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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's home is in a central town that was struck by a drone, according to the Israeli military on Saturday. Two further drones were intercepted, but no one was hurt.

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Drone Attack On Netanyahu's Home Exposes Defence Vulnerabilities

China's consulate in Myanmar's city of Mandalay was attacked with an explosive device, local media said Saturday (Oct 19), adding that no deaths or injuries were reported.&nbsp;

The blast occurred at the consulate office in central Mandalay, south of the sprawling Royal Palace, around 7:00 pm Friday (1230 GMT Friday), local media said.&nbsp;

China is a major ally and arms supplier to Myanmar's junta, but it also maintains ties with ethnic groups fighting the military in Myanmar's northern Shan state, according to analysts.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military deposed the government of Aung San Suu Kyi and seized power in 2021.

A statement from the junta on Saturday night blamed "terrorists" for the incident, which it said it was investigating in cooperation with consulate officials.

It said security had found "a blast" had occurred and that it was "raising the necessary security measures".

"About two feet of clay tiles of the roof of the two-storey building were damaged," the statement said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/chinas-economy-grows-at-46-falling-short-of-ambitious-targets-768577">China's economy grows at 4.6%, falling short of ambitious targets</a>

A Myanmar official in Mandalay confirmed to AFP there had been "an incident at the Chinese consulate office compound in Mandalay late evening yesterday".

"There was no one injured," the official said, without specifying the nature of the incident.

The Irrawaddy outlet reported a grenade had been thrown at the compound, which is usually guarded by members of Myanmar's security forces.&nbsp;

The Voice of Myanmar newspaper reported the consulate had been hit by an unidentified "explosion" without giving details.&nbsp;

China's embassy in Yangon did not respond to AFP's queries.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

China's consulate in Myanmar's city of Mandalay was attacked with an explosive device, local media said Saturday (Oct 19), adding that no deaths or injuries were reported.

China's consulate in Myanmar's city of Mandalay was attacked with an explosive device, local media said Saturday (Oct 19), adding that no deaths or injuries were reported. The blast occurred at the consulate office in central Mandalay, south of the sprawling Royal Palace, around 7:00 pm Friday (1230 GMT Friday), local media said. China is a major ally and arms supplier to Myanmar's junta, but it also maintains ties with ethnic groups fighting the military in Myanmar's northern Shan state, according to analysts. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military deposed the government of Aung San Suu Kyi and seized power in 2021. A statement from the junta on Saturday night blamed "terrorists" for the incident, which it said it was investigating in cooperation with consulate officials. It said security had found "a blast" had occurred and that it was "raising the necessary security measures". "About two feet of clay tiles of the roof of the two-storey building were damaged," the statement said. Also read: China's economy grows at 4.6%, falling short of ambitious targets A Myanmar official in Mandalay confirmed to AFP there had been "an incident at the Chinese consulate office compound in Mandalay late evening yesterday". "There was no one injured," the official said, without specifying the nature of the incident. The Irrawaddy outlet reported a grenade had been thrown at the compound, which is usually guarded by members of Myanmar's security forces. The Voice of Myanmar newspaper reported the consulate had been hit by an unidentified "explosion" without giving details. China's embassy in Yangon did not respond to AFP's queries. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

China consulate in Myanmar targeted in explosive attack

Following a Countrywide blackout triggered by the collapse of a major power plant, Cuba managed to restore limited power to its greed by Friday evening. Although 90% of the island remained without electricity including some of the key hospitals. Watch to know more.

Cuba Suffers Nationwide Power Outage

Many Indian airlines are receiving bomb threats. After allegedly receiving a bomb threat, a Vistara flight from Delhi headed for London was rerouted to Frankfurt, Germany, on Friday.

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Breaking: Israeli PMO Confirms Attack On BIBI's House

Breaking: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's home is in a central town that was struck by a drone, according to the Israeli military on Saturday. Two further drones were intercepted, but no one was hurt.

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On Wings, we cover the Kumbh Mela, as preparations in full swing for the largest gathering of humanity on the planet. We highlight the improving Australia-India relationship with a new Working Holiday Visa that has become available for Indians. And our country in focus for the week, is Albania in the Balkans. Only on WION, World is One.

Preparations for Kumbh Mela - Wings S3 Ep51

Israel confirmed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the October 7 attack on Israel last year, has been killed in Gaza. The Israeli army also released footage of what it says - shows Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar moments before he was killed in southern Gaza's Rafah.

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For decades now, a simple tactic used on the battlefield was swarming, which involves attacking the enemy with a higher number of autonomous systems from multiple directions than the other side. This attack is not necessarily done with precision or force but by sheer numbers.&nbsp;

However, as time has evolved, in modern warfare, drones can perform the task.&nbsp;

Last Sunday, it only took a few drones for Iran-backed Lebanon-based Hezbollah to infiltrate Israel's normally impenetrable "Iron Dome" air defences.&nbsp;

However, the impact was&nbsp;vast, on one of the bloodiest days since October 7, 2023.&nbsp;

Hezbollah strike&nbsp;killed four Israeli soldiers and injured around 60 others&nbsp;at a military base in northern Israel. The Lebanon-based militant group&nbsp;said that it targeted the camp using a "Swarm of &nbsp;kamikaze drones”, which “broke through the Israel defence radars without detection.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-israeli-pm-netanyahus-caesarea-home-targeted-in-drone-attack-from-lebanon-none-hurt-768921">Also read:&nbsp;West Asia crisis: Drone from Lebanon launched toward Israeli PM Netanyahu's residence</a>

Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that they are "studying and investigating the incident – how a drone infiltrated without warning and struck the base”. His conclusion was bashful: “We must provide better defence.”

In the modern era of war, drone swarms are almost unsurprising. The Israel-Gaza conflict and the Ukraine-Russia war are the key examples of that. Notably, amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, reports have suggested that up to 10,000 drones are in the air on any given day.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, in the Red Sea, the Yemen-based Houthi rebels have also shown an increasing inclination towards using swarms of sea drones to threaten commercial ships and intimidate Western warships since the beginning of the war in Gaza, over a year ago.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Hezbollah Calls for 'escalatory' Phase of War With Israel

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According to a report by The Daily Telegraph, in January, a group of 18 drones, believed to be relatively expensive Iranian-designed Shahad 136, were flown towards merchant vessels and American and British warships patrolling the region.&nbsp;

Professor Michael Clarke, visiting professor in the Department of War Studies at King’s College, London told The Daily Telegraph: "This isn’t revolutionary, but it is different. Drones have existed for a very long time, but when you think about them in the Afghanistan war [for example], they existed in small numbers because people thought of them as airplanes without pilots, and most were almost as big as that."

