Lawyers for a man who is also under investigation in the 2007 disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann called on Monday for him to be acquitted in his trial on charges of unrelated sexual offenses.

Prosecutors last week urged the Braunschweig state court to convict the 47-year-old German national, who has been identified by local media as Christian Brueckner, of two counts of rape and two of sexual abuse. They argued that he should be given a 15-year-prison sentence and kept in preventive detention once he has served it, though they said he should be acquitted of a third rape charge.

However, the defendant’s defence team said on Monday that an acquittal would be the right outcome. Lawyer Friedrich Fülscher told the court that “there was never a sufficient suspicion” against his client, the German dpa news agency reported.

A verdict was scheduled for Tuesday.

Brueckner has been on trial since February over offences he is alleged to have committed in Portugal between 2000 and 2017. Defence lawyers pointed to what they labelled a lack of evidence and witnesses who weren’t credible, and Fülscher suggested he might not have been charged if he hadn’t also been a suspect in the McCann case.

The suspect has not been charged in the McCann case, in which he is under investigation on suspicion of murder. He spent many years in Portugal, including in the resort of Praia da Luz around the time of Madeleine’s disappearance there in 2007. He has denied any involvement in her disappearance.

He is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for a rape in Portugal in 2005. Fülscher said he would seek to have that case reopened, citing new facts that emerged from the current trial, dpa reported.

In July, the court lifted an arrest warrant in the cases at stake in the current trial, citing a lack of “urgent suspicion” against the defendant. But he has remained behind bars because of the sentence he is currently serving.

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.

Lawyers for a man who is also under investigation in the 2007 disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann called on Monday for him to be acquitted in his trial on charges of unrelated sexual offenses.

Lawyers for a man who is also under investigation in the 2007 disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann called on Monday for him to be acquitted in his trial on charges of unrelated sexual offenses. Prosecutors last week urged the Braunschweig state court to convict the 47-year-old German national, who has been identified by local media as Christian Brueckner, of two counts of rape and two of sexual abuse. They argued that he should be given a 15-year-prison sentence and kept in preventive detention once he has served it, though they said he should be acquitted of a third rape charge. However, the defendant’s defence team said on Monday that an acquittal would be the right outcome. Lawyer Friedrich Fülscher told the court that “there was never a sufficient suspicion” against his client, the German dpa news agency reported. A verdict was scheduled for Tuesday. Brueckner has been on trial since February over offences he is alleged to have committed in Portugal between 2000 and 2017. Defence lawyers pointed to what they labelled a lack of evidence and witnesses who weren’t credible, and Fülscher suggested he might not have been charged if he hadn’t also been a suspect in the McCann case. The suspect has not been charged in the McCann case, in which he is under investigation on suspicion of murder. He spent many years in Portugal, including in the resort of Praia da Luz around the time of Madeleine’s disappearance there in 2007. He has denied any involvement in her disappearance. He is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for a rape in Portugal in 2005. Fülscher said he would seek to have that case reopened, citing new facts that emerged from the current trial, dpa reported. In July, the court lifted an arrest warrant in the cases at stake in the current trial, citing a lack of “urgent suspicion” against the defendant. But he has remained behind bars because of the sentence he is currently serving. 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.

German court acquits McCann case suspect of unrelated sexual offense charges

A Russian missile hit a Palau-flagged vessel in Ukraine’s southern port of Odessa on Monday, killing a Ukrainian national and injuring five crew members in the second such attack in as many days, officials said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X that the two ships were damaged in the Black Sea grain-export hub without giving details on the ships' conditions. He condemned Russia's actions.

"We must join forces of all responsible states and organisations to...ensure freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and global food security."

Russia's defence ministry did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Moscow has repeatedly denied it attacks civilian targets.

Odessa regional governor Oleh Kiper, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said the man killed in the latest attack was a port worker. The five injured men were foreign nationals and ship crew members.

Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba identified the vessel as the Optima and said it arrived in Odessa hours before the attack.

Russia "is attempting in this way to destroy shipping in the Black Sea guaranteeing food security. The consequences can only mean greater instability in sensitive regions dependent on food imports and tension in international relations," Kuleba said.

Ukraine's Restoration Ministry identified the ship attacked on Sunday in the nearby port of Pivdennyi as the Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged Paresa which had a cargo of 6,000 tonnes of corn.

In a Facebook post, the ministry said the Paresa's 15-member crew, Syrian and Egyptian nationals, was not injured.

The ministry said the Paresa was the 20th civilian vessel to be damaged by Russian attacks.

Last month, the Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged bulk carrier Aya was hit by a Russian missile in the Black Sea. Another vessel, an Antigua-flagged carrier, was damaged in a Russian missile strike in Odessa.

Russia has struck the port repeatedly in the war since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

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.

A Russian missile hit a Palau-flagged vessel in Ukraine’s southern port of Odessa on Monday, killing a Ukrainian national and injuring five crew members in the second such attack in as many days, officials said.

A Russian missile hit a Palau-flagged vessel in Ukraine’s southern port of Odessa on Monday, killing a Ukrainian national and injuring five crew members in the second such attack in as many days, officials said. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X that the two ships were damaged in the Black Sea grain-export hub without giving details on the ships' conditions. He condemned Russia's actions. "We must join forces of all responsible states and organisations to...ensure freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and global food security." Russia's defence ministry did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Moscow has repeatedly denied it attacks civilian targets. Odessa regional governor Oleh Kiper, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said the man killed in the latest attack was a port worker. The five injured men were foreign nationals and ship crew members. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba identified the vessel as the Optima and said it arrived in Odessa hours before the attack. Russia "is attempting in this way to destroy shipping in the Black Sea guaranteeing food security. The consequences can only mean greater instability in sensitive regions dependent on food imports and tension in international relations," Kuleba said. Ukraine's Restoration Ministry identified the ship attacked on Sunday in the nearby port of Pivdennyi as the Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged Paresa which had a cargo of 6,000 tonnes of corn. In a Facebook post, the ministry said the Paresa's 15-member crew, Syrian and Egyptian nationals, was not injured. The ministry said the Paresa was the 20th civilian vessel to be damaged by Russian attacks. Last month, the Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged bulk carrier Aya was hit by a Russian missile in the Black Sea. Another vessel, an Antigua-flagged carrier, was damaged in a Russian missile strike in Odessa. Russia has struck the port repeatedly in the war since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. 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.

Russian missiles strike Ukraine’s two Black Sea grain vessels, Foreign Minister condemned the act

Haiti's foreign minister on Monday blasted a policy announced last week by the neighboring Dominican Republic to deport tens of thousands of migrants back to Haiti, where gang violence is fueling a devastating humanitarian crisis.

"The brutal scenes of roundups and deportations that we are witnessing are an affront to human dignity," Haitian Foreign Minister Dominique Dupuy said on X. "We strongly condemn these dehumanizing acts and demand respect and justice."

