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US death row inmate Christa Pike is ‘angry and confused’ after surviving a botched execution in Tennessee, her lawyers said, as a judge sided with her attorneys and ordered state authorities to preserve evidence from the failed execution. Pike, 50, who was sentenced to death for a murder she committed as a teenager, was administered two supposedly lethal doses of pentobarbital at a Tennessee prison last Wednesday. She survived the injections and was taken to a hospital in critical condition, initially unconscious and dependent on a ventilator.&nbsp;"Pike regained consciousness yesterday and is speaking limitedly," her lawyer Luke Ihnen said at a court hearing on Wednesday. He added that she remains shackled to her hospital bed. "Medical staff have asked that the shackles be removed and have been denied that request," Ihnen said. An anesthesiologist retained by Pike's lawyers as an expert ahead of her execution told the BBC that she was no longer on the ventilator. "Her prognosis remains unclear but, at a minimum, we expect a long recovery," her lawyers said on Tuesday as they called on Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to commute her death sentence to life in prison.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-don-t-think-so-trump-says-russian-plague-lab-worker-s-death-not-linked-to-bio-weapon-1791398346532">'We don't think so': Trump says Russian plague lab worker's death not linked to bio-weapon</a><h2>Judge orders evidence from failed execution to be preserved</h2>Judge I’Ashea Myles granted Christa Pike’s motion to preserve state materials connected to her failed execution, siding with her attorneys in their effort to secure evidence from the incident. Myles said the case was unique and that the circumstances surrounding the failed execution could not have been anticipated.&nbsp;The judge directed state correctional authorities to preserve an exhaustive range of potentially relevant materials, including medical supplies and waste used during the execution, as well as audio and video recordings. The order also covers any 911 calls connected to the botched execution and communications between state officials. The court order comes as questions grow over what happened during the attempted execution and whether established procedures were properly followed.&nbsp;Pike's lawyers have called for Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to commute her sentence, while Lee has suspended executions in the state pending an independent investigation. Tennessee's prison chief has also resigned. The state's correction department has maintained that it followed established protocol.<h2>Pike's condition remains uncertain</h2>Randy Spivey, another attorney representing Pike, said his team had understood that she was brain dead on Monday night and that life support would be withdrawn the following day. However, he said that, in a ‘shock to everyone’, Pike woke up and began talking on Tuesday. Spivey said Pike has a blood clot in one arm, pneumonia and is currently unable to swallow. He also said both of her arms and hands are ‘tremendously swollen’.&nbsp;"Christa has a long road to recovery," Spivey said. He described Pike as a ‘survivor’, saying she had survived a suicide attempt, child sexual abuse, the rapes of multiple men and now lethal injections. Pike's case has renewed debate over capital punishment and the use of lethal injection in the United States.<h2>Another US execution scheduled</h2>The state of Texas was scheduled to carry out an execution later on Wednesday, making it the first such execution in the United States since the attempt to execute Pike. Jamaal Howard was scheduled to die by lethal injection for killing a store clerk during a 2000 robbery. His lawyers have asked for the execution to be postponed, citing the events surrounding Pike's failed execution. The case has placed renewed scrutiny on execution procedures as authorities investigate how Pike survived two doses of pentobarbital and what medical complications followed.

US death row inmate Christa Pike is recovering after a failed execution as a judge orders Tennessee officials to preserve evidence from the botched attempt

