Hurricane Rafael knocked out power to all of Cuba on Wednesday as it slammed into the cash-strapped island, which was still reeling from a recent blackout and a previous deadly storm.

Rafael strengthened to a major Category 3 hurricane as it raced towards the Caribbean island of 10 million people.

It made landfall in western Artemisa province, east of Playa Majana beach, at about 2115 GMT, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The NHC said that Rafael was located about 40 miles (65 kilometers) southwest of the capital Havana and packing winds of nearly 115 mph (185 kph).

US meteorologists warned of "a life-threatening storm surge" and flash flooding.

The Union Electrical national power company blamed "strong winds" caused by Rafael for "the shutdown of the national electricity system," in a post on X.

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Nine of Cuba's 15 provinces, including Havana, have been placed on storm alert.

In Candalaria, a town hard hit in Artemisa province, gusting winds took down tree branches and debris littered the streets.

More than 70,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Artemisa and neighboring Pinar del Rio province on the island's westernmost tip.

In Havana, home to two million people, the streets were nearly empty: businesses were closed, several gas stations had their fuel pumps removed and transport services were halted.

The state newspaper Granma said airports in the western part of the country, including in Havana and the resort town of Varadero, had been temporarily shut as a result of the storm.

Rafael is expected to weaken slightly as it crosses the island but remain a hurricane as it emerges over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

A tropical storm warning is in effect in the Florida Keys.

<h2>- More misery -</h2>

The storm piled fresh misery on Cuba just two weeks after the island was left without power for four days due to the failure of its biggest power plant and a shortage of fuel to produce electricity.

Cuba has for months been suffering hours-long power cuts -- a manifestation of the worst economic crisis since the fall of the Soviet Union, a key ally and financial backer, in the early 1990s.

Last month's blackout, which took several days to fix, coincided with the passage of Hurricane Oscar, which killed eight people in the country.

The office of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Tuesday that it was mobilizing the military to help respond to the storm.

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"We have activated the National Defense Council to provide the maximum attention to the passage of Hurricane Rafael," Diaz-Canel said in a post on X.

"Measures have been taken in each place to protect our people and material resources. As we have always done since the revolution, we will overcome this situation."

Ahead of the storm, state television showed workers clearing drains, collecting garbage and cutting back trees.

In the village of Alquizar, about 50 kilometers southwest of Havana, Liset Herrera, 57, said Wednesday she had been unable to follow the news about Rafael "because there is no electricity."

Further south, in the coastal village of Ganimar, Marisol Valle, a 63-year-old farmer, came home briefly to collect some belongings before the water reached her home near the sea.&nbsp;

"There didn't appear to be a soul left" after the villagers had been evacuated, she said.

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.

Hurricane Rafael knocked out power to all of Cuba on Wednesday as it slammed into the cash-strapped island, which was still reeling from a recent blackout and a previous deadly storm.

Hurricane Rafael knocked out power to all of Cuba on Wednesday as it slammed into the cash-strapped island, which was still reeling from a recent blackout and a previous deadly storm. Rafael strengthened to a major Category 3 hurricane as it raced towards the Caribbean island of 10 million people. It made landfall in western Artemisa province, east of Playa Majana beach, at about 2115 GMT, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). The NHC said that Rafael was located about 40 miles (65 kilometers) southwest of the capital Havana and packing winds of nearly 115 mph (185 kph). US meteorologists warned of "a life-threatening storm surge" and flash flooding. The Union Electrical national power company blamed "strong winds" caused by Rafael for "the shutdown of the national electricity system," in a post on X. Also Read | PM Modi dials Donald Trump, US Presidential winner calls him 'magnificent man' Nine of Cuba's 15 provinces, including Havana, have been placed on storm alert. In Candalaria, a town hard hit in Artemisa province, gusting winds took down tree branches and debris littered the streets. More than 70,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Artemisa and neighboring Pinar del Rio province on the island's westernmost tip. In Havana, home to two million people, the streets were nearly empty: businesses were closed, several gas stations had their fuel pumps removed and transport services were halted. The state newspaper Granma said airports in the western part of the country, including in Havana and the resort town of Varadero, had been temporarily shut as a result of the storm. Rafael is expected to weaken slightly as it crosses the island but remain a hurricane as it emerges over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. A tropical storm warning is in effect in the Florida Keys. - More misery - The storm piled fresh misery on Cuba just two weeks after the island was left without power for four days due to the failure of its biggest power plant and a shortage of fuel to produce electricity. Cuba has for months been suffering hours-long power cuts -- a manifestation of the worst economic crisis since the fall of the Soviet Union, a key ally and financial backer, in the early 1990s. Last month's blackout, which took several days to fix, coincided with the passage of Hurricane Oscar, which killed eight people in the country. The office of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Tuesday that it was mobilizing the military to help respond to the storm. Also Read | Iran downplays US election as its currency rial hits record low post-Trump win "We have activated the National Defense Council to provide the maximum attention to the passage of Hurricane Rafael," Diaz-Canel said in a post on X. "Measures have been taken in each place to protect our people and material resources. As we have always done since the revolution, we will overcome this situation." Ahead of the storm, state television showed workers clearing drains, collecting garbage and cutting back trees. In the village of Alquizar, about 50 kilometers southwest of Havana, Liset Herrera, 57, said Wednesday she had been unable to follow the news about Rafael "because there is no electricity." Further south, in the coastal village of Ganimar, Marisol Valle, a 63-year-old farmer, came home briefly to collect some belongings before the water reached her home near the sea. "There didn't appear to be a soul left" after the villagers had been evacuated, she said. 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.

Cuba under nationwide blackout as Hurricane Rafel hits

Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her concession speech on Thursday (Nov 7) to the nation and said she was proud to run the White House Race. She told the nation that she spoke to Trump and congratulated him for winning the elections.&nbsp;

She said, “Earlier today, I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory.” She also mentioned that she has promised Trump to help in a peaceful transfer. She added, "I also told him that we would help him and his team with their transition and that we would engage in a peaceful transfer of power."

