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Saudi Arabia targeted yacht carrying 14 Indians in Red Sea, rescue underway, Houthis claim

India’s Embassy in Yemen has confirmed that all 14 Indian nationals aboard a yacht involved in a firing incident in Yemeni waters are safe, following initial concerns over their whereabouts. The incident occurred on October 22 near Zuqar Island in the southern Red Sea. Yemen’s Houthi rebels alleged that Saudi Arabia had targeted the yacht, prompting their forces to launch a rescue operation.“Reports suggest that all 14 Indian nationals are safe and located around Hodeidah in Yemen. We will continue to work for ensuring their well being,” the Indian Embassy said.<h2>Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of targeting yacht</h2>Before confirming the safety of the Indians, the embassy had said it was working to obtain further information about the incident off Yemen’s coast.Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree had alleged that Saudi Arabia was responsible for the firing, citing preliminary information about the vessel and its passengers.“The Saudi enemy is targeting an Indian yacht near Zuqar Island, carrying 14 people of Indian nationality, according to preliminary information. The Yemeni Armed Forces are rescuing them and will provide more details later. This reckless act by the Saudi enemy in targeting it threatens international navigation in the Red Sea, and the international community must stop the Saudi enemy from these reckless actions,” Saree had posted on X.The Houthis said they would release additional information as it became available. The allegation against Saudi Arabia was attributed to the group, with no independent confirmation provided in the information available.<h2>Incident follows deadly attack in Saudi Arabia</h2>The development comes amid escalating regional hostilities, following an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. According to India’s Embassy in Riyadh, two people, including an Indian national, were killed, while two other Indian nationals were injured.New Delhi has strongly condemned attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including the strikes on the airport and Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oil field. India also expressed hope for an early return to peace and normalcy.United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has also called for restraint, condemning the escalating violence and Houthi attacks on civilian targets in Saudi Arabia.“Escalating hostilities in Yemen &amp; continued Houthi attacks against civilian targets in Saudi Arabia - which are totally unacceptable - are inflicting immense suffering on civilians &amp; adding to regional tensions. &nbsp;We need restraint. And Yemen needs a political horizon,” he said.

India’s Embassy in Yemen confirmed all 14 Indians aboard a yacht involved in a firing incident near Zuqar Island are safe, after Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of targeting the vessel.

India’s Embassy in Yemen has confirmed that all 14 Indian nationals aboard a yacht involved in a firing incident in Yemeni waters are safe, following initial concerns over their whereabouts. The incident occurred on October 22 near Zuqar Island in the southern Red Sea. Yemen’s Houthi rebels alleged that Saudi Arabia had targeted the yacht, prompting their forces to launch a rescue operation. “Reports suggest that all 14 Indian nationals are safe and located around Hodeidah in Yemen. We will continue to work for ensuring their well being,” the Indian Embassy said. Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of targeting yacht Before confirming the safety of the Indians, the embassy had said it was working to obtain further information about the incident off Yemen’s coast. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree had alleged that Saudi Arabia was responsible for the firing, citing preliminary information about the vessel and its passengers. “The Saudi enemy is targeting an Indian yacht near Zuqar Island, carrying 14 people of Indian nationality, according to preliminary information. The Yemeni Armed Forces are rescuing them and will provide more details later. This reckless act by the Saudi enemy in targeting it threatens international navigation in the Red Sea, and the international community must stop the Saudi enemy from these reckless actions,” Saree had posted on X. The Houthis said they would release additional information as it became available. The allegation against Saudi Arabia was attributed to the group, with no independent confirmation provided in the information available. Incident follows deadly attack in Saudi Arabia The development comes amid escalating regional hostilities, following an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. According to India’s Embassy in Riyadh, two people, including an Indian national, were killed, while two other Indian nationals were injured. New Delhi has strongly condemned attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including the strikes on the airport and Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oil field. India also expressed hope for an early return to peace and normalcy. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has also called for restraint, condemning the escalating violence and Houthi attacks on civilian targets in Saudi Arabia. “Escalating hostilities in Yemen & continued Houthi attacks against civilian targets in Saudi Arabia - which are totally unacceptable - are inflicting immense suffering on civilians & adding to regional tensions. We need restraint. And Yemen needs a political horizon,” he said.

India’s Embassy in Yemen confirmed all 14 Indians aboard a yacht involved in a firing incident near Zuqar Island are safe, after Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of targeting the vessel.

Indian Embassy confirms all 14 Indians safe after reported yacht attack off Yemen

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, says she is ‘deeply disturbed’ by the reports alleging her estranged father, Thomas Markle Jr has kept “child sexual abuse” images at his home. She also said that she was made aware of an investigation into “troubling and disturbing allegations” against her father in 2018 by a notification from the Metropolitan police. She also emphasised that despite several media speculations about her estrangement from her father, she was trying to protect her children.“I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed.”“In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. That letter was subsequently shared with me.”Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boj-warns-ai-market-correction-cyberattacks-japan-banks-1792751078293">BOJ warns AI market correction, cyberattacks could threaten Japan’s banks</a>“I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications' distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: to protect them. I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families.”&nbsp;The investigation was sparked by Meghan's brother, Thomas Markle Jr who reported to the Philippines child protection authorities about a discovery of "hundreds, if not thousands" of explicit images and videos spanning multiple electronic devices, hard drives, and old mobile phones packed inside boxes of his father’s belongings.&nbsp;No criminal charges have been filed, and Thomas Markle Sr. has strongly denied the claims, calling them "sick lies". His eldest daughter, Samantha Markle, has also disputed the account, calling them fabricated lies.

Meghan Markle says she is deeply distressed by allegations against her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr, who has denied the claims. No charges have been filed.

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, says she is ‘deeply disturbed’ by the reports alleging her estranged father, Thomas Markle Jr has kept “child sexual abuse” images at his home. She also said that she was made aware of an investigation into “troubling and disturbing allegations” against her father in 2018 by a notification from the Metropolitan police. She also emphasised that despite several media speculations about her estrangement from her father, she was trying to protect her children. “I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed.” “In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. That letter was subsequently shared with me.” Also Read: BOJ warns AI market correction, cyberattacks could threaten Japan’s banks “I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications' distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: to protect them. I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families.” The investigation was sparked by Meghan's brother, Thomas Markle Jr who reported to the Philippines child protection authorities about a discovery of "hundreds, if not thousands" of explicit images and videos spanning multiple electronic devices, hard drives, and old mobile phones packed inside boxes of his father’s belongings. No criminal charges have been filed, and Thomas Markle Sr. has strongly denied the claims, calling them "sick lies". His eldest daughter, Samantha Markle, has also disputed the account, calling them fabricated lies.

Meghan Markle says she is deeply distressed by allegations against her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr, who has denied the claims. No charges have been filed.

Meghan Markle ‘deeply disturbed’ by allegations against estranged father, says she was aware since 2018

For 34 Kashmiri pilgrims who travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, what was meant to be a spiritual journey has turned into an anxious wait to return home, with cancelled flights, mounting expenses and dwindling financial resources adding to their distress.Scheduled to return to Kashmir on October 13, the pilgrims remain stranded in Saudi Arabia, uncertain about when they will be able to reunite with their families. With accommodation, food and medicines adding to their daily expenses, many say they are finding it increasingly difficult to sustain their prolonged stay and cannot afford the costly alternative routes available to some passengers.Umar Nazir TibetBaqal of Labaika Haj &amp; Umrah Services said the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Ministry of External Affairs were working to facilitate the return of stranded passengers, but those unable to afford fresh tickets might have to wait for government intervention.“The Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Ministry of External Affairs are working on the matter and making every possible effort to facilitate the return of the stranded pilgrims. At present, their options are to purchase fresh tickets or wait for government assistance with their repatriation. The situation is not limited to Kashmir, as thousands of Indians are also stranded in Saudi Arabia amid the flight disruptions,” he said.According to an updated advisory shared by the Indian Embassy in Riyadh on X, IndiGo has extended the cancellation of its flights to Saudi Arabia. Flights to and from Riyadh will remain cancelled until October 31, 2026, while services to and from Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah will remain cancelled until October 27, 2026.The extended cancellations have further complicated the return plans of the Kashmiri pilgrims. While some passengers have reportedly managed to return through connecting flights and indirect routes, the high cost of alternative travel has put such options beyond the reach of many.For those still stranded, the uncertainty is compounded by the steady depletion of their cash reserves. The pilgrims say they are struggling to meet basic expenses, while the prolonged separation from their families and the lack of clarity over their return have added to their mental distress.The pilgrims have appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene urgently and help secure their safe and early return to Jammu and Kashmir.They have urged the administration to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the concerned airlines to explore alternative arrangements and ensure that financial constraints do not leave them stranded indefinitely.As the wait continues, the pilgrims are hoping for swift government intervention to bring their ordeal to an end and help them return home safely.

The pilgrims have appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene urgently and help secure their safe and early return to Jammu and Kashmir.

For 34 Kashmiri pilgrims who travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, what was meant to be a spiritual journey has turned into an anxious wait to return home, with cancelled flights, mounting expenses and dwindling financial resources adding to their distress. Scheduled to return to Kashmir on October 13, the pilgrims remain stranded in Saudi Arabia, uncertain about when they will be able to reunite with their families. With accommodation, food and medicines adding to their daily expenses, many say they are finding it increasingly difficult to sustain their prolonged stay and cannot afford the costly alternative routes available to some passengers. Umar Nazir TibetBaqal of Labaika Haj & Umrah Services said the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Ministry of External Affairs were working to facilitate the return of stranded passengers, but those unable to afford fresh tickets might have to wait for government intervention. “The Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Ministry of External Affairs are working on the matter and making every possible effort to facilitate the return of the stranded pilgrims. At present, their options are to purchase fresh tickets or wait for government assistance with their repatriation. The situation is not limited to Kashmir, as thousands of Indians are also stranded in Saudi Arabia amid the flight disruptions,” he said. According to an updated advisory shared by the Indian Embassy in Riyadh on X, IndiGo has extended the cancellation of its flights to Saudi Arabia. Flights to and from Riyadh will remain cancelled until October 31, 2026, while services to and from Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah will remain cancelled until October 27, 2026. The extended cancellations have further complicated the return plans of the Kashmiri pilgrims. While some passengers have reportedly managed to return through connecting flights and indirect routes, the high cost of alternative travel has put such options beyond the reach of many. For those still stranded, the uncertainty is compounded by the steady depletion of their cash reserves. The pilgrims say they are struggling to meet basic expenses, while the prolonged separation from their families and the lack of clarity over their return have added to their mental distress. The pilgrims have appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene urgently and help secure their safe and early return to Jammu and Kashmir. They have urged the administration to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the concerned airlines to explore alternative arrangements and ensure that financial constraints do not leave them stranded indefinitely. As the wait continues, the pilgrims are hoping for swift government intervention to bring their ordeal to an end and help them return home safely.

The pilgrims have appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene urgently and help secure their safe and early return to Jammu and Kashmir.

Stranded far from home, 34 Kashmiri Umrah pilgrims run out of options as return flights remain cancelled

As Americans vote on November 3, the result of the poll in Washington may have consequences for India’s immigrant and student community. In the recent past, this single largest group has been caught in US employment-based backlogs and campus work-authorisation debates. The Indian immigration file in the US Congress mainly hovers around fixing the employment-based green card backlog, eliminating per-country caps, and protecting high-skilled H-1B professionals. Their outcomes have historically stalled due to political gridlock, chamber disagreements, or competing enforcement priorities amid several major pieces of legislation.<h3>Green cards: the core bottleneck</h3>Immigration reform has historically proven difficult, and prospects for structural reform may remain dim for the next two years if Republicans retain power in the midterm elections. Over 80 per cent of people trapped in the employment-based green card backlog are Indian nationals. In response, lawmakers are separately debating a points-based selection system to replace per-country caps, though removing those caps would not automatically clear the existing backlog. The issue got more complicated after the Trump administration moved to require some green card applicants to return to their home countries and wait there for processing, despite years of potential backlog delays. This policy shift has been criticised by congressional Democrats but cannot be reversed without legislative or electoral leverage.<h3>H-1B and employment-based pathways</h3>Indian professionals face concerns over higher salary thresholds for skilled-worker visas, a possible suspension of H-1B issuance, and changes to employment-based green card eligibility. The Trump administration has already proposed a $100,000 H-1B petition fee and suspended PERM green card certifications for eight technology companies. These moves have become flashpoints in midterm campaigns as Indians typically secure over 70 per cent of annual approved H-1B visas, meaning any congressional tightening disproportionately strikes India’s tech workforce.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-midterm-elections-2026-postal-ballots-and-voter-disenfranchisement-a-key-battle-for-donald-trump-1792320104891">US midterm elections 2026: Postal ballots and voter disenfranchisement — A key battle for Donald Trump</a><h3>Student visas and OPT: the campus fight</h3>The Optional Practical Training programme (OPT), which lets F-1 students work after graduation, has become a parallel battleground. Congressman Riley Moore has formally requested the Department of Homeland Security to end OPT, STEM-OPT and CPT. Moore also argued that these work programmes were never authorised by Congress, while Senator Jim Banks has separately pushed the administration to remove OPT outright, observing that around 500,000 foreign workers currently hold OPT status, almost rivalling the H-1B population. Countering this, a bipartisan group that also includes Indian-American Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi has come up with the Keep Innovators in America Act to codify OPT into law and prevent abrupt policy shifts. As of the most recent tracking, OPT remains active and unchanged, though it exists on executive authority rather than statute, meaning it could be altered administratively without a congressional vote. Nearly 30 per cent of the roughly 331,000 Indian students in the US during 2023–24 were on OPT, underscoring the stakes. If Republicans retain the House and gain Senate seats in the midterm elections in 2026, restrictionist bills on H-1B and OPT gain a friendlier floor, even as the administration’s existing executive actions continue facing court challenges. If Democrats flip the House, oversight hearings on PERM suspensions and green card processing intensify, and bills like the Keep Innovators in America Act gain a better chance of advancing, though a divided Congress would likely produce gridlock rather than sweeping reform either way.&nbsp;

Indian professionals face concerns over higher salary thresholds for skilled-worker visas, a possible suspension of H-1B issuance, and changes to employment-based green card eligibility.

