The scale of the Republicans' defeat in the U.S. midterms raises a key question. What went wrong for U.S. President Donald Trump?&nbsp;While Republicans may say that the president's party tends to lose seats in a midterm, something deeper than the normal midterm swing is at work this time.&nbsp;The result marks the first time in 20 years that a sitting president's party has lost control of both chambers of U.S. Congress in a midterm election.&nbsp;The last comparable outcome came in 2006 when Republicans under then-president George Bush lost 30 seats in the House of Representatives and 6 seats in the Senate.&nbsp;Just as Trump is facing heat over the protracted Iran war, dissatisfaction over the Iraq war became a major electoral liability for Bush back then.&nbsp;Now, some of the results paint a story in itself.&nbsp;Kansas elected its first democratic senator since 1932, Texas its first since 1988, and South Carolina its first since 1998.&nbsp;When places like these defy the norm, normal explanations do not hold ground.&nbsp;The reality is Trump lost this election through four mistakes, and every one of them was a choice.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-midterms-2026-us-president-s-focus-on-tariffs-cost-him-1793811571732/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-midterms-2026-us-president-s-focus-on-tariffs-cost-him-1793811571732/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Firstly, he governed like an interventonist. Take tariffs, for instance.&nbsp;While Trump has used it as a primary strategic weapon for geopolitical leverage, it is essentially a tax paid by American consumers and businesses.&nbsp;According to the Yale budget lab, Trump's tariffs cost each American household over a thousand U.S. dollars every year.&nbsp;This assumes significance for a U.S. president who campaigned on making things cheaper.&nbsp;Now, the last few months have also been marked by an unprecedented trade war with Canada. The impact on the supply chain and tariffs drastically impacted Americans.&nbsp;Trump also faced flak for U.S. taking a 10% share in Intel and for proposing capping credit card interest at 10%.&nbsp;This is not all.&nbsp;The NBC News exit poll found that 65% of people held Trump's policies responsible for the worsening economic conditions in U.S.&nbsp;Now, we have seen examples of this in the past as well. In 1930, U.S. President Herbert Hoover raised tariffs to protect American industry. Thereafter though, trading partners retaliated, world trade collapsed, and a recession deepened into the Great Depression.&nbsp;Similarly, Richard Nixon imposed wage and price controls in 1971. While they were initially popular, these measures led to shortages and resulted in huge inflation. Thus, protectionism fails every time, as it shields a few favoured industries and taxes everyone else.&nbsp;The Iran war is another key reason for the Republican defeat.&nbsp;Even as Trump promised to keep U.S. out of new wars, he started one along with Israel, putting the entire West Asia on an edge. Additionally, the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz lED to a global energy crisis.&nbsp;The U.S. consumers bore the brunt of this as well, with pump prices for gasoline up by 50% and diesel by two-thirds compared to pre-war levels.&nbsp;According to the NBC News exit poll, 63% of the people disapproved of U.S. taking military action against Iran.&nbsp;Essentially, wars require public consent to survive, and consent erodes fastest when people feel the war in their household budget.&nbsp;Now, candidate selection also played a key role. For instance, in Texas, Trump backed Ken Paxton over the sitting senator. This is despite the fact that Paxton was impeached by the Republican-led Texas Lower House for bribery and corruption. Ultimately, he lost to 37-year-old former teacher James Talarico.&nbsp;In South Carolina, Trump pushed the late Lindsey Graham's sister Darline Graham to contest the senate election even as she never held public office. She ended up losing to 49-year-old pediatrician Annie Andrews.&nbsp;These are not isolated misjudgments, but the predictable output of a system. While loyal candidates thrive in primaries where a small base decides, they tend to fail in general elections.&nbsp;Independents and moderate voters want competence, honesty, and someone who will not embarrass them.&nbsp;Corruption also emerged as a key issue in the polls. According to Fox News' October survey, this was the voters' top concern, even ahead of inflation.Now, the Trump family's business interests have often raised eyebrows. By his own disclosure, the U.S. president earned over 1.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2025 from his family's crypto businesses.&nbsp;According to a Wall Street Journal report, his family secretly sold 49% of one of those companies to a firm backed by UAE's national security advisor.&nbsp;The conflict of interest here is obvious to any voter.&nbsp;Now look at who won.&nbsp;A Methodist pastor, a former teacher, a pediatrician, a lifelong working-class democrat. Not one of them comes from the far left. These candidates ran on two key issues-prices and corruption.&nbsp;Thus, Democrats won by occupying ground which Republicans abandoned.&nbsp;The other story of this election has been the rise of pro-business Democrats, who argue that their own party's left is to blame for America's failure to build vital infrastructure.&nbsp;For instance, Pennslyvania Governor Josh Shapiro promised to cut corporate tax, sped up business permits and criticised campus antisemitism. He sided with growth over his party's activist base.&nbsp;There is a cautionery tale for U.S. as well. At least five candidates from the Democratic Socialists of America have won seats in the U.S. house of representatives, more than ever before.&nbsp;Concerns have been raised over their alleged hostility to Israel and economic policies such as freezing rent prices in New York.&nbsp;So what's next for Trump?&nbsp;Will he choose to course correct, or will Republicans continue to face the consequences going into the 2028 presidential elections?

It's the first time in 20 years that a sitting president's party has lost control of both chambers of U.S. Congress in a midterm. The last comparable outcome came in 2006 when Republicans under then-president George Bush lost 30 seats in the House of Representatives and 6 seats in the Senate.

The scale of the Republicans' defeat in the U.S. midterms raises a key question. What went wrong for U.S. President Donald Trump? While Republicans may say that the president's party tends to lose seats in a midterm, something deeper than the normal midterm swing is at work this time. The result marks the first time in 20 years that a sitting president's party has lost control of both chambers of U.S. Congress in a midterm election. The last comparable outcome came in 2006 when Republicans under then-president George Bush lost 30 seats in the House of Representatives and 6 seats in the Senate. Just as Trump is facing heat over the protracted Iran war, dissatisfaction over the Iraq war became a major electoral liability for Bush back then. Now, some of the results paint a story in itself. Kansas elected its first democratic senator since 1932, Texas its first since 1988, and South Carolina its first since 1998. When places like these defy the norm, normal explanations do not hold ground. The reality is Trump lost this election through four mistakes, and every one of them was a choice. https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-midterms-2026-us-president-s-focus-on-tariffs-cost-him-1793811571732/embed Firstly, he governed like an interventonist. Take tariffs, for instance. While Trump has used it as a primary strategic weapon for geopolitical leverage, it is essentially a tax paid by American consumers and businesses. According to the Yale budget lab, Trump's tariffs cost each American household over a thousand U.S. dollars every year. This assumes significance for a U.S. president who campaigned on making things cheaper. Now, the last few months have also been marked by an unprecedented trade war with Canada. The impact on the supply chain and tariffs drastically impacted Americans. Trump also faced flak for U.S. taking a 10% share in Intel and for proposing capping credit card interest at 10%. This is not all. The NBC News exit poll found that 65% of people held Trump's policies responsible for the worsening economic conditions in U.S. Now, we have seen examples of this in the past as well. In 1930, U.S. President Herbert Hoover raised tariffs to protect American industry. Thereafter though, trading partners retaliated, world trade collapsed, and a recession deepened into the Great Depression. Similarly, Richard Nixon imposed wage and price controls in 1971. While they were initially popular, these measures led to shortages and resulted in huge inflation. Thus, protectionism fails every time, as it shields a few favoured industries and taxes everyone else. The Iran war is another key reason for the Republican defeat. Even as Trump promised to keep U.S. out of new wars, he started one along with Israel, putting the entire West Asia on an edge. Additionally, the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz lED to a global energy crisis. The U.S. consumers bore the brunt of this as well, with pump prices for gasoline up by 50% and diesel by two-thirds compared to pre-war levels. According to the NBC News exit poll, 63% of the people disapproved of U.S. taking military action against Iran. Essentially, wars require public consent to survive, and consent erodes fastest when people feel the war in their household budget. Now, candidate selection also played a key role. For instance, in Texas, Trump backed Ken Paxton over the sitting senator. This is despite the fact that Paxton was impeached by the Republican-led Texas Lower House for bribery and corruption. Ultimately, he lost to 37-year-old former teacher James Talarico. In South Carolina, Trump pushed the late Lindsey Graham's sister Darline Graham to contest the senate election even as she never held public office. She ended up losing to 49-year-old pediatrician Annie Andrews. These are not isolated misjudgments, but the predictable output of a system. While loyal candidates thrive in primaries where a small base decides, they tend to fail in general elections. Independents and moderate voters want competence, honesty, and someone who will not embarrass them. Corruption also emerged as a key issue in the polls. According to Fox News' October survey, this was the voters' top concern, even ahead of inflation. Now, the Trump family's business interests have often raised eyebrows. By his own disclosure, the U.S. president earned over 1.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2025 from his family's crypto businesses. According to a Wall Street Journal report, his family secretly sold 49% of one of those companies to a firm backed by UAE's national security advisor. The conflict of interest here is obvious to any voter. Now look at who won. A Methodist pastor, a former teacher, a pediatrician, a lifelong working-class democrat. Not one of them comes from the far left. These candidates ran on two key issues-prices and corruption. Thus, Democrats won by occupying ground which Republicans abandoned. The other story of this election has been the rise of pro-business Democrats, who argue that their own party's left is to blame for America's failure to build vital infrastructure. For instance, Pennslyvania Governor Josh Shapiro promised to cut corporate tax, sped up business permits and criticised campus antisemitism. He sided with growth over his party's activist base. There is a cautionery tale for U.S. as well. At least five candidates from the Democratic Socialists of America have won seats in the U.S. house of representatives, more than ever before. Concerns have been raised over their alleged hostility to Israel and economic policies such as freezing rent prices in New York. So what's next for Trump? Will he choose to course correct, or will Republicans continue to face the consequences going into the 2028 presidential elections?

It's the first time in 20 years that a sitting president's party has lost control of both chambers of U.S. Congress in a midterm. The last comparable outcome came in 2006 when Republicans under then-president George Bush lost 30 seats in the House of Representatives and 6 seats in the Senate.

US midterms: What went wrong for Trump? | Gravitas

Even as Russia confirmed trilateral talks with Ukraine and U.S. in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11, the war continues unabated.&nbsp;Russia reportedly launched 289 attack drones, 17 ballistic missiles and 59 cruise missiles on Ukraine's vital infrastructure overnight.&nbsp;Just a while back, U.S. announced that First Lady Melania Trump will bring representatives of Russia and Ukraine together at the White House on Thursday.&nbsp;She had earlier brokered a brief ceasefire in the city of Oleshky.&nbsp;Meanwhile, in Zaporizhia, a school being used as an aid distribution centre was reduced to ruins in multiple glide bomb attacks by Russia.&nbsp;The death toll has now risen to 33.&nbsp;Five others were wounded, while 50 others are still trapped under the rubble.&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described it as a 'vile terrorist attack'.&nbsp;Search and rescue operations continue at the site.&nbsp;Visuals showed rescuers carrying an injured dog from the rubble and giving it first aid.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/putin-unleashes-glide-bomb-terror-on-ukraine-russia-s-key-oil-refinery-hit-by-drone-barrage-1793725122497/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/putin-unleashes-glide-bomb-terror-on-ukraine-russia-s-key-oil-refinery-hit-by-drone-barrage-1793725122497/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;According to Zelensky, Russia attacked multiple power generation facilities and substations, resulting in damage to ten facilities.&nbsp;In Zhytomyr for instance, about one hundred eighty thousand people were left without power after a Russian strike.&nbsp;Three thermal plants were forced to shut down.&nbsp;Additionally, a hospital came under attack in Kharkiv, leaving 73 people injured.&nbsp;Ukrainian authorities also reported a Russian missile attack on Dnipro, which destroyed residential and administrative buildings.&nbsp;At least two persons were killed whereas 17 others were injured.&nbsp;Rescuers pulled nine people alive from the rubble, and all fires have been now extinguished.&nbsp;Kherson administration released footage, which shows the scars of war across this southern Ukrainian city.&nbsp;Years of shelling and drone attacks have damaged residential buildings, parks and shopping malls.&nbsp;Zelensky also warned of another impending Russian attack.&nbsp;Now, last month itself, Ukraine witnessed some of the deadliest attacks on its soil.&nbsp;On October 7, 22 people including five children were killed as a Russian missile struck a residential building in the city of Pryluky.&nbsp;This was followed by a glide bomb attack on a bus stop in the city of Kramatorsk that killed 33 people.&nbsp;Two days later, 23 innocent civilians lost their lives in another glide bomb strike, this time in Zaporizhia.&nbsp;On the other hand, Russia claimed to have intercepted 856 Ukrainian drones from Monday onwards.&nbsp;Despite Trump telling Zelensky to stop striking Russian refineries ahead of the midterms, Ukraine reportedly carried out a drone attack on an oil refinery in the city of Yaroslavl, which is located around 250 kilometres northeast of Moscow.&nbsp;This attack assumes significance as it is one of Russia's largest oil refineries, processing three hundred thousand barrels every day.&nbsp;Now, Russia too has borne the brunt of Ukraine's fierce retaliation.&nbsp;In August, seven people died across Rostov, Moscow and Belgorod, in what Russia described as the largest attack launched by Ukraine this year.&nbsp;A warehouse belonging to Russian online retailer Wildberries was also hit.&nbsp;On the final day of the polling for the parliamentary elections, Russia downed over 1,600 drones out of which 450 were headed for Moscow.&nbsp;While three people were killed, a key oil refinery in the Russian capital was also damaged.&nbsp;Last week, Russia intercepted over 1,200 Ukrainian drones when Moscow was hosting the Russia-Africa summit, which was attended by over 22 foreign leaders.&nbsp;Meanwhile, diplomacy continues in full swing.&nbsp;On Wednesday, negotiators from U.S, EU and NATO will meet to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine.&nbsp;While U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff pinned hopes on the trilateral talks to achieve a comprehensive durable peace agreement, the current spate of attacks makes truce a very tricky prospect.

Ukrainian authorities also reported a Russian missile attack on Dnipro, which destroyed residential and administrative buildings. At least two persons were killed, whereas 17 others were injured. Rescuers pulled nine people alive from the rubble, and all fires have now been extinguished.

Even as Russia confirmed trilateral talks with Ukraine and U.S. in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11, the war continues unabated. Russia reportedly launched 289 attack drones, 17 ballistic missiles and 59 cruise missiles on Ukraine's vital infrastructure overnight. Just a while back, U.S. announced that First Lady Melania Trump will bring representatives of Russia and Ukraine together at the White House on Thursday. She had earlier brokered a brief ceasefire in the city of Oleshky. Meanwhile, in Zaporizhia, a school being used as an aid distribution centre was reduced to ruins in multiple glide bomb attacks by Russia. The death toll has now risen to 33. Five others were wounded, while 50 others are still trapped under the rubble. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described it as a 'vile terrorist attack'. Search and rescue operations continue at the site. Visuals showed rescuers carrying an injured dog from the rubble and giving it first aid. https://www.wionews.com/videos/putin-unleashes-glide-bomb-terror-on-ukraine-russia-s-key-oil-refinery-hit-by-drone-barrage-1793725122497/embed According to Zelensky, Russia attacked multiple power generation facilities and substations, resulting in damage to ten facilities. In Zhytomyr for instance, about one hundred eighty thousand people were left without power after a Russian strike. Three thermal plants were forced to shut down. Additionally, a hospital came under attack in Kharkiv, leaving 73 people injured. Ukrainian authorities also reported a Russian missile attack on Dnipro, which destroyed residential and administrative buildings. At least two persons were killed whereas 17 others were injured. Rescuers pulled nine people alive from the rubble, and all fires have been now extinguished. Kherson administration released footage, which shows the scars of war across this southern Ukrainian city. Years of shelling and drone attacks have damaged residential buildings, parks and shopping malls. Zelensky also warned of another impending Russian attack. Now, last month itself, Ukraine witnessed some of the deadliest attacks on its soil. On October 7, 22 people including five children were killed as a Russian missile struck a residential building in the city of Pryluky. This was followed by a glide bomb attack on a bus stop in the city of Kramatorsk that killed 33 people. Two days later, 23 innocent civilians lost their lives in another glide bomb strike, this time in Zaporizhia. On the other hand, Russia claimed to have intercepted 856 Ukrainian drones from Monday onwards. Despite Trump telling Zelensky to stop striking Russian refineries ahead of the midterms, Ukraine reportedly carried out a drone attack on an oil refinery in the city of Yaroslavl, which is located around 250 kilometres northeast of Moscow. This attack assumes significance as it is one of Russia's largest oil refineries, processing three hundred thousand barrels every day. Now, Russia too has borne the brunt of Ukraine's fierce retaliation. In August, seven people died across Rostov, Moscow and Belgorod, in what Russia described as the largest attack launched by Ukraine this year. A warehouse belonging to Russian online retailer Wildberries was also hit. On the final day of the polling for the parliamentary elections, Russia downed over 1,600 drones out of which 450 were headed for Moscow. While three people were killed, a key oil refinery in the Russian capital was also damaged. Last week, Russia intercepted over 1,200 Ukrainian drones when Moscow was hosting the Russia-Africa summit, which was attended by over 22 foreign leaders. Meanwhile, diplomacy continues in full swing. On Wednesday, negotiators from U.S, EU and NATO will meet to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine. While U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff pinned hopes on the trilateral talks to achieve a comprehensive durable peace agreement, the current spate of attacks makes truce a very tricky prospect.

Ukrainian authorities also reported a Russian missile attack on Dnipro, which destroyed residential and administrative buildings. At least two persons were killed, whereas 17 others were injured. Rescuers pulled nine people alive from the rubble, and all fires have now been extinguished.

Putin unleashes glide bomb terror on Ukraine, Russia's key oil refinery hit by drone barrage | Gravitas

It was half past ten in the morning. A business jet took off from Texas and was headed to the Bahamas.Close to 1 pm though, disaster struck.&nbsp;The Bombardier Learjet 60 crashed into a Florida neighbourhood and erupted into a massive fireball, killing all nine people onboard. Thick black smoke filled the air. Burning debris were scattered along the roadside.&nbsp;The crash also left a huge crater.&nbsp;While the plane received clearance to climb to 37,000 feet, it reported an uncontrolled descent.After the mayday call was issued, the rate of descent accelerated to over 20,000 feet per minute.&nbsp;The final moments before the crash were captured in a cockpit audio recording.&nbsp;Soon after the plane crash, first responders reached the spot. 600 residents from the surrounding area were evacuated to two shelters.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/blow-by-blow-account-of-florida-jet-crash-looked-like-a-missile-going-down-1793639676268/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/blow-by-blow-account-of-florida-jet-crash-looked-like-a-missile-going-down-1793639676268/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;The crash occurred in Palm Springs, which is less than eleven kilometres from Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.&nbsp;Incidentally, Trump himself had been at Mar-a-Lago until morning and departed from a nearby airport on Air Force One about an hour before the crash.&nbsp;This marked the second deadliest plane crash in U.S. this year.In June, 12 people died when a skydiving plane crashed in Missouri.&nbsp;This was also the worst crash involving a Learjet 60 jet.&nbsp;But what LED to this deadly crash?Investigators are reportedly probing whether climatic conditions played a part in the crash.&nbsp;This is vital as the plane encountered turbulence and icing.&nbsp;In 2024, U.S. warned that icing conditions can cause pilots to lose control.&nbsp;Now, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has launched a probe into the plane crash and is likely to give more details later on Monday.

The Bombardier Learjet 60 crashed into a Florida neighbourhood and erupted into a massive fireball, killing all nine people onboard. Thick black smoke filled the air. Burning debris were scattered along the roadside. The crash also left a huge crater.