The Dominican Republic, which shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with Haiti, last week said it would deport up to 10,000 migrants per week who were in the country illegally, a sharp increase.

So far this month, the Dominican Republic has deported more than 9,000 people, more than 7,000 of those since Thursday, the nation's migration agency said in a statement on Monday.

More than 4,900 of the total were Haitians, a Dominican official who declined to be named told Reuters.

The Dominican agency said it was carrying out the deportations while respecting human rights.

The Dominican government blames Haiti's chaos for crime and security problems on the Dominican part of the island, and says it has lost patience with the slow progress of an international security mission mandated to help resolve Haiti's crisis.

The United Nations has asked countries in the region to halt deportations of Haitians home to a situation of danger.

If the Dominican Republic follows through on its plan, the number deported in a year would rise sharply from more than 200,000 Haitians forcibly returned last year.&nbsp;

Dupuy said the Dominican policy contravenes human rights standards and she had alerted relevant international bodies.

Her statement followed unverified video on social media that appeared to show a crowd running away from Dominican officials near Punta Cana, a popular tourist resort.

Dominican media on Monday reported that Haitian construction workers there were protesting to demand their employers provide work permits so they are not deported.

William Charpentier, who heads the Dominican Republic's National Bureau for Migration and Refugees, a rights-focused association of civil organizations, told CNN on Sunday that deporting over 1,000 people a day would give the immigration system too little time to consider individual cases and that mass deportations violated international law.&nbsp;

"We understand that the government has every right to deport people who are in its territory without papers, but this right has a limit," he said.

In the United States, presidential candidate Donald Trump has also pledged mass deportations and has made false claims about Haitian migrants in the town of Springfield, Ohio.

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.

Haiti's foreign minister on Monday blasted a policy announced last week by the neighboring Dominican Republic to deport tens of thousands of migrants back to Haiti, where gang violence is fueling a devastating humanitarian crisis.

Haiti's foreign minister on Monday blasted a policy announced last week by the neighboring Dominican Republic to deport tens of thousands of migrants back to Haiti, where gang violence is fueling a devastating humanitarian crisis. "The brutal scenes of roundups and deportations that we are witnessing are an affront to human dignity," Haitian Foreign Minister Dominique Dupuy said on X. "We strongly condemn these dehumanizing acts and demand respect and justice." The Dominican Republic, which shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with Haiti, last week said it would deport up to 10,000 migrants per week who were in the country illegally, a sharp increase. So far this month, the Dominican Republic has deported more than 9,000 people, more than 7,000 of those since Thursday, the nation's migration agency said in a statement on Monday. More than 4,900 of the total were Haitians, a Dominican official who declined to be named told Reuters. The Dominican agency said it was carrying out the deportations while respecting human rights. The Dominican government blames Haiti's chaos for crime and security problems on the Dominican part of the island, and says it has lost patience with the slow progress of an international security mission mandated to help resolve Haiti's crisis. The United Nations has asked countries in the region to halt deportations of Haitians home to a situation of danger. If the Dominican Republic follows through on its plan, the number deported in a year would rise sharply from more than 200,000 Haitians forcibly returned last year. Dupuy said the Dominican policy contravenes human rights standards and she had alerted relevant international bodies. Her statement followed unverified video on social media that appeared to show a crowd running away from Dominican officials near Punta Cana, a popular tourist resort. Dominican media on Monday reported that Haitian construction workers there were protesting to demand their employers provide work permits so they are not deported. William Charpentier, who heads the Dominican Republic's National Bureau for Migration and Refugees, a rights-focused association of civil organizations, told CNN on Sunday that deporting over 1,000 people a day would give the immigration system too little time to consider individual cases and that mass deportations violated international law. "We understand that the government has every right to deport people who are in its territory without papers, but this right has a limit," he said. In the United States, presidential candidate Donald Trump has also pledged mass deportations and has made false claims about Haitian migrants in the town of Springfield, Ohio. 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.

Haiti’s foreign minister condemns Dominican Republic’s policy to deport 10,000 migrants back to Haiti weekly

The death toll from a devastating storm that battered the southeastern United States climbed to at least 130 on Monday, as the disaster became a hot topic in an already bitter election campaign, with the White House angrily refuting claims it had been slow to respond.

With hundreds still unaccounted for across several southeastern US states and the death toll climbing, President Joe Biden announced he would travel to storm-ravaged North Carolina Wednesday to monitor rescue efforts.

Biden also accused former president Donald Trump of spreading lies, after the Republican presidential candidate charged, without evidence, that the federal government was ignoring the disaster brought on by Hurricane Helene and denying help to his supporters.&nbsp;

"He's lying," Biden told reporters in the Oval Office, adding that he had spoken to North Carolina governor Ray Cooper "and he told him he's lying. I don't know why he does it... that's simply not true, and it's irresponsible."

Later on CNN, Cooper, a Democrat, said when asked about Trump's accusations of Republican victims being ignored: "It makes no difference who you are. If you need help, we are going to provide it.&nbsp;

"And if there is ever a time where we all need to come together and put politics aside, it is now."

At least 130 people were killed by the storm and associated flooding -- 57 in North Carolina, 29 in South Carolina, 25 in Georgia, 14 in Florida, four in Tennessee and one in Virginia, according to tallies from local authorities and media reports compiled by AFP.

Emergency workers continued a grim search for hundreds of people still unaccounted for across the affected states, where torrential rains brought widespread havoc.

They also worked to restore water and power supply to the affected areas as well as cell phone service, remove fallen trees, deliver supplies and register people for disaster assistance.

- Biden accused of 'sleeping' -

With Biden preparing to head to North Carolina, Trump on Monday visited Georgia, another epicenter of the destruction -- and both are among the key swing states where the US election will be decided in just five weeks' time.

In the city of Valdosta, Trump vowed to "bring lots of relief material, including fuel, equipment, water, and other things" to those in need.

"The federal government is not being responsive," he told reporters. "The vice president, she's out someplace, campaigning, looking for money," he said, referring to his election rival, Vice President Kamala Harris.

"We're not talking about politics now," he said later, wearing a bright red "Make America Great Again" hat while standing in the rubble of a furniture store.

Harris canceled campaign events to return to Washington Monday for a briefing on the federal response.

"Over the past few days, our nation has endured some of the worst destruction and devastation that we have seen in quite some time," Harris said afterwards.

"And we have responded with our best, with the best folks who are on the ground and here doing the kind of work that is about rising to a moment of crisis."

Responding to Trump's criticism that he was "sleeping" instead of dealing with the storm damage, Biden defended his decision to spend the weekend at his home in Delaware, saying he was working "the whole time."

When a major natural disaster hits the United States, the federal government responds at the request of states. A president's role is usually to oversee and coordinate aid, including funding.