She said, "A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results.” She added, “That principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny, and anyone who seeks the public trust must honour it.” She urged her supporters to accept the victory of Donald Trump and said honouring elections is what differentiates a democracy from any other form of government.&nbsp;

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In her speech, she also asked her audience to keep fighting for themselves and justice and said that she will also continue to fight.&nbsp;

<h2>Here are some top quotes from her eleven-minute speech:</h2>

She said, “I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign.” She added, “The fight for freedom or opportunity, for fairness and the dignity of all people; a fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation, the ideals that reflect America at our best. That is a fight I will never give up.”

She asked her younger supporters not to give up over the disappointment of losing the elections.&nbsp;Harris said, “The important thing is, don't ever give up. Don't ever give up. Don't ever stop trying to make the world a better place. You have power. You have power. And don't you ever listen when anyone tells you something is impossible because it has never been done before.”

“The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for, but hear me when I say … the light of America's promise will always burn bright, as long as we never give up, and as long as we keep fighting.”

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“Over the 107 days of this campaign, we have been intentional about building community and building coalitions, bringing people together from every walk of life and background, united by love of country with enthusiasm and joy in our fight for America's future. And we did it with the knowledge that we all have so much more in common than what separates us.”

“I will never give up the fight for a future where Americans can pursue their dreams, ambitions and aspirations, where the women of America have the freedom to make decisions about their own body and not have their government telling them what to do.”

While ending her speech, Kamala Harris said, she conceded the election but not the fight. She will continue to fight for the issues she mentioned during her campaign.

(With inputs from agencies)

Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her concession speech on Thursday (Nov 7) to the nation and said she was proud to run the White House Race. She told the nation that she spoke to Trump and congratulated him for winning the elections.

Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her concession speech on Thursday (Nov 7) to the nation and said she was proud to run the White House Race. She told the nation that she spoke to Trump and congratulated him for winning the elections. She said, “Earlier today, I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory.” She also mentioned that she has promised Trump to help in a peaceful transfer. She added, "I also told him that we would help him and his team with their transition and that we would engage in a peaceful transfer of power." She said, "A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results.” She added, “That principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny, and anyone who seeks the public trust must honour it.” She urged her supporters to accept the victory of Donald Trump and said honouring elections is what differentiates a democracy from any other form of government. Also Read | What Kamala Harris said in concession speech while Trump plans 100 days In her speech, she also asked her audience to keep fighting for themselves and justice and said that she will also continue to fight. Here are some top quotes from her eleven-minute speech: She said, “I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign.” She added, “The fight for freedom or opportunity, for fairness and the dignity of all people; a fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation, the ideals that reflect America at our best. That is a fight I will never give up.” She asked her younger supporters not to give up over the disappointment of losing the elections. Harris said, “The important thing is, don't ever give up. Don't ever give up. Don't ever stop trying to make the world a better place. You have power. You have power. And don't you ever listen when anyone tells you something is impossible because it has never been done before.” “The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for, but hear me when I say … the light of America's promise will always burn bright, as long as we never give up, and as long as we keep fighting.” Also Read | Japan PM Ishiba says held phone call with 'very friendly' Trump “Over the 107 days of this campaign, we have been intentional about building community and building coalitions, bringing people together from every walk of life and background, united by love of country with enthusiasm and joy in our fight for America's future. And we did it with the knowledge that we all have so much more in common than what separates us.” “I will never give up the fight for a future where Americans can pursue their dreams, ambitions and aspirations, where the women of America have the freedom to make decisions about their own body and not have their government telling them what to do.” While ending her speech, Kamala Harris said, she conceded the election but not the fight. She will continue to fight for the issues she mentioned during her campaign. (With inputs from agencies)

'I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign': Harris says in concession speech, here are top quotes

&nbsp;

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The United States will continue its friendly approach towards Taiwan after the presidential election and Taiwan will work to prevent China from "making trouble" during the transition, a senior Taiwanese security official said on Wednesday.

Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the U.S. presidency and neck and neck in the polls with Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris, has made comments on the campaign trail that Taiwan should pay to be protected and also accused the island of stealing American semiconductor business.

Democratically-governed Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, has faced a sustained military pressure campaign from Beijing over the past five years, including four major rounds of war games in the past two years.

Speaking to reporters in parliament, Taiwan National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen noted the election's outcome was still unknown.

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"On relations across the Taiwan Strait we believe that the United States will continue its current approach of constraining China and being friendly to Taiwan," he said.

Taiwan will continue communication with the current administration focusing on key issues for cooperation "in the next phase" and work with international partners to exchange information on China's intentions and military movements during the transition, Tsai added.

"This is as to prevent the Chinese communists from taking advantage of the transition of the U.S. government and to prevent them from making trouble during the transition," he said.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to request for comment.

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Also speaking to media at parliament, Taiwan Economy Minister Kuo Jyh-huei said the government was paying great attention to the election and making preparations no matter who won.

However, Taiwan-U.S. economic ties are deep and won't be easy to change and the impact on the economy will be small irrespective of who the next president is, he added.

Taiwan's government rejects China's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.

The United States is Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier, even in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

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 United States will continue its friendly approach towards Taiwan after the presidential election and Taiwan will work to prevent China from "making trouble" during the transition, a senior Taiwanese security official said on Wednesday.

