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An increasingly powerful hurricane threatening "catastrophic," dangerous storm surges and flooding was forecast to smash into Florida's Gulf coast on Thursday, as thousands of residents evacuated towns along the US state's shoreline.

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Helene strengthened into a hurricane mid-morning Wednesday in the Gulf of Mexico and is "expected to bring life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains to a large portion of Florida and the Southeastern United States," the National Hurricane Center in Miami said in its latest bulletin.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to 85 miles (137 kilometers) per hour with higher gusts, as the storm moves north at 12 mph.

"Strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast Thursday evening," the NHC added.

The storm now has the potential to roar ashore as an intensely powerful Category 4 hurricane, on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale, potentially with sustained winds of 130 miles per hour, the center said.

"A catastrophic and deadly storm surge is likely along portions of the Florida Big Bend coast, where inundation could reach as high as 20 feet (six meters) above ground level, along with destructive waves," according to the NHC.

The storm also has potential to "penetrate well inland," it added. Several states are in the warning cone, and Atlanta, a Georgia metropolis hundreds of miles from the Gulf Coast and whose region is home to five million people, is forecast to experience close to tropical storm-force winds and heavy rain into Friday.

President Joe Biden was briefed on the storm Wednesday. "The entire Biden-Harris Administration stands ready to provide further assistance to Florida, and other states in the path of the storm, as needed," the White House said in a statement.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency for nearly all of Florida's 67 counties, including Miami-Dade. He has mobilized the National Guard and positioned thousands of personnel to prepare for possible search and rescue operations and power restoration.

"The impacts are going to be far beyond the eye of the storm," DeSantis said as he urged Floridians to rush preparations to completion and evacuate if ordered.

Helene earlier lashed Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, home to multiple tourist hotspots, including Cancun. By Wednesday afternoon, the storm's outer bands were buffeting the southern Florida Keys.

Sixteen Florida counties have announced mandatory partial evacuation orders, while two have ordered the evacuation of all residents. DeSantis said at least 62 health care facilities, from hospitals to nursing homes, have already begun evacuations.

- Whole state bracing -&nbsp;

A "direct impact" was likely in the Tallahassee region, where coastal communities already looked like ghost towns by Wednesday afternoon. 
In Crawfordville, potentially in the storm's direct path, wheelchair-bound residents of the Eden Springs Nursing and Rehab Center were being placed on coach buses for evacuation.

Other locals were seen loading up on gas and supplies, filling sandbags and boarding up homes and businesses. Communities across a wide swath of northwest Florida -- including Tampa Bay, an area of more than three million residents -- faced the dangerous threats of storm surge, heavy rain and fierce winds.

In St. Petersburg, adjacent to Tampa, cars lined up at supply donation or distribution centers while people filled sandbags. Teacher Lorraine Major, seen making her own preparations, has lived in Florida her whole life. "You get used to it," she said of the multiple storms and hurricanes that batter her state every year.

"But these last couple of years, the hurricanes are getting really, really bad," the 44-year-old told AFP in St. Petersburg.

In nearby Clearwater, resident Jasper MacFarland laid sand bags at his house entrance. "I expect the water to come up and I just don't want it to get in the house," he said.

A 250-mile stretch of coastline, essentially from Tampa Bay to just shy of Panama City, on the Florida panhandle is under hurricane warning. If forecasts are confirmed, Helene would become the most powerful hurricane to hit the US in more than a year.

Category 3 Hurricane Idalia hit northwestern Florida in August 2023. Researchers say climate change likely plays a role in the rapid intensification of storms, because there is more energy in a warmer ocean for them to feed on.

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.

An increasingly powerful hurricane threatening "catastrophic," dangerous storm surges and flooding was forecast to smash into Florida's Gulf coast on Thursday, as thousands of residents evacuated towns along the US state's shoreline.

An increasingly powerful hurricane threatening "catastrophic," dangerous storm surges and flooding was forecast to smash into Florida's Gulf coast on Thursday, as thousands of residents evacuated towns along the US state's shoreline. Helene strengthened into a hurricane mid-morning Wednesday in the Gulf of Mexico and is "expected to bring life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains to a large portion of Florida and the Southeastern United States," the National Hurricane Center in Miami said in its latest bulletin. Maximum sustained winds have increased to 85 miles (137 kilometers) per hour with higher gusts, as the storm moves north at 12 mph. "Strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast Thursday evening," the NHC added. The storm now has the potential to roar ashore as an intensely powerful Category 4 hurricane, on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale, potentially with sustained winds of 130 miles per hour, the center said. "A catastrophic and deadly storm surge is likely along portions of the Florida Big Bend coast, where inundation could reach as high as 20 feet (six meters) above ground level, along with destructive waves," according to the NHC. The storm also has potential to "penetrate well inland," it added. Several states are in the warning cone, and Atlanta, a Georgia metropolis hundreds of miles from the Gulf Coast and whose region is home to five million people, is forecast to experience close to tropical storm-force winds and heavy rain into Friday. President Joe Biden was briefed on the storm Wednesday. "The entire Biden-Harris Administration stands ready to provide further assistance to Florida, and other states in the path of the storm, as needed," the White House said in a statement. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency for nearly all of Florida's 67 counties, including Miami-Dade. He has mobilized the National Guard and positioned thousands of personnel to prepare for possible search and rescue operations and power restoration. "The impacts are going to be far beyond the eye of the storm," DeSantis said as he urged Floridians to rush preparations to completion and evacuate if ordered. Helene earlier lashed Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, home to multiple tourist hotspots, including Cancun. By Wednesday afternoon, the storm's outer bands were buffeting the southern Florida Keys. Sixteen Florida counties have announced mandatory partial evacuation orders, while two have ordered the evacuation of all residents. DeSantis said at least 62 health care facilities, from hospitals to nursing homes, have already begun evacuations. - Whole state bracing - A "direct impact" was likely in the Tallahassee region, where coastal communities already looked like ghost towns by Wednesday afternoon. In Crawfordville, potentially in the storm's direct path, wheelchair-bound residents of the Eden Springs Nursing and Rehab Center were being placed on coach buses for evacuation. Other locals were seen loading up on gas and supplies, filling sandbags and boarding up homes and businesses. Communities across a wide swath of northwest Florida -- including Tampa Bay, an area of more than three million residents -- faced the dangerous threats of storm surge, heavy rain and fierce winds. In St. Petersburg, adjacent to Tampa, cars lined up at supply donation or distribution centers while people filled sandbags. Teacher Lorraine Major, seen making her own preparations, has lived in Florida her whole life. "You get used to it," she said of the multiple storms and hurricanes that batter her state every year. "But these last couple of years, the hurricanes are getting really, really bad," the 44-year-old told AFP in St. Petersburg. In nearby Clearwater, resident Jasper MacFarland laid sand bags at his house entrance. "I expect the water to come up and I just don't want it to get in the house," he said. A 250-mile stretch of coastline, essentially from Tampa Bay to just shy of Panama City, on the Florida panhandle is under hurricane warning. If forecasts are confirmed, Helene would become the most powerful hurricane to hit the US in more than a year. Category 3 Hurricane Idalia hit northwestern Florida in August 2023. Researchers say climate change likely plays a role in the rapid intensification of storms, because there is more energy in a warmer ocean for them to feed on. 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.

Hurricane Helene strengthens, threatens ‘catastrophic’ storms in Florida

Sri Lanka's long-term foreign currency rating at Rd which is restricted default while keeping the long-term local currency at CCC. Now an RD rating indicates that a country has defaulted on a financial obligation but has not yet filed for default or entered into any other formal winding up procedures.

Fitch Holds Sri Lanka's Foreign-Currency Rating At RD

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe: US and allies call for 21-day ceasefire, Australia urges 15,000 people to leave Lebanon, Zelensky refusing to accept deal to end war: Trump

Discrimination Against Women in Afghanistan | Pope's Visit To 'Heart Of Europe'

Tensions in the South China Sea continue to escalate, in the latest the Taiwanese defense Ministry has reported a surge in Chinese war planes loitering over its eastern, western and southern course. Watch to know more.

China-Taiwan: Surge in Chinese Warplanes Near Taiwan, 72 Warplanes In 48 Hours |

The Israeli military said on Thursday it hit around 75 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon during the night, including ammunition depots of the Lebanese armed group.

 
"Overnight, the IDF (Israeli military)... struck approximately 75 terror targets" belonging to Hezbollah "in the area of Bekaa and in southern Lebanon, including weapons storage facilities, ready-to-fire launchers" as well as militants and other infrastructure, the military said in a statement.

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.

(This is a developing story. More to follow)

The Israeli military said on Thursday it hit around 75 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon during the night, including ammunition depots of the Lebanese armed group. "Overnight, the IDF (Israeli military).

