The China Central Meteorological Observatory has issued a yellow alert and heavy to very heavy rainfall has been predicted in Xinjiang, Shanghai, and some coastal areas of the region for the next 2 days. Taiwan's weather bureau has also issued a heavy rain advisory for the entire region.

Typhoon Hinnamnor approaches Japan's coast; heavy rainfall predicted in China, Japan

The authorities in the city of Chengdu extended the lockdown to more areas as it has been witnessing a spike in the number of Covid cases. The lockdown restrictions range from mandatory work-from-homes to mass testing.

China extends lockdown in Chengdu as city witnesses rise in Covid cases

Floods in Pakistan have claimed nearly about 1,300 lives and the authorities have reported 29 deaths in the last 24 hours. Over 1 million homes are also destroyed so far. The rescue operations are still underway.

WION Climate Tracker: Pakistan floods claim nearly 1,300 lives; 29 deaths in last 24 hours

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all latest news, top headlines and international breakings from all across the globe, stay tuned with Gravitas for more!

Gravitas Global Headlines: At least 18 dead in bomb blast at one of the biggest Mosques in Afghan

The United States on Friday&nbsp;announced the sale of approximately USD 1.1 billion in military equipment including Harpoon and Sidewinder missiles to Taiwan. Meanwhile, in the South Asian region, Former president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has returned to Sri Lanka after almost two months. In the realm of defence,&nbsp;Iran has&nbsp;seized&nbsp;two US Navy drone vessels in second incident this week in the Red Sea.&nbsp;

Click on the headlines to read more&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-announces-arms-package-worth-usd-11-billion-for-taiwan-512527">US announces arms package worth USD 1.1 billion for Taiwan; China opposes</a>

<img alt="US taiwan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cbf65f66-6414-498b-9f42-0c9228968456" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/13e64a456a98ad305b62719b84608907.jpg" />

US military equipment worth over USD 1.1 billion, including Harpoon and Sidewinder missiles, will be sold to Taiwan, the country stated on Friday.&nbsp;Taiwan's purchase of military hardware has received Washington's approval, the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DCSA) acknowledged in a number of statements.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/watch-gotabaya-rajapaksa-returns-to-sri-lanka-from-exile-512510">Gotabaya Rajapaksa returns to Sri Lanka from exile after seven weeks</a>

<img alt="Gotabaya returns" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c1c725f7-4491-4519-b764-3f6cd5ad313c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Gotabaya-Rajapaksa-AP.jpeg" />

An airport official reported that former president of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived back in the nation on Friday, seven weeks after fleeing in the face of irate protests over the island's worst-ever economic crisis.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-briefly-seizes-two-us-navy-drone-vessels-in-second-incident-this-week-in-red-sea-512529">Iran briefly seizes two US Navy Drone vessels in second incident this week in Red Sea</a>

<img alt="drones" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8a77d652-664d-4e00-883a-73dca8f21795" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/screen-shot-2022-09-02-at-1-20-29-pm.png" />

The Iranian Navy reportedly seized two US unmanned drone vessels for a brief period in the Red Sea before releasing them, in the second such incident this week.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-overtakes-uk-to-become-worlds-5th-largest-economy-512533">India overtakes UK to become world’s 5th largest economy</a>

<img alt="Indian economy" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7dd913ac-2995-4345-8975-eb154e27c87a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/1659014502_u9qijD_rupee.jpeg" />

India has overtaken UK to become the fifth largest economy in the world, according to Bloomberg, which has cited GDP figures from the International Monetary Fund.

WATCH |&nbsp;IAEA spends 2nd day at plant, Russian defence minister accuses Ukraine of 'nuclear terrorism'

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iaea-spends-2nd-day-at-plant-russian-defence-minister-accuses-ukraine-of-nuclear-terrorism-512531/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

The United States on Friday announced the sale of approximately USD 1.1 billion in military equipment including Harpoon and Sidewinder missiles to Taiwan. Meanwhile, in the South Asian region, Former president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has returned to Sri Lanka after almost two months.

