motive but said Rajapaksa, nevertheless, might win the support of Christians. "Everything is done to win votes, not in a genuine way," a senior clergyman told Reuters on condition of anonymity/ "There is a possibility this time that Catholics will vote for Gotabaya." Mahinda Rajapaksa`s wife, Shiranthi, is Catholic and the couple met the Pope at the Vatican in 2014 and during his 2015 Sri Lanka visit. Shiranthi also donated land and money to a Catholic church in Colombo during Rajapaksa`s term. "They helped us a lot", the clergyman added. But Rajapaksa`s authoritarian style worries many Protestants, who make up about 2% of the population. "People are waiting to see whether he would actually say that he is moving from a very hardline stance to a more moderate stance," said Godfrey Yogarajah, deputy secretary-general of the World Evangelical Alliance. "We haven`t heard him say anything at all to that effect."

Sri Lanka: Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa reaches out to minorities

A total of 56 Taliban militants were killed in<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-at-least-eight-killed-in-roadside-bomb-blast-in-farah-province-247017"> Afghanistan</a>'s northern city of Kunduz following<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/scores-killed-as-taliban-afghan-forces-clash-in-kunduz-despite-peace-talks-246903"> clashes between the group and government forces</a>, the Afghan Interior Ministry said.

On Saturday, the Taliban attacked Kunduz, with Afghan forces repelling the attack. After the government reclaimed control of the city later that day, it said that at least 35 Taliban fighters had been killed.

"[Afghanistan's] National Directorate of Security and Commando Force conducted joint clearance operations in Kunduz province on Saturday night. In the meantime, the city of Kunduz has been completely cleared and 56 Taliban have been killed," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry added that 20 Afghan security forces and five civilians were killed and 85 civilians and soldiers were injured as a result of the military operation in Kunduz.

On Sunday, the Afghan government also released information that parallel to the attack on Kunduz, the Taliban had launched an attack on the nearby city of Pul-i-Khumri, where clashes currently continue.

Conflict-struck Afghanistan has long been torn by fighting between government troops and the Taliban, who earlier on Sunday concluded the ninth round of peace negotiations with the United States.

A total of 56 Taliban militants were killed in Afghanistan's northern city of Kunduz following clashes between the group and government forces, the Afghan Interior Ministry said.

A total of 56 Taliban militants were killed in Afghanistan's northern city of Kunduz following clashes between the group and government forces, the Afghan Interior Ministry said. On Saturday, the Taliban attacked Kunduz, with Afghan forces repelling the attack. After the government reclaimed control of the city later that day, it said that at least 35 Taliban fighters had been killed. "[Afghanistan's] National Directorate of Security and Commando Force conducted joint clearance operations in Kunduz province on Saturday night. In the meantime, the city of Kunduz has been completely cleared and 56 Taliban have been killed," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry added that 20 Afghan security forces and five civilians were killed and 85 civilians and soldiers were injured as a result of the military operation in Kunduz. On Sunday, the Afghan government also released information that parallel to the attack on Kunduz, the Taliban had launched an attack on the nearby city of Pul-i-Khumri, where clashes currently continue. Conflict-struck Afghanistan has long been torn by fighting between government troops and the Taliban, who earlier on Sunday concluded the ninth round of peace negotiations with the United States.

56 Taliban militants killed in military operation in Kunduz: Afghan Interior Ministry

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Sunday asked Poland's forgiveness for history's bloodiest conflict during a ceremony in the Polish city of Wielun, where the first <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/80-years-since-world-war-ii-timeline-of-worlds-deadliest-conflict-246168">World War II </a>bombs fell 80 years ago.

"I bow my head before the victims of the attack on Wielun. I bow my head before the Polish victims of Germany's tyranny. And I ask forgiveness," Steinmeier said in both German and Polish.

Poland suffered some of the worst horrors of World War II: nearly six million Poles died in the conflict that killed more than 50 million people overall.&nbsp;

That figure includes the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust, half of them Polish.

"It is the Germans who committed a crime against humanity in Poland. Anyone who claims it is over, that the national-socialists' reign of terror over Europe is a marginal event in German history judges that for himself," Steinmeier added in the presence of his Polish counterpart.