The Israeli military said on Thursday it hit around 75 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon during the night, including ammunition depots of the Lebanese armed group. "Overnight, the IDF (Israeli military)... struck approximately 75 terror targets" belonging to Hezbollah "in the area of Bekaa and in southern Lebanon, including weapons storage facilities, ready-to-fire launchers" as well as militants and other infrastructure, the military said in a statement. 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. (This is a developing story. More to follow)

Israeli military claims it hit 75 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon overnight

Residents of a tiny village in Yorkshire, England are facing a unique threat. They are being terrorised by someone sending anonymous abusive letters, The Independent reported. The poison pen letter scandal has enveloped Shiptonthorpe and some people are even comparing it to the famous TV series Bridgerton.&nbsp;

The village has only about 500 people and most of them have been targeted by the person sending these letters. “Whoever’s doing it is quite professional,” village Councillor Leo Hammond told The Independent. The said person has not even spared the elderly residents, councillors and volunteers.

The letters carry hate-filled comments and filthy words. One of them told the publication that they received a blank Christmas card with only the word &nbsp;"c*nt" written on it.&nbsp;

Parish council chair, Victor Lambert, was told by the poison pen writer that they hoped "a bus on the A1079” would run them over.&nbsp;

Councillor Leo Hammond has also received eight such letters, starting from November 2022. However, he says he knows he will get some extra attention considering he is a politician.&nbsp;

The letters are being sent through the Royal Mail. Some of them are handwritten, while others are “typed on different machines” using different fonts. The size of the paper also varies. The weirdest part is the names signed at the bottom.

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“Some of them, weirdly, have been signed by people who don’t exist,” Councillor Hammond said.

<h2>Person wishes bad luck on residents</h2>

The person sending the letters is also praying for bad luck to literally "rain down" on the residents. One of his letters shared in the residents’ Facebook group, reads that they wish Yorkshire weather delivers lots of rain "so your house can get flooded again and again”.

“Most people in Shiptonthorpe are wanting rain and floods so you are washed away never to be seen again," it adds.

The letters have been haunting the village for years. Councillor Hammond said that he received his "last letter earlier this year."

"At least two people have had them this month, and I think somebody else got one in August," he added.

There have never been any clues about who the person sending the letters is or why are they doing so. However, Councillor Hammond suspects that the person might be unhappy with certain decisions taken at the parish council.

"At the end of the day, the parish councillors and volunteers are trying to do good stuff for their local village or the local community," he said.

An investigation has been launched into the matter.

Residents of a tiny village in Yorkshire, England are facing a unique threat. They are being terrorised by someone sending anonymous abusive letters, The Independent reported.

Residents of a tiny village in Yorkshire, England are facing a unique threat. They are being terrorised by someone sending anonymous abusive letters, The Independent reported. The poison pen letter scandal has enveloped Shiptonthorpe and some people are even comparing it to the famous TV series Bridgerton. The village has only about 500 people and most of them have been targeted by the person sending these letters. “Whoever’s doing it is quite professional,” village Councillor Leo Hammond told The Independent. The said person has not even spared the elderly residents, councillors and volunteers. The letters carry hate-filled comments and filthy words. One of them told the publication that they received a blank Christmas card with only the word "c*nt" written on it. Parish council chair, Victor Lambert, was told by the poison pen writer that they hoped "a bus on the A1079” would run them over. Councillor Leo Hammond has also received eight such letters, starting from November 2022. However, he says he knows he will get some extra attention considering he is a politician. The letters are being sent through the Royal Mail. Some of them are handwritten, while others are “typed on different machines” using different fonts. The size of the paper also varies. The weirdest part is the names signed at the bottom. Also Read: Scientists want to add 50 minutes to your flight time to save the planet “Some of them, weirdly, have been signed by people who don’t exist,” Councillor Hammond said. Person wishes bad luck on residents The person sending the letters is also praying for bad luck to literally "rain down" on the residents. One of his letters shared in the residents’ Facebook group, reads that they wish Yorkshire weather delivers lots of rain "so your house can get flooded again and again”. “Most people in Shiptonthorpe are wanting rain and floods so you are washed away never to be seen again," it adds. The letters have been haunting the village for years. Councillor Hammond said that he received his "last letter earlier this year." "At least two people have had them this month, and I think somebody else got one in August," he added. There have never been any clues about who the person sending the letters is or why are they doing so. However, Councillor Hammond suspects that the person might be unhappy with certain decisions taken at the parish council. "At the end of the day, the parish councillors and volunteers are trying to do good stuff for their local village or the local community," he said. An investigation has been launched into the matter.

Someone is sending hate-filled 'poison pen letters' to a Yorkshire village. No one knows who

For the first time since Elon Musk took over as CEO in October 2022, X (formerly Twitter) released a transparency report on Wednesday (Sep 25), which offers insight into the platform’s content moderation efforts for the first half of 2024.

This 15-page Global Transparency Report is the first since December 2021 and shows how X has managed user content. Before Musk's takeover, Twitter published semi-annual reports on its moderation efforts through its Transparency Center, a practice that began in 2012.&nbsp;

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The report reveals that from January to June 2024, X reported suspending nearly 5.3 million accounts, a significant increase compared to the 1.6 million accounts suspended during the same period in 2022. In addition, over 10.6 million posts were either taken down or flagged for breaking platform rules. About 5 million of these were flagged for breaching the “hateful conduct” policy.

Posts containing violent content (2.2 million) and those related to abuse and harassment (2.6 million) also made up a large part of the content that was either labelled or removed.&nbsp;

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X also reported 370,588 cases of child exploitation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) during the first half of 2024, as required by law. The platform noted that it had suspended over 2 million accounts linked to child sexual abuse material (CSAM).&nbsp;

"Our policies and enforcement principles are grounded in human rights, and we have been taking an extensive and holistic approach towards freedom of expression by investing in developing a broader range of remediations, with a particular focus on education, rehabilitation, and deterrence," the report read.&nbsp;

"These beliefs are the foundation of 'Freedom of Speech, not Freedom of Reach'— our enforcement philosophy, which means we restrict the reach of posts, only where appropriate, to make the content less discoverable as an alternative to removal," it added.

(With inputs from agencies)

For the first time since Elon Musk took over as CEO in October 2022, X (formerly Twitter) released a transparency report on Wednesday (Sep 25), which offers insight into the platform’s content moderation efforts for the first half of 2024.

For the first time since Elon Musk took over as CEO in October 2022, X (formerly Twitter) released a transparency report on Wednesday (Sep 25), which offers insight into the platform’s content moderation efforts for the first half of 2024. This 15-page Global Transparency Report is the first since December 2021 and shows how X has managed user content. Before Musk's takeover, Twitter published semi-annual reports on its moderation efforts through its Transparency Center, a practice that began in 2012. Also read: New report reveals staggering Secret Service failures in first Trump assassination attempt The report reveals that from January to June 2024, X reported suspending nearly 5.3 million accounts, a significant increase compared to the 1.6 million accounts suspended during the same period in 2022. In addition, over 10.6 million posts were either taken down or flagged for breaking platform rules. About 5 million of these were flagged for breaching the “hateful conduct” policy. Posts containing violent content (2.2 million) and those related to abuse and harassment (2.6 million) also made up a large part of the content that was either labelled or removed. Also read: NY Mayor Eric Adams indicted by grand jury, says wont resign X also reported 370,588 cases of child exploitation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) during the first half of 2024, as required by law. The platform noted that it had suspended over 2 million accounts linked to child sexual abuse material (CSAM). "Our policies and enforcement principles are grounded in human rights, and we have been taking an extensive and holistic approach towards freedom of expression by investing in developing a broader range of remediations, with a particular focus on education, rehabilitation, and deterrence," the report read. "These beliefs are the foundation of 'Freedom of Speech, not Freedom of Reach'— our enforcement philosophy, which means we restrict the reach of posts, only where appropriate, to make the content less discoverable as an alternative to removal," it added. (With inputs from agencies)

X reveals first transparency report under Musk; 5 million accounts axed in 2024

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces a no-confidence motion in Canada's parliament, introduced by Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. The motion follows the New Democratic Party's exit from a coalition with the Liberals, leaving Trudeau's minority government vulnerable. Despite public dissatisfaction, the motion is unlikely to succeed as smaller factions support the government.

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau faces litmus test

Addressing a special UN Security Council (UNSC) session on Tuesday (Sep 24) in New York, Ukrainian&nbsp;President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had already invited&nbsp;India to join the peace process to end the ongoing war.

Zelensky urged the powerful UN body to prepare for the second peace summit as the war supposedly enters its business end.&nbsp;

"And I invite all of you, all principle nations to join us in this process, all who truly respect the UN Charter. We invite China. We invite Brazil. I have already invited India," said Zelensky.&nbsp;

"We all know what needs to be done if we honestly look at the situation and truly want to stop Russia's war. Most importantly, act together, of course in unity, without creating new and unnecessary divisions of the world into blocks or regional groups," he added.