The United States will continue its friendly approach towards Taiwan after the presidential election and Taiwan will work to prevent China from "making trouble" during the transition, a senior Taiwanese security official said on Wednesday. Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the U.S. presidency and neck and neck in the polls with Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris, has made comments on the campaign trail that Taiwan should pay to be protected and also accused the island of stealing American semiconductor business. Democratically-governed Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, has faced a sustained military pressure campaign from Beijing over the past five years, including four major rounds of war games in the past two years. Speaking to reporters in parliament, Taiwan National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen noted the election's outcome was still unknown. Also Read | LIVE | US Election 2024: Trump-210, Harris-112, predictions show "On relations across the Taiwan Strait we believe that the United States will continue its current approach of constraining China and being friendly to Taiwan," he said. Taiwan will continue communication with the current administration focusing on key issues for cooperation "in the next phase" and work with international partners to exchange information on China's intentions and military movements during the transition, Tsai added. "This is as to prevent the Chinese communists from taking advantage of the transition of the U.S. government and to prevent them from making trouble during the transition," he said. China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to request for comment. Also Read | Florida abortion ballot measure falls flat in a major win for Gov Ron DeSantis Also speaking to media at parliament, Taiwan Economy Minister Kuo Jyh-huei said the government was paying great attention to the election and making preparations no matter who won. However, Taiwan-U.S. economic ties are deep and won't be easy to change and the impact on the economy will be small irrespective of who the next president is, he added. Taiwan's government rejects China's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future. The United States is Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier, even in the absence of formal diplomatic ties. 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 to continue Taiwan-friendly approach after White House race, says Taipei

The dollar rallied broadly on Wednesday as early exit polls in the extremely close U.S. presidential election appeared to give an edge to Republican Donald Trump.

With 10.1 per cent&nbsp;of the vote counted in key battleground state Georgia, Trump had 60.9 per cent&nbsp;to Democrat Kamala Harris' 38.6 per cent, according to Edison Research.

Trump won eight states in the election while Harris captured three states and Washington, D.C., Edison Research projected. The early results were as anticipated, with the contest expected to come down to seven swing states.

Trump's tariff and immigration policies are seen as inflationary by analysts, buoying the dollar.

The dollar index - which measures the currency against six major peers including the euro and yen - rose 0.76 per cent&nbsp;to 104.14 as of 0048 GMT.

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The euro dropped 0.77 per cent&nbsp;to $1.0844, while the dollar added 0.68 per cent&nbsp;to 152.64 yen.

Bitcoin climbed more than 3 per cent&nbsp;to $71,317. Trump is seen as more actively supportive of cryptocurrencies than Harris.

"It is too early to call any of these races and to make any real projections on the results so far, but the U.S. dollar has regained a lot of ground lost recently," said James Kniveton, a senior corporate forex dealer at Convera.

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"Risk currencies such as the AUD that appreciated ahead of a tightening race are having a pullback as Trump racks up some early wins."

The Aussie slid 0.63 per cent&nbsp;to $0.6595.

The U.S. currency jumped more than 1 per cent&nbsp;to 20.3050 Mexican pesos. It rose 0.46 per cent&nbsp;to 7.1291 yuan in offshore trading. Mexico and China are among countries that stand to be hardest hit by Trump tariffs.

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 dollar rallied broadly on Wednesday as early exit polls in the extremely close U.S. presidential election appeared to give an edge to Republican Donald Trump.

The dollar rallied broadly on Wednesday as early exit polls in the extremely close U.S. presidential election appeared to give an edge to Republican Donald Trump. With 10.1 per cent of the vote counted in key battleground state Georgia, Trump had 60.9 per cent to Democrat Kamala Harris' 38.6 per cent, according to Edison Research. Trump won eight states in the election while Harris captured three states and Washington, D.C., Edison Research projected. The early results were as anticipated, with the contest expected to come down to seven swing states. Trump's tariff and immigration policies are seen as inflationary by analysts, buoying the dollar. The dollar index - which measures the currency against six major peers including the euro and yen - rose 0.76 per cent to 104.14 as of 0048 GMT. Also Read | LIVE | US Election 2024: Trump-120, Harris-99, early predictions show The euro dropped 0.77 per cent to $1.0844, while the dollar added 0.68 per cent to 152.64 yen. Bitcoin climbed more than 3 per cent to $71,317. Trump is seen as more actively supportive of cryptocurrencies than Harris. "It is too early to call any of these races and to make any real projections on the results so far, but the U.S. dollar has regained a lot of ground lost recently," said James Kniveton, a senior corporate forex dealer at Convera. Also Read | Trump dodges ques on abortion, snaps at reporter: 'Stop talking about that' "Risk currencies such as the AUD that appreciated ahead of a tightening race are having a pullback as Trump racks up some early wins." The Aussie slid 0.63 per cent to $0.6595. The U.S. currency jumped more than 1 per cent to 20.3050 Mexican pesos. It rose 0.46 per cent to 7.1291 yuan in offshore trading. Mexico and China are among countries that stand to be hardest hit by Trump tariffs. 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 Election 2024: Trump makes early gains in exit polls, dollar strengthens and bitcoin rises

At least 89 people remain missing after deadly floods in eastern Spain, the regional judicial authorities in Valencia said on Tuesday, and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he was earmarking 10.6 billion euros ($11.6 billion) to help victims.

The number includes only those who have been reported missing by family members that have also provided personal information and biological samples to allow for their identification, the Superior Court of Justice of Valencia Region said in a statement. It added that there could be more cases of people who have disappeared whose details have not yet been registered.

More than 200 people were confirmed to have died after heavy rains last week caused waterways to overflow, creating flash floods that surged through suburbs south of the city of Valencia, sweeping away cars and bridges and flooding properties and underground car parks.

"There are still missing persons to be located, homes and businesses destroyed, buried under the mud and many people suffering severe shortages," Sanchez said in a press conference in Madrid earlier on Tuesday. "We have to keep working."

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At least 217 people died in Valencia, Castile-La Mancha and Andalusia, but only 133 have been identified so far.

The court said coroners had performed 195 autopsies and that 62 bodies were still pending identification. Spain's national guard on Tuesday asked relatives of people missing to provide DNA samples to identify bodies.

A research vessel from the national scientific body CSIC will reach Valencia on Nov. 9 to help in the search efforts, the Science Ministry said on Tuesday. The vessel has technology to obtain detailed images of the seafloor and explore hard-to-reach areas, it said. There have been suggestions that some of the missing people could have been swept down rivers and out to sea.

The aid will include 838 million euros in direct cash to small businesses and freelance workers affected by the disaster and 5 billion euros of state-guaranteed loans. The national government will finance 100% of the clean-up costs incurred by local governments and half of the repairs to infrastructure, Sanchez said.