As Americans vote on November 3, the result of the poll in Washington may have consequences for India’s immigrant and student community. In the recent past, this single largest group has been caught in US employment-based backlogs and campus work-authorisation debates. The Indian immigration file in the US Congress mainly hovers around fixing the employment-based green card backlog, eliminating per-country caps, and protecting high-skilled H-1B professionals. Their outcomes have historically stalled due to political gridlock, chamber disagreements, or competing enforcement priorities amid several major pieces of legislation. Green cards: the core bottleneck Immigration reform has historically proven difficult, and prospects for structural reform may remain dim for the next two years if Republicans retain power in the midterm elections. Over 80 per cent of people trapped in the employment-based green card backlog are Indian nationals. In response, lawmakers are separately debating a points-based selection system to replace per-country caps, though removing those caps would not automatically clear the existing backlog. The issue got more complicated after the Trump administration moved to require some green card applicants to return to their home countries and wait there for processing, despite years of potential backlog delays. This policy shift has been criticised by congressional Democrats but cannot be reversed without legislative or electoral leverage. H-1B and employment-based pathways Indian professionals face concerns over higher salary thresholds for skilled-worker visas, a possible suspension of H-1B issuance, and changes to employment-based green card eligibility. The Trump administration has already proposed a $100,000 H-1B petition fee and suspended PERM green card certifications for eight technology companies. These moves have become flashpoints in midterm campaigns as Indians typically secure over 70 per cent of annual approved H-1B visas, meaning any congressional tightening disproportionately strikes India’s tech workforce. Also read: US midterm elections 2026: Postal ballots and voter disenfranchisement — A key battle for Donald Trump Student visas and OPT: the campus fight The Optional Practical Training programme (OPT), which lets F-1 students work after graduation, has become a parallel battleground. Congressman Riley Moore has formally requested the Department of Homeland Security to end OPT, STEM-OPT and CPT. Moore also argued that these work programmes were never authorised by Congress, while Senator Jim Banks has separately pushed the administration to remove OPT outright, observing that around 500,000 foreign workers currently hold OPT status, almost rivalling the H-1B population. Countering this, a bipartisan group that also includes Indian-American Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi has come up with the Keep Innovators in America Act to codify OPT into law and prevent abrupt policy shifts. As of the most recent tracking, OPT remains active and unchanged, though it exists on executive authority rather than statute, meaning it could be altered administratively without a congressional vote. Nearly 30 per cent of the roughly 331,000 Indian students in the US during 2023–24 were on OPT, underscoring the stakes. If Republicans retain the House and gain Senate seats in the midterm elections in 2026, restrictionist bills on H-1B and OPT gain a friendlier floor, even as the administration’s existing executive actions continue facing court challenges. If Democrats flip the House, oversight hearings on PERM suspensions and green card processing intensify, and bills like the Keep Innovators in America Act gain a better chance of advancing, though a divided Congress would likely produce gridlock rather than sweeping reform either way.

Indian professionals face concerns over higher salary thresholds for skilled-worker visas, a possible suspension of H-1B issuance, and changes to employment-based green card eligibility.

Green Cards, OPT, H-1B: How US midterms 2026 could reshape Indian immigration - Explained

The Bank of Japan warned on Friday October 23, issued a formal warning in its semi-annual Financial System Report. It mentioned two specific concerns regarding the country's banking infrastructre- potential market correction driven by AI which could spillover to the country's banking system and growing cybersecurity threats.&nbsp;"If expectations regarding the profitability of AI-related investment were to decline, shocks ​could be amplified, mainly through portfolio adjustments in the foreign NBFI sector, and the effects could spill over to Japan," it said.It warned that Japan's financial system has become more susceptible to global market fluctuation as domestic banks have been lending to massive foreign investment funds, private equity groups, and private lenders- foreign non banking fincial insititutions (NBFI) which are in turn funding hyperscalers, a potential "shadow banking" vulnerability tied to the global artificial intelligence boom. If these hyperscalers failed to make profit which will trigger massive portfolio adjustment which could inturn hit Japanese stock prices that have risen on hopes of strong profits in AI-related sectors, the BOJ report said.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-midterms-2026-andy-barr-mitch-mcconnell-kentucky-senate-race-1792509882767">US midterms 2026: Andy Barr favoured to succeed Mitch McConnell in Kentucky</a>"Given that ‌Japanese ⁠banks have a certain amount of market risk associated with their stockholdings, close attention should continue to be paid to developments in risky asset prices, including stock prices," the report said.It also highlighted the risks of AI-supercharged cyber attacks, as frontier AI models uncover software vulnerabilities at an unprecedented rate."Cyber incidents not only pose a risk to individual financial ​institutions and their customers but are also a material risk from a macroprudential perspective, given their impact can potentially spread to other ​financial institutions," the report said.The Bank of Japan have hiked interest rates in September 2026 to 1.25%, its second rate hike this year and expressed its willingness to keep increasing interest rates to prevent inflation ​from overshooting its 2% target. Further, the report also highlighted the risk of bad debts for banks. As real estate sector in metropolitan are heating up, with surging construction costs and labour shortages. Along aggressive demand from foreign investors who are taking advantage of a weak Japanese yen. If the AI market corrects, it could trigger a domino effect, with changes in investor sentiment leading to corrections across real estate sectors.&nbsp;

The Bank of Japan warns that an AI market correction, cyberattacks and real estate risks could expose Japan’s financial system to global shocks.

The Bank of Japan warned on Friday October 23, issued a formal warning in its semi-annual Financial System Report. It mentioned two specific concerns regarding the country's banking infrastructre- potential market correction driven by AI which could spillover to the country's banking system and growing cybersecurity threats. "If expectations regarding the profitability of AI-related investment were to decline, shocks could be amplified, mainly through portfolio adjustments in the foreign NBFI sector, and the effects could spill over to Japan," it said. It warned that Japan's financial system has become more susceptible to global market fluctuation as domestic banks have been lending to massive foreign investment funds, private equity groups, and private lenders- foreign non banking fincial insititutions (NBFI) which are in turn funding hyperscalers, a potential "shadow banking" vulnerability tied to the global artificial intelligence boom. If these hyperscalers failed to make profit which will trigger massive portfolio adjustment which could inturn hit Japanese stock prices that have risen on hopes of strong profits in AI-related sectors, the BOJ report said. Also Read: US midterms 2026: Andy Barr favoured to succeed Mitch McConnell in Kentucky "Given that ‌Japanese ⁠banks have a certain amount of market risk associated with their stockholdings, close attention should continue to be paid to developments in risky asset prices, including stock prices," the report said. It also highlighted the risks of AI-supercharged cyber attacks, as frontier AI models uncover software vulnerabilities at an unprecedented rate. "Cyber incidents not only pose a risk to individual financial institutions and their customers but are also a material risk from a macroprudential perspective, given their impact can potentially spread to other financial institutions," the report said. The Bank of Japan have hiked interest rates in September 2026 to 1.25%, its second rate hike this year and expressed its willingness to keep increasing interest rates to prevent inflation from overshooting its 2% target. Further, the report also highlighted the risk of bad debts for banks. As real estate sector in metropolitan are heating up, with surging construction costs and labour shortages. Along aggressive demand from foreign investors who are taking advantage of a weak Japanese yen. If the AI market corrects, it could trigger a domino effect, with changes in investor sentiment leading to corrections across real estate sectors.

The Bank of Japan warns that an AI market correction, cyberattacks and real estate risks could expose Japan’s financial system to global shocks.

BOJ warns AI market correction, cyberattacks could threaten Japan’s banks

French authorities have launched a terrorism investigation after a shooting west of Paris left one person dead and four others wounded on Friday (Oct 23). The suspect was arrested shortly after the attack, which unfolded in two neighbouring towns as the country remained on alert following recent street violence. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office said it had opened an investigation into the shooting in Trappes and La Verriere on suspicion of “murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise”.<h2>Gunman opened fire from vehicle</h2>According to police, the shooting took place at around 10:30 am (0830 GMT), when a man travelling in a vehicle opened fire at several people in Trappes and neighbouring La Verriere. He was subsequently arrested in the nearby town of Coignieres.The attack occurred around 20 kilometres (13 miles) west of the French capital. Local authorities cautioned that the death toll could change as emergency services continued their work at the scene.Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh described the incident in a post on Instagram. “An individual fired shots from his vehicle at multiple people along his path, in Trappes and La Verriere,” he wrote.Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu called the case “very serious”. In a post on X, he said “all resources of the security forces and the judiciary are fully mobilised”.<h2>Macron reacts to shooting</h2>In a post on X, French President Emmanuel Macron said, “Deep emotion following the shooting attack that occurred in Trappes and La Verrière. One person has died. Several others are seriously injured. Our thoughts go out to the victims, their families, and all the residents of Yvelines. In this terrible ordeal, the Nation stands by their side.”He added, “Recognition to our law enforcement forces who have already proceeded with the arrest of the perpetrator. The national antiterrorist prosecutor's office has taken charge.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Profonde émotion suite à l’attaque à l’arme à feu survenue à Trappes et La Verrière.
 
Une personne est décédée. Plusieurs autres sont grièvement blessées.

Nos pensées vont aux victimes, à leurs familles, ainsi qu’à tous les habitants des Yvelines. Dans cette terrible épreuve, la Nation se tient à leurs côtés. 

Reconnaissance à nos forces de l’ordre qui ont déjà procédé à l’interpellation de l’auteur. Le parquet national antiterroriste s’est saisi.&mdash; Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) <a href="https://x.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/2113589486789480454?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>France on alert amid tensions</h2>The shooting comes at a tense moment for France, following riots on the sidelines of mass protests over the cost of living last weekend. The unrest resulted in some of the worst street violence the country has witnessed in recent years.Further protests are expected this weekend, prompting police to promise a stronger security presence. Several cities have also experienced overnight curfews over the past week.France has faced a history of Islamist violence, most notably the November 2015 attacks in Paris, when jihadists killed 130 people. Although such incidents have become less frequent in recent years, officials continue to warn of the threat, with intelligence agencies regularly thwarting suspected plots.Trappes has previously been linked to tensions surrounding extremism. In 2020, Samuel Paty, a teacher in another Paris suburb, was beheaded by a radical Islamist after showing caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed to his class. A teacher in Trappes later reported receiving threats after criticising the state’s response to Paty’s killing.&nbsp;

French prosecutors have launched a terrorism investigation after a shooting near Paris killed one person and wounded four. The suspect was arrested after opening fire in Trappes and La Verriere.

French authorities have launched a terrorism investigation after a shooting west of Paris left one person dead and four others wounded on Friday (Oct 23). The suspect was arrested shortly after the attack, which unfolded in two neighbouring towns as the country remained on alert following recent street violence. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office said it had opened an investigation into the shooting in Trappes and La Verriere on suspicion of “murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise”. Gunman opened fire from vehicle According to police, the shooting took place at around 10:30 am (0830 GMT), when a man travelling in a vehicle opened fire at several people in Trappes and neighbouring La Verriere. He was subsequently arrested in the nearby town of Coignieres. The attack occurred around 20 kilometres (13 miles) west of the French capital. Local authorities cautioned that the death toll could change as emergency services continued their work at the scene. Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh described the incident in a post on Instagram. “An individual fired shots from his vehicle at multiple people along his path, in Trappes and La Verriere,” he wrote. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu called the case “very serious”. In a post on X, he said “all resources of the security forces and the judiciary are fully mobilised”. Macron reacts to shooting In a post on X, French President Emmanuel Macron said, “Deep emotion following the shooting attack that occurred in Trappes and La Verrière. One person has died. Several others are seriously injured. Our thoughts go out to the victims, their families, and all the residents of Yvelines. In this terrible ordeal, the Nation stands by their side.” He added, “Recognition to our law enforcement forces who have already proceeded with the arrest of the perpetrator. The national antiterrorist prosecutor's office has taken charge.”

French prosecutors have launched a terrorism investigation after a shooting near Paris killed one person and wounded four. The suspect was arrested after opening fire in Trappes and La Verriere.

France shooting: One killed, four injured in suspected terror attack near Paris

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a lockdown in the occupied West Bank days before Israeli elections and launched 'offensive counter-terrorism operations' in the West Bank on Friday (October 23). The move comes after Palestinian militants wounded five Israelis in a firing on Friday attack before being killed in a prolonged shootout with soldiers. Israeli troops prevented a major attack, as the two assailants were reportedly carrying a large quantity of ammunition in their vehicle. Two Palestinian men armed with a handgun and an automatic rifle were found exchanging fire with Israeli forces at the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint near the Palestinian city of Hebron, according to a report by the AFP. Amid the firing from both ends, Israeli forces eventually shot and killed the attackers. The Israeli military stated that soldiers had rushed to the Judea Junction area after the early-morning shooting attack and managed to "eliminate two terrorists".&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/myanmar-arms-training-case-us-national-vandyke-granted-permission-by-delhi-court-to-stay-outside-india-for-a-month-1792746759146">Myanmar arms training case: US national VanDyke granted permission by Delhi court to stay outside India for a month</a><h3>Five wounded, two in critical condition</h3>During the attack, five people were wounded, two of whom were in critical condition, said Magen David Adom, Israel's emergency medical rescue service. The service also confirmed that all five injured were Israelis in their 20s, including one man in "very serious condition" with gunshot wounds. Due to the attack, Netanyahu announced the cancellation of all Likud party political meetings. "I salute the courage of our soldiers who acted with determination and prevented what could have been a major attack," Netanyahu said in a statement. "I have instructed the IDF (army) and security forces to impose an immediate cordon on the city of Hebron and to prepare for a full lockdown of all of Judea and Samaria starting today," Netanyahu added. He added that troops were intensifying operations aimed at preventing terrorist activity, carrying out extensive rounds of arrests in the process. According to the military, offensive counter-terrorism operations were underway in the Hebron area, with troops raiding the homes of suspects as well as others linked to them.

The Israeli military stated that soldiers had rushed to the Judea Junction area after the early-morning shooting attack and managed to "eliminate two terrorists". During the attack, five people were wounded, two of whom were in critical condition.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a lockdown in the occupied West Bank days before Israeli elections and launched 'offensive counter-terrorism operations' in the West Bank on Friday (October 23). The move comes after Palestinian militants wounded five Israelis in a firing on Friday attack before being killed in a prolonged shootout with soldiers. Israeli troops prevented a major attack, as the two assailants were reportedly carrying a large quantity of ammunition in their vehicle. Two Palestinian men armed with a handgun and an automatic rifle were found exchanging fire with Israeli forces at the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint near the Palestinian city of Hebron, according to a report by the AFP. Amid the firing from both ends, Israeli forces eventually shot and killed the attackers. The Israeli military stated that soldiers had rushed to the Judea Junction area after the early-morning shooting attack and managed to "eliminate two terrorists". Also read: Myanmar arms training case: US national VanDyke granted permission by Delhi court to stay outside India for a month Five wounded, two in critical condition During the attack, five people were wounded, two of whom were in critical condition, said Magen David Adom, Israel's emergency medical rescue service. The service also confirmed that all five injured were Israelis in their 20s, including one man in "very serious condition" with gunshot wounds. Due to the attack, Netanyahu announced the cancellation of all Likud party political meetings. "I salute the courage of our soldiers who acted with determination and prevented what could have been a major attack," Netanyahu said in a statement. "I have instructed the IDF (army) and security forces to impose an immediate cordon on the city of Hebron and to prepare for a full lockdown of all of Judea and Samaria starting today," Netanyahu added. He added that troops were intensifying operations aimed at preventing terrorist activity, carrying out extensive rounds of arrests in the process. According to the military, offensive counter-terrorism operations were underway in the Hebron area, with troops raiding the homes of suspects as well as others linked to them.