The first peace summit was held in Switzerland in June and saw the participation of 101 countries while more than 80 countries signed a&nbsp;declaration endorsing “principles of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all states, including Ukraine".&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pm-modi-meets-ukrainian-president-zelensky-before-concluding-his-three-day-us-visit-761388">Watch |&nbsp;PM Modi Meets Ukrainian President Zelensky Before Concluding His Three-Day US Visit</a>

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&nbsp;

<h2>India stands for peace</h2>

India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has actively sought for a peaceful resolution to the war. During his meeting with Zelensky on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, New Delhi reaffirmed its stance on the issue.&nbsp;

"Met President @ZelenskyyUa in New York. We are committed to implementing the outcomes of my visit to Ukraine last month to strengthen bilateral relations. Reiterated India’s support for early resolution of the conflict in Ukraine and restoration of peace and stability," wrote PM Modi on X (formerly Twitter).&nbsp;

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Met President <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZelenskyyUa</a> in New York. We are committed to implementing the outcomes of my visit to Ukraine last month to strengthen bilateral relations. Reiterated India’s support for early resolution of the conflict in Ukraine and restoration of peace and stability. <a href="https://t.co/YRGelX1Gl5">pic.twitter.com/YRGelX1Gl5</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1838337654850556211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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This was the third meeting between the two leaders in little over three months, with Zelensky stating that the two nations were developing their relations and "working together to strengthen cooperations across various fields.&nbsp;

Prior to Monday's meeting, the two leaders had met in Kyiv last month when PM Modi arrived on a historic one-day visit which was the first ever by an Indian PM since the diplomatic relations between the two nations were established in 1992.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Addressing a special UN Security Council (UNSC) session on Tuesday (Sep 24) in New York, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had already invited India to join the peace process to end the ongoing war.

Addressing a special UN Security Council (UNSC) session on Tuesday (Sep 24) in New York, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had already invited India to join the peace process to end the ongoing war. Zelensky urged the powerful UN body to prepare for the second peace summit as the war supposedly enters its business end. "And I invite all of you, all principle nations to join us in this process, all who truly respect the UN Charter. We invite China. We invite Brazil. I have already invited India," said Zelensky. "We all know what needs to be done if we honestly look at the situation and truly want to stop Russia's war. Most importantly, act together, of course in unity, without creating new and unnecessary divisions of the world into blocks or regional groups," he added. The first peace summit was held in Switzerland in June and saw the participation of 101 countries while more than 80 countries signed a declaration endorsing “principles of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all states, including Ukraine". Watch | PM Modi Meets Ukrainian President Zelensky Before Concluding His Three-Day US Visit × India stands for peace India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has actively sought for a peaceful resolution to the war. During his meeting with Zelensky on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, New Delhi reaffirmed its stance on the issue. "Met President @ZelenskyyUa in New York. We are committed to implementing the outcomes of my visit to Ukraine last month to strengthen bilateral relations. Reiterated India’s support for early resolution of the conflict in Ukraine and restoration of peace and stability," wrote PM Modi on X (formerly Twitter). Met President @ZelenskyyUa in New York. We are committed to implementing the outcomes of my visit to Ukraine last month to strengthen bilateral relations. Reiterated India’s support for early resolution of the conflict in Ukraine and restoration of peace and stability. pic.twitter.com/YRGelX1Gl5 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 23, 2024 × This was the third meeting between the two leaders in little over three months, with Zelensky stating that the two nations were developing their relations and "working together to strengthen cooperations across various fields. Prior to Monday's meeting, the two leaders had met in Kyiv last month when PM Modi arrived on a historic one-day visit which was the first ever by an Indian PM since the diplomatic relations between the two nations were established in 1992. (With inputs from agencies)

Zelensky says he 'already invited' India for 2nd peace summit to end war with Russia

Voting began in the second phase of the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday (Sep&nbsp;25) morning. The polls are being conducted on 26 assembly seats in six districts of the union territory.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, US intelligence agencies briefed former President Donald Trump of "real and specific" threats from Iran to assassinate him in an effort to destabilise and "sow chaos" in America.&nbsp;

The gunman, Ryan Routh, who attempted to assassinate former US President Donald Trump near his golf course in Florida, has been charged with 'attempted assassination' by the prosecutors.

Click on the headlines to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jammu-kashmir-assembly-election-2024-phase-2-poll-live-voting-updates-pdp-vs-bjp-vs-nc-vs-inc-eci-news-761688">J&amp;K Elections Phase 2: Brisk polling observed in initial hours</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/09/13/454575-ncppdpelectioncommissionmunicipalpanchayat.jpeg?imwidth=400" />

Voting began in the second phase of the assembly polls in the union territory early on Wednesday (Sep 25) morning. The polls are being conducted on 26 assembly seats in six districts of J&amp;K in the second phase.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-intel-warns-trump-of-real-and-specific-threats-from-iran-to-assassinate-him-761693">US Intel warns Trump of 'real and specific' threats from Iran to assassinate him</a>

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The US intelligence agencies briefed former President Donald Trump of "real and specific" threats from Iran to assassinate him, his presidential campaign said in a statement on Tuesday (Sep&nbsp;24).

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-gunman-ryan-routh-charged-with-attempted-assassination-by-prosecutors-761682">Trump gunman Ryan Routh charged with attempted assassination by prosecutors</a>

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Ryan Routh, the gunman who attempted to kill former US president Donald Trump near his golf&nbsp;course in Florida has been charged with 'attempted assassination' by the prosecutors.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kamala-harris-arizona-campaign-office-shot-at-days-after-trump-assassination-bid-761705">Kamala Harris' Arizona campaign office shot at, days after Trump assassination bid</a>

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US Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign office in Arizona was shot at by an unidentified individual on Monday (Sep 23), just a couple of weeks after Donald Trump survived another assassination attempt.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Hezbollah-Israel War: Top Hezbollah Commander Killed

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Voting began in the second phase of the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday (Sep 25) morning. The polls are being conducted on 26 assembly seats in six districts of the union territory.

Voting began in the second phase of the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday (Sep 25) morning. The polls are being conducted on 26 assembly seats in six districts of the union territory. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, US intelligence agencies briefed former President Donald Trump of "real and specific" threats from Iran to assassinate him in an effort to destabilise and "sow chaos" in America. The gunman, Ryan Routh, who attempted to assassinate former US President Donald Trump near his golf course in Florida, has been charged with 'attempted assassination' by the prosecutors. Click on the headlines to read more: J&K Elections Phase 2: Brisk polling observed in initial hours Voting began in the second phase of the assembly polls in the union territory early on Wednesday (Sep 25) morning. The polls are being conducted on 26 assembly seats in six districts of J&K in the second phase. US Intel warns Trump of 'real and specific' threats from Iran to assassinate him The US intelligence agencies briefed former President Donald Trump of "real and specific" threats from Iran to assassinate him, his presidential campaign said in a statement on Tuesday (Sep 24). Trump gunman Ryan Routh charged with attempted assassination by prosecutors Ryan Routh, the gunman who attempted to kill former US president Donald Trump near his golf course in Florida has been charged with 'attempted assassination' by the prosecutors. Kamala Harris' Arizona campaign office shot at, days after Trump assassination bid US Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign office in Arizona was shot at by an unidentified individual on Monday (Sep 23), just a couple of weeks after Donald Trump survived another assassination attempt. Watch | Hezbollah-Israel War: Top Hezbollah Commander Killed ×

Morning brief: J&K Assembly polls phase 2; assassination threats from Iran for Trump, and more

The morbid suicide pod that claimed its first victim on Monday in Switzerland, doled out chilling words before she pressed the button. The Sarco suicide pod reportedly told the 64-year-old American woman to press the button if she wanted to die.&nbsp;

“If you want to die, press this button,” the machine said, as reported by AFP.&nbsp;

Named Sarco, short for “sarcophagus", the suicide pod is a 3D-printed chamber in which people can die within minutes after going ahead with the grave act. It has been termed the "Tesla of euthanasia"&nbsp;

The chamber is filled with nitrogen gas, triggering the user’s oxygen levels to drop to deadly levels. However, the person can exit it using an emergency button.

The woman's death led to several arrests since the machine had not received official approval for use. The assisted suicide took place in a forest cabin in Merishausen and was witnessed by only one person, Florian Willet, the co-president of assisted-suicide group Exit International’s Swiss affiliate, the Last Resort.

He described the death as “peaceful, fast and dignified,” the organisation said.

The woman was suffering from “severe immune compromise,” Exit International said.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/swiss-authorities-open-probe-make-arrests-after-woman-dies-in-suicide-capsule-761660">Swiss authorities open probe, make arrests after woman dies in ‘suicide capsule’</a>

Those arrested are under investigation for alleged incitement and accessory to suicide. A photographer with the Dutch newspaper Volkskrant was among those arrested, the outlet said Tuesday.