US death row inmate Christa Pike is ‘angry and confused’ after surviving a botched execution in Tennessee, her lawyers said, as a judge sided with her attorneys and ordered state authorities to preserve evidence from the failed execution. Pike, 50, who was sentenced to death for a murder she committed as a teenager, was administered two supposedly lethal doses of pentobarbital at a Tennessee prison last Wednesday. She survived the injections and was taken to a hospital in critical condition, initially unconscious and dependent on a ventilator. "Pike regained consciousness yesterday and is speaking limitedly," her lawyer Luke Ihnen said at a court hearing on Wednesday. He added that she remains shackled to her hospital bed. "Medical staff have asked that the shackles be removed and have been denied that request," Ihnen said. An anesthesiologist retained by Pike's lawyers as an expert ahead of her execution told the BBC that she was no longer on the ventilator. "Her prognosis remains unclear but, at a minimum, we expect a long recovery," her lawyers said on Tuesday as they called on Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to commute her death sentence to life in prison. Also Read: 'We don't think so': Trump says Russian plague lab worker's death not linked to bio-weapon Judge orders evidence from failed execution to be preserved Judge I’Ashea Myles granted Christa Pike’s motion to preserve state materials connected to her failed execution, siding with her attorneys in their effort to secure evidence from the incident. Myles said the case was unique and that the circumstances surrounding the failed execution could not have been anticipated. The judge directed state correctional authorities to preserve an exhaustive range of potentially relevant materials, including medical supplies and waste used during the execution, as well as audio and video recordings. The order also covers any 911 calls connected to the botched execution and communications between state officials. The court order comes as questions grow over what happened during the attempted execution and whether established procedures were properly followed. Pike's lawyers have called for Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to commute her sentence, while Lee has suspended executions in the state pending an independent investigation. Tennessee's prison chief has also resigned. The state's correction department has maintained that it followed established protocol. Pike's condition remains uncertain Randy Spivey, another attorney representing Pike, said his team had understood that she was brain dead on Monday night and that life support would be withdrawn the following day. However, he said that, in a ‘shock to everyone’, Pike woke up and began talking on Tuesday. Spivey said Pike has a blood clot in one arm, pneumonia and is currently unable to swallow. He also said both of her arms and hands are ‘tremendously swollen’. "Christa has a long road to recovery," Spivey said. He described Pike as a ‘survivor’, saying she had survived a suicide attempt, child sexual abuse, the rapes of multiple men and now lethal injections. Pike's case has renewed debate over capital punishment and the use of lethal injection in the United States. Another US execution scheduled The state of Texas was scheduled to carry out an execution later on Wednesday, making it the first such execution in the United States since the attempt to execute Pike. Jamaal Howard was scheduled to die by lethal injection for killing a store clerk during a 2000 robbery. His lawyers have asked for the execution to be postponed, citing the events surrounding Pike's failed execution. The case has placed renewed scrutiny on execution procedures as authorities investigate how Pike survived two doses of pentobarbital and what medical complications followed.

US death row inmate Christa Pike survived a failed execution as a judge orders Tennessee officials to preserve evidence from the botched attempt

Christa Pike 'angry' and 'confused' after failed execution; judge orders to preserve evidence

Former President Barack Obama is returning to the campaign trail in the 2026 US midterm elections and is lending his name, fundraising network and political experience to Democratic candidates in the fray as both parties are gearing up for a closely contested battle for the control of Congress.&nbsp;Obama is making campaign appearances for Democrat candidates to energise their voters ahead of Election Day. His October 24 appearance in Detroit alongside Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is among his most prominent engagements of the campaign.&nbsp;Obama’s involvement highlights his enduring influence within the Democratic Party. His appearances are aimed at encouraging voter turnout and helping candidates benefit from his profile. Obama used campaign videos and fundraising events to support Democratic candidates across the country.&nbsp;In Iowa, he endorsed Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek in a campaign video featuring the two playing basketball. He invoked his own political history in Iowa, where his 2008 presidential campaign gained momentum after a strong performance in the state’s caucuses.&nbsp;He also participated in Democratic fundraising efforts. His appearance with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries at a New York fundraiser in September demonstrated his continuing role in the party’s national political network.&nbsp;Republican candidates and strategists contend that Obama represents the Democratic Party’s established political leadership and that voters should focus on the policies and record of the current Democratic candidates rather than the former president’s popularity.&nbsp;Republicans are also seeking to make the elections a referendum on the economy, immigration, public safety and the performance of Democratic officials.&nbsp;Republicans claim that Obama’s appearances could have a limited effect because midterm elections are often driven by local candidates and issues. Republican strategists say a former president can attract crowds and generate media attention but voters ultimately make decisions based on their economic circumstances, concerns about government and assessments of the candidates.&nbsp;On the other hand, Democrats see an opportunity in Obama’s participation to strengthen grassroots organisation and motivate voters who might otherwise be less engaged in a midterm election. His reputation helps Democratic candidates in drawing attention and fundraising support.&nbsp;The outcome of each contest will depend on local political conditions, candidate profiles, campaigns, issues and turnout. But Obama’s decision to re-enter the campaign spotlight shows that he remains an active and recognisable figure in American electoral politics years after leaving the White House.