More than 100,000 cars were damaged by the floods, Sonia Luque, coordinator of the Network of Road Assistance Companies (REAC), said, while damages to businesses in towns hit by floods could rise to over 10 billion euros.

<h2>'IT'S A TSUNAMI'</h2>

Hector, a police inspector speaking in Paiporta, one of the worst-hit neighbourhoods, said he had experienced plenty of flooding in nearby Alicante but nothing like this.

"This isn't a flash flood - it's a tsunami," Hector, who declined to give his last name, said.

In the face of criticism and anger at the slow response to the disaster, Sanchez said the government had deployed nearly 15,000 police and military to help clear flood-affected areas, along with hundreds of forestry officials, forensic scientists, customs agents and heavy machinery to clear roads and rubble.

Defending the government's response, Sanchez said he had not called a state of emergency, which would have given Madrid control of the crisis, because it would have been less efficient.

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He said personnel had been ready to be deployed from the first minute but had required the approval of the regional government run by the conservative People's Party.

Valencia's regional leader Carlos Mazon said on Monday the delay in warning people was caused by the Hydrographic Confederation of Jucar (CHJ), which measures the flow of rivers and ravines for the state, cancelling a planned alert three times.

The CHJ fired back that it does not issue flood risk alerts, which are the responsibility of Spain's regional governments.

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.

At least 89 people remain missing after deadly floods in eastern Spain, the regional judicial authorities in Valencia said on Tuesday, and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he was earmarking 10.

At least 89 people remain missing after deadly floods in eastern Spain, the regional judicial authorities in Valencia said on Tuesday, and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he was earmarking 10.6 billion euros ($11.6 billion) to help victims. The number includes only those who have been reported missing by family members that have also provided personal information and biological samples to allow for their identification, the Superior Court of Justice of Valencia Region said in a statement. It added that there could be more cases of people who have disappeared whose details have not yet been registered. More than 200 people were confirmed to have died after heavy rains last week caused waterways to overflow, creating flash floods that surged through suburbs south of the city of Valencia, sweeping away cars and bridges and flooding properties and underground car parks. "There are still missing persons to be located, homes and businesses destroyed, buried under the mud and many people suffering severe shortages," Sanchez said in a press conference in Madrid earlier on Tuesday. "We have to keep working." Also Read | LIVE | US Election 2024: Trump-101, Harris-71, early predictions show At least 217 people died in Valencia, Castile-La Mancha and Andalusia, but only 133 have been identified so far. The court said coroners had performed 195 autopsies and that 62 bodies were still pending identification. Spain's national guard on Tuesday asked relatives of people missing to provide DNA samples to identify bodies. A research vessel from the national scientific body CSIC will reach Valencia on Nov. 9 to help in the search efforts, the Science Ministry said on Tuesday. The vessel has technology to obtain detailed images of the seafloor and explore hard-to-reach areas, it said. There have been suggestions that some of the missing people could have been swept down rivers and out to sea. The aid will include 838 million euros in direct cash to small businesses and freelance workers affected by the disaster and 5 billion euros of state-guaranteed loans. The national government will finance 100% of the clean-up costs incurred by local governments and half of the repairs to infrastructure, Sanchez said. More than 100,000 cars were damaged by the floods, Sonia Luque, coordinator of the Network of Road Assistance Companies (REAC), said, while damages to businesses in towns hit by floods could rise to over 10 billion euros. 'IT'S A TSUNAMI' Hector, a police inspector speaking in Paiporta, one of the worst-hit neighbourhoods, said he had experienced plenty of flooding in nearby Alicante but nothing like this. "This isn't a flash flood - it's a tsunami," Hector, who declined to give his last name, said. In the face of criticism and anger at the slow response to the disaster, Sanchez said the government had deployed nearly 15,000 police and military to help clear flood-affected areas, along with hundreds of forestry officials, forensic scientists, customs agents and heavy machinery to clear roads and rubble. Defending the government's response, Sanchez said he had not called a state of emergency, which would have given Madrid control of the crisis, because it would have been less efficient. Also Read | Florida abortion ballot measure falls flat in a major win for Gov Ron DeSantis He said personnel had been ready to be deployed from the first minute but had required the approval of the regional government run by the conservative People's Party. Valencia's regional leader Carlos Mazon said on Monday the delay in warning people was caused by the Hydrographic Confederation of Jucar (CHJ), which measures the flow of rivers and ravines for the state, cancelling a planned alert three times. The CHJ fired back that it does not issue flood risk alerts, which are the responsibility of Spain's regional governments. 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.

Around 89 people remain missing in eastern Spain after deadly floods, Valencia says

Some high-ranking North Korean military officials and troops deployed to Russia for the war in Ukraine might move to the frontline, South Korean lawmakers said on Tuesday after being briefed by the country's spy agency.

The lawmakers did not give any timetable but the comments come as NATO confirmed Pyongyang's dispatch of troops to Russia, and said that military units had been deployed to Russia's Kursk region on the border with Ukraine.

The Russian military was teaching military terminology to the North Korean troops, Park Sun-won, a member of a parliamentary intelligence committee, said during the briefing.

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North Korea was also ready to launch another military reconnaissance satellite with the help of technological support from Moscow, the lawmakers said, citing the South's National Intelligence Service.

Pyongyang has vowed to launch more spy satellites though its last attempt failed earlier this year when it exploded minutes after lift-off.

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North Korea had also sent some 4,000 workers to Russia this year, according to the lawmakers attending the parliamentary intelligence committee hearing.

Kim Ju Ae, the daughter of leader Kim Jong Un, had seen her status partially elevated and was being guided by Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of the North Korean leader, the lawmakers said.

Kim Jong Un was also ramping up security around him because of concern about the possibility of assassination, according to the lawmakers.

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Some high-ranking North Korean military officials and troops deployed to Russia for the war in Ukraine might move to the frontline, South Korean lawmakers said on Tuesday after being briefed by the country's spy agency.

