India's ties with Southeast Asian countries have been based on civilisational and cultural linkages which have grown into acquiring all the elements of a contemporary relationship. These countries are pillars in India's 'Act East' Policy and Vision of the Indo-Pacific.

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In bid to give further strength to this area, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Laos from October 10-11, where he is set to attend the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit, being hosted by Laos, which is the current Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The East Asia Summit, a premier leaders-led forum that contributes to building an environment of strategic trust in the region, provides an opportunity for leaders of EAS Participating Countries, including India, to exchange views on issues of regional importance.

Prime Minister Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the two Summits.

The visit comes at a time when India is marking a decade of the Act East Policy this year.

PM Modi's visit to Vientiane comes at the invitation of his counterpart Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/two-independent-mlas-join-bjp-after-partys-big-win-in-haryana-elections-765980">Two independent MLAs join BJP after party's big win in Haryana elections</a>

The ASEAN-India Summit will review the progress of India-ASEAN relations through Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and chart the future direction of cooperation.

2024 marks a decade of India's Act East Policy and during this time period, engagements have grown from stronger people-to-people connections to robust cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, and connectivity, including fintech, heritage conservation, and capacity building. This year also marks important anniversaries of the establishment of India's diplomatic relations with several countries in the region - 75th with Indonesia, 75th with the Philippines, 60th with Singapore and 40th with Brunei.

Meanwhile, during the first 100 days of his third term, PM Modi received the Prime Ministers of Vietnam and Malaysia in New Delhi.

PM Modi also visited Brunei and Singapore and had fruitful discussions with the leadership in September. The Prime Minister's visit to Brunei was the first ever bilateral visit to the country by an Indian Prime Minister. The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, also travelled to Timor-Leste for the first-ever Head of State visit from India on August 10.

Each of these visits witnessed the signing and exchange of several MoUs/Agreements and some significant announcements. India-Malaysia and India-Singapore ties were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was strengthened and India-Brunei ties were elevated to Enhanced Partnership.

India and Singapore signed the MoU on Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership and agreed that advanced manufacturing, particularly in developing resilient semiconductor supply chains, could be a new pillar of bilateral cooperation.

At the 20th ASEAN-India Summit in Jakarta last year, PM Modi&nbsp;announced India's decision to open a Resident Mission in Dili, Timor-Leste. The Indian Resident Mission in Dili has been recently operationalised.

Direct flights between Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and New Delhi (India) have commenced from June 2024. Direct flights between India and Brunei (Chennai-Bandar Seri Begawan) are also likely to commence soon.

Also Read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-goes-for-jugular-against-congress-a-day-after-haryana-win-765946">'They spread lies': PM Modi goes for jugular against Congress, a day after Haryana win</a>|&nbsp;

India's civilisational links with the Southeast Asian countries have been nourished by the sacred threads of Buddhism and Ramayana. These links are re-invigorated through initiatives such as the revival of Nalanda University, the new campus of which was inaugurated earlier this year. Restoration and conservation of World Heritage sites such as Vat Phou in Lao PDR, Angkor Vat, Preah Vihear Temple and Ta Prohm Temple in Cambodia and My Son in Vietnam by the Archaeological Survey of India is helping preserve our shared heritage.

India is also co-chair of the International Coordination Committee (ICC) of UNESCO for Preah Vihear Temple in Cambodia.

PM Modi and the Prime Minister of Vietnam jointly inaugurated on August 1, the Army Software Park at Telecommunications University, Nha Trang, established with a grant of USD 5 million by the Government of India. During the Prime Minister's visit to Brunei Darussalam, India and Brunei signed an MoU on Cooperation in the operation of Telemetry, Tracking and Telecommand Station for Satellite and Launch Vehicles.

During the recent visit of Vietnam's Prime Minister to India, Vietnam conveyed its decision to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) on August 1.

In the wake of Typhoon Yagi, India extended emergency humanitarian assistance to Laos and Vietnam under Operation Sadbhav. A consignment of 35 tonnes of humanitarian assistance for Vietnam and 10 tonnes for Laos was provided.

India has been among the first responders in providing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to the region. Operation Sadbhav was part of India's broader effort to contribute to HADR within the ASEAN region, in line with its long-standing 'Act East' Policy.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

India's ties with Southeast Asian countries have been based on civilisational and cultural linkages which have grown into acquiring all the elements of a contemporary relationship.

India's ties with Southeast Asian countries have been based on civilisational and cultural linkages which have grown into acquiring all the elements of a contemporary relationship. These countries are pillars in India's 'Act East' Policy and Vision of the Indo-Pacific. In bid to give further strength to this area, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Laos from October 10-11, where he is set to attend the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit, being hosted by Laos, which is the current Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The East Asia Summit, a premier leaders-led forum that contributes to building an environment of strategic trust in the region, provides an opportunity for leaders of EAS Participating Countries, including India, to exchange views on issues of regional importance. Prime Minister Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the two Summits. The visit comes at a time when India is marking a decade of the Act East Policy this year. PM Modi's visit to Vientiane comes at the invitation of his counterpart Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Also Read | Two independent MLAs join BJP after party's big win in Haryana elections The ASEAN-India Summit will review the progress of India-ASEAN relations through Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and chart the future direction of cooperation. 2024 marks a decade of India's Act East Policy and during this time period, engagements have grown from stronger people-to-people connections to robust cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, and connectivity, including fintech, heritage conservation, and capacity building. This year also marks important anniversaries of the establishment of India's diplomatic relations with several countries in the region - 75th with Indonesia, 75th with the Philippines, 60th with Singapore and 40th with Brunei. Meanwhile, during the first 100 days of his third term, PM Modi received the Prime Ministers of Vietnam and Malaysia in New Delhi. PM Modi also visited Brunei and Singapore and had fruitful discussions with the leadership in September. The Prime Minister's visit to Brunei was the first ever bilateral visit to the country by an Indian Prime Minister. The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, also travelled to Timor-Leste for the first-ever Head of State visit from India on August 10. Each of these visits witnessed the signing and exchange of several MoUs/Agreements and some significant announcements. India-Malaysia and India-Singapore ties were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was strengthened and India-Brunei ties were elevated to Enhanced Partnership. India and Singapore signed the MoU on Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership and agreed that advanced manufacturing, particularly in developing resilient semiconductor supply chains, could be a new pillar of bilateral cooperation. At the 20th ASEAN-India Summit in Jakarta last year, PM Modi announced India's decision to open a Resident Mission in Dili, Timor-Leste. The Indian Resident Mission in Dili has been recently operationalised. Direct flights between Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and New Delhi (India) have commenced from June 2024. Direct flights between India and Brunei (Chennai-Bandar Seri Begawan) are also likely to commence soon. Also Read| 'They spread lies': PM Modi goes for jugular against Congress, a day after Haryana win| India's civilisational links with the Southeast Asian countries have been nourished by the sacred threads of Buddhism and Ramayana. These links are re-invigorated through initiatives such as the revival of Nalanda University, the new campus of which was inaugurated earlier this year. Restoration and conservation of World Heritage sites such as Vat Phou in Lao PDR, Angkor Vat, Preah Vihear Temple and Ta Prohm Temple in Cambodia and My Son in Vietnam by the Archaeological Survey of India is helping preserve our shared heritage. India is also co-chair of the International Coordination Committee (ICC) of UNESCO for Preah Vihear Temple in Cambodia. PM Modi and the Prime Minister of Vietnam jointly inaugurated on August 1, the Army Software Park at Telecommunications University, Nha Trang, established with a grant of USD 5 million by the Government of India. During the Prime Minister's visit to Brunei Darussalam, India and Brunei signed an MoU on Cooperation in the operation of Telemetry, Tracking and Telecommand Station for Satellite and Launch Vehicles. During the recent visit of Vietnam's Prime Minister to India, Vietnam conveyed its decision to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) on August 1. In the wake of Typhoon Yagi, India extended emergency humanitarian assistance to Laos and Vietnam under Operation Sadbhav. A consignment of 35 tonnes of humanitarian assistance for Vietnam and 10 tonnes for Laos was provided. India has been among the first responders in providing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to the region. Operation Sadbhav was part of India's broader effort to contribute to HADR within the ASEAN region, in line with its long-standing 'Act East' Policy. 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.