Scientists say climate change likely plays a role in the rapid intensification of hurricanes, because there is more energy in warmer oceans for them to feed on, and Biden stressed as much Monday.

"Absolutely, positively, unequivocally, yes, yes, yes, yes," Biden told reporters in the Oval Office when asked if climate change was to blame for the trail of destruction left by the storm.

- Drowned in their homes -

The sheriff's office in Pinellas County, Florida published a grim litany of the nine people left dead there so far, almost all of whom were found in their homes.

Nearly all appeared to have drowned, it said, while the others were buried under debris.

In Georgia, residents faced power cuts, supply shortages, blocked roads and broken communication lines in often mountainous terrain, with Governor Brian Kemp describing the storm as a "250-mile wide tornado."

More than 1.6 million households and businesses remained without power on Monday, according to tracker poweroutage.us.

Cooper, the North Carolina governor, said Monday that hundreds of roads had been destroyed and many communities were "wiped off the map."

"This is an unprecedented storm," he told reporters. &nbsp;"The emotional and physical toll here is indescribable."

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&nbsp;WION&nbsp;audience.

The death toll from a devastating storm that battered the southeastern United States climbed to at least 130 on Monday, as the disaster became a hot topic in an already bitter election campaign, with the White House angrily refuting claims it had been slow to respond.

The death toll from a devastating storm that battered the southeastern United States climbed to at least 130 on Monday, as the disaster became a hot topic in an already bitter election campaign, with the White House angrily refuting claims it had been slow to respond. With hundreds still unaccounted for across several southeastern US states and the death toll climbing, President Joe Biden announced he would travel to storm-ravaged North Carolina Wednesday to monitor rescue efforts. Biden also accused former president Donald Trump of spreading lies, after the Republican presidential candidate charged, without evidence, that the federal government was ignoring the disaster brought on by Hurricane Helene and denying help to his supporters. "He's lying," Biden told reporters in the Oval Office, adding that he had spoken to North Carolina governor Ray Cooper "and he told him he's lying. I don't know why he does it... that's simply not true, and it's irresponsible." Later on CNN, Cooper, a Democrat, said when asked about Trump's accusations of Republican victims being ignored: "It makes no difference who you are. If you need help, we are going to provide it. "And if there is ever a time where we all need to come together and put politics aside, it is now." At least 130 people were killed by the storm and associated flooding -- 57 in North Carolina, 29 in South Carolina, 25 in Georgia, 14 in Florida, four in Tennessee and one in Virginia, according to tallies from local authorities and media reports compiled by AFP. Emergency workers continued a grim search for hundreds of people still unaccounted for across the affected states, where torrential rains brought widespread havoc. They also worked to restore water and power supply to the affected areas as well as cell phone service, remove fallen trees, deliver supplies and register people for disaster assistance. - Biden accused of 'sleeping' - With Biden preparing to head to North Carolina, Trump on Monday visited Georgia, another epicenter of the destruction -- and both are among the key swing states where the US election will be decided in just five weeks' time. In the city of Valdosta, Trump vowed to "bring lots of relief material, including fuel, equipment, water, and other things" to those in need. "The federal government is not being responsive," he told reporters. "The vice president, she's out someplace, campaigning, looking for money," he said, referring to his election rival, Vice President Kamala Harris. "We're not talking about politics now," he said later, wearing a bright red "Make America Great Again" hat while standing in the rubble of a furniture store. Harris canceled campaign events to return to Washington Monday for a briefing on the federal response. "Over the past few days, our nation has endured some of the worst destruction and devastation that we have seen in quite some time," Harris said afterwards. "And we have responded with our best, with the best folks who are on the ground and here doing the kind of work that is about rising to a moment of crisis." Responding to Trump's criticism that he was "sleeping" instead of dealing with the storm damage, Biden defended his decision to spend the weekend at his home in Delaware, saying he was working "the whole time." When a major natural disaster hits the United States, the federal government responds at the request of states. A president's role is usually to oversee and coordinate aid, including funding. Scientists say climate change likely plays a role in the rapid intensification of hurricanes, because there is more energy in warmer oceans for them to feed on, and Biden stressed as much Monday. "Absolutely, positively, unequivocally, yes, yes, yes, yes," Biden told reporters in the Oval Office when asked if climate change was to blame for the trail of destruction left by the storm. - Drowned in their homes - The sheriff's office in Pinellas County, Florida published a grim litany of the nine people left dead there so far, almost all of whom were found in their homes. Nearly all appeared to have drowned, it said, while the others were buried under debris. In Georgia, residents faced power cuts, supply shortages, blocked roads and broken communication lines in often mountainous terrain, with Governor Brian Kemp describing the storm as a "250-mile wide tornado." More than 1.6 million households and businesses remained without power on Monday, according to tracker poweroutage.us. Cooper, the North Carolina governor, said Monday that hundreds of roads had been destroyed and many communities were "wiped off the map." "This is an unprecedented storm," he told reporters. "The emotional and physical toll here is indescribable." 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.

130 dead from Hurricane Helene, Biden announced his visit to storm-hit North Carolina amid Trump controversy

Ryan Routh, the 58-year-old man accused of plotting to kill Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at his Florida golf course, pleaded not guilty on Monday to several federal charges.

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His lawyer Kristy Militello entered the not guilty plea during a brief arraignment in a West Palm Beach federal courthouse and requested a jury trial.

Wearing a beige prison uniform and shackles on his wrists and ankles, Routh answered "yes, your honor," when the magistrate judge asked him if he was aware of the charges against him.

Routh was arrested on September 15 after a Secret Service agent saw the barrel of a rifle poking out from brush on the perimeter of the West Palm Beach golf course where Trump was playing a round.

The agent opened fire and Routh, who fled in a vehicle, was arrested shortly later.

He has been charged with attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and firearms offenses.

A federal judge ruled last week that Routh, identified as a Hawaii resident, should remain in custody.

FBI analysis of Routh's phone showed he had been in Florida since August 18, and his devices were located multiple times between that date and September 15 near Trump's golf course and his Mar-a-Lago residence, according to prosecutors.

Before being spotted by the Secret Service agent, Routh spent nearly 12 hours in the vicinity of the Trump International Golf Club, according to his phone location data.

Court documents said Routh allegedly dropped off a box at an unidentified person's home several months before the attempted assassination containing various letters.

One letter, addressed to "The World," allegedly said: "This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you."

"I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster," it said. "It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job."

It was the second assassination attempt on Trump this summer. The first took place on July 13 at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman opened fire on the former president, killing one person and wounding Trump in the ear.

The candidate was otherwise unharmed, and the gunman was killed at the scene.

The Routh case has been assigned at random to federal District Judge Aileen Cannon -- a Trump appointee who dismissed criminal proceedings against the former president earlier this year over his retention of top-secret documents at his private residence.

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&nbsp;WION&nbsp;audience.