It was half past ten in the morning. A business jet took off from Texas and was headed to the Bahamas. Close to 1 pm though, disaster struck. The Bombardier Learjet 60 crashed into a Florida neighbourhood and erupted into a massive fireball, killing all nine people onboard. Thick black smoke filled the air. Burning debris were scattered along the roadside. The crash also left a huge crater. While the plane received clearance to climb to 37,000 feet, it reported an uncontrolled descent. After the mayday call was issued, the rate of descent accelerated to over 20,000 feet per minute. The final moments before the crash were captured in a cockpit audio recording. Soon after the plane crash, first responders reached the spot. 600 residents from the surrounding area were evacuated to two shelters. https://www.wionews.com/videos/blow-by-blow-account-of-florida-jet-crash-looked-like-a-missile-going-down-1793639676268/embed The crash occurred in Palm Springs, which is less than eleven kilometres from Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. Incidentally, Trump himself had been at Mar-a-Lago until morning and departed from a nearby airport on Air Force One about an hour before the crash. This marked the second deadliest plane crash in U.S. this year. In June, 12 people died when a skydiving plane crashed in Missouri. This was also the worst crash involving a Learjet 60 jet. But what LED to this deadly crash? Investigators are reportedly probing whether climatic conditions played a part in the crash. This is vital as the plane encountered turbulence and icing. In 2024, U.S. warned that icing conditions can cause pilots to lose control. Now, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has launched a probe into the plane crash and is likely to give more details later on Monday.

The Bombardier Learjet 60 crashed into a Florida neighbourhood and erupted into a massive fireball, killing all nine people onboard. Thick black smoke filled the air. Burning debris were scattered along the roadside. The crash also left a huge crater.

Blow-by-blow account of Florida jet crash: 'Looked like a missile going down' | Gravitas

Five years since taking the reins of power in Afghanistan, the Taliban often flaunts its achievements in its war on drugs.Afghanistan, which was once the world's leading poppy producer, imposed a strict ban on poppy cultivation in 2022. However, this victory is beginning to unravel.While poppy cultivation fell by 95% by 2025, the gains are fast reversing. According to the United Nations, the poppy cultivation area has more than quadrupled from 10,000 hectares last year to over 43,000 hectares this year.Opium sales in Afghanistan generated an estimated 525 million US dollars in 2026 alone.But what is the reason behind this?The UN attributed this phenomenon to a lack of alternative livelihoods.Now, many Afghan farmers are turning to poppy cultivation as they are struggling to feed their children.Despite better harvests, high costs and low crop prices are squeezing poor farmers and limiting their access to food.According to observers, declining farm income resulting in hunger is having a drastic toll on children.For instance, the UN has warned that 10 out of 34 provinces of Afghanistan had critical levels of child malnutrition this year. This number could climb to 14 in 2027.While the Taliban has asserted that actual poppy cultivation was about half the UN estimate, it has acknowledged the need to support alternative livelihoods for farmers.While the Taliban's first ban on poppy in 2000 collapsed a year later after it was ousted from power, the current ban is expected to last longer.However, farmers are facing harsher conditions than a generation ago, as recurring droughts have shrunk water bodies and worsened the situation.Thus, the current crisis threatens to revive Afghanistan's role in the global heroin trade.

Afghanistan's poppy cultivation has surged to 43,000 hectares in 2026, reversing earlier gains under the Taliban's drug ban as poverty, hunger and drought push farmers back to opium.

Five years since taking the reins of power in Afghanistan, the Taliban often flaunts its achievements in its war on drugs. Afghanistan, which was once the world's leading poppy producer, imposed a strict ban on poppy cultivation in 2022. However, this victory is beginning to unravel. While poppy cultivation fell by 95% by 2025, the gains are fast reversing. According to the United Nations, the poppy cultivation area has more than quadrupled from 10,000 hectares last year to over 43,000 hectares this year. Opium sales in Afghanistan generated an estimated 525 million US dollars in 2026 alone. But what is the reason behind this? The UN attributed this phenomenon to a lack of alternative livelihoods. Now, many Afghan farmers are turning to poppy cultivation as they are struggling to feed their children. Despite better harvests, high costs and low crop prices are squeezing poor farmers and limiting their access to food. According to observers, declining farm income resulting in hunger is having a drastic toll on children. For instance, the UN has warned that 10 out of 34 provinces of Afghanistan had critical levels of child malnutrition this year. This number could climb to 14 in 2027. While the Taliban has asserted that actual poppy cultivation was about half the UN estimate, it has acknowledged the need to support alternative livelihoods for farmers. While the Taliban's first ban on poppy in 2000 collapsed a year later after it was ousted from power, the current ban is expected to last longer. However, farmers are facing harsher conditions than a generation ago, as recurring droughts have shrunk water bodies and worsened the situation. Thus, the current crisis threatens to revive Afghanistan's role in the global heroin trade.

Afghanistan's poppy cultivation has surged to 43,000 hectares in 2026, reversing earlier gains under the Taliban's drug ban as poverty, hunger and drought push farmers back to opium.

From hunger to heroin, Afghanistan’s opium crisis threatens the world again | Gravitas

Despite a ceasefire coming into effect, in the city of Oleshky since Tuesday, the fighting between Russia and Ukraine continues unabated in other regions. In a horrific tragedy, at least 14 people were killed in a drone strike on a railway station in Dnipro.&nbsp;On its part, Russia accused Ukraine of firing over 600 drones at Moscow overnight.&nbsp;A Russian drone strike hit a platform, where two trains were standing. This also resulted in injuries to 14 people.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed the attack as 'horrific' and insisted that sanctions against Moscow must not be eased as long as this war continues.&nbsp;The attack also drew international condemnation.&nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his distress and accused Russia of choosing a pathway of 'escalation' instead of accepting peace proposals.&nbsp;Ukrainian authorities also accused Russia of launching a strike on the City Centre of Chernihiv.&nbsp;While two 15-year-old girls were killed, two dozen others were also wounded.&nbsp;The city of Kremenchuk also came under attack, as a drone slammed into a multi-storey building, killing three people.&nbsp;On the other hand, Russia claimed to have intercepted over twelve hundred Ukrainian drones across the country.&nbsp;This includes 613 drones launched towards Moscow.&nbsp;&nbsp;A third of them were reportedly destroyed on their approach to the Russian capital.&nbsp;This was one of the most massive aerial drone barrage on Russia.&nbsp;Now, this comes at a time when Moscow is hosting over 22 foreign leaders at the Russia-Africa Summit.&nbsp;Russian President Vladimir Putin described African countries as 'natural allies'.&nbsp;Earlier in the day, Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner met a representative from Russia in Belarus.&nbsp;This meeting was part of the relief mission aimed at providing aid and evacuation of civilians.&nbsp;&nbsp;Locals have faced food, water and medicine shortage for months.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;While the truce brokered by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump is still holding, Putin accused Ukraine of creating a humanitarian catastrophe by laying mines on the way to Oleshky.&nbsp;Subsequently, Russia also released footage of its officials demining ground near Oleshky, which is under Russian occupation.&nbsp;At a time when Ukraine has been up in arms over restrictions on Starlink and Starshield, Putin showered praise on SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.&nbsp;While discussing Russia's own satellite connectivity project 'Rassvet', Putin called Musk a genius for deploying thousands of satellites into orbit.&nbsp;He also revealed that Moscow is in close contact with U.S. and Musk regarding this project.&nbsp;Essentially, Starlink and Starshield help the Ukrainian military by providing high-speed and jam-resistant satellite internet that connects combat units, command posts and unmanned systems in real time.&nbsp;According to Ukraine, speed restrictions on these services disrupted a number of missions, and affected its ability to intercept Russian drones.&nbsp;While Zelensky announced last weekend that Starlink and Starshield were fully functional again, Musk accused the Ukrainian military of violating SpaceX's terms.&nbsp;Now, Ukraine's experience also provides a valuable lesson for countries like India, where Starlink is yet to be approved.&nbsp;In a war-like situation, reliance on satellite technology controlled by a foreign power can prove to be problematic.&nbsp;While both Ukraine and Russia have expressed willingness for trilateral negotiations in November on ending the war, a Kremlin aide made it clear that the start of talks will depend on the situation on the battlefield.

President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed the attack as 'horrific' and insisted that sanctions against Moscow must not be eased as long as this war continues. French President Emmanuel Macron accused Russia of choosing a pathway of 'escalation' instead of accepting peace proposals.

Despite a ceasefire coming into effect, in the city of Oleshky since Tuesday, the fighting between Russia and Ukraine continues unabated in other regions. In a horrific tragedy, at least 14 people were killed in a drone strike on a railway station in Dnipro. On its part, Russia accused Ukraine of firing over 600 drones at Moscow overnight. A Russian drone strike hit a platform, where two trains were standing. This also resulted in injuries to 14 people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed the attack as 'horrific' and insisted that sanctions against Moscow must not be eased as long as this war continues. The attack also drew international condemnation. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his distress and accused Russia of choosing a pathway of 'escalation' instead of accepting peace proposals. Ukrainian authorities also accused Russia of launching a strike on the City Centre of Chernihiv. While two 15-year-old girls were killed, two dozen others were also wounded. The city of Kremenchuk also came under attack, as a drone slammed into a multi-storey building, killing three people. On the other hand, Russia claimed to have intercepted over twelve hundred Ukrainian drones across the country. This includes 613 drones launched towards Moscow. A third of them were reportedly destroyed on their approach to the Russian capital. This was one of the most massive aerial drone barrage on Russia. Now, this comes at a time when Moscow is hosting over 22 foreign leaders at the Russia-Africa Summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin described African countries as 'natural allies'. Earlier in the day, Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner met a representative from Russia in Belarus. This meeting was part of the relief mission aimed at providing aid and evacuation of civilians. Locals have faced food, water and medicine shortage for months.

President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed the attack as 'horrific' and insisted that sanctions against Moscow must not be eased as long as this war continues. French President Emmanuel Macron accused Russia of choosing a pathway of 'escalation' instead of accepting peace proposals.

Putin's deadly revenge after attack on Moscow, 14 killed in attack on Ukraine train station | Gravitas

In a major vote of confidence on Indian defence capabilities, Japan is now mulling the possibility of using India's missile ranges for testing its long-range missiles as well as attack drones.&nbsp;According to reports, Japanese officials visited India earlier this month and inspected a number of sites in the country for a week.&nbsp;Essentially, Japan faces challenges testing its long-range weapons owing to its geography, densely populated coastline and maritime traffic.&nbsp;One such weapon which may be potentially tested from India's missile ranges is Japan's type-25 surface-to-ship missile.&nbsp;A ground-launched variant derived from the type-12 missile, it can strike targets even 1,000 kilometres away.&nbsp;In 2023, Japan test-fired an anti-ship missile in Australia during a military exercise.&nbsp;Two months ago, Australia announced that it would give Japan improved access to its missile testing ranges.&nbsp;Now, India's testing ranges give Tokyo another vital option, as it is developing powerful new missiles to deter Chinese and North Korean military adventurism.&nbsp;This has also brought into focus, India's growing clout in the defence sector.&nbsp;Earlier this month, the country's defence secretary confirmed that India's indigenous Akash missile system has been exported to Armenia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.&nbsp;This comes at a time when India is set to earn 600 million U.S. dollars by exporting the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile to Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.&nbsp;It is worth noting that India now exports defence equipment including artillery systems and missiles to over 80 countries.&nbsp;The country's defence exports reached over four billion U.S. dollars in the April 2025 to March 2026 period.&nbsp;This was a 62% jump as compared to a year ago.&nbsp;According to India's defence ministry, the sharp rise signalled an increasing global acceptance of Indian-made defence products.&nbsp;This is not all.&nbsp;In June this year, Russia also reposed faith in India's defence capability.&nbsp;On the sidelines of the Saint Petersburg Economic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to jointly develop the Sukhoi SU-57 stealth fighter jet with India.

In 2023, Japan test-fired an anti-ship missile in Australia during a military exercise. Now, India's testing ranges give Tokyo another vital option, as it is developing powerful new missiles to deter Chinese and North Korean military adventurism.

In a major vote of confidence on Indian defence capabilities, Japan is now mulling the possibility of using India's missile ranges for testing its long-range missiles as well as attack drones. According to reports, Japanese officials visited India earlier this month and inspected a number of sites in the country for a week. Essentially, Japan faces challenges testing its long-range weapons owing to its geography, densely populated coastline and maritime traffic. One such weapon which may be potentially tested from India's missile ranges is Japan's type-25 surface-to-ship missile. A ground-launched variant derived from the type-12 missile, it can strike targets even 1,000 kilometres away. In 2023, Japan test-fired an anti-ship missile in Australia during a military exercise. Two months ago, Australia announced that it would give Japan improved access to its missile testing ranges. Now, India's testing ranges give Tokyo another vital option, as it is developing powerful new missiles to deter Chinese and North Korean military adventurism. This has also brought into focus, India's growing clout in the defence sector. Earlier this month, the country's defence secretary confirmed that India's indigenous Akash missile system has been exported to Armenia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. This comes at a time when India is set to earn 600 million U.S. dollars by exporting the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile to Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam. It is worth noting that India now exports defence equipment including artillery systems and missiles to over 80 countries. The country's defence exports reached over four billion U.S. dollars in the April 2025 to March 2026 period. This was a 62% jump as compared to a year ago. According to India's defence ministry, the sharp rise signalled an increasing global acceptance of Indian-made defence products. This is not all. In June this year, Russia also reposed faith in India's defence capability. On the sidelines of the Saint Petersburg Economic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to jointly develop the Sukhoi SU-57 stealth fighter jet with India.

In 2023, Japan test-fired an anti-ship missile in Australia during a military exercise. Now, India's testing ranges give Tokyo another vital option, as it is developing powerful new missiles to deter Chinese and North Korean military adventurism.

Japan turns to India to test its long-range missiles & attack drones | Gravitas

As Republicans face an uphill task to retain control over the US Senate and House of Representatives, US President Donald Trump's desperation is growing. While earlier only domestic opponents were at the receiving end of his diatribe during the midterm campaign trail, now even foreign leaders are not being spared.Addressing a rally in Mississippi, Trump mocked his Mexican counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum over her refusal to accept his decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Now, this is not the first time when Trump has used questionable language for women. At a Republican rally in Michigan over the weekend, the US president made a rather blunt remark about rapper Nicki Minaj's backside. While critics questioned the appropriateness of such language at a political rally, Trump supporters attributed it to his unscripted speaking style.Previously, he has targeted prominent Democratic lawmakers Maxine Waters and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with the 'low IQ' slur. This is not all. Last year, he described former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as an 'evil woman'. In May this year, Trump also riled Italian PM Georgia Meloni to an extent that her foreign minister called off his scheduled visit to America. While Trump claimed that Meloni begged to have a picture with him during the G7 summit, she accused him of lying and expressed surprise at the way in which he treats US allies.Now, even as his approval rating slightly rose to 32% in the latest Reuters-Ipsos poll, Democrats still enjoy an 11% lead over Republicans as far as voting preference is concerned. While Trump earlier announced a 5,000 US dollar dole to win over voters, he has now dangled a one million US dollar reward for reporting voter fraud, which leads to the arrest and conviction of someone. This move stems from his longstanding allegation that large numbers of non-Americans have been illegally voting in the federal election. On multiple occasions, he has even accused Democrats of seeking to cheat in elections.In the run-up to the midterm polls, the US president has been seeking a greater federal role in overseeing the elections. For instance, the Trump administration asked the state of California to stop counting the ballots of 20,000 voters, whom it claimed are non-citizens. However, a US federal appeals court declined to intervene after California refused to follow its order. But the Trump administration has doubled down on its approach by asking Washington not to count ballots of 400 suspected non-citizens.This raises a key question. Is Trump preparing the ground to question the legitimacy of the midterm polls if the result doesn't go in his favour?

Donald Trump intensifies voter fraud claims and attacks political opponents as Democrats lead in voting preferences ahead of the US midterm elections.

As Republicans face an uphill task to retain control over the US Senate and House of Representatives, US President Donald Trump's desperation is growing. While earlier only domestic opponents were at the receiving end of his diatribe during the midterm campaign trail, now even foreign leaders are not being spared. Addressing a rally in Mississippi, Trump mocked his Mexican counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum over her refusal to accept his decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Now, this is not the first time when Trump has used questionable language for women. At a Republican rally in Michigan over the weekend, the US president made a rather blunt remark about rapper Nicki Minaj's backside. While critics questioned the appropriateness of such language at a political rally, Trump supporters attributed it to his unscripted speaking style. Previously, he has targeted prominent Democratic lawmakers Maxine Waters and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with the 'low IQ' slur. This is not all. Last year, he described former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as an 'evil woman'. In May this year, Trump also riled Italian PM Georgia Meloni to an extent that her foreign minister called off his scheduled visit to America. While Trump claimed that Meloni begged to have a picture with him during the G7 summit, she accused him of lying and expressed surprise at the way in which he treats US allies. Now, even as his approval rating slightly rose to 32% in the latest Reuters-Ipsos poll, Democrats still enjoy an 11% lead over Republicans as far as voting preference is concerned. While Trump earlier announced a 5,000 US dollar dole to win over voters, he has now dangled a one million US dollar reward for reporting voter fraud, which leads to the arrest and conviction of someone. This move stems from his longstanding allegation that large numbers of non-Americans have been illegally voting in the federal election. On multiple occasions, he has even accused Democrats of seeking to cheat in elections. In the run-up to the midterm polls, the US president has been seeking a greater federal role in overseeing the elections. For instance, the Trump administration asked the state of California to stop counting the ballots of 20,000 voters, whom it claimed are non-citizens. However, a US federal appeals court declined to intervene after California refused to follow its order. But the Trump administration has doubled down on its approach by asking Washington not to count ballots of 400 suspected non-citizens. This raises a key question. Is Trump preparing the ground to question the legitimacy of the midterm polls if the result doesn't go in his favour?

Donald Trump intensifies voter fraud claims and attacks political opponents as Democrats lead in voting preferences ahead of the US midterm elections.

Trump mocks Mexican president on midterm campaign trail, dangles $1 million reward | Gravitas

Six months, a 16-year-old hailing from Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri was full of dreams as he moved to Kota. He was preparing for the joint entrance examination, the gateway for securing admission to IITs. However, in a tragic turn of events, he was reportedly found hanging at his accommodation.&nbsp;According to the police, students noticed his absence when he did not join them for dinner.&nbsp;While his death remains under probe, his family alleged that his coaching institute failed to inform them when he skipped an exam.&nbsp;This indicates that he was possibly suffering from mental stress.&nbsp;In another shocking incident, a 19-year-old NEET aspirant from Bihar's Darbhanga, who was living in Kota for the last two years, was found unconscious in the bathroom of his hostel room.&nbsp;While he was rushed to the hospital, he died during treatment.&nbsp;However, the family of the student has accused the hostel authorities of negligence, alleging that his life could have been saved if he had been taken to the hospital in time.&nbsp;Now, Kota, which is known as the country's coaching capital, has been rocked by at least eight student suicides this year alone.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In February, an 18-year-old NEET aspirant died by suicide after reportedly consuming a toxic substance. Two months later, a 20-year-old female nursing student and a 21-year-old BSc student ended their lives in separate incidents. In June, another JEE aspirant died after jumping from the Kota-Jhalawar flyover. This is not all. In August, a 20-year-old NEET aspirant from Madhya Pradesh ended her life at her rented apartment after being reportedly distressed over her performance in the NEET exam. Now, instead of addressing the root cause of the stress faced by students, which is compelling them to take such an extreme step, some institutions are merely taking cosmetic measures. For instance, the Veer Narmad South Gujarat University is installing so-called “anti-suicide” ceiling fans in its hostels. They come with a special spring mechanism designed to detach under excessive weight and cut off power supply. This raises some key questions. With students accounting for nearly 8.5% of the overall suicides reported in India, why are educational institutions not doing enough to address their mental well-being? What is the government's plan of action to ensure that stress for competitive exams doesn't upend a student's life? Clearly, our students deserve better.

Instead of addressing the root cause of the stress faced by students, some institutions are merely taking cosmetic measures. For instance, the Veer Narmad South Gujarat University is installing so-called “anti-suicide” ceiling fans in its hostels.

Six months, a 16-year-old hailing from Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri was full of dreams as he moved to Kota. He was preparing for the joint entrance examination, the gateway for securing admission to IITs. However, in a tragic turn of events, he was reportedly found hanging at his accommodation. According to the police, students noticed his absence when he did not join them for dinner. While his death remains under probe, his family alleged that his coaching institute failed to inform them when he skipped an exam. This indicates that he was possibly suffering from mental stress. In another shocking incident, a 19-year-old NEET aspirant from Bihar's Darbhanga, who was living in Kota for the last two years, was found unconscious in the bathroom of his hostel room. While he was rushed to the hospital, he died during treatment. However, the family of the student has accused the hostel authorities of negligence, alleging that his life could have been saved if he had been taken to the hospital in time. Now, Kota, which is known as the country's coaching capital, has been rocked by at least eight student suicides this year alone.

