The wildfire that swept across Hawaii a week ago, turned one of the nation's most celebrated islands into an ashen moonscape. The wildfires have killed at least 101 people. A number that officials warn could double as the search continues.

Joe Biden to visit Hawaii to review recovery efforts as death toll crosses 100

<p>Two Ukrainians in the south-eastern region of Zaporizhzhia are making significant contributions to the military's frontline efforts by repurposing car engines into essential evacuation buggies, Reuters reported.</p>

<p>Friends Dmytro and Volodymyr are behind this innovation. They dedicate the majority of their time to a garage in the Zaporizhzhia region in an undisclosed location.</p>

<p>With a remarkable blend of ingenuity and skill, they have successfully crafted five of these specialised vehicles from scratch, with an additional five currently in progress.</p>

<p>Dmytro, aged 34, and his 33-year-old friend Volodymyr have individual roles to play.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fresh-cases-of-bubonic-plague-detected-in-china-625031">Fresh cases of bubonic plague detected in China</a></p>

<p>While Volodymyr focuses on securing sponsors, soliciting donations, and acquiring car engines, Dmytro, the elder of the two, meticulously assembles and constructs the vehicles.</p>

<h2><strong>Multi-purpose frontline buggies for military support</strong></h2>

<p>The heart of their project lies in the creation of swift and adaptable frontline buggies that serve multiple critical functions.</p>

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<p>These vehicles possess the agility to swiftly navigate challenging terrains and carry light ammunition loads.</p>

<p>Their most crucial role, however, is the safe transport of wounded soldiers to medical stabilisation points. The buggies are ingeniously designed to accommodate two stretchers on either side, enabling the efficient evacuation of injured personnel.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/maui-wildfires-death-toll-climbs-to-93-hundreds-still-missing-top-points-625038">Maui wildfires: Death toll climbs to 93, hundreds still missing&nbsp;</a></p>

<p>Volodymyr elaborated on the distinct advantages of their creations.</p>

<p>"There's a vehicle for every task. Ours cannot drive with such power like an armoured personnel carrier. But it is mobile, light, it’s hard to aim for it, it’s next to impossible to destroy it with an anti-tank missile," Volodymyr said, adding, "And it glides over terrain where the armoured personnel carrier will not pass. But on the other hand, wherever an armoured personnel carrier can pass through, the buggy can't. That is, different tasks, different vehicles. Plus we have two stretchers mounted on each side for evacuating the wounded."</p>

<p>Dmytro said,&nbsp;"At the beginning of constructing each buggy, you're like 'Oh no, and again, how does this work, where does this go.' You make one step, and then you just walk straightaway, you walk and walk, and then 'Oh wow, I'm done building it!'"</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Pakistani senator Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar is Pak's transitionary PM</strong></p>

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<p>The initiative undertaken by Dmytro and Volodymyr is a broader trend in Ukraine, where volunteers with technical expertise are uniting to design and manufacture an array of ground and aerial vehicles on a limited budget.</p>

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Two Ukrainians in the south-eastern region of Zaporizhzhia are making significant contributions to the military's frontline efforts by repurposing car engines into essential evacuation buggies, Reuters reported.

Two Ukrainians in the south-eastern region of Zaporizhzhia are making significant contributions to the military's frontline efforts by repurposing car engines into essential evacuation buggies, Reuters reported. Friends Dmytro and Volodymyr are behind this innovation. They dedicate the majority of their time to a garage in the Zaporizhzhia region in an undisclosed location. With a remarkable blend of ingenuity and skill, they have successfully crafted five of these specialised vehicles from scratch, with an additional five currently in progress. Dmytro, aged 34, and his 33-year-old friend Volodymyr have individual roles to play. Also Read | Fresh cases of bubonic plague detected in China While Volodymyr focuses on securing sponsors, soliciting donations, and acquiring car engines, Dmytro, the elder of the two, meticulously assembles and constructs the vehicles. Multi-purpose frontline buggies for military support The heart of their project lies in the creation of swift and adaptable frontline buggies that serve multiple critical functions. × These vehicles possess the agility to swiftly navigate challenging terrains and carry light ammunition loads. Their most crucial role, however, is the safe transport of wounded soldiers to medical stabilisation points. The buggies are ingeniously designed to accommodate two stretchers on either side, enabling the efficient evacuation of injured personnel. Also Read | Maui wildfires: Death toll climbs to 93, hundreds still missing Volodymyr elaborated on the distinct advantages of their creations. "There's a vehicle for every task. Ours cannot drive with such power like an armoured personnel carrier. But it is mobile, light, it’s hard to aim for it, it’s next to impossible to destroy it with an anti-tank missile," Volodymyr said, adding, "And it glides over terrain where the armoured personnel carrier will not pass. But on the other hand, wherever an armoured personnel carrier can pass through, the buggy can't. That is, different tasks, different vehicles. Plus we have two stretchers mounted on each side for evacuating the wounded." Dmytro said, "At the beginning of constructing each buggy, you're like 'Oh no, and again, how does this work, where does this go.' You make one step, and then you just walk straightaway, you walk and walk, and then 'Oh wow, I'm done building it!'" Watch | Pakistani senator Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar is Pak's transitionary PM × The initiative undertaken by Dmytro and Volodymyr is a broader trend in Ukraine, where volunteers with technical expertise are uniting to design and manufacture an array of ground and aerial vehicles on a limited budget. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

WATCH | These Ukrainians transform car engines into life-saving evacuation buggies to support army

Aerial footage showed a harbour, houses and other buildings badly charred in the resort city of Lahaina on Wednesday (August 9), after wildfires swept through Hawaii's Maui island and left at least six dead. Footage shot from a helicopter and shared with Reuters showed large areas in Lahaina blackened and devastated, with pillars of smoke rising from block after block of Lahaina, the largest tourist destination on Maui and home to multiple large hotels.

Hawai wildfires: More than 14,000 people relocated from Maui, death toll rises to 53

Days after a coup, the military junta in Niger has announced that the country is now severing military agreements with its former colonial ruler, France. This is as the West African bloc ECOWAS struggles to re-install an elected government in the country.

Niger: Military junta revokes defence deals with former ruler France

Big changes are happening in west Asia. This year arch enemies are embracing diplomatic ties; un-imagined peace pacts are being brokered. West Asia is aiming for stability after years of war, violence and upheaval. But who between US and china will walk away with the title of the war-torn region's biggest peacemaker?

Evacuees from Niger land in Paris and Rome

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe: Hundreds of European Nationals evacuated from Niger landed in Paris and Rome earlier today amid continuing tensions in the country after last week's military coup.

Post-coup evacuation in Niger: 3 aircraft deployed for French & European citizens

<p>Around 2,500 tourists were evacuated from Corfu, a popular Greek island, after wildfires spread, said a spokesman for the fire department on Monday (July 24).</p>

<p>Yannis Artopios said that fires have been raging in the north of the island as 2,466 people were evacuated overnight between Sunday and Monday, but no hotels or houses suffered destruction so far.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Corfu has been the latest island of Greece to have issued an evacuation order, as the country fights wildfires.</p>

<p>In the photos shared on social media, flames are seen engulfing Corfu. Fire also broke out in the northern part of the island, which is seen as a destination popular with British tourists.</p>

<p>This comes after around 19,000 people were also evacuated from the island of Rhodes, which was also engulfed by fire. A lot of people were forced to flee their hotels as the wildfires continued to spread from the centre of the Greek island.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-battles-wildfires-for-fifth-day-amid-heatwave-618194">Greece battles wildfires for fifth day amid heatwave</a></p>

<h2><strong>Greece battles with searing heat</strong></h2>

<p>For days now, Greece has been battling with searing heat as temperatures exceed 40C across the nation, and fires continue to blaze for nearly a week in some areas.</p>

<p>On Monday, a planned national holiday was cancelled "in view of the extraordinary conditions prevailing in the country due to the fires", said the Greek presidency.</p>

<p>Greece's Emergency Communications Service on Sunday evening had issued evacuation orders for various areas of Corfu.</p>

<p>People living in the areas of Santa, Megoula, Porta, Palia, Perithia and Sinies on Corfu island were asked to evacuate. A government official said that the boats in the area were dispatched to evacuate residents by sea.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Corfu and Rhodes, which have been battling wildfires, are popular tourist destinations which are thronged by hundreds of thousands of Brits every year.</p>

<p>"We are in the seventh day of the fire and it hasn't been controlled," said Rhodes Deputy Mayor Konstantinos Taraslias, while speaking to state broadcaster ERT. Tourists were forced to spend their nights on the floors of the airport, waiting for repatriation flights.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Greek wildfire in Rhode island forces largest-ever fire evacuation</strong></p>

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<p>"It was quite a bit of a struggle on the beach with the smoke," stated John Hope, a tourist from Manchester, England.</p>

<p>Flights departing for Rhodes were cancelled by tour operators Jet2, TUI and Corendon cancelled.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ryanair stated that its flights to and from Rhodes were normally operating. Chief Financial Officer Neil Sorahan said that the situation was being monitored by the airline on Monday.</p>

<p>"We have a lot of customers there who want to get home. We're not going to leave them behind so we'll travel back in and out. It's not necessary at this period in time (to put on more flights), we're letting people book onto earlier flights," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Around 2,500 tourists were evacuated from Corfu, a popular Greek island, after wildfires spread, said a spokesman for the fire department on Monday (July 24). Yannis Artopios said that fires have been raging in the north of the island as 2,466 people were evacuated overnight between Sunday and Monday, but no hotels or houses suffered destruction so far.