The line appeared to be a clear reference to the German far-right, whose co-leader Alexander Gauland once called the 12-year Third Reich a "speck of bird poop" in an otherwise glorious German past.

"We will never forget. We want to remember and we will remember," Steinmeier said.

Polish President Andrzej Duda for his part denounced Nazi Germany's attack on Poland, calling it "an act of barbarity" and "a war crime."

"I am convinced that this ceremony will go down in the history of Polish-German friendship," he added, thanking Steinmeier for his presence.

'Smoke, noise, explosions'

The heads of state will later tour the Wielun museum and meet with local survivors of the September 1, 1939 bombing.&nbsp;

"I saw dead bodies, the wounded... Smoke, noise, explosions. Everything was burning," Wielun bombing survivor Tadeusz Sierandt, 88, told AFP ahead of the anniversary.

The carpet-bombing came one week after Germany and the Soviet Union secretly agreed to carve up Eastern Europe between them by signing the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans attended a separate dawn remembrance Sunday in Westerplatte, where a Nazi German battleship opened fire on a Polish fort on September 1, 1939.&nbsp;

Hitler's attacks on Poland led Britain and France to declare war on Nazi Germany. On September 17, the Soviet Union in turn invaded Poland.

After the Nazis tore up the pact with Moscow, two alliances battled it out to the end: the Axis powers led by Germany, Italy and Japan and the victorious Allied forces led by Britain, the Soviet Union and the United States.&nbsp;

Later Sunday, US Vice President Mike Pence, Steinmeier and Duda will deliver speeches at a ceremony in Warsaw's Pilsudski Square, the site of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.&nbsp;

No Johnson, Putin, Trump

Though it has been 80 years since the war started, there are still unresolved matters according to Poland, which says Germany owes it war reparations.

A parliamentary commission is currently working on a new analysis of the extent of Poland's wartime human and material losses. Berlin, however, believes the case is closed.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will attend the Warsaw ceremony, but no other major world leaders are expected.

US President Donald Trump had planned to attend the war commemorations but cancelled at the last minute so that he could monitor Hurricane Dorian.&nbsp;

Also not attending are French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, while Russian President Vladimir Putin was not invited -- unlike 10 years ago -- because of Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

The Polish presidency had said the commemorations would be attended by around 40 foreign delegations, a few of them led by heads of state.

They include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky whose partnership matters to Poland, which believes its security depends on Ukraine remaining outside of Russia's sphere of influence.&nbsp;