He also noted how the West was “very slow to cop to the idea that much smaller, cheaper drones could be used as weapons, and in numbers, that’s the point. Not three or four, [but] 40 or 50 potentially.”&nbsp;

Clarke said that he believes&nbsp;it is a matter that only underlines how the soldiers of the future won’t necessarily need simply “belligerence and the ability to carry their luggage across the Brecon Beacons in terrible weather.” He added, that as the enemy unleashes the drones of war, they’ll need to be technically proficient.

(With inputs from agencies)

For decades now, a simple tactic used on the battlefield was swarming, which involves attacking the enemy with a higher number of autonomous systems from multiple directions than the other side.

For decades now, a simple tactic used on the battlefield was swarming, which involves attacking the enemy with a higher number of autonomous systems from multiple directions than the other side. This attack is not necessarily done with precision or force but by sheer numbers. However, as time has evolved, in modern warfare, drones can perform the task. Last Sunday, it only took a few drones for Iran-backed Lebanon-based Hezbollah to infiltrate Israel's normally impenetrable "Iron Dome" air defences. However, the impact was vast, on one of the bloodiest days since October 7, 2023. Hezbollah strike killed four Israeli soldiers and injured around 60 others at a military base in northern Israel. The Lebanon-based militant group said that it targeted the camp using a "Swarm of kamikaze drones”, which “broke through the Israel defence radars without detection.” Also read: West Asia crisis: Drone from Lebanon launched toward Israeli PM Netanyahu's residence Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that they are "studying and investigating the incident – how a drone infiltrated without warning and struck the base”. His conclusion was bashful: “We must provide better defence.” In the modern era of war, drone swarms are almost unsurprising. The Israel-Gaza conflict and the Ukraine-Russia war are the key examples of that. Notably, amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, reports have suggested that up to 10,000 drones are in the air on any given day. Meanwhile, in the Red Sea, the Yemen-based Houthi rebels have also shown an increasing inclination towards using swarms of sea drones to threaten commercial ships and intimidate Western warships since the beginning of the war in Gaza, over a year ago. Watch | Hezbollah Calls for 'escalatory' Phase of War With Israel × According to a report by The Daily Telegraph, in January, a group of 18 drones, believed to be relatively expensive Iranian-designed Shahad 136, were flown towards merchant vessels and American and British warships patrolling the region. Professor Michael Clarke, visiting professor in the Department of War Studies at King’s College, London told The Daily Telegraph: "This isn’t revolutionary, but it is different. Drones have existed for a very long time, but when you think about them in the Afghanistan war [for example], they existed in small numbers because people thought of them as airplanes without pilots, and most were almost as big as that." He also noted how the West was “very slow to cop to the idea that much smaller, cheaper drones could be used as weapons, and in numbers, that’s the point. Not three or four, [but] 40 or 50 potentially.” Clarke said that he believes it is a matter that only underlines how the soldiers of the future won’t necessarily need simply “belligerence and the ability to carry their luggage across the Brecon Beacons in terrible weather.” He added, that as the enemy unleashes the drones of war, they’ll need to be technically proficient. (With inputs from agencies)

Modern era of war: How deadly drones are transforming battlefields

According to media reports on Friday, a senior advisor in Bangladesh's interim government stated that his nation would vehemently object if India attempted to deny the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina by pointing to any clause in the treaty.

Hasina Should Be Extradited: Bangladesh

Hamas on Friday (Oct 18) confirmed that their leader Yahya Sinwar, was killed by Israeli forces on Wednesday. However, the Palestinian militant group remains defiant.

Hamas on Friday (Oct 18) confirmed that their leader Yahya Sinwar, was killed by Israeli forces on Wednesday. However, the Palestinian militant group remains defiant. Al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official, said that Sinwar's death would only make the group stronger. “Sinwar’s death will turn into a curse on the occupiers," he said. He also emphasised that Israeli hostages wouldn’t be freed unless Israel stopped its operations in Gaza and pulled out completely. According to a video statement shared by news agency Reuters, Al-Hayya said, "The hostages will not return, unless the aggression against our people in Gaza stops, there is a complete withdrawal from it, and our heroic prisoners are released from the occupation’s prisons." Hamas' military wing also issued its own statement, vowing to continue their fight against Israel until Palestine is "liberated," as they mourned their leader’s death. Meanwhile, Lebanon-based Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis, both backed by Iran, extended their condolences for Sinwar’s death. In Iran, officials condemned the Hamas leader's death. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called it "a clear sign of the unstoppable crimes committed by Israel," while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Martyrs live forever, and the cause for the liberation of Palestine from occupation is more alive than ever." Also read: West Asia crisis: Drone from Lebanon launched toward Netanyahu's residence On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video statement, praised the operation and vowed to continue military actions in Gaza and Lebanon. He also addressed the militants holding Israeli hostages, offering them a chance to live if they surrendered and freed the hostages. Hebrew news outlets reported that Netanyahu met with President Isaac Herzog on Friday to discuss the "window of opportunity" created by Sinwar's death. Additionally, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office noted that United States President Joe Biden called Netanyahu on Thursday to congratulate him on the operation and that both leaders agreed to work together to seize the opportunity to secure the release of hostages. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

After Sinwar’s death, Hamas warns: Hostages won’t be freed until Israel withdraws

Chinese President Xi Jinping called this week for troops to strengthen their preparedness for war, state media reported on Saturday (Oct 19), just days after Beijing staged large-scale military drills around Taiwan.

Xi made his comments while visiting a brigade of the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force on Thursday, according to state-run broadcaster CCTV.

Xi said the military should "comprehensively strengthen training and preparation for war, (and) ensure troops have solid combat capabilities", CCTV reported.

Soldiers must "enhance their strategic deterrent and combat capability," Xi said.

China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has stepped up its shows of force around the self-ruled island in recent years.