The Israeli military stated that soldiers had rushed to the Judea Junction area after the early-morning shooting attack and managed to "eliminate two terrorists". During the attack, five people were wounded, two of whom were in critical condition.

Israeli PM Netanyahu orders full closure of West Bank after Hebron attack, two militants killed

US national Matthew Aaron VanDyke and six other Ukraine nationals, who were accused of illegally entering Myanmar via Mizoram to train ethnic armed groups in drone warfare were granted permission by a Delhi court on Friday to stay in their native lands till February 24 next year.The extension comes after the NIA submitted that they need more time to investigate several aspects of the case.On September 24 VanDyke and the Ukrainian nationals were granted permission to travel to the USA and Ukraine to meet their families for one month, and then return to India for the court hearing. The six Ukrainian, however, have not returned to India.&nbsp;The seven were arrested in March under stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which was later dropped by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in its chargesheet filed in September.&nbsp;<h2>What is the Myanmar training camp case?</h2>&nbsp;The case involves the March 2026 arrest of American national Matthew Aaron Van Dyke and six Ukrainian nationals by National Investigation Agency (NIA) over allegations of illegally entering Myanmar via Mizoram to train ethnic armed groups in drone warfare.&nbsp;The NIA claimed the group crossed the border without valid travel documents to supply European drones and train Myanmar-based rebel groups.&nbsp;Initially all the accused were booked under anti-terror provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) by NIA, but the chargesheet filed in September 2026 focused on violations of the Immigration and Foreigners Act.

US national Matthew Aaron VanDyke and six Ukrainians were arrested in March under stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which was later dropped by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in its chargesheet filed in September.

US national Matthew Aaron VanDyke and six other Ukraine nationals, who were accused of illegally entering Myanmar via Mizoram to train ethnic armed groups in drone warfare were granted permission by a Delhi court on Friday to stay in their native lands till February 24 next year. The extension comes after the NIA submitted that they need more time to investigate several aspects of the case. On September 24 VanDyke and the Ukrainian nationals were granted permission to travel to the USA and Ukraine to meet their families for one month, and then return to India for the court hearing. The six Ukrainian, however, have not returned to India. The seven were arrested in March under stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which was later dropped by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in its chargesheet filed in September. What is the Myanmar training camp case? The case involves the March 2026 arrest of American national Matthew Aaron Van Dyke and six Ukrainian nationals by National Investigation Agency (NIA) over allegations of illegally entering Myanmar via Mizoram to train ethnic armed groups in drone warfare. The NIA claimed the group crossed the border without valid travel documents to supply European drones and train Myanmar-based rebel groups. Initially all the accused were booked under anti-terror provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) by NIA, but the chargesheet filed in September 2026 focused on violations of the Immigration and Foreigners Act.

US national Matthew Aaron VanDyke and six Ukrainians were arrested in March under stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which was later dropped by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in its chargesheet filed in September.

Myanmar arms training case: US national VanDyke granted permission by Delhi court to stay outside India for a month

Ukraine said Friday (Oct 23) that it was still experiencing problems with the Starshield military communications service, a day after US President Donald Trump said tech billionaire Elon Musk had restored access. "As of this morning, instances of signal loss are still being observed," a source in the defence ministry told reporters. "There is currently no confirmation that the restrictions have been lifted."<h2>Trump says the service is 'back'</h2>Trump said Thursday (Oct 22) that Starshield was "back" in Ukraine, after The Wall Street Journal reported the president asked Musk to restore the service, which is vital to Kyiv's forces."I don't want to comment on it, you know, whether I called or whether somebody else called — doesn't make any difference," Trump told journalists. "I guess the bottom line, he put it back," he added, referring to Musk.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-zelensky-not-a-good-guy-amid-fresh-russia-ukraine-tensions-1792118124388">Trump says Zelensky 'not a good guy' amid fresh Russia-Ukraine tensions | Watch video</a>The Journal reported earlier this week that Musk had capped the speed at which Ukrainian equipment could connect to the system, making some of Kyiv's drones useless. Notably, Musk had previously said that "any limits on speed or usage" of Starshield systems, which are operated by his SpaceX company, were "decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS," referring to Trump. But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that the Pentagon had not directed any changes, and Trump said last week he did not either.<h2>Why Starshield matters to Kyiv</h2>Ukraine uses Starshield, Starlink's military-grade satellite service, for battlefield communications, mid-range strikes on Russian-occupied territory and its interceptor drones. It also uses SpaceX's parallel Starlink civilian satellite system.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-s-answer-to-president-trump-zelensky-accuses-russia-of-violating-energy-ceasefire-within-hours-of-announcement-six-energy-facilities-hit-1791864980398">'Putin's answer to Trump': Zelensky accuses Russia of violating energy ceasefire within hours of announcement; six energy facilities hit</a>Relations between Washington and Kyiv have grown increasingly tense in recent days, with Trump calling for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to be replaced after he criticized a US deal allowing more Russian diesel into global markets."I don't want to comment on it, you know, whether I called or whether somebody else called — doesn't make any difference," Trump told journalists. "I guess the bottom line, he put it back," he added, referring to Musk.

Ukraine says Starshield signal problems persist, a day after US President Donald Trump claimed Elon Musk had restored the service. Kyiv says there is no confirmation that the restrictions were lifted. All you need to know.

Ukraine said Friday (Oct 23) that it was still experiencing problems with the Starshield military communications service, a day after US President Donald Trump said tech billionaire Elon Musk had restored access. "As of this morning, instances of signal loss are still being observed," a source in the defence ministry told reporters. "There is currently no confirmation that the restrictions have been lifted." Trump says the service is 'back' Trump said Thursday (Oct 22) that Starshield was "back" in Ukraine, after The Wall Street Journal reported the president asked Musk to restore the service, which is vital to Kyiv's forces. "I don't want to comment on it, you know, whether I called or whether somebody else called — doesn't make any difference," Trump told journalists. "I guess the bottom line, he put it back," he added, referring to Musk. Also read | Trump says Zelensky 'not a good guy' amid fresh Russia-Ukraine tensions | Watch video The Journal reported earlier this week that Musk had capped the speed at which Ukrainian equipment could connect to the system, making some of Kyiv's drones useless. Notably, Musk had previously said that "any limits on speed or usage" of Starshield systems, which are operated by his SpaceX company, were "decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS," referring to Trump. But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that the Pentagon had not directed any changes, and Trump said last week he did not either. Why Starshield matters to Kyiv Ukraine uses Starshield, Starlink's military-grade satellite service, for battlefield communications, mid-range strikes on Russian-occupied territory and its interceptor drones. It also uses SpaceX's parallel Starlink civilian satellite system. Also read | 'Putin's answer to Trump': Zelensky accuses Russia of violating energy ceasefire within hours of announcement; six energy facilities hit Relations between Washington and Kyiv have grown increasingly tense in recent days, with Trump calling for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to be replaced after he criticized a US deal allowing more Russian diesel into global markets."I don't want to comment on it, you know, whether I called or whether somebody else called — doesn't make any difference," Trump told journalists. "I guess the bottom line, he put it back," he added, referring to Musk.

Ukraine says Starshield signal problems persist, a day after US President Donald Trump claimed Elon Musk had restored the service. Kyiv says there is no confirmation that the restrictions were lifted. All you need to know.

'Signal loss observed': Ukraine says still experiencing issues with Starshield access, a day after Trump claimed Musk restored service

A video released Thursday (Oct 22) by a left-leaning online network alleges that Senator Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who died suddenly in July, paid young men, including underage teens, for sex. The video, which is going viral on social media platforms, including Elon Musk's X, features three men who claim that Graham hired them for sex.<h2>What the video alleges</h2>The over 30-minute film, released by the Young Turks network, titled "The CLOSETocracy," centres on three accounts. One man, identified only as Kelvin, says Graham paid him for sex when he was 17 and secretly taped the encounter. Another, named Cory, says a chauffeured car took him to the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, where he was paid to have sex and stay the night with Graham, only recognising the senator months later on television during the 2016 presidential race. A third man says he was paid for a sexual encounter with Graham.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-trump-demands-ilhan-omar-removal-from-congress-for-using-fake-name-to-be-sworn-in-so-what-is-her-real-name-1792721069682">WATCH: Trump demands Ilhan Omar removal from Congress for 'using fake name to be sworn in'. So what is her real name?</a>A website promoting the video, called the Lindsey Graham Files, claims to have travel receipts and other documents from the time of the alleged encounters. Cenk Uygur, a Young Turks co-founder, promoted the video as a "bombshell documentary." Watch it here:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The CLOSETocracy will be available on https://t.co/kk0QAxYtw3 and our YouTube channel around 11am EST today https://t.co/eakX0i7Lz0&mdash; The Young Turks (@TheYoungTurks) <a href="https://x.com/TheYoungTurks/status/2113279738341142704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">BREAKING: Three male escorts say the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham paid them for sex.

One of them was reportedly 17 at the time.

Below is our full documentary on their stories: https://t.co/pd3DfzgPfc&mdash; Swamp Watch (@Swamp__Watch) <a href="https://x.com/Swamp__Watch/status/2113270793933349007?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Notably, the man identified as Cory has also appeared in adult films under the name Sean Harding. In 2020, he posted online that "every sex worker I know has been hired by this man," referring to a Republican senator he said had the initials "LG," reports The New York Times.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/had-the-audacity-vance-defends-ramaswamy-s-attack-ad-on-amy-acton-as-polymarket-odds-for-ohio-governor-crash-to-22-1792648645641">'Had the audacity...': Vance defends Ramaswamy's attack ad on Amy Acton as Polymarket odds for Republican's Ohio governor bid crash to 22%</a><h2>A claim Graham could not refute</h2>Notably, the video landed less than two weeks before the midterms, in which Graham's sister, Senator Darline Graham, is in a tight race to keep his seat. Appointed to finish his term after his death, she received President Trump's endorsement.William Timmons, a Republican congressman from South Carolina, on X called Graham his longtime mentor and friend, writing that "after 45 years of service to South Carolina and our country, he deserves better than the Left spreading disgraceful lies about a man who is no longer here to defend himself."<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn3.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20261023/image-1792744726080.png"></figure>Some on the right shrugged off the allegations. "Dear Democrats, This is why we called him Lady Graham," Andrew Kolvet of Turning Point USA wrote. "This isn't an October surprise, we've known this for years."<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn3.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20261023/image-1792744359661.png"></figure>Meanwhile, Marjorie Taylor Greene, the former Georgia representative who left Congress this year, called the men "brave," writing that "the worst kept secret in Washington DC came out today."Graham, who died at 71 of an aortic dissection, never married and always denied being gay. In a 2010 interview, he said, "I ain't gay. Sorry." During 23 years in the Senate, he opposed same-sex marriage, voted against repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and resisted expanding hate crime laws to cover sexual orientation.

Three men claim the late Senator Lindsey Graham paid them for sex, in a video released weeks before his sister's tight Senate race. The claims, which surfaced only after his death, are part of a 30-min-long film titled "The CLOSETocracy." Here's all you need to know.

A video released Thursday (Oct 22) by a left-leaning online network alleges that Senator Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who died suddenly in July, paid young men, including underage teens, for sex. The video, which is going viral on social media platforms, including Elon Musk's X, features three men who claim that Graham hired them for sex. What the video alleges The over 30-minute film, released by the Young Turks network, titled "The CLOSETocracy," centres on three accounts. One man, identified only as Kelvin, says Graham paid him for sex when he was 17 and secretly taped the encounter. Another, named Cory, says a chauffeured car took him to the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, where he was paid to have sex and stay the night with Graham, only recognising the senator months later on television during the 2016 presidential race. A third man says he was paid for a sexual encounter with Graham. Also read | WATCH: Trump demands Ilhan Omar removal from Congress for 'using fake name to be sworn in'. So what is her real name? A website promoting the video, called the Lindsey Graham Files, claims to have travel receipts and other documents from the time of the alleged encounters. Cenk Uygur, a Young Turks co-founder, promoted the video as a "bombshell documentary." Watch it here:

Three men claim the late Senator Lindsey Graham paid them for sex, in a video released weeks before his sister's tight Senate race. The claims, which surfaced only after his death, are part of a 30-min-long film titled "The CLOSETocracy." Here's all you need to know.

US midterms 2026: Viral video claims Lindsey Graham paid underage men for sex; clip released weeks before his sister's Senate race

US president Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner has denied allegations raised in a new book that accuses him of secretly having financial agreements with Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates while serving as a senior White House adviser.&nbsp;Taking to the microblogging site X Kushner wrote, "Vanity Fair posted an excerpt from a book containing outrageous and categorically false allegations. The allegations made by this author are completely insane and never happened," said Kushner.&nbsp;He further alleged that the author failed to provide any evidence of him allegedly accessing Gulf-funded foreign bank accounts.&nbsp;"We denied every one of these claims on the record, yet the author failed to provide a single shred of evidence to substantiate any of them. No bank statements, wire transfer records, account numbers, transaction dates, or other verifiable details were provided to support these extraordinary accusations," he said.&nbsp;"During the period in question, I was one of the most scrutinized people in the world, subjected to intense media coverage, multiple congressional investigations, and a special counsel investigation. I voluntarily cooperated with these investigations, providing over 30 hours of testimony. None of these allegations ever surfaced, because none of these events ever happened," he added.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/doj-opens-criminal-probe-into-trump-ally-corey-lewandowski-as-potus-warns-dishonest-staff-have-to-be-prosecuted-1792727902674">DOJ opens criminal probe into Trump ally Corey Lewandowski as POTUS warns dishonest staff 'have to be prosecuted'</a>&nbsp;The Vanity Fair in its report cited excerpts from Matthew Cole's forthcoming book 'Princes and Thieves: Jared Kushner and Mohamed bin Zayed's Secret Plot to Remake the Middle East', which alleged that Dutch spies secretly watched Kushner's iPhone during the first Trump administration and saw him access a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-linked bank account that had received hundreds of millions of dollars from a bank in Azerbaijan.&nbsp;In the book, Cole wrote, “In late spring 2020, a source I knew to be reliable called me with a story...The Dutch government had hacked into Jared Kushner’s phone and monitored him as he accessed a Dubai-based bank account. What was odd, the source said, was that the money in the account—hundreds of millions of dollars—had come from a bank in Azerbaijan. Most importantly, Kushner appeared to have transferred significant amounts of money from the Dubai account to other individuals, including a warlord, a mercenary and a one-time hit man. The story sounded preposterous, I told my source. And yet. Six months later, I found myself speaking with someone else about the UAE government and their use of mercenaries in conflicts around the Middle East and Africa when I asked, on a whim, whether they knew anything about Kushner and bank transfers from a UAE account. My acquaintance grew quiet. Then they replied, ‘Yes.’” Kushner’s lawyer denied the bank account existed."&nbsp;

The Vanity Fair in its report cited excerpts from Matthew Cole's forthcoming book 'Princes and Thieves: Jared Kushner and Mohamed bin Zayed's Secret Plot to Remake the Middle East', which alleged that Dutch spies secretly watched Kushner's iPhone and came across the link.