Around 2,500 tourists were evacuated from Corfu, a popular Greek island, after wildfires spread, said a spokesman for the fire department on Monday (July 24). Yannis Artopios said that fires have been raging in the north of the island as 2,466 people were evacuated overnight between Sunday and Monday, but no hotels or houses suffered destruction so far. Corfu has been the latest island of Greece to have issued an evacuation order, as the country fights wildfires. In the photos shared on social media, flames are seen engulfing Corfu. Fire also broke out in the northern part of the island, which is seen as a destination popular with British tourists. This comes after around 19,000 people were also evacuated from the island of Rhodes, which was also engulfed by fire. A lot of people were forced to flee their hotels as the wildfires continued to spread from the centre of the Greek island. ALSO READ | Greece battles wildfires for fifth day amid heatwave Greece battles with searing heat For days now, Greece has been battling with searing heat as temperatures exceed 40C across the nation, and fires continue to blaze for nearly a week in some areas. On Monday, a planned national holiday was cancelled "in view of the extraordinary conditions prevailing in the country due to the fires", said the Greek presidency. Greece's Emergency Communications Service on Sunday evening had issued evacuation orders for various areas of Corfu. People living in the areas of Santa, Megoula, Porta, Palia, Perithia and Sinies on Corfu island were asked to evacuate. A government official said that the boats in the area were dispatched to evacuate residents by sea. Corfu and Rhodes, which have been battling wildfires, are popular tourist destinations which are thronged by hundreds of thousands of Brits every year. "We are in the seventh day of the fire and it hasn't been controlled," said Rhodes Deputy Mayor Konstantinos Taraslias, while speaking to state broadcaster ERT. Tourists were forced to spend their nights on the floors of the airport, waiting for repatriation flights. WATCH | Greek wildfire in Rhode island forces largest-ever fire evacuation "It was quite a bit of a struggle on the beach with the smoke," stated John Hope, a tourist from Manchester, England. Flights departing for Rhodes were cancelled by tour operators Jet2, TUI and Corendon cancelled. Ryanair stated that its flights to and from Rhodes were normally operating. Chief Financial Officer Neil Sorahan said that the situation was being monitored by the airline on Monday. "We have a lot of customers there who want to get home. We're not going to leave them behind so we'll travel back in and out. It's not necessary at this period in time (to put on more flights), we're letting people book onto earlier flights," he said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Around 2,500 tourists evacuated from Greek island of Corfu amid raging wildfires

Heavy rainfall unleashes havoc in China' Chongqing

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<p>The Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in the Russia-occupied part of southern Ukraine came under attack on Tuesday (June 6) amid&nbsp;the ongoing conflict. The partial destruction of the dam, as per both officials in Moscow and Kyiv has unleashed a torrent of water.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Officials in Ukraine,&nbsp;hours after the damage, confirmed that some two dozen settlements had been flooded and at least 17,000 people have since been evacuated. The Russian-occupied city of Nova Kakhovka in southern Ukraine is home to the dam that both sides have accused each other of attacking.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kyiv has also called for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)&nbsp;to hold an emergency meeting over what it has described as a&nbsp;“Russian terrorist act”.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Kremlin has dubbed the attack on the Nova Kakhovka dam as a “deliberate sabotage” by Ukraine. The UNSC has agreed to meet later on Tuesday to discuss the dam issue after both Moscow and Kyiv called for the meeting.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>About the Nova Kakhovka dam</strong></h2>

<p>The Soviet-era dam, which is 98 feet tall and 3.2 kilometres long, was built in 1956 on the Dnipro River and holds significant amounts of water. The dam is a part of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in the Russia-occupied city of Nova Kakhovka in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Reuters, the water that the dam can hold amounts to that of the Great Salt Lake in the US state of Utah which is approximately 18 cubic kilometres. It is also one of the six dams that sit along the Dnipro River and is often referred to as the Kakhovka Sea as one cannot see the other bank in certain places, reported BBC.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The dam is also responsible for the water supply to southern Ukraine’s agricultural land, the Russia-annexed Crimean peninsula and the Moscow-held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). The reservoir also feeds the Soviet-era North Crimean Canal which supplies around 85 per cent of Crimea’s water.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The dam’s reservoir also provides water&nbsp;essential for cooling the six reactors at the power plant. Additionally, farmers in the surrounding area&nbsp;also rely on the water from this dam to grow their crops and thousands are now set to face trouble in the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, Geneva Conventions explicitly bans targeting dams during wars, due to the dangers posed to civilians by the destruction of such “works and installations containing dangerous forces”.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What happened at Nova Kakhovka dam?</strong></h2>

<p>Russia and Ukraine have both blamed each other for the supposed attack which has led to massive damage to the dam's structure. Kyiv, which was reportedly the first one to report the damage to the Nova Kakhovka dam, blamed Russia. On the other hand,&nbsp;there have been conflicting reports from the Russia-installed officials.</p>

<p>Images and videos from the scene show a massive breach in the dam with a large amount of water flowing downstream in the direction of the Ukrainian city of Kherson. Meanwhile, neither Kyiv nor Moscow have offered immediate public evidence to back up their claims.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>‘Terrorist attack,’ ‘ecocide’: Ukraine about&nbsp;Nova Kakhovka dam&nbsp;incident</strong></h2>

<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused “Russian terrorists” of destroying the dam. He went on to allege that the Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station from the inside and must be held accountable for this “terrorist attack.”</p>

<p>The Ukrainian president after an emergency meeting of senior officials said that the incident took place at around 2:50 am (local time) and an “internal detonation of the structures of the Kakhovskaya HPP" occurred. "About 80 settlements are in the zone of flooding”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Zelensky also said that the “world must react,” adding, “This is just one Russian act of terrorism. This is just one Russian war crime,” and went on to accuse Moscow of committing an act of “ecocide.” “Russia is at war with life, with nature, with civilisation. Russia must leave Ukrainian land and must be held fully accountable for its terror,” said the Ukrainian president.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A Ukrainian military spokesperson has also alleged that the dam was attacked to prevent Kyiv’s troops from crossing the Dnipro River to attack Russian troops occupying the area. The incident comes as Ukraine said Monday it was conducting “offensive action"&nbsp;on the front line amid speculation that the long-expected counteroffensive is underway.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>From no attack to ‘deliberate sabotage’: What did Russia say about the&nbsp;accusations?</strong></h2>

<p>As per initial reports, a Russia-installed official in Zaporizhzhia Vladimir Rogov said no attack had taken place and that the dam collapsed due to existing damage and the pressure of the water. It was not until&nbsp;later that the Kremlin spokesperson said that it was a Ukrainian attempt to stop the water&nbsp;supply to the Crimean peninsula which Russia had annexed back in 2014.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We can state unequivocally that we are talking about deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side,” said the Kremlin spokesperson. He added, “All responsibility lies with the Kyiv regime.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Clearly one of the aims of this act of sabotage was to deprive Crimea of water - the water level in the reservoir is dropping and, accordingly, the water supply to the canal is being drastically reduced,” said Peskov.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Russia had taken steps to deal with the water supply issue in Crimea, he added. The Kremlin spokesperson also went on to say that this “sabotage is also connected with the fact that having started large-scale offensive actions two days ago”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Moscow has also “decisively rejected” accusations by Kyiv and the West that Russian troops were behind a blast that caused damage to the dam. Meanwhile, the Russian-backed head of Crimea said there was no immediate threat to the peninsula’s water supply or flooding risk but warned of potential threats that the Northern Crimean Canal “will get more shallow,” said Sergei Aksyonov.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>‘Completely destroyed’: What’s the damage at the dam?</strong></h2>

<p>Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said that 17,000 people were being evacuated from flooded areas and more than 40,000 people are in danger of being flooded. He also warned that some 25,000 more people should be evacuated on the Russian-occupied side of the Dnipro River.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In an interview, Igor Syrota, head of Ukrhydroenergo, a Ukrainian state-owned energy company said that the Nova Kakhovka dam had been “completely destroyed” and the station “cannot be restored,” reported AFP.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ukrainian officials have reported that some 150 tonnes of engine oil spilt in the Dnipro River due to the attack it has blamed on Russia, while Zelensky said there was “a risk of further leakage of more than 300 tons".</p>

<p>Speaking about the environmental impact, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the floods have caused “long and irreversible harm” to the ecosystems and reported that animals at the Nova Kakhovka Zoo have "already died in the rising water".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Europe’s largest ZNPP, which is currently under Russian control, was reported not to be under “immediate risk” by the International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
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The Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in the Russia-occupied part of southern Ukraine came under attack on Tuesday (June 6) amid the ongoing conflict.

The Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in the Russia-occupied part of southern Ukraine came under attack on Tuesday (June 6) amid the ongoing conflict. The partial destruction of the dam, as per both officials in Moscow and Kyiv has unleashed a torrent of water. Officials in Ukraine, hours after the damage, confirmed that some two dozen settlements had been flooded and at least 17,000 people have since been evacuated. The Russian-occupied city of Nova Kakhovka in southern Ukraine is home to the dam that both sides have accused each other of attacking. Kyiv has also called for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to hold an emergency meeting over what it has described as a “Russian terrorist act”. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has dubbed the attack on the Nova Kakhovka dam as a “deliberate sabotage” by Ukraine. The UNSC has agreed to meet later on Tuesday to discuss the dam issue after both Moscow and Kyiv called for the meeting. About the Nova Kakhovka dam The Soviet-era dam, which is 98 feet tall and 3.2 kilometres long, was built in 1956 on the Dnipro River and holds significant amounts of water. The dam is a part of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in the Russia-occupied city of Nova Kakhovka in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region. According to Reuters, the water that the dam can hold amounts to that of the Great Salt Lake in the US state of Utah which is approximately 18 cubic kilometres. It is also one of the six dams that sit along the Dnipro River and is often referred to as the Kakhovka Sea as one cannot see the other bank in certain places, reported BBC. The dam is also responsible for the water supply to southern Ukraine’s agricultural land, the Russia-annexed Crimean peninsula and the Moscow-held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). The reservoir also feeds the Soviet-era North Crimean Canal which supplies around 85 per cent of Crimea’s water. The dam’s reservoir also provides water essential for cooling the six reactors at the power plant. Additionally, farmers in the surrounding area also rely on the water from this dam to grow their crops and thousands are now set to face trouble in the region. Notably, Geneva Conventions explicitly bans targeting dams during wars, due to the dangers posed to civilians by the destruction of such “works and installations containing dangerous forces”. What happened at Nova Kakhovka dam? Russia and Ukraine have both blamed each other for the supposed attack which has led to massive damage to the dam's structure. Kyiv, which was reportedly the first one to report the damage to the Nova Kakhovka dam, blamed Russia. On the other hand, there have been conflicting reports from the Russia-installed officials. Images and videos from the scene show a massive breach in the dam with a large amount of water flowing downstream in the direction of the Ukrainian city of Kherson. Meanwhile, neither Kyiv nor Moscow have offered immediate public evidence to back up their claims. ‘Terrorist attack,’ ‘ecocide’: Ukraine about Nova Kakhovka dam incident Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused “Russian terrorists” of destroying the dam. He went on to allege that the Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station from the inside and must be held accountable for this “terrorist attack.” The Ukrainian president after an emergency meeting of senior officials said that the incident took place at around 2:50 am (local time) and an “internal detonation of the structures of the Kakhovskaya HPP" occurred. "About 80 settlements are in the zone of flooding”. Zelensky also said that the “world must react,” adding, “This is just one Russian act of terrorism. This is just one Russian war crime,” and went on to accuse Moscow of committing an act of “ecocide.” “Russia is at war with life, with nature, with civilisation. Russia must leave Ukrainian land and must be held fully accountable for its terror,” said the Ukrainian president. A Ukrainian military spokesperson has also alleged that the dam was attacked to prevent Kyiv’s troops from crossing the Dnipro River to attack Russian troops occupying the area. The incident comes as Ukraine said Monday it was conducting “offensive action" on the front line amid speculation that the long-expected counteroffensive is underway. From no attack to ‘deliberate sabotage’: What did Russia say about the accusations? As per initial reports, a Russia-installed official in Zaporizhzhia Vladimir Rogov said no attack had taken place and that the dam collapsed due to existing damage and the pressure of the water. It was not until later that the Kremlin spokesperson said that it was a Ukrainian attempt to stop the water supply to the Crimean peninsula which Russia had annexed back in 2014. “We can state unequivocally that we are talking about deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side,” said the Kremlin spokesperson. He added, “All responsibility lies with the Kyiv regime.” “Clearly one of the aims of this act of sabotage was to deprive Crimea of water - the water level in the reservoir is dropping and, accordingly, the water supply to the canal is being drastically reduced,” said Peskov. However, Russia had taken steps to deal with the water supply issue in Crimea, he added. The Kremlin spokesperson also went on to say that this “sabotage is also connected with the fact that having started large-scale offensive actions two days ago”. Moscow has also “decisively rejected” accusations by Kyiv and the West that Russian troops were behind a blast that caused damage to the dam. Meanwhile, the Russian-backed head of Crimea said there was no immediate threat to the peninsula’s water supply or flooding risk but warned of potential threats that the Northern Crimean Canal “will get more shallow,” said Sergei Aksyonov. ‘Completely destroyed’: What’s the damage at the dam? Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said that 17,000 people were being evacuated from flooded areas and more than 40,000 people are in danger of being flooded. He also warned that some 25,000 more people should be evacuated on the Russian-occupied side of the Dnipro River. In an interview, Igor Syrota, head of Ukrhydroenergo, a Ukrainian state-owned energy company said that the Nova Kakhovka dam had been “completely destroyed” and the station “cannot be restored,” reported AFP. Ukrainian officials have reported that some 150 tonnes of engine oil spilt in the Dnipro River due to the attack it has blamed on Russia, while Zelensky said there was “a risk of further leakage of more than 300 tons". Speaking about the environmental impact, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the floods have caused “long and irreversible harm” to the ecosystems and reported that animals at the Nova Kakhovka Zoo have "already died in the rising water". Europe’s largest ZNPP, which is currently under Russian control, was reported not to be under “immediate risk” by the International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. 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Explained | What we know so far about the Nova Kakhovka dam attack in Ukraine

<p>The governor of Belgorod region in Russia, which shares&nbsp;a border with Ukraine, on Sunday reported ongoing clashes&nbsp;on&nbsp;the frontier and accepted that pro-Ukrainian forces had captured Russians prisoner during cross-border fighting.</p>

<p>Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov&nbsp;said that he was willing to&nbsp;talk with pro-Ukrainian forces&nbsp;to retrieve "our guys" from the fighters who claim to have&nbsp;captured Russian soldiers as prisoners in the Belgorod region.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>For the first time, Russian official have admitted that there fighters have been&nbsp;captured&nbsp;by pro-Ukraine forces during the war.</p>

<p>The pro-Kyiv groups like the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Legion for Freedom of Russia, earlier had called on the governor of&nbsp;Belgorod to meet fighters and release captive soldiers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The only thing stopping me from negotiating with them is our guys that are in their hands, maybe they are already dead," Gladkov said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"A sabotage group came in, there is combat in Novaya Tavolzhanka. I hope they will all be destroyed,"&nbsp;Gladkov stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Russia's army stated that they&nbsp;have repelled a "sabotage group of Ukrainian terrorists" who were trying to cross the frontier near the settlement. "The enemy was hit by artillery. The enemy scattered and retreated," the army said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Evacuate border district, says governor</strong></h2>

<p>The government authorities in Russia on Sunday appealed to the residents of the Shebekino district&nbsp;sharing borders with Ukraine&nbsp;to evacuate the area as shelling intensified.<br />
<br />
The Russian district of Shebekino, which is located in the western Belgorod on the Ukraine border, has been facing daily shelling which has killed many civilians and forced villagers to flee from the region.<br />
<br />
The region's governor Vyacheslav Gladkov appealed to residents to co-operate with the government authorities and evacuate the district.<br />
<br />
"I ask that in the villages of, first of all, the Shebekino district that has been shelled, to listen to the position of authorities and leave — temporarily leave — their homes," Gladkov&nbsp;said on Telegram.<br />
<br />
He added that their goal was "to safeguard what is most important: your life and the lives of your close ones". He added that the district went through another "not calm night" with "a lot of damage".</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wagner-mercenary-group-ready-to-defend-russian-border-region-of-belgorod-yevgeny-prigozhin-600346">Wagner mercenary group ready to defend Russian border region of Belgorod: Yevgeny Prigozhin</a></p>

<p>The statement was made by Gladkov a day after two women died in border villages because of shelling. He stated that "more than 4,000 people" who belong to border areas are currently staying in temporary housing in the Belgorod region.<br />
<br />
He added that on Sunday, the government authorities would shift the children of soldiers, who have been deployed to Ukraine, and minors from border villages to youth camps.</p>

<p>Meanwhile,&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the war with Russia&nbsp;has killed at least 500 Ukrainian children.</p>

<p>In a statement, the president said that “Russian weapons and hatred, which continue to take and destroy the lives of Ukrainian children every day," killed the hundreds who had perished since the full-scale invasion by Russia of Ukraine started on February 24, 2022.</p>

<p>“Many of them could have become famous scholars, artists, sports champions, contributing to Ukraine's history,” he added.</p>

<h2><strong>Russia missiles hit airfield in central Ukraine, says Kyiv</strong></h2>

<p>On Sunday, the Ukrainian authorities claimed that the Russian missiles struck an airfield located near the city of Kropyvnytskyi, in the central region of the country.<br />
<br />
Russia launched “six missiles and five attack drones", said Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuriy Ignat on television.<br />
<br />
"Unfortunately not all of them were destroyed. Of the six, four were destroyed by air defence and two hit the operational airfield near Kropyvnytskyi," he added.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Sirens wail as Kyiv repels Russian air attacks | Ukraine-Russia War</strong></p>

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<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">Meanwhile, the Russian army also confirmed that&nbsp;it hit military airfields of Ukraine with long-range weapons.</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">
<p>"Today at night, the armed forces of the Russian Federation carried out a group strike with long-range precision-guided air-launched weapons against enemy targets at military airfields," said the Russian army in a statement.&nbsp;</p>
</div>

<p>Kropyvnytskyi is a small city located in central Ukraine's Kirovohrad region, south of the capital Kyiv.<br />
<br />
The attack comes as air assaults were intensified by Russia on Ukraine, with the capital city Kyiv facing attacks for several days in a row this week.<br />
<br />
The war, which has now continued for more than 15 months, has escalated further as Kyiv has been claiming that they are preparing for a major counteroffensive.<br />
<br />
The border villages of Russia also faced intense shelling this week.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The governor of Belgorod region in Russia, which shares a border with Ukraine, on Sunday reported ongoing clashes on the frontier and accepted that pro-Ukrainian forces had captured Russians prisoner during cross-border fighting.