Instead of addressing the root cause of the stress faced by students, some institutions are merely taking cosmetic measures. For instance, the Veer Narmad South Gujarat University is installing so-called “anti-suicide” ceiling fans in its hostels.

Kota rocked by student deaths: 16-year-old JEE aspirant found dead, mental stress under lens | Gravitas

In November 2024, students hit the streets in Serbia, against the government, following a railway station accident that killed 16 people. In a seismic shift two years later, the student-led movement managed to end Alexander Vucic's 14-year rule in Serbia. Take a look at these visuals, of celebrations at capital Belgrade's Slavija Square. Thousands of people hit the streets to celebrate the defeat of Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party, whom they blamed for deep-rooted corruption.Belgrade witnessed flares, fireworks and dances, as youngsters cheered and waved the Serbian flag. Supporters of the students' list honked horn and chanted slogans like 'Alexander is gone'. In some places, people turned violent. For instance, angry protesters attacked multiple police convoys outside the building of Serbia's presidency. Tents used by Vucic supporters were also set on fire. Scenes of jubilation were seen at the headquarters of the students' list as well, where supporters danced and hugged each other, to celebrate their victory.A day earlier, unusually long lines were seen at polling stations in cities and towns across Serbia. With a turnout of close to 70%, the country recorded its highest parliamentary election turnout since 1993. According to the country's poll body, students' list has garnered over 52% of the votes. Conceding defeat in the polls, Vucic hinted that student movement could win 135 to 140 seats, handing it an outright majority in the 250-seat parliament. While urging his supporters to keep calm, the former Serbian president blamed foreign powers for his loss.After the defeat of its ally Vucic, Russia said that it wanted to keep developing ties with Serbia, but stressed that it takes two to tango. For nearly two years, students have staged rallies across Serbia, accusing the government of widespread corruption and negligence. Their final election rally in Belgrade was attended by nearly one hundred fifty thousand people. Now, what stands out is that this movement has no obvious leader, and fielded candidates from a wider pool of professionals, including academics and doctors. Some of their key promises include freeing the media and courts from political influence, ensuring transparency in public procurement, depoliticisation of public sector and, affordable housing for young families.Now, this election could also offer a blueprint for other protesters, across Europe, who have taken to the streets in recent weeks, against poor education conditions, lack of future prospects and rising cost of living. Over the weekend, one hundred ten thousand people marched on the streets of Paris, and denounced rising living costs and, growing inequality. While the march was largely peaceful, riot police clashed with protesters towards the end. Smoke drifted through the streets, as police fired tear gas, and protesters launched projectiles. Over 1,300 people were arrested in connection with the violence.Violence broke out in neighbouring Italy too, with several people getting injured, in the city of Bologna. Protesters hurled bottles, stones and firecrackers at security forces, who then use tear gas and water cannons. This is not all. 100 people were arrested in Barcelona, after hooded demonstrators who participated in an anti-government rally looted shops, and set fire to street furniture. With polls scheduled in many European countries including France, Italy, and Spain over the next year, it remains to be seen whether, the ongoing protests can make an electoral impact.

Serbia’s student-led movement and anti-government protests across Europe raise questions about corruption, living costs and whether street movements can translate into electoral change.

In November 2024, students hit the streets in Serbia, against the government, following a railway station accident that killed 16 people. In a seismic shift two years later, the student-led movement managed to end Alexander Vucic's 14-year rule in Serbia. Take a look at these visuals, of celebrations at capital Belgrade's Slavija Square. Thousands of people hit the streets to celebrate the defeat of Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party, whom they blamed for deep-rooted corruption. Belgrade witnessed flares, fireworks and dances, as youngsters cheered and waved the Serbian flag. Supporters of the students' list honked horn and chanted slogans like 'Alexander is gone'. In some places, people turned violent. For instance, angry protesters attacked multiple police convoys outside the building of Serbia's presidency. Tents used by Vucic supporters were also set on fire. Scenes of jubilation were seen at the headquarters of the students' list as well, where supporters danced and hugged each other, to celebrate their victory. A day earlier, unusually long lines were seen at polling stations in cities and towns across Serbia. With a turnout of close to 70%, the country recorded its highest parliamentary election turnout since 1993. According to the country's poll body, students' list has garnered over 52% of the votes. Conceding defeat in the polls, Vucic hinted that student movement could win 135 to 140 seats, handing it an outright majority in the 250-seat parliament. While urging his supporters to keep calm, the former Serbian president blamed foreign powers for his loss. After the defeat of its ally Vucic, Russia said that it wanted to keep developing ties with Serbia, but stressed that it takes two to tango. For nearly two years, students have staged rallies across Serbia, accusing the government of widespread corruption and negligence. Their final election rally in Belgrade was attended by nearly one hundred fifty thousand people. Now, what stands out is that this movement has no obvious leader, and fielded candidates from a wider pool of professionals, including academics and doctors. Some of their key promises include freeing the media and courts from political influence, ensuring transparency in public procurement, depoliticisation of public sector and, affordable housing for young families. Now, this election could also offer a blueprint for other protesters, across Europe, who have taken to the streets in recent weeks, against poor education conditions, lack of future prospects and rising cost of living. Over the weekend, one hundred ten thousand people marched on the streets of Paris, and denounced rising living costs and, growing inequality. While the march was largely peaceful, riot police clashed with protesters towards the end. Smoke drifted through the streets, as police fired tear gas, and protesters launched projectiles. Over 1,300 people were arrested in connection with the violence. Violence broke out in neighbouring Italy too, with several people getting injured, in the city of Bologna. Protesters hurled bottles, stones and firecrackers at security forces, who then use tear gas and water cannons. This is not all. 100 people were arrested in Barcelona, after hooded demonstrators who participated in an anti-government rally looted shops, and set fire to street furniture. With polls scheduled in many European countries including France, Italy, and Spain over the next year, it remains to be seen whether, the ongoing protests can make an electoral impact.

Serbia’s student-led movement and anti-government protests across Europe raise questions about corruption, living costs and whether street movements can translate into electoral change.

Student-led movement ousts Serbia's longtime leader as protests rage across Europe | GRAVITAS

A silent crisis is brewing in Britain. From pubs to workplaces, cocaine is reportedly becoming an everyday habit in the UK. According to a new report, there has been a 10% rise in crime associated with this drug since 2019.&nbsp;This includes assaults, domestic abuse and even dangerous driving.&nbsp;Now, cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant that causes euphoria, restlessness and paranoia, potentially leading to violent incidents.&nbsp;According to a report, the UK police recorded close to 30,000 crimes mentioning the word 'cocaine' in 2025.&nbsp;This amounts to 63 such cases per one hundred thousand people.&nbsp;While a majority of the cocaine-associated crimes were drug offences, 18% were violent crimes such as harassment and murder.&nbsp;Just under 4% of these crimes were sexual offences, including 344 rapes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Cocaine's role in domestic abuse cases has also come into the spotlight. For instance, nearly six in ten people arrested on suspicion of domestic abuse between July 2025 and June this year tested positive for cocaine. In another new phenomenon in UK, the number of drug-driving offences overtook drink-drinking offences in 2025. Now, cocaine consumption in Britain has also increased manifold. In the 2024-25 period, people in UK consumed close to one hundred twenty-three thousand kilograms of cocaine, which has an estimated street value of over 13 billion U.S. dollars. This was a staggering 26% rise since 2021. Even as UK stipulates a jail term of seven years for anyone possessing cocaine and life imprisonment for those involved in its supply and production, it is apparent that the Andy Burnham-led government needs to do a lot more to crack down on the drug menace.

The UK police recorded close to 30,000 crimes mentioning the word 'cocaine' in 2025. This amounts to 63 such cases per one hundred thousand people. Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant that causes euphoria, restlessness and paranoia, potentially leading to violent incidents.

A silent crisis is brewing in Britain. From pubs to workplaces, cocaine is reportedly becoming an everyday habit in the UK. According to a new report, there has been a 10% rise in crime associated with this drug since 2019. This includes assaults, domestic abuse and even dangerous driving. Now, cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant that causes euphoria, restlessness and paranoia, potentially leading to violent incidents. According to a report, the UK police recorded close to 30,000 crimes mentioning the word 'cocaine' in 2025. This amounts to 63 such cases per one hundred thousand people. While a majority of the cocaine-associated crimes were drug offences, 18% were violent crimes such as harassment and murder. Just under 4% of these crimes were sexual offences, including 344 rapes.

The UK police recorded close to 30,000 crimes mentioning the word 'cocaine' in 2025. This amounts to 63 such cases per one hundred thousand people. Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant that causes euphoria, restlessness and paranoia, potentially leading to violent incidents.

UK sees 10% surge in cocaine-linked crimes, drug consumption rises manifold | Gravitas

The war in West Asia is escalating. The Saudi Arabia-led military coalition claimed to have destroyed four ballistic missile launchers in Sanaa as well as missile depots and tunnels used by the Houthis.&nbsp;On the other hand, the Iran-backed group claimed a ballistic missile strike on key military bases in Saudi Arabia and Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport.&nbsp;Now, this assumes significance, as this airport resumed its operations at two terminals only yesterday.&nbsp;It had halted operations on October 10 after a deadly Houthi attack killed 13 people and wounded more than 300 others.&nbsp;The Houthis said they launched a drone attack on crude oil pumping stations in Saudi as well.&nbsp;This is not all.&nbsp;The Iran-backed group also claimed to have shot down the Wing Loong II combat drone allegedly used by Saudi Arabia to carry out operations in Taiz province.&nbsp;Manufactured by China, this unmanned combat aerial vehicle is used for both reconnaissance and precision strikes.&nbsp;It can carry a range of weapons, including air-to-surface missiles and laser-guided bombs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In the latest from the battlefield, Houthis released footage of what it described as drone strikes on Saudi Arabian officers, soldiers and vehicles in the cities of Najran and Jazan. The group also claimed a ballistic missile attack on Saudi troops and weapon depots in Yemen's Aden and Lahij provinces. A day earlier too, Houthis attacked the Riyadh airport. It also claimed to have conducted a strike on the King Khalid air base in the city of Khamis Mushait and a Saudi border guard naval base in Jazan. On its part, Saudi said that it intercepted and destroyed 12 missiles and two drones launched targeting the Riyadh region. A Saudi citizen and an Asian resident were injured by debris from two intercepted ballistic missiles. Three residential buildings and seven vehicles were damaged as well. Meanwhile, Saudi state media showed visuals of damage to buildings and vehicles in Khamis Mushait following the interception of a Houthi-fired cruise missile. The visuals show burnt military vehicles, and rubble can be seen all around at an ice factory in Taiz. The Houthis blamed the Saudi-led coalition for this damage. As the war continues unabated, questions are being raised about Saudi's intelligence failures and its ability to stop increasingly sophisticated attacks. Take the October 19 Houthi attack for instance, where at least 75 security personnel were killed at the Al-Alam military training camp in Yemen's Shabwa province. According to the Wall Street Journal, Houthis surveilled this base for days using drones before mounting the attack. At this site, Saudi Arabian officers were set to train recruits of the Yemeni security forces and police. According to the report, intelligence leaks, inadequate surveillance, and insufficient missile defence systems are being touted as key factors contributing to casualties on this scale. It also showcases the challenge faced by Riyadh in safeguarding its troops and military facilities, despite substantial military spending. Now, even as Iran and Houthis are close allies, Mecca Pact signatories Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan met Iranian officials in Tehran to discuss regional coordination. This also comes at a time when the region is on tenterhooks in the wake of the U.S. and Israel potentially resuming their military campaign against Iran. In another key development, Egypt's parliament authorised its military to help defend Saudi Arabia against any external aggression. This raises a key question. With Egypt, Pakistan as well as Turkiye staying away from offensive action against the Houthis in Yemen, what will be Saudi's approach going ahead as it struggles to combat the Iran-backed group.

In the latest from the battlefield, Houthis released footage of drone strikes on Saudi Arabian officers, soldiers and vehicles in the cities of Najran and Jazan. The group also claimed a ballistic missile attack on Saudi troops and weapon depots in Yemen's Aden and Lahij provinces.

The war in West Asia is escalating. The Saudi Arabia-led military coalition claimed to have destroyed four ballistic missile launchers in Sanaa as well as missile depots and tunnels used by the Houthis. On the other hand, the Iran-backed group claimed a ballistic missile strike on key military bases in Saudi Arabia and Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport. Now, this assumes significance, as this airport resumed its operations at two terminals only yesterday. It had halted operations on October 10 after a deadly Houthi attack killed 13 people and wounded more than 300 others. The Houthis said they launched a drone attack on crude oil pumping stations in Saudi as well. This is not all. The Iran-backed group also claimed to have shot down the Wing Loong II combat drone allegedly used by Saudi Arabia to carry out operations in Taiz province. Manufactured by China, this unmanned combat aerial vehicle is used for both reconnaissance and precision strikes. It can carry a range of weapons, including air-to-surface missiles and laser-guided bombs.

In the latest from the battlefield, Houthis released footage of drone strikes on Saudi Arabian officers, soldiers and vehicles in the cities of Najran and Jazan. The group also claimed a ballistic missile attack on Saudi troops and weapon depots in Yemen's Aden and Lahij provinces.

Houthi drones, missiles turn Saudi troop gathering into killing field | Gravitas

Facing mounting pressure from the US, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signalled willingness to freeze the current frontline for a ceasefire deal. This would effectively imply surrendering 25 per cent of Ukraine’s territory to Russia.Barely hours after US special envoy Steve Witkoff described Putin as a 'humanitarian', Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack on Kyiv and other regions overnight.According to Zelensky, three waves of 21 ballistic missiles were launched at the Ukrainian capital by Russia, killing at least two people and wounding 34 others. Residential buildings, energy facilities, railway stations, shopping malls and a monastery suffered damage.Kyiv authorities also said that Russian strikes damaged subway infrastructure on the southern bridge over the Dnipro River in the Ukrainian capital.In Kharkiv, firefighters grappled to extinguish burning trucks. One person was killed and 15 others were injured in reported Russian strikes.Authorities also accused Russia of carrying out nearly 60 drone attacks on 26 settlements in Sumy. This led to the death of one civilian.With killings reported in Zaporizhia, Donetsk and Chernihiv as well, Ukraine said that at least nine people were killed in Russian strikes over the past day.According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia’s mass overnight attack involved the Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile, which can execute unpredictable evasive manoeuvres in terminal descent.The S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile system was also reportedly used in the strikes.This is not all. The Oniks anti-ship cruise missile was also reportedly used. With a range of 800 kilometres, it can carry both conventional as well as nuclear payloads.The Ukrainian Air Force also claimed to have shot down 181 out of 210 drones of various types fired by Russia. This included 110 jet-powered drones. Strikes were recorded at 32 locations.Now, among the missiles, one stands out. Russia unleashed the Zircon.Zircon is a Russian nuclear-capable hypersonic missile. Initially designed as a ship-launched anti-ship weapon to counter Western aircraft carriers, it has been repurposed by Russia for land-attack missions.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/putin-fires-nuclear-capable-hypersonic-missiles-zelensky-ready-to-surrender-25-territory-1792691466217/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/putin-fires-nuclear-capable-hypersonic-missiles-zelensky-ready-to-surrender-25-territory-1792691466217/embed</a>On the other hand, the Moscow mayor accused Ukraine of launching 630 drones on the Russian capital from overnight to Thursday, most of which were destroyed by air defence systems. Two people were injured in the drone attacks.Now, Moscow’s attack came just hours after Putin agreed in principle to resume three-way negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine and the US as early as next month.According to the Kremlin, these talks could take place in Abu Dhabi on or after November 10 and would focus on how to guarantee the security of Ukraine and Russia once the war ended.This came after US special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Putin in St. Petersburg to seek a diplomatic solution to the protracted war in Ukraine.Witkoff said that Trump is 'deeply grateful' for Putin’s decision to sell diesel to the US and also hailed him for releasing retired teacher Stephen Hubbard.The 74-year-old American citizen was sentenced in 2024 to seven years in prison for allegedly fighting on behalf of Ukraine. After his release from prison, he met Witkoff and then flew back to Texas.Despite Trump seeking to woo Putin, Russia was less enthused. It said that there wasn’t really much substance in the latest peace proposals.On his part, though, Trump claimed that an end to the Ukraine war could be closer than ever before.After his meeting with Witkoff, Zelensky too expressed willingness to hold trilateral talks with the US and Russia as soon as possible, preferably no later than early November.However, the mood on the streets of Kyiv is not very optimistic about an early end to the war.Now, is Trump’s bid to ease sanctions on Russia and push for a ceasefire on its terms also linked to the situation in Iran, where the US is trapped in a prolonged war?Some experts believe that Trump may use these concessions as leverage to convince Putin to bring Iran back to the negotiating table.Interestingly, during his talks with Witkoff, Putin himself offered to help settle the West Asia crisis, citing Russia’s special relationship with Iran.

Despite Trump seeking to woo Putin, Russia was less enthused. It said that there wasn’t really much substance in the latest peace proposals. On his part, though, Trump claimed that an end to the Ukraine war could be closer than ever before.

Facing mounting pressure from the US, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signalled willingness to freeze the current frontline for a ceasefire deal. This would effectively imply surrendering 25 per cent of Ukraine’s territory to Russia. Barely hours after US special envoy Steve Witkoff described Putin as a 'humanitarian', Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack on Kyiv and other regions overnight. According to Zelensky, three waves of 21 ballistic missiles were launched at the Ukrainian capital by Russia, killing at least two people and wounding 34 others. Residential buildings, energy facilities, railway stations, shopping malls and a monastery suffered damage. Kyiv authorities also said that Russian strikes damaged subway infrastructure on the southern bridge over the Dnipro River in the Ukrainian capital. In Kharkiv, firefighters grappled to extinguish burning trucks. One person was killed and 15 others were injured in reported Russian strikes. Authorities also accused Russia of carrying out nearly 60 drone attacks on 26 settlements in Sumy. This led to the death of one civilian. With killings reported in Zaporizhia, Donetsk and Chernihiv as well, Ukraine said that at least nine people were killed in Russian strikes over the past day. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia’s mass overnight attack involved the Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile, which can execute unpredictable evasive manoeuvres in terminal descent. The S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile system was also reportedly used in the strikes. This is not all. The Oniks anti-ship cruise missile was also reportedly used. With a range of 800 kilometres, it can carry both conventional as well as nuclear payloads. The Ukrainian Air Force also claimed to have shot down 181 out of 210 drones of various types fired by Russia. This included 110 jet-powered drones. Strikes were recorded at 32 locations. Now, among the missiles, one stands out. Russia unleashed the Zircon. Zircon is a Russian nuclear-capable hypersonic missile. Initially designed as a ship-launched anti-ship weapon to counter Western aircraft carriers, it has been repurposed by Russia for land-attack missions. https://www.wionews.com/videos/putin-fires-nuclear-capable-hypersonic-missiles-zelensky-ready-to-surrender-25-territory-1792691466217/embed On the other hand, the Moscow mayor accused Ukraine of launching 630 drones on the Russian capital from overnight to Thursday, most of which were destroyed by air defence systems. Two people were injured in the drone attacks. Now, Moscow’s attack came just hours after Putin agreed in principle to resume three-way negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine and the US as early as next month. According to the Kremlin, these talks could take place in Abu Dhabi on or after November 10 and would focus on how to guarantee the security of Ukraine and Russia once the war ended. This came after US special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Putin in St. Petersburg to seek a diplomatic solution to the protracted war in Ukraine. Witkoff said that Trump is 'deeply grateful' for Putin’s decision to sell diesel to the US and also hailed him for releasing retired teacher Stephen Hubbard. The 74-year-old American citizen was sentenced in 2024 to seven years in prison for allegedly fighting on behalf of Ukraine. After his release from prison, he met Witkoff and then flew back to Texas. Despite Trump seeking to woo Putin, Russia was less enthused. It said that there wasn’t really much substance in the latest peace proposals. On his part, though, Trump claimed that an end to the Ukraine war could be closer than ever before. After his meeting with Witkoff, Zelensky too expressed willingness to hold trilateral talks with the US and Russia as soon as possible, preferably no later than early November. However, the mood on the streets of Kyiv is not very optimistic about an early end to the war. Now, is Trump’s bid to ease sanctions on Russia and push for a ceasefire on its terms also linked to the situation in Iran, where the US is trapped in a prolonged war? Some experts believe that Trump may use these concessions as leverage to convince Putin to bring Iran back to the negotiating table. Interestingly, during his talks with Witkoff, Putin himself offered to help settle the West Asia crisis, citing Russia’s special relationship with Iran.