US president Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner has denied allegations raised in a new book that accuses him of secretly having financial agreements with Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates while serving as a senior White House adviser. Taking to the microblogging site X Kushner wrote, "Vanity Fair posted an excerpt from a book containing outrageous and categorically false allegations. The allegations made by this author are completely insane and never happened," said Kushner. He further alleged that the author failed to provide any evidence of him allegedly accessing Gulf-funded foreign bank accounts. "We denied every one of these claims on the record, yet the author failed to provide a single shred of evidence to substantiate any of them. No bank statements, wire transfer records, account numbers, transaction dates, or other verifiable details were provided to support these extraordinary accusations," he said. "During the period in question, I was one of the most scrutinized people in the world, subjected to intense media coverage, multiple congressional investigations, and a special counsel investigation. I voluntarily cooperated with these investigations, providing over 30 hours of testimony. None of these allegations ever surfaced, because none of these events ever happened," he added. ALSO READ: DOJ opens criminal probe into Trump ally Corey Lewandowski as POTUS warns dishonest staff 'have to be prosecuted' The Vanity Fair in its report cited excerpts from Matthew Cole's forthcoming book 'Princes and Thieves: Jared Kushner and Mohamed bin Zayed's Secret Plot to Remake the Middle East', which alleged that Dutch spies secretly watched Kushner's iPhone during the first Trump administration and saw him access a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-linked bank account that had received hundreds of millions of dollars from a bank in Azerbaijan. In the book, Cole wrote, “In late spring 2020, a source I knew to be reliable called me with a story...The Dutch government had hacked into Jared Kushner’s phone and monitored him as he accessed a Dubai-based bank account. What was odd, the source said, was that the money in the account—hundreds of millions of dollars—had come from a bank in Azerbaijan. Most importantly, Kushner appeared to have transferred significant amounts of money from the Dubai account to other individuals, including a warlord, a mercenary and a one-time hit man. The story sounded preposterous, I told my source. And yet. Six months later, I found myself speaking with someone else about the UAE government and their use of mercenaries in conflicts around the Middle East and Africa when I asked, on a whim, whether they knew anything about Kushner and bank transfers from a UAE account. My acquaintance grew quiet. Then they replied, ‘Yes.’” Kushner’s lawyer denied the bank account existed."

The Vanity Fair in its report cited excerpts from Matthew Cole's forthcoming book 'Princes and Thieves: Jared Kushner and Mohamed bin Zayed's Secret Plot to Remake the Middle East', which alleged that Dutch spies secretly watched Kushner's iPhone and came across the link.

'Completely insane, never happened': Trump's son-in-law denies allegations of secret dealings with Saudi, UAE

Mississippi released a video on Thursday (October 22) showing the fatal shooting of a 1-year-old boy by a police officer. However, the state officials have cleared the officer who shot the child of the charge of criminal wrongdoing. The boy, identified as Kohen Wiley, was killed in June when Senatobia Police Sgt. Hunter Foster fired his gun into a moving vehicle while reacting to a shoplifting call.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Kohen Wiley- Update

Kohen was just a baby and is now dead. 

Why?

Kohen's mom &amp; her friend allegedly stole from a Walmart and fled. (It should be noted that they weren't charged with shoplifting).

Kohen's mom, the passenger, put baby Kohen on her lap as they fled. Her friend, the driver, accelerated towards officers who were attempting to apprehend them, hitting one of the officers. 

Kohen was shot and killed by officers. 

We now see the released body camera video.

What are your thoughts?

Just this month, officers were exonerated of any wrongdoing.

The driver has not yet been charged, either. 

Rest in Peace, baby Kohen. 

#Mississippi&mdash; Jennifer Coffindaffer (@CoffindafferFBI) <a href="https://x.com/CoffindafferFBI/status/2112999259238813861?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Over the incident, Kohen’s family says video of the fatal encounter indicates that the shooting was not justified. In response, the Mississippi attorney general’s office said this week that its month-long probe discovered that Foster’s use of force was appropriate. Foster’s attorney named Martin Zummach, stated that his client had “no option” but to shoot at the vehicle as it was about to hit him.&nbsp;Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney representing Kohen’s family, noted that Foster was not in danger when the cops opened fire on the 1-year-old boy, taking his life. Crump claimed that the video indicates Foster fired the shot from the passenger side of the car.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-china-standoff-continues-near-arunachal-s-taksing-reveals-itbp-chief-shatrujeet-kapur-in-first-official-confirmation-of-tensions-1792723851188">India-China face-off continues near Arunachal’s Taksing, reveals ITBP chief in first official confirmation of tensions</a><h2>Multiple angles of the encounter in video</h2>The video on social media was released by the Mississippi outlet Darkhorse Press, which covers crime and community news with a focus on law enforcement, and published portions of the video on its website Wednesday. The outlet’s founder, Therese Apel, previously served as the department’s communications director. The footage shows two women, one carrying a baby, running across a parking lot and getting into a car. Five officers then approach the parked vehicle with their weapons drawn. As the car reverses, it collides with another parked vehicle nearby while officers shout at it to stop. The vehicle then moves forward, with one officer positioned directly in its path, gun raised. The car’s wheels turn away from him as he places his hands on the hood and jumps clear. He then fires, shattering the front passenger window, before the car drives off and the footage ends.

The Mississippi attorney general’s office said this week that its month-long probe discovered that Foster’s use of force was appropriate. Foster’s attorney named Martin Zummach, stated that his client had “no option” but to shoot at the vehicle as it was about to hit him.

Mississippi released a video on Thursday (October 22) showing the fatal shooting of a 1-year-old boy by a police officer. However, the state officials have cleared the officer who shot the child of the charge of criminal wrongdoing. The boy, identified as Kohen Wiley, was killed in June when Senatobia Police Sgt. Hunter Foster fired his gun into a moving vehicle while reacting to a shoplifting call.

The Mississippi attorney general’s office said this week that its month-long probe discovered that Foster’s use of force was appropriate. Foster’s attorney named Martin Zummach, stated that his client had “no option” but to shoot at the vehicle as it was about to hit him.

Mississippi releases video of police officer shooting 1-year-old Kohen Wiley, no charges filed - VIDEO

On Wednesday, 18 November 2026, at 5:16:07 a.m. US Eastern time, which is 3:46:07 p.m. in India, a machine built by human hands will cross a line nothing human-made has ever crossed. Voyager 1 will be exactly one light-day from Earth. In plain words, a torch beam switched on here would need a full 24 hours to touch it. That works out to roughly 2,590 crore kilometres, and the spacecraft will have taken 49 years, 2 months and 11 days to cover a gap that light clears in a single day.&nbsp;To feel the size of that number, it helps to understand why astronomers measure space in light at all. Nothing in the universe outruns light, which races along at about 3 lakh kilometres every second. Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, X-rays and gamma rays all move at the very same pace, because they are all forms of the same electromagnetic energy. So scientists simply ask how long light needs to cover a gap. One light-day is the stretch light covers in 24 hours. One light-year is what it covers in a full year, about 9.46 lakh crore kilometres.&nbsp;Think of it like describing a journey by travel time rather than by odometer reading. The Moon sits roughly 3,84,400 km away. Astronauts on NASA's Artemis II mission needed around three days to get there; light needs 1.3 seconds. Sunlight has to travel nearly 15 crore kilometres, so it reaches us 8 minutes and 20 seconds after leaving the Sun. The warmth on your face this morning is, quite literally, eight-minute-old news. Mars and Earth keep shifting positions as they circle the Sun, so a light signal between them takes anywhere from 3 to 22 minutes. Every command sent to a spacecraft near Mars, and every reply, obeys that same waiting time.&nbsp;Go further out and the numbers swell. Neptune, the farthest planet, averages about 450 crore kilometres from Earth, a distance light crosses in 4 hours and 10 minutes. Voyager 2, racing at nearly 56,327 km per hour, needed about 12 years to get there. Beyond our solar system, the nearest star with planets, Proxima Centauri, lies 4.24 light-years, or 40.15 lakh crore kilometres, away. The Andromeda galaxy, one of our closest large neighbours, is 25 lakh light-years off; its glow left home before our ancestors learnt to make fire.&nbsp;Where does all this sit? Picture India as the universe, Bengaluru as the Milky Way galaxy, Jayanagar as our solar system, and a single house in Jayanagar as Earth. The house belongs to the locality, the locality to the city, the city to the country. Earth is a planet, the Sun is a star, the Milky Way is our galaxy, and a galaxy holds millions or billions of stars inside a universe holding billions of galaxies. Voyager 1 has merely stepped out of the house and walked to the end of the lane.&nbsp;Both Voyagers left Earth in 1977. NASA sent Voyager 2 on a longer road so it could visit Uranus and Neptune, which is why it will reach its own one-light-day mark only in November 2035, about nine years later. Voyager 1, speeding at nearly 61,000 km per hour, took the more direct route. Fast as that sounds, against light it is a snail on a highway. Light is roughly 18,000 times faster than Voyager 1.&nbsp;Where is the snail headed? It is heading towards a faint star called Gliese 445 (also catalogued as AC +79 3888) in the constellation of Ursa Minor, the Little Bear that many of us know as the Little Dipper. Its light takes more than 17 years to reach us. Voyager 1 will need about 40,000 years just to reach its nearest point to that star, and even then it will not arrive. It will slip past at a gap of 1.7 light-years, a distance light itself would need one year and about eight months to cross.&nbsp;And that is the humbling heart of this story. Half a century of patient engineers, some long retired, some no longer alive, kept a 1970s machine alive and listening. For a country like ours, now nursing its own ambitions beyond Earth's orbit, the lesson is plain: great distances are conquered not by speed alone but by stubborn, generational persistence. On 18 November, when a signal from Voyager 1 finally takes a full day to come home, it will carry with it the quiet pride of everyone who refused to stop listening.

Voyager 1 will reach one light-day from Earth, 2,590 crore km away, on 18 November, 2026. Launched nearly 49 years ago, it crosses a distance light travels in 24 hours at 3 lakh km/s.

On Wednesday, 18 November 2026, at 5:16:07 a.m. US Eastern time, which is 3:46:07 p.m. in India, a machine built by human hands will cross a line nothing human-made has ever crossed. Voyager 1 will be exactly one light-day from Earth. In plain words, a torch beam switched on here would need a full 24 hours to touch it. That works out to roughly 2,590 crore kilometres, and the spacecraft will have taken 49 years, 2 months and 11 days to cover a gap that light clears in a single day. To feel the size of that number, it helps to understand why astronomers measure space in light at all. Nothing in the universe outruns light, which races along at about 3 lakh kilometres every second. Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, X-rays and gamma rays all move at the very same pace, because they are all forms of the same electromagnetic energy. So scientists simply ask how long light needs to cover a gap. One light-day is the stretch light covers in 24 hours. One light-year is what it covers in a full year, about 9.46 lakh crore kilometres. Think of it like describing a journey by travel time rather than by odometer reading. The Moon sits roughly 3,84,400 km away. Astronauts on NASA's Artemis II mission needed around three days to get there; light needs 1.3 seconds. Sunlight has to travel nearly 15 crore kilometres, so it reaches us 8 minutes and 20 seconds after leaving the Sun. The warmth on your face this morning is, quite literally, eight-minute-old news. Mars and Earth keep shifting positions as they circle the Sun, so a light signal between them takes anywhere from 3 to 22 minutes. Every command sent to a spacecraft near Mars, and every reply, obeys that same waiting time. Go further out and the numbers swell. Neptune, the farthest planet, averages about 450 crore kilometres from Earth, a distance light crosses in 4 hours and 10 minutes. Voyager 2, racing at nearly 56,327 km per hour, needed about 12 years to get there. Beyond our solar system, the nearest star with planets, Proxima Centauri, lies 4.24 light-years, or 40.15 lakh crore kilometres, away. The Andromeda galaxy, one of our closest large neighbours, is 25 lakh light-years off; its glow left home before our ancestors learnt to make fire. Where does all this sit? Picture India as the universe, Bengaluru as the Milky Way galaxy, Jayanagar as our solar system, and a single house in Jayanagar as Earth. The house belongs to the locality, the locality to the city, the city to the country. Earth is a planet, the Sun is a star, the Milky Way is our galaxy, and a galaxy holds millions or billions of stars inside a universe holding billions of galaxies. Voyager 1 has merely stepped out of the house and walked to the end of the lane. Both Voyagers left Earth in 1977. NASA sent Voyager 2 on a longer road so it could visit Uranus and Neptune, which is why it will reach its own one-light-day mark only in November 2035, about nine years later. Voyager 1, speeding at nearly 61,000 km per hour, took the more direct route. Fast as that sounds, against light it is a snail on a highway. Light is roughly 18,000 times faster than Voyager 1. Where is the snail headed? It is heading towards a faint star called Gliese 445 (also catalogued as AC +79 3888) in the constellation of Ursa Minor, the Little Bear that many of us know as the Little Dipper. Its light takes more than 17 years to reach us. Voyager 1 will need about 40,000 years just to reach its nearest point to that star, and even then it will not arrive. It will slip past at a gap of 1.7 light-years, a distance light itself would need one year and about eight months to cross. And that is the humbling heart of this story. Half a century of patient engineers, some long retired, some no longer alive, kept a 1970s machine alive and listening. For a country like ours, now nursing its own ambitions beyond Earth's orbit, the lesson is plain: great distances are conquered not by speed alone but by stubborn, generational persistence. On 18 November, when a signal from Voyager 1 finally takes a full day to come home, it will carry with it the quiet pride of everyone who refused to stop listening.