The governor of Belgorod region in Russia, which shares a border with Ukraine, on Sunday reported ongoing clashes on the frontier and accepted that pro-Ukrainian forces had captured Russians prisoner during cross-border fighting. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said that he was willing to talk with pro-Ukrainian forces to retrieve "our guys" from the fighters who claim to have captured Russian soldiers as prisoners in the Belgorod region. For the first time, Russian official have admitted that there fighters have been captured by pro-Ukraine forces during the war. The pro-Kyiv groups like the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Legion for Freedom of Russia, earlier had called on the governor of Belgorod to meet fighters and release captive soldiers. "The only thing stopping me from negotiating with them is our guys that are in their hands, maybe they are already dead," Gladkov said. "A sabotage group came in, there is combat in Novaya Tavolzhanka. I hope they will all be destroyed," Gladkov stated. Russia's army stated that they have repelled a "sabotage group of Ukrainian terrorists" who were trying to cross the frontier near the settlement. "The enemy was hit by artillery. The enemy scattered and retreated," the army said in a statement. Evacuate border district, says governor The government authorities in Russia on Sunday appealed to the residents of the Shebekino district sharing borders with Ukraine to evacuate the area as shelling intensified. The Russian district of Shebekino, which is located in the western Belgorod on the Ukraine border, has been facing daily shelling which has killed many civilians and forced villagers to flee from the region. The region's governor Vyacheslav Gladkov appealed to residents to co-operate with the government authorities and evacuate the district. "I ask that in the villages of, first of all, the Shebekino district that has been shelled, to listen to the position of authorities and leave — temporarily leave — their homes," Gladkov said on Telegram. He added that their goal was "to safeguard what is most important: your life and the lives of your close ones". He added that the district went through another "not calm night" with "a lot of damage". ALSO READ | Wagner mercenary group ready to defend Russian border region of Belgorod: Yevgeny Prigozhin The statement was made by Gladkov a day after two women died in border villages because of shelling. He stated that "more than 4,000 people" who belong to border areas are currently staying in temporary housing in the Belgorod region. He added that on Sunday, the government authorities would shift the children of soldiers, who have been deployed to Ukraine, and minors from border villages to youth camps. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the war with Russia has killed at least 500 Ukrainian children. In a statement, the president said that “Russian weapons and hatred, which continue to take and destroy the lives of Ukrainian children every day," killed the hundreds who had perished since the full-scale invasion by Russia of Ukraine started on February 24, 2022. “Many of them could have become famous scholars, artists, sports champions, contributing to Ukraine's history,” he added. Russia missiles hit airfield in central Ukraine, says Kyiv On Sunday, the Ukrainian authorities claimed that the Russian missiles struck an airfield located near the city of Kropyvnytskyi, in the central region of the country. Russia launched “six missiles and five attack drones", said Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuriy Ignat on television. "Unfortunately not all of them were destroyed. Of the six, four were destroyed by air defence and two hit the operational airfield near Kropyvnytskyi," he added. WATCH | Sirens wail as Kyiv repels Russian air attacks | Ukraine-Russia War Meanwhile, the Russian army also confirmed that it hit military airfields of Ukraine with long-range weapons. "Today at night, the armed forces of the Russian Federation carried out a group strike with long-range precision-guided air-launched weapons against enemy targets at military airfields," said the Russian army in a statement. Kropyvnytskyi is a small city located in central Ukraine's Kirovohrad region, south of the capital Kyiv. The attack comes as air assaults were intensified by Russia on Ukraine, with the capital city Kyiv facing attacks for several days in a row this week. The war, which has now continued for more than 15 months, has escalated further as Kyiv has been claiming that they are preparing for a major counteroffensive. The border villages of Russia also faced intense shelling this week. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

New fighting on Russian side of Ukraine border, says governor

In Pics | Tropical storm Mawar batters Japan

<p>Officials in the Philippines began evacuating nearly 5,000 people, shut down schools, offices and even imposed a no-sail ban Monday (May 29) as Typhoon Mawar approached the country’s northern provinces. The typhoon which is also now known as Betty is expected to move “generally northwestward” over the next two days, said the country’s weather agency.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The typhoon will hit the Philippines&nbsp;days after it wreaked havoc in the United States territory of Guam with ferocious winds and torrential rains but thankfully caused no fatalities or major injuries.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Evacuations underway in Philippines</strong></h2>

<p>According to Assistant Secretary Raffy Alejandro of the Office of Civil Defense, nearly 5,000 people have sought shelter in Cagayan, Batanes and other provinces. The Philippine authorities have warned of tidal surges, flash floods and landslides in the northernmost province of Batanes starting Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A day after the typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 155 kpm and gusts of up to 190 kph Mawar hit eastern villages of Cagayan on Monday and led to the collapse of some structures, it prompted evacuations. However, the number of evacuees is expected to rise, Alejandro said, as many are being evacuated currently from flood- and landslide-prone regions.</p>

<p>“Even if the sun is up, the weather is so unpredictable nowadays and could change anytime so we should always stay on the side of safety,” Alejandro told the Associated Press. So far, classes and offices, except for those involved in disaster preparedness have been temporarily shut.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Additionally, flights to and from the provinces where the typhoon is expected to hit have been cancelled, while the officials have also prohibited fishing and passenger vessels from sailing and even imposed a liquor ban. “We’re talking here of potential threats to lives,” Alejandro told the AP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The prohibition on sailing has also led to power outages in Batanes, a chain of islands with about 19,000 people as the tanker ship carrying fuel for the generators has taken shelter considering the upcoming typhoon. Furthermore, local officials have said that army troops, police, firefighters and volunteer groups have been placed on standby for search and rescue missions.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What happened in Guam?</strong></h2>

<p>Typhoon Mawar hit Guam last week and battered the US territory with 241 kph winds downing power lines, and trees. This has led to major power cuts across Guam as thousands of homes and businesses suffered outages. The storm was also one of the worst ones to hit the US territory in decades as images and videos show flooded streets, mangled trees, and debris across people’s front yards.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Officials in the Philippines began evacuating nearly 5,000 people, shut down schools, offices and even imposed a no-sail ban Monday (May 29) as Typhoon Mawar approached the country’s northern provinces.

Officials in the Philippines began evacuating nearly 5,000 people, shut down schools, offices and even imposed a no-sail ban Monday (May 29) as Typhoon Mawar approached the country’s northern provinces. The typhoon which is also now known as Betty is expected to move “generally northwestward” over the next two days, said the country’s weather agency. The typhoon will hit the Philippines days after it wreaked havoc in the United States territory of Guam with ferocious winds and torrential rains but thankfully caused no fatalities or major injuries. Evacuations underway in Philippines According to Assistant Secretary Raffy Alejandro of the Office of Civil Defense, nearly 5,000 people have sought shelter in Cagayan, Batanes and other provinces. The Philippine authorities have warned of tidal surges, flash floods and landslides in the northernmost province of Batanes starting Tuesday. A day after the typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 155 kpm and gusts of up to 190 kph Mawar hit eastern villages of Cagayan on Monday and led to the collapse of some structures, it prompted evacuations. However, the number of evacuees is expected to rise, Alejandro said, as many are being evacuated currently from flood- and landslide-prone regions. “Even if the sun is up, the weather is so unpredictable nowadays and could change anytime so we should always stay on the side of safety,” Alejandro told the Associated Press. So far, classes and offices, except for those involved in disaster preparedness have been temporarily shut. Additionally, flights to and from the provinces where the typhoon is expected to hit have been cancelled, while the officials have also prohibited fishing and passenger vessels from sailing and even imposed a liquor ban. “We’re talking here of potential threats to lives,” Alejandro told the AP. The prohibition on sailing has also led to power outages in Batanes, a chain of islands with about 19,000 people as the tanker ship carrying fuel for the generators has taken shelter considering the upcoming typhoon. Furthermore, local officials have said that army troops, police, firefighters and volunteer groups have been placed on standby for search and rescue missions. What happened in Guam? Typhoon Mawar hit Guam last week and battered the US territory with 241 kph winds downing power lines, and trees. This has led to major power cuts across Guam as thousands of homes and businesses suffered outages. The storm was also one of the worst ones to hit the US territory in decades as images and videos show flooded streets, mangled trees, and debris across people’s front yards. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Typhoon Mawar: Thousands evacuated in Philippines amid floods, landslides warning

<p>In a disheartening state of affairs, Alaweya Rishwan, the disabled wife of an 85-year-old Brit died of starvation when the UK embassy in Sudan failed to rescue the family even though they lived just across the road and had contacted the mission multiple times calling for help, as per reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The London hotel owner Abdalla Sholgami and his&nbsp;wife apparently requested the UK embassy in Sudan to fly them to the airfield from where the evacuation flights were departing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/11-year-old-black-boy-shot-in-chest-by-mississippi-police-he-called-for-help-596673">11-year-old black boy shot in chest by Mississippi police he called for help</a></p>

<p>Not only the embassy did not provide any help to the couple, but it also urged them to make it to the airfield on their own. The airfield, as per reports, was 40km (25 miles) outside Khartou, the capital city that has seen intense fighting in the recent past as the rival factions, the Sudanese army and the paramilitary forces, remain engaged in a power struggle.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even since the conflict broke out on 15 April, the family started making calls to the embassy for support in evacuation. Their calls went unheard as Britain's Army and Royal Air Force continued with the evacuation of the UK's diplomatic staff from conflict-ridden Sudan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imran-his-loyalists-orchestrated-may-9-violence-intel-report-596659">Imran, his loyalists orchestrated May 9 violence: Intel report</a></p>

<p>When the situation saw no change and Sholgami's wife was starving and had no water to drink, the husband had to make a decision to go find help for her. But instead of finding help, he came under gunfire and was shot a total of three times. After being taken&nbsp;to a family member's house in another part of Khartoum, Sholgami survived however the sniper shooting inflicted&nbsp;him with injuries on his hand, chest, and lower back.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The family continued to seek support from the UK embassy but unfortunately, Sholgami's wife was found dead by an official from a Turkish embassy and her body still remains at the house.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sholgami's granddaughter, Azhaar, said, "I was informed they had 100 troops who came and evacuated their staff. They could not cross the road? I'm still very disappointed in them."</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Battleground Bakhmut: Russia vs Ukraine | WION Wideangle</strong></p>

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<p>"What happened to my grandparents was a crime against humanity, not only by the RSF, not only by the [Sudanese army], but by the British embassy, because they were the only ones that could have prevented this from happening to my grandparents," Azhaar told BBC.</p>

<h2><strong>'Extremely sad', says UK embassy</strong> &nbsp;</h2>

<p>The UK embassy told BBC that the demise was "extremely sad". "Our ability to provide consular assistance is severely limited and we cannot provide in-person support within Sudan," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The rival factions in Sudan continue to clash despite the ceasefire in the capital city of Khartoum, on Wednesday (May 24), reported Reuters citing residents. This comes amid fears that the fighting could break the fragile United States-Saudi Arabia brokered weeklong ceasefire deal. Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration (IMO) said that more than a million people have been displaced within the country since the fighting began over a month ago.&nbsp;</p>

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In a disheartening state of affairs, Alaweya Rishwan, the disabled wife of an 85-year-old Brit died of starvation when the UK embassy in Sudan failed to rescue the family even though they lived just across the road and had contacted the mission multiple times calling for help, as per reports.