Former President Barack Obama’s appearances are aimed at encouraging voter turnout and helping candidates benefit from his profile. Obama used campaign videos and fundraising events to support Democratic candidates across the country.

Former President Barack Obama is returning to the campaign trail in the 2026 US midterm elections and is lending his name, fundraising network and political experience to Democratic candidates in the fray as both parties are gearing up for a closely contested battle for the control of Congress. Obama is making campaign appearances for Democrat candidates to energise their voters ahead of Election Day. His October 24 appearance in Detroit alongside Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is among his most prominent engagements of the campaign. Obama’s involvement highlights his enduring influence within the Democratic Party. His appearances are aimed at encouraging voter turnout and helping candidates benefit from his profile. Obama used campaign videos and fundraising events to support Democratic candidates across the country. In Iowa, he endorsed Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek in a campaign video featuring the two playing basketball. He invoked his own political history in Iowa, where his 2008 presidential campaign gained momentum after a strong performance in the state’s caucuses. He also participated in Democratic fundraising efforts. His appearance with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries at a New York fundraiser in September demonstrated his continuing role in the party’s national political network. Republican candidates and strategists contend that Obama represents the Democratic Party’s established political leadership and that voters should focus on the policies and record of the current Democratic candidates rather than the former president’s popularity. Republicans are also seeking to make the elections a referendum on the economy, immigration, public safety and the performance of Democratic officials. Republicans claim that Obama’s appearances could have a limited effect because midterm elections are often driven by local candidates and issues. Republican strategists say a former president can attract crowds and generate media attention but voters ultimately make decisions based on their economic circumstances, concerns about government and assessments of the candidates. On the other hand, Democrats see an opportunity in Obama’s participation to strengthen grassroots organisation and motivate voters who might otherwise be less engaged in a midterm election. His reputation helps Democratic candidates in drawing attention and fundraising support. The outcome of each contest will depend on local political conditions, candidate profiles, campaigns, issues and turnout. But Obama’s decision to re-enter the campaign spotlight shows that he remains an active and recognisable figure in American electoral politics years after leaving the White House.

Former President Barack Obama’s appearances are aimed at encouraging voter turnout and helping candidates benefit from his profile. Obama used campaign videos and fundraising events to support Democratic candidates across the country.

US Midterms 2026: Barack Obama hits campaign trail to boost Democratic candidates

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the death of a Russian laboratory worker at a plague research facility did not appear to be connected to a ‘biological weapon’, while stressing that Washington would seek more information from Moscow. "We don't think so. We're going to find out soon enough, but we don't think so," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked whether a ‘bio-weapon’ was involved.&nbsp;The remarks came as Russia warned against the spread of ‘false’ information following reports of a second suspected case. The United States and the United Nations have urged Moscow to provide greater transparency about the incident. Trump said Russian authorities had maintained that the situation was under control, but acknowledged that limited information had emerged from Moscow. "If you listen to them, it's under control. But you know, people have said that before about other things," Trump said.&nbsp;Drawing a comparison with China's initial handling of the Covid pandemic, Trump added, “Well, China didn't say much, and Russia is not saying much either. But they do say they have it very much under control.” Trump also reiterated that he has a phone call scheduled with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the matter, although he did not provide a date or time.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-he-will-speak-to-putin-very-soon-over-suspected-plague-death-who-chief-urges-transparency-from-russia-1791325904292">Trump says he will speak to Putin 'very soon’ over suspected plague death; WHO chief urges transparency from Russia</a>&nbsp;Earlier, the US president had said on Tuesday that he expected to speak with Putin ‘very soon’ over reports surrounding the death of a laboratory technician in Russia. Washington has meanwhile called on Moscow to disclose more information about the incident. Russian authorities have denied reports that special anti-plague measures were imposed and have played down accounts of a suspected incident at an anti-plague institute in Siberia's Irkutsk region last week.&nbsp;US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged Russia to provide greater transparency so other countries can assess the situation and determine an appropriate response. "We encourage Russia to be transparent and share more information with the world so that all of us could react accordingly and appropriately," Rubio said during a visit to Iceland. Depending on what we learn about it, we would learn how to respond.”&nbsp;Trump later confirmed that he planned to discuss the issue with Putin. "I have a call scheduled, yes," Trump told reporters at the White House when asked whether he had already spoken with Putin about the incident. He said the conversation would take place ‘very soon’, as Washington continues to seek clarity over the circumstances surrounding the laboratory worker's death and reports of a possible second case.

