&nbsp;Malaysia's top court set aside the death penalty on Thursday for a former policeman convicted of the murder of a Mongolian woman, sentencing him instead to 40 years in jail, his lawyer said.

The change comes after Malaysia abolished the mandatory death penalty last year, allowing those on death row to seek review of their sentences.

Azilah Hadri had been handed the death penalty after being found guilty of the 2006 murder of 28-year-old Altantuya Shaariibuu, a model and interpreter to a former associate of former Prime Minister Najib Razak.

A three-member panel of Malaysia's Federal Court unanimously commuted Azilah's death sentence to 40 years in jail, effective from his arrest in November 2006, and 12 strokes of the cane, his lawyer, Athari Bahardin, said.

Shaariibuu Setev, the victim's father, had backed the policeman's request for a commuted death sentence, citing a need to respect the sanctity of life in a letter to the court that was seen by Reuters.

Sangeet Kaur Deo, a lawyer for Altantuya's family, confirmed the authenticity of the letter.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-senior-hezbollah-official-eludes-israeli-assassination-attempt-in-beirut-766472">Senior Hezbollah official eludes Israeli assassination attempt in Beirut</a>

Altantuya was killed and her body blown up with military-grade explosives in a forest on the outskirts of Malaysia's capital of Kuala Lumpur in 2006, court records show, but the question of who ordered the slaying remains unanswered.

Civil society groups have said her murder was linked to her role as an interpreter in Malaysia’s purchase of two French submarines in 2002.

In a 2019 court filing, Azilah had accused ex-premier Najib, who was Malaysia's defence minister at the time of the murder, of ordering the killing.

Najib, now serving a six-year jail term for corruption, has repeatedly denied allegations linking him to Shaariibuu or graft in the submarine purchases.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-20-dead-as-armed-men-storm-private-coal-mine-in-balochistan-766494">Pakistan: 20 dead as armed men storm private coal mine in Balochistan</a>

Azilah was convicted in 2015 along with another police officer, Sirul Azhar Umar, who fled Malaysia shortly before the verdict was handed down.

Both were serving on Najib's security detail at the time of the murder.

Sirul, arrested on an Interpol notice, was held in an Australian immigration detention centre for nearly nine years before his release in November 2023.

Australian law forbids the deportation of people to places where they face the death penalty.

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.

Malaysia's top court set aside the death penalty on Thursday for a former policeman convicted of the murder of a Mongolian woman, sentencing him instead to 40 years in jail, his lawyer said.

Malaysia's top court set aside the death penalty on Thursday for a former policeman convicted of the murder of a Mongolian woman, sentencing him instead to 40 years in jail, his lawyer said. The change comes after Malaysia abolished the mandatory death penalty last year, allowing those on death row to seek review of their sentences. Azilah Hadri had been handed the death penalty after being found guilty of the 2006 murder of 28-year-old Altantuya Shaariibuu, a model and interpreter to a former associate of former Prime Minister Najib Razak. A three-member panel of Malaysia's Federal Court unanimously commuted Azilah's death sentence to 40 years in jail, effective from his arrest in November 2006, and 12 strokes of the cane, his lawyer, Athari Bahardin, said. Shaariibuu Setev, the victim's father, had backed the policeman's request for a commuted death sentence, citing a need to respect the sanctity of life in a letter to the court that was seen by Reuters. Sangeet Kaur Deo, a lawyer for Altantuya's family, confirmed the authenticity of the letter. Also read | Senior Hezbollah official eludes Israeli assassination attempt in Beirut Altantuya was killed and her body blown up with military-grade explosives in a forest on the outskirts of Malaysia's capital of Kuala Lumpur in 2006, court records show, but the question of who ordered the slaying remains unanswered. Civil society groups have said her murder was linked to her role as an interpreter in Malaysia’s purchase of two French submarines in 2002. In a 2019 court filing, Azilah had accused ex-premier Najib, who was Malaysia's defence minister at the time of the murder, of ordering the killing. Najib, now serving a six-year jail term for corruption, has repeatedly denied allegations linking him to Shaariibuu or graft in the submarine purchases. Also read | Pakistan: 20 dead as armed men storm private coal mine in Balochistan Azilah was convicted in 2015 along with another police officer, Sirul Azhar Umar, who fled Malaysia shortly before the verdict was handed down. Both were serving on Najib's security detail at the time of the murder. Sirul, arrested on an Interpol notice, was held in an Australian immigration detention centre for nearly nine years before his release in November 2023. Australian law forbids the deportation of people to places where they face the death penalty. 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.

Malaysian court commutes death penalty of ex-policeman involved in Mongolian model's murder

Britain's economy bounced back in August, official data showed Friday, boosting the new Labour government ahead of its maiden budget later in October.

Gross domestic product grew 0.2 per cent in the reported month compared with July, when output stalled, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement.

The rise in economic growth was in line with analysts' expectations after GDP flatlined in June and July.

It also provides a timely boost to the new government, which has put growth expansion at the top of its priority list.

"It's welcome news that growth has returned to the economy," said Finance Minister Rachel Reeves, who will present the budget on October 30.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour party won power at the start of July, ending 14 years of Conservative rule.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/noel-tata-half-brother-of-late-ratan-tata-appointed-chairman-of-tata-trusts-report-766589">Noel Tata, half-brother of late Ratan Tata, appointed chairman of Tata Trusts</a>

ONS director of economic statistics Liz McKeown said that while all the main sectors of the economy grew in August, "the broader picture is one of slowing growth in recent months, compared to the first half of the year."

<h2>- 'Mild slowdown' -</h2>

Revised official growth data revealed last month that Britain's economy grew less than initially estimated in the second quarter.

Britain's economy had grown 0.7 per cent in the first quarter following a shallow and short-lived recession in the second half of last year.

The uptick in economic growth in August has lent some support to expectations that "a mild slowdown in GDP growth in the second half of this year is more likely than another recession," said Ashley Webb, UK economist at research group Capital Economics.&nbsp;

Recent data has also showed Britain's state debt rising to 100 per cent of annual GDP -- increasing the likelihood of biting tax rises in Labour's budget, according to analysts.

"The gloom surrounding the economy has been hard to shake", said Lindsay James, investment strategist at Quilter Investors.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-terror-attack-plot-afghan-suspect-nasir-ahmad-tawhedi-once-worked-with-cia-reports-766538">US election terror attack plot suspect Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi once worked for CIA</a>

"Much of this is due to Labour's rhetoric as they attribute difficult tax and spending decisions to their predecessors," she added.

Reeves has pledged to impose "iron discipline" over public finances to claw back what she says is a £22-billion ($29-billion) black hole inherited from the previous Conservative government.

Starmer has warned Britons that the budget announcement will be "painful", with tax rises and spending cuts expected.

The government has already faced criticism from all sides over scrapping a winter fuel-benefit scheme for 10 million pensioners.

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.

Britain's economy bounced back in August, official data showed Friday, boosting the new Labour government ahead of its maiden budget later in October. Gross domestic product grew 0.