<h2>'Pleased the Sarco performed exactly as intended'</h2>

After the woman's death, Exit International director Dr. Philip Nitschke said that he was “pleased that the Sarco had performed exactly as it had been designed… to provide an elective, non-drug, peaceful death at the time of the person’s choosing.”

Switzerland is one of the few countries that allows people to legally end their lives through assisted suicide. As per the law, the person must take their life without “external assistance” from a doctor, but others can help provided they do not do so for a “self-serving motive.”

However, euthanasia, which involves a medical professional such as a doctor, is prohibited in Switzerland. The Sarco suicide pod faces grim chances of getting approval as Swiss Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider suggested Monday that it might never gain legal status.

“It does not fulfil the demands of the product safety law, and as such, must not be brought into circulation,” she said.

The morbid suicide pod that claimed its first victim on Monday in Switzerland, doled out chilling words before she pressed the button. The Sarco suicide pod reportedly told the 64-year-old American woman to press the button if she wanted to die.

The morbid suicide pod that claimed its first victim on Monday in Switzerland, doled out chilling words before she pressed the button. The Sarco suicide pod reportedly told the 64-year-old American woman to press the button if she wanted to die. “If you want to die, press this button,” the machine said, as reported by AFP. Named Sarco, short for “sarcophagus", the suicide pod is a 3D-printed chamber in which people can die within minutes after going ahead with the grave act. It has been termed the "Tesla of euthanasia" The chamber is filled with nitrogen gas, triggering the user’s oxygen levels to drop to deadly levels. However, the person can exit it using an emergency button. The woman's death led to several arrests since the machine had not received official approval for use. The assisted suicide took place in a forest cabin in Merishausen and was witnessed by only one person, Florian Willet, the co-president of assisted-suicide group Exit International’s Swiss affiliate, the Last Resort. He described the death as “peaceful, fast and dignified,” the organisation said. The woman was suffering from “severe immune compromise,” Exit International said. Also Read: Swiss authorities open probe, make arrests after woman dies in ‘suicide capsule’ Those arrested are under investigation for alleged incitement and accessory to suicide. A photographer with the Dutch newspaper Volkskrant was among those arrested, the outlet said Tuesday. 'Pleased the Sarco performed exactly as intended' After the woman's death, Exit International director Dr. Philip Nitschke said that he was “pleased that the Sarco had performed exactly as it had been designed… to provide an elective, non-drug, peaceful death at the time of the person’s choosing.” Switzerland is one of the few countries that allows people to legally end their lives through assisted suicide. As per the law, the person must take their life without “external assistance” from a doctor, but others can help provided they do not do so for a “self-serving motive.” However, euthanasia, which involves a medical professional such as a doctor, is prohibited in Switzerland. The Sarco suicide pod faces grim chances of getting approval as Swiss Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider suggested Monday that it might never gain legal status. “It does not fulfil the demands of the product safety law, and as such, must not be brought into circulation,” she said.

'If you want to...': 8 chilling words doled out by suicide pod to American woman

China said on Wednesday that it successfully conducted a rare launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean, a move likely to raise international concerns about the country's nuclear build-up.

The ICBM, carrying a dummy warhead, was launched by the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force at 8:44 a.m. Beijing time (0044 GMT) on Wednesday and "fell into expected sea areas," the Chinese defence ministry said in a statement, adding that it was a "routine arrangement in our annual training plan" and not directed at any country or target.

China "informed the countries concerned in advance," according to a separate Xinhua report, which did not clarify the path of the missile or where in the "high seas of the Pacific Ocean" it fell.

The launch "effectively tested the performance of weapons and equipment and the training level of the troops, and achieved the expected goal," Xinhua reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-conducts-successful-intercontinental-ballistic-missile-test-launch-710685">Also read:&nbsp;Russia conducts successful intercontinental ballistic missile test launch</a>

A Japan Coast Guard official said it had received a navigation warning from China on Monday for "space debris" in three zones in the South China Sea and the Pacific north of the Philippines' Luzon island, and in the South Pacific, on Wednesday.

The official declined to confirm whether it was related to the reported missile launch.

It is rare for China to fire long-range missiles into the sea as it prefers to test them unannounced in isolated provinces such as Inner Mongolia, analysts said.

The PLA Rocket Force, which oversees the country's conventional and nuclear missiles, has been tasked with modernising China's nuclear forces in the face of developments such as improved U.S. missile defences, better surveillance capabilities, and strengthened alliances.

Watch |&nbsp;US test launches 'Minuteman III' nuclear missile

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Some analysts, however, say the speed of China's nuclear build-up goes beyond credible minimum deterrence - the smallest strategic arsenal needed to prevent attacks.

Beijing has for years stuck to a "no first use" nuclear weapons policy, but analysts note the PLA is catching up with major nuclear powers by fielding a nascent triad of weapons that can fired from land, sea, and air.

The Chinese military has emphasised that the Central Military Commission, headed by President Xi Jinping, is the only nuclear command authority.

China, frequently criticised by the US for the opacity of its nuclear build-up, scrapped nuclear talks with Washington in July over US arms sales to Taiwan.

China has more than 500 operational nuclear warheads in its arsenal, of which approximately 350 are ICBMs, and will probably have over 1,000 warheads by 2030, the Pentagon estimated last year. China's military is constructing hundreds of silos for land-based ICBMs, the Pentagon said in the report.

That compares to 1,770 and 1,710 operational warheads deployed by the U.S. and Russia, respectively. The Pentagon said that by 2030, many of Beijing's weapons will likely be held at higher readiness levels.

Democratically governed Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained of increased Chinese military activities around the island in the past five years.

Taiwan's defence ministry said on Wednesday it had detected 23 Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighters and drones, operating around Taiwan carrying out long-range missions to the southeast and east of the island.

The ministry added it had also recently detected "intensive" Chinese missile firing and other drills, though it did not give details of where that took place.

Taiwan has dispatched its own air and naval forces to keep watch, the ministry said.

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.

China said on Wednesday that it successfully conducted a rare launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean, a move likely to raise international concerns about the country's nuclear build-up.

China said on Wednesday that it successfully conducted a rare launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean, a move likely to raise international concerns about the country's nuclear build-up. The ICBM, carrying a dummy warhead, was launched by the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force at 8:44 a.m. Beijing time (0044 GMT) on Wednesday and "fell into expected sea areas," the Chinese defence ministry said in a statement, adding that it was a "routine arrangement in our annual training plan" and not directed at any country or target. China "informed the countries concerned in advance," according to a separate Xinhua report, which did not clarify the path of the missile or where in the "high seas of the Pacific Ocean" it fell. The launch "effectively tested the performance of weapons and equipment and the training level of the troops, and achieved the expected goal," Xinhua reported. Also read: Russia conducts successful intercontinental ballistic missile test launch A Japan Coast Guard official said it had received a navigation warning from China on Monday for "space debris" in three zones in the South China Sea and the Pacific north of the Philippines' Luzon island, and in the South Pacific, on Wednesday. The official declined to confirm whether it was related to the reported missile launch. It is rare for China to fire long-range missiles into the sea as it prefers to test them unannounced in isolated provinces such as Inner Mongolia, analysts said. The PLA Rocket Force, which oversees the country's conventional and nuclear missiles, has been tasked with modernising China's nuclear forces in the face of developments such as improved U.S. missile defences, better surveillance capabilities, and strengthened alliances. Watch | US test launches 'Minuteman III' nuclear missile × Some analysts, however, say the speed of China's nuclear build-up goes beyond credible minimum deterrence - the smallest strategic arsenal needed to prevent attacks. Beijing has for years stuck to a "no first use" nuclear weapons policy, but analysts note the PLA is catching up with major nuclear powers by fielding a nascent triad of weapons that can fired from land, sea, and air. The Chinese military has emphasised that the Central Military Commission, headed by President Xi Jinping, is the only nuclear command authority. China, frequently criticised by the US for the opacity of its nuclear build-up, scrapped nuclear talks with Washington in July over US arms sales to Taiwan. China has more than 500 operational nuclear warheads in its arsenal, of which approximately 350 are ICBMs, and will probably have over 1,000 warheads by 2030, the Pentagon estimated last year. China's military is constructing hundreds of silos for land-based ICBMs, the Pentagon said in the report. That compares to 1,770 and 1,710 operational warheads deployed by the U.S. and Russia, respectively. The Pentagon said that by 2030, many of Beijing's weapons will likely be held at higher readiness levels. Democratically governed Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained of increased Chinese military activities around the island in the past five years. Taiwan's defence ministry said on Wednesday it had detected 23 Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighters and drones, operating around Taiwan carrying out long-range missions to the southeast and east of the island. The ministry added it had also recently detected "intensive" Chinese missile firing and other drills, though it did not give details of where that took place. Taiwan has dispatched its own air and naval forces to keep watch, the ministry said. 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 conducts first public test launch of intercontinental ballistic missile into Pacific Ocean

One of the foremost actions taken by left-wing leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake since taking office is the dissolution of the nation's Parliament and the announcement of early elections to be held in less than a month.