Trump says Russian plague lab worker's death does not appear linked to a bio-weapon as the US urges Moscow to provide greater transparency

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the death of a Russian laboratory worker at a plague research facility did not appear to be connected to a ‘biological weapon’, while stressing that Washington would seek more information from Moscow. "We don't think so. We're going to find out soon enough, but we don't think so," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked whether a ‘bio-weapon’ was involved. The remarks came as Russia warned against the spread of ‘false’ information following reports of a second suspected case. The United States and the United Nations have urged Moscow to provide greater transparency about the incident. Trump said Russian authorities had maintained that the situation was under control, but acknowledged that limited information had emerged from Moscow. "If you listen to them, it's under control. But you know, people have said that before about other things," Trump said. Drawing a comparison with China's initial handling of the Covid pandemic, Trump added, “Well, China didn't say much, and Russia is not saying much either. But they do say they have it very much under control.” Trump also reiterated that he has a phone call scheduled with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the matter, although he did not provide a date or time. Also Read: Trump says he will speak to Putin 'very soon’ over suspected plague death; WHO chief urges transparency from Russia Earlier, the US president had said on Tuesday that he expected to speak with Putin ‘very soon’ over reports surrounding the death of a laboratory technician in Russia. Washington has meanwhile called on Moscow to disclose more information about the incident. Russian authorities have denied reports that special anti-plague measures were imposed and have played down accounts of a suspected incident at an anti-plague institute in Siberia's Irkutsk region last week. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged Russia to provide greater transparency so other countries can assess the situation and determine an appropriate response. "We encourage Russia to be transparent and share more information with the world so that all of us could react accordingly and appropriately," Rubio said during a visit to Iceland. Depending on what we learn about it, we would learn how to respond.” Trump later confirmed that he planned to discuss the issue with Putin. "I have a call scheduled, yes," Trump told reporters at the White House when asked whether he had already spoken with Putin about the incident. He said the conversation would take place ‘very soon’, as Washington continues to seek clarity over the circumstances surrounding the laboratory worker's death and reports of a possible second case.

Trump says a Russian plague lab worker's death does not appear linked to a bio-weapon as Washington urges Moscow to provide greater transparency

'We don't think so': Trump says Russian plague lab worker's death not linked to bio-weapon