Britain's economy bounced back in August, official data showed Friday, boosting the new Labour government ahead of its maiden budget later in October. Gross domestic product grew 0.2 per cent in the reported month compared with July, when output stalled, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement. The rise in economic growth was in line with analysts' expectations after GDP flatlined in June and July. It also provides a timely boost to the new government, which has put growth expansion at the top of its priority list. "It's welcome news that growth has returned to the economy," said Finance Minister Rachel Reeves, who will present the budget on October 30. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour party won power at the start of July, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. Also Read | Noel Tata, half-brother of late Ratan Tata, appointed chairman of Tata Trusts ONS director of economic statistics Liz McKeown said that while all the main sectors of the economy grew in August, "the broader picture is one of slowing growth in recent months, compared to the first half of the year." - 'Mild slowdown' - Revised official growth data revealed last month that Britain's economy grew less than initially estimated in the second quarter. Britain's economy had grown 0.7 per cent in the first quarter following a shallow and short-lived recession in the second half of last year. The uptick in economic growth in August has lent some support to expectations that "a mild slowdown in GDP growth in the second half of this year is more likely than another recession," said Ashley Webb, UK economist at research group Capital Economics. Recent data has also showed Britain's state debt rising to 100 per cent of annual GDP -- increasing the likelihood of biting tax rises in Labour's budget, according to analysts. "The gloom surrounding the economy has been hard to shake", said Lindsay James, investment strategist at Quilter Investors. Also Read | US election terror attack plot suspect Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi once worked for CIA "Much of this is due to Labour's rhetoric as they attribute difficult tax and spending decisions to their predecessors," she added. Reeves has pledged to impose "iron discipline" over public finances to claw back what she says is a £22-billion ($29-billion) black hole inherited from the previous Conservative government. Starmer has warned Britons that the budget announcement will be "painful", with tax rises and spending cuts expected. The government has already faced criticism from all sides over scrapping a winter fuel-benefit scheme for 10 million pensioners. 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.

UK economy bounced back in August with a boost to new labour government

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has erased Republican rival Donald Trump's advantage in the vast middle of American society: suburban residents and middle-income households, an analysis of Reuters/Ipsos polling shows.

Since President Joe Biden ended his flagging re-election bid on July 21, Vice President Harris has pulled into the lead in both of these large demographic groups, reinvigorating Democrats' prospects in the Nov. 5 election, though the race remains exceptionally close.

Suburbanites, who make up about half of the U.S. electorate and are as racially diverse as the nation at large, are a key prize. Biden beat Trump in suburban counties by about six percentage points in the 2020 presidential election.

Before Biden dropped out, Trump was leading him 43% to 40% among suburbanites in Reuters/Ipsos polls conducted in June and July, reflecting the Democrat's struggle to energize supporters.&nbsp;

Harris began closing the gap when she launched her campaign in July and led Trump 47% to 41% among suburban voters in polling across September and October. That represents a nine-point swing in the Democrat's favour, according to the analysis of six Reuters/Ipsos polls that included responses from over 6,000 registered voters.&nbsp;

Also Read&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-meets-uk-nato-leaders-to-rally-support-for-victory-plan-766357">Zelensky meets UK, NATO leaders to rally support for 'victory plan'</a>

During the same periods, Trump went from leading Biden 44% to 37% among voters in households that earn between $50,000 and $100,000 - roughly the middle third of the nation - to trail Harris 43% to 45%, also a nine-point swing away from Trump. The figures had margins of error of around 3 percentage points.

Trump carried this group 52%-47% in 2020, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of exit polls.

Reuters/Ipsos surveys have shown voters consider the economy the No. 1 issue ahead of the election and in a poll conducted in October, 46% of voters said Trump was the better candidate for the economy, 8 points more than Harris' 38%.&nbsp;

The polls have also shown Trump as the more trusted candidate on immigration and crime. Trump told supporters in August he was the candidate that would keep suburbs safe and ensure that migrants coming across the border illegally are kept "away from the suburbs."

Trump has blamed the Biden administration for inflation that has hurt middle class Americans. Harris, meanwhile, has put considerable focus in her speeches on pledges to increase the size of the middle class. She also is more often picked in polls as the better candidate for protecting democracy and taking a stand against political extremism.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-south-korean-author-hang-kang-2024-nobel-prize-winner-in-literature-766354">Who is South Korean author Han Kang? 2024 Nobel prize winner in Literature</a>

"Her focus on affordability has been highly effective in narrowing Trump's advantage on inflation and the economy," said David Wasserman, a political analyst at the Cook Political Report.

Wasserman said Harris appeared to be performing well among relatively affluent suburbanites who could be growing more optimistic about the economy, while her gains among middle-income voters could be due to her campaign's regular pledges to help middle-class households.&nbsp;

But he noted that voter turnout in Democratic-leaning urban areas and Republican-leaning rural towns could also be critical in deciding the election.

<h2>TUNING IN&nbsp;</h2>

Harris supporters contacted by Reuters for follow-up interviews this week also said they had not paid much attention to her before she became a presidential candidate, and that they became more supportive of her as they learned more about her.&nbsp;

The latest of the six polls, conducted Oct. 4-7, showed Harris up a marginal 3 percentage points over Trump among registered voters overall, 46% to 43%.&nbsp;

Her modest edge in national polling is significant although the winner of the election will likely be determined by the results in seven battleground states - Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Nevada, Wisconsin and Georgia - where polls have also shown a tight race.

Winning the middle - whether nationally or in the election's key states - won't necessarily crown the victor. Democrat Hillary Clinton, who got nearly 3 million votes more than Trump nationwide in the 2016 election and beat him in suburban counties by about 1 percentage point, still lost the election when Trump flipped six states that had voted Democratic in 2012.&nbsp;

Poll respondent Sheila Lester, an 83-year-old Harris supporter living in Peoria, Arizona, which mostly lies in the state's battleground Maricopa County, said in a phone interview that she had become convinced Trump would beat Biden.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-build-2-nuclear-powered-attack-submarines-why-are-they-crucial-as-china-navy-expands-in-region-766359">India to build 2 nuclear-powered attack submarines. Why are they crucial as China Navy expands in region?</a>

She said she rejoiced when the Democratic Party quickly coalesced around the candidacy of Harris, especially since she could be the first woman U.S. president.

"The response that she has gotten has made me a little bit more proud of this country," said Lester, a retired customer service employee who considers herself part of the middle class. She said she liked Harris' toughness on abortion rights and her pledge to grow the middle class. "I am definitely anti-Trump, but I believe I'm more pro-Harris."

Maricopa County played an important role in Biden's 2020 victory, when the county narrowly flipped Democratic after voting for Trump in 2016.

Karen Davidson, 83, who lives in West Bloomfield, Michigan, a middle-class suburb of Detroit, said she had not been that familiar with Harris before she moved to the top of the ticket.&nbsp;

"I needed to know more about her to form any kind of thought," Davidson said.

"The way she stood up to people who were berating her, I had to respect that having been in the industrial machinery business when women didn't work in it, I know what that's like," Davidson continued. "She had the strength, and that's what's needed to run our country."

In Pooler, Georgia, a suburb of Savannah, grocery store employee Kevin Garcia said he also was relieved Biden had bowed out and preferred Harris' pledges to support small businesses over Trump's promise to tax imported goods.&nbsp;

"I just feel better about the chances," said Garcia, 24, who lives in a single-family home neighborhood in the state that, like Arizona, narrowly flipped Democratic in 2020.

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.

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has erased Republican rival Donald Trump's advantage in the vast middle of American society: suburban residents and middle-income households, an analysis of Reuters/Ipsos polling shows.