Ryan Routh, the 58-year-old man accused of plotting to kill Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at his Florida golf course, pleaded not guilty on Monday to several federal charges.

Ryan Routh, the 58-year-old man accused of plotting to kill Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at his Florida golf course, pleaded not guilty on Monday to several federal charges. His lawyer Kristy Militello entered the not guilty plea during a brief arraignment in a West Palm Beach federal courthouse and requested a jury trial. Wearing a beige prison uniform and shackles on his wrists and ankles, Routh answered "yes, your honor," when the magistrate judge asked him if he was aware of the charges against him. Routh was arrested on September 15 after a Secret Service agent saw the barrel of a rifle poking out from brush on the perimeter of the West Palm Beach golf course where Trump was playing a round. The agent opened fire and Routh, who fled in a vehicle, was arrested shortly later. He has been charged with attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and firearms offenses. A federal judge ruled last week that Routh, identified as a Hawaii resident, should remain in custody. FBI analysis of Routh's phone showed he had been in Florida since August 18, and his devices were located multiple times between that date and September 15 near Trump's golf course and his Mar-a-Lago residence, according to prosecutors. Before being spotted by the Secret Service agent, Routh spent nearly 12 hours in the vicinity of the Trump International Golf Club, according to his phone location data. Court documents said Routh allegedly dropped off a box at an unidentified person's home several months before the attempted assassination containing various letters. One letter, addressed to "The World," allegedly said: "This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you." "I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster," it said. "It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job." It was the second assassination attempt on Trump this summer. The first took place on July 13 at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman opened fire on the former president, killing one person and wounding Trump in the ear. The candidate was otherwise unharmed, and the gunman was killed at the scene. The Routh case has been assigned at random to federal District Judge Aileen Cannon -- a Trump appointee who dismissed criminal proceedings against the former president earlier this year over his retention of top-secret documents at his private residence. 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.

Ryan Routh, accused of plotting to kill Donald Trump in Florida, pleads not guilty to federal charges

Two persons were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly placing an iron rail piece on a railway track in an attempt to derail a train for robbing passengers in Gujarat's Botad district, police said.

The accused, Ramesh Salia and Jayesh Bavalia, allegedly placed a four to five-foot-long iron rail piece vertically on the track near Kundli village on September 25, an official said.

The duo allegedly planned to derail coaches and rob passengers as they were facing financial difficulties, he said. Botad is around 150 km from Ahmedabad.

As per a release issued by the Botad district police, the accused watched YouTube videos about ways to derail trains before committing the crime.

The engine of the Okha-Bhavnagar passenger train came to a halt after hitting the iron rail piece in the early hours of September 25. The accused, who are farm labourers, were lying in wait in a cotton field nearby, they said.

However, when their plan failed, they fled on their two-wheeler, police said.

Considering the serious nature of the crime, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) were called in for the probe with the local police teams, police said.

The police used technical surveillance and human intelligence to zero in on the two men, who went into hiding, they said.

The duo were subsequently apprehended and interrogated, police said.

The men were booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, Railways Act and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, the release said.

The incident came a few days after three railway employees were arrested in Surat district for alleged track tampering and alerting authorities about a "sabotage attempt" to take credit for averting a possible tragedy.

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&nbsp;WION&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

Two persons were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly placing an iron rail piece on a railway track in an attempt to derail a train for robbing passengers in Gujarat's Botad district, police said.

Two persons were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly placing an iron rail piece on a railway track in an attempt to derail a train for robbing passengers in Gujarat's Botad district, police said. The accused, Ramesh Salia and Jayesh Bavalia, allegedly placed a four to five-foot-long iron rail piece vertically on the track near Kundli village on September 25, an official said. The duo allegedly planned to derail coaches and rob passengers as they were facing financial difficulties, he said. Botad is around 150 km from Ahmedabad. As per a release issued by the Botad district police, the accused watched YouTube videos about ways to derail trains before committing the crime. The engine of the Okha-Bhavnagar passenger train came to a halt after hitting the iron rail piece in the early hours of September 25. The accused, who are farm labourers, were lying in wait in a cotton field nearby, they said. However, when their plan failed, they fled on their two-wheeler, police said. Considering the serious nature of the crime, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) were called in for the probe with the local police teams, police said. The police used technical surveillance and human intelligence to zero in on the two men, who went into hiding, they said. The duo were subsequently apprehended and interrogated, police said. The men were booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, Railways Act and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, the release said. The incident came a few days after three railway employees were arrested in Surat district for alleged track tampering and alerting authorities about a "sabotage attempt" to take credit for averting a possible tragedy. 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.

India: Two people detained for attempting to derail train for robbing passengers

Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, on Tuesday, announced that the SIT investigation into the Tirupati laddoo prasadam case will be suspended until October 3, due to the ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court.

The SIT was formed to investigate the sensitive case, and the suspension is a precautionary measure to ensure the investigation's integrity

Rao clarified that the investigation will resume after the Supreme Court issues its directives on October 3. The decision to form the SIT was made considering the severity of the case, and the temporary suspension is necessary to avoid any potential legal complications.

The SIT's investigation will proceed according to the Supreme Court's guidance, ensuring a fair and impartial inquiry.

The Supreme Court on Monday questioned Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for making public allegations about the use of adulterated ghee in the preparation of laddoos, which were served as prasadam at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan criticised the chief minister, saying there is no conclusive proof yet to substantiate that contaminated ghee was used in preparation of prasadam laddoos.

It questioned the need to make a public statement on the issue when a probe had already been ordered by the state into the allegations.

The bench also asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, to seek instructions from the Central government on whether an independent investigation is required and posted the matter to October 3 at 3.30 pm.

"We are prima facie of the view that when the investigation was under process, it was not appropriate for the high constitutional authority to make a statement that can affect the sentiments of crores of people. In that view of the matter, we find that it would be appropriate if the Solicitor General assists us on whether the SIT by the state should continue or the investigation should be by an independent agency," said the bench in it's order.

The apex court was hearing a batch of petitions seeking court-monitored investigation into the allegations of use of animal fat to make laddoos to serve as prasadam at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh, where Lord Venkateswara is worshipped.

During the hearing, the top court asked the Andhra Pradesh government whether the alleged adulterated laddoos had been sent for testing.

Senior advocate Siddhartha Luthra, appearing for Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), said that there were complaints regarding the quality of laddoos and possible contamination. He also said that the lab report of the NDDB showed contamination and the nature of contamination was under inquiry.

The top court was hearing petitions filed by former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, and ex TTD Chairman YV Subba Reddy, Surjit Singh Yadav, President of non government organisation Hindu Sena Samiti, historian Dr. Vikram Sampath, chairman managing director (CMD) and the editor-in-chief of Sudarshan, Suresh Chavhanke and others.

The petitions sought court-monitored investigation into the allegations levelled by TDP-led Andhra Pradesh government regarding use of adulterated ghee in preparation of laddoos at the Tirumala Tirupati Temple during the previous YSRCP regime.