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended warm congratulations to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completing 25 years as head of government, describing the unbroken tenure as a rare democratic achievement and a testament to the enduring confidence of the Indian people. In an official message, Tinubu marked the anniversary of Modi’s assumption of office as Chief Minister of Gujarat on October 7, 2001. After more than 12 years leading the western Indian state, Modi became Prime Minister of India in 2014 and has remained in the role continuously since.&nbsp;"A quarter-century of unbroken leadership is a rare achievement in any democracy. In the world’s most populous nation, it is a powerful testament to the enduring confidence the Indian people have placed in him,” Tinubu wrote. He praised Modi’s vision and commitment to development, noting the transformation of Gujarat and India’s emergence as one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies through advances in infrastructure, digital public goods, financial inclusion and innovation.&nbsp;Tinubu recalled Modi’s historic state visit to Abuja in November 2024, the first by an Indian prime minister in 17 years, during which Nigeria conferred on him the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger. That visit, he said, gave fresh impetus to cooperation in trade and investment, energy, defence and security, health, education and technology. The two nations, both large democracies and leading voices of the Global South, share a common commitment to a fairer and more representative international order, Tinubu added. He expressed confidence that under Modi’s continued leadership, bonds of friendship between the peoples of Nigeria and India would grow stronger, while wishing the Indian leader good health and success in the service of his country.&nbsp;The congratulatory message comes against the backdrop of a multidimensional partnership that has evolved well beyond historical goodwill. Bilateral trade, which once approached $15 billion, stood at about $9 billion in the 2025–26 financial year after recovering from a dip to $7.13 billion the previous year. Officials on both sides have voiced ambitions to restore and expand trade volumes, with energy cooperation, including renewed Indian purchases of Nigerian crude, remaining a key pillar alongside efforts to move beyond raw commodity exchanges toward value-added investment. More than 200 Indian companies operate in Nigeria across pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, power, construction, consumer goods, healthcare and services, creating significant local employment. India supplies roughly 40 percent of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical imports and over 90 percent in certain medicine categories, reinforcing its role as a major health-sector partner.&nbsp;India assisted in establishing key Nigerian military institutions, including the National Defence Academy in Kaduna and the Naval College in Port Harcourt, and continues to offer training slots under its technical and economic cooperation programmes. Both countries have had high-level engagements, including meetings on the sidelines of recent BRICS Summit 2026, have kept momentum alive on areas ranging from digital public infrastructure and fintech to agriculture, renewable energy and creative industries.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu congratulates PM Narendra Modi on 25 years in government, highlighting India-Nigeria ties, trade, defence and development

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended warm congratulations to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completing 25 years as head of government, describing the unbroken tenure as a rare democratic achievement and a testament to the enduring confidence of the Indian people. In an official message, Tinubu marked the anniversary of Modi’s assumption of office as Chief Minister of Gujarat on October 7, 2001. After more than 12 years leading the western Indian state, Modi became Prime Minister of India in 2014 and has remained in the role continuously since. "A quarter-century of unbroken leadership is a rare achievement in any democracy. In the world’s most populous nation, it is a powerful testament to the enduring confidence the Indian people have placed in him,” Tinubu wrote. He praised Modi’s vision and commitment to development, noting the transformation of Gujarat and India’s emergence as one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies through advances in infrastructure, digital public goods, financial inclusion and innovation. Tinubu recalled Modi’s historic state visit to Abuja in November 2024, the first by an Indian prime minister in 17 years, during which Nigeria conferred on him the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger. That visit, he said, gave fresh impetus to cooperation in trade and investment, energy, defence and security, health, education and technology. The two nations, both large democracies and leading voices of the Global South, share a common commitment to a fairer and more representative international order, Tinubu added. He expressed confidence that under Modi’s continued leadership, bonds of friendship between the peoples of Nigeria and India would grow stronger, while wishing the Indian leader good health and success in the service of his country. The congratulatory message comes against the backdrop of a multidimensional partnership that has evolved well beyond historical goodwill. Bilateral trade, which once approached $15 billion, stood at about $9 billion in the 2025–26 financial year after recovering from a dip to $7.13 billion the previous year. Officials on both sides have voiced ambitions to restore and expand trade volumes, with energy cooperation, including renewed Indian purchases of Nigerian crude, remaining a key pillar alongside efforts to move beyond raw commodity exchanges toward value-added investment. More than 200 Indian companies operate in Nigeria across pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, power, construction, consumer goods, healthcare and services, creating significant local employment. India supplies roughly 40 percent of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical imports and over 90 percent in certain medicine categories, reinforcing its role as a major health-sector partner. India assisted in establishing key Nigerian military institutions, including the National Defence Academy in Kaduna and the Naval College in Port Harcourt, and continues to offer training slots under its technical and economic cooperation programmes. Both countries have had high-level engagements, including meetings on the sidelines of recent BRICS Summit 2026, have kept momentum alive on areas ranging from digital public infrastructure and fintech to agriculture, renewable energy and creative industries.