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has erased Republican rival Donald Trump's advantage in the vast middle of American society: suburban residents and middle-income households, an analysis of Reuters/Ipsos polling shows. Since President Joe Biden ended his flagging re-election bid on July 21, Vice President Harris has pulled into the lead in both of these large demographic groups, reinvigorating Democrats' prospects in the Nov. 5 election, though the race remains exceptionally close. Suburbanites, who make up about half of the U.S. electorate and are as racially diverse as the nation at large, are a key prize. Biden beat Trump in suburban counties by about six percentage points in the 2020 presidential election. Before Biden dropped out, Trump was leading him 43% to 40% among suburbanites in Reuters/Ipsos polls conducted in June and July, reflecting the Democrat's struggle to energize supporters. Harris began closing the gap when she launched her campaign in July and led Trump 47% to 41% among suburban voters in polling across September and October. That represents a nine-point swing in the Democrat's favour, according to the analysis of six Reuters/Ipsos polls that included responses from over 6,000 registered voters. Also Read | Zelensky meets UK, NATO leaders to rally support for 'victory plan' During the same periods, Trump went from leading Biden 44% to 37% among voters in households that earn between $50,000 and $100,000 - roughly the middle third of the nation - to trail Harris 43% to 45%, also a nine-point swing away from Trump. The figures had margins of error of around 3 percentage points. Trump carried this group 52%-47% in 2020, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of exit polls. Reuters/Ipsos surveys have shown voters consider the economy the No. 1 issue ahead of the election and in a poll conducted in October, 46% of voters said Trump was the better candidate for the economy, 8 points more than Harris' 38%. The polls have also shown Trump as the more trusted candidate on immigration and crime. Trump told supporters in August he was the candidate that would keep suburbs safe and ensure that migrants coming across the border illegally are kept "away from the suburbs." Trump has blamed the Biden administration for inflation that has hurt middle class Americans. Harris, meanwhile, has put considerable focus in her speeches on pledges to increase the size of the middle class. She also is more often picked in polls as the better candidate for protecting democracy and taking a stand against political extremism. Also Read | Who is South Korean author Han Kang? 2024 Nobel prize winner in Literature "Her focus on affordability has been highly effective in narrowing Trump's advantage on inflation and the economy," said David Wasserman, a political analyst at the Cook Political Report. Wasserman said Harris appeared to be performing well among relatively affluent suburbanites who could be growing more optimistic about the economy, while her gains among middle-income voters could be due to her campaign's regular pledges to help middle-class households. But he noted that voter turnout in Democratic-leaning urban areas and Republican-leaning rural towns could also be critical in deciding the election. TUNING IN Harris supporters contacted by Reuters for follow-up interviews this week also said they had not paid much attention to her before she became a presidential candidate, and that they became more supportive of her as they learned more about her. The latest of the six polls, conducted Oct. 4-7, showed Harris up a marginal 3 percentage points over Trump among registered voters overall, 46% to 43%. Her modest edge in national polling is significant although the winner of the election will likely be determined by the results in seven battleground states - Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Nevada, Wisconsin and Georgia - where polls have also shown a tight race. Winning the middle - whether nationally or in the election's key states - won't necessarily crown the victor. Democrat Hillary Clinton, who got nearly 3 million votes more than Trump nationwide in the 2016 election and beat him in suburban counties by about 1 percentage point, still lost the election when Trump flipped six states that had voted Democratic in 2012. Poll respondent Sheila Lester, an 83-year-old Harris supporter living in Peoria, Arizona, which mostly lies in the state's battleground Maricopa County, said in a phone interview that she had become convinced Trump would beat Biden. Also Read | India to build 2 nuclear-powered attack submarines. Why are they crucial as China Navy expands in region? She said she rejoiced when the Democratic Party quickly coalesced around the candidacy of Harris, especially since she could be the first woman U.S. president. "The response that she has gotten has made me a little bit more proud of this country," said Lester, a retired customer service employee who considers herself part of the middle class. She said she liked Harris' toughness on abortion rights and her pledge to grow the middle class. "I am definitely anti-Trump, but I believe I'm more pro-Harris." Maricopa County played an important role in Biden's 2020 victory, when the county narrowly flipped Democratic after voting for Trump in 2016. Karen Davidson, 83, who lives in West Bloomfield, Michigan, a middle-class suburb of Detroit, said she had not been that familiar with Harris before she moved to the top of the ticket. "I needed to know more about her to form any kind of thought," Davidson said. "The way she stood up to people who were berating her, I had to respect that having been in the industrial machinery business when women didn't work in it, I know what that's like," Davidson continued. "She had the strength, and that's what's needed to run our country." In Pooler, Georgia, a suburb of Savannah, grocery store employee Kevin Garcia said he also was relieved Biden had bowed out and preferred Harris' pledges to support small businesses over Trump's promise to tax imported goods. "I just feel better about the chances," said Garcia, 24, who lives in a single-family home neighborhood in the state that, like Arizona, narrowly flipped Democratic in 2020. 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.

Kamala Harris overtakes Donald Trump among suburban residents: Poll

The Palestinian Red Crescent said an Israeli air strike on a Gaza school killed at least 28 people on Thursday, while the Israeli military reported that it struck a Hamas command centre.

"Palestine Red Crescent teams responded to 28 fatalities and 54 injuries following the Israeli occupation army's targeting of Rafida School," the organisation said, referring to a school in Deir el-Balah.

Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry issued the same death toll in a statement.

The Israeli army said in a statement that the strike targeted Palestinian combatants operating from a command-and-control centre "embedded inside a compound that previously served as the (Rafida) School".

It did not give a toll but said the command-and-control centre was used "to plan and execute terrorist attacks against IDF (army) troops and the State of Israel".&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-fails-in-bid-to-join-un-human-rights-council-766289">Saudi Arabia fails in bid to join UN human rights council</a>

Thursday's attack was the latest in a series of Israeli strikes on school buildings housing displaced Palestinians in Gaza, where fighting has raged for more than a year.

On September 26, at least 15 people were killed in another school-turned-shelter strike in northern Gaza's Jabalia camp, according to Gaza civil defence agency.

The Israeli military is currently engaged in an intense operation in Jabaliya.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreans-deployed-alongside-russian-troops-to-fight-with-ukraine-kremlin-rejects-fake-claims-766328">North Koreans deployed alongside Russian troops to fight with Ukraine; Kremlin rejects 'fake' claims</a>

The Israeli military accuses Hamas of hiding in school buildings where thousands of Gazans have sought shelter -- a charge denied by the Palestinian militant group.

At least 42,065 Palestinians, a majority of them civilians, have been killed in Israel's military campaign in Gaza since the war began, according to data provided by the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

The United Nations has acknowledged the figures to be reliable.

The October 7 attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people on the Israeli side, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures, which includes hostages killed in captivity.