Sri Lanka: Newly-elected President Dissolves Parliament, Calls Snap Polls On Nov 14

UN&nbsp;Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told world leaders on Tuesday that Lebanon was "at the brink" and warned against allowing the country to turn into "another Gaza," a day after Israeli strikes killed more than 550 people there.

"Gaza is a non-stop nightmare that threatens to take the entire region with it. Look no further than Lebanon," Guterres said at the opening of the&nbsp;UN's annual gathering as hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed armed group, threatened to plunge the region into all-out war.&nbsp;

"We should all be alarmed by the escalation. Lebanon is at the brink. The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel, and the people of the world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza."

War featured prominently in the&nbsp;UN&nbsp;chief's remarks, with references to Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan, and other ongoing conflicts.

"Nothing can justify the abhorrent acts of terror committed by Hamas on October 7, or the taking of hostages -- both of which I have repeatedly condemned," said the 75-year-old former prime minister of Portugal.&nbsp;

"And nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people," he continued.

Humanity faces three major threats to sustainability that must be confronted, said Guterres: impunity, which erodes international law; inequality, which destabilizes nations; and uncertainty, "where unmanaged global risks threaten our future in unknowable ways."

Uncertainty, he said, was compounded by the existential threats of the climate crisis -- long a signature issue for the&nbsp;UN&nbsp;chief&nbsp;-- and the rapid advance of artificial intelligence, which he said would require a global approach to manage.

"We are in a climate meltdown," Guterres stressed, warning that the world is on course to "careen past the global limit of a 1.5 degrees (Celsius) temperature rise" -- a goal set by the Paris Agreement that scientists say is necessary to prevent the worst impacts from humanity's consumption of fossil fuels.

Still, he expressed hope, citing the plummeting costs and accelerating deployment of renewable energy, as he called on rich nations to step up their climate financing ahead of the COP29 meeting, which will take place in Azerbaijan this November.

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.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told world leaders on Tuesday that Lebanon was "at the brink" and warned against allowing the country to turn into "another Gaza," a day after Israeli strikes killed more than 550 people there.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told world leaders on Tuesday that Lebanon was "at the brink" and warned against allowing the country to turn into "another Gaza," a day after Israeli strikes killed more than 550 people there. "Gaza is a non-stop nightmare that threatens to take the entire region with it. Look no further than Lebanon," Guterres said at the opening of the UN's annual gathering as hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed armed group, threatened to plunge the region into all-out war. "We should all be alarmed by the escalation. Lebanon is at the brink. The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel, and the people of the world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza." War featured prominently in the UN chief's remarks, with references to Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan, and other ongoing conflicts. "Nothing can justify the abhorrent acts of terror committed by Hamas on October 7, or the taking of hostages -- both of which I have repeatedly condemned," said the 75-year-old former prime minister of Portugal. "And nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people," he continued. Humanity faces three major threats to sustainability that must be confronted, said Guterres: impunity, which erodes international law; inequality, which destabilizes nations; and uncertainty, "where unmanaged global risks threaten our future in unknowable ways." Uncertainty, he said, was compounded by the existential threats of the climate crisis -- long a signature issue for the UN chief -- and the rapid advance of artificial intelligence, which he said would require a global approach to manage. "We are in a climate meltdown," Guterres stressed, warning that the world is on course to "careen past the global limit of a 1.5 degrees (Celsius) temperature rise" -- a goal set by the Paris Agreement that scientists say is necessary to prevent the worst impacts from humanity's consumption of fossil fuels. Still, he expressed hope, citing the plummeting costs and accelerating deployment of renewable energy, as he called on rich nations to step up their climate financing ahead of the COP29 meeting, which will take place in Azerbaijan this November. 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.

'Gaza is a non-stop nightmare,' UN chief Guterres tells world leaders at General Assembly

The Israeli army chief has told his troops that the ongoing strikes in Lebanon may serve as a precursor to "possible entry" of soldiers into the “enemy territory.”

"You hear the jets overhead; we have been striking all day," General Herzi Halevi told troops.

"This is both to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah," he is believed to have told the military.

The Israeli army chief said that the motive of this operation would be to “safely return the residents of the north," as thousands of Israelis have been evacuated from border areas.

"To achieve that, we are preparing the process of a manoeuvre, which means your military boots, your manoeuvring boots, will enter enemy territory, enter villages that Hezbollah has prepared as large military outposts, with underground infrastructure, staging points, and launchpads into our territory and carry out attacks on Israeli civilians," Halevi said.

"You will go in, destroy the enemy there, and decisively destroy their infrastructure.”

This comes after the Israeli military on Wednesday mobilised reserve brigades to the northern border with Lebanon for "operational missions" in the area.

<h2>India issues advisory</h2>

India on Wednesday asked its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately in view of the recent developments and escalations.

"As a reiteration of the Advisory issued on 1 August 2024 and in view of the recent developments and escalations in the region, Indian nationals are strongly advised against travelling to Lebanon till further notice," the Indian embassy in Beirut&nbsp;said in a statement.

"All Indian nationals already in Lebanon are also strongly advised to leave Lebanon. Those who remain for any reason are advised to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements and remain in contact with Embassy of India in Beirut through our email ID: cons.beirut@mea.gov.in or the emergency phone number +96176860128," the statement added.

<h2>Biden warns of all-out war</h2>

US President Joe Biden, on&nbsp;Wednesday, warned of the possibility of an "all-out war" in the Middle East but said he was hopeful a settlement was still achievable for the conflict-torn region.

"An all-out war is possible," Biden said when asked about the situation. "What I think is, also, the opportunity is still in play to have a settlement that could fundamentally change the whole region."

(With inputs from agencies)

The Israeli army chief has told his troops that the ongoing strikes in Lebanon may serve as a precursor to "possible entry" of soldiers into the “enemy territory.

The Israeli army chief has told his troops that the ongoing strikes in Lebanon may serve as a precursor to "possible entry" of soldiers into the “enemy territory.” "You hear the jets overhead; we have been striking all day," General Herzi Halevi told troops. "This is both to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah," he is believed to have told the military. The Israeli army chief said that the motive of this operation would be to “safely return the residents of the north," as thousands of Israelis have been evacuated from border areas. "To achieve that, we are preparing the process of a manoeuvre, which means your military boots, your manoeuvring boots, will enter enemy territory, enter villages that Hezbollah has prepared as large military outposts, with underground infrastructure, staging points, and launchpads into our territory and carry out attacks on Israeli civilians," Halevi said. "You will go in, destroy the enemy there, and decisively destroy their infrastructure.” This comes after the Israeli military on Wednesday mobilised reserve brigades to the northern border with Lebanon for "operational missions" in the area. India issues advisory India on Wednesday asked its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately in view of the recent developments and escalations. "As a reiteration of the Advisory issued on 1 August 2024 and in view of the recent developments and escalations in the region, Indian nationals are strongly advised against travelling to Lebanon till further notice," the Indian embassy in Beirut said in a statement. "All Indian nationals already in Lebanon are also strongly advised to leave Lebanon. Those who remain for any reason are advised to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements and remain in contact with Embassy of India in Beirut through our email ID: cons.beirut@mea.gov.in or the emergency phone number +96176860128," the statement added. Biden warns of all-out war US President Joe Biden, on Wednesday, warned of the possibility of an "all-out war" in the Middle East but said he was hopeful a settlement was still achievable for the conflict-torn region. "An all-out war is possible," Biden said when asked about the situation. "What I think is, also, the opportunity is still in play to have a settlement that could fundamentally change the whole region." (With inputs from agencies)

Israel prepares for ‘possible invasion’ of Lebanon; India issues advisory

Pope Francis has offered refuge to Myanmar's detained leader offering her the Vatican as the safe haven. Watch to know more.

Pope Offers Safe Haven To Aung San Suu Kyi

President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia on Wednesday of plotting potentially catastrophic attacks on Ukrainian nuclear plants, in a defiant UN address in which he denounced bids to impose peace from the outside.

Zelensky sought to rally support among world leaders at their annual gathering in New York as his concerns grow, weeks before a US election that could sharply shift the stance of Ukraine's main backer.

Speaking from the UN rostrum in a black polo jacket, Zelensky said that Ukrainian intelligence has found that Russia is scanning the country's nuclear infrastructure by satellite.

Russian President Vladimir Putin "does seem to be planning attacks on our nuclear power plants and the infrastructure, aiming to disconnect the plants from the power grid," Zelensky said.

"Any critical incident in the energy system could lead to a nuclear disaster, a day like that must never come," Zelensky said.

"Moscow needs to understand this, and this depends in part on your determination to put pressure on the aggressor," he told the General Assembly.