Despite Trump seeking to woo Putin, Russia was less enthused. It said that there wasn’t really much substance in the latest peace proposals. On his part, though, Trump claimed that an end to the Ukraine war could be closer than ever before.

GRAVITAS | Putin fires nuclear-capable hypersonic missiles, Zelensky ready to surrender 25% territory

America's drug crisis has now taken a deadlier turn. A synthetic opioid called cychlorphine has been detected in 19 US states and has resulted in at least 55 deaths nationally since last year, according to the country's federal anti-drug agency.&nbsp;Tennessee was an early hotspot, with at least 41 overdose deaths reported between July 2025 and February 2026. The other states that have seen the most such overdose cases are Ohio and Texas. Last week, an overdose death was reported in California's Los Angeles.But what makes this opioid so lethal?Even consuming a very small amount of this drug can slow someone to stop breathing. It can cause profound sedation as well as death. Additionally, it is at least ten times more potent than fentanyl.It is worth noting that this drug was first identified in the illicit US drug market in 2024 and has not been approved for medical use.What makes it more dangerous is that standard fentanyl testing strips cannot detect it. This means that people can unknowingly consume it without even realising they have been exposed to danger.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/55-deaths-linked-to-new-super-drug-america-faces-an-even-deadlier-opioid-threat-1792605061048/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/55-deaths-linked-to-new-super-drug-america-faces-an-even-deadlier-opioid-threat-1792605061048/embed</a>So far, this drug has been discovered in several forms, including powders, counterfeit prescription pills, liquids and rock-like crystals.Now, the danger of synthetic opioids cannot be understated. According to America's national public health agency, the CDC, synthetic opioids are the primary driver of overdose deaths in the US.CDC data show that a staggering eight hundred thousand people in the US died from opioid overdose from 1999 to 2023. An average of 217 people die on a daily basis due to this. Overall, there has been an increase in fentanyl-linked deaths since 2013.Now, what is the way to deal with cychlorphine overdose cases?Despite the drug's extreme potency, US health authorities stressed that a medication called naloxone can be used to reverse the effects of the drug overdose.However, multiple doses of this medication, which is available as a nasal spray and injection, may be necessary to restore breathing.

What makes it more dangerous is that standard fentanyl testing strips cannot detect it. This means that people can unknowingly consume it without even realising they have been exposed to danger.

America's drug crisis has now taken a deadlier turn. A synthetic opioid called cychlorphine has been detected in 19 US states and has resulted in at least 55 deaths nationally since last year, according to the country's federal anti-drug agency. Tennessee was an early hotspot, with at least 41 overdose deaths reported between July 2025 and February 2026. The other states that have seen the most such overdose cases are Ohio and Texas. Last week, an overdose death was reported in California's Los Angeles. But what makes this opioid so lethal? Even consuming a very small amount of this drug can slow someone to stop breathing. It can cause profound sedation as well as death. Additionally, it is at least ten times more potent than fentanyl. It is worth noting that this drug was first identified in the illicit US drug market in 2024 and has not been approved for medical use. What makes it more dangerous is that standard fentanyl testing strips cannot detect it. This means that people can unknowingly consume it without even realising they have been exposed to danger. https://www.wionews.com/videos/55-deaths-linked-to-new-super-drug-america-faces-an-even-deadlier-opioid-threat-1792605061048/embed So far, this drug has been discovered in several forms, including powders, counterfeit prescription pills, liquids and rock-like crystals. Now, the danger of synthetic opioids cannot be understated. According to America's national public health agency, the CDC, synthetic opioids are the primary driver of overdose deaths in the US. CDC data show that a staggering eight hundred thousand people in the US died from opioid overdose from 1999 to 2023. An average of 217 people die on a daily basis due to this. Overall, there has been an increase in fentanyl-linked deaths since 2013. Now, what is the way to deal with cychlorphine overdose cases? Despite the drug's extreme potency, US health authorities stressed that a medication called naloxone can be used to reverse the effects of the drug overdose. However, multiple doses of this medication, which is available as a nasal spray and injection, may be necessary to restore breathing.

What makes it more dangerous is that standard fentanyl testing strips cannot detect it. This means that people can unknowingly consume it without even realising they have been exposed to danger.

Gravitas | 55 deaths linked to new super drug: America faces an even deadlier opioid threat

As Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir consolidates his power in the hybrid regime, resentment is no longer limited to political opponents and citizens.&nbsp;Even the ruling elite is increasingly losing faith in the country and fleeing abroad.&nbsp;Now, this is not a stray allegation but emanates from none other than Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who is currently serving his seventh term as a member of parliament.&nbsp;He flagged that many top Pakistani bureaucrats have settled in Canada, U.S., UK and Europe, with Portugal being the main destination of exodus in the last few years.&nbsp;Crucially, he claimed that they prepared to flee abroad during service.&nbsp;Asif added, "This raises questions about their commitment to their homeland and their jobs during their tenure."&nbsp;The veteran politician also alleged that an individual who facilitated permanent residency arrangements in foreign countries had fled after collecting a lot of money from influential bureaucrats.&nbsp;However, he did not provide details or identify anyone involved.&nbsp;In August last year as well, Asif had stirred a row after alleging that more than 50% of bureaucrats had purchased real estate in Portugal using black money.&nbsp;Additionally, he accused them of transferring billions of dollars to Portugal and seeking citizenship as part of a discrete escape plan.&nbsp;Now, the alleged exodus comes at a time when Islamabad has been struggling on the economic, security and political front.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-s-elite-loses-faith-in-its-own-country-bureaucrats-flee-to-foreign-havens-1792602338831/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-s-elite-loses-faith-in-its-own-country-bureaucrats-flee-to-foreign-havens-1792602338831/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Amid Munir's farcical attempt to project his country as a military power and peacemaker, the country has been gripped by a number of crises.&nbsp;For instance, Pakistan revised its GDP growth downward to 3.65% for fiscal year 2026.&nbsp;This correction came after its economic growth nosedived to 2% in the April to June quarter as compared to 4.4% in the previous quarter.&nbsp;The debt-trapped country is still awaiting the approval of a 1.2 billion U.S. dollar loan from IMF's executive board.&nbsp;Also, its short-term inflation rose by 11.38% last week, driven by an increase in prices of 23 essential commodities, including wheat flour, chicken and eggs.&nbsp;This is not all.&nbsp;According to the World Bank, Pakistan alone accounts for 48% of the people earning less than 3 U.S. dollars per day in the region comprising West Asia, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan.&nbsp;It attributed rising poverty to high inflation, currency depreciation, weakened household incomes and less job opportunities.&nbsp;As far as internal security is concerned, Pakistan has been in shambles.&nbsp;Insurgents have mounted multiple attacks on Pak security forces in Khyber Pakthunkhwa and Balochistan.&nbsp;This year, there have been over 1,200 terrorism-related incidents across Pakistan so far, in which 738 civilians and nearly 1,100 security personnel have been killed.&nbsp;Even as ex-PM Imran Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023, Munir's brutal crackdown on his party – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf – continues.&nbsp;After the party decided to embark on a long march towards Islamabad seeking Khan's release, the government dismissed the PTI-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11 and imposed an emergency and governor's rule in the province.&nbsp;The government attributed this decision to rising terror attacks and failure of the provincial government to control militancy. However, critics questioned why similar action was not taken in Balochistan, where the security situation is even worse.&nbsp;Since October 11, former KP CM Sohail Afridi remains missing after being detained and taken to an unknown location.&nbsp;In wake of these factors, Khawaja Asif's allegations raise a key question.&nbsp;Are those in power prepared to live with the consequences of the crises, or are some preparing an escape route.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who is currently serving his seventh term as a member of parliament, flagged that many top Pakistani bureaucrats have settled in Canada, U.S., UK and Europe, with Portugal being the main destination of exodus in the last few years.

As Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir consolidates his power in the hybrid regime, resentment is no longer limited to political opponents and citizens. Even the ruling elite is increasingly losing faith in the country and fleeing abroad. Now, this is not a stray allegation but emanates from none other than Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who is currently serving his seventh term as a member of parliament. He flagged that many top Pakistani bureaucrats have settled in Canada, U.S., UK and Europe, with Portugal being the main destination of exodus in the last few years. Crucially, he claimed that they prepared to flee abroad during service. Asif added, "This raises questions about their commitment to their homeland and their jobs during their tenure." The veteran politician also alleged that an individual who facilitated permanent residency arrangements in foreign countries had fled after collecting a lot of money from influential bureaucrats. However, he did not provide details or identify anyone involved. In August last year as well, Asif had stirred a row after alleging that more than 50% of bureaucrats had purchased real estate in Portugal using black money. Additionally, he accused them of transferring billions of dollars to Portugal and seeking citizenship as part of a discrete escape plan. Now, the alleged exodus comes at a time when Islamabad has been struggling on the economic, security and political front. https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-s-elite-loses-faith-in-its-own-country-bureaucrats-flee-to-foreign-havens-1792602338831/embed Amid Munir's farcical attempt to project his country as a military power and peacemaker, the country has been gripped by a number of crises. For instance, Pakistan revised its GDP growth downward to 3.65% for fiscal year 2026. This correction came after its economic growth nosedived to 2% in the April to June quarter as compared to 4.4% in the previous quarter. The debt-trapped country is still awaiting the approval of a 1.2 billion U.S. dollar loan from IMF's executive board. Also, its short-term inflation rose by 11.38% last week, driven by an increase in prices of 23 essential commodities, including wheat flour, chicken and eggs. This is not all. According to the World Bank, Pakistan alone accounts for 48% of the people earning less than 3 U.S. dollars per day in the region comprising West Asia, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan. It attributed rising poverty to high inflation, currency depreciation, weakened household incomes and less job opportunities. As far as internal security is concerned, Pakistan has been in shambles. Insurgents have mounted multiple attacks on Pak security forces in Khyber Pakthunkhwa and Balochistan. This year, there have been over 1,200 terrorism-related incidents across Pakistan so far, in which 738 civilians and nearly 1,100 security personnel have been killed. Even as ex-PM Imran Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023, Munir's brutal crackdown on his party – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf – continues. After the party decided to embark on a long march towards Islamabad seeking Khan's release, the government dismissed the PTI-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11 and imposed an emergency and governor's rule in the province. The government attributed this decision to rising terror attacks and failure of the provincial government to control militancy. However, critics questioned why similar action was not taken in Balochistan, where the security situation is even worse. Since October 11, former KP CM Sohail Afridi remains missing after being detained and taken to an unknown location. In wake of these factors, Khawaja Asif's allegations raise a key question. Are those in power prepared to live with the consequences of the crises, or are some preparing an escape route.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who is currently serving his seventh term as a member of parliament, flagged that many top Pakistani bureaucrats have settled in Canada, U.S., UK and Europe, with Portugal being the main destination of exodus in the last few years.

Pakistan's elite loses faith in its own country, bureaucrats flee to foreign havens | Gravitas

As fear of fighting resuming in West Asia looms large, all eyes are on the upcoming Israeli general election and American midterms, whose result can reshape geopolitical dynamics.&nbsp;Amid this, Polymarket has predicted an electoral debacle for U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.&nbsp;Launched in 2020, Polymarket is basically one of the biggest prediction market platforms, which allows people to bet on the outcome of world events using cryptocurrency.&nbsp;According to its latest projection, the Democratic Party is well poised to gain control of the U.S. Senate as well as the U.S. House of Representatives in the midterm polls.&nbsp;In the case of the Senate, Polymarket predicted a 65% chance of Democrats getting a majority.&nbsp;The party requires a net gain of four seats to achieve this.&nbsp;The prediction market also gave Democrats a 92% chance of crossing the majority mark in the 435-seat House of Representatives.&nbsp;At present, Republicans hold 218 seats, whereas Democrats have 214 seats.&nbsp;This comes even as Trump has been actively campaigning to ensure a victory for Republicans amid growing unease over his handling of the Iran War.&nbsp;On the other hand, Netanyahu, who is seeking a record seventh term in office, is also facing a tough fight with multiple opinion polls showing an edge to his rival Gadi Eisenkot.&nbsp;According to Polymarket, Eisenkot is the favourite to become Israel's next PM.&nbsp;In comparison, it gave Netanyahu only a 31% chance of retaining power, whereas former PM Naftali Bennett ranks third.&nbsp;Bets worth over 124 million U.S. dollars were also placed on when Netanyahu would leave office.&nbsp;The prediction market projected a 38% probability of Netanyahu leaving office by end of this year.&nbsp;This is not all.&nbsp;In another bet, traders on Polymarket overwhelmingly favoured the Eisenkot-led Yashar Party to win more seats in Israel's parliament as compared to Netanyahu's Likud Party.&nbsp;With barely a week to go for the general election in Israel, a new internal tussle has rocked the country's ruling coalition.&nbsp;Israel's national security minister Ben-Gvir, who has been mired in a series of controversies, has accused Netanyahu of seeking to deny him a cabinet portfolio in the next government.&nbsp;During a radio interview, he stressed that this was hurtful at a personal level.&nbsp;Ben Gvir said, "I am your partner, I love you. Why do you have to go to all kinds of countries and tell them, 'without Ben-Gvir'?&nbsp;Subsequently, though, Netanyahu clarified that Ben Gvir will be made a high-ranking minister in the next government as well.&nbsp;His party also stressed that it will prioritise the core partners of the current coalition.&nbsp;Now, even as Trump's own personal popularity has fallen lower than Netanyahu, he endorsed the Israeli PM for re-election.&nbsp;During a call with the U.S. president, Netanyahu thanked him and reiterated that Israel and America had a job to finish in Iran.&nbsp;Now, Trump and Netanyahu's backing for each other is seen as a bid to shore up their own votebank ahead of the polls that could define their future.&nbsp;But there is divergence within the Trump administration itself, with U.S. vice president JD Vance refusing to endorse Netanyahu.&nbsp;Earlier too, Vance was critical of Israel and even accused some elements within the Netanyahu-led government of running a paid campaign against him for publicly pressing for an agreement with Iran.

PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who is seeking a record seventh term, is facing a tough fight, with multiple opinion polls showing an edge to his rival Gadi Eisenkot. According to Polymarket, Eisenkot is the favourite to become Israel's next PM. It gave Netanyahu only a 31% chance of retaining power.

As fear of fighting resuming in West Asia looms large, all eyes are on the upcoming Israeli general election and American midterms, whose result can reshape geopolitical dynamics. Amid this, Polymarket has predicted an electoral debacle for U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Launched in 2020, Polymarket is basically one of the biggest prediction market platforms, which allows people to bet on the outcome of world events using cryptocurrency. According to its latest projection, the Democratic Party is well poised to gain control of the U.S. Senate as well as the U.S. House of Representatives in the midterm polls. In the case of the Senate, Polymarket predicted a 65% chance of Democrats getting a majority. The party requires a net gain of four seats to achieve this. The prediction market also gave Democrats a 92% chance of crossing the majority mark in the 435-seat House of Representatives. At present, Republicans hold 218 seats, whereas Democrats have 214 seats. This comes even as Trump has been actively campaigning to ensure a victory for Republicans amid growing unease over his handling of the Iran War. On the other hand, Netanyahu, who is seeking a record seventh term in office, is also facing a tough fight with multiple opinion polls showing an edge to his rival Gadi Eisenkot. According to Polymarket, Eisenkot is the favourite to become Israel's next PM. In comparison, it gave Netanyahu only a 31% chance of retaining power, whereas former PM Naftali Bennett ranks third. Bets worth over 124 million U.S. dollars were also placed on when Netanyahu would leave office. The prediction market projected a 38% probability of Netanyahu leaving office by end of this year. This is not all. In another bet, traders on Polymarket overwhelmingly favoured the Eisenkot-led Yashar Party to win more seats in Israel's parliament as compared to Netanyahu's Likud Party. With barely a week to go for the general election in Israel, a new internal tussle has rocked the country's ruling coalition. Israel's national security minister Ben-Gvir, who has been mired in a series of controversies, has accused Netanyahu of seeking to deny him a cabinet portfolio in the next government. During a radio interview, he stressed that this was hurtful at a personal level. Ben Gvir said, "I am your partner, I love you. Why do you have to go to all kinds of countries and tell them, 'without Ben-Gvir'? Subsequently, though, Netanyahu clarified that Ben Gvir will be made a high-ranking minister in the next government as well. His party also stressed that it will prioritise the core partners of the current coalition. Now, even as Trump's own personal popularity has fallen lower than Netanyahu, he endorsed the Israeli PM for re-election. During a call with the U.S. president, Netanyahu thanked him and reiterated that Israel and America had a job to finish in Iran. Now, Trump and Netanyahu's backing for each other is seen as a bid to shore up their own votebank ahead of the polls that could define their future. But there is divergence within the Trump administration itself, with U.S. vice president JD Vance refusing to endorse Netanyahu. Earlier too, Vance was critical of Israel and even accused some elements within the Netanyahu-led government of running a paid campaign against him for publicly pressing for an agreement with Iran.

PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who is seeking a record seventh term, is facing a tough fight, with multiple opinion polls showing an edge to his rival Gadi Eisenkot. According to Polymarket, Eisenkot is the favourite to become Israel's next PM. It gave Netanyahu only a 31% chance of retaining power.

Polymarket predicts electoral debacle for Trump and Netanyahu in polls | Gravitas

Whether it is security failures regarding the October 7 terror attack or IDF's unending wars in Gaza and Lebanon, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has been facing the heat.Seeking a record seventh term in office, he has now doubled down on the national security front.&nbsp;&nbsp;Addressing a briefing of journalists, Netanyahu unveiled Israel's National Security Doctrine, which prioritises offensive pre-emptive action over defence.&nbsp;The plan also entails cementing Israel's status as a regional power, ensuring self-reliance in munitions and intensifying fight against anti-semitism globally.&nbsp;According to reports, he announced plans to allocate nearly 145 billion U.S. dollars in additional defence spending over the next decade.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, what caught the attention of everyone was a map which Netanyahu displayed during his presentation.&nbsp;The Israeli PM made it clear that opportunities have been created for forging new alliances in West Asia and beyond.&nbsp;For instance, it highlights an emerging partnership between Israel and UAE, who established diplomatic ties in 2020.&nbsp;During the briefing, Netanyahu identified the Sunni bloc of Turkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as one of Israel’s key regional challenges.&nbsp;What complicates matters is that these nations are strong U.S. allies as well.&nbsp;However, Israel's main challenge remains what it calls the Iran-led 'Axis of Resistance'.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/netanyahu-fears-losing-us-support-unveils-national-security-doctrine-ahead-of-polls-1792428617077/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/netanyahu-fears-losing-us-support-unveils-national-security-doctrine-ahead-of-polls-1792428617077/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;This includes the popular mobilisation forces in Iraq, Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Houthis in Yemen.&nbsp;Yet again, he vowed to topple the Iranian government. Now, the Israeli PM also flagged the need to strengthen ties with more countries, especially India and nations in South America.&nbsp;In the map shown by Netanyahu, Israel is eyeing friendly ties with Ethiopia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus and Greece, as well as territories controlled by the Government of National Stability in Libya, and rapid support forces in Sudan.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, Leader of Opposition Yair Lapid ridiculed the document as 'superfificial' and 'bizarre', saying it looked as though it had been written by an AI chatbot.&nbsp;Similarly, Yashar Party Chief Gadi Eisenkot dismissed it as empty pages filled with slogans and accused Netanyahu of leaving a strategic vacuum in Israel's security policy.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now, Netanyahu's call for stronger ties with other countries, comes amid his fear of Israel losing U.S. support once Trump completes his second term as U.S. president.&nbsp;Netanyahu said, "In two years, a president- male or female could come to power in Washington who is very hostile to Israel. We must do everything in our power, during these two years.”&nbsp;While Trump and Netanyahu have had their occasional disagreements, they have been largely on the same page, as far as the Iran War is concerned.&nbsp;As opinion polls predict a tight race for the Israeli parliament, what can potentially swing the election?&nbsp;According to experts, high turnout by Israeli Arabs who constitute close to one-fifth of the country's population could potentially give an edge to the anti-Netanyahu bloc led by ex-army chief Gadi Eisenkot.&nbsp;While Eisenkot has ruled out forming a government with Arab parties, some leaders reckon that this may change after the polls.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled Israel's National Security Doctrine, which prioritises offensive pre-emptive action over defence. It also entails cementing Israel's status as a regional power, ensuring self-reliance in munitions and intensifying fight against anti-semitism globally.