Voyager 1 will reach one light-day from Earth, 2,590 crore km away, on 18 November, 2026. Launched nearly 49 years ago, it crosses a distance light travels in 24 hours at 3 lakh km/s.

Voyager 1 will be one light-day from Earth on 18 November — and that changes everything

The Justice Department has launched an investigation into long-time Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski, according to reports. This comes after a criminal referral from the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general. When asked about the inquiry outside the White House, President Donald Trump said he wants his staff held accountable and that he had "heard something about it.""All I know is I want my people to be honest," Trump said. "If they're not going to be honest, they have to be prosecuted... They are stealing from me. So, I want my people to be honest. And if they're not honest, I'll have my DOJ go and do whatever they have to do."Most shops and schools across Taiwan remained closed on Friday (Oct 23) as Typhoon Champi approached the island, with hundreds of residents leaving their homes ahead of the powerful storm, news agency AFP reported. The typhoon is forecast to pass Taiwan's northeast before heading toward China and Japan, leading to hundreds of flight cancellations across the region. Authorities said at least one person died after being swept away by waves whipped up by the storm, while dozens of others were injured.India is set to host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi on 26 and 27 October, bringing together presiding speakers and lawmakers from member and partner countries under the theme of strengthening parliaments for people-centric development. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who is chairing the gathering, said the two-day conference at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan (the historic old Parliament building) marks a new chapter in India’s parliamentary diplomacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend and meet leaders of the visiting delegations. The Vice-President will host a banquet, and the programme includes bilateral meetings, a cultural programme, and visits to the Parliament complex and sites in Delhi.Stay with us for the latest news, breaking updates and developments as they unfold.

The Bank of Japan warned on Friday October 23, issued a formal warning in its semi-annual Financial System Report. It mentioned two specific concerns regarding the country's banking infrastructre- potential market correction driven by AI which could spillover to the country's banking system and growing cybersecurity threats.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boj-warns-ai-market-correction-cyberattacks-japan-banks-1792751078293">Read More</a>

French authorities have launched a terrorism investigation after a shooting west of Paris left one person dead and four others wounded on Friday (Oct 23). The suspect was arrested shortly after the attack, which unfolded in two neighbouring towns as the country remained on alert following recent street violence. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office said it had opened an investigation into the shooting in Trappes and La Verriere on suspicion of “murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise”.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-shooting-one-killed-four-injured-in-suspected-terror-attack-near-paris-1792753051924">Read More</a>

A tanker carrying Russian diesel is en route to New York after US President Donald Trump announced a deal with Moscow in early October, according to data from the maritime tracking firm Kpler.

Tanker loaded with Russian diesel headed for New York

&nbsp;Security agencies and the Mumbai police have been placed on high alert after an email sent to Mayor Ritu Tawde on Friday threatened bomb blasts at her office, actor Amitabh Bachchan’s home and the venue of singer Diljit Dosanjh’s concert, an official said.

Email warns of attacks on Mumbai mayor’s office, Bachchan home, Diljit Dosanjh's concert

Taiwanese authorities have convened in the Central Emergency Operations Center with President Lai Ching-te in New Taipei City to respond to possible damages brought by Typhoon Champi. Champi peaked at 298 kph (185 mph) maximum sustained winds earlier this week but has weakened to 155 kph (96 mph) winds as it approached Taiwan from the southwest.

Taiwan government on alert as Typhoon Champi brushes past

A viral claim says AISA chief Neha Bora wanted a "Bangladesh-like situation" in India. Bora, meanwhile, says her words were stripped of context. What's the truth?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/did-neha-bora-call-for-bangladesh-like-genz-protest-anarchy-in-india-wion-fact-checks-viral-claim-1792737743933">Click here to read</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn3.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20261023/image-1792740988881.jpg?rect=(0,20,3174,2380)"></figure>

Ukraine said Friday (Oct 23) that it was still experiencing problems with the Starshield military communications service, a day after US President Donald Trump said tech billionaire Elon Musk had restored access. "As of this morning, instances of signal loss are still being observed," a source in the defence ministry told reporters. "There is currently no confirmation that the restrictions have been lifted."<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/signal-loss-observed-ukraine-says-still-experiencing-issues-with-starshield-access-a-day-after-trump-claimed-musk-restored-service-1792745465103">Read more here</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn3.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20261023/image-1792746372312.jpg?rect=(36,0,3796,2847)"></figure>

The Israeli army said its forces had launched counter-terrorism operations and were raiding suspects' homes in the occupied West Bank on Friday following a shooting attack that wounded&nbsp;at least five people.In a statement, the military said soldiers and border police "launched offensive counter-terrorism operations in the Hebron area, which has been placed under a cordon, and in additional areas. The soldiers are currently operating inside the residences of the terrorists and additional suspects".&nbsp;

Israel army says launches 'offensive counter-terrorism operations' in West Bank after attack

Ukraine said Friday that it was still having problems using the Starshield military communications service, a day after US President Donald Trump said tech titan Elon Musk had restored access."As of this morning, instances of signal loss are still being observed," a source in the defence ministry told reporters. "There is currently no confirmation that the restrictions have been lifted."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ukraine reports problems with Starshield after Trump said access restored

Austria is expelling four Russian diplomats, accusing them of engaging in "activities incompatible" with their status, the foreign ministry said on Friday."Based on findings by the Austrian security authorities, the Austrian foreign ministry has taken measures against four Russian diplomats in Vienna," the ministry said in a statement.

Austria expels four Russian diplomats: foreign ministry

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that Israel had prevented a "major attack" after soldiers killed two armed Palestinian assailants in a firefight that left five wounded near the West Bank city of Hebron."I commend our heroic fighters, who acted resolutely and prevented a major terrorist attack, and wish our wounded a speedy recovery," Netanyahu said in a statement.He added that he had instructed the military to "impose a cordon on the city of Hebron and to prepare for a full closure of the entire West Bank starting today", with open-source Telegram groups reporting many checkpoints already closed in the area.

Netanyahu says Israel prevented 'major attack' in West Bank

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says the country is preparing 'full closure' of West Bank in response to the attack, as reported by news agency AFP.

Netanyahu says Israel preparing 'full closure' of West Bank in response to attack

India’s Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday criticised the wealthy nations and the European Union for failing to deliver on their climate finance commitments to the Global South. Speaking at the Berlin Global Dialogue, Goyal pointed to the amount of global carbon emissions developed nations emit while reneging on their pledged financial and technological support to developing and vulnerable nations under the Paris Agreement.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/problem-caused-by-you-indian-minister-slams-eu-over-climate-finance-carbon-tax-1792728767921">Read more</a>

'Problem caused by you': Indian Minister slams EU over climate finance, carbon Tax

India is set to host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi on 26 and 27 October, bringing together presiding speakers and lawmakers from member and partner countries under the theme of strengthening parliaments for people-centric development. &nbsp;Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who is chairing the gathering, said the two-day conference at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan (the historic old Parliament building) marks a new chapter in India’s parliamentary diplomacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend and meet leaders of the visiting delegations. The Vice-President will host a banquet, and the programme includes bilateral meetings, a cultural programme, and visits to the Parliament complex and sites in Delhi.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/iran-s-ghalibaf-and-russia-s-volodin-to-lead-delegations-to-new-delhi-brics-parliamentary-forum-1792734664540">Read more</a>

Iran’s Ghalibaf and Russia’s Volodin to lead delegations to New Delhi BRICS Parliamentary forum

The Justice Department has launched an investigation into long-time Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski, according to reports. This comes after a criminal referral from the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general.When asked about the inquiry outside the White House, President Donald Trump said he wants his staff held accountable and that he had "heard something about it.""All I know is I want my people to be honest," Trump said. "If they're not going to be honest, they have to be prosecuted... They are stealing from me. So, I want my people to be honest. And if they're not honest, I'll have my DOJ go and do whatever they have to do."<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/doj-opens-criminal-probe-into-trump-ally-corey-lewandowski-as-potus-warns-dishonest-staff-have-to-be-prosecuted-1792727902674">Read more</a> &nbsp;

DOJ opens criminal probe into Trump ally Corey Lewandowski as POTUS warns dishonest staff 'have to be prosecuted'

Most shops and schools across Taiwan remained closed on Friday (Oct 23) as Typhoon Champi approached the island, with hundreds of residents leaving their homes ahead of the powerful storm, news agency AFP reported. The typhoon is forecast to pass Taiwan's northeast before heading toward China and Japan, leading to hundreds of flight cancellations across the region. Authorities said at least one person died after being swept away by waves whipped up by the storm, while dozens of others were injured. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/typhoon-champi-nears-taiwan-schools-markets-closed-and-mass-evacuations-underway-1792731140886">Read more</a>

Typhoon Champi nears Taiwan: Schools, markets closed and mass evacuations underway

Catch the latest news updates: DOJ investigates Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski, Taiwan closes down as Typhoon Champi approaches, and India prepares to host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi.

The Justice Department has launched an investigation into long-time Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski, according to reports. This comes after a criminal referral from the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general. When asked about the inquiry outside the White House, President Donald Trump said he wants his staff held accountable and that he had "heard something about it." "All I know is I want my people to be honest," Trump said. "If they're not going to be honest, they have to be prosecuted... They are stealing from me. So, I want my people to be honest. And if they're not honest, I'll have my DOJ go and do whatever they have to do." Most shops and schools across Taiwan remained closed on Friday (Oct 23) as Typhoon Champi approached the island, with hundreds of residents leaving their homes ahead of the powerful storm, news agency AFP reported. The typhoon is forecast to pass Taiwan's northeast before heading toward China and Japan, leading to hundreds of flight cancellations across the region. Authorities said at least one person died after being swept away by waves whipped up by the storm, while dozens of others were injured. India is set to host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi on 26 and 27 October, bringing together presiding speakers and lawmakers from member and partner countries under the theme of strengthening parliaments for people-centric development. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who is chairing the gathering, said the two-day conference at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan (the historic old Parliament building) marks a new chapter in India’s parliamentary diplomacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend and meet leaders of the visiting delegations. The Vice-President will host a banquet, and the programme includes bilateral meetings, a cultural programme, and visits to the Parliament complex and sites in Delhi. Stay with us for the latest news, breaking updates and developments as they unfold.

Catch the latest news updates: DOJ investigates Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski, Taiwan closes down as Typhoon Champi approaches, and India prepares to host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi.

Latest News India and World LIVE updates: Trump reacts to Lewandowski DOJ probe, Taiwan shuts down for Typhoon Champi

The Justice Department has launched an investigation into long-time Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski, according to reports. This comes after a criminal referral from the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general.When asked about the inquiry outside the White House, President Donald Trump said he wants his staff held accountable and that he had "heard something about it.""All I know is I want my people to be honest," Trump said. "If they're not going to be honest, they have to be prosecuted... They are stealing from me. So, I want my people to be honest. And if they're not honest, I'll have my DOJ go and do whatever they have to do."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-trump-demands-ilhan-omar-removal-from-congress-for-using-fake-name-to-be-sworn-in-so-what-is-her-real-name-1792721069682">WATCH: Trump demands Ilhan Omar removal from Congress for 'using fake name to be sworn in'. So what is her real name?</a><h2>Lewandowski denies wrongdoing</h2>Adam Trigg, an attorney for Lewandowski, said his client has not been contacted by the Justice Department and denies any wrongdoing. "Mr. Lewandowski has not been contacted by the Justice Department regarding any investigation, and he denies any wrongdoing when he was proudly serving his country in a voluntary capacity," Trigg said in a statement posted on Lewandowski's X account.Lewandowski, who served as Trump's first campaign manager in 2016 before being fired that June, later served as a senior advisor on the 2020 and 2024 campaigns. He also served as an advisor to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.After The Wall Street Journal reported that the Justice Department was reviewing allegations of corruption and personal financial gain involving Lewandowski, he called the report "another example of the kind of anonymous-source, politically driven reporting that Americans have seen time and again," adding he was confident "the facts and not anonymous accusations will ultimately speak for themselves."<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn3.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20261023/image-1792737111693.png"></figure>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-s-justice-department-quietly-drops-legal-fight-to-overhaul-student-loan-forgiveness-program-1792649896547">Trump's Justice Department quietly drops legal fight to overhaul student loan forgiveness program</a><h2>Noem in the crosshairs</h2>The investigation overlaps with scrutiny of Noem on three fronts. As DHS Secretary, she required her personal written approval for all contracts and grants exceeding $100,000, and records show Lewandowski signed off on high-value spending decisions alongside her, despite serving as an unpaid, part-time "Special Government Employee."Investigators are dissecting contracts approved during her tenure, including a $220 million no-bid advertising campaign prominently featuring Noem, a $200 million contract for two private jets, and a $30 million non-competitive Palantir Technologies contract Lewandowski reportedly lobbied her to approve.Noem also faces potential perjury allegations. During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, she testified under oath that Lewandowski had no role in approving contracts, but internal DHS records show his signature on spending documents, prompting Democratic lawmakers to push for an investigation.Senator Richard Blumenthal's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations is running a separate inquiry, and the DHS inspector general has reported that leadership during Noem's tenure obstructed its initial investigation. Noem has admitted approving the ad contracts but maintains Trump was fully aware, a claim Trump has publicly denied.

US President Donald Trump says dishonest staff "have to be prosecuted" as the DOJ, according to reports, starts investigating his long-time ally, Corey Lewandowski. The probe is dragging Kristi Noem into the crosshairs. Here's all you need to know.