Tinubu congratulates Modi on 25 years in government, praising his leadership and reaffirming stronger India-Nigeria ties in trade, defence and development

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu hails Modi’s 25-year leadership milestone, calls for deeper Nigeria-India strategic ties

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

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

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

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

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

India-Taiwan trade in the January-August period of 2026 has grown 61% from the trade data recorded in Jan-Aug 2025. Sharing the trade data, Stephen Hsu, Director General of the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Centre(TECC) in Chennai, highlighted that the Jan-Aug trade in 2025 was $8bn and that the first eight months of 2026 have already seen $12.9bn worth of trade. Hsu was speaking at the 115th ROC (Taiwan) National Day Reception in Chennai, attended by representatives from all the Southern Indian states. Over 350 Taiwanese companies have invested in India, creating more than 200,000 jobs. Approximately two-thirds of these Taiwanese companies are located in South India, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The event was attended by Members of Parliament, government officials, MLAs, academics, and business leaders from the region.&nbsp;Comparing the growing trade, Hsu pointed out that the total value was $12.5bn in all of 2025, while the first eight months of 2026 had already witnessed $12.9bn worth of trade. Based on this trend, he suggested that the total trade value in 2026 is likely to go beyond $15bn. He emphasised that Taiwan’s strengths in semiconductors, information and communications technology (ICT), artificial intelligence (AI), advanced manufacturing, and green-energy technologies complement India’s strengths in talent, market size, and manufacturing capabilities. By working together, Taiwan and India can build stronger and more resilient supply chains.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/france-protests-how-a-gen-z-school-movement-turned-into-a-political-war-the-verdict-1791395057754">France protests: How a Gen Z school movement turned into a political war | The Verdict</a>&nbsp;Touching upon the importance of educational exchanges between Taiwan and India, Hsu said there are 45 Taiwan Education Centres (TECs) across India, including 18 in South India, of which 12 are in Tamil Nadu. Since June 2026, TECC in Chennai has, for the first time, partnered with local universities to provide internship opportunities for Indian students. The program enables students to gain a better understanding of diplomatic work, participate in TECC activities, gain first-hand exposure to diplomatic practice, acquire practical experience, and broaden their international perspectives.&nbsp;"TECC in Chennai has so far recruited 20 interns, two of whom have expressed their aspiration to become Indian diplomats in the future", he added. Director-General Hsu said he was honoured to contribute to the development of young Indian talent, emphasising that “diplomacy is not only about governments; it is also about people.” Looking ahead, TECC Chennai’s core mission is to continue strengthening the IT (India &amp; Taiwan) partnership.&nbsp;In his address, Chief Guest S. Vijayakumar, the head of the Indian Foreign Ministry's Branch Secretariat in Chennai, noted that bilateral relations between Taiwan and India have grown steadily in recent years, with economic and trade exchanges showing particularly significant progress. He emphasised that India's Act East Policy seeks to create greater synergies in areas including economy, technology, green energy, supply chains, and talent exchanges.&nbsp;&nbsp;He noted that Tamil Nadu enjoys highly favourable conditions for development and said that he had personally witnessed the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chennai's active efforts to promote exchanges in talent and other fields with stakeholders across the state. He therefore welcomed Director-General Hsu's vision of "Design from Taiwan, Make in Tamil Nadu" and expressed his strong support for its realisation in the region.

India-Taiwan trade reached $12.9 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up from $8 billion in the same period of 2025, as Taiwanese investment and cooperation in areas including semiconductors, ICT, AI and advanced manufacturing continue to expand.