Russia captured the giant Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant soon after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia in recent weeks has been pounding Ukraine's electricity grid, in what Western and Ukrainian officials describe as an attempt to leave the country shivering during the winter.

<h2>'Never accept' deal from outside</h2>

Zelensky on Thursday will head to the White House to see President Joe Biden and present what he describes as a "victory plan" that shows a path forward for Ukraine.

In his UN address, Zelensky singled out China and Brazil as he questioned the "true interest" of countries that have been pressing Ukraine to negotiate with Russia.

Employing the language of the Global South, Zelensky said: "You will not boost your power at Ukraine's expense, and the world has already been through colonial wars and conspiracies of great powers at the expense of those who are small."

"Ukrainians will never accept -- will never accept -- why anyone in the world believes that such a brutal colonial past, which suits no one today, can be imposed on Ukraine now," Zelensky said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a Security Council session on Tuesday that diplomacy was the only solution.

Zelensky last year flew to the General Assembly in a dramatic first wartime appearance and, while he maintains star power, the political landscape has changed.

Donald Trump, running again for president, on Wednesday called Zelensky the "greatest salesman on Earth."

"Every time Zelensky comes to the United States, he walks away with $100 billion," Trump said, claiming "we're stuck in that war unless I'm president."

The United States has provided around $175 billion in both military and economic assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, and Biden has ruled out sending troops.

Trump in the past has voiced admiration for Putin and, during his 2017-2021 presidency, was impeached for the first time over delaying aid to Ukraine to press Zelensky to dig up dirt on Biden.

Zelensky said he hoped to see Trump while in the United States and explain that the war is more complicated.

Zelensky has sharply criticised Trump's running mate, J D&nbsp;Vance, who has said bluntly that he does not care about Ukraine and that the United States should focus instead on confronting China.

"Let Mr&nbsp;Vance read up on the history of the Second World War, when a country was forced to give part of its territory to one particular person," Zelensky told The New Yorker.&nbsp;

In Germany, the second-largest contributor of military aid to Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also facing pressure from parties opposed to support for Kyiv.

Britain has been among the most robust supporters of Ukraine. Foreign Secretary David Lammy told AFP that his government was committed to helping "to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position" as winter approaches.

<h2>Lebanon crisis</h2>

The annual extravaganza marks a swansong for Biden, 81, who has passed the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris to face Trump in the November 5 election.

The summit comes against the backdrop of chaos in the Middle East as Israel ramps up attacks on the Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah, killing hundreds and prompting a mass exodus of people.

The UN Security Council will hold a special session on Wednesday on Lebanon, as the United States says it hopes to present ideas for de-escalation.

Wednesday will also see talks at the UN on two other hotspots -- Sudan and Haiti.

The United States is looking for ways to drum up long-term financial support for stabilization efforts in violence-ravaged Haiti after Kenya began a long-awaited policing mission.

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.

President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia on Wednesday of plotting potentially catastrophic attacks on Ukrainian nuclear plants, in a defiant UN address in which he denounced bids to impose peace from the outside.

President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia on Wednesday of plotting potentially catastrophic attacks on Ukrainian nuclear plants, in a defiant UN address in which he denounced bids to impose peace from the outside. Zelensky sought to rally support among world leaders at their annual gathering in New York as his concerns grow, weeks before a US election that could sharply shift the stance of Ukraine's main backer. Speaking from the UN rostrum in a black polo jacket, Zelensky said that Ukrainian intelligence has found that Russia is scanning the country's nuclear infrastructure by satellite. Russian President Vladimir Putin "does seem to be planning attacks on our nuclear power plants and the infrastructure, aiming to disconnect the plants from the power grid," Zelensky said. "Any critical incident in the energy system could lead to a nuclear disaster, a day like that must never come," Zelensky said. "Moscow needs to understand this, and this depends in part on your determination to put pressure on the aggressor," he told the General Assembly. Russia captured the giant Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant soon after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia in recent weeks has been pounding Ukraine's electricity grid, in what Western and Ukrainian officials describe as an attempt to leave the country shivering during the winter. 'Never accept' deal from outside Zelensky on Thursday will head to the White House to see President Joe Biden and present what he describes as a "victory plan" that shows a path forward for Ukraine. In his UN address, Zelensky singled out China and Brazil as he questioned the "true interest" of countries that have been pressing Ukraine to negotiate with Russia. Employing the language of the Global South, Zelensky said: "You will not boost your power at Ukraine's expense, and the world has already been through colonial wars and conspiracies of great powers at the expense of those who are small." "Ukrainians will never accept -- will never accept -- why anyone in the world believes that such a brutal colonial past, which suits no one today, can be imposed on Ukraine now," Zelensky said. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a Security Council session on Tuesday that diplomacy was the only solution. Zelensky last year flew to the General Assembly in a dramatic first wartime appearance and, while he maintains star power, the political landscape has changed. Donald Trump, running again for president, on Wednesday called Zelensky the "greatest salesman on Earth." "Every time Zelensky comes to the United States, he walks away with $100 billion," Trump said, claiming "we're stuck in that war unless I'm president." The United States has provided around $175 billion in both military and economic assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, and Biden has ruled out sending troops. Trump in the past has voiced admiration for Putin and, during his 2017-2021 presidency, was impeached for the first time over delaying aid to Ukraine to press Zelensky to dig up dirt on Biden. Zelensky said he hoped to see Trump while in the United States and explain that the war is more complicated. Zelensky has sharply criticised Trump's running mate, J D Vance, who has said bluntly that he does not care about Ukraine and that the United States should focus instead on confronting China. "Let Mr Vance read up on the history of the Second World War, when a country was forced to give part of its territory to one particular person," Zelensky told The New Yorker. In Germany, the second-largest contributor of military aid to Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also facing pressure from parties opposed to support for Kyiv. Britain has been among the most robust supporters of Ukraine. Foreign Secretary David Lammy told AFP that his government was committed to helping "to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position" as winter approaches. Lebanon crisis The annual extravaganza marks a swansong for Biden, 81, who has passed the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris to face Trump in the November 5 election. The summit comes against the backdrop of chaos in the Middle East as Israel ramps up attacks on the Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah, killing hundreds and prompting a mass exodus of people. The UN Security Council will hold a special session on Wednesday on Lebanon, as the United States says it hopes to present ideas for de-escalation. Wednesday will also see talks at the UN on two other hotspots -- Sudan and Haiti. The United States is looking for ways to drum up long-term financial support for stabilization efforts in violence-ravaged Haiti after Kenya began a long-awaited policing mission. 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.

Zelensky says will 'never accept deal' imposed on Ukraine, alleges Russia plot to target nuclear plants

Border&nbsp;police&nbsp;in China's northeast have been given&nbsp;quotas&nbsp;to identify and expel undocumented migrants, one key aspect of broader surveillance that is making it harder for North Korean defectors to evade capture, according to previously undisclosed official documents and a dozen people familiar with the matter.

China has implemented new deportation centres, hundreds of smart facial-recognition cameras and extra boat patrols along its 1,400-kilometre frontier with North Korea, according to a Reuters review of more than 100 publicly available government documents that outline spending on border surveillance and infrastructure.&nbsp;

In addition, Chinese&nbsp;police&nbsp;have begun to closely monitor the social media accounts of North Koreans in China, and collect their fingerprints, voice and facial data, four defectors and two missionaries told Reuters.&nbsp;Stephen Kim, a missionary who helps North Koreans defect, told Reuters that based on his contacts with some 2,000 defectors, more than 90% of those currently in China had registered personal and biometric data with the&nbsp;police.&nbsp;

The measures took effect since the COVID-19 pandemic and have ramped up from 2023.

Cracking down on unauthorised migration helps Beijing manage a thorny issue in ties with Pyongyang while ensuring stability on China's periphery, according to eight people, including security scholars, rights activists and a former North Korean official. It also gives China potential leverage over its neighbour because Beijing can control the fate of these undocumented North Koreans, several of them said.

"But primarily, China has feared that if too many North Koreans find refuge in China, more and more North Koreans would follow suit, and in time the outflow would destabilize North Korea and lead to reunification under South Korea and to the expansion of U.S. political and military influence on the peninsula," said Roberta Cohen, a human rights specialist and a former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state.

China's National Immigration Administration, which is responsible for border&nbsp;police, and the Ministry of Public Security, which oversees the immigration agency, did not respond to queries about efforts to identify and deport North Koreans.&nbsp;

Beijing's Foreign Ministry said China protected "the rights and interests of foreigners in China, while lawfully maintaining the order of border entries and exits". It said the "relevant report is completely not factual", in an apparent reference to Reuters reporting. The ministry didn't respond to additional questions about Reuters findings and which elements it considered incorrect.

North Korea's embassy in Beijing and its U.N. missions in Geneva and New York didn't respond to questions about China's handling of defectors.