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Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, on Tuesday, announced that the SIT investigation into the Tirupati laddoo prasadam case will be suspended until October 3, due to the ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court.

Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, on Tuesday, announced that the SIT investigation into the Tirupati laddoo prasadam case will be suspended until October 3, due to the ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court. The SIT was formed to investigate the sensitive case, and the suspension is a precautionary measure to ensure the investigation's integrity Rao clarified that the investigation will resume after the Supreme Court issues its directives on October 3. The decision to form the SIT was made considering the severity of the case, and the temporary suspension is necessary to avoid any potential legal complications. The SIT's investigation will proceed according to the Supreme Court's guidance, ensuring a fair and impartial inquiry. The Supreme Court on Monday questioned Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for making public allegations about the use of adulterated ghee in the preparation of laddoos, which were served as prasadam at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan criticised the chief minister, saying there is no conclusive proof yet to substantiate that contaminated ghee was used in preparation of prasadam laddoos. It questioned the need to make a public statement on the issue when a probe had already been ordered by the state into the allegations. The bench also asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, to seek instructions from the Central government on whether an independent investigation is required and posted the matter to October 3 at 3.30 pm. "We are prima facie of the view that when the investigation was under process, it was not appropriate for the high constitutional authority to make a statement that can affect the sentiments of crores of people. In that view of the matter, we find that it would be appropriate if the Solicitor General assists us on whether the SIT by the state should continue or the investigation should be by an independent agency," said the bench in it's order. The apex court was hearing a batch of petitions seeking court-monitored investigation into the allegations of use of animal fat to make laddoos to serve as prasadam at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh, where Lord Venkateswara is worshipped. During the hearing, the top court asked the Andhra Pradesh government whether the alleged adulterated laddoos had been sent for testing. Senior advocate Siddhartha Luthra, appearing for Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), said that there were complaints regarding the quality of laddoos and possible contamination. He also said that the lab report of the NDDB showed contamination and the nature of contamination was under inquiry. The top court was hearing petitions filed by former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, and ex TTD Chairman YV Subba Reddy, Surjit Singh Yadav, President of non government organisation Hindu Sena Samiti, historian Dr. Vikram Sampath, chairman managing director (CMD) and the editor-in-chief of Sudarshan, Suresh Chavhanke and others. The petitions sought court-monitored investigation into the allegations levelled by TDP-led Andhra Pradesh government regarding use of adulterated ghee in preparation of laddoos at the Tirumala Tirupati Temple during the previous YSRCP regime. 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.

Amid Supreme Court hearing, SIT investigation into Tirupati laddoo prasadam case suspended till Oct 3

Dockworkers at major ports along the US East and Gulf Coasts went on strike Tuesday after last-minute negotiations yielded no new labour contract, a stoppage expected to drag on the world's largest economy just ahead of the November presidential election.

The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) said the walkout by its workers marks the first "coast wide strike in almost 50 years".&nbsp;

The shutdown would halt shipments of an array of goods from food to electronics and could cost the US economy billions of dollars a week.

"We are prepared to fight as long as necessary, to stay out on strike for whatever period of time it takes, to get the wages and protections against automation our ILA members deserve," Harold Daggett, who heads the 85,000-member union, said in a statement.

The ILA said it had "shut down all ports from Maine to Texas at 12:01 am on Tuesday" after it rejected a final proposal from the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) shipping group.&nbsp;

"USMX brought on this strike when they decided to hold firm to foreign-owned Ocean Carriers earning billion-dollar profits" without compensating "workers who perform the labor that brings them their wealth," Daggett said.

USMX did not respond to a request for comment

ILA members began walking the picket lines at 14 major ports on the East and Gulf coasts soon after the announcement.&nbsp;

In Boston, dockworkers marched to the port carrying signs that read "no work without a fair contract," videos shared on social media showed.&nbsp;

CNN broadcast similar images from Philadelphia, while a New York Times video showed Daggett addressing workers on the picket lines.

"We are making history," he said in New Jersey, as dockworkers held signs saying "Profit over people is unacceptable."&nbsp;

A possible stoppage had been telegraphed for months, with the odds rising in recent weeks as the two sides described themselves as far apart.

USMX said on Monday it was "hopeful" after the two sides exchanged counter-offers. However, there was still no deal when the six-year contract expired at midnight.

The walkout marks the ILA's first since 1977 and follows other high-profile strikes at US automakers, Boeing and other employers.&nbsp;

The contract directly affects about 25,000 ILA members at 14 large US ports, including New York/New Jersey, Boston, Philadelphia, Savannah, New Orleans and Houston.

Oxford Economics estimated that the strike would dent US gross domestic product by $4.5 billion to $7.5 billion per week. The overall economic hit depends on the length of the strike, analysts say.

A lengthy strike could also pose political challenges.

US President Joe Biden, a close ally of organised labour, has so far ruled out federal intervention, citing the need to respect collective bargaining rights.

But business lobbies are sure to amplify calls for action if the strike drags out.

<h2>- Fighting automation -</h2>

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on Monday port officials were scrambling to clear out as many items as possible before the impending stoppage.&nbsp;

Other ports, such as New Orleans and Savannah, had offered extended hours in recent days ahead of the deadline.

The union is pressing for protections against automation-related job loss and for hefty wage hikes after dockworkers kept providing essential services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

USMX said Monday its latest offer would "increase wages by nearly 50 percent, triple employer contributions to employee retirement plans, strengthen our health care options, and retain the current language around automation and semi-automation."

Media reports say the ILA is asking for a 77 per cent wage increase over six years.

"A port strike would paralyze US trade and raise prices at a time when consumers and businesses are starting to feel relief from inflation," said Erin McLaughlin, senior economist at the Conference Board.

"There's no easy Plan B. While shippers have already begun diverting some cargo to the West Coast, capacity for such alternative options are limited."

New York officials emphasized that any strike would not lead to shortages of basic goods.

"We don't anticipate shortages of essential goods anytime soon," Hochul said. "People do not need to rush out to the grocery store and stockpile goods like they did during the pandemic."

Hochul noted that pharmaceutical products would not be affected because they are typically flown in and not sent by ship. State officials are monitoring other medical supplies but stockpiles were adequate for the foreseeable future, she said.

However, Hochul cited automobiles and semiconductors as items that could be affected more quickly. She also said a lengthy strike could limit the availability of fresh foods such as bananas.

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&nbsp;WION&nbsp;audience.

Dockworkers at major ports along the US East and Gulf Coasts went on strike Tuesday after last-minute negotiations yielded no new labour contract, a stoppage expected to drag on the world's largest economy just ahead of the November presidential election.