India-Taiwan trade in the January-August period of 2026 has grown 61% from the trade data recorded in Jan-Aug 2025. Sharing the trade data, Stephen Hsu, Director General of the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Centre(TECC) in Chennai, highlighted that the Jan-Aug trade in 2025 was $8bn and that the first eight months of 2026 have already seen $12.9bn worth of trade. Hsu was speaking at the 115th ROC (Taiwan) National Day Reception in Chennai, attended by representatives from all the Southern Indian states. Over 350 Taiwanese companies have invested in India, creating more than 200,000 jobs. Approximately two-thirds of these Taiwanese companies are located in South India, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The event was attended by Members of Parliament, government officials, MLAs, academics, and business leaders from the region. Comparing the growing trade, Hsu pointed out that the total value was $12.5bn in all of 2025, while the first eight months of 2026 had already witnessed $12.9bn worth of trade. Based on this trend, he suggested that the total trade value in 2026 is likely to go beyond $15bn. He emphasised that Taiwan’s strengths in semiconductors, information and communications technology (ICT), artificial intelligence (AI), advanced manufacturing, and green-energy technologies complement India’s strengths in talent, market size, and manufacturing capabilities. By working together, Taiwan and India can build stronger and more resilient supply chains. Also Read: France protests: How a Gen Z school movement turned into a political war | The Verdict Touching upon the importance of educational exchanges between Taiwan and India, Hsu said there are 45 Taiwan Education Centres (TECs) across India, including 18 in South India, of which 12 are in Tamil Nadu. Since June 2026, TECC in Chennai has, for the first time, partnered with local universities to provide internship opportunities for Indian students. The program enables students to gain a better understanding of diplomatic work, participate in TECC activities, gain first-hand exposure to diplomatic practice, acquire practical experience, and broaden their international perspectives. "TECC in Chennai has so far recruited 20 interns, two of whom have expressed their aspiration to become Indian diplomats in the future", he added. Director-General Hsu said he was honoured to contribute to the development of young Indian talent, emphasising that “diplomacy is not only about governments; it is also about people.” Looking ahead, TECC Chennai’s core mission is to continue strengthening the IT (India & Taiwan) partnership. In his address, Chief Guest S. Vijayakumar, the head of the Indian Foreign Ministry's Branch Secretariat in Chennai, noted that bilateral relations between Taiwan and India have grown steadily in recent years, with economic and trade exchanges showing particularly significant progress. He emphasised that India's Act East Policy seeks to create greater synergies in areas including economy, technology, green energy, supply chains, and talent exchanges. He noted that Tamil Nadu enjoys highly favourable conditions for development and said that he had personally witnessed the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chennai's active efforts to promote exchanges in talent and other fields with stakeholders across the state. He therefore welcomed Director-General Hsu's vision of "Design from Taiwan, Make in Tamil Nadu" and expressed his strong support for its realisation in the region.

India-Taiwan trade reached $12.9 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up from $8 billion in the same period of 2025, as Taiwanese investment and cooperation in areas including semiconductors, ICT, AI and advanced manufacturing continue to expand.