PM Modi to attend ASEAN-India, East Asia Summits: Schedule and what to expect

Human-caused climate change boosted a devastating Hurricane Helene 's rainfall by about 10% and intensified its winds by about 11%, scientists said in a new flash study released just as a strengthening Hurricane Milton threatens the Florida coast less than two weeks later.

The warming climate boosted Helene's wind speeds by about 13 miles per hour (20.92 kilometers per hour), and made the high sea temperatures that fueled the storm 200 to 500 times more likely, World Weather Attribution calculated Wednesday from Europe. Ocean temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico were about 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) above average, WWA said.

“Hurricane Helene and the storms that were happening in the region anyway have all been amplified by the fact that the air is warmer and can hold more moisture, which meant that the rainfall totals — which, even without climate change, would have been incredibly high given the circumstances — were even higher,”&nbsp;

Ben Clarke, a study co-author and a climate researcher at Imperial College London, said in an interview. Milton will likely be similarly juiced, the authors said. The scientists warned that continued burning of fossil fuels will lead to more hurricanes like Helene, with “unimaginable” floods well inland, not just on coasts.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-unveils-mace-asias-largest-cherenkov-telescope-in-ladakhs-hanle-giant-leap-for-cosmic-ray-research-765894">India unveils 'MACE' Asia's largest Cherenkov telescope in Ladakh's Hanle</a>|

Many of those who died in Helene fell victim to massive inland flooding, rather than high winds. Helene made landfall in Florida with record storm surge 15 feet (4.57 meters) high and catastrophic sustained winds reaching 140 miles per hour (225.31 kilometers per hour), pummeling Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Virginia.

&nbsp;It decimated remote towns throughout the Appalachians, left millions without power, cellular service and supplies and killed over 230 people. Search crews in the days following continued to look for bodies. Helene was the deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland U.S. since Katrina in 2005.Helene dumped more than 40 trillion gallons of rain — an unprecedented amount of water — onto the region, meteorologists estimated.&nbsp;

That rainfall would have been much less intense if humans hadn’t warmed the climate, according to WWA, an international scientist collaborative that runs rapid climate attribution studies. “When you start talking about the volumes involved, when you add even just a few percent on top of that, it makes it even much more destructive,” Clarke said. Hurricanes as intense as Helene were once expected every 130 years on average, but today are about 2.5 times more likely in the region, the scientists calculated.&nbsp;

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/milton-turning-out-to-be-eerily-similar-to-hypothetical-cat-5-hurricane-scenario-765884">Milton turning out to be eerily similar to a 2020 hypothetical Cat 5 hurricane scenario</a>|

The WWA launched in 2015 to assess the extent which extreme weather events could be attributed to climate change. The organization’s rapid studies aren’t peer-reviewed but use peer-reviewed methods.

&nbsp;The team of scientists tested the influence of climate change on Helene by analyzing weather data and climate models including the Imperial College Storm Model, the Climate Shift Index for oceans and the standard WWA approach, which compares an actual event with what might have been expected in a world that hasn't warmed about 1.3 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times.

A separate analysis of Helene last week by Department of Energy Lawrence Berkeley National Lab scientists determined that climate change caused 50% more rainfall in some parts of Georgia and the Carolinas, and that observed rainfall was “made up to 20 times more likely in these areas because of global warming.”&nbsp;

That study was also not peer-reviewed but used a method published in a study about Hurricane Harvey. Kim Cobb, director of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, wasn't involved in either study. She said there are uncertainties in exactly how much climate change is supercharging storms like Helene, but “we know that it’s increasing the power and devastation of these storms. ”She said Helene and Milton should serve “as a wake up call” for emergency preparedness, resilience planning and the increased use of fossil fuels. “Going forward, additional warming that we know will occur over the next 10 or 20 years will even worsen the statistics of hurricanes," she said, "and we will break new records.”

Analysis is already indicating climate change made possible the warmed sea temperatures that also rapidly intensified Milton. Clarke said the two massive storms in quick succession illustrates the potential future of climate change if humans don't stop it. “As we go into the future and our results show this as well, we still have control over what trajectory this goes in as to what risks we face in the future, what costs we pay in the future," he said. "That just hinges on how we change our energy systems and how many more fossil fuels we burn.

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.

Human-caused climate change boosted a devastating Hurricane Helene 's rainfall by about 10% and intensified its winds by about 11%, scientists said in a new flash study released just as a strengthening Hurricane Milton threatens the Florida coast less than two weeks later.