Whether it is security failures regarding the October 7 terror attack or IDF's unending wars in Gaza and Lebanon, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has been facing the heat. Seeking a record seventh term in office, he has now doubled down on the national security front. Addressing a briefing of journalists, Netanyahu unveiled Israel's National Security Doctrine, which prioritises offensive pre-emptive action over defence. The plan also entails cementing Israel's status as a regional power, ensuring self-reliance in munitions and intensifying fight against anti-semitism globally. According to reports, he announced plans to allocate nearly 145 billion U.S. dollars in additional defence spending over the next decade. However, what caught the attention of everyone was a map which Netanyahu displayed during his presentation. The Israeli PM made it clear that opportunities have been created for forging new alliances in West Asia and beyond. For instance, it highlights an emerging partnership between Israel and UAE, who established diplomatic ties in 2020. During the briefing, Netanyahu identified the Sunni bloc of Turkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as one of Israel’s key regional challenges. What complicates matters is that these nations are strong U.S. allies as well. However, Israel's main challenge remains what it calls the Iran-led 'Axis of Resistance'. https://www.wionews.com/videos/netanyahu-fears-losing-us-support-unveils-national-security-doctrine-ahead-of-polls-1792428617077/embed This includes the popular mobilisation forces in Iraq, Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Houthis in Yemen. Yet again, he vowed to topple the Iranian government. Now, the Israeli PM also flagged the need to strengthen ties with more countries, especially India and nations in South America. In the map shown by Netanyahu, Israel is eyeing friendly ties with Ethiopia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus and Greece, as well as territories controlled by the Government of National Stability in Libya, and rapid support forces in Sudan. However, Leader of Opposition Yair Lapid ridiculed the document as 'superfificial' and 'bizarre', saying it looked as though it had been written by an AI chatbot. Similarly, Yashar Party Chief Gadi Eisenkot dismissed it as empty pages filled with slogans and accused Netanyahu of leaving a strategic vacuum in Israel's security policy. Now, Netanyahu's call for stronger ties with other countries, comes amid his fear of Israel losing U.S. support once Trump completes his second term as U.S. president. Netanyahu said, "In two years, a president- male or female could come to power in Washington who is very hostile to Israel. We must do everything in our power, during these two years.” While Trump and Netanyahu have had their occasional disagreements, they have been largely on the same page, as far as the Iran War is concerned. As opinion polls predict a tight race for the Israeli parliament, what can potentially swing the election? According to experts, high turnout by Israeli Arabs who constitute close to one-fifth of the country's population could potentially give an edge to the anti-Netanyahu bloc led by ex-army chief Gadi Eisenkot. While Eisenkot has ruled out forming a government with Arab parties, some leaders reckon that this may change after the polls.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled Israel's National Security Doctrine, which prioritises offensive pre-emptive action over defence. It also entails cementing Israel's status as a regional power, ensuring self-reliance in munitions and intensifying fight against anti-semitism globally.

Netanyahu fears losing U.S. support, unveils national security doctrine ahead of polls | Gravitas

At the peak of the Iran war, Israel struggled to defend itself against swarms of Iranian Shahed drones.Ukraine has been facing a similar struggle against Russia's Shahed-type drones, which have caused significant damage in the country.Now, both countries have joined hands to combat threats from Russia and Iran.According to former Israeli envoy Michael Brodsky, Ukraine has sent several weapons used by Russia in its ongoing war to Israel for examination.While he did not specify the weapons in question, reports suggested that Israel is studying samples of Russian drones based on Iranian-made Shahed drones.But what is the purpose of this?Israeli researchers can better understand the modifications Russia has made to its drones and develop ways to counter them.This is vital as drones have emerged as a key tool of warfare.Now, Russia has repeatedly evolved its tactics for penetrating Ukrainian air defences through the course of its war.For instance, after initially using Iran's Shahed drones, Russia began mass-producing its own jet-powered versions called Gerans.Now, its most advanced version, Geran-5, is creating quite a flutter in Ukraine.It flies more like a cruise missile.According to Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, its speed can touch 600 kilometres per hour and it can strike targets close to 950 kilometres away, which is much more than its previous variants.Thus, Ukraine's existing air defence measures are relatively ineffective in intercepting this drone.Additionally, these drones are relatively cheaper compared to high-end cruise missiles.As of March this year, Ukraine claimed that Russia had fired over 57,000 Shahed-type drones.On its part, Ukraine is testing five types of high-speed interceptor drones designed to combat Russia's jet-powered drones.Last month, Zelensky even shared footage of one such drone, which has already been deployed on the war front.In this context, the Israel-Ukraine collaboration is perceived as a win-win for both sides.While Israel has the edge in terms of technological prowess, Ukraine has first-hand experience of tackling Russian weapons in combat.

Ukraine has reportedly sent Russian weapons to Israel for examination, as both countries look to counter Shahed-type drones and Russia's evolving drone warfare tactics.

At the peak of the Iran war, Israel struggled to defend itself against swarms of Iranian Shahed drones. Ukraine has been facing a similar struggle against Russia's Shahed-type drones, which have caused significant damage in the country. Now, both countries have joined hands to combat threats from Russia and Iran. According to former Israeli envoy Michael Brodsky, Ukraine has sent several weapons used by Russia in its ongoing war to Israel for examination. While he did not specify the weapons in question, reports suggested that Israel is studying samples of Russian drones based on Iranian-made Shahed drones. But what is the purpose of this? Israeli researchers can better understand the modifications Russia has made to its drones and develop ways to counter them. This is vital as drones have emerged as a key tool of warfare. Now, Russia has repeatedly evolved its tactics for penetrating Ukrainian air defences through the course of its war. For instance, after initially using Iran's Shahed drones, Russia began mass-producing its own jet-powered versions called Gerans. Now, its most advanced version, Geran-5, is creating quite a flutter in Ukraine. It flies more like a cruise missile. According to Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, its speed can touch 600 kilometres per hour and it can strike targets close to 950 kilometres away, which is much more than its previous variants. Thus, Ukraine's existing air defence measures are relatively ineffective in intercepting this drone. Additionally, these drones are relatively cheaper compared to high-end cruise missiles. As of March this year, Ukraine claimed that Russia had fired over 57,000 Shahed-type drones. On its part, Ukraine is testing five types of high-speed interceptor drones designed to combat Russia's jet-powered drones. Last month, Zelensky even shared footage of one such drone, which has already been deployed on the war front. In this context, the Israel-Ukraine collaboration is perceived as a win-win for both sides. While Israel has the edge in terms of technological prowess, Ukraine has first-hand experience of tackling Russian weapons in combat.

Ukraine has reportedly sent Russian weapons to Israel for examination, as both countries look to counter Shahed-type drones and Russia's evolving drone warfare tactics.

Israel examines Russia's Shahed-type drones sent by Ukraine to combat Iran | Gravitas

As Pakistan continues to face internal turmoil and a lingering economic crisis, water is emerging as its next challenge.&nbsp;As Pakistan enters its rabi crop season, the lack of sufficient water for irrigation has raised fears of a looming food crisis.&nbsp;Pakistan's Indus River System Authority, which regulates allocation of Indus basin water resources among provinces, has projected an irrigation water shortage of 22%.&nbsp;This applies to the rabi season, which runs from October 1 to March 31.&nbsp;Since Balochistan and Khyber Pakthunkhwa are exempted from water cuts, the brunt of the shortage will be borne by the Punjab and Sindh provinces.&nbsp;This assumes significance as both these regions serve as Pakistan's agricultural heartland, with farmers preparing to plant crops such as wheat, barley, mustard, gram, potatoes and onions.&nbsp;Now, water shortages could force farmers to rely more heavily on groundwater, or accept lower yields.&nbsp;This has also sparked concerns about a possible shortfall of wheat, which is rabi season's main crop.&nbsp;Despite no water shortage last year, the country produced only 27.5 million tonnes of wheat, even as the domestic consumption stands at 31.9 million tonnes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This compelled the Pakistani government to place an import order of one million tonnes of wheat. The price of flour has already surged in Pakistan. According to reports, its price was 31.7% higher in September than the previous year. But what are the reasons behind Pakistan's water crisis? Reports suggest that most of this crisis is man-made, with more than one million acre feet of avoidable water releases made from reservoirs during the outgoing kharif season. Another reason for the water shortage is that over three million acre feet of water could not be stored at Tarbela dam due to construction work. The Indus River System Authority also complained about delays in construction of the tunnel-4 outlet and tunnel-5 hydropower project which were slated to be ready by 2022 and 2025 respectively. Now, this comes even as Pakistan has blamed its water woes on India, which put the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance after the Pahalgam terror attack. India linked this move to Islamabad's support for cross-border terrorism. Speaking at the UNGA last month, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif declared that any attempt to divert Indus waters will be treated as an act of war. However, in the wake of the factors identified by Pakistan's own water regulator, it is amply clear that Islamabad needs to address issues within rather than pointing fingers at India.

Despite no water shortage last year, Pakistan produced only 27.5 million tonnes of wheat, even as the domestic consumption stands at 31.9 million tonnes. This compelled the Pakistani government to place an import order of one million tonnes of wheat.

As Pakistan continues to face internal turmoil and a lingering economic crisis, water is emerging as its next challenge. As Pakistan enters its rabi crop season, the lack of sufficient water for irrigation has raised fears of a looming food crisis. Pakistan's Indus River System Authority, which regulates allocation of Indus basin water resources among provinces, has projected an irrigation water shortage of 22%. This applies to the rabi season, which runs from October 1 to March 31. Since Balochistan and Khyber Pakthunkhwa are exempted from water cuts, the brunt of the shortage will be borne by the Punjab and Sindh provinces. This assumes significance as both these regions serve as Pakistan's agricultural heartland, with farmers preparing to plant crops such as wheat, barley, mustard, gram, potatoes and onions. Now, water shortages could force farmers to rely more heavily on groundwater, or accept lower yields. This has also sparked concerns about a possible shortfall of wheat, which is rabi season's main crop. Despite no water shortage last year, the country produced only 27.5 million tonnes of wheat, even as the domestic consumption stands at 31.9 million tonnes.

Despite no water shortage last year, Pakistan produced only 27.5 million tonnes of wheat, even as the domestic consumption stands at 31.9 million tonnes. This compelled the Pakistani government to place an import order of one million tonnes of wheat.

Indus water crisis begins to hit Pakistan, heavy shortage of wheat looms | Gravitas

Days after US President Donald Trump’s energy ceasefire announcement, the ground reality remains stark. At least 600,000 Ukrainians are without power after significant damage to the country’s power systems.Ukraine also accused Russia of targeting energy and critical infrastructure overnight in Kyiv and Kharkiv, using 39 ballistic missiles and more than 120 attack drones.In the latest battlefield developments, six people were killed in the city of Lutsk when a Russian drone reportedly struck a wholesale warehouse. At least 10 others were injured.A series of explosions rocked the Ukrainian capital, with a plume of smoke subsequently engulfing parts of the city.According to Ukrainian police, at least five people have been killed and 36 others injured in Kyiv due to Russian strikes since Tuesday evening. In one such attack on a high-rise apartment building in the capital, three people were killed, while 21 others, including a child, were injured. In a separate incident, two people were killed when a non-residential building was hit.Meanwhile, distraught residents expressed their anguish over Ukraine’s flagging air defence capabilities and the lack of support.In the Ukrainian city of Khmelnytskyi, two people were injured in an overnight Russian drone attack that sparked fires at businesses and homes. Falling drone debris also set a gas station ablaze.Additionally, Russian strikes hit several buildings in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, including the Prague Hotel, office premises and a sports complex.Amid Russia’s unrelenting attacks, a new problem has arisen for Ukraine. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine did not receive an early warning from the US about a Russian ballistic missile strike on one of Kyiv’s key power plants.This was the second such instance in as many days. The development assumes significance amid reports that US officials have threatened to cut off intelligence sharing and weapon sales to Ukraine unless it stops attacking Russian refineries.

<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-status="hidden">#Gravitas | At least 6,00,000 Ukrainians are without power after significant damage to the country's power systems

Ukraine also accused Russia of targeting energy and critical infrastructure in Kyiv and Kharkiv, using 39 ballistic missiles 

@MollyGambhir has more https://t.co/YEnBCGxd5m&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://x.com/WIONews/status/2110404650700857554?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2026</a></blockquote>
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As a shortage of interceptor missiles continues to hurt Ukraine’s air defences, Zelensky lamented the lack of American help and urged the country to provide additional packages of Patriot missiles. He also conceded that Kyiv itself is not adequately prepared for the winter.On the other hand, US President Donald Trump insisted that America continues to share intelligence with Ukraine. However, he again stressed the need to get both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to end the war.Ukraine was also caught unaware as SpaceX introduced a limit on some Starlink services in the country. According to an adviser to the Ukrainian president, this disrupted several combat missions.Meanwhile, the European Union remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine.A few hours earlier, the European Commission disbursed $3.2 billion to Kyiv under the defence component of the Ukraine Support Loan. The funding will go towards drones, air defence systems, missiles, radars and ammunition.The NATO chief also sounded a warning over Russia’s unrelenting aggression and urged allies to do more to bolster Ukraine’s air defences.Ukraine is also launching retaliatory attacks. Russia confirmed an attack on its Saratov data centre, which was once slated to become Europe’s biggest data centre.Moscow also claimed that 493 drones flew towards the Russian capital, after which airports in the city imposed some flight restrictions.Russia, however, remained silent on whether it would agree to Trump’s energy ceasefire proposal.While revealing that the US is making efforts to end the war, the Kremlin lashed out at Europe for complicating matters.

As a shortage of interceptor missiles continues to hurt Ukraine’s air defences, Zelensky lamented the lack of American help and urged the country to provide additional packages of Patriot missiles. He also conceded that Kyiv itself is not adequately prepared for the winter.

Days after US President Donald Trump’s energy ceasefire announcement, the ground reality remains stark. At least 600,000 Ukrainians are without power after significant damage to the country’s power systems. Ukraine also accused Russia of targeting energy and critical infrastructure overnight in Kyiv and Kharkiv, using 39 ballistic missiles and more than 120 attack drones. In the latest battlefield developments, six people were killed in the city of Lutsk when a Russian drone reportedly struck a wholesale warehouse. At least 10 others were injured. A series of explosions rocked the Ukrainian capital, with a plume of smoke subsequently engulfing parts of the city. According to Ukrainian police, at least five people have been killed and 36 others injured in Kyiv due to Russian strikes since Tuesday evening. In one such attack on a high-rise apartment building in the capital, three people were killed, while 21 others, including a child, were injured. In a separate incident, two people were killed when a non-residential building was hit. Meanwhile, distraught residents expressed their anguish over Ukraine’s flagging air defence capabilities and the lack of support. In the Ukrainian city of Khmelnytskyi, two people were injured in an overnight Russian drone attack that sparked fires at businesses and homes. Falling drone debris also set a gas station ablaze. Additionally, Russian strikes hit several buildings in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, including the Prague Hotel, office premises and a sports complex. Amid Russia’s unrelenting attacks, a new problem has arisen for Ukraine. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine did not receive an early warning from the US about a Russian ballistic missile strike on one of Kyiv’s key power plants. This was the second such instance in as many days. The development assumes significance amid reports that US officials have threatened to cut off intelligence sharing and weapon sales to Ukraine unless it stops attacking Russian refineries.

As a shortage of interceptor missiles continues to hurt Ukraine’s air defences, Zelensky lamented the lack of American help and urged the country to provide additional packages of Patriot missiles. He also conceded that Kyiv itself is not adequately prepared for the winter.

Gravitas | Russia leaves 600,000 Ukrainians in freezing darkness, Zelensky bemoans lack of US help

24-year-old Laiba Ejaz was full of dreams as she looked forward to continuing her higher education in the US, after earning a gold medal in physics from Islamabad. Her father, who sold milk and yoghurt on the streets for a living, sacrificed a lot to ensure that his daughters could complete their masters' degree. However, a visa fraud turned their life upside down.In a tragic development, her body was found hanging from a tree in Islamabad on October 9. According to reports, she took this extreme step after severe psychological distress after being entangled in a visa and scholarship fraud. Two suspects posing as education consultants, allegedly defrauded Ejaz and her family to the tune of 34,000 US dollars by promising to secure her admission to Harvard University, along with a scholarship and a US visa. The suspects also supplied forged admission letters, scholarship documents, as well as payment receipts. However, the fraud came to the fore when her admission letter was rejected during a visa interview at the US embassy.Now, to pay the hefty amount to the consultants, considerable financial sacrifice was involved. Her father sold a plot of land which he had purchased to build a family home, whereas her mother pawned her jewellery.After her death sparked outrage, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif ordered a thorough probe. Terming her death 'extremely tragic', he instructed Islamabad police to arrest those responsible and ensure exemplary punishment. Following his directive, Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the bereaved family over the weekend. Subsequently, Islamabad police as well as the country's Federal Investigation Agency launched a probe into the circumstances regarding her death and the alleged fraud. An FIR was then registered against the main accused named Nauman, and his female accomplice, who falsely presented herself as his contact in the US. After being arrested in Islamabad, he was sent to police custody for five days.As of now, reports suggest that investigators are viewing it more as an impersonation scam. Meanwhile, the Islamabad police awarded commendation certificates to the probe team for their role in the arrest of the suspect in the Laiba Ejaz case.Now, this case has also brought into spotlight how poverty, unemployment and limited opportunities, in Pakistan are putting more pressure on young people, to seek education and employment abroad. Experts have called for effective regulation of overseas education consultants and public policies aimed at protecting students and their families from exploitation.&nbsp;

24-year-old gold medalist Laiba Ejaz was found dead in Islamabad after being entangled in a visa and scholarship fraud. Two suspects allegedly defrauded Ejaz and her family to the tune of $34,000 by promising to secure her admission to the Harvard University.

24-year-old Laiba Ejaz was full of dreams as she looked forward to continuing her higher education in the US, after earning a gold medal in physics from Islamabad. Her father, who sold milk and yoghurt on the streets for a living, sacrificed a lot to ensure that his daughters could complete their masters' degree. However, a visa fraud turned their life upside down. In a tragic development, her body was found hanging from a tree in Islamabad on October 9. According to reports, she took this extreme step after severe psychological distress after being entangled in a visa and scholarship fraud. Two suspects posing as education consultants, allegedly defrauded Ejaz and her family to the tune of 34,000 US dollars by promising to secure her admission to Harvard University, along with a scholarship and a US visa. The suspects also supplied forged admission letters, scholarship documents, as well as payment receipts. However, the fraud came to the fore when her admission letter was rejected during a visa interview at the US embassy. Now, to pay the hefty amount to the consultants, considerable financial sacrifice was involved. Her father sold a plot of land which he had purchased to build a family home, whereas her mother pawned her jewellery. After her death sparked outrage, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif ordered a thorough probe. Terming her death 'extremely tragic', he instructed Islamabad police to arrest those responsible and ensure exemplary punishment. Following his directive, Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the bereaved family over the weekend. Subsequently, Islamabad police as well as the country's Federal Investigation Agency launched a probe into the circumstances regarding her death and the alleged fraud. An FIR was then registered against the main accused named Nauman, and his female accomplice, who falsely presented herself as his contact in the US. After being arrested in Islamabad, he was sent to police custody for five days. As of now, reports suggest that investigators are viewing it more as an impersonation scam. Meanwhile, the Islamabad police awarded commendation certificates to the probe team for their role in the arrest of the suspect in the Laiba Ejaz case. Now, this case has also brought into spotlight how poverty, unemployment and limited opportunities, in Pakistan are putting more pressure on young people, to seek education and employment abroad. Experts have called for effective regulation of overseas education consultants and public policies aimed at protecting students and their families from exploitation.