In a disheartening state of affairs, Alaweya Rishwan, the disabled wife of an 85-year-old Brit died of starvation when the UK embassy in Sudan failed to rescue the family even though they lived just across the road and had contacted the mission multiple times calling for help, as per reports. The London hotel owner Abdalla Sholgami and his wife apparently requested the UK embassy in Sudan to fly them to the airfield from where the evacuation flights were departing. Also Read | 11-year-old black boy shot in chest by Mississippi police he called for help Not only the embassy did not provide any help to the couple, but it also urged them to make it to the airfield on their own. The airfield, as per reports, was 40km (25 miles) outside Khartou, the capital city that has seen intense fighting in the recent past as the rival factions, the Sudanese army and the paramilitary forces, remain engaged in a power struggle. Even since the conflict broke out on 15 April, the family started making calls to the embassy for support in evacuation. Their calls went unheard as Britain's Army and Royal Air Force continued with the evacuation of the UK's diplomatic staff from conflict-ridden Sudan. Also Read | Imran, his loyalists orchestrated May 9 violence: Intel report When the situation saw no change and Sholgami's wife was starving and had no water to drink, the husband had to make a decision to go find help for her. But instead of finding help, he came under gunfire and was shot a total of three times. After being taken to a family member's house in another part of Khartoum, Sholgami survived however the sniper shooting inflicted him with injuries on his hand, chest, and lower back. The family continued to seek support from the UK embassy but unfortunately, Sholgami's wife was found dead by an official from a Turkish embassy and her body still remains at the house. Sholgami's granddaughter, Azhaar, said, "I was informed they had 100 troops who came and evacuated their staff. They could not cross the road? I'm still very disappointed in them." Watch | Battleground Bakhmut: Russia vs Ukraine | WION Wideangle × "What happened to my grandparents was a crime against humanity, not only by the RSF, not only by the [Sudanese army], but by the British embassy, because they were the only ones that could have prevented this from happening to my grandparents," Azhaar told BBC. 'Extremely sad', says UK embassy The UK embassy told BBC that the demise was "extremely sad". "Our ability to provide consular assistance is severely limited and we cannot provide in-person support within Sudan," it added. The rival factions in Sudan continue to clash despite the ceasefire in the capital city of Khartoum, on Wednesday (May 24), reported Reuters citing residents. This comes amid fears that the fighting could break the fragile United States-Saudi Arabia brokered weeklong ceasefire deal. Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration (IMO) said that more than a million people have been displaced within the country since the fighting began over a month ago. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Brit shot, wife dies of starvation as UK embassy in Sudan fails to evacuate couple living just across road

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<p>External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday informed that authorities had evacuated 229 more stranded Indians from Sudan. They were brought back to the country under 'Operation Kaveri', a day after 365 people landed in Bengaluru from the African country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>”#OperationKaveri One more flight brings back 229 passengers to Bengaluru,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wrote on Twitter.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OperationKaveri?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OperationKaveri</a><br />
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One more flight brings back 229 passengers to Bengaluru. <a href="https://t.co/5OGEh7WM7D">pic.twitter.com/5OGEh7WM7D</a></p>
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1652571622803484674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Of the 229 evacuees, 125 hailed from the southern state of Karnataka, according to a statement issued by Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority Commissioner Manoj Rajan.&nbsp;“From the latest group of evacuees, 29 were quarantined,” he said.</p>

<p>Jaishankar once again took to Twitter later in the day to inform that another batch of 40 Indian onboard a C-130J Indian Air Force flight had landed in the capital city of New Delhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"#OperationKaveri developments. A C-130J Indian Airforce flight has landed in New Delhi with 40 passengers. With this flight, around 2300 people have reached India."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OperationKaveri?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OperationKaveri</a> developments.<br />
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A C-130J Indian Airforce flight has landed in New Delhi with 40 passengers. With this flight, around 2300 people have reached India. <a href="https://t.co/kDcx13a40i">pic.twitter.com/kDcx13a40i</a></p>
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1652671133882232833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Operation Kaveri</strong></h2>

<p>The evacuation programme&nbsp;'Operation Kaveri' was launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,&nbsp;named after one of the major rivers from South India, to evacuate Indians stuck in Sudan.&nbsp;Operation Kaveri aims to bring back Indian citizens who are stuck in conflict-ridden Sudan.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/operation-kaveri-indian-army-aircraft-with-392-evacuees-reach-new-delhi-from-conflict-hit-sudan-587052" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Operation Kaveri: Indian Army aircraft with 392 evacuees reaches New Delhi from conflict-hit Sudan</strong></a></p>

<p>New Delhi has set up separate control rooms in Jeddah and Port Sudan, while the Indian embassy in Khartoum has been in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).</p>

<h2><strong>What is happening in Sudan?</strong></h2>

<p>The violent civil war between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary forces has led to the death of more than 500 while over 4,000 have been injured,</p>

<p>Earlier, the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) and World Food Programme (WFP) said that between 10,000 to 20,000 people had fled to the neighbouring country of Chad to seek refuge as the violence escalated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The fighting broke out earlier this month. The two warring factions were allies once as they seized power together in 2021. However, the proposed integration of RSF into the army did not sit well with the former. This led to a power struggle and has since metamorphosed into a full-blown civil war. Khartoum has witnessed the fiercest battles with the fighting spreading across the country as well.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday informed that authorities had evacuated 229 more stranded Indians from Sudan. They were brought back to the country under 'Operation Kaveri', a day after 365 people landed in Bengaluru from the African country.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday informed that authorities had evacuated 229 more stranded Indians from Sudan. They were brought back to the country under 'Operation Kaveri', a day after 365 people landed in Bengaluru from the African country. ”#OperationKaveri One more flight brings back 229 passengers to Bengaluru,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wrote on Twitter. #OperationKaveri One more flight brings back 229 passengers to Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/5OGEh7WM7D — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 30, 2023 × Of the 229 evacuees, 125 hailed from the southern state of Karnataka, according to a statement issued by Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority Commissioner Manoj Rajan. “From the latest group of evacuees, 29 were quarantined,” he said. Jaishankar once again took to Twitter later in the day to inform that another batch of 40 Indian onboard a C-130J Indian Air Force flight had landed in the capital city of New Delhi. "#OperationKaveri developments. A C-130J Indian Airforce flight has landed in New Delhi with 40 passengers. With this flight, around 2300 people have reached India." #OperationKaveri developments. A C-130J Indian Airforce flight has landed in New Delhi with 40 passengers. With this flight, around 2300 people have reached India. pic.twitter.com/kDcx13a40i — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 30, 2023 × Operation Kaveri The evacuation programme 'Operation Kaveri' was launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, named after one of the major rivers from South India, to evacuate Indians stuck in Sudan. Operation Kaveri aims to bring back Indian citizens who are stuck in conflict-ridden Sudan. ALSO READ | Operation Kaveri: Indian Army aircraft with 392 evacuees reaches New Delhi from conflict-hit Sudan New Delhi has set up separate control rooms in Jeddah and Port Sudan, while the Indian embassy in Khartoum has been in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). What is happening in Sudan? The violent civil war between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary forces has led to the death of more than 500 while over 4,000 have been injured, Earlier, the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) and World Food Programme (WFP) said that between 10,000 to 20,000 people had fled to the neighbouring country of Chad to seek refuge as the violence escalated. The fighting broke out earlier this month. The two warring factions were allies once as they seized power together in 2021. However, the proposed integration of RSF into the army did not sit well with the former. This led to a power struggle and has since metamorphosed into a full-blown civil war. Khartoum has witnessed the fiercest battles with the fighting spreading across the country as well. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Operation Kaveri: India brings back another batch of 229 people from Sudan

<p>The United States' first coordinated efforts to evacuate its private citizens from Sudan took place on Friday when a convoy of buses carrying approximately 300 Americans departed the war-torn capital of Khartoum and began a 525-mile journey&nbsp;to the Red Sea.</p>

<p>Armed American drones flew high above the convoy, keeping a close eye out for potential threats. After securing security guarantees from the enemies, the United Nations and numerous other countries have also evacuated their citizens overland, reported The New York Times.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It raised new concerns about why the United States had taken so long to plan a civilian evacuation from Sudan, which was home to approximately 16,000 Americans, many of whom were dual nationals, when Western and Persian Gulf allies had moved faster and evacuated many&nbsp;more people.</p>

<p>Starting&nbsp;Tuesday, Britain has evacuated 1,573 people, the majority of whom are British citizens, from an airfield north of Khartoum. Another 1,700 people were airlifted out of harm's way by Germany and France. According to Saudi authorities, at least 3,000 more people from various nations were evacuated by boat from Port Sudan to Jeddah.</p>