Human-caused climate change boosted a devastating Hurricane Helene 's rainfall by about 10% and intensified its winds by about 11%, scientists said in a new flash study released just as a strengthening Hurricane Milton threatens the Florida coast less than two weeks later. The warming climate boosted Helene's wind speeds by about 13 miles per hour (20.92 kilometers per hour), and made the high sea temperatures that fueled the storm 200 to 500 times more likely, World Weather Attribution calculated Wednesday from Europe. Ocean temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico were about 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) above average, WWA said. “Hurricane Helene and the storms that were happening in the region anyway have all been amplified by the fact that the air is warmer and can hold more moisture, which meant that the rainfall totals — which, even without climate change, would have been incredibly high given the circumstances — were even higher,” Ben Clarke, a study co-author and a climate researcher at Imperial College London, said in an interview. Milton will likely be similarly juiced, the authors said. The scientists warned that continued burning of fossil fuels will lead to more hurricanes like Helene, with “unimaginable” floods well inland, not just on coasts. Also Read |India unveils 'MACE' Asia's largest Cherenkov telescope in Ladakh's Hanle| Many of those who died in Helene fell victim to massive inland flooding, rather than high winds. Helene made landfall in Florida with record storm surge 15 feet (4.57 meters) high and catastrophic sustained winds reaching 140 miles per hour (225.31 kilometers per hour), pummeling Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Virginia. It decimated remote towns throughout the Appalachians, left millions without power, cellular service and supplies and killed over 230 people. Search crews in the days following continued to look for bodies. Helene was the deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland U.S. since Katrina in 2005.Helene dumped more than 40 trillion gallons of rain — an unprecedented amount of water — onto the region, meteorologists estimated. That rainfall would have been much less intense if humans hadn’t warmed the climate, according to WWA, an international scientist collaborative that runs rapid climate attribution studies. “When you start talking about the volumes involved, when you add even just a few percent on top of that, it makes it even much more destructive,” Clarke said. Hurricanes as intense as Helene were once expected every 130 years on average, but today are about 2.5 times more likely in the region, the scientists calculated. Also Read |Milton turning out to be eerily similar to a 2020 hypothetical Cat 5 hurricane scenario| The WWA launched in 2015 to assess the extent which extreme weather events could be attributed to climate change. The organization’s rapid studies aren’t peer-reviewed but use peer-reviewed methods. The team of scientists tested the influence of climate change on Helene by analyzing weather data and climate models including the Imperial College Storm Model, the Climate Shift Index for oceans and the standard WWA approach, which compares an actual event with what might have been expected in a world that hasn't warmed about 1.3 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times. A separate analysis of Helene last week by Department of Energy Lawrence Berkeley National Lab scientists determined that climate change caused 50% more rainfall in some parts of Georgia and the Carolinas, and that observed rainfall was “made up to 20 times more likely in these areas because of global warming.” That study was also not peer-reviewed but used a method published in a study about Hurricane Harvey. Kim Cobb, director of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, wasn't involved in either study. She said there are uncertainties in exactly how much climate change is supercharging storms like Helene, but “we know that it’s increasing the power and devastation of these storms. ”She said Helene and Milton should serve “as a wake up call” for emergency preparedness, resilience planning and the increased use of fossil fuels. “Going forward, additional warming that we know will occur over the next 10 or 20 years will even worsen the statistics of hurricanes," she said, "and we will break new records.” Analysis is already indicating climate change made possible the warmed sea temperatures that also rapidly intensified Milton. Clarke said the two massive storms in quick succession illustrates the potential future of climate change if humans don't stop it. “As we go into the future and our results show this as well, we still have control over what trajectory this goes in as to what risks we face in the future, what costs we pay in the future," he said. "That just hinges on how we change our energy systems and how many more fossil fuels we burn. 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.

Scientists warn climate change boosted Helen’s deadly rain, and the same is likely for Milton

At least 45 people were killed in Israeli military strikes on Gaza in the past 24 hours, Palestinian medics said on Wednesday, as Israeli forces pressed on with a raid on the Jabalia refugee camp in the enclave's north.

The Israeli military says the raid, now in its fifth day, is intended to stop Hamas fighters staging further attacks from Jabalia and to prevent them regrouping.

It has repeatedly issued evacuation orders to residents of Jabalia and nearby areas, but Palestinian and UN&nbsp;officials say there are no safe places to flee to in the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said it had received unconfirmed reports that dozens of Palestinians may have been killed in Jabalia and other areas of northern Gaza, but is unable to reach them because of Israeli bombardments.

"At least 400,000 people are trapped in the area," Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN&nbsp;aid agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, posted on X on Wednesday.

"Recent evacuation orders from the Israeli Authorities are forcing people to flee again &amp; again, especially from Jabalia Camp. Many are refusing because they know too well that no place anywhere in #Gaza is safe."

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Lazzarini said some UNRWA shelters and services were being forced to shut down for the first time since the war began and that with almost no basic supplies available, hunger was spreading again in northern Gaza.

"This recent military operation also threatens the implementation of the second phase of the #polio vaccination campaign for children," he said.

Israel did not immediately comment on Lazzarini's remarks. Israeli authorities have previously said they facilitate food deliveries to Gaza despite challenging conditions.

<h2>OVERNIGHT STRIKES</h2>

The Gaza health ministry said the army had ordered three hospitals in northern Gaza to evacuate. Hundreds of patients and medics were trapped inside those facilities, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The lives of dozens of patients are at risk because of the Israeli siege around those hospitals."

Israel's military, which is now also in conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, says Hamas militants use residential areas as cover in densely populated Gaza, including schools and hospitals. Hamas denies this.

Hamas exiled official Izzat El-Reshiq said in a statement Israel's escalation in northern Gaza aimed to punish residents for refusing to leave their homes.

He blamed the United States, which he said claims to have worked to end the war, for being partners with Israel in the "war of genocide" in Gaza.

Also Read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-killed-hashem-safieddine-idf-says-not-sure-even-as-netanyahu-claims-he-was-taken-out-765768">Did Israel kill Hashem Safieddine? IDF unsure even as Netanyahu claims he was 'taken out'</a>|&nbsp;

In one Israeli strike overnight on a house in Shejaiya, a suburb of Gaza City, nine people of the same family were killed, medics said. Others were killed overnight in central areas of the Gaza Strip.

Israel began its offensive against Hamas in Gaza after fighters from the Palestinian militant group attacked southern Israeli communities on October&nbsp;7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Nearly 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, the Gaza health ministry says. Most of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been displaced and much of the enclave has been laid to waste.

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 45 people were killed in Israeli military strikes on Gaza in the past 24 hours, Palestinian medics said on Wednesday, as Israeli forces pressed on with a raid on the Jabalia refugee camp in the enclave's north.

At least 45 people were killed in Israeli military strikes on Gaza in the past 24 hours, Palestinian medics said on Wednesday, as Israeli forces pressed on with a raid on the Jabalia refugee camp in the enclave's north. The Israeli military says the raid, now in its fifth day, is intended to stop Hamas fighters staging further attacks from Jabalia and to prevent them regrouping. It has repeatedly issued evacuation orders to residents of Jabalia and nearby areas, but Palestinian and UN officials say there are no safe places to flee to in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said it had received unconfirmed reports that dozens of Palestinians may have been killed in Jabalia and other areas of northern Gaza, but is unable to reach them because of Israeli bombardments. "At least 400,000 people are trapped in the area," Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, posted on X on Wednesday. "Recent evacuation orders from the Israeli Authorities are forcing people to flee again & again, especially from Jabalia Camp. Many are refusing because they know too well that no place anywhere in #Gaza is safe." Also Read| North Korea announces plan to block borders with South Korea, cut roads and railways| Lazzarini said some UNRWA shelters and services were being forced to shut down for the first time since the war began and that with almost no basic supplies available, hunger was spreading again in northern Gaza. "This recent military operation also threatens the implementation of the second phase of the #polio vaccination campaign for children," he said. Israel did not immediately comment on Lazzarini's remarks. Israeli authorities have previously said they facilitate food deliveries to Gaza despite challenging conditions. OVERNIGHT STRIKES The Gaza health ministry said the army had ordered three hospitals in northern Gaza to evacuate. Hundreds of patients and medics were trapped inside those facilities, it said in a statement on Wednesday. "The lives of dozens of patients are at risk because of the Israeli siege around those hospitals." Israel's military, which is now also in conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, says Hamas militants use residential areas as cover in densely populated Gaza, including schools and hospitals. Hamas denies this. Hamas exiled official Izzat El-Reshiq said in a statement Israel's escalation in northern Gaza aimed to punish residents for refusing to leave their homes. He blamed the United States, which he said claims to have worked to end the war, for being partners with Israel in the "war of genocide" in Gaza. Also Read| Did Israel kill Hashem Safieddine? IDF unsure even as Netanyahu claims he was 'taken out'| In one Israeli strike overnight on a house in Shejaiya, a suburb of Gaza City, nine people of the same family were killed, medics said. Others were killed overnight in central areas of the Gaza Strip. Israel began its offensive against Hamas in Gaza after fighters from the Palestinian militant group attacked southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Nearly 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, the Gaza health ministry says. Most of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been displaced and much of the enclave has been laid to waste. 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 45 killed in last 24 hours as Israel carries out new strikes in Gaza