On Monday, Beijing had deployed fighter jets, drones, warships and coast guard vessels to encircle Taiwan -- its fourth round of large-scale war games around the democratic island in just over two years.

China's communist leaders have insisted they will not&nbsp;rule out using force to bring Taiwan under Beijing's control.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjMsaP9lpqJAxX8cWwGHUJBHuoQxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/xi-jinping-advocates-for-stronger-china-america-ties-ahead-of-2024-us-elections-767892" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/xi-jinping-advocates-for-stronger-china-america-ties-ahead-of-2024-us-elections-767892&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjMsaP9lpqJAxX8cWwGHUJBHuoQxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE">Xi Jinping advocates for stronger China-America ties ahead of 2024 US Elections</a>

Xi on Thursday said the Chinese military must "strongly safeguard the country's strategic security and core interests", according to the CCTV report.

The dispute between China and Taiwan dates back to a civil war in which the nationalist forces of Chiang Kai-shek were defeated by Mao Zedong's communist fighters and fled to the island in 1949.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjMsaP9lpqJAxX8cWwGHUJBHuoQxfQBKAB6BAgWEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-calls-on-india-to-handle-taiwan-issue-carefully-post-consulate-opening-wion-originals-768656" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-calls-on-india-to-handle-taiwan-issue-carefully-post-consulate-opening-wion-originals-768656&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjMsaP9lpqJAxX8cWwGHUJBHuoQxfQBKAB6BAgWEAE">China Calls On India To Handle Taiwan Issue Carefully Post Consulate Opening |&nbsp;</a>

China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since then.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

Chinese President Xi Jinping called this week for troops to strengthen their preparedness for war, state media reported on Saturday (Oct 19), just days after Beijing staged large-scale military drills around Taiwan.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called this week for troops to strengthen their preparedness for war, state media reported on Saturday (Oct 19), just days after Beijing staged large-scale military drills around Taiwan. Xi made his comments while visiting a brigade of the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force on Thursday, according to state-run broadcaster CCTV. Xi said the military should "comprehensively strengthen training and preparation for war, (and) ensure troops have solid combat capabilities", CCTV reported. Soldiers must "enhance their strategic deterrent and combat capability," Xi said. China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has stepped up its shows of force around the self-ruled island in recent years. On Monday, Beijing had deployed fighter jets, drones, warships and coast guard vessels to encircle Taiwan -- its fourth round of large-scale war games around the democratic island in just over two years. China's communist leaders have insisted they will not rule out using force to bring Taiwan under Beijing's control. Also read: Xi Jinping advocates for stronger China-America ties ahead of 2024 US Elections Xi on Thursday said the Chinese military must "strongly safeguard the country's strategic security and core interests", according to the CCTV report. The dispute between China and Taiwan dates back to a civil war in which the nationalist forces of Chiang Kai-shek were defeated by Mao Zedong's communist fighters and fled to the island in 1949. Also read: China Calls On India To Handle Taiwan Issue Carefully Post Consulate Opening | China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since then. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Xi Jinping orders Chinese troops to boost war preparedness

Singapore has arrested a teenage boy who was allegedly planning an ISIS-inspired terror attack on a busy suburb, the interior minister said Friday (Oct 18), adding it was a "very close shave".

After watching Islamic State propaganda glorifying knife attacks, the 17-year-old visited the suburb to rehearse his attack before he was arrested in August, Home Minister K&nbsp;Shanmugam said.

"He was quite serious because he actually practised stabbing motions with the scissors. He checked out which place would cause death –&nbsp;basically the neck area –&nbsp;so he practised hitting at the neck," Shanmugam told reporters.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjfsNjAlZqJAxU7TWwGHefnM88QxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-india-express-plane-escorted-by-singapore-jets-after-bomb-threat-767823" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-india-express-plane-escorted-by-singapore-jets-after-bomb-threat-767823&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjfsNjAlZqJAxU7TWwGHefnM88QxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">Singapore fighter jets escort Air India Express plane after bomb threat</a>

"I would say this was a very close shave. It is very fortunate that ISD (Internal Security Department) arrested him in time."

The teenager, detained under the Internal Security Act, had allegedly planned a stabbing spree to coincide with the school holidays in September when the area would be teeming with people.

In a statement released on Friday, ISD said the teenager was exposed to the deluge of online extremist materials posted by the Islamic State group after Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7 last year.

"He joined various online groups which provided updates on ISIS's activities and bought into ISIS's rhetoric of promoting the use of violence to establish an Islamic caliphate," ISD said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjfsNjAlZqJAxU7TWwGHefnM88QxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modis-singapore-visit-has-given-turbo-boosting-to-ties-hc-simon-wong-762620" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modis-singapore-visit-has-given-turbo-boosting-to-ties-hc-simon-wong-762620&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjfsNjAlZqJAxU7TWwGHefnM88QxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE">PM Modi's Singapore visit has given turbo boosting to ties: HC Simon Wong</a>

By January, "the youth had become a staunch ISIS supporter and aspired to die as a martyr while fighting for the group," it added.

He took a pledge of allegiance to IS and intended to travel to Syria to fight there, according to ISD.

The teenager acted alone as he was unable to radicalise other people, ISD added.

His family noticed him watching videos of radical preachers and advised him to stop, but he continued, using "codewords" when discussing his beliefs online, the department said.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Singapore has arrested a teenage boy who was allegedly planning an ISIS-inspired terror attack on a busy suburb, the interior minister said Friday (Oct 18), adding it was a "very close shave".