24-year-old gold medalist Laiba Ejaz was found dead in Islamabad after being entangled in a visa and scholarship fraud. Two suspects allegedly defrauded Ejaz and her family to the tune of $34,000 by promising to secure her admission to the Harvard University.

Pakistani Gold Medalist’s Death Sparks Fraud Probe, Defrauded of $35,000 | GRAVITAS

Measles kills again: 6 dead in Pennsylvania as America faces its worst outbreak in decades | Gravitas&nbsp;The state of Pennsylvania has reported its sixth measles-associated death, as U.S. faces its worst measles outbreak since decades.&nbsp;But the question remains how has a disease which was officially eliminated from the country 26 years ago seen such a resurgence?&nbsp;So far this year, over four thousand eighty cases have already been reported in America.&nbsp;This is close to double the number of cases last year.&nbsp;While this outbreak has affected almost all states, Pennsylvania tops the list with more than eleven hundred cases.&nbsp;The other states with over 500 confirmed cases are South Carolina and Utah.&nbsp;Wisconsin and Ohio have also been quite affected by this outbreak.&nbsp;Last week, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a statewide disaster emergency over a measles outbreak.&nbsp;It has reported at least 108 measles cases until now.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/measles-outbreak-6-dead-in-pennsylvania-as-america-faces-its-worst-outbreak-in-decades-1791912913662/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/measles-outbreak-6-dead-in-pennsylvania-as-america-faces-its-worst-outbreak-in-decades-1791912913662/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;This order allows registered nurses to order tests for suspected measles, and pharmacists can vaccinate children as young as two years old.&nbsp;Now, this assumes significance, as U.S. has seen the most number of cases in a single year since 1991.&nbsp;According to the U.S. CDC 42% of those infected with measles are aged between five and nineteen.&nbsp;10% of the patients have been hospitalised.&nbsp;Now, it is worth noting that U.S. would see up to five hundred thousand measles cases on average annually prior to the introduction of measles vaccine in 1963.&nbsp;In a significant public health achievement, U.S. achieved measles elimination status in 2000.&nbsp;This status implies that measles is not spreading within the country, and new cases are found only when someone contracts measles abroad and returns to U.S.&nbsp;Now, the sudden resurgence of measles has been attributed to the falling vaccination coverage among kindergartners.&nbsp;This has reduced from 95.2% in 2019-2020 to 92.4% in 2025-26.&nbsp;This is vital as herd immunity against measles requires about 95% of a population to be vaccinated.&nbsp;According to authorities, over two hundred thousand children in U.S. are potentially at risk.&nbsp;Now, the measles outbreak cannot be taken lightly as it is one of the most contagious diseases.&nbsp;It spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes.&nbsp;The virus can linger on in air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours.&nbsp;According to W.H.O., one person infected by measles can generate up to 18 secondary infections.&nbsp;While vaccination is believed to have prevented an estimated 59 million deaths worldwide from 2000 to 2024, 95,000 people still died from this disease in 2024.&nbsp;According to UNICEF, the fatality risk is far higher in lower income countries.&nbsp;For every 1,000 children who contract measles, 30 to 60 are likely to die.&nbsp;As far as the symptoms of measles are concerned, they usually begin 7 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.&nbsp;Some of the early symptoms include fever, cough, red and watery eyes, and white spots inside the cheeks.&nbsp;Most deaths from measles are due to complications related to the disease, such as blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhea and ear infections.&nbsp;Now, as measles cases continue to raise public health concerns, some experts are warning about one of the lesser-known but potentially life-altering complications of this disease—permanent hearing loss.

US would see up to 500,000 measles cases on average annually prior to the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963. In a significant achievement, US achieved measles elimination status in 2000, which implies that new cases are found only when someone contracts measles abroad and returns.

Measles kills again: 6 dead in Pennsylvania as America faces its worst outbreak in decades | Gravitas The state of Pennsylvania has reported its sixth measles-associated death, as U.S. faces its worst measles outbreak since decades. But the question remains how has a disease which was officially eliminated from the country 26 years ago seen such a resurgence? So far this year, over four thousand eighty cases have already been reported in America. This is close to double the number of cases last year. While this outbreak has affected almost all states, Pennsylvania tops the list with more than eleven hundred cases. The other states with over 500 confirmed cases are South Carolina and Utah. Wisconsin and Ohio have also been quite affected by this outbreak. Last week, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a statewide disaster emergency over a measles outbreak. It has reported at least 108 measles cases until now. https://www.wionews.com/videos/measles-outbreak-6-dead-in-pennsylvania-as-america-faces-its-worst-outbreak-in-decades-1791912913662/embed This order allows registered nurses to order tests for suspected measles, and pharmacists can vaccinate children as young as two years old. Now, this assumes significance, as U.S. has seen the most number of cases in a single year since 1991. According to the U.S. CDC 42% of those infected with measles are aged between five and nineteen. 10% of the patients have been hospitalised. Now, it is worth noting that U.S. would see up to five hundred thousand measles cases on average annually prior to the introduction of measles vaccine in 1963. In a significant public health achievement, U.S. achieved measles elimination status in 2000. This status implies that measles is not spreading within the country, and new cases are found only when someone contracts measles abroad and returns to U.S. Now, the sudden resurgence of measles has been attributed to the falling vaccination coverage among kindergartners. This has reduced from 95.2% in 2019-2020 to 92.4% in 2025-26. This is vital as herd immunity against measles requires about 95% of a population to be vaccinated. According to authorities, over two hundred thousand children in U.S. are potentially at risk. Now, the measles outbreak cannot be taken lightly as it is one of the most contagious diseases. It spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. The virus can linger on in air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours. According to W.H.O., one person infected by measles can generate up to 18 secondary infections. While vaccination is believed to have prevented an estimated 59 million deaths worldwide from 2000 to 2024, 95,000 people still died from this disease in 2024. According to UNICEF, the fatality risk is far higher in lower income countries. For every 1,000 children who contract measles, 30 to 60 are likely to die. As far as the symptoms of measles are concerned, they usually begin 7 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Some of the early symptoms include fever, cough, red and watery eyes, and white spots inside the cheeks. Most deaths from measles are due to complications related to the disease, such as blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhea and ear infections. Now, as measles cases continue to raise public health concerns, some experts are warning about one of the lesser-known but potentially life-altering complications of this disease—permanent hearing loss.

US would see up to 500,000 measles cases on average annually prior to the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963. In a significant achievement, US achieved measles elimination status in 2000, which implies that new cases are found only when someone contracts measles abroad and returns.

Measles kills again: 6 dead in Pennsylvania as America faces its worst outbreak in decades | Gravitas

Facing growing pressure ahead of the midterm polls, U.S. President Donald Trump's frustration is growing. After striking a diesel deal with Russia, he called for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's ouster.Thereafter, he announced an energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.&nbsp;However, Zelensky claimed that Russia doesn't want to accept an energy ceasefire, accusing it of attacking six Ukrainian energy sites on Monday.&nbsp;In the latest from the battlefield, at least 22 persons, including two children, were injured in Russia's drone strikes on Kharkiv.&nbsp;The strikes destroyed the upper floors of a nine-storey residential building and sparked a fire.&nbsp;A sports complex and a 12-storey residential building were also reportedly targeted in the strikes.&nbsp;Ukraine's air force claimed to have shot down 89 out of 121 Russian drones fired overnight.&nbsp;Also, a 13-year-old girl was killed in a Russian strike in the city of Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine.&nbsp;Local authorities also released footage of an alleged Russian strike on a street in Kharkiv, which reportedly killed three people and wounded twenty others.&nbsp;Taking a veiled swipe at Trump in the wake of these attacks, Zelensky stressed that an energy ceasefire and other steps to reduce escalation are needed in reality and not just on Truth Social.&nbsp;To buttress his point, he accused Russia of striking a power plant in Kharkiv immediately after Trump's ceasefire announcement.&nbsp;The Ukrainian president also alleged that Russia carried out over 200 strikes on his country's electricity generation and transmission facilities in the last week, killing more than 150 people and wounding over 700 others.&nbsp;Zelensky agreed to refrain from striking Russian energy infrastructure only if Moscow does the same.&nbsp;As part of the diesel deal, Trump claimed that Russia will immediately supply over three hundred thousand tonnes of diesel fuel to the U.S. as well as the global marketplace.&nbsp;He added that Moscow would then supply five hundred thousand tonnes of diesel in November, followed by one million more after that.&nbsp;This drew a strong rebuke from Canada.&nbsp;During his conversation with Zelensky, Canadian PM Mark Carney emphasised that this agreement does not align with efforts to foster peace in Europe.&nbsp;He said, "It will provide additional revenue for Russia and help finance its illegal, unjustifiable war against Ukraine."&nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron also made light of Trump's ceasefire announcement.&nbsp;While expressing willingness to work in a coordinated manner to lower fuel prices, he warned against yielding to Russia's threats.&nbsp;Macron also emphasised the importance of facilitating transit of energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the European Union has upped the ante against Russia.&nbsp;In its single-biggest listing of sanctions since the beginning of the Ukraine war in 2022, the EU imposed sanctions on almost 1,600 Russians and companies linked to the country's arms industry.&nbsp;Disagreeing with the diesel deal, the bloc's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas ruled out easing pressure on Russia.&nbsp;Similarly, Polish PM Donald Tusk threw his weight behind Zelensky.&nbsp;Maintaining that Ukraine will not be intimidated, he urged Europe to seriously consider stepping up sanctions against Russia.&nbsp;Other countries, including Germany, Estonia and Lithuania, also expressed solidarity with Ukraine.&nbsp;Despite overwhelming criticism from Europe, the U.S. continued to justify its diesel deal.&nbsp;U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent maintained that this agreement is good for American people, as it will help bring fuel prices down.&nbsp;This is not all.&nbsp;Opposition to Trump is growing from within America.&nbsp;A group of four Republicans and three Democrats in the U.S. Senate, including Republican Senator Susan Collins, urged the U.S. president to reverse course on the diesel deal with Russia....&nbsp;Even Mike Pompeo, who served as the U.S. Secretary of State during Trump's first presidency, called it a tactical mistake.&nbsp;Now, while Russia said that discussions were ongoing regarding a possible energy ceasefire, it declined to comment on the specifics.&nbsp;Additionally, it rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Zelensky to allow Ukraine to hold a presidential election.&nbsp;While saying that Putin is ready to halt the strikes only on election day, the Kremlin expressed a preference for an overall peace deal.&nbsp;With the growing rift between the U.S. and its allies and Trump's bonhomie with Putin, an early cessation of hostilities in Ukraine seems quite unlikely.

As part of the diesel deal, Donald Trump claimed that Russia will immediately supply over 300,000 tonnes of diesel fuel to the U.S. as well as the global marketplace. He added that Moscow would then supply 500,000 tonnes of diesel in November, followed by one million more after that.

Facing growing pressure ahead of the midterm polls, U.S. President Donald Trump's frustration is growing. After striking a diesel deal with Russia, he called for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's ouster. Thereafter, he announced an energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. However, Zelensky claimed that Russia doesn't want to accept an energy ceasefire, accusing it of attacking six Ukrainian energy sites on Monday. In the latest from the battlefield, at least 22 persons, including two children, were injured in Russia's drone strikes on Kharkiv. The strikes destroyed the upper floors of a nine-storey residential building and sparked a fire. A sports complex and a 12-storey residential building were also reportedly targeted in the strikes. Ukraine's air force claimed to have shot down 89 out of 121 Russian drones fired overnight. Also, a 13-year-old girl was killed in a Russian strike in the city of Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine. Local authorities also released footage of an alleged Russian strike on a street in Kharkiv, which reportedly killed three people and wounded twenty others. Taking a veiled swipe at Trump in the wake of these attacks, Zelensky stressed that an energy ceasefire and other steps to reduce escalation are needed in reality and not just on Truth Social. To buttress his point, he accused Russia of striking a power plant in Kharkiv immediately after Trump's ceasefire announcement. The Ukrainian president also alleged that Russia carried out over 200 strikes on his country's electricity generation and transmission facilities in the last week, killing more than 150 people and wounding over 700 others. Zelensky agreed to refrain from striking Russian energy infrastructure only if Moscow does the same. As part of the diesel deal, Trump claimed that Russia will immediately supply over three hundred thousand tonnes of diesel fuel to the U.S. as well as the global marketplace. He added that Moscow would then supply five hundred thousand tonnes of diesel in November, followed by one million more after that. This drew a strong rebuke from Canada. During his conversation with Zelensky, Canadian PM Mark Carney emphasised that this agreement does not align with efforts to foster peace in Europe. He said, "It will provide additional revenue for Russia and help finance its illegal, unjustifiable war against Ukraine." French President Emmanuel Macron also made light of Trump's ceasefire announcement. While expressing willingness to work in a coordinated manner to lower fuel prices, he warned against yielding to Russia's threats. Macron also emphasised the importance of facilitating transit of energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea. Meanwhile, the European Union has upped the ante against Russia. In its single-biggest listing of sanctions since the beginning of the Ukraine war in 2022, the EU imposed sanctions on almost 1,600 Russians and companies linked to the country's arms industry. Disagreeing with the diesel deal, the bloc's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas ruled out easing pressure on Russia. Similarly, Polish PM Donald Tusk threw his weight behind Zelensky. Maintaining that Ukraine will not be intimidated, he urged Europe to seriously consider stepping up sanctions against Russia. Other countries, including Germany, Estonia and Lithuania, also expressed solidarity with Ukraine. Despite overwhelming criticism from Europe, the U.S. continued to justify its diesel deal. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent maintained that this agreement is good for American people, as it will help bring fuel prices down. This is not all. Opposition to Trump is growing from within America. A group of four Republicans and three Democrats in the U.S. Senate, including Republican Senator Susan Collins, urged the U.S. president to reverse course on the diesel deal with Russia.... Even Mike Pompeo, who served as the U.S. Secretary of State during Trump's first presidency, called it a tactical mistake. Now, while Russia said that discussions were ongoing regarding a possible energy ceasefire, it declined to comment on the specifics. Additionally, it rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Zelensky to allow Ukraine to hold a presidential election. While saying that Putin is ready to halt the strikes only on election day, the Kremlin expressed a preference for an overall peace deal. With the growing rift between the U.S. and its allies and Trump's bonhomie with Putin, an early cessation of hostilities in Ukraine seems quite unlikely.

As part of the diesel deal, Donald Trump claimed that Russia will immediately supply over 300,000 tonnes of diesel fuel to the U.S. as well as the global marketplace. He added that Moscow would then supply 500,000 tonnes of diesel in November, followed by one million more after that.

Putin splits Western alliance against Russia over diesel deal with Trump | Gravitas

For decades, Pakistan and China have been illegally occupying Indian territory.Reigniting tensions with India further, both nations activated a long-pending joint mechanism for managing their de facto border.This comes even as both countries officially don't share a border.Let's jog your memory back to 1963.Back then, Pakistan and China signed a so-called boundary agreement.Under this pact, Pakistan illegally ceded five thousand one hundred and eighty square kilometres of Shaksgam Valley to China.50 years later, both sides signed an agreement on a boundary management system for managing the already demarcated boundary.Last month, the Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission was formally operationalised.The first meeting of this commission was held in Islamabad.According to Pakistan, it set the stage for enhanced cooperation in border management, joint border surveys, trade flows and people-to-people connectivity.Now, India categorically rejected the legality of this commission and stressed that the 1963 Pakistan-China pact in itself is illegal and invalid.The Ministry of External Affairs added, and I am quoting it, "Any so-called boundary cooperation between China and Pakistan concerning Indian territories would be completely unacceptable and would have no bearing whatsoever on India's sovereignty over these territories".India also called upon Pakistan to immediately vacate Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.Now, the significance of Shaksgam Valley cannot be understated.It is situated in a sensitive area bordering China's Xinjiang province.It lies to the north of the Karakoram Range and was illegally occupied by Pakistan after independence.But on the whole, what is the purpose of this new boundary commission formed by Pakistan and China?Retired Major General Sudhakar Jee decoded this while speaking to WION.He said, "So by going in for this particular commission, both the countries, apart from the trade flows, are going to facilitate border activities, exchange of police, information, and intelligence. Also, this will facilitate and enable China to mobilise its People's Liberation Army through this pass into Pakistan-occupied Jammu &amp; Kashmir."According to this senior defence expert, the danger is clear, as China has already infiltrated thousands of soldiers into the illegally occupied territory of Gilgit-Baltistan.He advocated a multi-pronged approach, including raising the matter at international forums.The geopolitical expert urged India to not only highlight how the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor passes through illegally occupied territory, but also to negotiate directly with China to reclaim the strategic Shaksgam Valley.&nbsp;

China and Pakistan activated the Boundary Joint Commission- a long-pending joint mechanism for managing their de facto border. This drew India's ire, which rejected this commission and called upon Pakistan to immediately vacate areas under its illegal and forcible occupation. 

For decades, Pakistan and China have been illegally occupying Indian territory. Reigniting tensions with India further, both nations activated a long-pending joint mechanism for managing their de facto border. This comes even as both countries officially don't share a border. Let's jog your memory back to 1963. Back then, Pakistan and China signed a so-called boundary agreement. Under this pact, Pakistan illegally ceded five thousand one hundred and eighty square kilometres of Shaksgam Valley to China. 50 years later, both sides signed an agreement on a boundary management system for managing the already demarcated boundary. Last month, the Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission was formally operationalised. The first meeting of this commission was held in Islamabad. According to Pakistan, it set the stage for enhanced cooperation in border management, joint border surveys, trade flows and people-to-people connectivity. Now, India categorically rejected the legality of this commission and stressed that the 1963 Pakistan-China pact in itself is illegal and invalid. The Ministry of External Affairs added, and I am quoting it, "Any so-called boundary cooperation between China and Pakistan concerning Indian territories would be completely unacceptable and would have no bearing whatsoever on India's sovereignty over these territories". India also called upon Pakistan to immediately vacate Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Now, the significance of Shaksgam Valley cannot be understated. It is situated in a sensitive area bordering China's Xinjiang province. It lies to the north of the Karakoram Range and was illegally occupied by Pakistan after independence. But on the whole, what is the purpose of this new boundary commission formed by Pakistan and China? Retired Major General Sudhakar Jee decoded this while speaking to WION. He said, "So by going in for this particular commission, both the countries, apart from the trade flows, are going to facilitate border activities, exchange of police, information, and intelligence. Also, this will facilitate and enable China to mobilise its People's Liberation Army through this pass into Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir." According to this senior defence expert, the danger is clear, as China has already infiltrated thousands of soldiers into the illegally occupied territory of Gilgit-Baltistan. He advocated a multi-pronged approach, including raising the matter at international forums. The geopolitical expert urged India to not only highlight how the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor passes through illegally occupied territory, but also to negotiate directly with China to reclaim the strategic Shaksgam Valley.

China and Pakistan activated the Boundary Joint Commission- a long-pending joint mechanism for managing their de facto border. This drew India's ire, which rejected this commission and called upon Pakistan to immediately vacate areas under its illegal and forcible occupation.&nbsp;

India Rejects Pakistan-China Boundary Commission, Tells Islamabad to Drop 'Theatrics' | GRAVITAS

24-year-old Sri Lankan Anojan Sivarasa embarked on his career barely a year ago, as he moved to Saudi Arabia to work as a technical engineer at a battery factory.In a shocking turn of events, he now faces execution for posting an alleged blasphemous comment on Facebook.The case has sent shockwaves across Sri Lanka and sparked widespread concern, with multiple political parties, civil society groups and religious leaders seeking clemency for the young Hindu man.Let's break this down further for you.His ordeal started in June with a viral video showing a Muslim man kicking a stray dog accompanying Hindu pilgrims. This sparked a debate online.After a user allegedly posted derogatory remarks about a Hindu deity, Anojan posted a response in Tamil, which was deemed insulting to Prophet Mohammed.While he subsequently deleted the comment and even posted a video apology expressing remorse, some users took a screenshot of his comment and sent it to his employers.After being arrested in July, he was prosecuted within weeks and sentenced to five years in jail and fined eight hundred thousand US dollars under the country's cybercrime law.However, the prosecutors filed an appeal, seeking Anojan to be tried under Sharia law.Less than two months later, he was sentenced to death.While Saudi officials are yet to announce a timeline for his execution, his parents have not received any update about their son since September 28.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/24-year-old-sri-lankan-man-sentenced-to-death-for-blasphemy-in-saudi-1791479159383/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/24-year-old-sri-lankan-man-sentenced-to-death-for-blasphemy-in-saudi-1791479159383/embed</a>On its part, the Sri Lankan government has reportedly assured his family that it would leave no stone unturned to obtain a pardon for Anojan.The country's Foreign Minister Vijetha Herath revealed that a parliamentary delegation would soon travel to Riyadh, with a clemency appeal from the president himself.At the same time, Sri Lankan officials are also working with two legal teams in Saudi Arabia to overturn the death penalty.Additionally, six minority lawmakers have written to the Saudi foreign minister, seeking clemency for the 24-year-old man.Now, Amnesty International has also taken up this matter.It urged Saudi Arabia's government to overturn Anojan's death penalty and immediately release him, citing his right to freedom of expression.The organisation said, and I am quoting it, "Saudi authorities should immediately establish a moratorium on the use of the death penalty, as a first move towards its full abolition."Now, this case also assumes significance in the wake of Saudi Arabia's human rights record.According to Amnesty International, Saudi Arabia is the third-highest executioner after China and Iran.Last year alone, it carried out a record 356 executions.Until July 2026, at least 175 more people have been put to death. This includes 94 foreign nationals from over twenty countries.This raises a larger question.Can a mere social media post justify a punishment as drastic as the death penalty?With his parents pleading for mercy, all eyes are now on Saudi Arabia's next course of action.