The United States on Friday announced the sale of approximately USD 1.1 billion in military equipment including Harpoon and Sidewinder missiles to Taiwan. Meanwhile, in the South Asian region, Former president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has returned to Sri Lanka after almost two months. In the realm of defence, Iran has seized two US Navy drone vessels in second incident this week in the Red Sea. Click on the headlines to read more US announces arms package worth USD 1.1 billion for Taiwan; China opposes US military equipment worth over USD 1.1 billion, including Harpoon and Sidewinder missiles, will be sold to Taiwan, the country stated on Friday. Taiwan's purchase of military hardware has received Washington's approval, the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DCSA) acknowledged in a number of statements. Gotabaya Rajapaksa returns to Sri Lanka from exile after seven weeks An airport official reported that former president of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived back in the nation on Friday, seven weeks after fleeing in the face of irate protests over the island's worst-ever economic crisis. Iran briefly seizes two US Navy Drone vessels in second incident this week in Red Sea The Iranian Navy reportedly seized two US unmanned drone vessels for a brief period in the Red Sea before releasing them, in the second such incident this week. India overtakes UK to become world’s 5th largest economy India has overtaken UK to become the fifth largest economy in the world, according to Bloomberg, which has cited GDP figures from the International Monetary Fund. WATCH | IAEA spends 2nd day at plant, Russian defence minister accuses Ukraine of 'nuclear terrorism'

Morning news brief: US announces USD 1.1 billion arms package for Taiwan, Rajapaksa returns to Lanka & more

Staying on with its zero-Covid policy, China has yet again placed millions of people under lockdown as the country is seeing a rise in Covid cases. Employees in Chengdu have been asked to work from home and residents are urged to not leave the city unless needed.

China's Chengdu under lockdown amid Covid spike

China's Shenzhen has shut down its transport services and public activities for 2 days in a bid to curb the rise of Covid cases in the region. Only factories with proper precautionary measures can operate with their workforce.

China's Shenzhen shuts down most public transport; restrictions imposed

Germany's national carrier Lufthansa on Friday morning cancelled over 800 flights globally and over 700 passengers were left stranded in New Delhi. The flights were cancelled due to a one-day global strike.

Lufthansa cancels over 800 flights globally; 130,000 passengers affected

Gravitas Global Headlines: UN nuclear watchdog team visits Zaporizhzhia plant amid shelling

Leading Rwandan singer Bruce Melodie has been arrested in Burundi on fraud allegations, shortly after arriving in the country to hold concerts, the Burundian interior ministry said Thursday. Uniformed and plainclothes police stopped the musician's car as he made his way from the airport in Burundi's economic capital Bujumbura on Wednesday evening, then put him in handcuffs, witnesses told AFP.

"Bruce Melodie is in custody, under investigation for fraud", the interior ministry said on Twitter, without elaborating.

The arrest of the Rwandan star, who was due to hold two concerts in Burundi on Thursday and Friday, was in connection with the cancellation of performances in 2018 and 2021. The interior ministry had cancelled the concerts at the last minute, first due to a diplomatic crisis between Rwanda and Burundi and the second time because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"One of (the concert) promoters, Toussaint Niyukuri, filed a complaint with the police and demanded that the Rwandan singer reimburse a deposit of $2,000 which he had paid to him at the time," a relative of the musician told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/park-eun-bins-extraordinary-attorney-woo-sparks-autism-debate-512262" hreflang="en">Park Eun-bin's 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' sparks autism debate</a>

The complainant also asked the singer, whose real name is Itahiwacu Bruce,&nbsp;to pay "a sum which rose from 30 million to 60 million Burundian francs ($14,650 to $29,300) and which, according to him, represent all the costs incurred before the cancellation of these concerts." He added that the singer was "ready to pay some of this money" on the condition that he is released.

Leading Rwandan singer Bruce Melodie has been arrested in Burundi on fraud allegations, shortly after arriving in the country to hold concerts, the Burundian interior ministry said Thursday.