Singapore has arrested a teenage boy who was allegedly planning an ISIS-inspired terror attack on a busy suburb, the interior minister said Friday (Oct 18), adding it was a "very close shave". After watching Islamic State propaganda glorifying knife attacks, the 17-year-old visited the suburb to rehearse his attack before he was arrested in August, Home Minister K Shanmugam said. "He was quite serious because he actually practised stabbing motions with the scissors. He checked out which place would cause death – basically the neck area – so he practised hitting at the neck," Shanmugam told reporters. Also read: Singapore fighter jets escort Air India Express plane after bomb threat "I would say this was a very close shave. It is very fortunate that ISD (Internal Security Department) arrested him in time." The teenager, detained under the Internal Security Act, had allegedly planned a stabbing spree to coincide with the school holidays in September when the area would be teeming with people. In a statement released on Friday, ISD said the teenager was exposed to the deluge of online extremist materials posted by the Islamic State group after Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7 last year. "He joined various online groups which provided updates on ISIS's activities and bought into ISIS's rhetoric of promoting the use of violence to establish an Islamic caliphate," ISD said. Also read: PM Modi's Singapore visit has given turbo boosting to ties: HC Simon Wong By January, "the youth had become a staunch ISIS supporter and aspired to die as a martyr while fighting for the group," it added. He took a pledge of allegiance to IS and intended to travel to Syria to fight there, according to ISD. The teenager acted alone as he was unable to radicalise other people, ISD added. His family noticed him watching videos of radical preachers and advised him to stop, but he continued, using "codewords" when discussing his beliefs online, the department said. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Teen held in Singapore for plotting ISIS-style stabbing spree

Winter is approaching in the Northern Hemisphere and people are gearing up for what experts are&nbsp;calling the "tripledemic". This is because three types of viruses are going around at the time. COVID-19 continues to create a scare with the new XEC variant in the air. Meanwhile, the flu season is also around the corner, and you can't ignore the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) either.

Experts say people need to be wary of the winter tripledemic, with the need to stay alert even against RSV, IFL Science reported.

The flu is a seasonal thing and comes around every year. RSV might not be as heard of as the flu or COVID-19, but it is also a seasonal disease, experts say.&nbsp;

COVID-19 is not a seasonal infection, however, it poses a higher risk during the autumn and winter seasons, with a fresh wave seen during this time each year in several parts of the world.

As per the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID Data Tracker, the positivity rate of Covid tests is going down right now.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-long-covid-cause-found-severe-infections-inflame-brainstem-the-control-centre-of-brain-says-study-765602">Long Covid cause found? Severe infections inflame brainstem, the control centre of brain, says study</a>

However, this means that if a tripledemic is to hit the region, it will come later in the season.

<h2>COVID-19 surge in UK and rest of Europe</h2>

Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, COVID-19 cases are seeing an uptick. According to the UK Health Security Agency, COVID-19 cases, deaths, and patient admissions have registered an increase in the seven days up to October 9, October 4, and September 28 respectively compared with the previous week.

Other parts of Europe are currently seeing the highest rates of new COVID-19 cases, as per Politico.

The flu and RSV infections are yet to peak, and several parts of the world might record it during a new Covid wave.

Steve Russell, NHS national director for vaccinations and screening, says that the "threat of winter viruses is all too real", adding that new figures show thousands of deaths associated with COVID and flu in the past few years.

He stressed that "anyone eligible takes up the offer to get vaccinated".

COVID-19 vaccines have been updated and flu vaccines have already been rolled out for the season. Similarly, it is important to stay alert against RSV despite it being considered a mild cold. Reportedly, it causes nearly 10,000 deaths in older adults in the US each year and is especially fatal for children.

The world's first RSV vaccine was approved by the US&nbsp;Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2023 and, according to a study published in The Lancet, was found to be 80 per cent effective at preventing hospitalisation in adults aged 60 and over.&nbsp;

Winter is approaching in the Northern Hemisphere and people are gearing up for what experts are calling the "tripledemic". This is because three types of viruses are going around at the time.

Winter is approaching in the Northern Hemisphere and people are gearing up for what experts are calling the "tripledemic". This is because three types of viruses are going around at the time. COVID-19 continues to create a scare with the new XEC variant in the air. Meanwhile, the flu season is also around the corner, and you can't ignore the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) either. Experts say people need to be wary of the winter tripledemic, with the need to stay alert even against RSV, IFL Science reported. The flu is a seasonal thing and comes around every year. RSV might not be as heard of as the flu or COVID-19, but it is also a seasonal disease, experts say. COVID-19 is not a seasonal infection, however, it poses a higher risk during the autumn and winter seasons, with a fresh wave seen during this time each year in several parts of the world. As per the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID Data Tracker, the positivity rate of Covid tests is going down right now. Also Read: Long Covid cause found? Severe infections inflame brainstem, the control centre of brain, says study However, this means that if a tripledemic is to hit the region, it will come later in the season. COVID-19 surge in UK and rest of Europe Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, COVID-19 cases are seeing an uptick. According to the UK Health Security Agency, COVID-19 cases, deaths, and patient admissions have registered an increase in the seven days up to October 9, October 4, and September 28 respectively compared with the previous week. Other parts of Europe are currently seeing the highest rates of new COVID-19 cases, as per Politico. The flu and RSV infections are yet to peak, and several parts of the world might record it during a new Covid wave. Steve Russell, NHS national director for vaccinations and screening, says that the "threat of winter viruses is all too real", adding that new figures show thousands of deaths associated with COVID and flu in the past few years. He stressed that "anyone eligible takes up the offer to get vaccinated". COVID-19 vaccines have been updated and flu vaccines have already been rolled out for the season. Similarly, it is important to stay alert against RSV despite it being considered a mild cold. Reportedly, it causes nearly 10,000 deaths in older adults in the US each year and is especially fatal for children. The world's first RSV vaccine was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2023 and, according to a study published in The Lancet, was found to be 80 per cent effective at preventing hospitalisation in adults aged 60 and over.

People in the north might be staring at a 'tripledemic'. Here's what it means

In September, India's goods trade deficit, or the difference between imports and exports, decreased to $20.78 billion. According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, September's imports totaled $55.36 billion, while September's exports totaled $34.58 billion.

India’s Trade Deficit Narrows to a 5-Month Low in September

US President Joe Biden on Friday (Oct 18) signalled that he is aware of Israel’s expected response to the Oct 1 missile attack by Iran but refused to provide any details.

Biden was speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (BER) in Schoenefeld in Germany. When asked whether he had any information about Israel’s retaliatory strikes, the US leader said, "Yes and yes."

When pressed by reporters to share more information, Biden uttered, “No and no.”