The Justice Department has launched an investigation into long-time Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski, according to reports. This comes after a criminal referral from the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general. When asked about the inquiry outside the White House, President Donald Trump said he wants his staff held accountable and that he had "heard something about it." "All I know is I want my people to be honest," Trump said. "If they're not going to be honest, they have to be prosecuted... They are stealing from me. So, I want my people to be honest. And if they're not honest, I'll have my DOJ go and do whatever they have to do." Also read | WATCH: Trump demands Ilhan Omar removal from Congress for 'using fake name to be sworn in'. So what is her real name? Lewandowski denies wrongdoing Adam Trigg, an attorney for Lewandowski, said his client has not been contacted by the Justice Department and denies any wrongdoing. "Mr. Lewandowski has not been contacted by the Justice Department regarding any investigation, and he denies any wrongdoing when he was proudly serving his country in a voluntary capacity," Trigg said in a statement posted on Lewandowski's X account. Lewandowski, who served as Trump's first campaign manager in 2016 before being fired that June, later served as a senior advisor on the 2020 and 2024 campaigns. He also served as an advisor to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. After The Wall Street Journal reported that the Justice Department was reviewing allegations of corruption and personal financial gain involving Lewandowski, he called the report "another example of the kind of anonymous-source, politically driven reporting that Americans have seen time and again," adding he was confident "the facts and not anonymous accusations will ultimately speak for themselves." Also read | Trump's Justice Department quietly drops legal fight to overhaul student loan forgiveness program Noem in the crosshairs The investigation overlaps with scrutiny of Noem on three fronts. As DHS Secretary, she required her personal written approval for all contracts and grants exceeding $100,000, and records show Lewandowski signed off on high-value spending decisions alongside her, despite serving as an unpaid, part-time "Special Government Employee." Investigators are dissecting contracts approved during her tenure, including a $220 million no-bid advertising campaign prominently featuring Noem, a $200 million contract for two private jets, and a $30 million non-competitive Palantir Technologies contract Lewandowski reportedly lobbied her to approve. Noem also faces potential perjury allegations. During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, she testified under oath that Lewandowski had no role in approving contracts, but internal DHS records show his signature on spending documents, prompting Democratic lawmakers to push for an investigation. Senator Richard Blumenthal's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations is running a separate inquiry, and the DHS inspector general has reported that leadership during Noem's tenure obstructed its initial investigation. Noem has admitted approving the ad contracts but maintains Trump was fully aware, a claim Trump has publicly denied.

US President Donald Trump says dishonest staff "have to be prosecuted" as the DOJ, according to reports, starts investigating his long-time ally, Corey Lewandowski. The probe is dragging Kristi Noem into the crosshairs. Here's all you need to know.

New Delhi: India is set to host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi on 26 and 27 October, bringing together presiding speakers and lawmakers from member and partner countries under the theme of strengthening parliaments for people-centric development. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who is chairing the gathering, said the two-day conference at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan (the historic old Parliament building) marks a new chapter in India’s parliamentary diplomacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend and meet leaders of the visiting delegations. The Vice-President will host a banquet, and the programme includes bilateral meetings, a cultural programme, and visits to the Parliament complex and sites in Delhi.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-hits-out-at-un-rapporteur-for-bias-in-counter-terror-report-1792649985494">India hits out at UN rapporteur for ‘bias’ in counter-terror report</a> Discussions will focus on four high-level areas: resilience of institutions, human-centred innovation in artificial intelligence and digital technologies, parliamentary cooperation for a more representative system of global governance, and sustainability for an inclusive future. A special meeting of chairs of international affairs committees will cover parliamentary diplomacy and capacity-building. Secretaries of the delegations are due to meet on 25 October to finalise a joint statement. India has also expanded parliamentary friendship groups with 64 countries. Confirmed high-level representation includes Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf with four MPs, Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin with 10 MPs, Chinese Vice-Chairperson of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee Zheng Jianbang with three MPs, UAE Federal National Council President Saqr Ghobash with three MPs, and Egypt’s Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sameh Shoukry with two MPs. Brazil is represented by Senator Irajá Silvestre Filho, chair of its parliamentary group for BRICS relations.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-eight-year-gap-india-s-foreign-minister-dr-s-jaishankar-to-travel-to-azerbaijan-1792677718216">After eight-year gap, India’s foreign minister Dr S Jaishankar to travel to Azerbaijan</a> Partner countries sending delegations include Thailand (Senate President Mongkol Surasajja with two MPs), Uganda (Speaker Marcusons Jacob Oboth with five MPs), Cuba (Vice-President of the National Assembly Ana María Mari Machado with four MPs), Belarus (Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Vadim Ipatov with one MP), Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, and Uzbekistan (details pending). Five delegations are led by speakers or presidents, three by deputy speakers or vice-presidents, and others by MPs. The forum follows the BRICS summit held under India’s chairmanship earlier this year. Organisers describe it as an opportunity to build consensus on shared challenges through dialogue among legislatures of the expanded grouping. The conference concludes on 27 October.

India will host parliamentary leaders from BRICS member and partner countries in New Delhi on October 26-27, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to meet visiting delegates. From China and Russia to Iran, here's who is attending and what will dominate the discussions.

New Delhi: India is set to host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi on 26 and 27 October, bringing together presiding speakers and lawmakers from member and partner countries under the theme of strengthening parliaments for people-centric development. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who is chairing the gathering, said the two-day conference at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan (the historic old Parliament building) marks a new chapter in India’s parliamentary diplomacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend and meet leaders of the visiting delegations. The Vice-President will host a banquet, and the programme includes bilateral meetings, a cultural programme, and visits to the Parliament complex and sites in Delhi. Also read | India hits out at UN rapporteur for ‘bias’ in counter-terror report Discussions will focus on four high-level areas: resilience of institutions, human-centred innovation in artificial intelligence and digital technologies, parliamentary cooperation for a more representative system of global governance, and sustainability for an inclusive future. A special meeting of chairs of international affairs committees will cover parliamentary diplomacy and capacity-building. Secretaries of the delegations are due to meet on 25 October to finalise a joint statement. India has also expanded parliamentary friendship groups with 64 countries. Confirmed high-level representation includes Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf with four MPs, Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin with 10 MPs, Chinese Vice-Chairperson of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee Zheng Jianbang with three MPs, UAE Federal National Council President Saqr Ghobash with three MPs, and Egypt’s Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sameh Shoukry with two MPs. Brazil is represented by Senator Irajá Silvestre Filho, chair of its parliamentary group for BRICS relations. Also read | After eight-year gap, India’s foreign minister Dr S Jaishankar to travel to Azerbaijan Partner countries sending delegations include Thailand (Senate President Mongkol Surasajja with two MPs), Uganda (Speaker Marcusons Jacob Oboth with five MPs), Cuba (Vice-President of the National Assembly Ana María Mari Machado with four MPs), Belarus (Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Vadim Ipatov with one MP), Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, and Uzbekistan (details pending). Five delegations are led by speakers or presidents, three by deputy speakers or vice-presidents, and others by MPs. The forum follows the BRICS summit held under India’s chairmanship earlier this year. Organisers describe it as an opportunity to build consensus on shared challenges through dialogue among legislatures of the expanded grouping. The conference concludes on 27 October.

India will host parliamentary leaders from BRICS member and partner countries in New Delhi on October 26-27, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to meet visiting delegates. From China and Russia to Iran, here's who is attending and what will dominate the discussions.

Most shops and schools across Taiwan remained closed on Friday (Oct 23) as Typhoon Champi approached the island, with hundreds of residents leaving their homes ahead of the powerful storm, news agency AFP reported. The typhoon is forecast to pass Taiwan's northeast before heading toward China and Japan, leading to hundreds of flight cancellations across the region. Authorities said at least one person died after being swept away by waves whipped up by the storm, while dozens of others were injured.Champi briefly reached super typhoon strength over the Pacific but has since weakened. According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, it is now carrying maximum sustained winds of 176 kilometres (109 miles) per hour.&nbsp;Heavy rain, strong winds and high waves are expected on Friday (Oct 23) and Saturday (Oct 24). Thousands of military personnel are on standby to support rescue operations, and more than 1,200 people had been evacuated by Friday (Oct 23).&nbsp;Central Weather Administration administrator Lu Kuo-chen told a briefing that the typhoon could slow as it nears Taiwan's northeastern tip, which would prolong its impact. He said strong winds and extremely heavy rain would continue into the first half of Saturday.The forecaster expects up to 90 centimetres (35 inches) of rain between Thursday and Saturday, with the northeast likely to be worst affected.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/typhoon-dolphin-landfall-china-evacuation-flights-cancelled-1786291306578">Typhoon Dolphin makes landfall in China, triggers mass evacuation and flight cancellations</a>&nbsp;Work and classes were cancelled across almost the entire island, leaving streets largely empty as residents stayed indoors. Some businesses placed sandbags or metal barriers at their entrances to guard against flooding.&nbsp;A 73-year-old farmer surnamed Tsai told AFP in New Taipei City that he feared his vegetables would be flooded and rot. Peter Chen, a 27-year-old convenience store worker, said he was worried about conditions on Friday night, when the typhoon's eye would be closest to the coast, and that his store might put out sandbags.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/short-videos/china-s-typhoon-saudel-rains-trigger-deadly-mudslide-kills-3-nine-missing-1788685492228">China's Typhoon Saudel rains trigger deadly mudslide: Kills 3, nine missing</a>&nbsp;Champi is the latest storm in a busy Pacific typhoon season intensified by the El Nino weather phenomenon, which has caused unprecedented warming in the equatorial Pacific. The United Nations said on Wednesday that the current El Nino is heading "off the charts" and urged countries to take urgent steps to prepare for the worst. El Nino is expected to peak in December, though its human impact is likely to extend into 2027 and beyond.&nbsp;A natural climate cycle, El Nino temporarily raises sea temperatures in the tropical Pacific, altering weather patterns in ways that can heighten the risk of drought and flooding and worsen human-caused global warming.

Taiwan halts operations, closes schools and financial markets, and evacuates hundreds of residents as Typhoon Champi approaches with severe winds and heavy torrential rain.

Most shops and schools across Taiwan remained closed on Friday (Oct 23) as Typhoon Champi approached the island, with hundreds of residents leaving their homes ahead of the powerful storm, news agency AFP reported. The typhoon is forecast to pass Taiwan's northeast before heading toward China and Japan, leading to hundreds of flight cancellations across the region. Authorities said at least one person died after being swept away by waves whipped up by the storm, while dozens of others were injured. Champi briefly reached super typhoon strength over the Pacific but has since weakened. According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, it is now carrying maximum sustained winds of 176 kilometres (109 miles) per hour. Heavy rain, strong winds and high waves are expected on Friday (Oct 23) and Saturday (Oct 24). Thousands of military personnel are on standby to support rescue operations, and more than 1,200 people had been evacuated by Friday (Oct 23). Central Weather Administration administrator Lu Kuo-chen told a briefing that the typhoon could slow as it nears Taiwan's northeastern tip, which would prolong its impact. He said strong winds and extremely heavy rain would continue into the first half of Saturday. The forecaster expects up to 90 centimetres (35 inches) of rain between Thursday and Saturday, with the northeast likely to be worst affected. Also read: Typhoon Dolphin makes landfall in China, triggers mass evacuation and flight cancellations Work and classes were cancelled across almost the entire island, leaving streets largely empty as residents stayed indoors. Some businesses placed sandbags or metal barriers at their entrances to guard against flooding. A 73-year-old farmer surnamed Tsai told AFP in New Taipei City that he feared his vegetables would be flooded and rot. Peter Chen, a 27-year-old convenience store worker, said he was worried about conditions on Friday night, when the typhoon's eye would be closest to the coast, and that his store might put out sandbags. Also read: China's Typhoon Saudel rains trigger deadly mudslide: Kills 3, nine missing Champi is the latest storm in a busy Pacific typhoon season intensified by the El Nino weather phenomenon, which has caused unprecedented warming in the equatorial Pacific. The United Nations said on Wednesday that the current El Nino is heading "off the charts" and urged countries to take urgent steps to prepare for the worst. El Nino is expected to peak in December, though its human impact is likely to extend into 2027 and beyond. A natural climate cycle, El Nino temporarily raises sea temperatures in the tropical Pacific, altering weather patterns in ways that can heighten the risk of drought and flooding and worsen human-caused global warming.

Taiwan halts operations, closes schools and financial markets, and evacuates hundreds of residents as Typhoon Champi approaches with severe winds and heavy torrential rain.

South African writer Coral Hart has published more than 370 books since February 2025 using artificial intelligence, and she says she will keep defending the practice despite a wave of online abuse, according to an interview by news agency AFP. Hart, who is in her forties and writes under a pseudonym to protect her real identity, she has received "tens of thousands" of hateful messages and several death threats. Critics on social media have called her a "grifter" and a "villain," and she has become a symbol of AI's growing presence in publishing. Few AI-using authors speak publicly, but Hart said she chose to do so because the conversations "need to start" and the technology will not be switched off.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/researchers-believe-ai-could-cure-cancer-patients-around-the-world-1792051527833/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/researchers-believe-ai-could-cure-cancer-patients-around-the-world-1792051527833/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Before turning to AI roughly 20 months ago, Hart worked in publishing for 14 years and wrote several dozen books without it. She told AFP it took three months to learn the various AI models and build a workflow capable of producing a book.&nbsp;She now alternates between tools, describing ChatGPT as strong at dialogue but weak at prose, Claude as strong on story structure, and Grok as "unhinged" but useful for spicier scenes. Simply asking an AI to write a book yields poor results, she said. Instead, she supplies the concept, style, character details and chapter outlines before her system generates a draft.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/anthropic-s-public-benefit-plan-what-its-5-share-commitment-means-for-ai-s-future-1792354587608">Anthropic’s public benefit plan: What its 5% share commitment means for AI’s future</a>&nbsp;The process has sped up considerably. Hart said she once needed two or three prompts to produce a single paragraph, whereas she can now draft a full book in one sequence. She said prose, syntax and sentence structure have all improved markedly since last year.First drafts are typically weak, she said, so they are passed through AI again for developmental edits and continuity checks, covering issues such as flat middles, unfinished character arcs, dropped plot threads and changing eye colours. A human proofreader then removes any remaining "AI tells" and rewrites where needed.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tap-dancing-through-a-minefield-musk-backs-spacex-tesla-merger-as-ai-boom-fuels-rocket-firm-s-first-profit-1792548716446">'Tap dancing through a minefield': Musk backs SpaceX-Tesla merger as AI boom fuels rocket firm's first profit</a>&nbsp;Most of her 371 titles, many of them romance, are tailored to specific readers using market research, though one novel reached Amazon's top 100 bestsellers. Hart estimates she has sold over one million copies across digital, print and audio formats, earning more than $1 million this year. She publishes under more than ten other pen names and discloses her AI use only when a sales platform requires it.&nbsp;Her company has trained several hundred people in her method and plans to launch software for AI authors called Authorythm.&nbsp;Hart, who is regularly accused of producing "AI slop," said sales are the true measure of quality. "Readers don't read rubbish books; they return them," she said.

South African author Coral Hart defends publishing over 370 AI-assisted books in 20 months, tackling criticism surrounding AI-generated content, reader quality, and the future of self-publishing.