Some high-ranking North Korean military officials and troops deployed to Russia for the war in Ukraine might move to the frontline, South Korean lawmakers said on Tuesday after being briefed by the country's spy agency. The lawmakers did not give any timetable but the comments come as NATO confirmed Pyongyang's dispatch of troops to Russia, and said that military units had been deployed to Russia's Kursk region on the border with Ukraine. The Russian military was teaching military terminology to the North Korean troops, Park Sun-won, a member of a parliamentary intelligence committee, said during the briefing. Also Read | US ups earlier estimates, claims 10,000 North Korean troops backing Russia in Ukraine war North Korea was also ready to launch another military reconnaissance satellite with the help of technological support from Moscow, the lawmakers said, citing the South's National Intelligence Service. Pyongyang has vowed to launch more spy satellites though its last attempt failed earlier this year when it exploded minutes after lift-off. Also Read | THIS massive continent might cease to exist as a whole in the coming years North Korea had also sent some 4,000 workers to Russia this year, according to the lawmakers attending the parliamentary intelligence committee hearing. Kim Ju Ae, the daughter of leader Kim Jong Un, had seen her status partially elevated and was being guided by Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of the North Korean leader, the lawmakers said. Kim Jong Un was also ramping up security around him because of concern about the possibility of assassination, according to the lawmakers. 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.

North Korean military troops deployed in Russia might go to frontline, Seoul spy agency says

A global police operation shut down the servers of one of the world's largest malware platforms that targeted millions of victims, the EU's judicial arm said on Tuesday (Oct 29).

A year-long investigation culminated in "Operation Magnus" with investigators from six countries including the Netherlands, Australia, Britain and the United States working together to smash the criminal scheme.&nbsp;

"The infostealers taken down...targeted millions of victims worldwide, making it one of the largest malware platforms globally," Eurojust said in a statement.

"Authorities discovered that over 1,200 servers in dozens of countries were running the malware," said the agency, which is based in The Hague and coordinated Monday's operation.

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Investigators shut down three servers in the Netherlands, seized two domains, unsealed charges in the United States and took two people into custody in Belgium, Eurojust said.

The criminal platforms, called RedLine and META, stole personal data from infected devices including usernames and passwords, as well as automatically saved data like addresses, email addresses and cryptocurrency wallets.

The victims' devices became infected when downloading software from unreliable sources.

The investigation was triggered when victims came forward and a security company notified authorities about possible servers in the Netherlands linked to the malware.&nbsp;

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"After retrieving the personal data, the infostealers sold the information to other criminals through criminal marketplaces," Eurojust said.

"The criminals who purchased the personal data used it to steal money, crypto-currency and to carry out follow-on hacking activities," the agency said.

Authorities have also taken down several Telegram messaging accounts which were used to advertise RedLine and META's services, Dutch police said.

"Until recently, Telegram was a service where criminals felt untouchable and anonymous," they said in a statement.

"This action has shown that this is no longer the case," police added.

In the United States, law officials have slapped fraud and money laundering charges on a suspected RedLine developer and administrator.

If convicted the suspect "faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for access device fraud, five years in prison for conspiracy to commit computer intrusion, and 20 years in prison for money laundering," the US Attorney's Office said in a statement.

Eurojust and Dutch police confirmed that the META name used by the malware platform had no link with Meta, the California-based company that owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

Investigations continued and Eurojust said a private security company has set up an online tool for potential victims to check if their data was stolen.

US law authorities added it "did not believe it is in possession of all the stolen data and continues to investigate."

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.

A global police operation shut down the servers of one of the world's largest malware platforms that targeted millions of victims, the EU's judicial arm said on Tuesday (Oct 29).

A global police operation shut down the servers of one of the world's largest malware platforms that targeted millions of victims, the EU's judicial arm said on Tuesday (Oct 29). A year-long investigation culminated in "Operation Magnus" with investigators from six countries including the Netherlands, Australia, Britain and the United States working together to smash the criminal scheme. "The infostealers taken down...targeted millions of victims worldwide, making it one of the largest malware platforms globally," Eurojust said in a statement. "Authorities discovered that over 1,200 servers in dozens of countries were running the malware," said the agency, which is based in The Hague and coordinated Monday's operation. Also Read | Oregon US Presidential Election 2024: Voting, candidates, results and all you need to know Investigators shut down three servers in the Netherlands, seized two domains, unsealed charges in the United States and took two people into custody in Belgium, Eurojust said. The criminal platforms, called RedLine and META, stole personal data from infected devices including usernames and passwords, as well as automatically saved data like addresses, email addresses and cryptocurrency wallets. The victims' devices became infected when downloading software from unreliable sources. The investigation was triggered when victims came forward and a security company notified authorities about possible servers in the Netherlands linked to the malware. Also Read | New Mexico US Presidential Election 2024: Voting, Result info, Candidates and all you need to know "After retrieving the personal data, the infostealers sold the information to other criminals through criminal marketplaces," Eurojust said. "The criminals who purchased the personal data used it to steal money, crypto-currency and to carry out follow-on hacking activities," the agency said. Authorities have also taken down several Telegram messaging accounts which were used to advertise RedLine and META's services, Dutch police said. "Until recently, Telegram was a service where criminals felt untouchable and anonymous," they said in a statement. "This action has shown that this is no longer the case," police added. In the United States, law officials have slapped fraud and money laundering charges on a suspected RedLine developer and administrator. If convicted the suspect "faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for access device fraud, five years in prison for conspiracy to commit computer intrusion, and 20 years in prison for money laundering," the US Attorney's Office said in a statement. Eurojust and Dutch police confirmed that the META name used by the malware platform had no link with Meta, the California-based company that owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Investigations continued and Eurojust said a private security company has set up an online tool for potential victims to check if their data was stolen. US law authorities added it "did not believe it is in possession of all the stolen data and continues to investigate." 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.

Global police shut down largest malware group 'targeting millions': EU judicial arm

Around 40 soldiers were killed in an attack on a military base in Chad's Lake region over the weekend, the central African country's presidency said on Monday (Oct 28).