Dockworkers at major ports along the US East and Gulf Coasts went on strike Tuesday after last-minute negotiations yielded no new labour contract, a stoppage expected to drag on the world's largest economy just ahead of the November presidential election. The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) said the walkout by its workers marks the first "coast wide strike in almost 50 years". The shutdown would halt shipments of an array of goods from food to electronics and could cost the US economy billions of dollars a week. "We are prepared to fight as long as necessary, to stay out on strike for whatever period of time it takes, to get the wages and protections against automation our ILA members deserve," Harold Daggett, who heads the 85,000-member union, said in a statement. The ILA said it had "shut down all ports from Maine to Texas at 12:01 am on Tuesday" after it rejected a final proposal from the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) shipping group. "USMX brought on this strike when they decided to hold firm to foreign-owned Ocean Carriers earning billion-dollar profits" without compensating "workers who perform the labor that brings them their wealth," Daggett said. USMX did not respond to a request for comment ILA members began walking the picket lines at 14 major ports on the East and Gulf coasts soon after the announcement. In Boston, dockworkers marched to the port carrying signs that read "no work without a fair contract," videos shared on social media showed. CNN broadcast similar images from Philadelphia, while a New York Times video showed Daggett addressing workers on the picket lines. "We are making history," he said in New Jersey, as dockworkers held signs saying "Profit over people is unacceptable." A possible stoppage had been telegraphed for months, with the odds rising in recent weeks as the two sides described themselves as far apart. USMX said on Monday it was "hopeful" after the two sides exchanged counter-offers. However, there was still no deal when the six-year contract expired at midnight. The walkout marks the ILA's first since 1977 and follows other high-profile strikes at US automakers, Boeing and other employers. The contract directly affects about 25,000 ILA members at 14 large US ports, including New York/New Jersey, Boston, Philadelphia, Savannah, New Orleans and Houston. Oxford Economics estimated that the strike would dent US gross domestic product by $4.5 billion to $7.5 billion per week. The overall economic hit depends on the length of the strike, analysts say. A lengthy strike could also pose political challenges. US President Joe Biden, a close ally of organised labour, has so far ruled out federal intervention, citing the need to respect collective bargaining rights. But business lobbies are sure to amplify calls for action if the strike drags out. - Fighting automation - New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on Monday port officials were scrambling to clear out as many items as possible before the impending stoppage. Other ports, such as New Orleans and Savannah, had offered extended hours in recent days ahead of the deadline. The union is pressing for protections against automation-related job loss and for hefty wage hikes after dockworkers kept providing essential services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. USMX said Monday its latest offer would "increase wages by nearly 50 percent, triple employer contributions to employee retirement plans, strengthen our health care options, and retain the current language around automation and semi-automation." Media reports say the ILA is asking for a 77 per cent wage increase over six years. "A port strike would paralyze US trade and raise prices at a time when consumers and businesses are starting to feel relief from inflation," said Erin McLaughlin, senior economist at the Conference Board. "There's no easy Plan B. While shippers have already begun diverting some cargo to the West Coast, capacity for such alternative options are limited." New York officials emphasized that any strike would not lead to shortages of basic goods. "We don't anticipate shortages of essential goods anytime soon," Hochul said. "People do not need to rush out to the grocery store and stockpile goods like they did during the pandemic." Hochul noted that pharmaceutical products would not be affected because they are typically flown in and not sent by ship. State officials are monitoring other medical supplies but stockpiles were adequate for the foreseeable future, she said. However, Hochul cited automobiles and semiconductors as items that could be affected more quickly. She also said a lengthy strike could limit the availability of fresh foods such as bananas. 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.

US dockworkers' strike leads to shut down of major ports along East and Gulf Coasts

Israel said commando and paratrooper units launched raids into Lebanon on Tuesday as part of a "limited" ground incursion, while Iran-backed Hezbollah said it had fired a barrage of missiles into Israel, including at its spy agency headquarters and military base near Tel Aviv.

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The raids by Israeli troops in southern Lebanon that began overnight were limited, and went only a short distance over the border, an Israeli security official said on Tuesday, adding that no direct clashes with Hezbollah fighters were reported.

Hezbollah's media relations chief Mohammad Afif denied Israel's claim that its forces had entered Lebanon.

Earlier, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee had issued a warning in Arabic on X to residents in southern Lebanon because of what he said was intense fighting with Hezbollah.

"Urgent warning to the residents of South Lebanon. Heavy fighting is taking place in southern Lebanon, with Hezbollah elements using the civilian environment and the population as human shields to launch attacks."

The Israeli raids follow intense airstrikes that have devastated Hezbollah's leadership, including assassinating its chief Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut last week.

Israel's military said its ground raids will target Hezbollah strongholds along the border that threaten Israel and are not a war against the Lebanese people.

"Hezbollah turned Lebanese villages next to Israeli villages into military bases ready for an attack on Israel," military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said. Residents in southern Lebanon fled on Monday and Tuesday as Israeli strikes drew nearer, local sources told Reuters.

Hezbollah said in a statement on Tuesday that it had fired the "Fadi 4" at military positions in the suburbs of Israel's commercial hub, Tel Aviv. It is the fourth iteration of a series that has&nbsp;progressively bigger payloads and longer ranges that Hezbollah has begun to use in recent weeks.

The group also said it fired missiles at the headquarters of Israel's intelligence agency Mossad,&nbsp; blamed for assassinations of Hezbollah commanders and leaders, and at a military intelligence unit on the outskirts of Tel Aviv.

Israel's ambulance service said two people had been wounded by shrapnel from the barrage of missiles fired into Tel Aviv and the wider central Israel area. Traffic was also affected by part of a missile that fell onto a highway near the town of Kfar Qasim east of Tel Aviv.

Two Lebanese security sources told Reuters that Israeli units had crossed into Lebanon overnight for reconnaissance and probe operations. Lebanese troops also pulled back from positions along the border, the source added.

Lebanon is facing one of the most dangerous stages in its history, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Tuesday during a meeting with UN organisations and ambassadors of donor countries, in which they made a joint appeal for more than $400 million in aid to cope with surging hostilities.

Despite its biggest successes against Hezbollah in decades, Israel has indicated it is primed for a full-fledged invasion of Lebanon with the stated aim of enabling thousands of its citizens who fled Hezbollah rockets to safely return to their communities near the northern border.

Israel's strikes have displaced one million Lebanese from their homes and killed more than 1,100 people, Lebanese authorities have said. A looming ground offensive has sparked fear and anger in Lebanon.

"Not just Hezbollah, all of Lebanon will fight this time. All of Lebanon is determined to fight Israel for the massacres it committed in Gaza and Lebanon," said Abu Alaa, a resident of the southern port city of Sidon.

LEBANESE ARMY PULLS BACK

Iran's allies -- from Hezbollah to Yemen's Houthis to armed groups in Iraq -- have weighed in with attacks in the region in support of Hamas in the Gaza war, raising fears that the conflict will engulf the Middle East and suck in the United States and Tehran.