<p>Other nations are already reducing their evacuation efforts as the U.S. steps up its own.&nbsp;Due to a "significant decline" in demand for seats, Britain announced on Friday that it would stop operating its airlift at 6 pm&nbsp;on Saturday.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudan-conflict-bus-drivers-demanding-40000-to-help-people-cross-egypt-border-says-report-587265">Sudan conflict: Bus drivers demanding $40,000 to help people cross Egypt border, says report</a></p>

<p>The disparity could be a result of the American government taking a more cautious approach to airlifting civilians out of an unpredictably chaotic conflict zone with no clearly defined front lines. This concern appeared to be partially justified on Friday when Turkey reported that one of its military aircraft had come under fire as it landed at the airfield on the edge of Khartoum.</p>

<p>Other Americans have made it to the&nbsp;border on their own by road, crossing into Egypt and Ethiopia, joining tens of thousands of Sudanese who have made the same journey. The United States has assisted American citizens in getting seats on flights out of Khartoum organised by allied nations, and occasionally on convoys going through Khartoum to the airfield.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Indian Air Force pilots use Night Vision Goggles to land C-130J on degraded Sudan airstrip | Details</strong></p>

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<p>As a result of a demand that was much lower than that of other Western countries, the United States first said that it would not evacuate American civilians or their families. Only "dozens" of Americans had expressed a desire to leave, according to Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken on Monday.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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The United States' first coordinated efforts to evacuate its private citizens from Sudan took place on Friday when a convoy of buses carrying approximately 300 Americans departed the war-torn capital of Khartoum and began a 525-mile journey to the Red Sea.

The United States' first coordinated efforts to evacuate its private citizens from Sudan took place on Friday when a convoy of buses carrying approximately 300 Americans departed the war-torn capital of Khartoum and began a 525-mile journey to the Red Sea. Armed American drones flew high above the convoy, keeping a close eye out for potential threats. After securing security guarantees from the enemies, the United Nations and numerous other countries have also evacuated their citizens overland, reported The New York Times. It raised new concerns about why the United States had taken so long to plan a civilian evacuation from Sudan, which was home to approximately 16,000 Americans, many of whom were dual nationals, when Western and Persian Gulf allies had moved faster and evacuated many more people. Starting Tuesday, Britain has evacuated 1,573 people, the majority of whom are British citizens, from an airfield north of Khartoum. Another 1,700 people were airlifted out of harm's way by Germany and France. According to Saudi authorities, at least 3,000 more people from various nations were evacuated by boat from Port Sudan to Jeddah. Other nations are already reducing their evacuation efforts as the U.S. steps up its own. Due to a "significant decline" in demand for seats, Britain announced on Friday that it would stop operating its airlift at 6 pm on Saturday. ALSO READ | Sudan conflict: Bus drivers demanding $40,000 to help people cross Egypt border, says report The disparity could be a result of the American government taking a more cautious approach to airlifting civilians out of an unpredictably chaotic conflict zone with no clearly defined front lines. This concern appeared to be partially justified on Friday when Turkey reported that one of its military aircraft had come under fire as it landed at the airfield on the edge of Khartoum. Other Americans have made it to the border on their own by road, crossing into Egypt and Ethiopia, joining tens of thousands of Sudanese who have made the same journey. The United States has assisted American citizens in getting seats on flights out of Khartoum organised by allied nations, and occasionally on convoys going through Khartoum to the airfield. ALSO WATCH | Indian Air Force pilots use Night Vision Goggles to land C-130J on degraded Sudan airstrip | Details As a result of a demand that was much lower than that of other Western countries, the United States first said that it would not evacuate American civilians or their families. Only "dozens" of Americans had expressed a desire to leave, according to Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken on Monday. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US begins evacuation of American citizens from war-torn Sudan

Out of food, out of water As Sudan’s army and the RSF fight for power, We take you inside daring rescue missions in Sudan. Watch how Operation Kaveri is unfolding and brining stranded Indians back home.

Sudan in strife: Factions and evacuations | WION Wideangle

India has launched operation Kaveri under which around 500 Indians have been evacuated from Sudan so far. India aims to evacuate 3,000 nationals by the end of the 72-hour truce but it looks like the U.S. brokered 72-hour truce has failed.

Operation Kaveri: India evacuates 500 nationals from Sudan

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms - India evacuates 278 civilians from Sudan; French fries may drive anxiety ?

India evacuates 278 civilians from Sudan; French fries may drive anxiety ?

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all latest news and top headlines from all across the globe - The UN secretary-general welcomed the safe temporary relocation of hundreds of UN staff and their dependents from Khartoum and other locations in Sudan.

Sudan Conflict: UN relocates all staff and dependents from Khartoum | WION Speed News

India has begun evacuating its citizens who have been stranded in Sudan. First batch of stranded Indians leave Sudan under Operation Kaveri. Indian Navy's mission deployed warship INS Sumedha for the evacuation of stranded citizens. First batch of 278 Indians departed Port Sudan for Jeddah. About 3,000 Indians were estimated to be stranded in Sudan.

First batch of Indians leave Sudan under 'Operation Kaveri'

500 people of India have already arrived in Port Sudan as part of Operation Kaveri to repatriate them home, according to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday. INS Sumedha will transport them. "Our ships and planes are prepared to return them home. We are devoted to helping all of our brethren in Sudan, Jaishankar tweeted about the evacuation.

France, Saudi evacuate first Indian nationals from Sudan

Several countries have evacuated diplomats and citizens from Sudan's capital as fierce fighting continues to rage in Khartoum. The US and UK announced on Sunday they had flown diplomats out of the country. India has put two Indian Air Force aircrafts on standby in Jeddah to evacuate stranded Indians from violence-hit area.

Sudan Fighting: Several countries evacuate diplomats and citizens as fighting continues

Operation Kaveri : 500 Indians reach Port Sudan for evacuation

Sudan Conflict: Foreign nations scramble to evacuate citizens as battles rage

As the fighting between the rival generals continues in Sudan various countries have started evacuating their diplomats and nationals from the country. France, Germany, Italy and Spain are among other countries who are also organising evacuations. There are some Indian nationals who are among 66 citizens of 12 nations who have been evacuated from Sudan.

Sudan Conflict: Diplomats and foreign nationals evacuated

<p>The foreign ministry of Saudi Arabia reported that around 150 people, including diplomats and officials from several countries, had been rescued from Sudan and landed in Jeddah. The foreign ministry of Saudi Arabia stated that the naval forces of the country assisted in the first announced evacuation of civilians.</p>

<p>The "safe arrival" of 91 Saudi citizens and about 66 citizens from 12 other nations, including India, was announced. Additionally evacuated were people from Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Canada, and Burkina Faso, as reported by the Hindustan Times.</p>

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer: WION&nbsp;cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media.</strong></em></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🎥 | Receiving <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Saudi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Saudi</a> citizens and nationals from a number of countries in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jeddah?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jeddah</a> following their evacuation from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sudan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sudan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EKHNews_EN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EKHNews_EN</a> <a href="https://t.co/V62uE8asNE">pic.twitter.com/V62uE8asNE</a></p>
— AlEkhbariya News (@EKHNews_EN) <a href="https://twitter.com/EKHNews_EN/status/1649770850982166529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The foreigners included "diplomats and (government) officials", the ministry said. Saudi Arabia "worked to provide all the necessary needs of foreign nationals" ahead of their departure to their respective countries, it added.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Indians, as well as people from other nations, arrived safely from Sudan, including diplomats &amp; international officials: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia <a href="https://t.co/XoqykgnF2v">pic.twitter.com/XoqykgnF2v</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1649819486789459968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Last week, violence broke out in Sudan between troops loyal to army head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and those of his deputy-turned-rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a potent paramilitary group, are under Daglo's command.</p>

<p>Previously, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said that he received calls from leaders of several countries to “facilitate and guarantee safety for evacuating citizens and diplomatic missions” adding that the evacuations are expected to begin “in the coming hours”.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-9-killed-over-60-injured-after-triple-suicide-bombing-in-mali-585183">At least nine killed, over 60 injured after triple suicide bombing in Mali</a></p>

<p>The United States, Britain, France and China are planning to airlift their nationals using military jets, he said.</p>

<p>In a coup in 2021, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo and Abdel Fattah al-Burhan took control. According to AFP, intense firing from both sides continued in numerous areas of Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, leaving hundreds dead and thousands wounded thus far.</p>

<h2><strong>Situation in Sudan worsens</strong></h2>

<p>People are running out of food, fuel, and other essential supplies amid the ongoing turmoil in Sudan, according to UN humanitarians, and the healthcare system is in danger of collapsing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We desperately need a humanitarian pause so that wounded and sick civilians can reach hospitals,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Plumes of smoke in Sudan as truce is shattered; first evacuation vessel arrives in Jeddah</strong></p>

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<p>“People in the capital Khartoum have been unable to safely leave their homes to buy food and other essentials for days now.”</p>

<p>According to the Xinhua news agency, OCHA issued a report on a seriously impeded &nbsp;assistance response system and demanded an end to attacks on aid workers and looting of humanitarian organisations.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The foreign ministry of Saudi Arabia reported that around 150 people, including diplomats and officials from several countries, had been rescued from Sudan and landed in Jeddah.