South African writer Coral Hart has published more than 370 books since February 2025 using artificial intelligence, and she says she will keep defending the practice despite a wave of online abuse, according to an interview by news agency AFP. Hart, who is in her forties and writes under a pseudonym to protect her real identity, she has received "tens of thousands" of hateful messages and several death threats. Critics on social media have called her a "grifter" and a "villain," and she has become a symbol of AI's growing presence in publishing. Few AI-using authors speak publicly, but Hart said she chose to do so because the conversations "need to start" and the technology will not be switched off. https://www.wionews.com/videos/researchers-believe-ai-could-cure-cancer-patients-around-the-world-1792051527833/embed Before turning to AI roughly 20 months ago, Hart worked in publishing for 14 years and wrote several dozen books without it. She told AFP it took three months to learn the various AI models and build a workflow capable of producing a book. She now alternates between tools, describing ChatGPT as strong at dialogue but weak at prose, Claude as strong on story structure, and Grok as "unhinged" but useful for spicier scenes. Simply asking an AI to write a book yields poor results, she said. Instead, she supplies the concept, style, character details and chapter outlines before her system generates a draft. Also read: Anthropic’s public benefit plan: What its 5% share commitment means for AI’s future The process has sped up considerably. Hart said she once needed two or three prompts to produce a single paragraph, whereas she can now draft a full book in one sequence. She said prose, syntax and sentence structure have all improved markedly since last year. First drafts are typically weak, she said, so they are passed through AI again for developmental edits and continuity checks, covering issues such as flat middles, unfinished character arcs, dropped plot threads and changing eye colours. A human proofreader then removes any remaining "AI tells" and rewrites where needed. Also read: 'Tap dancing through a minefield': Musk backs SpaceX-Tesla merger as AI boom fuels rocket firm's first profit Most of her 371 titles, many of them romance, are tailored to specific readers using market research, though one novel reached Amazon's top 100 bestsellers. Hart estimates she has sold over one million copies across digital, print and audio formats, earning more than $1 million this year. She publishes under more than ten other pen names and discloses her AI use only when a sales platform requires it. Her company has trained several hundred people in her method and plans to launch software for AI authors called Authorythm. Hart, who is regularly accused of producing "AI slop," said sales are the true measure of quality. "Readers don't read rubbish books; they return them," she said.

South African author Coral Hart defends publishing over 370 AI-assisted books in 20 months, tackling criticism surrounding AI-generated content, reader quality, and the future of self-publishing.

AI slop or smart strategy? South African author Coral Hart defends Her 370 AI- assisted books in 20 months

An 18-year-old woman died after falling out of an amusement park ride at a festival in Los Cabos, Mexico, with footage shot by another rider capturing the moment she was thrown from her seat as the attraction spun at full speed. The woman, identified as Gabriela Rodríguez Tezoco, was riding a ride called "The Pendulum" at the Cabo San Lucas Traditional Festival when she fell on Tuesday (Oct 20), according to a local outlet, Expreso, citing officials.<h2>Screams, then a fall</h2>Cell phone video taken by a fellow rider shows Tezoco plummeting to the ground from the spinning ride, with other riders heard screaming as the attraction kept turning at high speed. You can watch it here; viewer discretion advised:

<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-status="hidden">🚨 🇲🇽 TRAGEDY as teen PLUNGES to her death from Mexico carnival ride

18 year-year-old Gabriela Rodríguez Tezoco, died after coming loose from her harness while riding The Pendulum at full speed.

Local officials immediately shut down the fairgrounds and launched an emergency safety audit of all private contractors.

Writer: Bri https://t.co/4MAR2PWb5V&mdash; Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) <a href="https://x.com/MarioNawfal/status/2113389624366407710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Emergency responders and the Mexican Red Cross treated her at the scene before she was rushed to a nearby hospital. She died from her injuries in the early hours of Wednesday (Oct 21), the Los Cabos city council announced.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bombed-the-vidhana-soudha-bihar-man-arrested-over-ai-generated-bengaluru-blast-video-netizens-slam-zero-freedom-of-speech-watch-1792643344153">Bihar man held over AI Vidhana Soudha blast video; netizens say 'no free speech'</a>"It is with deep sorrow that we report that the young woman who was injured in the incident that occurred in the amusement park area of the Cabo San Lucas Traditional Festivals, and who was immediately transferred to receive medical attention, lost her life despite the efforts of the health personnel," the council wrote on Facebook.<h2>Ride suspended, no arrests yet</h2>Mayor Christian Agúndez Gómez said the ride has been shut while safety tests are carried out on it and on the fair's other attractions.Speaking at a concert held as part of the festival, he offered his condolences: "These festivities remind us of who we are, where we come from, and what we are capable of when we are united. Today, with the same spirit with which we unite to celebrate, we must unite to support the family of Gabriela. It could have been any of us. They are not alone."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/man-dies-at-six-flags-georgia-past-accidents-at-six-flags-amusement-parks-across-us-1791886427986">Man dies at Six Flags Georgia: Past accidents at Six Flags amusement parks across US</a>The Baja California Sur State Attorney General's Office has opened an investigation into the circumstances of the death and into potential liability. No arrests have been made so far, and no one responsible for operating the ride has been publicly identified. The municipality said it would cooperate fully and support the family.Tezoco had graduated this summer from the Baja California Sur College of Baccalaureate Studies. "May your smile remain alive in our memory and may your memory always be a light that guides us," the school said in a tribute.&nbsp;

Gabriela Rodríguez Tezoco was riding a spinning pendulum ride at a festival in Los Cabos when she was thrown from her seat. Video from another rider captured the fall. The ride is shut down; an investigation has been opened, but no one has been arrested yet. 

An 18-year-old woman died after falling out of an amusement park ride at a festival in Los Cabos, Mexico, with footage shot by another rider capturing the moment she was thrown from her seat as the attraction spun at full speed. The woman, identified as Gabriela Rodríguez Tezoco, was riding a ride called "The Pendulum" at the Cabo San Lucas Traditional Festival when she fell on Tuesday (Oct 20), according to a local outlet, Expreso, citing officials. Screams, then a fall Cell phone video taken by a fellow rider shows Tezoco plummeting to the ground from the spinning ride, with other riders heard screaming as the attraction kept turning at high speed. You can watch it here; viewer discretion advised:

Gabriela Rodríguez Tezoco was riding a spinning pendulum ride at a festival in Los Cabos when she was thrown from her seat. Video from another rider captured the fall. The ride is shut down; an investigation has been opened, but no one has been arrested yet.&nbsp;

India’s Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday criticised the wealthy nations and the European Union for failing to deliver on their climate finance commitments to the Global South. Speaking at the Berlin Global Dialogue, Goyal pointed to the amount of global carbon emissions developed nations emit while reneging on their pledged financial and technological support to developing and vulnerable nations under the Paris Agreement.&nbsp;He also highlighted that it was India which "brought the Global South together and encouraged countries to commit to addressing climate change at COP21."&nbsp;"At the Paris climate conference in 2015, when the whole world came together, it was Prime Minister Modi who brought the Global South together and encouraged countries to commit to addressing climate change at COP21," said Goyal.&nbsp;ALSO READ:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-china-standoff-continues-near-arunachal-s-taksing-reveals-itbp-chief-shatrujeet-kapur-in-first-official-confirmation-of-tensions-1792723851188"> India-China face-off continues near Arunachal’s Taksing, reveals ITBP chief in first official confirmation of tensions</a>&nbsp;"It was agreed that the developed countries, who have enjoyed the fruits of messing up the climate for so many decades, will pay a greater price, and will support the developing and less developed countries, as well as island nations in the Pacific and the Caribbean...Just $100 billion a year. That was the commitment," he added.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">India’s Union Minister @PiyushGoyal exposes Western hypocrisy when it comes to climate change and climate action. He speaks not just for India but for a large part of the world. What a classic smooth rebuttal! https://t.co/6YXtAeWrgk&mdash; Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) <a href="https://x.com/AdityaRajKaul/status/2113349298482299020?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
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He further slammed the European Union for not fulfilling its promises made to the developing and less developed nations in 2015 of supporting them with grants to cut carbon emissions.&nbsp;"Eleven years later, we haven't seen a nickel or a dime of that. It's all promises. The larger question that the European Union and CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) have failed to answer," said Goyal.&nbsp;Goyal also spoke about the stark imbalance between the population sizes and emission outputs of the West compared to India.&nbsp;"Who's responsible for this mess in the first place? Where did the ozone layer get damaged? Who sent all that carbon into the atmosphere? I represent 17% of the world's population, but my contribution to global carbon emissions is less than 3%. You (Europe) represent probably 3% or 4% of the world's population, yet your contribution to those carbon emissions—or this mess—is humongous. The problem was caused by you," Goyal said.&nbsp;

Goyal highlighted that it was India which "brought the Global South together and encouraged countries to commit to addressing climate change at COP21."

India’s Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday criticised the wealthy nations and the European Union for failing to deliver on their climate finance commitments to the Global South. Speaking at the Berlin Global Dialogue, Goyal pointed to the amount of global carbon emissions developed nations emit while reneging on their pledged financial and technological support to developing and vulnerable nations under the Paris Agreement. He also highlighted that it was India which "brought the Global South together and encouraged countries to commit to addressing climate change at COP21." "At the Paris climate conference in 2015, when the whole world came together, it was Prime Minister Modi who brought the Global South together and encouraged countries to commit to addressing climate change at COP21," said Goyal. ALSO READ: India-China face-off continues near Arunachal’s Taksing, reveals ITBP chief in first official confirmation of tensions "It was agreed that the developed countries, who have enjoyed the fruits of messing up the climate for so many decades, will pay a greater price, and will support the developing and less developed countries, as well as island nations in the Pacific and the Caribbean...Just $100 billion a year. That was the commitment," he added.

Goyal highlighted that it was India which "brought the Global South together and encouraged countries to commit to addressing climate change at COP21."

President Donald Trump on Thursday (Oct 22) called on Speaker Mike Johnson to remove Ilhan Omar from Congress, claiming the Minnesota representative was sworn in under a false identity. "She used a fake name to be sworn in, I assume she must automatically resign from Congress," Trump said at a rally in Iowa."The Democrat party has just conceded her seat. Ilhan Nur Said Elmi will no longer hold that seat," he claimed.Omar's office has meanwhile rejected the claim outright. "This is completely false. Ilhan Omar is her real name," a spokesperson told Fox News, before accusing the outlet that published the report of giving oxygen to a lie.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">JUST IN: President Trump calls on Speaker Mike Johnson to REMOVE Ilhan Omar from congress being sworn in under a false identity 

&quot;She used a fake name to be sworn in, I assume she must automatically resign from Congress&quot; 

&quot;The Democrat party has just conceded her seat. Ilhan Nur Said Elmi will no longer hold that seat&quot;&mdash; Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) <a href="https://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/2113428228517859770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-ilhan-omar-could-go-to-jail-amid-federal-probe-calls-somalia-a-s-house-1792544664745">Trump says Ilhan Omar 'could go to jail' amid federal probe, calls Somalia a ‘s***house’</a>

<h2>So, what is Ilhan Omar's real name?</h2>According to a Fox News Digital report, citing unidentified sources familiar with an ongoing investigation into Congresswoman Omar's name at birth is Ilhan Nur Said Elmi. The report claims that "Ilhan Omar" is not her real name.The reporting also leans on a court filing. On Wednesday, US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro moved to keep the federal search warrant for Omar's home sealed, arguing the government has not finished executing it. The motion refers to "Congresswoman Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, a/k/a Ilhan Abdullahi Omar." One source told the outlet, "That's not her real name."A former Minnesota federal immigration judge, Nathan Hansen, said that if it were proven in court that she had lived her entire life under an alias, every form she has ever filled out could be called into question, from student aid and housing applications to passport and voter records, many of them sworn under penalty of perjury.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ilhan-omar-breaks-silence-over-alleged-marriage-to-her-brother-1792647466354">Ilhan Omar breaks silence over alleged marriage to her brother</a><h2>Why is Trump after Omar? The raid and more</h2>Federal investigators are probing whether Omar or her father committed fraud on her immigration paperwork. During an October 12 pre-dawn raid, they obtained her DNA and seized her phone and passport. Her sister, Sahra Noor, was questioned last week. Omar has confirmed publicly that she does not have a birth certificate, and her House biography lists her as born in Mogadishu on October 14, 1982, arriving in the US as a refugee in 1995.She has not been charged with any crime, and the material presented by prosecutors remains allegations.Omar has long faced allegations that she married her brother for immigration purposes. In a 2009 marriage she wed a man named Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, and the pair split in 2017. In her first interview since the raid, she told MS NOW's Chris Hayes that the allegation was "insane." Asked whether there was "some weird kernel of truth," she replied, "Not to my knowledge."She has accused Trump of weaponising federal law enforcement against a political rival, calling the raid "an outrageous abuse of power."&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump has called on Speaker Mike Johnson to remove Ilhan Omar from Congress, claiming at an Iowa rally that she was sworn in under a false identity and that "Ilhan Nur Said Elmi will no longer hold that seat."

President Donald Trump on Thursday (Oct 22) called on Speaker Mike Johnson to remove Ilhan Omar from Congress, claiming the Minnesota representative was sworn in under a false identity. "She used a fake name to be sworn in, I assume she must automatically resign from Congress," Trump said at a rally in Iowa. "The Democrat party has just conceded her seat. Ilhan Nur Said Elmi will no longer hold that seat," he claimed. Omar's office has meanwhile rejected the claim outright. "This is completely false. Ilhan Omar is her real name," a spokesperson told Fox News, before accusing the outlet that published the report of giving oxygen to a lie.

US President Donald Trump has called on Speaker Mike Johnson to remove Ilhan Omar from Congress, claiming at an Iowa rally that she was sworn in under a false identity and that "Ilhan Nur Said Elmi will no longer hold that seat."

Billionaire Elon Musk has donated at least $445 million to influence election outcomes this cycle, with a significant portion of his contributions directed toward helping Republicans maintain their control of the US Senate. The massive spending has established the world’s richest man as the largest disclosed donor in the midterm races, which will determine control of Congress during the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term in the White House.&nbsp;Filings submitted to the Federal Election Commission on Thursday, providing the final snapshot of political contributions before Election Day, revealed that Musk injected another $76.8 million into his super PAC during the first two weeks of October. His contributions had already been substantial in the preceding months. In September, Musk donated a total of $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, which is aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune. He also made donations worth tens of millions of dollars to super PACs involved in House races.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-midterms-2026-us-supreme-court-allows-new-hampshire-to-restrict-student-ids-for-voting-1792708633085">US midterms 2026: US Supreme Court allows New Hampshire to restrict student IDs for voting</a>&nbsp;Musk’s own political group, America PAC, is also playing an active role in the midterm elections. The organisation is financing mailers, digital advertisements and text-message campaigns designed to encourage Republican voters to turn out. Musk’s overall political spending during the two-year period also extends to state-level elections. Last year, for example, America PAC participated in a Wisconsin Supreme Court race, making an unsuccessful attempt to help a conservative candidate win a seat.<h2>Musk threatens Democrats</h2>Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, has warned Democrats who are planning to investigate his business interests and role in the federal government if they gain control of Congress in November. Musk responded on Wednesday to a Politico report outlining Democratic plans to investigate his activities should the party win the upcoming midterm elections.&nbsp;"Live by the sword, die by the sword," Musk wrote on X, the social media platform he owns. He followed the post with another warning directed at those seeking to investigate him. "Those who pick fights with me should understand that I will find out who is really pulling the strings and come for them, not just their puppets," Musk added on the platform, which he regularly uses to promote conspiracy theories.