The Japanese owner of 7-Eleven said on Wednesday it had received a "revised" takeover offer from Canadian rival Alimentation Couche-Tard after rejecting an initial bid worth around $40 billion.

7-Eleven is the world's biggest convenience store chain and has more than 85,000 outlets worldwide, around a quarter of those in Japan.

Seven &amp; i Holdings did not give a figure for the revised offer from Alimentation Couche-Tard (ACT) but Bloomberg News and other media outlets reported that it totalled around seven trillion yen ($47 billion).

The takeover, if realised, would be the biggest foreign buyout of a Japanese firm.

"As requested by ACT, the Company has maintained, and intends to continue to maintain, the confidentiality of its current discussions with ACT," Seven &amp; i, Japan's biggest retailer, said in a statement.

Seven &amp; i announces its quarterly earnings on Thursday, with the CEO scheduled to address the media.

The group's shares closed up 4.7 per cent on Wednesday, having surged nearly 12 per cent in the morning following reports that ACT -- which owns Circle K -- had hiked its offer by almost 20 per cent.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/19th-century-horned-naga-human-skull-pulled-from-uk-auction-after-outrage-765943">19th-century horned Naga human skull pulled from UK auction after outrage</a>

The reports said the new offer was sent to Seven &amp; i on September 19 but said no substantive negotiations had taken place since then.

Seven &amp; i rejected ACT's first offer last month, saying the $40-billion proposal "grossly" undervalued its business and could face regulatory hurdles.

7-Eleven began in the United States but the franchise has been wholly owned by Seven &amp; i since 2005.

The stores are a beloved institution in Japan, selling everything from concert tickets to pet food and fresh rice balls.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-claims-he-has-been-to-rough-place-gaza-gets-fact-checked-765815">Trump claims he has been to ‘rough place’ Gaza, gets&nbsp;fact-checked</a>

Couche-Tard runs nearly 17,000 convenience store outlets worldwide.

By purchasing 7-Eleven, it is seeking to become "truly global", said Kai Li, a professor and Canada Research Chair in Corporate Governance at UBC Sauder School of Business.

"Couche-Tard has done well with Circle K acquisitions, expanding its footprint in the United States," she told AFP.

But "such a purchase might raise antitrust concerns" given that the combined entity would have "more market power" and could drive smaller operators out of business, Li said.

Japan's TV Tokyo reported that Seven &amp; i is even considering changing its name "to demonstrate in name and substance that the company will focus on its mainstay convenience business".

Recent media reports have also said the company wants to strengthen its hand by selling off other assets such as its banking unit.

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 Japanese owner of 7-Eleven said on Wednesday it had received a "revised" takeover offer from Canadian rival Alimentation Couche-Tard after rejecting an initial bid worth around $40 billion.

The Japanese owner of 7-Eleven said on Wednesday it had received a "revised" takeover offer from Canadian rival Alimentation Couche-Tard after rejecting an initial bid worth around $40 billion. 7-Eleven is the world's biggest convenience store chain and has more than 85,000 outlets worldwide, around a quarter of those in Japan. Seven & i Holdings did not give a figure for the revised offer from Alimentation Couche-Tard (ACT) but Bloomberg News and other media outlets reported that it totalled around seven trillion yen ($47 billion). The takeover, if realised, would be the biggest foreign buyout of a Japanese firm. "As requested by ACT, the Company has maintained, and intends to continue to maintain, the confidentiality of its current discussions with ACT," Seven & i, Japan's biggest retailer, said in a statement. Seven & i announces its quarterly earnings on Thursday, with the CEO scheduled to address the media. The group's shares closed up 4.7 per cent on Wednesday, having surged nearly 12 per cent in the morning following reports that ACT -- which owns Circle K -- had hiked its offer by almost 20 per cent. Also Read | 19th-century horned Naga human skull pulled from UK auction after outrage The reports said the new offer was sent to Seven & i on September 19 but said no substantive negotiations had taken place since then. Seven & i rejected ACT's first offer last month, saying the $40-billion proposal "grossly" undervalued its business and could face regulatory hurdles. 7-Eleven began in the United States but the franchise has been wholly owned by Seven & i since 2005. The stores are a beloved institution in Japan, selling everything from concert tickets to pet food and fresh rice balls. Also Read | Trump claims he has been to ‘rough place’ Gaza, gets fact-checked Couche-Tard runs nearly 17,000 convenience store outlets worldwide. By purchasing 7-Eleven, it is seeking to become "truly global", said Kai Li, a professor and Canada Research Chair in Corporate Governance at UBC Sauder School of Business. "Couche-Tard has done well with Circle K acquisitions, expanding its footprint in the United States," she told AFP. But "such a purchase might raise antitrust concerns" given that the combined entity would have "more market power" and could drive smaller operators out of business, Li said. Japan's TV Tokyo reported that Seven & i is even considering changing its name "to demonstrate in name and substance that the company will focus on its mainstay convenience business". Recent media reports have also said the company wants to strengthen its hand by selling off other assets such as its banking unit. 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.