Yemen's Houthi movement targeted Israeli military posts in Tel Aviv and Eilat with drones on Tuesday, the group's military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a televised speech.

Local residents in the Lebanese border town of Aita al-Shaab reported heavy shelling and the sound of helicopters and drones overhead. Flares were repeatedly launched over the Lebanese border town of Rmeish, lighting up the night sky.

An Israeli strike in Lebanon early on Tuesday targeted Mounir Maqdah, commander of the Lebanese branch of the Palestinian Fatah movement's military wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, according to two Palestinian security officials.

His fate was unknown.

The strike hit a building in the crowded Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near the southern city of Sidon, the sources said. It marked the first strike on Lebanon's largest Palestinian camp since cross-border hostilities broke out nearly a year ago.

Israel has not commented on the strike.

In Syria, three civilians were killed and nine others injured in an Israeli airstrike on the capital Damascus, Syrian state media said, citing a military source. Israel's military said it does not comment on foreign media reports.

Israel has been carrying out strikes against Iran-linked targets in Syria for years but has ramped up raids since the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel's southern territory on Oct. 7, 2023.

Hamas killed 1,200 people and took about 250 hostage in its assault on Israel, according to Israeli tallies. Israel, in response, launched a massive assault on Hamas in Gaza, killing more than 41,300 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry.

STRIKES ON BEIRUT

Overnight, a series of strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs after the Israeli military warned residents to evacuate areas near buildings it said contained Hezbollah infrastructure south of the capital.

In the past 24 hours, at least 95 people had been killed and 172 wounded in Israeli strikes on Lebanon's southern regions, the eastern Bekaa Valley, and Beirut, Lebanon's health ministry said early on Tuesday.

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&nbsp;

Israel said commando and paratrooper units launched raids into Lebanon on Tuesday as part of a "limited" ground incursion, while Iran-backed Hezbollah said it had fired a barrage of missiles into Israel, including at its spy agency headquarters and military base near Tel Aviv.

Israel said commando and paratrooper units launched raids into Lebanon on Tuesday as part of a "limited" ground incursion, while Iran-backed Hezbollah said it had fired a barrage of missiles into Israel, including at its spy agency headquarters and military base near Tel Aviv. The raids by Israeli troops in southern Lebanon that began overnight were limited, and went only a short distance over the border, an Israeli security official said on Tuesday, adding that no direct clashes with Hezbollah fighters were reported. Hezbollah's media relations chief Mohammad Afif denied Israel's claim that its forces had entered Lebanon. Earlier, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee had issued a warning in Arabic on X to residents in southern Lebanon because of what he said was intense fighting with Hezbollah. "Urgent warning to the residents of South Lebanon. Heavy fighting is taking place in southern Lebanon, with Hezbollah elements using the civilian environment and the population as human shields to launch attacks." The Israeli raids follow intense airstrikes that have devastated Hezbollah's leadership, including assassinating its chief Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut last week. Israel's military said its ground raids will target Hezbollah strongholds along the border that threaten Israel and are not a war against the Lebanese people. "Hezbollah turned Lebanese villages next to Israeli villages into military bases ready for an attack on Israel," military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said. Residents in southern Lebanon fled on Monday and Tuesday as Israeli strikes drew nearer, local sources told Reuters. Hezbollah said in a statement on Tuesday that it had fired the "Fadi 4" at military positions in the suburbs of Israel's commercial hub, Tel Aviv. It is the fourth iteration of a series that has progressively bigger payloads and longer ranges that Hezbollah has begun to use in recent weeks. The group also said it fired missiles at the headquarters of Israel's intelligence agency Mossad, blamed for assassinations of Hezbollah commanders and leaders, and at a military intelligence unit on the outskirts of Tel Aviv. Israel's ambulance service said two people had been wounded by shrapnel from the barrage of missiles fired into Tel Aviv and the wider central Israel area. Traffic was also affected by part of a missile that fell onto a highway near the town of Kfar Qasim east of Tel Aviv. Two Lebanese security sources told Reuters that Israeli units had crossed into Lebanon overnight for reconnaissance and probe operations. Lebanese troops also pulled back from positions along the border, the source added. Lebanon is facing one of the most dangerous stages in its history, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Tuesday during a meeting with UN organisations and ambassadors of donor countries, in which they made a joint appeal for more than $400 million in aid to cope with surging hostilities. Despite its biggest successes against Hezbollah in decades, Israel has indicated it is primed for a full-fledged invasion of Lebanon with the stated aim of enabling thousands of its citizens who fled Hezbollah rockets to safely return to their communities near the northern border. Israel's strikes have displaced one million Lebanese from their homes and killed more than 1,100 people, Lebanese authorities have said. A looming ground offensive has sparked fear and anger in Lebanon. "Not just Hezbollah, all of Lebanon will fight this time. All of Lebanon is determined to fight Israel for the massacres it committed in Gaza and Lebanon," said Abu Alaa, a resident of the southern port city of Sidon. LEBANESE ARMY PULLS BACK Iran's allies -- from Hezbollah to Yemen's Houthis to armed groups in Iraq -- have weighed in with attacks in the region in support of Hamas in the Gaza war, raising fears that the conflict will engulf the Middle East and suck in the United States and Tehran. Yemen's Houthi movement targeted Israeli military posts in Tel Aviv and Eilat with drones on Tuesday, the group's military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a televised speech. Local residents in the Lebanese border town of Aita al-Shaab reported heavy shelling and the sound of helicopters and drones overhead. Flares were repeatedly launched over the Lebanese border town of Rmeish, lighting up the night sky. An Israeli strike in Lebanon early on Tuesday targeted Mounir Maqdah, commander of the Lebanese branch of the Palestinian Fatah movement's military wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, according to two Palestinian security officials. His fate was unknown. The strike hit a building in the crowded Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near the southern city of Sidon, the sources said. It marked the first strike on Lebanon's largest Palestinian camp since cross-border hostilities broke out nearly a year ago. Israel has not commented on the strike. In Syria, three civilians were killed and nine others injured in an Israeli airstrike on the capital Damascus, Syrian state media said, citing a military source. Israel's military said it does not comment on foreign media reports. Israel has been carrying out strikes against Iran-linked targets in Syria for years but has ramped up raids since the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel's southern territory on Oct. 7, 2023. Hamas killed 1,200 people and took about 250 hostage in its assault on Israel, according to Israeli tallies. Israel, in response, launched a massive assault on Hamas in Gaza, killing more than 41,300 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry. STRIKES ON BEIRUT Overnight, a series of strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs after the Israeli military warned residents to evacuate areas near buildings it said contained Hezbollah infrastructure south of the capital. In the past 24 hours, at least 95 people had been killed and 172 wounded in Israeli strikes on Lebanon's southern regions, the eastern Bekaa Valley, and Beirut, Lebanon's health ministry said early on Tuesday. 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 military warns Lebanese communities near border to evacuate for safety

German authorities have arrested a Chinese national accused of passing information on a major air freight hub to a man who is suspected of spying for China, prosecutors said Tuesday.&nbsp;The woman&nbsp;was identified only as Yaqi X.