Iran had fired more than 150 missiles on Israel on Oct 1 in what Tehran said was a response to the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah by Israel in Beirut, and the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjb5tG75ZmJAxXGW2wGHY0oCewQxfQBKAB6BAgNEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-hezbollah-to-escalate-war-with-israel-after-killing-of-hamas-leader-yahya-sinwar-768527" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-hezbollah-to-escalate-war-with-israel-after-killing-of-hamas-leader-yahya-sinwar-768527&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjb5tG75ZmJAxXGW2wGHY0oCewQxfQBKAB6BAgNEAE">West Asia crisis: Hezbollah to escalate war with Israel after killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar</a>

Following the attacks, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed to launch retaliatory strikes, raising concerns about potential expansion of the conflict in West Asia.

However, Netanyahu is believed to have assured Biden that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) won’t target Iranian oil and nuclear sites in its response but only military targets.

<h2>Tehran issued warning to US</h2>

Following Biden’s comments on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has now issued warning, saying the US would be held responsible for losses that Iran might incur during such an Israeli attack.

Taking to X, Araghchi wrote that anyone with knowledge of or involvement in facilitating such an attack by Israel would bear responsibility for any potential consequences in Iran.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjb5tG75ZmJAxXGW2wGHY0oCewQxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-at-least-33-killed-by-israeli-strike-on-gazas-jabalia-camp-768855" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-at-least-33-killed-by-israeli-strike-on-gazas-jabalia-camp-768855&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjb5tG75ZmJAxXGW2wGHY0oCewQxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE">Israel-Hamas War: At Least 33 Killed By Israeli Strike On Gaza's Jabalia Camp</a>

Earlier on Friday, Biden said he saw an opportunity to end the conflict in West Asia ‘for a while.’

"There's an opportunity in my view and my colleagues agree that we can probably deal with Israel and Iran in a way that ends the conflict for a while. That ends the conflict, in other words, that stops the back and forth," Biden said.

Biden acknowledged that reaching a peace deal in Lebanon was still a possibility but would be much harder in Gaza.

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden on Friday (Oct 18) signalled that he is aware of Israel’s expected response to the Oct 1 missile attack by Iran but refused to provide any details.

US President Joe Biden on Friday (Oct 18) signalled that he is aware of Israel’s expected response to the Oct 1 missile attack by Iran but refused to provide any details. Biden was speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (BER) in Schoenefeld in Germany. When asked whether he had any information about Israel’s retaliatory strikes, the US leader said, "Yes and yes." When pressed by reporters to share more information, Biden uttered, “No and no.” Iran had fired more than 150 missiles on Israel on Oct 1 in what Tehran said was a response to the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah by Israel in Beirut, and the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Also read: West Asia crisis: Hezbollah to escalate war with Israel after killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar Following the attacks, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed to launch retaliatory strikes, raising concerns about potential expansion of the conflict in West Asia. However, Netanyahu is believed to have assured Biden that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) won’t target Iranian oil and nuclear sites in its response but only military targets. Tehran issued warning to US Following Biden’s comments on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has now issued warning, saying the US would be held responsible for losses that Iran might incur during such an Israeli attack. Taking to X, Araghchi wrote that anyone with knowledge of or involvement in facilitating such an attack by Israel would bear responsibility for any potential consequences in Iran. Also read: Israel-Hamas War: At Least 33 Killed By Israeli Strike On Gaza's Jabalia Camp Earlier on Friday, Biden said he saw an opportunity to end the conflict in West Asia ‘for a while.’ "There's an opportunity in my view and my colleagues agree that we can probably deal with Israel and Iran in a way that ends the conflict for a while. That ends the conflict, in other words, that stops the back and forth," Biden said. Biden acknowledged that reaching a peace deal in Lebanon was still a possibility but would be much harder in Gaza. (With inputs from agencies)

‘US will be responsible...,’ Iran irked as Biden says he is aware of Israeli response to Oct 1 attacks

A global&nbsp;coral&nbsp;bleaching event that began last year has quickly grown to the largest on record, according to a US agency, with the impacted reef area continuing to grow.

From the beginning of 2023 through October 10, 2024, "roughly 77 percent of the world's reef area has experienced bleaching-level heat stress," Derek Manzello of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) told AFP on Friday.

He said the ongoing bleaching event -- the fourth since 1998 -- had surpassed the previous record of 65.7 percent in half the time, and "is still increasing in size."

Coral&nbsp;are marine invertebrates made up of individual animals called polyps.

They have a symbiotic relationship with the algae that live inside their tissue and provide their primary source of food, as well as their captivating colors.

When the water is too warm -- such as during heat waves which have hit areas from Florida to Australia in the past year --&nbsp;coral&nbsp;expel their algae and turn white, an effect called "bleaching" that leaves them exposed to disease and at risk of dying off.&nbsp;

The last record had been set during the third global bleaching event, which lasted from 2014 to 2017 and followed previous events in 1998 and 2010.

NOAA's heat-stress monitoring is based on satellite measurements from 1985 to the present day.

Manzello said NOAA had confirmed reports of mass&nbsp;coral&nbsp;bleaching from 74 countries or territories since February 2023.

"This includes locations in the northern&nbsp;and southern&nbsp;hemisphere of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans," he told AFP by email.

Roughly 850 million people worldwide rely on&nbsp;coral&nbsp;reefs for food, jobs and to protect coastlines from storms and erosion, according to the nonprofit WWF.

The ecosystems provide a haven for ocean life, with over a quarter of marine species calling them home.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

A global coral bleaching event that began last year has quickly grown to the largest on record, according to a US agency, with the impacted reef area continuing to grow.