The foreign ministry of Saudi Arabia reported that around 150 people, including diplomats and officials from several countries, had been rescued from Sudan and landed in Jeddah. The foreign ministry of Saudi Arabia stated that the naval forces of the country assisted in the first announced evacuation of civilians. The "safe arrival" of 91 Saudi citizens and about 66 citizens from 12 other nations, including India, was announced. Additionally evacuated were people from Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Canada, and Burkina Faso, as reported by the Hindustan Times. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. 🎥 | Receiving #Saudi citizens and nationals from a number of countries in #Jeddah following their evacuation from #Sudan #EKHNews_EN pic.twitter.com/V62uE8asNE — AlEkhbariya News (@EKHNews_EN) April 22, 2023 × The foreigners included "diplomats and (government) officials", the ministry said. Saudi Arabia "worked to provide all the necessary needs of foreign nationals" ahead of their departure to their respective countries, it added. Indians, as well as people from other nations, arrived safely from Sudan, including diplomats & international officials: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia pic.twitter.com/XoqykgnF2v — ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2023 × Last week, violence broke out in Sudan between troops loyal to army head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and those of his deputy-turned-rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a potent paramilitary group, are under Daglo's command. Previously, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said that he received calls from leaders of several countries to “facilitate and guarantee safety for evacuating citizens and diplomatic missions” adding that the evacuations are expected to begin “in the coming hours”. ALSO READ | At least nine killed, over 60 injured after triple suicide bombing in Mali The United States, Britain, France and China are planning to airlift their nationals using military jets, he said. In a coup in 2021, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo and Abdel Fattah al-Burhan took control. According to AFP, intense firing from both sides continued in numerous areas of Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, leaving hundreds dead and thousands wounded thus far. Situation in Sudan worsens People are running out of food, fuel, and other essential supplies amid the ongoing turmoil in Sudan, according to UN humanitarians, and the healthcare system is in danger of collapsing. “We desperately need a humanitarian pause so that wounded and sick civilians can reach hospitals,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said. ALSO WATCH | Plumes of smoke in Sudan as truce is shattered; first evacuation vessel arrives in Jeddah “People in the capital Khartoum have been unable to safely leave their homes to buy food and other essentials for days now.” According to the Xinhua news agency, OCHA issued a report on a seriously impeded assistance response system and demanded an end to attacks on aid workers and looting of humanitarian organisations. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Indians stuck in Sudan arrive in Jeddah after safe evacuation

<p>US embassy officials were safely evacuated from the violence-hit Sudan by US forces in coordination with Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In India, fugitive Sikh separatist Amritpal Singh has been arrested in Punjab state after eluding police for weeks. Police had launched a major crackdown on supporters of Amritpal Singh and members of his 'Waris Punjab De' outfit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In other news, in order to restore Ukraine's national identity, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law renaming geographic locations which are named after Russian individuals or historical occasions connected to Russian aggression.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Click on the headlines to read more:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-diplomats-families-evacuated-from-sudan-rsf-585218">US diplomats, families evacuated from Sudan: RSF&nbsp;</a><br />
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/04/23/347167-untitled-design-76.png?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p>As violence rages on in conflict-hit Sudan, the country's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said early on Sunday the US diplomats and their families have been evacuated in coordination with US forces.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-waris-punjab-de-chief-amritpal-singh-arrested-in-punjab-claims-report-585217">India: Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh arrested in Punjab</a><br />
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/03/21/339982-new-wion-51.png?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p>Amritpal Singh has been arrested by Moga Police in Punjab, India, news agencies reported on Sunday (April 23) citing sources. More details are awaited but news agency ANI reported quoting Punjab Police sources that Singh is likely to be shifted to Dibrugarh, Assam, where eight of his aides are already being. Media reports also mentioned that like his aides, Singh has been arrested under the National Security Act.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelenskyy-signs-law-banning-russian-place-names-in-ukraine-aims-to-restore-national-identity-585227">Zelensky signs law banning Russian place names in Ukraine, aims to restore national identity</a><br />
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/04/23/347174-untitled-design-77.png?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law that forbids renaming Ukrainian geographic locations after Russian individuals or historical occasions connected to Russian aggression, reported Kyiv Independent.&nbsp;The legislation which was signed on 21 April&nbsp;is a part of bigger "de-Russification" initiatives in response to Russia's full-blown invasion of Ukraine that is continuing to wage on for over a year now.&nbsp;The law which is titled "On Geographical Names," seeks to tackle the "decolonization of toponymy."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-files-complaint-over-erroneous-taiwan-remarks-made-by-south-korean-president-585222">China files complaint over 'erroneous' Taiwan remarks made by South Korean president</a><br />
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<p>China's Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong has requested solemn representations with the ambassador of South Korea after the country's president made "erroneous" remarks about Taiwan, stated the Chinese foreign ministry on Sunday.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | 66 Indians evacuated from Sudan, arrive in Saudi</strong></p>

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US embassy officials were safely evacuated from the violence-hit Sudan by US forces in coordination with Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In India, fugitive Sikh separatist Amritpal Singh has been arrested in Punjab state after eluding police for weeks.

US embassy officials were safely evacuated from the violence-hit Sudan by US forces in coordination with Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In India, fugitive Sikh separatist Amritpal Singh has been arrested in Punjab state after eluding police for weeks. Police had launched a major crackdown on supporters of Amritpal Singh and members of his 'Waris Punjab De' outfit. In other news, in order to restore Ukraine's national identity, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law renaming geographic locations which are named after Russian individuals or historical occasions connected to Russian aggression. Click on the headlines to read more: US diplomats, families evacuated from Sudan: RSF As violence rages on in conflict-hit Sudan, the country's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said early on Sunday the US diplomats and their families have been evacuated in coordination with US forces. India: Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh arrested in Punjab Amritpal Singh has been arrested by Moga Police in Punjab, India, news agencies reported on Sunday (April 23) citing sources. More details are awaited but news agency ANI reported quoting Punjab Police sources that Singh is likely to be shifted to Dibrugarh, Assam, where eight of his aides are already being. Media reports also mentioned that like his aides, Singh has been arrested under the National Security Act. Zelensky signs law banning Russian place names in Ukraine, aims to restore national identity Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law that forbids renaming Ukrainian geographic locations after Russian individuals or historical occasions connected to Russian aggression, reported Kyiv Independent. The legislation which was signed on 21 April is a part of bigger "de-Russification" initiatives in response to Russia's full-blown invasion of Ukraine that is continuing to wage on for over a year now. The law which is titled "On Geographical Names," seeks to tackle the "decolonization of toponymy." China files complaint over 'erroneous' Taiwan remarks made by South Korean president China's Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong has requested solemn representations with the ambassador of South Korea after the country's president made "erroneous" remarks about Taiwan, stated the Chinese foreign ministry on Sunday. Watch | 66 Indians evacuated from Sudan, arrive in Saudi ×

Morning brief: Indian fugitive Amritpal Singh arrested, US embassy officials evacuated from Sudan, and more

<p>France has started rapid evacuation operation of its citizens and diplomatic staff from violence-hit Sudan, the country’s foreign ministry said Sunday.</p>

<p>It would include citizens of “European and allied partner” nations, the ministry said.</p>

<p>As violence rages on in conflict-hit Sudan, the country's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said early on Sunday the US diplomats and their families have been evacuated in coordination with US forces.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>It also confirmed coordinating with the US forces in the evacuation of the embassy personnel. "The Rapid Support Forces Command has coordinated with the U.S Forces Mission consisting of 6 aircraft, for evacuating diplomats and their families on Sunday morning," the paramilitary group said in a tweet.</p>

<p>According to RSF, a US forces mission with six aircraft evacuated the US officials and their family members.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indians-stuck-in-sudan-arrive-in-jeddah-after-safe-evacuation-585185">Indians stuck in Sudan arrive in Jeddah after safe evacuation</a></p>

<p>A source with knowledge of the situation who asked to remain anonymous confirmed to Reuters that the US military had successfully carried out the evacuation. However, it fell short of providing any other information related to the evacuation.</p>

<p>No comment was immediately made by the Pentagon too in this regard. The armed combat between opposing factions has so far claimed hundreds of lives.</p>

<p>The Sudanese Army said on Saturday, April 22, that additional countries, including the United Kingdom, France, and China, would also be evacuating their diplomats and citizens from the violence-hit nation.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-puts-military-on-alert-fearing-north-korean-missile-585189">Japan puts military on alert fearing North Korean missile</a></p>

<p>US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Friday that US troops were positioned near Sudan to ensure safety for the Americans. "We always want to make sure that we're doing prudent planning, which is what we're doing," Austin said.</p>

<p>"We've deployed some forces into the theater to ensure that we provide as many options as possible if we are called on to do something. We haven't been called on to do anything yet."</p>

<p>According to World Health Organization, at least 413 people have died so far in the crossfire and 3,551 are left injured.</p>

<p>The announcement of the evacuation of US embassy personnel comes hours after the foreign ministry of Saudi Arabia said that about 150 people were rescued from Sudan and safely arrived in Jeddah.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Among those who arrived safely were diplomats and officials from several countries, including India. Saudi Arabia's naval forces coordinated the evacuation of these civilians.</p>

<p>As per the Kingdom's foreign ministry, as many as 91 of those evacuated were Saudi citizens and about 66 citizens from 12 other nations.</p>

<p>Moreover, people from Kuwait, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Canada, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia, and Burkina Faso were also evacuated, as reported by the Hindustan Times.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | 'India's high population not a problem,' says Manish Sabharwal, VC Teamlease Services | India Story</strong></p>

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<p>Last week, fighting broke out in Sudan between Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's army and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, his former deputy and challenger.</p>

<p>Daglo is in charge of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a formidable paramilitary organisation. Mohamed Hamdan Daglo and Abdel Fattah al-Burhan seized power in a coup in 2021.</p>

<p>According to AFP, heavy gunfire from both sides continued in a number of locations around Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, leaving hundreds of people dead and thousands more injured.</p>

<p>The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) declared that "we urgently need a humanitarian pause so that wounded and sick civilians can reach hospitals."</p>

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France has started rapid evacuation operation of its citizens and diplomatic staff from violence-hit Sudan, the country’s foreign ministry said Sunday. It would include citizens of “European and allied partner” nations, the ministry said.