President Mahamat Idriss Deby was in the area on Monday to launch an operation to track down the assailants, a presidency statement said.

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The presidency blamed Sunday's attack on Boko Haram in a second statement issued later on Monday. The Lake Chad region has been repeatedly attacked by insurgencies including by Islamic State in West Africa and Boko Haram, which erupted in northeast Nigeria in 2009 and spread to the west of Chad.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility from the group.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/petition-seeking-ban-on-ousted-bangladesh-pm-sheikh-hasinas-awami-league-withdrawn-771749">Petition seeking ban on ousted Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina's Awami League&nbsp;withdrawn</a>

Chad is an important ally for French and US&nbsp;forces aiming to fight jihadists in the Sahel, which has become the epicentre of global terrorism under attack by factions loyal to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State.

Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have ended military operations with the US&nbsp;and France in recent years and turned to Russia for support instead.

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Around 40 soldiers were killed in an attack on a military base in Chad's Lake region over the weekend, the central African country's presidency said on Monday (Oct 28).

Around 40 soldiers were killed in an attack on a military base in Chad's Lake region over the weekend, the central African country's presidency said on Monday (Oct 28). President Mahamat Idriss Deby was in the area on Monday to launch an operation to track down the assailants, a presidency statement said. Also Read | Longtime Trump's ally Steve Bannon released after serving four months in prison, week ahead of election day The presidency blamed Sunday's attack on Boko Haram in a second statement issued later on Monday. The Lake Chad region has been repeatedly attacked by insurgencies including by Islamic State in West Africa and Boko Haram, which erupted in northeast Nigeria in 2009 and spread to the west of Chad. There was no immediate claim of responsibility from the group. Also Read | Petition seeking ban on ousted Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina's Awami League withdrawn Chad is an important ally for French and US forces aiming to fight jihadists in the Sahel, which has become the epicentre of global terrorism under attack by factions loyal to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State. Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have ended military operations with the US and France in recent years and turned to Russia for support instead. 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.

At least 40 soldiers killed in attack on Chad's military base: Presidency

Iran's government has proposed to triple its military budget, its spokeswoman said Tuesday (Oct 29), as tensions with arch-rival Israel rise following recent tit-for-tat missile strikes.

Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani outlined the move that would see "a significant increase of more than 200 percent in the country's military budget" at a news conference in Tehran.

She did not elaborate and Tehran has not disclosed any figures, but according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute think tank, Iran's military spending in 2023 was about $10.3 billion.

The proposed budget will be debated, with lawmakers expected to finalise it in March.

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Iran and Israel on Monday accused each other of endangering Middle East peace in a heated exchange at a UN meeting.

It came days after Israel carried out strikes on Iran in response to an October 1 missile barrage that the Islamic Republic launched against Israel.

The Iranian army reported four soldiers killed and damage to "radar systems".

Iran's October 1 strike, involving 200 missiles, was in retaliation for attacks that killed the leaders of the Iran-backed groups Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as one of its own commanders.

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"All efforts have been made to meet the country's defence needs and special attention has been paid to this issue," the government spokeswoman Mohajerani said.

The regional tensions flared after Israel launched a military offensive in the Gaza Strip to eliminate the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in response to the unprecedented October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel.

Since last month, Israel has also been battling Lebanon's Hezbollah movement.

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.

Iran's government has proposed to triple its military budget, its spokeswoman said Tuesday (Oct 29), as tensions with arch-rival Israel rise following recent tit-for-tat missile strikes.

Iran's government has proposed to triple its military budget, its spokeswoman said Tuesday (Oct 29), as tensions with arch-rival Israel rise following recent tit-for-tat missile strikes. Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani outlined the move that would see "a significant increase of more than 200 percent in the country's military budget" at a news conference in Tehran. She did not elaborate and Tehran has not disclosed any figures, but according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute think tank, Iran's military spending in 2023 was about $10.3 billion. The proposed budget will be debated, with lawmakers expected to finalise it in March. Also Read | 93 Palestinians killed in Israeli strike on residential building in North Gaza Iran and Israel on Monday accused each other of endangering Middle East peace in a heated exchange at a UN meeting. It came days after Israel carried out strikes on Iran in response to an October 1 missile barrage that the Islamic Republic launched against Israel. The Iranian army reported four soldiers killed and damage to "radar systems". Iran's October 1 strike, involving 200 missiles, was in retaliation for attacks that killed the leaders of the Iran-backed groups Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as one of its own commanders. Also Read | US ups earlier estimates, claims 10,000 North Korean troops backing Russia in Ukraine war "All efforts have been made to meet the country's defence needs and special attention has been paid to this issue," the government spokeswoman Mohajerani said. The regional tensions flared after Israel launched a military offensive in the Gaza Strip to eliminate the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in response to the unprecedented October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. Since last month, Israel has also been battling Lebanon's Hezbollah movement. 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.

Iran plans to triple military budget amid rising tensions with Israel

A writ petition filed in a high court in Bangladesh seeking a ban on ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League and several other parties was withdrawn on Tuesday (Oct 29).

Leaders of the anti-discrimination students' movement, which led to the ouster of Hasina's 15-year regime on August 5, on Monday in a petition in Dhaka High Court sought the court's directions to prevent the Awami League and 10 other parties from conducting political activities in the country.

Court officials and lawyers said three top leaders or coordinators of the movement – Sarjis Alam, Hasnat Abdullah and Hasibul Islam – decided not to proceed with the petition that also questioned the past three general elections in 2014, 2018 and 2024 which installed the Hasina-led Awami League to power

The elections were staged amid allegations of massive vote manipulation or boycott by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia and several other parties.

The movement leaders, however, preferred not to proceed with the second writ either that questioned the legitimacy of these three parliamentary elections.

The two writs, listed by a two-member high court bench for hearing on Tuesday, were withdrawn as the proceedings began in the morning.

The petitioners' lawyers informed the bench that their clients would not proceed with the writs.

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The bench comprising Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Shikdar Mahmudur Raji subsequently ordered the writs be removed from the list.