Leading Rwandan singer Bruce Melodie has been arrested in Burundi on fraud allegations, shortly after arriving in the country to hold concerts, the Burundian interior ministry said Thursday. Uniformed and plainclothes police stopped the musician's car as he made his way from the airport in Burundi's economic capital Bujumbura on Wednesday evening, then put him in handcuffs, witnesses told AFP. "Bruce Melodie is in custody, under investigation for fraud", the interior ministry said on Twitter, without elaborating. The arrest of the Rwandan star, who was due to hold two concerts in Burundi on Thursday and Friday, was in connection with the cancellation of performances in 2018 and 2021. The interior ministry had cancelled the concerts at the last minute, first due to a diplomatic crisis between Rwanda and Burundi and the second time because of the Covid-19 pandemic. "One of (the concert) promoters, Toussaint Niyukuri, filed a complaint with the police and demanded that the Rwandan singer reimburse a deposit of $2,000 which he had paid to him at the time," a relative of the musician told AFP on condition of anonymity. Also read: Park Eun-bin's 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' sparks autism debate The complainant also asked the singer, whose real name is Itahiwacu Bruce, to pay "a sum which rose from 30 million to 60 million Burundian francs ($14,650 to $29,300) and which, according to him, represent all the costs incurred before the cancellation of these concerts." He added that the singer was "ready to pay some of this money" on the condition that he is released.

Rwandan singer Melodie arrested in Burundi for fraud

Ahead of the IAEA visit to Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, a new set of latest satellite images have appeared which showed the damage from an artillery attack to the roof of a building right next to the nuclear reactors at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

New artillery attack as IAEA heads to Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

Gravitas Global Headlines: Curfew in Baghdad after Al-Sadr supporters storm Republican Palace

Russia and Ukraine traded fresh accusations over shelling at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant further intensifying fears that the fighting could intensify a massive radiation leak. Ukrainian officials accused Moscow of firing Russian artillery at Ukrainian towns.

Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant: Ukraine and Russia trade accusations

Gravitas Global Headlines: U.S. Senator visits Taiwan | Zaporizhzhia plant reconnected to grid

Gravitas Global Headlines: Macron-Grossi meet to discuss situation at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Gravitas Global Headlines: Israeli PM speaks on Iran Nuclear deal

Gravitas Global Headlines: Taiwan President on Chinese aggression

Cost of living prices in the UK is expected to get worse. An economist predicts that the UK's consumer price inflation would surpass 18% in January 2023.

United Kingdom to face worst inflation in almost 50 years

Gravitas Global Headlines: Odinga files petition in Supreme Court challenging election results

Gravitas Global Headlines: Salman Rushdie attack case | China issues drought alert

Gravitas Global Headlines: Turkiye's central bank lowers its main interest rate

Gravitas Global Headlines: Explosion and fires rock Southern Thailand

Gravitas Global Headlines: Germans face new tax on natural gas use

Gravitas Global Headlines: Moscow-Pyongyang ties | Russia-Ukraine war

Gravitas Global Headlines: EU mulling visa ban for Russians | UK economy shrinks

Gravitas Global Headlines: Antony Blinken on Africa tour | Covid lockdowns continue in China

Gravitas Global Headlines: Russia-Ukraine war | Russia expels 14 Bulgarian diplomats

Gravitas Global Headlines: Iraq political crisis | Blinken-Jaishankar meeting

Oil prices dropped about 4% on Monday as weak manufacturing data in several countries weighed on the demand outlook while investors braced for this week's meeting of OPEC and its producer allies on supply.

Oil sinks about 4% after weak factory data sparks demand concerns

India is the land of tigers. More than 70 percent of the world's tiger population is now found in India but this was not the case a few years ago as India also witnessed a massive drop in its big cats population, however, thanks to the efforts by the Project Tiger, the population of India's national animal has now grown significantly.

International Tiger Day: India has 70% of world's Tiger population | World News

Sri Lanka is all set to get its new President today. The 225 parliament members will vote to elect one among the three candidates who filed the nomination yesterday as the country's new leader.

Sri Lanka Elections: 225 lawmakers to elect new President

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