France has started rapid evacuation operation of its citizens and diplomatic staff from violence-hit Sudan, the country’s foreign ministry said Sunday. It would include citizens of “European and allied partner” nations, the ministry said. As violence rages on in conflict-hit Sudan, the country's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said early on Sunday the US diplomats and their families have been evacuated in coordination with US forces. It also confirmed coordinating with the US forces in the evacuation of the embassy personnel. "The Rapid Support Forces Command has coordinated with the U.S Forces Mission consisting of 6 aircraft, for evacuating diplomats and their families on Sunday morning," the paramilitary group said in a tweet. According to RSF, a US forces mission with six aircraft evacuated the US officials and their family members. Also Read | Indians stuck in Sudan arrive in Jeddah after safe evacuation A source with knowledge of the situation who asked to remain anonymous confirmed to Reuters that the US military had successfully carried out the evacuation. However, it fell short of providing any other information related to the evacuation. No comment was immediately made by the Pentagon too in this regard. The armed combat between opposing factions has so far claimed hundreds of lives. The Sudanese Army said on Saturday, April 22, that additional countries, including the United Kingdom, France, and China, would also be evacuating their diplomats and citizens from the violence-hit nation. Also Read | Japan puts military on alert fearing North Korean missile US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Friday that US troops were positioned near Sudan to ensure safety for the Americans. "We always want to make sure that we're doing prudent planning, which is what we're doing," Austin said. "We've deployed some forces into the theater to ensure that we provide as many options as possible if we are called on to do something. We haven't been called on to do anything yet." According to World Health Organization, at least 413 people have died so far in the crossfire and 3,551 are left injured. The announcement of the evacuation of US embassy personnel comes hours after the foreign ministry of Saudi Arabia said that about 150 people were rescued from Sudan and safely arrived in Jeddah. Among those who arrived safely were diplomats and officials from several countries, including India. Saudi Arabia's naval forces coordinated the evacuation of these civilians. As per the Kingdom's foreign ministry, as many as 91 of those evacuated were Saudi citizens and about 66 citizens from 12 other nations. Moreover, people from Kuwait, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Canada, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia, and Burkina Faso were also evacuated, as reported by the Hindustan Times. Watch | 'India's high population not a problem,' says Manish Sabharwal, VC Teamlease Services | India Story × Last week, fighting broke out in Sudan between Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's army and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, his former deputy and challenger. Daglo is in charge of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a formidable paramilitary organisation. Mohamed Hamdan Daglo and Abdel Fattah al-Burhan seized power in a coup in 2021. According to AFP, heavy gunfire from both sides continued in a number of locations around Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, leaving hundreds of people dead and thousands more injured. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) declared that "we urgently need a humanitarian pause so that wounded and sick civilians can reach hospitals." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sudan: France begins evacuation of embassy staff, citizens of 'European and allied partner' nations

<p>A number of women who were not top-tier football players in Afghanistan, as it was claimed, were evacuated to England along with genuine players, reported BBC. The high-profile evacuation took place in November 2021 from Pakistan to England. Women footballers were seen to be at risk after Taliban's rise to power and their strict interpretation of Islam prompting them to oppose women's participation in sports.</p>

<p>In November 2021, Thirty-five women and their family members (130 people in all) were flown to England. They&nbsp;were granted UK visas by the country's Home Office.</p>

<p>A BBC report now says that though names and other details of the evacuees were genuine, it was found that their claims of being part of national or regional football teams in Afghanistan were, in some cases, false. After speaking to former Afghan players, coaches and others related to the sport, it was found that 13 of those evacuated were identified as not being part of the teams that were listed.</p>

<p>"I have seen people in the list who have not even worn a football strip in Herat," said Najibullah Nowroozi, former coach of Herat Youth Team. Herat is a province in Afghanistan.</p>

<p>Some genuine players have been left back in Afghanistan, says the report.</p>

<p>"The Taliban have banned sports for women and girls... we are left behind in Afghanistan with no future. It just makes me feel very neglected and very sad because we are the real players and not some of those that got evacuated," BBC quotes one of such individuals who, it said wished to remain anonymous.</p>

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A number of women who were not top-tier football players in Afghanistan, as it was claimed, were evacuated to England along with genuine players, reported BBC. The high-profile evacuation took place in November 2021 from Pakistan to England.

A number of women who were not top-tier football players in Afghanistan, as it was claimed, were evacuated to England along with genuine players, reported BBC. The high-profile evacuation took place in November 2021 from Pakistan to England. Women footballers were seen to be at risk after Taliban's rise to power and their strict interpretation of Islam prompting them to oppose women's participation in sports. In November 2021, Thirty-five women and their family members (130 people in all) were flown to England. They were granted UK visas by the country's Home Office. A BBC report now says that though names and other details of the evacuees were genuine, it was found that their claims of being part of national or regional football teams in Afghanistan were, in some cases, false. After speaking to former Afghan players, coaches and others related to the sport, it was found that 13 of those evacuated were identified as not being part of the teams that were listed. "I have seen people in the list who have not even worn a football strip in Herat," said Najibullah Nowroozi, former coach of Herat Youth Team. Herat is a province in Afghanistan. Some genuine players have been left back in Afghanistan, says the report. "The Taliban have banned sports for women and girls... we are left behind in Afghanistan with no future. It just makes me feel very neglected and very sad because we are the real players and not some of those that got evacuated," BBC quotes one of such individuals who, it said wished to remain anonymous. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

'False' footballers evacuated with Afghan women players to UK: Report

<p>At least four people have died and more than 40,000 have been evacuated in the past week or so in Malaysia’s southern Johor state, said officials on Saturday (March 4). Meanwhile, rescue efforts are underway from floodwaters caused by unprecedented torrential rains which have swept through several states in the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So far, the officials have set up more than 200 relief shelters for those displaced, as per the national disaster management agency. The local police also confirmed that at least four people have died since Wednesday including an incident where a man trapped in his vehicle was swept away by the rising floodwaters. Nearly 41,000 people from six states have been affected by the recent rains and subsequent floods.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the weather phenomenon is common in Malaysia during the monsoon season which is between October and March the heavy rains this year have left many scrambling for shelter, particularly in the southern state of Johor neighbouring Singapore, which has also witnessed heavy torrential rains since February.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We used to always prepare for the rainy season in November and December. Each household had a boat, but now with the unpredictable weather, it seems that we are not prepared and it's become chaotic,” a 57-year-old resident in the Johor town of Yong Peng, Noor Saad, told Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Local media reports and images show images of flooded roads, submerged cars and in some areas even homes. Meanwhile, the Malaysian Meteorological Department has warned that the wet weather could continue until April. This comes as the continuous rains have also hampered rescue efforts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In Yong Peng, a family was seen walking through muddy water which went above their knees outside their home while children using tyre tubes as floats, reported AFP.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="in">Menziarahi mangsa-mangsa banjir bersama Menteri Besar Johor Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi di Pusat Pemindahan Sementara (PPS) di Segamat yang terkesan ekoran bencana tersebut sejak beberapa hari lalu.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MalaysiaMADANI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MalaysiaMADANI</a> <a href="https://t.co/rgUMkaUCJ2">pic.twitter.com/rgUMkaUCJ2</a></p>
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<p>On Sunday, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim visited those evacuated in Johor and later took to Twitter to say that the government will “expedite mitigation projects to overcome the flood problem that has hit several states. This matter cannot be delayed and should be dealt with more seriously so that it does not happen again.” He added that immediate assistance has also been channelled from the federal and state governments to ease the burden on the flood victims.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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At least four people have died and more than 40,000 have been evacuated in the past week or so in Malaysia’s southern Johor state, said officials on Saturday (March 4).

At least four people have died and more than 40,000 have been evacuated in the past week or so in Malaysia’s southern Johor state, said officials on Saturday (March 4). Meanwhile, rescue efforts are underway from floodwaters caused by unprecedented torrential rains which have swept through several states in the country. So far, the officials have set up more than 200 relief shelters for those displaced, as per the national disaster management agency. The local police also confirmed that at least four people have died since Wednesday including an incident where a man trapped in his vehicle was swept away by the rising floodwaters. Nearly 41,000 people from six states have been affected by the recent rains and subsequent floods. While the weather phenomenon is common in Malaysia during the monsoon season which is between October and March the heavy rains this year have left many scrambling for shelter, particularly in the southern state of Johor neighbouring Singapore, which has also witnessed heavy torrential rains since February. “We used to always prepare for the rainy season in November and December. Each household had a boat, but now with the unpredictable weather, it seems that we are not prepared and it's become chaotic,” a 57-year-old resident in the Johor town of Yong Peng, Noor Saad, told Reuters. Local media reports and images show images of flooded roads, submerged cars and in some areas even homes. Meanwhile, the Malaysian Meteorological Department has warned that the wet weather could continue until April. This comes as the continuous rains have also hampered rescue efforts. In Yong Peng, a family was seen walking through muddy water which went above their knees outside their home while children using tyre tubes as floats, reported AFP. Menziarahi mangsa-mangsa banjir bersama Menteri Besar Johor Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi di Pusat Pemindahan Sementara (PPS) di Segamat yang terkesan ekoran bencana tersebut sejak beberapa hari lalu.#MalaysiaMADANI pic.twitter.com/rgUMkaUCJ2 — Anwar Ibrahim (@anwaribrahim) March 5, 2023 × On Sunday, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim visited those evacuated in Johor and later took to Twitter to say that the government will “expedite mitigation projects to overcome the flood problem that has hit several states. This matter cannot be delayed and should be dealt with more seriously so that it does not happen again.” He added that immediate assistance has also been channelled from the federal and state governments to ease the burden on the flood victims. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Malaysia: At least four dead, more than 40,000 evacuated amid heavy rains, floods

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