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.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said an Israeli air strike on a Gaza school killed at least 28 people on Thursday, while the Israeli military reported that it struck a Hamas command centre.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said an Israeli air strike on a Gaza school killed at least 28 people on Thursday, while the Israeli military reported that it struck a Hamas command centre. "Palestine Red Crescent teams responded to 28 fatalities and 54 injuries following the Israeli occupation army's targeting of Rafida School," the organisation said, referring to a school in Deir el-Balah. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry issued the same death toll in a statement. The Israeli army said in a statement that the strike targeted Palestinian combatants operating from a command-and-control centre "embedded inside a compound that previously served as the (Rafida) School". It did not give a toll but said the command-and-control centre was used "to plan and execute terrorist attacks against IDF (army) troops and the State of Israel". Also Read | Saudi Arabia fails in bid to join UN human rights council Thursday's attack was the latest in a series of Israeli strikes on school buildings housing displaced Palestinians in Gaza, where fighting has raged for more than a year. On September 26, at least 15 people were killed in another school-turned-shelter strike in northern Gaza's Jabalia camp, according to Gaza civil defence agency. The Israeli military is currently engaged in an intense operation in Jabaliya. Also Read | North Koreans deployed alongside Russian troops to fight with Ukraine; Kremlin rejects 'fake' claims The Israeli military accuses Hamas of hiding in school buildings where thousands of Gazans have sought shelter -- a charge denied by the Palestinian militant group. At least 42,065 Palestinians, a majority of them civilians, have been killed in Israel's military campaign in Gaza since the war began, according to data provided by the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. The United Nations has acknowledged the figures to be reliable. The October 7 attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people on the Israeli side, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures, which includes hostages killed in captivity. 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.

Palestinian Red Crescent says 28 killed, 54 injured in Israeli strike on Gaza school

Online hate against Americans of South Asian ancestry has risen steadily in 2023 and 2024 with the rise of politicians from that community to prominence, according to a report released on Wednesday by nonprofit group Stop AAPI Hate.

<h2>WHY IT'S IMPORTANT</h2>

Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris is of Indian descent, as are former Republican presidential candidates Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy. Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance's wife, Usha Vance, is also Indian American.

Harris faces Republican former President Donald Trump in the 2024 U.S. elections.

There has been a steady rise in anti-Asian hate in extremist online spaces from January 2023 to August 2024, the report said.

The nonprofit group blamed the rise on a "toxic political climate in which a growing number of leaders and far-right extremist voices continue to spew bigoted political rhetoric and disinformation."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-hurricane-miltons-scary-landfall-in-florida-captured-from-space-766315">Watch: Hurricane Milton's scary landfall in Florida captured from space</a>

<h2>KEY QUOTES</h2>

"Online threats of violence towards Asian communities reached their highest levels in August 2024, after Usha Vance appeared at the Republican National Convention and Kamala Harris was declared a presidential nominee at the Democratic National Convention," Stop AAPI Hate said.

"The growing prevalence of anti-South Asian online hate ... in 2023 and 2024 tracks with the rise in South Asian political representation this election cycle," it added.

<h2>BY THE NUMBERS</h2>

Among Asian American subgroups, South Asian communities were targeted with the highest volume of anti-Asian online hostility, with 60% of slurs directed at them in that period, according to the report.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/it-needs-to-go-tim-walz-calls-for-removal-of-electoral-college-766316">‘It needs to go’: Tim Walz calls for scrapping of electoral college system</a>

Anti-South Asian slurs in extremist online spaces doubled last year, from about 23,000 to more than 46,000, and peaked in August 2024.

There are nearly 5.4 million people of South Asian descent living in the United States, composed of individuals with ancestry from nations including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

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.

Online hate against Americans of South Asian ancestry has risen steadily in 2023 and 2024 with the rise of politicians from that community to prominence, according to a report released on Wednesday by nonprofit group Stop AAPI Hate.

Online hate against Americans of South Asian ancestry has risen steadily in 2023 and 2024 with the rise of politicians from that community to prominence, according to a report released on Wednesday by nonprofit group Stop AAPI Hate. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris is of Indian descent, as are former Republican presidential candidates Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy. Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance's wife, Usha Vance, is also Indian American. Harris faces Republican former President Donald Trump in the 2024 U.S. elections. There has been a steady rise in anti-Asian hate in extremist online spaces from January 2023 to August 2024, the report said. The nonprofit group blamed the rise on a "toxic political climate in which a growing number of leaders and far-right extremist voices continue to spew bigoted political rhetoric and disinformation." Also read | Watch: Hurricane Milton's scary landfall in Florida captured from space KEY QUOTES "Online threats of violence towards Asian communities reached their highest levels in August 2024, after Usha Vance appeared at the Republican National Convention and Kamala Harris was declared a presidential nominee at the Democratic National Convention," Stop AAPI Hate said. "The growing prevalence of anti-South Asian online hate ... in 2023 and 2024 tracks with the rise in South Asian political representation this election cycle," it added. BY THE NUMBERS Among Asian American subgroups, South Asian communities were targeted with the highest volume of anti-Asian online hostility, with 60% of slurs directed at them in that period, according to the report. Also Read | ‘It needs to go’: Tim Walz calls for scrapping of electoral college system Anti-South Asian slurs in extremist online spaces doubled last year, from about 23,000 to more than 46,000, and peaked in August 2024. There are nearly 5.4 million people of South Asian descent living in the United States, composed of individuals with ancestry from nations including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. 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.

Online hate against South Asian Americans, including Indians, rising rapidly: Report

Ukraine's Parliament has approved&nbsp;the first major wartime tax increases on Thursday to shore up finances as war with Russia drags on with no end in sight.

Yaroslav Zhelezniak, a lawmaker from the Holos party, said 247 of 450 deputies in the Verkhovna Rada approved the increase.

Ukraine spends the bulk of its revenue on funding its army, and the current level of taxation has been insufficient to cover rising defence spending, which has boomed since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, the finance ministry said.

Foreign financial aid remains vital for Ukraine to be able to balance its budget in the coming year.

Since the start of Russia's invasion, Ukraine has received nearly $100 billion in Western economic aid, which helps to pay pensions, public sector wages and other social spending.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreans-deployed-alongside-russian-troops-to-fight-with-ukraine-kremlin-rejects-fake-claims-766328">North Koreans deployed alongside Russian troops to fight with Ukraine; Kremlin rejects 'fake' claims</a>

Kyiv needs another $12 billion by the end of 2024 to spend on defence. Next year's budget deficit is expected to total about $38 billion.

The new law includes an increase in war tax from 1.5% to 5% for residents, higher taxes for individual entrepreneurs and small businesses, a 50% tax on banks' profits, and a 25% tax on the profits of financial companies.

Iryna Geraschenko, a lawmaker from the opposition European Solidarity party, said the new taxes would apply retroactively from the start of October.

It was not immediately clear how much additional money would be raised after lawmakers introduced a number of amendments during the debates, which were closed to the public for wartime security reasons.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/isis-linked-5-israelis-arrested-for-plotting-car-bombing-in-tel-aviv-mall-766322">IS-linked 5 Israelis arrested for plotting car-bombing in Tel Aviv mall</a>

The legislation still needs to be signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky before it enters force.

In addition to the new taxes, the government has increased its borrowing on the domestic market and restructured Ukraine's foreign debt, saving $11.4 billion over the next three years.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Ukraine's Parliament has approved the first major wartime tax increases on Thursday to shore up finances as war with Russia drags on with no end in sight. Yaroslav Zhelezniak, a lawmaker from the Holos party, said 247 of 450 deputies in the Verkhovna Rada approved the increase.