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In line with German privacy rules, the woman was arrested in the eastern city of Leipzig on Monday, federal prosecutors said in a statement. She is suspected of working for a Chinese intelligence service, providing information on flights&nbsp;and freight, including military equipment and passengers.

The suspect works for a company that provides logistical services at sites, including the Leipzig/Halle Airport, prosecutors said. The airport handles both passengers and freight but is known principally as a cargo hub.

They alleged that, between August 2023 and mid-February this year, she repeatedly passed information to Jian Guo — a German national who was an aide to far-right European Parliament lawmaker Maximilian Krah and was arrested in April. The&nbsp;prosecutors said she passed&nbsp;all information on the transport of military equipment and people with connections to a German defence company, which they didn't identify.

Yaqi is in custody, pending a possible indictment, prosecutors said. Her apartment and workplace were searched. 
 
Prosecutors have said that Guo is accused of working for a Chinese intelligence service and of repeatedly passing on information on negotiations and decisions in the European Parliament to Beijing.&nbsp;

They allege that he also snooped on Chinese dissidents in Germany. 
 
In a separate case in April, three Germans were arrested on suspicion of spying for China and arranging to transfer information on technology with potential military uses.

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&nbsp;WION&nbsp;audience.

German authorities have arrested a Chinese national accused of passing information on a major air freight hub to a man who is suspected of spying for China, prosecutors said Tuesday.

German authorities have arrested a Chinese national accused of passing information on a major air freight hub to a man who is suspected of spying for China, prosecutors said Tuesday. The woman was identified only as Yaqi X. In line with German privacy rules, the woman was arrested in the eastern city of Leipzig on Monday, federal prosecutors said in a statement. She is suspected of working for a Chinese intelligence service, providing information on flights and freight, including military equipment and passengers. The suspect works for a company that provides logistical services at sites, including the Leipzig/Halle Airport, prosecutors said. The airport handles both passengers and freight but is known principally as a cargo hub. They alleged that, between August 2023 and mid-February this year, she repeatedly passed information to Jian Guo — a German national who was an aide to far-right European Parliament lawmaker Maximilian Krah and was arrested in April. The prosecutors said she passed all information on the transport of military equipment and people with connections to a German defence company, which they didn't identify. Yaqi is in custody, pending a possible indictment, prosecutors said. Her apartment and workplace were searched. Prosecutors have said that Guo is accused of working for a Chinese intelligence service and of repeatedly passing on information on negotiations and decisions in the European Parliament to Beijing. They allege that he also snooped on Chinese dissidents in Germany. In a separate case in April, three Germans were arrested on suspicion of spying for China and arranging to transfer information on technology with potential military uses. 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.

German authorities arrest Chinese woman accused of passing airport details to spy working for China

German airline group Lufthansa said Tuesday it had extended its suspension of flights to Beirut and Tel Aviv, citing "the current situation in the Middle East".

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Flights to Beirut will now be suspended up to and including November 30, while those to Tel Aviv will be cancelled until October 31, the group said in a statement. Flights to Tehran remain cancelled until October 14.&nbsp;

"We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers," the group added.

The Lufthansa group -- whose carriers also include Swiss Air, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines -- has repeatedly modified its flight schedule in recent months due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, as have other airlines.

The Israeli army said its troops were locked in fierce clashes in Lebanon after launching a ground offensive Tuesday, escalating the conflict against Hezbollah after a week of air strikes that killed hundreds.

Following the example of its parent company, Swiss Air said the extension of its flight suspensions was "intended to provide more predictability for both our passengers and our crews".

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&nbsp;WION&nbsp;audience.

German airline group Lufthansa said Tuesday it had extended its suspension of flights to Beirut and Tel Aviv, citing "the current situation in the Middle East". Flights to Beirut will now be suspended up to and including November 30, while those to Tel Aviv will be cancelled until October 31, the group said in a statement.

German airline group Lufthansa said Tuesday it had extended its suspension of flights to Beirut and Tel Aviv, citing "the current situation in the Middle East". Flights to Beirut will now be suspended up to and including November 30, while those to Tel Aviv will be cancelled until October 31, the group said in a statement. Flights to Tehran remain cancelled until October 14. "We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers," the group added. The Lufthansa group -- whose carriers also include Swiss Air, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines -- has repeatedly modified its flight schedule in recent months due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, as have other airlines. The Israeli army said its troops were locked in fierce clashes in Lebanon after launching a ground offensive Tuesday, escalating the conflict against Hezbollah after a week of air strikes that killed hundreds. Following the example of its parent company, Swiss Air said the extension of its flight suspensions was "intended to provide more predictability for both our passengers and our crews". 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.

German airline group Lufthansa extends suspension of Beirut and Tel Aviv flights

The U.S. military on Monday released video of what it said was an unsafe manoeuvre by a Russian fighter jet near Alaska during an intercept by the U.S. military last week.

The United States regularly carries out aerial intercepts of Russian aircraft in international airspace near Alaska, and usually says they are carried out in a safe and professional manner. But this time was different, officials say.

"The conduct of one Russian Su-35 was unsafe, unprofessional, and endangered all – not what you'd see in a professional air force," Air Force General Gregory Guillot, who oversees U.S. forces in North America said in a statement posted on X.

Russia's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

North American Aerospace Defense Command, known as NORAD, said on Sept. 23 that it detected and tracked four Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone.

At the time, it said the Russian activity "occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat."

An air defense identification zone is international airspace just beyond a country's sovereign territory that approaching aircraft to identify themselves.

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&nbsp;WION&nbsp;audience.

The U.S. military on Monday released video of what it said was an unsafe manoeuvre by a Russian fighter jet near Alaska during an intercept by the U.S. military last week.

The U.S. military on Monday released video of what it said was an unsafe manoeuvre by a Russian fighter jet near Alaska during an intercept by the U.S. military last week. The United States regularly carries out aerial intercepts of Russian aircraft in international airspace near Alaska, and usually says they are carried out in a safe and professional manner. But this time was different, officials say. "The conduct of one Russian Su-35 was unsafe, unprofessional, and endangered all – not what you'd see in a professional air force," Air Force General Gregory Guillot, who oversees U.S. forces in North America said in a statement posted on X. Russia's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. North American Aerospace Defense Command, known as NORAD, said on Sept. 23 that it detected and tracked four Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone. At the time, it said the Russian activity "occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat." An air defense identification zone is international airspace just beyond a country's sovereign territory that approaching aircraft to identify themselves. 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.

US military releases video of ‘unsafe’ Russian fighter jet manoeuvre near Alaska

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