Elon Musk has donated at least $445 million to US midterm elections, backing Republican Senate and House campaigns through major super PAC contributions

Billionaire Elon Musk has donated at least $445 million to influence election outcomes this cycle, with a significant portion of his contributions directed toward helping Republicans maintain their control of the US Senate. The massive spending has established the world’s richest man as the largest disclosed donor in the midterm races, which will determine control of Congress during the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term in the White House. Filings submitted to the Federal Election Commission on Thursday, providing the final snapshot of political contributions before Election Day, revealed that Musk injected another $76.8 million into his super PAC during the first two weeks of October. His contributions had already been substantial in the preceding months. In September, Musk donated a total of $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, which is aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune. He also made donations worth tens of millions of dollars to super PACs involved in House races. Also Read: US midterms 2026: US Supreme Court allows New Hampshire to restrict student IDs for voting Musk’s own political group, America PAC, is also playing an active role in the midterm elections. The organisation is financing mailers, digital advertisements and text-message campaigns designed to encourage Republican voters to turn out. Musk’s overall political spending during the two-year period also extends to state-level elections. Last year, for example, America PAC participated in a Wisconsin Supreme Court race, making an unsuccessful attempt to help a conservative candidate win a seat. Musk threatens Democrats Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, has warned Democrats who are planning to investigate his business interests and role in the federal government if they gain control of Congress in November. Musk responded on Wednesday to a Politico report outlining Democratic plans to investigate his activities should the party win the upcoming midterm elections. "Live by the sword, die by the sword," Musk wrote on X, the social media platform he owns. He followed the post with another warning directed at those seeking to investigate him. "Those who pick fights with me should understand that I will find out who is really pulling the strings and come for them, not just their puppets," Musk added on the platform, which he regularly uses to promote conspiracy theories.

Elon Musk has donated at least $445 million to influence US midterm elections, with major contributions aimed at helping Republicans retain Senate control

Members of the Tennessee execution team repeatedly failed to establish functioning intravenous (IV) lines in Christa Pike’s arms during an attempted execution and warned that some of her veins may have ruptured, or ‘blown’, before she was injected with pentobarbital, according to a court document filed by her attorney on Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;Attorney Randy Spivey wrote that the IV team used approximately 10 needles and attempted to establish access at several sites on both arms. The team also struggled to push saline through the final IV line it managed to establish, according to the filing. Pike, 50, was hospitalised after surviving two doses of pentobarbital during Tennessee’s attempt to execute her on September 30. The execution was scheduled in connection with the 1995 stabbing death of her classmate, Colleen Slemmer.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/serbia-elections-nearly-150-000-people-take-to-streets-in-massive-rally-against-aleksandar-vucic-in-pics-1792711292143">Serbia elections: Nearly 150,000 people take to streets in massive rally against Aleksandar Vucic | In pics</a>&nbsp;Pike was 18 at the time of the killing, which she committed with her boyfriend after torturing Slemmer. She later became one of the youngest women sentenced to death. Under Tennessee’s execution protocol, a second dose of pentobarbital is required if the first dose fails to cause death. However, the protocol does not specify what officials should do if a person survives the second injection.&nbsp;Following the failed execution, Pike was taken to a hospital, where she remained on a ventilator for several days. At one point, her attorneys feared she might not survive. She eventually regained consciousness and returned to prison after being discharged.<h2>Who is Christa Pike?</h2>Christa Pike was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer, a 19-year-old fellow student at a training programme. Pike was 18 years old when the killing took place. According to court records, she believed Slemmer was trying to steal her boyfriend. Pike’s boyfriend was also convicted for his involvement in the murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Christa Pike survived a failed Tennessee execution after the team struggled to establish IV lines, raising questions about lethal injection procedures

Members of the Tennessee execution team repeatedly failed to establish functioning intravenous (IV) lines in Christa Pike’s arms during an attempted execution and warned that some of her veins may have ruptured, or ‘blown’, before she was injected with pentobarbital, according to a court document filed by her attorney on Thursday. Attorney Randy Spivey wrote that the IV team used approximately 10 needles and attempted to establish access at several sites on both arms. The team also struggled to push saline through the final IV line it managed to establish, according to the filing. Pike, 50, was hospitalised after surviving two doses of pentobarbital during Tennessee’s attempt to execute her on September 30. The execution was scheduled in connection with the 1995 stabbing death of her classmate, Colleen Slemmer. Also Read: Serbia elections: Nearly 150,000 people take to streets in massive rally against Aleksandar Vucic | In pics Pike was 18 at the time of the killing, which she committed with her boyfriend after torturing Slemmer. She later became one of the youngest women sentenced to death. Under Tennessee’s execution protocol, a second dose of pentobarbital is required if the first dose fails to cause death. However, the protocol does not specify what officials should do if a person survives the second injection. Following the failed execution, Pike was taken to a hospital, where she remained on a ventilator for several days. At one point, her attorneys feared she might not survive. She eventually regained consciousness and returned to prison after being discharged. Who is Christa Pike? Christa Pike was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer, a 19-year-old fellow student at a training programme. Pike was 18 years old when the killing took place. According to court records, she believed Slemmer was trying to steal her boyfriend. Pike’s boyfriend was also convicted for his involvement in the murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Christa Pike survived two doses of pentobarbital during a failed Tennessee execution after repeated IV insertion problems, her lawyer says

Around 150,000 supporters rallied in Belgrade as Serbia’s student-led opposition challenged Aleksandar Vucic’s 14-year rule ahead of crucial parliamentary elections

Around 150,000 people rallied in Belgrade behind Serbia’s student-led opposition movement ahead of a crucial parliamentary election challenging Aleksandar Vucic

The US Supreme Court on Thursday allowed New Hampshire officials to restrict the circumstances in which voters can use student identification cards to obtain a ballot, ruling that a lower court decision blocking enforcement of the policy came too close to Election Day. The unsigned order marked a victory for New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan, a Republican, and the Republican National Committee (RNC), which had backed him in the legal dispute.&nbsp;The court did not disclose how the justices voted but provided a brief explanation citing the ‘Purcell principle’, which warns courts against making last-minute changes to election rules. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, one of the court’s liberal justices, issued a brief dissent questioning the application of the Purcell doctrine. New Hampshire voters are scheduled to elect a senator in November to fill the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen.&nbsp;A recent CNN poll found that Democrats held a 31 percentage point advantage over Republicans among younger adults. Lower federal courts had permitted the state to enforce the central provision of a law passed by the state legislature this spring. Under the legislation, student IDs can no longer be used on their own to verify a voter’s identity. However, state law also contains a ‘safety valve’ that allows voters to establish their identity through alternative means.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-says-russia-is-ready-to-resume-ukraine-us-peace-talks-but-rejects-short-ceasefire-amid-deadly-attacks-1792703841269">Putin says Russia is ready to resume Ukraine-US peace talks but rejects 'short ceasefire' amid deadly attacks</a>&nbsp;The dispute before the Supreme Court centred on whether student IDs could be considered alongside other evidence when election officials assessed the identity of someone requesting a ballot. After New Hampshire officials interpreted the new law as prohibiting the use of student IDs even under these circumstances, the voting rights group Coalition for Open Democracy filed a lawsuit.&nbsp;On October 2, a federal district court blocked enforcement of the state’s interpretation. New Hampshire subsequently filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court, arguing that the Purcell opinion required the justices to rule in its favour. The RNC had also warned that the lower court’s decision threatens to disrupt identity verification in New Hampshire’s looming elections.&nbsp;The Supreme Court has faced several high-profile election disputes ahead of next month’s midterm elections. Among the most prominent was a decision in mid-September rejecting President Donald Trump’s proposal to change how mail ballots are sent to voters nationwide.

The US Supreme Court allows New Hampshire to limit student ID use for voter verification, citing the Purcell principle ahead of the midterm elections

The US Supreme Court on Thursday allowed New Hampshire officials to restrict the circumstances in which voters can use student identification cards to obtain a ballot, ruling that a lower court decision blocking enforcement of the policy came too close to Election Day. The unsigned order marked a victory for New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan, a Republican, and the Republican National Committee (RNC), which had backed him in the legal dispute. The court did not disclose how the justices voted but provided a brief explanation citing the ‘Purcell principle’, which warns courts against making last-minute changes to election rules. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, one of the court’s liberal justices, issued a brief dissent questioning the application of the Purcell doctrine. New Hampshire voters are scheduled to elect a senator in November to fill the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen. A recent CNN poll found that Democrats held a 31 percentage point advantage over Republicans among younger adults. Lower federal courts had permitted the state to enforce the central provision of a law passed by the state legislature this spring. Under the legislation, student IDs can no longer be used on their own to verify a voter’s identity. However, state law also contains a ‘safety valve’ that allows voters to establish their identity through alternative means. Also Read: Putin says Russia is ready to resume Ukraine-US peace talks but rejects 'short ceasefire' amid deadly attacks The dispute before the Supreme Court centred on whether student IDs could be considered alongside other evidence when election officials assessed the identity of someone requesting a ballot. After New Hampshire officials interpreted the new law as prohibiting the use of student IDs even under these circumstances, the voting rights group Coalition for Open Democracy filed a lawsuit. On October 2, a federal district court blocked enforcement of the state’s interpretation. New Hampshire subsequently filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court, arguing that the Purcell opinion required the justices to rule in its favour. The RNC had also warned that the lower court’s decision threatens to disrupt identity verification in New Hampshire’s looming elections. The Supreme Court has faced several high-profile election disputes ahead of next month’s midterm elections. Among the most prominent was a decision in mid-September rejecting President Donald Trump’s proposal to change how mail ballots are sent to voters nationwide.

The US Supreme Court allows New Hampshire to restrict student IDs for voter verification, overturning a lower court ruling ahead of elections

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow was prepared to resume trilateral talks with Ukraine and the United States, but stressed that discussions should focus on security arrangements under a final peace agreement rather than a temporary ceasefire. "The goal of these discussions will be to address the issue of ensuring security for both Ukraine and Russia... within the framework of a final agreement, not after some kind of short pause in fighting," Putin told a reporter from state TV.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Ukraine accused Russia on Thursday of showing no change in its approach to the war after launching a wave of ballistic missile attacks shortly after US envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin to discuss restarting peace negotiations. Air raid sirens sounded throughout the night and into the day in Kyiv. City authorities said two people were killed and more than 30 others injured in the attacks. In the eastern city of Lozova, two women aged 50 and 60 were killed and dozens of people wounded when an attack struck a crowded market. Separately, two people were injured in Russia’s Moscow region during a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vivek-should-keep-it-up-trump-defends-ramaswamy-s-controversial-campaign-ad-targeting-amy-acton-1792702768630">'Vivek should keep it up': Trump defends Ramaswamy's controversial campaign ad targeting Amy Acton</a><h2>‘No real change’ in Russia’s position</h2>The attacks followed the Kremlin’s announcement that it was prepared to resume trilateral negotiations with Ukraine and Washington next month. However, Moscow rejected new proposals presented by Witkoff that had been developed in coordination with European countries and Ukraine. Overnight strikes affected 12 Ukrainian regions, damaging residential buildings, energy facilities, shops, cafes and a monastery in Kyiv. The attacks on the Ukrainian capital have intensified as winter approaches.&nbsp;Meanwhile, authorities ordered all families and children to evacuate the frontline towns of Kramatorsk and neighbouring Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine following a series of attacks that killed dozens of civilians. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the latest wave of attacks began "almost immediately" after Witkoff and Putin concluded hours of talks in Saint Petersburg.&nbsp;Zelensky also criticised the US envoy’s description of the Russian president as a ‘humanitarian’, arguing that the continued attacks contradicted such characterisations. "This means there has been no real change in its attitude towards everything that is happening," Zelensky said.

Putin says Russia is ready to resume peace talks with Ukraine and the US but wants a final security agreement as deadly strikes hit Ukrainian cities

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow was prepared to resume trilateral talks with Ukraine and the United States, but stressed that discussions should focus on security arrangements under a final peace agreement rather than a temporary ceasefire. "The goal of these discussions will be to address the issue of ensuring security for both Ukraine and Russia... within the framework of a final agreement, not after some kind of short pause in fighting," Putin told a reporter from state TV. Meanwhile, Ukraine accused Russia on Thursday of showing no change in its approach to the war after launching a wave of ballistic missile attacks shortly after US envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin to discuss restarting peace negotiations. Air raid sirens sounded throughout the night and into the day in Kyiv. City authorities said two people were killed and more than 30 others injured in the attacks. In the eastern city of Lozova, two women aged 50 and 60 were killed and dozens of people wounded when an attack struck a crowded market. Separately, two people were injured in Russia’s Moscow region during a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack. Also Read: 'Vivek should keep it up': Trump defends Ramaswamy's controversial campaign ad targeting Amy Acton ‘No real change’ in Russia’s position The attacks followed the Kremlin’s announcement that it was prepared to resume trilateral negotiations with Ukraine and Washington next month. However, Moscow rejected new proposals presented by Witkoff that had been developed in coordination with European countries and Ukraine. Overnight strikes affected 12 Ukrainian regions, damaging residential buildings, energy facilities, shops, cafes and a monastery in Kyiv. The attacks on the Ukrainian capital have intensified as winter approaches. Meanwhile, authorities ordered all families and children to evacuate the frontline towns of Kramatorsk and neighbouring Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine following a series of attacks that killed dozens of civilians. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the latest wave of attacks began "almost immediately" after Witkoff and Putin concluded hours of talks in Saint Petersburg. Zelensky also criticised the US envoy’s description of the Russian president as a ‘humanitarian’, arguing that the continued attacks contradicted such characterisations. "This means there has been no real change in its attitude towards everything that is happening," Zelensky said.

Putin says Russia is ready for Ukraine-US peace talks but rejects a short ceasefire as deadly Russian strikes hit Ukrainian cities

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