A global coral bleaching event that began last year has quickly grown to the largest on record, according to a US agency, with the impacted reef area continuing to grow. From the beginning of 2023 through October 10, 2024, "roughly 77 percent of the world's reef area has experienced bleaching-level heat stress," Derek Manzello of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) told AFP on Friday. He said the ongoing bleaching event -- the fourth since 1998 -- had surpassed the previous record of 65.7 percent in half the time, and "is still increasing in size." Coral are marine invertebrates made up of individual animals called polyps. They have a symbiotic relationship with the algae that live inside their tissue and provide their primary source of food, as well as their captivating colors. When the water is too warm -- such as during heat waves which have hit areas from Florida to Australia in the past year -- coral expel their algae and turn white, an effect called "bleaching" that leaves them exposed to disease and at risk of dying off. The last record had been set during the third global bleaching event, which lasted from 2014 to 2017 and followed previous events in 1998 and 2010. NOAA's heat-stress monitoring is based on satellite measurements from 1985 to the present day. Manzello said NOAA had confirmed reports of mass coral bleaching from 74 countries or territories since February 2023. "This includes locations in the northern and southern hemisphere of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans," he told AFP by email. Roughly 850 million people worldwide rely on coral reefs for food, jobs and to protect coastlines from storms and erosion, according to the nonprofit WWF. The ecosystems provide a haven for ocean life, with over a quarter of marine species calling them home. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Global coral bleaching event which began in 2023 is biggest event on record: Agency

Amid the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada, the Canadian government’s Foreign Interference Commission in a report highlighted the Indian media outlets and their massive reach in the context of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Khalistani separatist leader who Ottawa has accused New Delhi's agents&nbsp;of killing.&nbsp;

The report stated that the Indian media, especially those outlets perceived as being aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi – highlighted several narratives that targeted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canada's High Commissioner to India, Canada's national security agencies, Canada's Punjabi Sikh diaspora, and Nijjar's political beliefs.&nbsp;

The report by the Canada's Foreign Interference Commission was published in September this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"The report examined websites and US-based social media platforms to surface relevant English language content to assess potential &nbsp;Foreign Information Manipulations and Interference (FIMI) related to India, honing in on a set of 100 accounts across Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube that are frequently described as 'Godi'&nbsp;media (i.e., media outlets or personalities that are perceived as mouthpieces for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and current Indian Prime Minister Nerandra Modi)," it stated.&nbsp;

The media outlets backed by PM Modi are quite popular with domestic Indian audiences as well as the diaspora communities abroad.&nbsp;

"For example, some outlets have more than 10 million YouTube subscribers, including AajTak/lndia Today (80 million), Zee News/WION (68 million), News 18 (50.8 million), Republic (31.7 million), and Times Now (10.9 million)," the report mentioned.&nbsp;

While defending its stance, the report stressed that Canada's low subscriber numbers of media outlets in comparison with Indian media create a "distinct advantage" in "amplifying negative narratives" about Canada and its position on Nijjar's killing.&nbsp;

"It is very likely that both Canadian and global audiences who follow international news events were exposed to Modi-aligned narratives, themes, and stories on social media platforms," it added.&nbsp;

The report questioned the credibility of user engagement of the Indian media outlets, calling them out, and stressing that they have "little reason to believe that user views have been amplified."&nbsp;

"AajTak, Zee News, and Republic shared several talk-show style clips on their YouTube channels 
about the PM Statement and Hardeep Singh Nijjar, receiving between 50K to IM user views per video. Regrettably, YouTube provides few public tools to verify whether user engagement is authentic or manipulated. RRM Canada, however, has little reason to believe that user views have been amplified," it added.&nbsp;

<h2>Narratives shared about Indian media's involvement&nbsp;</h2>

The report quoted Indian media agencies portraying "Canadian diplomats as haughty".&nbsp;

"In a popular post from ANI, High Commissioner Cameron MacKay leaves the Ministry of External Affairs building without taking questions from a reporter on the scene. Some commentators claim MacKay may have injured the journalist as he closed the embassy vehicle car door. The video received high levels of engagement (16.3K likes, shares, etc.) and was viewed over 2.1M times," the report stated.

According to the report, some of the commentators made direct pleas to Canadian parliamentarians to "eliminate alleged threats to the Indian state".&nbsp;

"The founder of the fringe 'The Frustrated Indian'&nbsp;media outlet, tagged Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre on Twitter, requesting that he neutralise the Khalistanis immediately after becoming the Prime Minister because if you don't, you won't have a country. All the best in advance," the report read.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Five Questions for India Hater Trudeau

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Meanwhile,&nbsp;some of the claims by the Indian media, as per the report,&nbsp;also stated that PM Trudeau is "inventing the incident to score political gains" and "satisfying the constituents who support the Khalistan movement". The commentators claimed the incident was a "brazen local political gimmick" at the cost of "assaulting another nation's sovereignty," the report read.&nbsp;

<h2>Hardeep Singh Nijjar's case explained&nbsp;</h2>

In June 2023, Khalistani separatist leader Nijjar was shot and killed by two masked individuals outside a Gurudwara in Surrey. Later in September, Canadian PM Trudeau blamed India and said that there were "credible allegations" of a "potential link" between agents of India's government and Nijjar's murder.&nbsp;

However, the Indian government rejected these allegations as "absurd" and "motivated" and alleged Canada was a supporter of Khalistani "terrorists".&nbsp;

Further, Trudeau clarified, saying that he was not trying to "provoke" or "escalate" the conflict, adding that Canada sought cooperation with India.&nbsp;

Rapid Response Mechanism Canada stated that its analysts will continue to observe the information space for new developments on this topic.

<h2>What's currently happening?&nbsp;</h2>

Earlier this week, on Wednesday (Oct 16) while testifying before the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions in Ottawa, Trudeau had admitted that his government did not have hard evidence against India when the allegations about New Delhi’s involvement in Nijjar's death were made.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nijjar-was-a-foreign-terrorist-top-opposition-figure-in-canada-rips-into-trudeau-over-india-row-768529">Also read:&nbsp;‘Nijjar was a foreign terrorist,’ Top opposition figure in Canada rips into Trudeau over India row</a>

"Canada asked India to cooperate. Their (India) ask was for proof. We asked for Indian security agencies to investigate further and cooperate with us. Because at that point what we (Canada) had was intelligence," Trudeau said.

"Their [Indian government] ask was how much do you know? Give us the evidence you have on this and our response was well...it's within your security agencies, you should be looking into how much they know. You should be engaging," the Canadian PM said.

"At that point, it was primarily intelligence and not hard evidentiary proof. So we said, let's work together and look into your security services and maybe we can get that out," he added.

Hours after Trudeau's testimony,&nbsp;the Indian foreign affairs ministry blasted the Canadian PM calling out his "cavalier attitude", and said, "What we have heard today only confirms what we have been saying consistently all along — Canada has presented us (India) no evidence whatsoever in support of the serious allegations that it has chosen to level against India and Indian diplomats."