7-Eleven owner confirms the ‘revised’ takeover offer from Couche-Tard

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept its key interest rate unchanged on Wednesday as widely expected, but changed its policy stance to "neutral", opening the door for rate cuts as early as December.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept its key interest rate unchanged on Wednesday as widely expected, but changed its policy stance to "neutral", opening the door for rate cuts as early as December. India has lagged global peers in easing policy as inflation has remained above target due to high food prices. Central banks in developed economies, led by the US Federal Reserve, in September delivered their biggest collective push on interest rate cuts since the COVID-19 pandemic. But RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said there was greater confidence now on the last mile of disinflation towards the central bank's four per cent target. "It is with a lot of effort that the inflation horse has been brought to the stable - that is, closer to the target," Das said, announcing the rate decision. "We have to be very careful about opening the gate as the horse may simply bolt again. We must keep the horse on (a) tight leash so that we do not lose control," Das said. The change in policy stance gives the central bank more "flexibility" and "optionality", Das added at a press conference which followed the statement. "Considering the significant risks that lie ahead of us and that are staring at us, it will not be appropriate to specifically talk of the timing of a rate cut," Das said. Also Read |Indian govt extends RBI deputy governor M. Rajeshwar Rao's tenure by one year| The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which consists of three RBI and three external members, kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.50 per cent for a tenth straight policy meeting. The committee, however, voted unanimously to change its policy stance to "neutral" from "withdrawal of accommodation". Rates were predicted to be kept on hold by 80% of the 76 economists polled by Reuters but many expected cuts starting in December. The MPC last changed rates in February 2023, when the policy rate was raised to 6.50 per cent. It raised rates by a cumulative 250 basis points (bps) between April 2022 and February 2023, as the economy emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation took off. "We continue to expect the onset of rate-easing from December with a 25-bps cut, but the scale of easing in this cycle is expected to be shallow with limited scope for back-to-back easing in each policy (meeting)," said Upasna Bhardwaj, chief economist Kotak Mahindra Bank. IDFC FIRST Bank expects a total of 50 bps points in rate cuts by March 2025, beginning with a 25 bps cut in December. Equity markets gained, led by interest rate sensitive sectors, and bond yields fell as the central bank indicated rate cuts ahead. The Indian rupee was marginally higher. The central bank expects inflation to average 4.5 per cent in the financial year 2024-25, unchanged from the forecast provided at the August meeting. Also Read |Global markets surge as $8 trillion rally faces key tests| Annual retail inflation remained below the central bank's target of 4% for a second consecutive month in August but is seen rising to five per cent in September, according to Barclays. The central bank will see through the upcoming "hump" carefully and then make a decision, deputy governor Michael Patra said at the post-policy press conference. While the recent escalation of tensions in the Middle East has shrouded the outlook on the inflation trajectory, concerns about economic growth have also begun to emerge. High-frequency indicators such as the manufacturing PMI slowed to an eight-month low in September, while the services PMI eased to a 10-month trough, latest data showed. India's overall growth slowed to 6.7 per cent in the June quarter. The central bank, however, retained its GDP growth forecast for the current financial year at 7.2 per cent. It said that prospects for private consumption, the mainstay of demand in the economy, look bright on the back of an improved agricultural outlook and rural demand. The prevailing and expected inflation-growth balance have created conditions for a shift in the monetary policy stance, Das said. But he added that significant risks persist from adverse weather conditions, geopolitical conflict and the recent increase in some commodity prices. The committee's latest meeting included three new external members, who were appointed for a four-year term earlier this month. Five out of six members voted in favour of holding rates. Newly appointed Nagesh Kumar voted to cut the policy rate by 25 basis points. In August, two of six committee members had voted for a cut in rates. Separately, the central bank asked the country's non-bank lenders to avoid a "growth-at-any-cost" approach, adding to its warnings to the financial sector against "all forms of exuberance." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

India Central Bank leaves interest rates unchanged, shifts stance to ‘neutral’ signalling rate cuts ahead

Haiti's transitional presidential council transferred the rotating presidency on Monday to architect Leslie Voltaire despite opposition from outgoing president Edgard Leblanc Fils, who refused to sign a decree ratifying the move.

Leblanc Fils had opposed the move citing unresolved corruption accusations against three other councillors who remain voting members and signed off on the transition.

"Under my presidency the transitional presidential council will consolidate its gains and structures to work with more efficiency and transparency," said Voltaire, who represents the party of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

"Haitian people have enough of violence, of lies and of corruption," he said. "We must forget our personal interests and prioritise those of the nation."

The rift at the council creates fresh uncertainty in a country still reeling from the gang massacre of at least 70 people last week, with Prime Minister Garry Conille seeking security assistance abroad.

Haiti named the transition council in April after arduous negotiations between various sectors of the Caribbean nation's political and civil alliances. It was empowered with choosing a prime minister and wielding certain presidential powers until conditions were considered secure enough for a new election.

But this month, Haiti's anti-corruption unit recommended legal action against three council members it said had accepted credit cards and asked for nearly $770,000 from the chairman of a state-run bank.

The three remain on the council, though they are excluded from the current presidential succession plan, which sees economist Fritz Alphonse Jean taking over in March and businessman Laurent Saint-Cyr in August.

"I cannot participate in any process that will further weaken and devalue the country's justice system," Leblanc Fils said in a video message late on Sunday, saying the decision of the council's majority would aggravate the instability.

The January 30 Collective of political parties, which nominated Leblanc Fils to the council, called for the three members accused of bribery to be put aside pending a judicial ruling.

The accused are diplomat Smith Augustin, politician Louis Gerald Gilles, and former judge Emmanuel Vertilaire. All three have rejected the charges. Augustin was initially slated to succeed Leblanc Fils as the council's president.&nbsp;

The council was formed to replace the government of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who was forced to step down amid a gang conflict that has killed thousands and forced over 700,000 people from their homes.

The new administration has said it hopes the country's first elections since 2016 can be held next year providing sufficient security is restored.

However, gangs have in recent months expanded their territories, pushing hundreds of thousands more people from their homes and worsening a hunger crisis while long-delayed international support continues to lag.

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Haiti's transitional presidential council transferred the rotating presidency on Monday to architect Leslie Voltaire despite opposition from outgoing president Edgard Leblanc Fils, who refused to sign a decree ratifying the move.

Haiti's transitional presidential council transferred the rotating presidency on Monday to architect Leslie Voltaire despite opposition from outgoing president Edgard Leblanc Fils, who refused to sign a decree ratifying the move. Leblanc Fils had opposed the move citing unresolved corruption accusations against three other councillors who remain voting members and signed off on the transition. "Under my presidency the transitional presidential council will consolidate its gains and structures to work with more efficiency and transparency," said Voltaire, who represents the party of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. "Haitian people have enough of violence, of lies and of corruption," he said. "We must forget our personal interests and prioritise those of the nation." The rift at the council creates fresh uncertainty in a country still reeling from the gang massacre of at least 70 people last week, with Prime Minister Garry Conille seeking security assistance abroad. Haiti named the transition council in April after arduous negotiations between various sectors of the Caribbean nation's political and civil alliances. It was empowered with choosing a prime minister and wielding certain presidential powers until conditions were considered secure enough for a new election. But this month, Haiti's anti-corruption unit recommended legal action against three council members it said had accepted credit cards and asked for nearly $770,000 from the chairman of a state-run bank. The three remain on the council, though they are excluded from the current presidential succession plan, which sees economist Fritz Alphonse Jean taking over in March and businessman Laurent Saint-Cyr in August. "I cannot participate in any process that will further weaken and devalue the country's justice system," Leblanc Fils said in a video message late on Sunday, saying the decision of the council's majority would aggravate the instability. The January 30 Collective of political parties, which nominated Leblanc Fils to the council, called for the three members accused of bribery to be put aside pending a judicial ruling. The accused are diplomat Smith Augustin, politician Louis Gerald Gilles, and former judge Emmanuel Vertilaire. All three have rejected the charges. Augustin was initially slated to succeed Leblanc Fils as the council's president. The council was formed to replace the government of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who was forced to step down amid a gang conflict that has killed thousands and forced over 700,000 people from their homes. The new administration has said it hopes the country's first elections since 2016 can be held next year providing sufficient security is restored. However, gangs have in recent months expanded their territories, pushing hundreds of thousands more people from their homes and worsening a hunger crisis while long-delayed international support continues to lag. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Haiti’s divided transition council picks architect Leslie Voltaire as new president despite opposition

43 illegal residents from the Palestinian areas were arrested in Jaffa when police officers carried out what was described a "proactive and focused activity" in the Jaffa area due to concerns about employing or lodging illegal aliens. 
Two of the illegal residents were arrested while traveling in a car.