Duda said Poland wants neighbour "Ukraine to be closer to the European Union, to be closer to NATO" after meeting with Zelensky in Warsaw on Saturday.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Sunday asked Poland's forgiveness for history's bloodiest conflict during a ceremony in the Polish city of Wielun, where the first World War II bombs fell 80 years ago.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Sunday asked Poland's forgiveness for history's bloodiest conflict during a ceremony in the Polish city of Wielun, where the first World War II bombs fell 80 years ago. "I bow my head before the victims of the attack on Wielun. I bow my head before the Polish victims of Germany's tyranny. And I ask forgiveness," Steinmeier said in both German and Polish. Poland suffered some of the worst horrors of World War II: nearly six million Poles died in the conflict that killed more than 50 million people overall. That figure includes the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust, half of them Polish. "It is the Germans who committed a crime against humanity in Poland. Anyone who claims it is over, that the national-socialists' reign of terror over Europe is a marginal event in German history judges that for himself," Steinmeier added in the presence of his Polish counterpart. The line appeared to be a clear reference to the German far-right, whose co-leader Alexander Gauland once called the 12-year Third Reich a "speck of bird poop" in an otherwise glorious German past. "We will never forget. We want to remember and we will remember," Steinmeier said. Polish President Andrzej Duda for his part denounced Nazi Germany's attack on Poland, calling it "an act of barbarity" and "a war crime." "I am convinced that this ceremony will go down in the history of Polish-German friendship," he added, thanking Steinmeier for his presence. 'Smoke, noise, explosions' The heads of state will later tour the Wielun museum and meet with local survivors of the September 1, 1939 bombing. "I saw dead bodies, the wounded... Smoke, noise, explosions. Everything was burning," Wielun bombing survivor Tadeusz Sierandt, 88, told AFP ahead of the anniversary. The carpet-bombing came one week after Germany and the Soviet Union secretly agreed to carve up Eastern Europe between them by signing the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans attended a separate dawn remembrance Sunday in Westerplatte, where a Nazi German battleship opened fire on a Polish fort on September 1, 1939. Hitler's attacks on Poland led Britain and France to declare war on Nazi Germany. On September 17, the Soviet Union in turn invaded Poland. After the Nazis tore up the pact with Moscow, two alliances battled it out to the end: the Axis powers led by Germany, Italy and Japan and the victorious Allied forces led by Britain, the Soviet Union and the United States. Later Sunday, US Vice President Mike Pence, Steinmeier and Duda will deliver speeches at a ceremony in Warsaw's Pilsudski Square, the site of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. No Johnson, Putin, Trump Though it has been 80 years since the war started, there are still unresolved matters according to Poland, which says Germany owes it war reparations. A parliamentary commission is currently working on a new analysis of the extent of Poland's wartime human and material losses. Berlin, however, believes the case is closed. German Chancellor Angela Merkel will attend the Warsaw ceremony, but no other major world leaders are expected. US President Donald Trump had planned to attend the war commemorations but cancelled at the last minute so that he could monitor Hurricane Dorian. Also not attending are French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, while Russian President Vladimir Putin was not invited -- unlike 10 years ago -- because of Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. The Polish presidency had said the commemorations would be attended by around 40 foreign delegations, a few of them led by heads of state. They include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky whose partnership matters to Poland, which believes its security depends on Ukraine remaining outside of Russia's sphere of influence. Duda said Poland wants neighbour "Ukraine to be closer to the European Union, to be closer to NATO" after meeting with Zelensky in Warsaw on Saturday.

Germany asks Polish forgiveness 80 years after WWII outbreak

Elections in two east German states on Sunday are set to yield a surge in support for the far right and raise the pressure on conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel`s Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partners to quit her government.

Both Merkel`s Christian Democrats (CDU) and the SPD are expected to lose support to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Brandenburg and Saxony.

But polls show that the SPD will be the bigger losers when the voting ends at 1600 GMT. Exit polls are due then.

The AfD is harnessing voter anger over refugees and the planned closure of coal mines in the two regions and cast themselves as the heirs of the demonstrators who brought about the fall of the Berlin Wall three decades ago.&nbsp;

The SPD is almost tied with the anti-immigrant AfD in Brandenburg, where an unprecedented victory for the far-right party would amplify leftist voices in the centre-left party who want out of the coalition to rebuild in opposition.

The latest poll put the Social Democrats on 22%, just 1 point ahead of the AfD in Brandenburg, the state neighbouring Poland that has been governed by the SPD since German reunification three decades ago.&nbsp;

"Earthquake in the east, earthquake in Berlin?," headlined the Munich-based Merkur newspaper. "A resounding (SPD) defeat in the east would be grist to the mill of critics (of the coalition)."

The SPD has been run by an interim leadership team since their leader stepped down in June after painful losses in the elections for the European Parliament and support for the party nationally is at a record low of about 15%.

SPD delegates are expected to elect a new leader in December and the party has promised members to assess the partnership with Merkel`s conservatives at the end of this year.

Cracks in coalition

A coalition breakdown could trigger a snap federal election before 2021, an unappealing option for the SPD given that national polls have put Merkel`s conservatives first, with the Greens close behind and the SPD trailing on a par with the AfD.

Another option would be a conservative minority government, anathema to stability-loving Germans.

To tame opponents of continuing to serve in Merkel`s government, SPD leaders could demand painful concessions from the conservatives, such as generous state pensions for low-income workers and higher taxes for the rich.

This would anger many conservatives who prefer tax relief for companies and widen cracks in an unwieldy coalition that has been weakened by disputes over asylum policy, tax and pensions.

"The coalition is no end in itself for us," Ralph Brinkhaus, conservative leader in the national parliament warned the SPD in an interview with Focus Magazine. "We as conservatives are surely not going to bend over backwards just to reach 2021."&nbsp;

Merkel`s CDU has widened their lead over the AfD in Saxony, where they have governed since 1990.