Alongside Awami League, the writ petition was filed against Jatiya Party (Ershad), Jatiya Party (Manju), Ganatantri Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist-Leninist) (Barua), and Workers Party of Bangladesh.

In response to their inclusion in the petition, the LDP demanded an apology from the petitioners.

The CPB said they might have been mentioned out of a misunderstanding, and the Jatiya Party (Ershad) said they would address the matter through legal means.

The right-wing LDP and left-wing CPB were harsh critics of the Awami League regime and did not take part in the elections.

The BNP, which has appeared as the major political force in Bangladesh politics following Hasina's ouster, however, said they opposed a ban on any political party for inclusiveness in elections. Meanwhile, the interim government on Monday evening said it had yet not decided upon banning any political party.

The government only has banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (pro-Awami League student organisation). It did not decide at this point to ban any other political party, a spokesman from the Bangladesh interim government's media wing said in a briefing.

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The students' movement in a rally on October 22 at Central Shaheed Minar here announced a five-point demand, including the ban on Awami League and the removal of President Mohammad Shahabuddin after protests erupted following his remarks that he did not receive Hasina's resignation.

The first of their five-point demands was the scrapping of the country's original 1972 Constitution which was drafted a year after Bangladesh's establishment following a nine-month Liberation War against Pakistan.

The movement leaders received no positive response from the BNP on the question of the president's removal or scrapping of the 1972 constitution either as the party said they did not want any constitutional crisis and rather stressed a general elections as soon as possible.

An interim government led by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus was installed in Bangladesh on August 8 after Hasina resigned and fled to India following massive protests against her government that killed over 1,000 persons since mid-July.

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.

A writ petition filed in a high court in Bangladesh seeking a ban on ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League and several other parties was withdrawn on Tuesday (Oct 29).

A writ petition filed in a high court in Bangladesh seeking a ban on ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League and several other parties was withdrawn on Tuesday (Oct 29). Leaders of the anti-discrimination students' movement, which led to the ouster of Hasina's 15-year regime on August 5, on Monday in a petition in Dhaka High Court sought the court's directions to prevent the Awami League and 10 other parties from conducting political activities in the country. Court officials and lawyers said three top leaders or coordinators of the movement – Sarjis Alam, Hasnat Abdullah and Hasibul Islam – decided not to proceed with the petition that also questioned the past three general elections in 2014, 2018 and 2024 which installed the Hasina-led Awami League to power The elections were staged amid allegations of massive vote manipulation or boycott by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia and several other parties. The movement leaders, however, preferred not to proceed with the second writ either that questioned the legitimacy of these three parliamentary elections. The two writs, listed by a two-member high court bench for hearing on Tuesday, were withdrawn as the proceedings began in the morning. The petitioners' lawyers informed the bench that their clients would not proceed with the writs. Also Read | Who is Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s new white-turbaned chief? The bench comprising Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Shikdar Mahmudur Raji subsequently ordered the writs be removed from the list. Alongside Awami League, the writ petition was filed against Jatiya Party (Ershad), Jatiya Party (Manju), Ganatantri Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist-Leninist) (Barua), and Workers Party of Bangladesh. In response to their inclusion in the petition, the LDP demanded an apology from the petitioners. The CPB said they might have been mentioned out of a misunderstanding, and the Jatiya Party (Ershad) said they would address the matter through legal means. The right-wing LDP and left-wing CPB were harsh critics of the Awami League regime and did not take part in the elections. The BNP, which has appeared as the major political force in Bangladesh politics following Hasina's ouster, however, said they opposed a ban on any political party for inclusiveness in elections. Meanwhile, the interim government on Monday evening said it had yet not decided upon banning any political party. The government only has banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (pro-Awami League student organisation). It did not decide at this point to ban any other political party, a spokesman from the Bangladesh interim government's media wing said in a briefing. Also Read | Narcotics Control Bureau busts secret meth lab near Delhi The students' movement in a rally on October 22 at Central Shaheed Minar here announced a five-point demand, including the ban on Awami League and the removal of President Mohammad Shahabuddin after protests erupted following his remarks that he did not receive Hasina's resignation. The first of their five-point demands was the scrapping of the country's original 1972 Constitution which was drafted a year after Bangladesh's establishment following a nine-month Liberation War against Pakistan. The movement leaders received no positive response from the BNP on the question of the president's removal or scrapping of the 1972 constitution either as the party said they did not want any constitutional crisis and rather stressed a general elections as soon as possible. An interim government led by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus was installed in Bangladesh on August 8 after Hasina resigned and fled to India following massive protests against her government that killed over 1,000 persons since mid-July. 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.

Petition seeking ban on ousted Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina's Awami League withdrawn

Indonesia has prohibited the marketing and sale of the iPhone 16 model over Apple's failure to meet local investment regulations, according to its industry ministry.

Southeast Asia's biggest economy has a young, tech-savvy population with more than 100 million people under the age of 30, but Apple still does not have an official store in the country, forcing those who want its products to buy from resale platforms.

Indonesia's industry ministry spokesman said imported phones of the iPhone 16 model&nbsp; launched in September could not be marketed domestically because Apple's local unit had not met a requirement that 40 per cent of phones be made from local parts.

"The iPhone 16 devices imported by registered importers cannot yet be marketed domestically," ministry spokesman Febri Hendri Antoni Arif said in a statement Friday.

"Apple Indonesia has not fulfilled its investment commitment to obtain... certification."

To reach that percentage, Apple must invest in Indonesia and source Indonesian materials to be used for iPhone components, according to local media reports.

Apple did not respond to an AFP request for comment.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-hezbollah-names-naim-qassem-as-successor-to-late-hassan-nasrallah-771637">Hezbollah names Naim Qassem as successor to late Hassan Nasrallah</a>

The ministry said the new Apple phones could be carried into Indonesia as long as they were not being traded commercially.

It estimates just 9,000 units of the new model have entered the country, which has a population of around 280 million.