In addition, the police located 41 illegal aliens in two apartments on a street in the Jaffa area. 
The police said that at this stage the investigation into the employers of the Palestinians who had no permits for working or being in Israel continues, and possible criminal charges against them are being examined. 
The police stressed that contractors and citizens who employ and offer accommodations to residents of the Palestinian areas without a residence or work permit endanger themselves and the public.&nbsp;

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43 illegal residents from the Palestinian areas were arrested in Jaffa when police officers carried out what was described a "proactive and focused activity" in the Jaffa area due to concerns about employing or lodging illegal aliens.

43 illegal residents from the Palestinian areas were arrested in Jaffa when police officers carried out what was described a "proactive and focused activity" in the Jaffa area due to concerns about employing or lodging illegal aliens. Two of the illegal residents were arrested while traveling in a car. In addition, the police located 41 illegal aliens in two apartments on a street in the Jaffa area. The police said that at this stage the investigation into the employers of the Palestinians who had no permits for working or being in Israel continues, and possible criminal charges against them are being examined. The police stressed that contractors and citizens who employ and offer accommodations to residents of the Palestinian areas without a residence or work permit endanger themselves and the public. 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.

43 Palestinians illegally residing in Israel’s Jaffa arrested 

The Bangladesh government has announced the addition of holidays for Durga Puja celebration in the country, Abul Kalam Azad, Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus told ANI.

Bangladesh, which is home to roughly nine&nbsp;per cent of Hindu population, had recently seen attacks on the minority community after Sheikh Hasina resigned when the student protests got violent in Bangladesh earlier in August this year.

The announcement for additional holiday came after an 8-point demand was issued by the minority group.

"Traditionally there was one day holiday in Bangladesh for Durga Puja but this time there will be two public holidays and this will be added to the two days of the weekend so in total 4 days of holidays will be observed in Bangladesh on the occasion of Durga Puja,"&nbsp;Azad said in an interview to ANI.

He noted that the addition of an extra holiday will be executed through an executive order which will be issued today. "The government has decided to compensate those who were affected by the recent attacks after the August 5 changeover in Bangladesh," Azad said.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladeshs-interim-government-recalls-envoy-to-india-amid-tensions-between-neighbouring-countries-764016">Bangladesh interim government recalls envoy to India amid tensions between neighbouring countries</a>

Residents of Dhaka are optimistic for the Puja celebrations.&nbsp;In an interview to ANI, they said that all the law enforcement agencies have ensured that there will be no incidents and accidents in the Pooja.

They noted that coordination is being seen at levels with the army chiefs already passing down the message to all levels, such as thana and regional level to ensure security.

Speaking to ANI, one of the residents said, "We are hopeful" and told ANI that the government, the law enforcement agents, and all political parties are also coming to act as volunteers in Puja.

After the change in powers after August 5, Bangladesh saw targeted attacks against minority communities.

Earlier in August, after the shift of powers, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus had said in a public statement, "In our democratic aspirations, we should not be seen as Muslims, Hindus, or Buddhists, but as human beings. Our rights should be ensured. The root of all problems lies in the decay of institutional arrangements."

Earlier in August, after the shift of powers, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus had said in a public statement, "In our democratic aspirations, we should not be seen as Muslims, Hindus, or Buddhists, but as human beings. Our rights should be ensured. The root of all problems lies in the decay of institutional arrangements."

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 Bangladesh government has announced the addition of holidays for Durga Puja celebration in the country, Abul Kalam Azad, Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus told ANI.

The Bangladesh government has announced the addition of holidays for Durga Puja celebration in the country, Abul Kalam Azad, Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus told ANI. Bangladesh, which is home to roughly nine per cent of Hindu population, had recently seen attacks on the minority community after Sheikh Hasina resigned when the student protests got violent in Bangladesh earlier in August this year. The announcement for additional holiday came after an 8-point demand was issued by the minority group. "Traditionally there was one day holiday in Bangladesh for Durga Puja but this time there will be two public holidays and this will be added to the two days of the weekend so in total 4 days of holidays will be observed in Bangladesh on the occasion of Durga Puja," Azad said in an interview to ANI. He noted that the addition of an extra holiday will be executed through an executive order which will be issued today. "The government has decided to compensate those who were affected by the recent attacks after the August 5 changeover in Bangladesh," Azad said. Also Read | Bangladesh interim government recalls envoy to India amid tensions between neighbouring countries Residents of Dhaka are optimistic for the Puja celebrations. In an interview to ANI, they said that all the law enforcement agencies have ensured that there will be no incidents and accidents in the Pooja. They noted that coordination is being seen at levels with the army chiefs already passing down the message to all levels, such as thana and regional level to ensure security. Speaking to ANI, one of the residents said, "We are hopeful" and told ANI that the government, the law enforcement agents, and all political parties are also coming to act as volunteers in Puja. After the change in powers after August 5, Bangladesh saw targeted attacks against minority communities. Earlier in August, after the shift of powers, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus had said in a public statement, "In our democratic aspirations, we should not be seen as Muslims, Hindus, or Buddhists, but as human beings. Our rights should be ensured. The root of all problems lies in the decay of institutional arrangements." Earlier in August, after the shift of powers, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus had said in a public statement, "In our democratic aspirations, we should not be seen as Muslims, Hindus, or Buddhists, but as human beings. Our rights should be ensured. The root of all problems lies in the decay of institutional arrangements." 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.

Bangladesh government announces additional holidays for Durga Puja

A son of Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden has been barred from returning to France, where he lived for years painting landscapes in a Normandy village, after allegedly posting comments on social media deemed to have glorified terrorism.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said he had signed an order banning Omar Binladin from France after the judiciary confirmed the legality of a prior deportation order issued on grounds of national security.

Retailleau gave no details about the timing of the deportation or where Binladin had been sent.

"Mr Binladin, who has lived in the Orne region for several years as the spouse of a British national, posted comments on his social networks in 2023 that glorified terrorism," Retailleau said on X.

"The administrative ban ensures that Mr Binladin cannot return to France for any reason whatsoever."

Binladin could not be reached for comment.

Pascal Martin, who helped Binladin sell his paintings, described him as a man who opposed Islamist ideology, who earned a living from his artwork and paid his taxes. Binladin was currently in Qatar, Martin said.

"We became friends and I can tell you that nothing that is being said resembles the Omar I know," Martin told Reuters.

According to local weekly newspaper Le Publicateur Libre, Binladin caught the attention of French authorities over a social media post on the anniversary of his father's birthday. Osama bin Laden was killed by US&nbsp;forces in 2011.