After being arrested in July, he was prosecuted within weeks and sentenced to five years in jail and fined eight hundred thousand US dollars under the country's cybercrime law.

24-year-old Sri Lankan Anojan Sivarasa embarked on his career barely a year ago, as he moved to Saudi Arabia to work as a technical engineer at a battery factory. In a shocking turn of events, he now faces execution for posting an alleged blasphemous comment on Facebook. The case has sent shockwaves across Sri Lanka and sparked widespread concern, with multiple political parties, civil society groups and religious leaders seeking clemency for the young Hindu man. Let's break this down further for you. His ordeal started in June with a viral video showing a Muslim man kicking a stray dog accompanying Hindu pilgrims. This sparked a debate online. After a user allegedly posted derogatory remarks about a Hindu deity, Anojan posted a response in Tamil, which was deemed insulting to Prophet Mohammed. While he subsequently deleted the comment and even posted a video apology expressing remorse, some users took a screenshot of his comment and sent it to his employers. After being arrested in July, he was prosecuted within weeks and sentenced to five years in jail and fined eight hundred thousand US dollars under the country's cybercrime law. However, the prosecutors filed an appeal, seeking Anojan to be tried under Sharia law. Less than two months later, he was sentenced to death. While Saudi officials are yet to announce a timeline for his execution, his parents have not received any update about their son since September 28. https://www.wionews.com/videos/24-year-old-sri-lankan-man-sentenced-to-death-for-blasphemy-in-saudi-1791479159383/embed On its part, the Sri Lankan government has reportedly assured his family that it would leave no stone unturned to obtain a pardon for Anojan. The country's Foreign Minister Vijetha Herath revealed that a parliamentary delegation would soon travel to Riyadh, with a clemency appeal from the president himself. At the same time, Sri Lankan officials are also working with two legal teams in Saudi Arabia to overturn the death penalty. Additionally, six minority lawmakers have written to the Saudi foreign minister, seeking clemency for the 24-year-old man. Now, Amnesty International has also taken up this matter. It urged Saudi Arabia's government to overturn Anojan's death penalty and immediately release him, citing his right to freedom of expression. The organisation said, and I am quoting it, "Saudi authorities should immediately establish a moratorium on the use of the death penalty, as a first move towards its full abolition." Now, this case also assumes significance in the wake of Saudi Arabia's human rights record. According to Amnesty International, Saudi Arabia is the third-highest executioner after China and Iran. Last year alone, it carried out a record 356 executions. Until July 2026, at least 175 more people have been put to death. This includes 94 foreign nationals from over twenty countries. This raises a larger question. Can a mere social media post justify a punishment as drastic as the death penalty? With his parents pleading for mercy, all eyes are now on Saudi Arabia's next course of action.

After being arrested in July, he was prosecuted within weeks and sentenced to five years in jail and fined eight hundred thousand US dollars under the country's cybercrime law.

24-year-old Sri Lankan man sentenced to death for blasphemy in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia continues to reel under the Houthi offensive, which is escalating by the day.&nbsp;Tensions flared up yet again as this Iran-backed group launched ballistic missile strikes on two key Saudi airports.&nbsp;Now, Air India has cancelled flights to and from Riyadh until October 10.&nbsp;The Indian embassy has urged all Indians in Saudi to remain alert and vigilant.&nbsp;Earlier, blasts were heard across Riyadh.&nbsp;&nbsp;Diplomats stationed in the Saudi capital took shelter in safe places inside their respective embassies.&nbsp;Saudi Arabia claimed to have intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired at Riyadh by Houthis.&nbsp;However, a kindergarten and medical complex in Riyadh were damaged due to the shrapnel from an intercepted missile.&nbsp;According to the country's civil aviation authority, Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport and the Abha International Airport were hit by strikes.&nbsp;While a Sudanese national was killed at the Riyadh airport, an Egyptian and Algerian national lost their lives at the Abha airport.&nbsp;Overall, 36 people were wounded in these attacks.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/houthis-mount-fresh-ballistic-missile-attack-on-riyadh-as-3-killed-in-airport-strikes-1791479162267/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/houthis-mount-fresh-ballistic-missile-attack-on-riyadh-as-3-killed-in-airport-strikes-1791479162267/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Subsequently, the Houthis warned all airlines worldwide about the consequences of continuing their flights in Saudi airspace.&nbsp;This triggered condemnation from across the world.&nbsp;Condemning the strikes on the airports and expressing solidarity with the people of Saudi Arabia, India's ministry of external affairs said, "The targeting of civilian infrastructure is completely unacceptable."&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Houthis released footage of what it claimed was its fighters advancing towards Yemeni troops in the districts of Taiz province.&nbsp;Visuals showed Houthi fighters chanting slogans and opening fire on Yemeni forces.&nbsp;In a show of strength, armed Houthi supporters staged a rally in Yemen's capital.&nbsp;They also commemorated the third anniversary of the October 7 terror attack.&nbsp;Intensifying its counter-offensive operation, the Yemeni government claimed to have pushed Houthis out of strategic areas along the Red Sea, and the port city of Mocha.&nbsp;But the Iran-backed group insisted that it has not lost any territory.&nbsp;In a big retalation for the airport strikes, the Saudi-backed forces said that they destroyed 82 Houthi military targets across at least four provinces of Yemen, including Hodeidah and Marib.&nbsp;The targets reportedly included mountain-based missile storage sites, command and control centres, communication systems and Houthi gathering sites.&nbsp;But Houthis claimed that civilian sites were targeted.&nbsp;According to the Iran-backed group, Saudis have conducted close to eighteen hundred air strikes since the current escalation started.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the credibility of the Mecca Pact was drawn into question yet again.&nbsp;Turkiye has now ruled out sending its troops to fight the Houthis, and added that the Mecca Pact was yet to be ratified by the country's parliament.&nbsp;On the other hand, the Pakistani military spokesman confirmed the deployment of his country's forces to Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;He revealed that Pakistani soldiers were discharging duties in Saudi in multiple capabilities and domains.&nbsp;Now, the divide within this trilateral bloc assumes significance, as Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al Houthi urged Turkiye and Pakistan to stay out of Saudi Arabia's military campaign in Yemen.&nbsp;Amid this, Taiz is facing mounting pressure as, Houthis have seized control of areas along the main road linking the city to Aden.&nbsp;This has impacted the availability of food, fuel and basic necessities with more than two hundred thousand people displaced in Yemen since July.&nbsp;People are paying a huge cost as Saudi Arabia and Houthis escalate their war.

Saudi Arabia claimed to have intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired at Riyadh. However, a kindergarten and medical complex in Riyadh were damaged due to the shrapnel of intercepted missile. Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport and Abha International Airport were struck.

Saudi Arabia continues to reel under the Houthi offensive, which is escalating by the day. Tensions flared up yet again as this Iran-backed group launched ballistic missile strikes on two key Saudi airports. Now, Air India has cancelled flights to and from Riyadh until October 10. The Indian embassy has urged all Indians in Saudi to remain alert and vigilant. Earlier, blasts were heard across Riyadh. Diplomats stationed in the Saudi capital took shelter in safe places inside their respective embassies. Saudi Arabia claimed to have intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired at Riyadh by Houthis. However, a kindergarten and medical complex in Riyadh were damaged due to the shrapnel from an intercepted missile. According to the country's civil aviation authority, Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport and the Abha International Airport were hit by strikes. While a Sudanese national was killed at the Riyadh airport, an Egyptian and Algerian national lost their lives at the Abha airport. Overall, 36 people were wounded in these attacks. https://www.wionews.com/videos/houthis-mount-fresh-ballistic-missile-attack-on-riyadh-as-3-killed-in-airport-strikes-1791479162267/embed Subsequently, the Houthis warned all airlines worldwide about the consequences of continuing their flights in Saudi airspace. This triggered condemnation from across the world. Condemning the strikes on the airports and expressing solidarity with the people of Saudi Arabia, India's ministry of external affairs said, "The targeting of civilian infrastructure is completely unacceptable." Meanwhile, Houthis released footage of what it claimed was its fighters advancing towards Yemeni troops in the districts of Taiz province. Visuals showed Houthi fighters chanting slogans and opening fire on Yemeni forces. In a show of strength, armed Houthi supporters staged a rally in Yemen's capital. They also commemorated the third anniversary of the October 7 terror attack. Intensifying its counter-offensive operation, the Yemeni government claimed to have pushed Houthis out of strategic areas along the Red Sea, and the port city of Mocha. But the Iran-backed group insisted that it has not lost any territory. In a big retalation for the airport strikes, the Saudi-backed forces said that they destroyed 82 Houthi military targets across at least four provinces of Yemen, including Hodeidah and Marib. The targets reportedly included mountain-based missile storage sites, command and control centres, communication systems and Houthi gathering sites. But Houthis claimed that civilian sites were targeted. According to the Iran-backed group, Saudis have conducted close to eighteen hundred air strikes since the current escalation started. Meanwhile, the credibility of the Mecca Pact was drawn into question yet again. Turkiye has now ruled out sending its troops to fight the Houthis, and added that the Mecca Pact was yet to be ratified by the country's parliament. On the other hand, the Pakistani military spokesman confirmed the deployment of his country's forces to Saudi Arabia. He revealed that Pakistani soldiers were discharging duties in Saudi in multiple capabilities and domains. Now, the divide within this trilateral bloc assumes significance, as Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al Houthi urged Turkiye and Pakistan to stay out of Saudi Arabia's military campaign in Yemen. Amid this, Taiz is facing mounting pressure as, Houthis have seized control of areas along the main road linking the city to Aden. This has impacted the availability of food, fuel and basic necessities with more than two hundred thousand people displaced in Yemen since July. People are paying a huge cost as Saudi Arabia and Houthis escalate their war.

Saudi Arabia claimed to have intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired at Riyadh. However, a kindergarten and medical complex in Riyadh were damaged due to the shrapnel of intercepted missile. Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport and Abha International Airport were struck.

Houthis mount fresh ballistic missile attack on Riyadh as 3 killed in airport strikes | Gravitas

As Russia escalates its attacks on Ukraine, fears are growing over the expanding scope of the war.The EU is now reportedly preparing for a Russian hybrid attack on European soil that may cause large-scale casualties.Meanwhile, Russia has warned its neighbour Lithuania against deploying nuclear weapons on its soil.According to Politico, diplomats from 27 member countries have held closed-door discussions in recent weeks over how the bloc should respond to a possible major Russian hybrid attack.The talks reportedly focused on deploying emergency response teams, EU funding to help the affected country and crisis communications.Now, EU's concern comes amid a string of suspected sabotage, drone and arson incidents.On August 4, for instance, a drone carrying an explosive device was discovered close to Ukrainian cargo planes at the Leipzig airport in eastern Germany.According to Germany, which blamed Russia for this attempted drone attack, the device failed to explode as the detonator was apparently faulty.This was followed by an arson attack on a building in Estonia on August 15.This premises was used by a company, which manufactured and supplied drones to Ukraine.Subsequently, Estonia claimed that this attack was commissioned by Russia's secret services.Meanwhile, Polish authorities hinted that the fire at a Starlink satellite station in central Poland in September was an act of sabotage aimed at disrupting internet access for the Ukrainian army.Two weeks ago, Swedish and Finnish fighter jets were scrambled over the Gulf of Finland after Russian military aircraft were detected flying in international airspace.During the course of the war, Moldova has seen repeated drone incursions.For instance, during Russia's attack on Ukraine, Russian missiles and drones violated the country's airspace and exploded on its territory.On its part though, Russia has dismissed allegations of hybrid warfare.Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stressed that his country poses no threat to Europe or NATO.However, he has warned of using all weapons in its arsenal, including nuclear ones, if its territory of Kaliningrad is attacked.During her State of the European Union speech last month, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen had pitched an emergency security protocol to help member states coordinate in exactly this kind of a scenario being discussed.This, along with the potential creation of a European security council, is likely to feature in a 'European security strategy' document due in November.Currently, Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union serves as the bloc's mutual defence clause.It requires member states to provide aid and assistance by all means if another member state is the victim of armed aggression.Now, amid the growing tensions, Lithuania's parliament voted to advance a constitutional amendment removing a ban on weapons of mass destruction.Earlier, US President Donald Trump hinted at building a permanent US military base in Lithuania.This drew a furious reaction from Russia.In another key development, Sweden has decided to deploy Patriot air defence systems and about a hundred troops to Poland.This is aimed at protecting a vital airport, which serves as the main logistics hub for military aid deliveries to Ukraine.

The EU is reportedly preparing for a major Russian hybrid attack as sabotage, drone incidents and tensions with Russia raise fears of wider war.

As Russia escalates its attacks on Ukraine, fears are growing over the expanding scope of the war. The EU is now reportedly preparing for a Russian hybrid attack on European soil that may cause large-scale casualties. Meanwhile, Russia has warned its neighbour Lithuania against deploying nuclear weapons on its soil. According to Politico, diplomats from 27 member countries have held closed-door discussions in recent weeks over how the bloc should respond to a possible major Russian hybrid attack. The talks reportedly focused on deploying emergency response teams, EU funding to help the affected country and crisis communications. Now, EU's concern comes amid a string of suspected sabotage, drone and arson incidents. On August 4, for instance, a drone carrying an explosive device was discovered close to Ukrainian cargo planes at the Leipzig airport in eastern Germany. According to Germany, which blamed Russia for this attempted drone attack, the device failed to explode as the detonator was apparently faulty. This was followed by an arson attack on a building in Estonia on August 15. This premises was used by a company, which manufactured and supplied drones to Ukraine. Subsequently, Estonia claimed that this attack was commissioned by Russia's secret services. Meanwhile, Polish authorities hinted that the fire at a Starlink satellite station in central Poland in September was an act of sabotage aimed at disrupting internet access for the Ukrainian army. Two weeks ago, Swedish and Finnish fighter jets were scrambled over the Gulf of Finland after Russian military aircraft were detected flying in international airspace. During the course of the war, Moldova has seen repeated drone incursions. For instance, during Russia's attack on Ukraine, Russian missiles and drones violated the country's airspace and exploded on its territory. On its part though, Russia has dismissed allegations of hybrid warfare. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stressed that his country poses no threat to Europe or NATO. However, he has warned of using all weapons in its arsenal, including nuclear ones, if its territory of Kaliningrad is attacked. During her State of the European Union speech last month, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen had pitched an emergency security protocol to help member states coordinate in exactly this kind of a scenario being discussed. This, along with the potential creation of a European security council, is likely to feature in a 'European security strategy' document due in November. Currently, Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union serves as the bloc's mutual defence clause. It requires member states to provide aid and assistance by all means if another member state is the victim of armed aggression. Now, amid the growing tensions, Lithuania's parliament voted to advance a constitutional amendment removing a ban on weapons of mass destruction. Earlier, US President Donald Trump hinted at building a permanent US military base in Lithuania. This drew a furious reaction from Russia. In another key development, Sweden has decided to deploy Patriot air defence systems and about a hundred troops to Poland. This is aimed at protecting a vital airport, which serves as the main logistics hub for military aid deliveries to Ukraine.

The EU is reportedly preparing for a major Russian hybrid attack as sabotage, drone incidents and tensions with Russia raise fears of wider war.

Russia warns Lithuania over nuclear weapons, Europe braces for massive hybrid attack | Gravitas

As the war in Iran drags on, America's military continues to pay a heavy cost.&nbsp;Whether it is its bases in West Asia, which have suffered damage running into billions of dollars, or warships, U.S. has borne the brunt of Iran's retaliation.&nbsp;A new report has now thrown more light on the extent of U.S. combat aircraft losses.&nbsp;According to the U.S. Congressional Research Service, at least 81 American aircraft, drones and helicopters have been damaged or destroyed since the beginning of the war against Iran in February.&nbsp;This tally is based on U.S. military statements as well as findings by the inspector general of the U.S. Department of War.&nbsp;The cost of replacing damaged equipment has been pegged at up to 3.3 billion U.S. dollars.&nbsp;U.S. has already lost at least 45 MQ-9 reaper drones, which account for 25% of its overall fleet.&nbsp;According to the report, three F-15 fighter jets were destroyed by friendly fire over Kuwait in March.&nbsp;A month later, Centcom reported that one more F-15 jet was destroyed over Iran.&nbsp;Last month, eight of these jets sustained light damage in an Iranian strike on Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti air base, but they returned to service subsequently.&nbsp;In mid-March, one KC-135 fuelling plane went down over Iraq, resulting in the death of all six crew members.&nbsp;Besides this, five more Stratotankers were reportedly damaged in an Iranian missile strike on Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan air base.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-bleeds-american-military-81-aircraft-lost-ships-hit-bombers-pulled-gravitas-1791392761464/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-bleeds-american-military-81-aircraft-lost-ships-hit-bombers-pulled-gravitas-1791392761464/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;The report also claimed that U.S. had intentionally destroyed four AH-6 Little Bird helicopters during a mission to evacuate a stranded U.S. airman.&nbsp;During the same mission, two MC-130J Commando II Special Operations Aircraft were destroyed.&nbsp;While Iran has claimed to have struck F-35 Lightning jets on multiple occasions, the report flagged that one such aircraft was struck by Iranian ground fire in March.&nbsp;This is not all.&nbsp;In another blow for U.S., Iran also claimed the downing of an E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system aircraft, which can track drones, missiles and aircraft from hundreds of kilometres away.&nbsp;One Jolly Green II search-and-rescue helicopter also sustained damage during the Iran war.&nbsp;Iran has also claimed to have destroyed multiple THAAD and Patriot air defence systems at U.S. bases.&nbsp;Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that the war would be wrapped up soon, either the nice way or the not-so nice way.&nbsp;Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed that a deal would be acceptable to America only if it ensures that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.&nbsp;He also reiterated America's claim that Iran has lost control of the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;U.S. Vice President JD Vance went one step further.&nbsp;He said that Washington will require a meaningful reduction in Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity before any agreement is reached.&nbsp;He said, "If you don't want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60 per cent enriched fuel?"&nbsp;Earlier, U.S. pulled out all its 12 B-1 Air Force bombers from UK's RAF Fairford base.&nbsp;While Trump attributed this move to threats, reports suggest that U.S. specifically feared an Iranian attack aiming to kill many American troops and destroy planes.&nbsp;Meanwhile, a 22-year-old British national was arrested in connection with a terror plot pertaining to this base.&nbsp;While it is the seventh arrest in this case, all other suspects have been released on bail.&nbsp;Iran though has denied involvement in this matter.

U.S. has already lost at least 45 MQ-9 reaper drones, which account for 25% of its overall fleet. The report says three F-15 fighter jets were destroyed by friendly fire over Kuwait in March. A month later, Centcom reported that one more F-15 jet was destroyed over Iran.