"The responsibility for the damage that this cavalier behaviour has caused to India-Canada relations lies with Prime Minister Trudeau alone," the statement added.&nbsp;

Amid the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada, the Canadian government’s Foreign Interference Commission in a report highlighted the Indian media outlets and their massive reach in the context of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Khalistani separatist leader who Ottawa has accused New Delhi's agents of killing.

Amid the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada, the Canadian government’s Foreign Interference Commission in a report highlighted the Indian media outlets and their massive reach in the context of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Khalistani separatist leader who Ottawa has accused New Delhi's agents of killing. The report stated that the Indian media, especially those outlets perceived as being aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi – highlighted several narratives that targeted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canada's High Commissioner to India, Canada's national security agencies, Canada's Punjabi Sikh diaspora, and Nijjar's political beliefs. The report by the Canada's Foreign Interference Commission was published in September this year. "The report examined websites and US-based social media platforms to surface relevant English language content to assess potential Foreign Information Manipulations and Interference (FIMI) related to India, honing in on a set of 100 accounts across Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube that are frequently described as 'Godi' media (i.e., media outlets or personalities that are perceived as mouthpieces for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and current Indian Prime Minister Nerandra Modi)," it stated. The media outlets backed by PM Modi are quite popular with domestic Indian audiences as well as the diaspora communities abroad. "For example, some outlets have more than 10 million YouTube subscribers, including AajTak/lndia Today (80 million), Zee News/WION (68 million), News 18 (50.8 million), Republic (31.7 million), and Times Now (10.9 million)," the report mentioned. While defending its stance, the report stressed that Canada's low subscriber numbers of media outlets in comparison with Indian media create a "distinct advantage" in "amplifying negative narratives" about Canada and its position on Nijjar's killing. "It is very likely that both Canadian and global audiences who follow international news events were exposed to Modi-aligned narratives, themes, and stories on social media platforms," it added. The report questioned the credibility of user engagement of the Indian media outlets, calling them out, and stressing that they have "little reason to believe that user views have been amplified." "AajTak, Zee News, and Republic shared several talk-show style clips on their YouTube channels about the PM Statement and Hardeep Singh Nijjar, receiving between 50K to IM user views per video. Regrettably, YouTube provides few public tools to verify whether user engagement is authentic or manipulated. RRM Canada, however, has little reason to believe that user views have been amplified," it added. Narratives shared about Indian media's involvement The report quoted Indian media agencies portraying "Canadian diplomats as haughty". "In a popular post from ANI, High Commissioner Cameron MacKay leaves the Ministry of External Affairs building without taking questions from a reporter on the scene. Some commentators claim MacKay may have injured the journalist as he closed the embassy vehicle car door. The video received high levels of engagement (16.3K likes, shares, etc.) and was viewed over 2.1M times," the report stated. According to the report, some of the commentators made direct pleas to Canadian parliamentarians to "eliminate alleged threats to the Indian state". "The founder of the fringe 'The Frustrated Indian' media outlet, tagged Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre on Twitter, requesting that he neutralise the Khalistanis immediately after becoming the Prime Minister because if you don't, you won't have a country. All the best in advance," the report read. Watch | Five Questions for India Hater Trudeau × Meanwhile, some of the claims by the Indian media, as per the report, also stated that PM Trudeau is "inventing the incident to score political gains" and "satisfying the constituents who support the Khalistan movement". The commentators claimed the incident was a "brazen local political gimmick" at the cost of "assaulting another nation's sovereignty," the report read. Hardeep Singh Nijjar's case explained In June 2023, Khalistani separatist leader Nijjar was shot and killed by two masked individuals outside a Gurudwara in Surrey. Later in September, Canadian PM Trudeau blamed India and said that there were "credible allegations" of a "potential link" between agents of India's government and Nijjar's murder. However, the Indian government rejected these allegations as "absurd" and "motivated" and alleged Canada was a supporter of Khalistani "terrorists". Further, Trudeau clarified, saying that he was not trying to "provoke" or "escalate" the conflict, adding that Canada sought cooperation with India. Rapid Response Mechanism Canada stated that its analysts will continue to observe the information space for new developments on this topic. What's currently happening? Earlier this week, on Wednesday (Oct 16) while testifying before the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions in Ottawa, Trudeau had admitted that his government did not have hard evidence against India when the allegations about New Delhi’s involvement in Nijjar's death were made. Also read: ‘Nijjar was a foreign terrorist,’ Top opposition figure in Canada rips into Trudeau over India row "Canada asked India to cooperate. Their (India) ask was for proof. We asked for Indian security agencies to investigate further and cooperate with us. Because at that point what we (Canada) had was intelligence," Trudeau said. "Their [Indian government] ask was how much do you know? Give us the evidence you have on this and our response was well...it's within your security agencies, you should be looking into how much they know. You should be engaging," the Canadian PM said. "At that point, it was primarily intelligence and not hard evidentiary proof. So we said, let's work together and look into your security services and maybe we can get that out," he added. Hours after Trudeau's testimony, the Indian foreign affairs ministry blasted the Canadian PM calling out his "cavalier attitude", and said, "What we have heard today only confirms what we have been saying consistently all along — Canada has presented us (India) no evidence whatsoever in support of the serious allegations that it has chosen to level against India and Indian diplomats." "The responsibility for the damage that this cavalier behaviour has caused to India-Canada relations lies with Prime Minister Trudeau alone," the statement added.

Nijjar killing row: Is Canada afraid of Indian media?

Russia said Friday that it had swapped 95 Ukrainian soldiers held captive for an equal number of Russian troops in an exchange deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates.

"As a result of the negotiation process, 95 Russian servicemen were returned from territory controlled by the Kyiv regime," the Russian defence ministry said.&nbsp;

"In return, 95 Ukrainian army&nbsp;prisoners&nbsp;of war were handed over," it said.&nbsp;

Kyiv has not confirmed the exchange but the human rights centre Zmina said a prominent Ukrainian rights activist, Maksym Butkevych, was freed in the swap, citing his father.&nbsp;

Butkevych, co-founder of the independent Hromadske radio station and also a Ukraine serviceman, was serving a 13-year sentence on charges of wounding two civilians while firing an anti-tank grenade launcher in the eastern city of Severodonetsk.

He joined the Ukrainian army in March 2022, was detained in June and convicted of war crimes by a court in Lugansk in Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine in March 2023.