Reuters was not immediately able to locate the social media post. Martin said Binladin had told friends his social media account had been hacked.

The paper reported in July 2023 that police had searched for Binladin in the village of Domfort, Normandy.

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A son of Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden has been barred from returning to France, where he lived for years painting landscapes in a Normandy village, after allegedly posting comments on social media deemed to have glorified terrorism.

A son of Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden has been barred from returning to France, where he lived for years painting landscapes in a Normandy village, after allegedly posting comments on social media deemed to have glorified terrorism. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said he had signed an order banning Omar Binladin from France after the judiciary confirmed the legality of a prior deportation order issued on grounds of national security. Retailleau gave no details about the timing of the deportation or where Binladin had been sent. "Mr Binladin, who has lived in the Orne region for several years as the spouse of a British national, posted comments on his social networks in 2023 that glorified terrorism," Retailleau said on X. "The administrative ban ensures that Mr Binladin cannot return to France for any reason whatsoever." Binladin could not be reached for comment. Pascal Martin, who helped Binladin sell his paintings, described him as a man who opposed Islamist ideology, who earned a living from his artwork and paid his taxes. Binladin was currently in Qatar, Martin said. "We became friends and I can tell you that nothing that is being said resembles the Omar I know," Martin told Reuters. According to local weekly newspaper Le Publicateur Libre, Binladin caught the attention of French authorities over a social media post on the anniversary of his father's birthday. Osama bin Laden was killed by US forces in 2011. Reuters was not immediately able to locate the social media post. Martin said Binladin had told friends his social media account had been hacked. The paper reported in July 2023 that police had searched for Binladin in the village of Domfort, Normandy. 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.

Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden’s son banned from returning to France after deportation

German police said Tuesday they had shut down a "dizzyingly large" child pornography website with hundreds of thousands of users and arrested six people with links to the network.

The men, aged 43 to 69, were suspected of being the "leading figures behind the dark web platform", police in the North Rhine-Westphalia region said in a statement.

The website was used "solely" to share pornographic images of children, chief investigator Kai-Arne Gailer told a press conference.&nbsp;

Officials did not provide an estimate for the number of victims affected but said the abusive material shared on the site exclusively depicted girls.

Police arrested the men in nationwide raids carried out at the end of September, seizing huge amounts of material.

Investigators collected 1,517 items of evidence, including laptops, computers and mobile phones, as well as 94 boxes filled with video cassettes and DVDs.

One suspect's computer contained 13.5 terabytes of data, the equivalent of 3.4 million photos, according to police.&nbsp;

Gailer said the equivalent of about 1,000 terabytes was involved.

Regional interior minister Herbert Reul said the scope of the investigation was "dizzyingly large and extensive".

The law enforcement operation was a "massive blow" against distributors of child pornography that would have a "lasting effect on the scene", Gailer said.

Police were still investigating and would now have to comb through the evidence collected, Gailer said.&nbsp;

International law enforcement authorities were also continuing investigations into suspects. "There is no continent that is not affected," Gailer 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.

German police said Tuesday they had shut down a "dizzyingly large" child pornography website with hundreds of thousands of users and arrested six people with links to the network.

German police said Tuesday they had shut down a "dizzyingly large" child pornography website with hundreds of thousands of users and arrested six people with links to the network. The men, aged 43 to 69, were suspected of being the "leading figures behind the dark web platform", police in the North Rhine-Westphalia region said in a statement. The website was used "solely" to share pornographic images of children, chief investigator Kai-Arne Gailer told a press conference. Officials did not provide an estimate for the number of victims affected but said the abusive material shared on the site exclusively depicted girls. Police arrested the men in nationwide raids carried out at the end of September, seizing huge amounts of material. Investigators collected 1,517 items of evidence, including laptops, computers and mobile phones, as well as 94 boxes filled with video cassettes and DVDs. One suspect's computer contained 13.5 terabytes of data, the equivalent of 3.4 million photos, according to police. Gailer said the equivalent of about 1,000 terabytes was involved. Regional interior minister Herbert Reul said the scope of the investigation was "dizzyingly large and extensive". The law enforcement operation was a "massive blow" against distributors of child pornography that would have a "lasting effect on the scene", Gailer said. Police were still investigating and would now have to comb through the evidence collected, Gailer said. International law enforcement authorities were also continuing investigations into suspects. "There is no continent that is not affected," Gailer 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.

German police shut down 'dizzyingly large' child pornography website with thousands of users, arrest 6

Last month was the second-warmest September ever registered globally in an exceptional year "almost certain" to become the hottest on record, the EU climate monitor Copernicus said on Tuesday.

September saw extreme rainfall and destructive storms across the world, events that are occurring with greater severity and frequency as temperatures rise due to climate change.

The average global temperature last month was second only to September 2023, said Copernicus, which uses billions of measurements from satellites, ships, aircraft and weather stations to aid its calculations.

Last year was the hottest on record, but 2024 looks set to beat that.

Global warming is not just about rising temperatures, but the knock-on effect of all the extra heat trapped in the atmosphere and seas.

Warmer air can hold more water vapour, and warmer oceans mean greater evaporation, affecting rainfall and resulting in more intense downpours and storms.

In September some parts of the world saw "months' worth of rain falling in just a few days,"&nbsp;said Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service.&nbsp;

"The extreme rainfall events of this month, something we are observing more and more often, have been made worse by a warmer atmosphere," Burgess said.

"The risk of extreme rainfall will continue to increase with rising temperatures."

In a month of wild weather, Hurricane Helene pounded the southeast United States, Typhoon Krathon slammed into Taiwan and Storm Boris brought floods and devastation to central Europe.

Typhoons Yagi and Bebinca left a trail of destruction in Asia while deadly floods hit Nepal, Japan and west and central Africa.

Copernicus said wetter than average conditions also hit parts of Africa, Russia, China, Australia and Brazil, while Pakistan was "severely" impacted by the monsoon.

<h2>- New highs -&nbsp;</h2>

Copernicus said the months January through September 2024 have already set fresh highs "making it almost certain that 2024 is going to be the warmest year on record".

Fourteen of the last 15 months have been at least 1.5 degrees Celsius above average temperatures experienced in the pre-industrial era, taken as the period between 1850-1900.

This does not signal a breach of the Paris climate deal, which strives to limit global warming to below 2C and preferably 1.5C, because that is measured over decades and not individual years.

But scientists have warned the 1.5C cap is slipping out of reach.

The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned that a breach is likely sometime between 2030 and 2035.&nbsp;

Planet-heating greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from the burning of fossil fuels, have risen in recent years, even as scientists say they need to fall by almost half this decade.

Taken together, national policies to cut emissions would lead to as much as 2.9C of warming by 2100, according to the UN Environment Programme.

Much of this excess heat is stored in the oceans, which cover 70 per cent of the Earth's surface, and acts as a major climate regulator.

The pace at which oceans are warming has almost doubled since 2005 because of human-caused climate change, Copernicus said in September.

This has lead to stronger and more frequent marine heatwaves and greater ocean acidity, which above a certain point can make seawater corrosive to certain marine life.