Ukraine's Parliament has approved the first major wartime tax increases on Thursday to shore up finances as war with Russia drags on with no end in sight. Yaroslav Zhelezniak, a lawmaker from the Holos party, said 247 of 450 deputies in the Verkhovna Rada approved the increase. Ukraine spends the bulk of its revenue on funding its army, and the current level of taxation has been insufficient to cover rising defence spending, which has boomed since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, the finance ministry said. Foreign financial aid remains vital for Ukraine to be able to balance its budget in the coming year. Since the start of Russia's invasion, Ukraine has received nearly $100 billion in Western economic aid, which helps to pay pensions, public sector wages and other social spending. Also Read | North Koreans deployed alongside Russian troops to fight with Ukraine; Kremlin rejects 'fake' claims Kyiv needs another $12 billion by the end of 2024 to spend on defence. Next year's budget deficit is expected to total about $38 billion. The new law includes an increase in war tax from 1.5% to 5% for residents, higher taxes for individual entrepreneurs and small businesses, a 50% tax on banks' profits, and a 25% tax on the profits of financial companies. Iryna Geraschenko, a lawmaker from the opposition European Solidarity party, said the new taxes would apply retroactively from the start of October. It was not immediately clear how much additional money would be raised after lawmakers introduced a number of amendments during the debates, which were closed to the public for wartime security reasons. Also Read | IS-linked 5 Israelis arrested for plotting car-bombing in Tel Aviv mall The legislation still needs to be signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky before it enters force. In addition to the new taxes, the government has increased its borrowing on the domestic market and restructured Ukraine's foreign debt, saving $11.4 billion over the next three years. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Ukraine’s parliament approves first wartime tax hikes to shore up finances amid ongoing conflict with Russia

British pharmaceutical company GSK said on Wednesday that it has agreed to pay $2.3 billion to put an end to lawsuits in the United States alleging that its heartburn drug Zantac caused cancer.

British pharmaceutical company GSK said on Wednesday that it has agreed to pay $2.3 billion to put an end to lawsuits in the United States alleging that its heartburn drug Zantac caused cancer. "GSK today announced that it has reached agreements with 10 plaintiff firms who together represent 93 per cent (approximately 80,000) of the Zantac state court product liability cases pending against GSK," the company said in a statement. Under the agreement, whose terms are confidential, GSK will make an "aggregate payment of up to $2.2 billion" to resolve these cases, the statement added. The company also said on Wednesday that it had reached another agreement in principle to pay $70 million to settle a separate Zantac case with US laboratory Valisure -- which is still subject to final approval by the US Department of Justice. Also Read | ‘It needs to go’: Tim Walz calls for scrapping of electoral college system Class action and personal injury lawsuits have been filed in US courts after the Food and Drug Administration warned in 2019 that some ranitidine drugs, including Zantac, contained low levels of an environmental contaminant considered a probable carcinogen. However the pharmaceutical giant said it "has not admitted any liability" by settling the case as "the scientific consensus remains that there is no consistent or reliable evidence" that ranitidine is carcinogenic. Also Read | ‘Your behaviour not unnoticed,’ Philippines embarrasses China at ASEAN summit The over-the-counter treatment, known also by its non-commercial name ranitidine, was manufactured by several rivals, including the French group Sanofi and US drugmaker Pfizer, before it was withdrawn in 2019. In recent years, GSK has won several court cases on the issue in the United States, while signing several other settlements to avoid litigation. 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.

Pharma company GSK agrees to pay $2.3bn in US settlements on lawsuits over Zantac cancer claims

Amid Israel intensifying its offensive by sending ground troops across Lebanese-Israeli border and continuing airstrikes on Beirut and elsewhere, Hezbollah is now no longer demanding a truce in Gaza as a condition for reaching a ceasefire in Lebanon.

"We support the political efforts led by (Parliament Speaker Nabih) Berri under the banner of achieving a ceasefire. Once the ceasefire is firmly established and diplomacy can reach it, all other details will be discussed and decisions will be made collaboratively," Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Naim Qassem said according to CNN.

Qaseem said this in his televised speech on Tuesday marking the first anniversary of Hezbollah's involvement in the war. 
Meanwhile, 'The Times of Israel' today cited an Israeli television Channel 12 report yesterday that the United States and Arab states have launched covert talks with Iran for a comprehensive ceasefire aimed at calming all war fronts at once.

"We are currently in a position of power, a ceasefire will be on our terms, including a [Hezbollah] withdrawal beyond the Litani [River] and the dismantling of all military Hezbollah sites in areas near the border," a senior Israeli official was quoted as saying by the Israeli news daily.

US President Joe Biden is expected to hold a crucial phone call on Wednesday morning with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Israel's plans to strike Iran, 'Axios' reported citing three US officials. The news outlet added that the US officials added that Biden and Netanyahu will also discuss the wars in Lebanon and Gaza.

On September 23, Israel started a military operation 'Northern Arrows' against Hezbollah carrying out widespread strikes at the group's military sites in Lebanon. On September 27 Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut and beginning October 1, Israel announced the start of a ground operation in the border areas of southern Lebanon.

US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller in a briefing on Tuesday said he had seen reports of Hezbollah now wanting a ceasefire that was delinked from Gaza.

"For a year, the world has been calling on Hezbollah to stop the attacks across the border into Israel. And for a year, Hezbollah said that they would not do it unless there was a ceasefire in Gaza. They linked the two when the international community was saying stop the fighting, and Israel was saying if Hezbollah stopped attacks across the border Israel would stop its attacks in response against Hezbollah," Miller said.

"Obviously, we don't trust Hezbollah," Miller said. "But you look at what Hezbollah said in 2006 when 1701 was adopted by the UN Security Council... that they would implement 1701 - and they blew through all of their commitments.

"So there is an obvious lack of faith in Hezbollah's ability to do what it said in 2006 and do what it's saying it would do now, which is agree to an actual ceasefire that would allow Israeli civilians to return home and allow Lebanese civilians to return home," the US State Department spokesperson said.

Qassem's statement about a ceasefire, Miller said, shows that Israel has been successful in weakening the group's military power. "For a year Hezbollah wouldn't talk about a ceasefire and now that it's "on the back foot and is getting battered, suddenly they've changed their tune and want a ceasefire. I think it's not surprising given the situation they find themselves in," he said, adding```` that "we continue to ultimately want a diplomatic solution to this conflict." 
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu sent a video message in English said Israel has "eliminated" Hashem Safieddine, the successor to Nasrallah. Netanyahu addressed the people of Lebanon directly in the message, urging them to stand up to Hezbollah and "take back your country," and threatening them with a Gaza style war if they do not, CNN reported.&nbsp;