As the war in Iran drags on, America's military continues to pay a heavy cost. Whether it is its bases in West Asia, which have suffered damage running into billions of dollars, or warships, U.S. has borne the brunt of Iran's retaliation. A new report has now thrown more light on the extent of U.S. combat aircraft losses. According to the U.S. Congressional Research Service, at least 81 American aircraft, drones and helicopters have been damaged or destroyed since the beginning of the war against Iran in February. This tally is based on U.S. military statements as well as findings by the inspector general of the U.S. Department of War. The cost of replacing damaged equipment has been pegged at up to 3.3 billion U.S. dollars. U.S. has already lost at least 45 MQ-9 reaper drones, which account for 25% of its overall fleet. According to the report, three F-15 fighter jets were destroyed by friendly fire over Kuwait in March. A month later, Centcom reported that one more F-15 jet was destroyed over Iran. Last month, eight of these jets sustained light damage in an Iranian strike on Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti air base, but they returned to service subsequently. In mid-March, one KC-135 fuelling plane went down over Iraq, resulting in the death of all six crew members. Besides this, five more Stratotankers were reportedly damaged in an Iranian missile strike on Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan air base. https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-bleeds-american-military-81-aircraft-lost-ships-hit-bombers-pulled-gravitas-1791392761464/embed The report also claimed that U.S. had intentionally destroyed four AH-6 Little Bird helicopters during a mission to evacuate a stranded U.S. airman. During the same mission, two MC-130J Commando II Special Operations Aircraft were destroyed. While Iran has claimed to have struck F-35 Lightning jets on multiple occasions, the report flagged that one such aircraft was struck by Iranian ground fire in March. This is not all. In another blow for U.S., Iran also claimed the downing of an E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system aircraft, which can track drones, missiles and aircraft from hundreds of kilometres away. One Jolly Green II search-and-rescue helicopter also sustained damage during the Iran war. Iran has also claimed to have destroyed multiple THAAD and Patriot air defence systems at U.S. bases. Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that the war would be wrapped up soon, either the nice way or the not-so nice way. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed that a deal would be acceptable to America only if it ensures that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. He also reiterated America's claim that Iran has lost control of the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Vice President JD Vance went one step further. He said that Washington will require a meaningful reduction in Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity before any agreement is reached. He said, "If you don't want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60 per cent enriched fuel?" Earlier, U.S. pulled out all its 12 B-1 Air Force bombers from UK's RAF Fairford base. While Trump attributed this move to threats, reports suggest that U.S. specifically feared an Iranian attack aiming to kill many American troops and destroy planes. Meanwhile, a 22-year-old British national was arrested in connection with a terror plot pertaining to this base. While it is the seventh arrest in this case, all other suspects have been released on bail. Iran though has denied involvement in this matter.

U.S. has already lost at least 45 MQ-9 reaper drones, which account for 25% of its overall fleet. The report says three F-15 fighter jets were destroyed by friendly fire over Kuwait in March. A month later, Centcom reported that one more F-15 jet was destroyed over Iran.

Iran bleeds American military: 81 aircraft lost, ships hit & bombers pulled | Gravitas

Stepping up its fight against revenge porn, the British government is now drawing up plans for a 'kill switch' to remove intimate images and videos immediately after they are flagged, as opposed to the current 48-hour window given to tech companies.&nbsp;Now, revenge porn refers to the non-consensual sharing of private sexual material of another person.&nbsp;The perpetrator in such cases often tends to be a former or current intimate partner, who aims to cause embarrassment or distress to the victim.&nbsp;The material in question may involve photos as well as videos.&nbsp;According to reports, ministers, including Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy are also exploring usage of artificial intelligence to stop such material from being reposted across multiple social media platforms.&nbsp;Now, this move comes amid a demand from UK television personality Georgia Harrison who had called for a kill switch after becoming a victim of revenge porn.&nbsp;But, what are the current legal provisions in this regard?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-plans-kill-switch-to-wipe-revenge-porn-off-the-internet-1791308158818/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-plans-kill-switch-to-wipe-revenge-porn-off-the-internet-1791308158818/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;According to UK's Crime and Policing Act 2026, a person convicted for sharing non-consensual intimate images and videos can face a jail term of three years and with fine.&nbsp;Tech firms are mandated to take down revenge porn within 48 hours of a formal request from the authorities.&nbsp;If they fail to do so, their services can be blocked in UK and can also attract fines of up to ten percent of their worldwide revenue.&nbsp;In recent years, multiple countries have enacted legislation to deal with this growing menace.&nbsp;For instance, the 'Take It Down Act' was passed in U.S. last year with overwhelming bipartisan congressional support.&nbsp;Posting non-consensual intimate imagery online was made a federal offence, attracting a three-year jail sentence.&nbsp;The legislation also mandated platforms to remove such material within 48 hours.

Tech firms are mandated to take down revenge porn within 48 hours of a formal request from the authorities. If they fail to do so, their services can be blocked in the UK and can also attract fines of up to ten per cent of their worldwide revenue. 

Stepping up its fight against revenge porn, the British government is now drawing up plans for a 'kill switch' to remove intimate images and videos immediately after they are flagged, as opposed to the current 48-hour window given to tech companies. Now, revenge porn refers to the non-consensual sharing of private sexual material of another person. The perpetrator in such cases often tends to be a former or current intimate partner, who aims to cause embarrassment or distress to the victim. The material in question may involve photos as well as videos. According to reports, ministers, including Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy are also exploring usage of artificial intelligence to stop such material from being reposted across multiple social media platforms. Now, this move comes amid a demand from UK television personality Georgia Harrison who had called for a kill switch after becoming a victim of revenge porn. But, what are the current legal provisions in this regard? https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-plans-kill-switch-to-wipe-revenge-porn-off-the-internet-1791308158818/embed According to UK's Crime and Policing Act 2026, a person convicted for sharing non-consensual intimate images and videos can face a jail term of three years and with fine. Tech firms are mandated to take down revenge porn within 48 hours of a formal request from the authorities. If they fail to do so, their services can be blocked in UK and can also attract fines of up to ten percent of their worldwide revenue. In recent years, multiple countries have enacted legislation to deal with this growing menace. For instance, the 'Take It Down Act' was passed in U.S. last year with overwhelming bipartisan congressional support. Posting non-consensual intimate imagery online was made a federal offence, attracting a three-year jail sentence. The legislation also mandated platforms to remove such material within 48 hours.

Tech firms are mandated to take down revenge porn within 48 hours of a formal request from the authorities. If they fail to do so, their services can be blocked in the UK and can also attract fines of up to ten per cent of their worldwide revenue.&nbsp;

UK plans ‘kill switch’ to wipe revenge porn off internet | Gravitas

In the latest news coming in, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a resolution honouring Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary courage.As the multi-nation probe into the Flydubai hijacking attempt intensifies, Israel's handling of the situation is now under the lens. It has now emerged that Israel was prepared to shoot down the Flydubai jet despite nearly 166 Israeli passengers being on board.On September 30, the flight which started from Dubai to Tel Aviv proceeded normally until it was roughly one hour away from its destination. Suddenly, the plane swiftly lost altitude, plunging nearly 14,000 feet in less than a minute.According to CBS News, the Israeli Air Force tried to contact the cockpit at this juncture, but got no answer. Thereafter, a pre-established committee was activated, and a command centre was established as part of a longstanding protocol.While Israel reportedly scrambled fighter jets and closed its airspace, the bravery of Indian pilot Smit Machchhar helped avert a certain catastrophe.Despite being brutally attacked by his co-pilot Hamam Al-Hammami, he fought back and managed to unlock the cockpit door. Subsequently, a group of Israeli passengers and staff overpowered the co-pilot.Two off-duty pilots who were on the flight managed to gain control of the aircraft and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk.According to CBS News, Israel recalled its jets after the plane turned towards Saudi Arabia, which then scrambled its own jets.If the flight would have continued its designated path, Israeli fighter jets would have reportedly tried to get as close as possible to make visual contact with the pilots to assess the situation.In the scenario that the hijacking was confirmed and no demands were made, the report claimed that the prime minister as well as the defence minister would have held a joint call. At this point, the prime minister could have made the decision to shoot down the aircraft.But what would be the rationale for such a big decision? According to CBS News, shooting down the passenger jet would be preferred as hundreds more could be killed if it crashed into prominent buildings in Israel.This assumes significance as Al-Hammami reportedly told investigators that he planned to crash the plane into Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport or a tower block in the Israeli city.However, is there a global protocol on opening fire at civilian aircraft? Article 3 bis of the 1944 Convention on Civil Aviation has the most clear take on this. It urges nations to refrain from using weapons against civilian aircraft in flight. In case of interception, it stipulates that lives of people onboard must not be endangered.At the same time, this convention does not modify the rights of countries under the UN Charter, which includes the right to self-defence. Thus, individual nations have created their own domestic protocols.According to The New York Times, after the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon in September 2001, the then U.S. President George Bush ordered the downing of any more passenger jets that posed a harm to the country.Military jets even scrambled to intercept the fourth hijacked plane, but it crashed into a field before they could take any action.In wake of security failures on multiple fronts, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a comprehensive review to assess all aspects of aviation security concerning foreign civilian flights to Israel.Now, even as the probe into the attacker co-pilot's alleged radical Islamist indoctrination is underway, U.S. President Donald Trump jumped the gun yet again. He blamed Iran for the attack, even as no connection has been established yet.However, just before Trump's remarks, U.S. Vice President JD Vance had a very different take. He saw no conclusive material linking Iran to the Flydubai attack. At the same time, he revealed that the incident had prompted US to review its security procedures.Listen to his observation...According to reports, Israel is also taking part in the questioning of the attacker co-pilot.Al-Hammami reportedly told the investigators that he had planned the attack before joining Flydubai, in revenge for the war in Gaza.Authorities are also reportedly examining whether Al-Hammami acted alone, or whether he has links to any organisation.&nbsp;

Israel reportedly prepared to intercept and potentially shoot down a Flydubai jet after it plunged 14,000 feet, amid a probe into the hijacking attempt.

In the latest news coming in, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a resolution honouring Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary courage. As the multi-nation probe into the Flydubai hijacking attempt intensifies, Israel's handling of the situation is now under the lens. It has now emerged that Israel was prepared to shoot down the Flydubai jet despite nearly 166 Israeli passengers being on board. On September 30, the flight which started from Dubai to Tel Aviv proceeded normally until it was roughly one hour away from its destination. Suddenly, the plane swiftly lost altitude, plunging nearly 14,000 feet in less than a minute. According to CBS News, the Israeli Air Force tried to contact the cockpit at this juncture, but got no answer. Thereafter, a pre-established committee was activated, and a command centre was established as part of a longstanding protocol. While Israel reportedly scrambled fighter jets and closed its airspace, the bravery of Indian pilot Smit Machchhar helped avert a certain catastrophe. Despite being brutally attacked by his co-pilot Hamam Al-Hammami, he fought back and managed to unlock the cockpit door. Subsequently, a group of Israeli passengers and staff overpowered the co-pilot. Two off-duty pilots who were on the flight managed to gain control of the aircraft and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk. According to CBS News, Israel recalled its jets after the plane turned towards Saudi Arabia, which then scrambled its own jets. If the flight would have continued its designated path, Israeli fighter jets would have reportedly tried to get as close as possible to make visual contact with the pilots to assess the situation. In the scenario that the hijacking was confirmed and no demands were made, the report claimed that the prime minister as well as the defence minister would have held a joint call. At this point, the prime minister could have made the decision to shoot down the aircraft. But what would be the rationale for such a big decision? According to CBS News, shooting down the passenger jet would be preferred as hundreds more could be killed if it crashed into prominent buildings in Israel. This assumes significance as Al-Hammami reportedly told investigators that he planned to crash the plane into Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport or a tower block in the Israeli city. However, is there a global protocol on opening fire at civilian aircraft? Article 3 bis of the 1944 Convention on Civil Aviation has the most clear take on this. It urges nations to refrain from using weapons against civilian aircraft in flight. In case of interception, it stipulates that lives of people onboard must not be endangered. At the same time, this convention does not modify the rights of countries under the UN Charter, which includes the right to self-defence. Thus, individual nations have created their own domestic protocols. According to The New York Times, after the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon in September 2001, the then U.S. President George Bush ordered the downing of any more passenger jets that posed a harm to the country. Military jets even scrambled to intercept the fourth hijacked plane, but it crashed into a field before they could take any action. In wake of security failures on multiple fronts, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a comprehensive review to assess all aspects of aviation security concerning foreign civilian flights to Israel. Now, even as the probe into the attacker co-pilot's alleged radical Islamist indoctrination is underway, U.S. President Donald Trump jumped the gun yet again. He blamed Iran for the attack, even as no connection has been established yet. However, just before Trump's remarks, U.S. Vice President JD Vance had a very different take. He saw no conclusive material linking Iran to the Flydubai attack. At the same time, he revealed that the incident had prompted US to review its security procedures. Listen to his observation... According to reports, Israel is also taking part in the questioning of the attacker co-pilot. Al-Hammami reportedly told the investigators that he had planned the attack before joining Flydubai, in revenge for the war in Gaza. Authorities are also reportedly examining whether Al-Hammami acted alone, or whether he has links to any organisation.

Israel reportedly prepared to intercept and potentially shoot down a Flydubai jet after it plunged 14,000 feet, amid a probe into the hijacking attempt.

Israel nearly shot down Flydubai jet with 166 Israeli passengers aboard | GRAVITAS

The student protests in France over poor school infrastructure, sanitary conditions, large class sizes and absent teachers in high schools are showing no signs of easing.&nbsp;400 to 500 high schools remained shut.&nbsp;Over 5,000 people, 85% of whom are minors, have been arrested, whereas 78 teaching staff members have been injured so far.&nbsp;In the city of Lille, a fire burned outside a high school, as protesters set debris on fire in the street and damaged a bus shelter.&nbsp;Riot police clashed with protesters in a suburb of Paris with fireworks, tear gas and smoke bombs being fired at regular intervals.&nbsp;Violence was visible in Bordeaux as well as around a hundred students blocked two prominent high schools.&nbsp;Some protesters were seen throwing projectiles at the police.&nbsp;The protests took a very alarming turn in the town of Lens, as a teenager's hand was blown off, when he picked up a police stun grenade that detonated.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/france-shuts-up-to-500-schools-amid-protests-teenager-loses-arm-from-police-grenade-1791220835500/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/france-shuts-up-to-500-schools-amid-protests-teenager-loses-arm-from-police-grenade-1791220835500/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, students continued to block access to a number of schools not just in Paris but also in other places including Marseille.&nbsp;In solidarity with high school students, hundreds of university students marched through the streets of Paris in protest over conditions in educational institutions.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the police arrested two teenagers in eastern France over the suspected assault of a police officer who was filmed being beaten and kicked by a group of youths.&nbsp;According to France's education minister, 24 schools have been burned or ransacked during the protests.&nbsp;However, a human rights group in France accused security forces of using disproportionate force against protesters, many of whom are legally minors.&nbsp;Now, protests are set to intensify further on Tuesday, ss high school and university student unions have called for demonstrations and further blockades.&nbsp;Several unions are also backing the mobilization and have urged teachers to join the protests.&nbsp;With the government not backing down and hinting at fast-tracking a bill to make youngsters financially liable for damaged property, concerns are growing over the future trajectory of the protests.

Over 5,000 people, 85% of whom are minors, have been arrested, whereas 78 teaching staff members have been injured so far. According to France's education minister, 24 schools have been burned or ransacked during the protests.

The student protests in France over poor school infrastructure, sanitary conditions, large class sizes and absent teachers in high schools are showing no signs of easing. 400 to 500 high schools remained shut. Over 5,000 people, 85% of whom are minors, have been arrested, whereas 78 teaching staff members have been injured so far. In the city of Lille, a fire burned outside a high school, as protesters set debris on fire in the street and damaged a bus shelter. Riot police clashed with protesters in a suburb of Paris with fireworks, tear gas and smoke bombs being fired at regular intervals. Violence was visible in Bordeaux as well as around a hundred students blocked two prominent high schools. Some protesters were seen throwing projectiles at the police. The protests took a very alarming turn in the town of Lens, as a teenager's hand was blown off, when he picked up a police stun grenade that detonated. https://www.wionews.com/videos/france-shuts-up-to-500-schools-amid-protests-teenager-loses-arm-from-police-grenade-1791220835500/embed Meanwhile, students continued to block access to a number of schools not just in Paris but also in other places including Marseille. In solidarity with high school students, hundreds of university students marched through the streets of Paris in protest over conditions in educational institutions. Meanwhile, the police arrested two teenagers in eastern France over the suspected assault of a police officer who was filmed being beaten and kicked by a group of youths. According to France's education minister, 24 schools have been burned or ransacked during the protests. However, a human rights group in France accused security forces of using disproportionate force against protesters, many of whom are legally minors. Now, protests are set to intensify further on Tuesday, ss high school and university student unions have called for demonstrations and further blockades. Several unions are also backing the mobilization and have urged teachers to join the protests. With the government not backing down and hinting at fast-tracking a bill to make youngsters financially liable for damaged property, concerns are growing over the future trajectory of the protests.

Over 5,000 people, 85% of whom are minors, have been arrested, whereas 78 teaching staff members have been injured so far. According to France's education minister, 24 schools have been burned or ransacked during the protests.

France shuts up to 500 schools amid protests, teenager loses arm from police grenade | Gravitas

A mysterious death in Russia has resulted in a plague scare. Sending alarm bells ringing in the country and around the world.&nbsp;The victim has been identified as 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, who was working as a laboratory technician at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far-East.&nbsp;According to reports, she broke a test tube containing the pneumonic plague pathogen on September 25.&nbsp;Four days later, she was reportedly admitted to a hospital with symptoms of severe pneumonia.&nbsp;She passed away on October 2.&nbsp;Subsequently, an unspecified number of people who had been in contact with the deceased woman were examined and quarantined.&nbsp;Parts of the hospital where she died were cordoned off, and an aluminium plant in the vicinity told its workers to wear masks.&nbsp;However, the Irkutsk governor dismissed a possible link between Darya Shipilova's death and a lab accident.&nbsp;While conceding that she died due to pneumonia, he claimed that its cause could not be determined.&nbsp;&nbsp;

He also added that no new cases had been detected and the situation remained stable in the region. But, mystery around the incident persisted owing to conflicting statements from officials. For instance, initially, governor of the neighbouring Buryatia region, claimed in a social media post that the woman died due of plague. He later edited his social media post to say she had 'possibly' died of the disease. On the other hand, Kremlin urged people to rely on its health watchdog's official statements. But, why is this causing such an alarm? According to the World Health Organisation, pneumonic plague is highly contagious and can be fatal if not treated early. It is one of three major forms of plague caused by a bacteria called yersinia pestis and affects the lungs. It can also spread from person to person through respiratory droplets from an infected individual. Its symptoms include fever, headache and weakness, followed by rapidly developing pneumonia. Patients may also experience difficulty breathing, chest pain and coughing. U.S. and European Union are also monitoring reports of a possible plague outbreak. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio maintained that there is no cause for alarm. Now, it is worth noting that plague is endemic to Siberia, as the bacteria that causes it is present among small wild mammals in the region's vast wilderness. Additionally, the first known human outbreak of this disease unfolded there. But, as uncertainty persists, the next few days will be crucial to see whether Russia releases more information on the woman's death.

The Irkutsk governor dismissed a possible link between Darya Shipilova's death and a lab accident. While conceding that she died due to pneumonia, he claimed that its cause could not be determined. He added that no new cases had been detected and the situation remained stable in the region.

A mysterious death in Russia has resulted in a plague scare. Sending alarm bells ringing in the country and around the world. The victim has been identified as 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, who was working as a laboratory technician at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far-East. According to reports, she broke a test tube containing the pneumonic plague pathogen on September 25. Four days later, she was reportedly admitted to a hospital with symptoms of severe pneumonia. She passed away on October 2. Subsequently, an unspecified number of people who had been in contact with the deceased woman were examined and quarantined. Parts of the hospital where she died were cordoned off, and an aluminium plant in the vicinity told its workers to wear masks. However, the Irkutsk governor dismissed a possible link between Darya Shipilova's death and a lab accident. While conceding that she died due to pneumonia, he claimed that its cause could not be determined.

The Irkutsk governor dismissed a possible link between Darya Shipilova's death and a lab accident. While conceding that she died due to pneumonia, he claimed that its cause could not be determined. He added that no new cases had been detected and the situation remained stable in the region.

From Russian lab to quarantine: Mystery plague case puts world on alert | Gravitas

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