Copernicus records go back to 1940 but other data sources such as ice cores, tree rings and coral skeletons allow scientists to expand their conclusions using evidence from much deeper in the past.

Climate scientists say the period being lived through right now is likely the warmest the earth has seen for the last 100,000 years, back at the start of the last Ice Age.

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.

Last month was the second-warmest September ever registered globally in an exceptional year "almost certain" to become the hottest on record, the EU climate monitor Copernicus said on Tuesday.

Last month was the second-warmest September ever registered globally in an exceptional year "almost certain" to become the hottest on record, the EU climate monitor Copernicus said on Tuesday. September saw extreme rainfall and destructive storms across the world, events that are occurring with greater severity and frequency as temperatures rise due to climate change. The average global temperature last month was second only to September 2023, said Copernicus, which uses billions of measurements from satellites, ships, aircraft and weather stations to aid its calculations. Last year was the hottest on record, but 2024 looks set to beat that. Global warming is not just about rising temperatures, but the knock-on effect of all the extra heat trapped in the atmosphere and seas. Warmer air can hold more water vapour, and warmer oceans mean greater evaporation, affecting rainfall and resulting in more intense downpours and storms. In September some parts of the world saw "months' worth of rain falling in just a few days," said Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service. "The extreme rainfall events of this month, something we are observing more and more often, have been made worse by a warmer atmosphere," Burgess said. "The risk of extreme rainfall will continue to increase with rising temperatures." In a month of wild weather, Hurricane Helene pounded the southeast United States, Typhoon Krathon slammed into Taiwan and Storm Boris brought floods and devastation to central Europe. Typhoons Yagi and Bebinca left a trail of destruction in Asia while deadly floods hit Nepal, Japan and west and central Africa. Copernicus said wetter than average conditions also hit parts of Africa, Russia, China, Australia and Brazil, while Pakistan was "severely" impacted by the monsoon. - New highs - Copernicus said the months January through September 2024 have already set fresh highs "making it almost certain that 2024 is going to be the warmest year on record". Fourteen of the last 15 months have been at least 1.5 degrees Celsius above average temperatures experienced in the pre-industrial era, taken as the period between 1850-1900. This does not signal a breach of the Paris climate deal, which strives to limit global warming to below 2C and preferably 1.5C, because that is measured over decades and not individual years. But scientists have warned the 1.5C cap is slipping out of reach. The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned that a breach is likely sometime between 2030 and 2035. Planet-heating greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from the burning of fossil fuels, have risen in recent years, even as scientists say they need to fall by almost half this decade. Taken together, national policies to cut emissions would lead to as much as 2.9C of warming by 2100, according to the UN Environment Programme. Much of this excess heat is stored in the oceans, which cover 70 per cent of the Earth's surface, and acts as a major climate regulator. The pace at which oceans are warming has almost doubled since 2005 because of human-caused climate change, Copernicus said in September. This has lead to stronger and more frequent marine heatwaves and greater ocean acidity, which above a certain point can make seawater corrosive to certain marine life. Copernicus records go back to 1940 but other data sources such as ice cores, tree rings and coral skeletons allow scientists to expand their conclusions using evidence from much deeper in the past. Climate scientists say the period being lived through right now is likely the warmest the earth has seen for the last 100,000 years, back at the start of the last Ice Age. 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.

September becomes second-warmest month on record globally: EU climate monitor

Chinese drinkers may pay more for Remy Martin and other European brandies after the government announced provisional tariffs of 30.6 per cent&nbsp;to 39 per cent&nbsp;on those liquors Tuesday, four days after a majority of European Union countries approved duties on electric vehicles made in China.

The tit-for-tat move potentially gives Chinese negotiators leverage in talks with the EU on reducing or eliminating the tariffs of up to 35.3 per cent&nbsp;on Chinese EVs, which would take effect at the end of this month.

The brandy tariffs are provisional and require importers to make a deposit with the Chinese customs agency for the amount of the tariff, starting Friday.

The announcement followed a preliminary finding by China's Commerce Ministry in late August that European brandy was being dumped in China, threatening “substantial damage” to domestic producers.

China has opened a series of anti-dumping investigations into European brandy, pork and dairy products as a now year-old EU investigation into Chinese EV exports has progressed through various stages.

The brandy probe was the first and targeted mainly French makers of cognac and similar spirits such as Armagnac. France has supported the investigation into Chinese-made EVs, while Germany, whose automakers fear retaliation in the Chinese market, has opposed it.

China is studying whether to raise tariffs on imported cars with large engines, a Commerce Ministry spokesperson confirmed Tuesday in an online report from state broadcaster CCTV.

The provisional tariffs on brandy vary by brand, similar to the EU duties on electric cars made in China. For example, Martell products face a 30.6 per cent&nbsp;tariff versus 38.1 per cent&nbsp;for Remy Martin and 39 per cent&nbsp;for Hennessey. The tariffs are being imposed on dozens of companies, including some Spanish makers.

French President Emmanuel Macron presented Chinese leader Xi Jinping with two bottles of cognac when the two exchanged gifts during Xi's state visit to France in May.

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Chinese drinkers may pay more for Remy Martin and other European brandies after the government announced provisional tariffs of 30.6 per cent to 39 per cent on those liquors Tuesday, four days after a majority of European Union countries approved duties on electric vehicles made in China.

Chinese drinkers may pay more for Remy Martin and other European brandies after the government announced provisional tariffs of 30.6 per cent to 39 per cent on those liquors Tuesday, four days after a majority of European Union countries approved duties on electric vehicles made in China. The tit-for-tat move potentially gives Chinese negotiators leverage in talks with the EU on reducing or eliminating the tariffs of up to 35.3 per cent on Chinese EVs, which would take effect at the end of this month. The brandy tariffs are provisional and require importers to make a deposit with the Chinese customs agency for the amount of the tariff, starting Friday. The announcement followed a preliminary finding by China's Commerce Ministry in late August that European brandy was being dumped in China, threatening “substantial damage” to domestic producers. China has opened a series of anti-dumping investigations into European brandy, pork and dairy products as a now year-old EU investigation into Chinese EV exports has progressed through various stages. The brandy probe was the first and targeted mainly French makers of cognac and similar spirits such as Armagnac. France has supported the investigation into Chinese-made EVs, while Germany, whose automakers fear retaliation in the Chinese market, has opposed it. China is studying whether to raise tariffs on imported cars with large engines, a Commerce Ministry spokesperson confirmed Tuesday in an online report from state broadcaster CCTV. The provisional tariffs on brandy vary by brand, similar to the EU duties on electric cars made in China. For example, Martell products face a 30.6 per cent tariff versus 38.1 per cent for Remy Martin and 39 per cent for Hennessey. The tariffs are being imposed on dozens of companies, including some Spanish makers. French President Emmanuel Macron presented Chinese leader Xi Jinping with two bottles of cognac when the two exchanged gifts during Xi's state visit to France in May. 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.

China raises tariffs on European brandies as EU countries approve duties on Chinese EVs

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