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 Israel intensifying its offensive by sending ground troops across Lebanese-Israeli border and continuing airstrikes on Beirut and elsewhere, Hezbollah is now no longer demanding a truce in Gaza as a condition for reaching a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Amid Israel intensifying its offensive by sending ground troops across Lebanese-Israeli border and continuing airstrikes on Beirut and elsewhere, Hezbollah is now no longer demanding a truce in Gaza as a condition for reaching a ceasefire in Lebanon. "We support the political efforts led by (Parliament Speaker Nabih) Berri under the banner of achieving a ceasefire. Once the ceasefire is firmly established and diplomacy can reach it, all other details will be discussed and decisions will be made collaboratively," Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Naim Qassem said according to CNN. Qaseem said this in his televised speech on Tuesday marking the first anniversary of Hezbollah's involvement in the war. Meanwhile, 'The Times of Israel' today cited an Israeli television Channel 12 report yesterday that the United States and Arab states have launched covert talks with Iran for a comprehensive ceasefire aimed at calming all war fronts at once. "We are currently in a position of power, a ceasefire will be on our terms, including a [Hezbollah] withdrawal beyond the Litani [River] and the dismantling of all military Hezbollah sites in areas near the border," a senior Israeli official was quoted as saying by the Israeli news daily. US President Joe Biden is expected to hold a crucial phone call on Wednesday morning with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Israel's plans to strike Iran, 'Axios' reported citing three US officials. The news outlet added that the US officials added that Biden and Netanyahu will also discuss the wars in Lebanon and Gaza. On September 23, Israel started a military operation 'Northern Arrows' against Hezbollah carrying out widespread strikes at the group's military sites in Lebanon. On September 27 Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut and beginning October 1, Israel announced the start of a ground operation in the border areas of southern Lebanon. US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller in a briefing on Tuesday said he had seen reports of Hezbollah now wanting a ceasefire that was delinked from Gaza. "For a year, the world has been calling on Hezbollah to stop the attacks across the border into Israel. And for a year, Hezbollah said that they would not do it unless there was a ceasefire in Gaza. They linked the two when the international community was saying stop the fighting, and Israel was saying if Hezbollah stopped attacks across the border Israel would stop its attacks in response against Hezbollah," Miller said. "Obviously, we don't trust Hezbollah," Miller said. "But you look at what Hezbollah said in 2006 when 1701 was adopted by the UN Security Council... that they would implement 1701 - and they blew through all of their commitments. "So there is an obvious lack of faith in Hezbollah's ability to do what it said in 2006 and do what it's saying it would do now, which is agree to an actual ceasefire that would allow Israeli civilians to return home and allow Lebanese civilians to return home," the US State Department spokesperson said. Qassem's statement about a ceasefire, Miller said, shows that Israel has been successful in weakening the group's military power. "For a year Hezbollah wouldn't talk about a ceasefire and now that it's "on the back foot and is getting battered, suddenly they've changed their tune and want a ceasefire. I think it's not surprising given the situation they find themselves in," he said, adding```` that "we continue to ultimately want a diplomatic solution to this conflict." Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu sent a video message in English said Israel has "eliminated" Hashem Safieddine, the successor to Nasrallah. Netanyahu addressed the people of Lebanon directly in the message, urging them to stand up to Hezbollah and "take back your country," and threatening them with a Gaza style war if they do not, CNN reported. 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.

Hezbollah supports Lebanon ceasefire de-linked from Gaza: US says it shows militant group weakening

An Afghan man was arrested in Oklahoma for allegedly plotting an election day "terrorist attack," the U.S. Department of Justice said on Tuesday.

The man, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, living in Oklahoma City after entering the U.S. in 2021 on a special immigrant visa, was plotting the attack in the name of Islamic State, according to the indictment. The Special Immigrant Visa program, which admits up to 50 people a year, is available to people who worked with the U.S. armed forces or under chief of mission authority as a translator or interpreter in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The indictment did not indicate whether Tawhedi worked as translator or interpreter in Afghanistan. The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tawhedi searched online for information on how to access cameras in the capital, Washington, D.C., and for states that did not require a license to get a firearm, according to the indictment. He also visited the White House and Washington Monument web cameras.

Tawhedi and an underage co-conspirator, who is his brother-in-law, were arrested on Monday after they met with FBI assets to buy two AK-47 rifles and ammunition.

In his post-arrest interview, Tawhedi said the attack planned to target large gatherings of people, during which he and his co-conspirator expected to die as martyrs.

"We will continue to combat the ongoing threat that ISIS and its supporters pose to America’s national security, and we will identify, investigate, and prosecute the individuals who seek to terrorize the American people," U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

Last week, in a "homeland threat assessment," the Department of Homeland Security said the U.S. threat environment was expected to remain high in the coming year due to factors including the 2024 election cycle and the war in Gaza.

"Lone offenders and small groups continue to pose the greatest threat. Meanwhile, foreign terrorist organizations, including the Islamic State and al Qaeda maintain their enduring intent to conduct or inspire attacks in the Homeland," the department said in an assessment released on Oct. 2.

The Islamic State militant organization killed and executed thousands of people in the name of its extreme religious interpretation before it was territorially defeated in Iraq in 2017 and Syria in 2019.

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.

An Afghan man was arrested in Oklahoma for allegedly plotting an election day "terrorist attack," the U.S. Department of Justice said on Tuesday. The man, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, living in Oklahoma City after entering the U.

An Afghan man was arrested in Oklahoma for allegedly plotting an election day "terrorist attack," the U.S. Department of Justice said on Tuesday. The man, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, living in Oklahoma City after entering the U.S. in 2021 on a special immigrant visa, was plotting the attack in the name of Islamic State, according to the indictment. The Special Immigrant Visa program, which admits up to 50 people a year, is available to people who worked with the U.S. armed forces or under chief of mission authority as a translator or interpreter in Iraq or Afghanistan. The indictment did not indicate whether Tawhedi worked as translator or interpreter in Afghanistan. The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Tawhedi searched online for information on how to access cameras in the capital, Washington, D.C., and for states that did not require a license to get a firearm, according to the indictment. He also visited the White House and Washington Monument web cameras. Tawhedi and an underage co-conspirator, who is his brother-in-law, were arrested on Monday after they met with FBI assets to buy two AK-47 rifles and ammunition. In his post-arrest interview, Tawhedi said the attack planned to target large gatherings of people, during which he and his co-conspirator expected to die as martyrs. "We will continue to combat the ongoing threat that ISIS and its supporters pose to America’s national security, and we will identify, investigate, and prosecute the individuals who seek to terrorize the American people," U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. Last week, in a "homeland threat assessment," the Department of Homeland Security said the U.S. threat environment was expected to remain high in the coming year due to factors including the 2024 election cycle and the war in Gaza. "Lone offenders and small groups continue to pose the greatest threat. Meanwhile, foreign terrorist organizations, including the Islamic State and al Qaeda maintain their enduring intent to conduct or inspire attacks in the Homeland," the department said in an assessment released on Oct. 2. The Islamic State militant organization killed and executed thousands of people in the name of its extreme religious interpretation before it was territorially defeated in Iraq in 2017 and Syria in 2019. 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.

Afghan man arrested for plotting election day terrorist attack in US

Ukraine aims to organise a new peace summit by the end of this year and wants Russia to attend this time, its ambassador to Turkey said on Wednesday, but ruled out any direct bilateral talks with Moscow at the meeting.

With Russia's invasion of Ukraine in its third year, the two countries remain far apart on how to end the war. Turkey, China, Brazil and others have offered to mediate in the conflict or discuss peace proposals, but no progress has been made.

Ukraine is pursuing President Volodymyr Zelensky's "victory plan", while Russian President Vladimir Putin has said peace talks can only begin if Kyiv agrees to abandon large swaths of territory claimed by Moscow and drops its bid to join NATO.

"One of the most important goals of this summit is to reach a fair peace in Ukraine. We are not talking about a format here in which Ukraine and Russia sit across each other and Ukraine listens to Russia's demands," Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar told a briefing in Ankara, via a Turkish interpreter.

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-netanyahu-hold-telephonic-conversation-for-1st-time-since-august-as-israeli-response-against-iran-looms-766053">Biden-Netanyahu speak for 1st time since Aug as Israeli response vs Iran looms</a>|

"What we see now is this: the international community, along with Ukraine, will sit and create a list on what steps could be taken for a fair peace in Ukraine, and they will discuss what sort of demands to ask Russia based on that list," he said.