While the documents don't explicitly identify North Koreans as targets of the surveillance and deportations, the measures are focused on areas adjoining North Korea.&nbsp;

Reuters found little evidence of similar actions at China's other borders, except its porous frontier with Myanmar, where China has been tackling organised crime and recently opened a deportation centre.

In a statement, Myanmar's government said 48,000 of its nationals were repatriated from China between 2022 and August 2024. Both countries collaborate on border management to ensure stability, it added.

<h2>Border patrol</h2>

Among the documents examined by Reuters was the 2024 budget for China's border&nbsp;police&nbsp;in Jilin province, which adjoins North Korea.

Of 163 million yuan in spending, almost 30 million yuan went to border security upgrades. That included 22.3 million yuan for an unspecified number of new patrol boats, and funding for "deportation and repatriation" of foreigners that illegally enter, live and work in Jilin.

The budget set goals for 18 border&nbsp;police&nbsp;stations and teams: Investigate and "deal with" at least 10 undocumented foreigners; spend no more than 30 days to process each deportation; and remind residents of the "harm and price paid" for aiding undocumented migrants. It lists performance metrics, including 10 points for achieving a repatriation rate of 95%.

There were no such&nbsp;quotas&nbsp;in the 2023 and 2022 budgets.

Construction also began last year on a deportation station in the border city of Dandong, in Liaoning province, while another is planned for Changchun city, in Jilin, government tenders show.

In March, Jilin border&nbsp;police&nbsp;awarded a 26.5 million-yuan contract to a Beijing sensor maker, HT Nova, to build a surveillance system that "emits high-energy rays to penetrate vehicles and goods" and can use deep learning to continuously improve its facial-recognition capabilities, according to one tender document.&nbsp;

The system, funded in the 2023 border&nbsp;police&nbsp;budget, would be installed at two crossings in the Changbai area, a route defectors use. The company didn't respond to a request for comment.

Separately, a 7,713 square-metre deportation station in the town of Tumen, which was in the works before the pandemic, was completed in 2023, according to the National Immigration Administration.

Since June 2022, the agency has published several job ads seeking graduates with Korean-language ability to work at the Tumen and Changchun facilities, who would be "mainly engaged in the detention of illegal immigrants pending deportation, identity verification, and implementation of repatriation".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/north-koreas-evolving-military-threats-chinas-increasing-assertiveness-world-news-wion-648003">Watch |&nbsp;North Korea's evolving military threats; China's increasing assertiveness | World News | WION</a>

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&nbsp;

<h2>Political dynamics</h2>

Beijing denies that there are any North Korean defectors, instead treating them as illegal economic migrants. There is no publicly available data on deportations of North Koreans, but rights groups say the tighter surveillance has increased the risk of capture.

About 70 per cent&nbsp;of defectors who tried to reach South Korea over the past two years have been arrested by Chinese&nbsp;police, up from about 20 per cent&nbsp;previously, according to the Seoul-based Transitional Justice Working Group, which monitors deportations. China returned at least 60 North Koreans in April, said the group's executive director, Lee Younghwan.

The number of defectors reaching South Korea has declined overall since 2017, which Seoul's Unification Ministry said was due to tighter surveillance on the China-North Korea border, though there has been an increase since the pandemic ended.

In a statement, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said Seoul is making "all-out efforts" to prevent China from forcibly repatriating North Korean defectors.

Five security scholars told Reuters that while both sides wanted to stanch the flow of defectors, China's ability to determine defectors' destiny gave it a card to play in diplomacy with North Korea, which is reliant on trade with China but has been forging increasingly close ties with Russia.&nbsp;

China "can demand something from North Korea that is beneficial to China", said Lee Dong Gyu, a China expert at Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul. He said the crackdown helped&nbsp;Beijing from a stability standpoint, because North Korea was in economic turmoil and China did not want the effects of that spilling into its territory.

Lee Jung-hoon, an international relations professor at Yonsei University and a former South Korean ambassador-at-large for North Korean human rights, said there was a "high chance" that Pyongyang had asked China for help in blocking routes for defectors. He didn't provide specifics and Reuters could not establish whether North Korea had made such a request.

<h2>'Trapped'</h2>

This isn't the first time that China has cracked down on defectors. Reuters reported in 2019 that Chinese authorities had conducted raids that disrupted defector networks and resulted in the arrests of at least 30 North Koreans.&nbsp;

But some defectors say the heightened surveillance has intensified fear.&nbsp;

Choi Min-kyong, who reached South Korea in 2012 and runs a support group for defectors, said widespread facial-recognition technology in China made it difficult for defectors to move around. Using public transportation, for example, had become too risky.

Shin Ju-ye, who fled North Korea in the 1990s and settled in China's Heilongjiang province, said that during the pandemic, village officials began ordering North Koreans to register their biometric information with the&nbsp;police.&nbsp;Many of her North Korean friends complied, then regretted it, she said.

"My friends told me, 'Sister, don't do it. We are trapped in a fishing net now. If North Korea tells China to catch and send us, we're dead,'" Shin, 50, said in an interview in Seoul.

Reuters could not independently verify Shin's account, and she declined to share her acquaintances' contact information.&nbsp;

Wei Songxian, head of the Heilongjiang government's media office and vice-head of the provincial Communist Party publicity department, did not respond to questions about Shin's account.

Ultimately, Shin did not register her details. Instead, she hatched a plan to leave China.&nbsp;

Travelling in private vehicles, she escaped across the southern border to Vietnam, she said. She then ventured onward by bus, boat and on foot to reach Laos and Thailand, where she was handed to South Korean authorities. She arrived in South Korea in 2023.

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.

Border police in China's northeast have been given quotas to identify and expel undocumented migrants, one key aspect of broader surveillance that is making it harder for North Korean defectors to evade capture, according to previously undisclosed official documents and a dozen people familiar with the matter.