But support for the conservatives in the state of 4 million people on the border with Poland and the Czech Republic is expected to fall by more than 7 points to 32% as they lose voters to both the AfD and Greens.

A humiliating outcome in Saxony is likely to renew debate among conservatives about whether CDU leader and Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, aka AKK, is the right person to lead them into the next national election.

Kramp-Karrenbauer, widely seen as the most likely successor to Merkel who will not run as chancellor in the 2021 federal election, has seen her popularity slide since taking over as CDU leader last year after damaging gaffes.

"It`s going to be tough for AKK. She has to prove she is fit for the defence minister post. As CDU leader she would also be needed to deal with any SPD moves to leave the coalition," wrote the Berliner Morgenpost.

"Will her authority suffice? Her popularity is at the bottom and bad election results will lead to a discussion among conservatives about her future," the newspaper added.&nbsp;

Elections in two east German states on Sunday are set to yield a surge in support for the far right and raise the pressure on conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel`s Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partners to quit her government.

Elections in two east German states on Sunday are set to yield a surge in support for the far right and raise the pressure on conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel`s Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partners to quit her government. Both Merkel`s Christian Democrats (CDU) and the SPD are expected to lose support to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Brandenburg and Saxony. But polls show that the SPD will be the bigger losers when the voting ends at 1600 GMT. Exit polls are due then. The AfD is harnessing voter anger over refugees and the planned closure of coal mines in the two regions and cast themselves as the heirs of the demonstrators who brought about the fall of the Berlin Wall three decades ago. The SPD is almost tied with the anti-immigrant AfD in Brandenburg, where an unprecedented victory for the far-right party would amplify leftist voices in the centre-left party who want out of the coalition to rebuild in opposition. The latest poll put the Social Democrats on 22%, just 1 point ahead of the AfD in Brandenburg, the state neighbouring Poland that has been governed by the SPD since German reunification three decades ago. "Earthquake in the east, earthquake in Berlin?," headlined the Munich-based Merkur newspaper. "A resounding (SPD) defeat in the east would be grist to the mill of critics (of the coalition)." The SPD has been run by an interim leadership team since their leader stepped down in June after painful losses in the elections for the European Parliament and support for the party nationally is at a record low of about 15%. SPD delegates are expected to elect a new leader in December and the party has promised members to assess the partnership with Merkel`s conservatives at the end of this year. Cracks in coalition A coalition breakdown could trigger a snap federal election before 2021, an unappealing option for the SPD given that national polls have put Merkel`s conservatives first, with the Greens close behind and the SPD trailing on a par with the AfD. Another option would be a conservative minority government, anathema to stability-loving Germans. To tame opponents of continuing to serve in Merkel`s government, SPD leaders could demand painful concessions from the conservatives, such as generous state pensions for low-income workers and higher taxes for the rich. This would anger many conservatives who prefer tax relief for companies and widen cracks in an unwieldy coalition that has been weakened by disputes over asylum policy, tax and pensions. "The coalition is no end in itself for us," Ralph Brinkhaus, conservative leader in the national parliament warned the SPD in an interview with Focus Magazine. "We as conservatives are surely not going to bend over backwards just to reach 2021." Merkel`s CDU has widened their lead over the AfD in Saxony, where they have governed since 1990. But support for the conservatives in the state of 4 million people on the border with Poland and the Czech Republic is expected to fall by more than 7 points to 32% as they lose voters to both the AfD and Greens. A humiliating outcome in Saxony is likely to renew debate among conservatives about whether CDU leader and Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, aka AKK, is the right person to lead them into the next national election. Kramp-Karrenbauer, widely seen as the most likely successor to Merkel who will not run as chancellor in the 2021 federal election, has seen her popularity slide since taking over as CDU leader last year after damaging gaffes. "It`s going to be tough for AKK. She has to prove she is fit for the defence minister post. As CDU leader she would also be needed to deal with any SPD moves to leave the coalition," wrote the Berliner Morgenpost. "Will her authority suffice? Her popularity is at the bottom and bad election results will lead to a discussion among conservatives about her future," the newspaper added.

'Earthquake' elections in east Germany could jolt Merkel's coalition

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Zee News Rajasthan

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