"This will not be a direct bilateral meeting, it will most likely be in a format where third parties are also involved and (talks) are done via third parties. We hope to hold this summit by the end of the year."

Bodnar said Turkey, which has sought to maintain cordial ties with both Ukraine and Russia during the war, would be an important attendee due to its experience in mediation of other conflicts.

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/monstrous-hurricane-milton-could-permanently-alter-floridas-entire-coastline-experts-warn-766022">Hurricane Milton could forever alter Florida's entire coastline, experts warn</a>|

While supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity, condemning the invasion, and providing it with military support, NATO member Turkey has also opposed Western sanctions on Russia, with which it has important relations in defence, energy and tourism.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is expected to attend the Ukraine-Southeast Europe summit in the Croatian city of Dubrovnik on Wednesday. A Turkish diplomatic source said he would reiterate Ankara's position that any peace talks must include both parties for a "fair and lasting" resolution.

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.

Ukraine aims to organise a new peace summit by the end of this year and wants Russia to attend this time, its ambassador to Turkey said on Wednesday, but ruled out any direct bilateral talks with Moscow at the meeting.

Ukraine aims to organise a new peace summit by the end of this year and wants Russia to attend this time, its ambassador to Turkey said on Wednesday, but ruled out any direct bilateral talks with Moscow at the meeting. With Russia's invasion of Ukraine in its third year, the two countries remain far apart on how to end the war. Turkey, China, Brazil and others have offered to mediate in the conflict or discuss peace proposals, but no progress has been made. Ukraine is pursuing President Volodymyr Zelensky's "victory plan", while Russian President Vladimir Putin has said peace talks can only begin if Kyiv agrees to abandon large swaths of territory claimed by Moscow and drops its bid to join NATO. "One of the most important goals of this summit is to reach a fair peace in Ukraine. We are not talking about a format here in which Ukraine and Russia sit across each other and Ukraine listens to Russia's demands," Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar told a briefing in Ankara, via a Turkish interpreter. Also Read |Biden-Netanyahu speak for 1st time since Aug as Israeli response vs Iran looms| "What we see now is this: the international community, along with Ukraine, will sit and create a list on what steps could be taken for a fair peace in Ukraine, and they will discuss what sort of demands to ask Russia based on that list," he said. "This will not be a direct bilateral meeting, it will most likely be in a format where third parties are also involved and (talks) are done via third parties. We hope to hold this summit by the end of the year." Bodnar said Turkey, which has sought to maintain cordial ties with both Ukraine and Russia during the war, would be an important attendee due to its experience in mediation of other conflicts. Also Read |Hurricane Milton could forever alter Florida's entire coastline, experts warn| While supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity, condemning the invasion, and providing it with military support, NATO member Turkey has also opposed Western sanctions on Russia, with which it has important relations in defence, energy and tourism. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is expected to attend the Ukraine-Southeast Europe summit in the Croatian city of Dubrovnik on Wednesday. A Turkish diplomatic source said he would reiterate Ankara's position that any peace talks must include both parties for a "fair and lasting" resolution. 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.

Ukraine eyes new peace summit by year-end and wants Russia to attend it, envoy to Turkey says

The mayor of Chilpancingo, the capital of Mexico's violence-plagued state of Guerrero, travelled alone to an out-of-town meeting before he was killed, Mexico's security minister said on Tuesday about the murder which has shocked the country.

Alejandro Arcos, of Mexico's main opposition alliance, had only taken office six days earlier. Photos circulated on Sunday via WhatsApp and in Mexican media outlets depicting a severed head on top of a pick-up truck, appearing to be that of Arcos.&nbsp;

The gruesome act happened just days before new President Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled her security strategy aimed at combating violent crime.&nbsp;

Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch said in a news conference that an investigation had determined Arcos left Chilpancingo in his pickup truck without a driver or escort heading towards the nearby town of Petaquillas.&nbsp;

Arcos had not requested security protection from the federal government, Garcia Harfuch said.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-is-on-alert-as-three-asteroids-come-hurtling-towards-earth-at-scary-speed-will-they-collide-765898">NASA is on alert as three asteroids come hurtling towards Earth at scary speed. Will they collide?</a>

"We know that he was going to a specific meeting, that he was not accompanied by someone. Communication was lost in a community, and... hours later the mayor's body was found," Garcia Harfuch said.&nbsp;

Asked by a reporter who Arcos was meeting with, the minister declined to give details, saying it was an open investigation.

"There is a lot of information on this subject that we must guard for the sake of the investigation," Harfuch said.&nbsp;

Mexican newspaper Reforma, citing federal government sources, reported that Arcos had met with members of Los Ardillos, a criminal group active in Guerrero state, hours before his death. &nbsp;

A funeral for Arcos was held on Monday, with mourners lining the streets and throwing rose petals as his casket was driven through the town.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/another-world-with-six-storey-buildings-beneath-the-arctic-heres-what-scientists-found-on-its-seafloor-765875">Another world with six-storey buildings beneath the Arctic? Here's what scientists found on its seafloor</a>

Similar grisly murders involving decapitations have plagued Guerrero - including Chilpancingo - in the past as a way cartel members use to send messages of threats and control.&nbsp;

As recently as 2023, violence from warring gang factions paralyzed public transportation and shuttered businesses in Chilpancingo. After Arcos' killing, classes were suspended for local schools.&nbsp;

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.

The mayor of Chilpancingo, the capital of Mexico's violence-plagued state of Guerrero, travelled alone to an out-of-town meeting before he was killed, Mexico's security minister said on Tuesday about the murder which has shocked the country.

The mayor of Chilpancingo, the capital of Mexico's violence-plagued state of Guerrero, travelled alone to an out-of-town meeting before he was killed, Mexico's security minister said on Tuesday about the murder which has shocked the country. Alejandro Arcos, of Mexico's main opposition alliance, had only taken office six days earlier. Photos circulated on Sunday via WhatsApp and in Mexican media outlets depicting a severed head on top of a pick-up truck, appearing to be that of Arcos. The gruesome act happened just days before new President Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled her security strategy aimed at combating violent crime. Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch said in a news conference that an investigation had determined Arcos left Chilpancingo in his pickup truck without a driver or escort heading towards the nearby town of Petaquillas. Arcos had not requested security protection from the federal government, Garcia Harfuch said. Also Read | NASA is on alert as three asteroids come hurtling towards Earth at scary speed. Will they collide? "We know that he was going to a specific meeting, that he was not accompanied by someone. Communication was lost in a community, and... hours later the mayor's body was found," Garcia Harfuch said. Asked by a reporter who Arcos was meeting with, the minister declined to give details, saying it was an open investigation. "There is a lot of information on this subject that we must guard for the sake of the investigation," Harfuch said. Mexican newspaper Reforma, citing federal government sources, reported that Arcos had met with members of Los Ardillos, a criminal group active in Guerrero state, hours before his death. A funeral for Arcos was held on Monday, with mourners lining the streets and throwing rose petals as his casket was driven through the town. Also Read | Another world with six-storey buildings beneath the Arctic? Here's what scientists found on its seafloor Similar grisly murders involving decapitations have plagued Guerrero - including Chilpancingo - in the past as a way cartel members use to send messages of threats and control. As recently as 2023, violence from warring gang factions paralyzed public transportation and shuttered businesses in Chilpancingo. After Arcos' killing, classes were suspended for local schools. 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.