Border police in China's northeast have been given quotas to identify and expel undocumented migrants, one key aspect of broader surveillance that is making it harder for North Korean defectors to evade capture, according to previously undisclosed official documents and a dozen people familiar with the matter. China has implemented new deportation centres, hundreds of smart facial-recognition cameras and extra boat patrols along its 1,400-kilometre frontier with North Korea, according to a Reuters review of more than 100 publicly available government documents that outline spending on border surveillance and infrastructure. In addition, Chinese police have begun to closely monitor the social media accounts of North Koreans in China, and collect their fingerprints, voice and facial data, four defectors and two missionaries told Reuters. Stephen Kim, a missionary who helps North Koreans defect, told Reuters that based on his contacts with some 2,000 defectors, more than 90% of those currently in China had registered personal and biometric data with the police. The measures took effect since the COVID-19 pandemic and have ramped up from 2023. Cracking down on unauthorised migration helps Beijing manage a thorny issue in ties with Pyongyang while ensuring stability on China's periphery, according to eight people, including security scholars, rights activists and a former North Korean official. It also gives China potential leverage over its neighbour because Beijing can control the fate of these undocumented North Koreans, several of them said. "But primarily, China has feared that if too many North Koreans find refuge in China, more and more North Koreans would follow suit, and in time the outflow would destabilize North Korea and lead to reunification under South Korea and to the expansion of U.S. political and military influence on the peninsula," said Roberta Cohen, a human rights specialist and a former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state. China's National Immigration Administration, which is responsible for border police, and the Ministry of Public Security, which oversees the immigration agency, did not respond to queries about efforts to identify and deport North Koreans. Beijing's Foreign Ministry said China protected "the rights and interests of foreigners in China, while lawfully maintaining the order of border entries and exits". It said the "relevant report is completely not factual", in an apparent reference to Reuters reporting. The ministry didn't respond to additional questions about Reuters findings and which elements it considered incorrect. North Korea's embassy in Beijing and its U.N. missions in Geneva and New York didn't respond to questions about China's handling of defectors. While the documents don't explicitly identify North Koreans as targets of the surveillance and deportations, the measures are focused on areas adjoining North Korea. Reuters found little evidence of similar actions at China's other borders, except its porous frontier with Myanmar, where China has been tackling organised crime and recently opened a deportation centre. In a statement, Myanmar's government said 48,000 of its nationals were repatriated from China between 2022 and August 2024. Both countries collaborate on border management to ensure stability, it added. Border patrol Among the documents examined by Reuters was the 2024 budget for China's border police in Jilin province, which adjoins North Korea. Of 163 million yuan in spending, almost 30 million yuan went to border security upgrades. That included 22.3 million yuan for an unspecified number of new patrol boats, and funding for "deportation and repatriation" of foreigners that illegally enter, live and work in Jilin. The budget set goals for 18 border police stations and teams: Investigate and "deal with" at least 10 undocumented foreigners; spend no more than 30 days to process each deportation; and remind residents of the "harm and price paid" for aiding undocumented migrants. It lists performance metrics, including 10 points for achieving a repatriation rate of 95%. There were no such quotas in the 2023 and 2022 budgets. Construction also began last year on a deportation station in the border city of Dandong, in Liaoning province, while another is planned for Changchun city, in Jilin, government tenders show. In March, Jilin border police awarded a 26.5 million-yuan contract to a Beijing sensor maker, HT Nova, to build a surveillance system that "emits high-energy rays to penetrate vehicles and goods" and can use deep learning to continuously improve its facial-recognition capabilities, according to one tender document. The system, funded in the 2023 border police budget, would be installed at two crossings in the Changbai area, a route defectors use. The company didn't respond to a request for comment. Separately, a 7,713 square-metre deportation station in the town of Tumen, which was in the works before the pandemic, was completed in 2023, according to the National Immigration Administration. Since June 2022, the agency has published several job ads seeking graduates with Korean-language ability to work at the Tumen and Changchun facilities, who would be "mainly engaged in the detention of illegal immigrants pending deportation, identity verification, and implementation of repatriation". Watch | North Korea's evolving military threats; China's increasing assertiveness | World News | WION iv class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"> × Political dynamics Beijing denies that there are any North Korean defectors, instead treating them as illegal economic migrants. There is no publicly available data on deportations of North Koreans, but rights groups say the tighter surveillance has increased the risk of capture. About 70 per cent of defectors who tried to reach South Korea over the past two years have been arrested by Chinese police, up from about 20 per cent previously, according to the Seoul-based Transitional Justice Working Group, which monitors deportations. China returned at least 60 North Koreans in April, said the group's executive director, Lee Younghwan. The number of defectors reaching South Korea has declined overall since 2017, which Seoul's Unification Ministry said was due to tighter surveillance on the China-North Korea border, though there has been an increase since the pandemic ended. In a statement, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said Seoul is making "all-out efforts" to prevent China from forcibly repatriating North Korean defectors. Five security scholars told Reuters that while both sides wanted to stanch the flow of defectors, China's ability to determine defectors' destiny gave it a card to play in diplomacy with North Korea, which is reliant on trade with China but has been forging increasingly close ties with Russia. China "can demand something from North Korea that is beneficial to China", said Lee Dong Gyu, a China expert at Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul. He said the crackdown helped Beijing from a stability standpoint, because North Korea was in economic turmoil and China did not want the effects of that spilling into its territory. Lee Jung-hoon, an international relations professor at Yonsei University and a former South Korean ambassador-at-large for North Korean human rights, said there was a "high chance" that Pyongyang had asked China for help in blocking routes for defectors. He didn't provide specifics and Reuters could not establish whether North Korea had made such a request. 'Trapped' This isn't the first time that China has cracked down on defectors. Reuters reported in 2019 that Chinese authorities had conducted raids that disrupted defector networks and resulted in the arrests of at least 30 North Koreans. But some defectors say the heightened surveillance has intensified fear. Choi Min-kyong, who reached South Korea in 2012 and runs a support group for defectors, said widespread facial-recognition technology in China made it difficult for defectors to move around. Using public transportation, for example, had become too risky. Shin Ju-ye, who fled North Korea in the 1990s and settled in China's Heilongjiang province, said that during the pandemic, village officials began ordering North Koreans to register their biometric information with the police. Many of her North Korean friends complied, then regretted it, she said. "My friends told me, 'Sister, don't do it. We are trapped in a fishing net now. If North Korea tells China to catch and send us, we're dead,'" Shin, 50, said in an interview in Seoul. Reuters could not independently verify Shin's account, and she declined to share her acquaintances' contact information. Wei Songxian, head of the Heilongjiang government's media office and vice-head of the provincial Communist Party publicity department, did not respond to questions about Shin's account. Ultimately, Shin did not register her details. Instead, she hatched a plan to leave China. Travelling in private vehicles, she escaped across the southern border to Vietnam, she said. She then ventured onward by bus, boat and on foot to reach Laos and Thailand, where she was handed to South Korean authorities. She arrived in South Korea in 2023. 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.

Police quotas and surveillance trap: Here's how China is deporting North Korean defectors

Several Durga Puja celebration committees in Bangladesh have&nbsp;received anonymous letters, demanding USD 4,200 (5 lakh Taka) to celebrate Durga Puja, Daily Star, a Bangladeshi English daily reported.&nbsp;

The letters delivered to these committees, also warned that failure to comply would result in severe consequences, adding that they will be 'chopped into pieces'.&nbsp;

"If you want to celebrate Durga Puja, every temple committee must pay 5 lakh Taka donation. If you fail to comply, you will not be able to celebrate... Ready the money within a week. Place the cash at the spot we specify later. Remember, if you inform the administration or Press, we shall chop you into pieces," the letter reads, according to Indian mediao house&nbsp;ABP.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/muhammad-yunus-led-govt-in-bdesh-asks-hindus-to-pause-durga-puja-music-during-namaz-azan-758110">Also read | Bangladesh: Yunus govt asks Hindus to pause Durga Puja music during namaz and azan</a>

They further threatened to harm the families of the committee members. "We swear upon Allah, if we do not get the money, we shall chop you to pieces. We have eyes on you," the letter read.

<h2>Hindu community leaders criticise the move</h2>

The Hindu community leaders have raised concerns and some are also considering canceling Durga Puja festivities.

One of the community leaders said a meeting was held where many members expressed a desire to forgo the celebration, however, they decided to continue the puja.

Shekhar Chandra Goldar, president of the Kamarkhola Sarvajanin Durga Puja Celebration Committee of Dakop, said, "Our members are no longer interested. This year we have to stop the puja."&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Bangladesh revokes export ban on Hilsa, approves export of 3,000 tonnes of Hilsa to India

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Last week on Friday, representatives of four temples filed a general diary (GD) with the Dacope Police Station.

Officer-in-Charge Sirajul Islam said, "The GD was filed by four temples on Friday … We are investigating the matter... We are patrolling regularly along with the army team."

<h2>Other restrictions ahead of Durga Puja&nbsp;</h2>

Earlier this month, Bangladesh's interim government led by Muhammad Yunus asked Hindus in the country not to play musical instruments as part of Durga Puja celebrations during namaz and azan, the country's local media reports stated.

(With inputs from agencies)

Several Durga Puja celebration committees in Bangladesh have received anonymous letters, demanding USD 4,200 (5 lakh Taka) to celebrate Durga Puja, Daily Star, a Bangladeshi English daily reported.

Several Durga Puja celebration committees in Bangladesh have received anonymous letters, demanding USD 4,200 (5 lakh Taka) to celebrate Durga Puja, Daily Star, a Bangladeshi English daily reported. The letters delivered to these committees, also warned that failure to comply would result in severe consequences, adding that they will be 'chopped into pieces'. "If you want to celebrate Durga Puja, every temple committee must pay 5 lakh Taka donation. If you fail to comply, you will not be able to celebrate... Ready the money within a week. Place the cash at the spot we specify later. Remember, if you inform the administration or Press, we shall chop you into pieces," the letter reads, according to Indian mediao house ABP. Also read | Bangladesh: Yunus govt asks Hindus to pause Durga Puja music during namaz and azan They further threatened to harm the families of the committee members. "We swear upon Allah, if we do not get the money, we shall chop you to pieces. We have eyes on you," the letter read. Hindu community leaders criticise the move The Hindu community leaders have raised concerns and some are also considering canceling Durga Puja festivities. One of the community leaders said a meeting was held where many members expressed a desire to forgo the celebration, however, they decided to continue the puja. Shekhar Chandra Goldar, president of the Kamarkhola Sarvajanin Durga Puja Celebration Committee of Dakop, said, "Our members are no longer interested. This year we have to stop the puja." Watch | Bangladesh revokes export ban on Hilsa, approves export of 3,000 tonnes of Hilsa to India × Last week on Friday, representatives of four temples filed a general diary (GD) with the Dacope Police Station. Officer-in-Charge Sirajul Islam said, "The GD was filed by four temples on Friday … We are investigating the matter... We are patrolling regularly along with the army team." Other restrictions ahead of Durga Puja Earlier this month, Bangladesh's interim government led by Muhammad Yunus asked Hindus in the country not to play musical instruments as part of Durga Puja celebrations during namaz and azan, the country's local media reports stated. (With inputs from agencies)

Hindu temples in Bangladesh threatened to pay $4200 for celebrating Durga Puja

Singaporean former transport minister S Iswaran pleaded guilty for accepting gifts while in office. Watch to know more.

Singapore's Former Minister Pleads Guilty

Almost three months after taking charge as UK's Prime Minister, Keir Starmer addressed the Labour Party Conference. Watch to know more.

UK PM Keir Starmer Takes The Podium At Labour Conference

Tensions are increasing and Lebanon is witnessing one of its deadliest days since the civil war. Watch to know more.

Israel-Hezbollah War: 50 Children Among Those Killed In Israeli Strikes

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