Despite ongoing hostilities, Russia and Ukraine have swapped hundreds of&nbsp;prisoners&nbsp;since the launch of Moscow's offensive in 2022, often in deals brokered by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia or Turkey.

The last reported swap was in September, when 206 POWs were exchanged, in a deal also mediated by the UAE.

Earlier Friday, Kyiv said it had received the bodies of 501 soldiers killed fighting Russian forces, mainly in eastern Ukraine, as a result of repatriation measures.

Russian lawmaker Shamsail Saraliyev told the RBK media outlet that Russia received 89 bodies of its soldiers in return.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

Russia said Friday that it had swapped 95 Ukrainian soldiers held captive for an equal number of Russian troops in an exchange deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates.

Russia said Friday that it had swapped 95 Ukrainian soldiers held captive for an equal number of Russian troops in an exchange deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates. "As a result of the negotiation process, 95 Russian servicemen were returned from territory controlled by the Kyiv regime," the Russian defence ministry said. "In return, 95 Ukrainian army prisoners of war were handed over," it said. Kyiv has not confirmed the exchange but the human rights centre Zmina said a prominent Ukrainian rights activist, Maksym Butkevych, was freed in the swap, citing his father. Butkevych, co-founder of the independent Hromadske radio station and also a Ukraine serviceman, was serving a 13-year sentence on charges of wounding two civilians while firing an anti-tank grenade launcher in the eastern city of Severodonetsk. He joined the Ukrainian army in March 2022, was detained in June and convicted of war crimes by a court in Lugansk in Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine in March 2023. Despite ongoing hostilities, Russia and Ukraine have swapped hundreds of prisoners since the launch of Moscow's offensive in 2022, often in deals brokered by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia or Turkey. The last reported swap was in September, when 206 POWs were exchanged, in a deal also mediated by the UAE. Earlier Friday, Kyiv said it had received the bodies of 501 soldiers killed fighting Russian forces, mainly in eastern Ukraine, as a result of repatriation measures. Russian lawmaker Shamsail Saraliyev told the RBK media outlet that Russia received 89 bodies of its soldiers in return. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Russia, Ukraine swap 190 prisoners of war in deal brokered by UAE

Animal lovers and activists in Malaysia are up in arms after a stray dog who went viral over an adorable video of her with a cat was shot dead.&nbsp;Kopi fell victim to a culling operation in the Besut district of northern Terengganu state on Oct 6 and now rights groups are demanding legal action against the authorities.

Instagram account My Forever Doggo reported people in the area as saying that they heard "loud gunshots". When they rushed out to see what had happened, they found Kopi lying on her side covered in blood and writhing in pain.

People who knew Kopi say that she was not a stray and they took care of her. Animal rights activists and Malaysians want an investigation into the killing.

Kopi became an instant hit after a viral TikTok earlier this year showed her playing around with a kitten. The resident who shared the video says he is shattered by the news. &nbsp;"I have been crying since I heard that Kopi had been shot," said Abby Razali, 27, who uploaded the video in March and also took care of her.&nbsp;

“I have been feeding her daily from the time she was a puppy. Everyone loved the video and I received many positive comments," she told The Star.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dog-mysteriously-climbs-to-top-of-455ft-great-pyramid-of-giza-gets-captured-by-paraglider-768051">Dog mysteriously climbs to top of 455ft Great Pyramid of Giza, gets captured by paraglider</a>

<h2>Kopi was like an elder sister to other animals</h2>

The Instagram account further stated that Kopi was like an elder sister to the other cats and puppies in the area. "She was known for her gentle nature and was completely harmless to anyone," it said.

Another person who talked to The Star said he rushed out of the house at 1:30 am after hearing loud explosions and saw "a group of men walking past Kopi" who lay on the road whimpering. He said he "went emotionally and mentally blank for a while and only realised Kopi was dead the next day."

People are now demanding justice for Kopi with the hashtag JusticeforKopi circulating on social media.

Animal rights activists and independent rescuers protested outside the Sentul police station this week demanding action against those responsible for the killing, holding posters and raising slogans.

The groups also plan to submit a memorandum to the Department of Veterinary Services.

Animal lovers and activists in Malaysia are up in arms after a stray dog who went viral over an adorable video of her with a cat was shot dead. Kopi fell victim to a culling operation in the Besut district of northern Terengganu state on Oct 6 and now rights groups are demanding legal action against the authorities.

Animal lovers and activists in Malaysia are up in arms after a stray dog who went viral over an adorable video of her with a cat was shot dead. Kopi fell victim to a culling operation in the Besut district of northern Terengganu state on Oct 6 and now rights groups are demanding legal action against the authorities. Instagram account My Forever Doggo reported people in the area as saying that they heard "loud gunshots". When they rushed out to see what had happened, they found Kopi lying on her side covered in blood and writhing in pain. People who knew Kopi say that she was not a stray and they took care of her. Animal rights activists and Malaysians want an investigation into the killing. Kopi became an instant hit after a viral TikTok earlier this year showed her playing around with a kitten. The resident who shared the video says he is shattered by the news. "I have been crying since I heard that Kopi had been shot," said Abby Razali, 27, who uploaded the video in March and also took care of her. “I have been feeding her daily from the time she was a puppy. Everyone loved the video and I received many positive comments," she told The Star. Also Read: Dog mysteriously climbs to top of 455ft Great Pyramid of Giza, gets captured by paraglider Kopi was like an elder sister to other animals The Instagram account further stated that Kopi was like an elder sister to the other cats and puppies in the area. "She was known for her gentle nature and was completely harmless to anyone," it said. Another person who talked to The Star said he rushed out of the house at 1:30 am after hearing loud explosions and saw "a group of men walking past Kopi" who lay on the road whimpering. He said he "went emotionally and mentally blank for a while and only realised Kopi was dead the next day." People are now demanding justice for Kopi with the hashtag JusticeforKopi circulating on social media. Animal rights activists and independent rescuers protested outside the Sentul police station this week demanding action against those responsible for the killing, holding posters and raising slogans. The groups also plan to submit a memorandum to the Department of Veterinary Services.

Beloved dog seen playing with kitten in viral video shot dead in Malaysia

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Beloved dog seen playing with kitten in viral video shot dead in Malaysia