Mexico: Chilpancingo Mayor Alejandro Arcos went alone to a meeting before his brutal killing

Hurricane Milton churned Wednesday toward a potentially catastrophic collision along the west coast of Florida, where some residents insisted they would stay after millions were ordered to evacuate and officials warned that stragglers would face grim odds of surviving.

The Tampa Bay area, home to more than 3.3 million people, faced the possibility of widespread destruction after avoiding direct hits from major hurricanes for more than a century.

The National Hurricane Centre predicted Milton, a monstrous Category 5 hurricane during much of its approach, would likely weaken but remain a major hurricane when it makes landfall late Wednesday. 
 
Milton was centred late Tuesday about 650 kilometres southwest of Tampa with maximum sustained winds of 260 kmh, the National Hurricane Centre reported.

Forecasters predicted the storm will retain hurricane strength as it crosses central Florida on Thursday on a path east toward the Atlantic Ocean. The hurricane's precise track remained uncertain, as forecasters Tuesday evening nudged its projected path slightly south of Tampa.

Thousands of fleeing cars clogged Florida's highways ahead of the storm, but time for evacuations was running out Wednesday. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor noted that up to 4.5 metres of storm surge forecast for her city would be deep enough to swallow an entire house.

“So if you're in it, basically that's the coffin that you're in,” Castor said. Milton targets communities still reeling two weeks after Hurricane Helene flooded streets and homes in western Florida along its devastating march that left at least 230 dead across the South.

In the seaside town of Punta Gorda, about 160 kilometres south of Tampa, streets were still filled Tuesday with five-foot piles of soggy furniture, clothing, books, appliances and other trash dragged from damaged homes.

Many homes sat vacant, but accountant and art collector Scott Joiner remained on the second floor of the New Orleans-style home he built 17 years ago. Joiner said bull sharks swam in the flooded streets and a neighbour had to be rescued by canoe when Helene passed and flooded the first floor of his home.

“Water is a blessing to have,” Joiner said, “but it is very deadly.” Joiner said he planned to go another round and ride out Milton, despite the risk. 
 
Authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders across 11 Florida counties with a combined population of about 5.9 million people, according to US Census Bureau estimates.

Officials have warned that anyone staying behind must fend for themselves, as first responders are not expected to risk their lives attempting rescues at the height of the storm. 
 
In Riverview, south of Tampa, several drivers waiting in a long line for fuel Tuesday said they had no plans to evacuate.

“I think we'll just hang, you know — tough it out,” said Martin Oakes, of nearby Apollo Beach. “We got shutters up. The house is all ready. So this is sort of the last piece of the puzzle.” Others weren't taking any chances after Helene.

On Anna Maria Island along the southern edge of Tampa Bay, Evan Purcell packed up his father's ashes and was trying to catch his nine-year-old cat, McKenzie, as he prepared to leave Tuesday. Helene left him with thousands of dollars in damage when his home flooded. He feared Milton might take the rest.

“I'm still in shock over the first one and here comes round two,” Purcell said. “I just have a pit in my stomach about this one.” State and local governments scrambled ahead of the storm to remove piles of debris left in Helene's wake, fearing that the oncoming hurricane would turn loose wreckage into flying missiles. Governor Ron DeSantis said the state deployed over 300 dump trucks that had removed 1,300 loads of debris.

In Mexico, authorities in the state of Yucatan reported minor damage from Milton as it passed just offshore. Power lines, light poles and trees were knocked down near the coast, and some small thatched-roof structures were destroyed, Yucatan Governor Joaquin Diaz 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 Milton churned Wednesday toward a potentially catastrophic collision along the west coast of Florida, where some residents insisted they would stay after millions were ordered to evacuate and officials warned that stragglers would face grim odds of surviving.

Hurricane Milton churned Wednesday toward a potentially catastrophic collision along the west coast of Florida, where some residents insisted they would stay after millions were ordered to evacuate and officials warned that stragglers would face grim odds of surviving. The Tampa Bay area, home to more than 3.3 million people, faced the possibility of widespread destruction after avoiding direct hits from major hurricanes for more than a century. The National Hurricane Centre predicted Milton, a monstrous Category 5 hurricane during much of its approach, would likely weaken but remain a major hurricane when it makes landfall late Wednesday. Milton was centred late Tuesday about 650 kilometres southwest of Tampa with maximum sustained winds of 260 kmh, the National Hurricane Centre reported. Forecasters predicted the storm will retain hurricane strength as it crosses central Florida on Thursday on a path east toward the Atlantic Ocean. The hurricane's precise track remained uncertain, as forecasters Tuesday evening nudged its projected path slightly south of Tampa. Thousands of fleeing cars clogged Florida's highways ahead of the storm, but time for evacuations was running out Wednesday. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor noted that up to 4.5 metres of storm surge forecast for her city would be deep enough to swallow an entire house. “So if you're in it, basically that's the coffin that you're in,” Castor said. Milton targets communities still reeling two weeks after Hurricane Helene flooded streets and homes in western Florida along its devastating march that left at least 230 dead across the South. In the seaside town of Punta Gorda, about 160 kilometres south of Tampa, streets were still filled Tuesday with five-foot piles of soggy furniture, clothing, books, appliances and other trash dragged from damaged homes. Many homes sat vacant, but accountant and art collector Scott Joiner remained on the second floor of the New Orleans-style home he built 17 years ago. Joiner said bull sharks swam in the flooded streets and a neighbour had to be rescued by canoe when Helene passed and flooded the first floor of his home. “Water is a blessing to have,” Joiner said, “but it is very deadly.” Joiner said he planned to go another round and ride out Milton, despite the risk. Authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders across 11 Florida counties with a combined population of about 5.9 million people, according to US Census Bureau estimates. Officials have warned that anyone staying behind must fend for themselves, as first responders are not expected to risk their lives attempting rescues at the height of the storm. In Riverview, south of Tampa, several drivers waiting in a long line for fuel Tuesday said they had no plans to evacuate. “I think we'll just hang, you know — tough it out,” said Martin Oakes, of nearby Apollo Beach. “We got shutters up. The house is all ready. So this is sort of the last piece of the puzzle.” Others weren't taking any chances after Helene. On Anna Maria Island along the southern edge of Tampa Bay, Evan Purcell packed up his father's ashes and was trying to catch his nine-year-old cat, McKenzie, as he prepared to leave Tuesday. Helene left him with thousands of dollars in damage when his home flooded. He feared Milton might take the rest. “I'm still in shock over the first one and here comes round two,” Purcell said. “I just have a pit in my stomach about this one.” State and local governments scrambled ahead of the storm to remove piles of debris left in Helene's wake, fearing that the oncoming hurricane would turn loose wreckage into flying missiles. Governor Ron DeSantis said the state deployed over 300 dump trucks that had removed 1,300 loads of debris. In Mexico, authorities in the state of Yucatan reported minor damage from Milton as it passed just offshore. Power lines, light poles and trees were knocked down near the coast, and some small thatched-roof structures were destroyed, Yucatan Governor Joaquin Diaz 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 Milton closes in on Florida, residents asked to evacuate

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Wionintern

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.