Indonesia's smartphone market shipment share in the second quarter of the year was dominated by China's Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo, as well as South Korea's Samsung, according to Counterpoint Research.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-jeff-bezos-defends-wapos-decision-to-not-endorse-harris-heres-what-he-said-771587">US elections: What Jeff Bezos said on WaPo's decision to not endorse Harris</a>

In April, Apple chief executive Tim Cook visited Indonesia as the tech giant explores ways to invest in Southeast Asia's biggest economy and diversify supply chains away from China.

He met then-president Joko Widodo and his successor, Prabowo Subianto, for talks after the iPhone maker announced it would expand its developer academies in the country.

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.

Indonesia has prohibited the marketing and sale of the iPhone 16 model over Apple's failure to meet local investment regulations, according to its industry ministry.

Indonesia has prohibited the marketing and sale of the iPhone 16 model over Apple's failure to meet local investment regulations, according to its industry ministry. Southeast Asia's biggest economy has a young, tech-savvy population with more than 100 million people under the age of 30, but Apple still does not have an official store in the country, forcing those who want its products to buy from resale platforms. Indonesia's industry ministry spokesman said imported phones of the iPhone 16 model launched in September could not be marketed domestically because Apple's local unit had not met a requirement that 40 per cent of phones be made from local parts. "The iPhone 16 devices imported by registered importers cannot yet be marketed domestically," ministry spokesman Febri Hendri Antoni Arif said in a statement Friday. "Apple Indonesia has not fulfilled its investment commitment to obtain... certification." To reach that percentage, Apple must invest in Indonesia and source Indonesian materials to be used for iPhone components, according to local media reports. Apple did not respond to an AFP request for comment. Also Read | Hezbollah names Naim Qassem as successor to late Hassan Nasrallah The ministry said the new Apple phones could be carried into Indonesia as long as they were not being traded commercially. It estimates just 9,000 units of the new model have entered the country, which has a population of around 280 million. Indonesia's smartphone market shipment share in the second quarter of the year was dominated by China's Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo, as well as South Korea's Samsung, according to Counterpoint Research. Also Read | US elections: What Jeff Bezos said on WaPo's decision to not endorse Harris In April, Apple chief executive Tim Cook visited Indonesia as the tech giant explores ways to invest in Southeast Asia's biggest economy and diversify supply chains away from China. He met then-president Joko Widodo and his successor, Prabowo Subianto, for talks after the iPhone maker announced it would expand its developer academies in the country. 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.

Indonesia stops sales of iPhone 16 over lack of Apple investment in country

Lebanon's health ministry said at least 60 people were killed on Monday in Israeli raids on several areas in the eastern Bekaa Valley, most of them in the Baalbek region.

The health ministry said the tolls covered 12 areas in the Bekaa Valley where militant group Hezbollah holds sway. At least two children were among the dead, it said.&nbsp;

At least 58 others were wounded, the health ministry added, noting that the toll was preliminary as rescue efforts were still underway.

Of the 60 killed, at least 16 deaths were recorded in Al-Alaq, west of Baalbek city, according to the health ministry.&nbsp;

Monday's deaths raise the overall toll to more than 1,700 killed in Lebanon since the Israel-Hezbollah war erupted late last month, according to an AFP tally of health ministry figures.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-hezbollah-names-naim-qassem-as-successor-to-late-hassan-nasrallah-771637">West Asia crisis: Hezbollah names Naim Qassem as successor to late Hassan Nasrallah</a>

The real number is likely to be higher due to gaps in the data.

Baalbek governor Bachir Khodr decried what he called the "most violent" raids on the area since the start of the conflict.

Baalbek is an impoverished region in the Bekaa Valley that borders Syria.

The heavy strikes there on Monday were not preceded by an evacuation warning.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-offer-no-apologies-ex-philippine-president-rodrigo-duterte-admits-having-death-squad-in-war-on-drugs-771596">'I offer no apologies': ex-Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte admits having 'death squad' in 'war on drugs'</a>

They came as Israel pounded south Lebanon, including the coastal city of Tyre, according to the official National News Agency.

The Israel-Hezbollah war erupted on September 23 after nearly a year of cross-border fire between the two rivals.

The war has displaced at least 1.3 million people, more than 800,000 inside Lebanon according to the UN's migration agency.

More than half a million people have crossed into Syria, according to Lebanese authorities, most of them Syrians.

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.

Lebanon's health ministry said at least 60 people were killed on Monday in Israeli raids on several areas in the eastern Bekaa Valley, most of them in the Baalbek region.

Lebanon's health ministry said at least 60 people were killed on Monday in Israeli raids on several areas in the eastern Bekaa Valley, most of them in the Baalbek region. The health ministry said the tolls covered 12 areas in the Bekaa Valley where militant group Hezbollah holds sway. At least two children were among the dead, it said. At least 58 others were wounded, the health ministry added, noting that the toll was preliminary as rescue efforts were still underway. Of the 60 killed, at least 16 deaths were recorded in Al-Alaq, west of Baalbek city, according to the health ministry. Monday's deaths raise the overall toll to more than 1,700 killed in Lebanon since the Israel-Hezbollah war erupted late last month, according to an AFP tally of health ministry figures. Also Read | West Asia crisis: Hezbollah names Naim Qassem as successor to late Hassan Nasrallah The real number is likely to be higher due to gaps in the data. Baalbek governor Bachir Khodr decried what he called the "most violent" raids on the area since the start of the conflict. Baalbek is an impoverished region in the Bekaa Valley that borders Syria. The heavy strikes there on Monday were not preceded by an evacuation warning. Also Read | 'I offer no apologies': ex-Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte admits having 'death squad' in 'war on drugs' They came as Israel pounded south Lebanon, including the coastal city of Tyre, according to the official National News Agency. The Israel-Hezbollah war erupted on September 23 after nearly a year of cross-border fire between the two rivals. The war has displaced at least 1.3 million people, more than 800,000 inside Lebanon according to the UN's migration agency. More than half a million people have crossed into Syria, according to Lebanese authorities, most of them Syrians. 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.

At least 60 killed in Israeli strikes in east, Lebanon reports

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