India-Taiwan trade up 61%: Jan-Aug total was $8bn in 2025; $12.9bn in 2026

Almost three years after the October 7 Al Aqsa flood by Hamas, which killed exactly 1,195 innocent people, including 736 Israeli civilians, 38 children, 380 Israeli security forces and 79 foreign nationals, several questions regarding the details of the attack remain unanswered. Even if we overlook the European settler colonialism, the historical injustice of Nakba, converting Gaza into an open-air prison and the disproportionality of the response following October 7, which was likened to genocide by the UN, there are certain specific questions concerning the Al Aqsa Flood and the Supernova festival that are still baffling. Some of these questions have been blissfully ignored by the Western media but were highlighted courtesy of Israeli media.&nbsp;<h2>Did Israel know about October 7?</h2>Israel had warning signs about a possible Hamas attack. Extensive investigative reports by Israeli newspaper Haaretz claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was personally warned about a potential Hamas attack, and even his security agencies were also notified repeatedly. In fact, reports suggest that the UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed called Netanyahu roughly a week and a half before the attacks for a 45-minute conversation and warned him that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning a major offensive. Former Palestinian Authority official Sufian Abu Zaida stated that on September 14, 2023, Sinwar directly warned about a major offensive by the end of September. According to a NYT report, Israeli Military intelligence had a "Jericho Wall" blueprint for Hamas's multi-point border invasion almost a year ahead of the incident.<h2>IDF response time</h2>Israel is a small country, similar to states like Nagaland and Manipur in northeastern India. Major regional military reserve and reinforcement hubs such as the Tze'elim training base were positioned roughly 20 to 40 kms from the Gaza border, but it took the IDF roughly 3- 6 hours to respond to the crisis. Reports from Israeli media Hareetz suggest the initial assault started between 06:30– 07:30 am; initial responders were police and individual military personnel; an organised response was started at around 12:00 pm and later. &nbsp;The IDF's own probe found its leadership initially denied they'd been beaten. Police also told the army the area was cleared. There has been no independent enquiry into this.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/marco-rubio-greece-west-at-crossroads-national-power-tech-1791379359218">Rubio in Greece: West ‘at crossroads’, urges national power, tech dominance</a><h2>Hannibal Directive</h2>This is the most contested question that has been mostly overlooked: the long-time secretive directive, later reportedly revoked in 2016 by Gadi Eisenkot. The Hannibal directive allows Israeli soldiers to use potentially massive amounts of force to prevent a soldier from falling into the hands of the enemy. Haaretz reported that the directive was invoked on October 7, while Israeli army commanders struggled to fully grasp the scale of the assault by Hamas. According to documents accessed by Haaretz, it was first invoked at Erez, a crossing between Israel and Gaza; the order given by the divisional headquarters was simply “Hannibal at Erez”; similar directives were issued five hours later at Gaza Division: “Not a single vehicle can return to Gaza.” A United Nations-backed report said more than a dozen Israeli civilians and soldiers lost their lives to Israeli fire. The IDF has declined to say whether it was used. Yoav Gallant, former Defence Minister, acknowledged in an interview with Israel's Channel 12 that the Hannibal Directive was applied during the October 7, 2023 attacks.<h2>Supernova music festival</h2>The Supernova music festival switched from the original planned location in southern Israel to near Kibbutz Re'im, roughly 4-5 kms from the Gaza border, just two days before the event began. The event was scheduled to conclude on October 6, but the Israeli military allowed it to continue till October 7. Israeli police and the Israeli military concluded that Hamas had no prior information about the festival. Because of the extension, thousands of festival-goers were still dancing at sunrise on October 7 when the initial rocket barrages and paraglider assaults began at around 6:30 am.Approving the Nova music festival to occur so close to a volatile border, negligence in the approval process, not cancelling the party despite dangerous invasion signs on October 6, and failing to send anywhere near sufficient forces to save the partygoers drew internal scrutiny from the media.

Three years after October 7, questions remain over Israel's advance warnings, military response, the Hannibal Directive and security failures at the Nova festival.

Almost three years after the October 7 Al Aqsa flood by Hamas, which killed exactly 1,195 innocent people, including 736 Israeli civilians, 38 children, 380 Israeli security forces and 79 foreign nationals, several questions regarding the details of the attack remain unanswered. Even if we overlook the European settler colonialism, the historical injustice of Nakba, converting Gaza into an open-air prison and the disproportionality of the response following October 7, which was likened to genocide by the UN, there are certain specific questions concerning the Al Aqsa Flood and the Supernova festival that are still baffling. Some of these questions have been blissfully ignored by the Western media but were highlighted courtesy of Israeli media. Did Israel know about October 7? Israel had warning signs about a possible Hamas attack. Extensive investigative reports by Israeli newspaper Haaretz claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was personally warned about a potential Hamas attack, and even his security agencies were also notified repeatedly. In fact, reports suggest that the UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed called Netanyahu roughly a week and a half before the attacks for a 45-minute conversation and warned him that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning a major offensive. Former Palestinian Authority official Sufian Abu Zaida stated that on September 14, 2023, Sinwar directly warned about a major offensive by the end of September. According to a NYT report, Israeli Military intelligence had a "Jericho Wall" blueprint for Hamas's multi-point border invasion almost a year ahead of the incident. IDF response time Israel is a small country, similar to states like Nagaland and Manipur in northeastern India. Major regional military reserve and reinforcement hubs such as the Tze'elim training base were positioned roughly 20 to 40 kms from the Gaza border, but it took the IDF roughly 3- 6 hours to respond to the crisis. Reports from Israeli media Hareetz suggest the initial assault started between 06:30– 07:30 am; initial responders were police and individual military personnel; an organised response was started at around 12:00 pm and later. The IDF's own probe found its leadership initially denied they'd been beaten. Police also told the army the area was cleared. There has been no independent enquiry into this. Also Read: Rubio in Greece: West ‘at crossroads’, urges national power, tech dominance Hannibal Directive This is the most contested question that has been mostly overlooked: the long-time secretive directive, later reportedly revoked in 2016 by Gadi Eisenkot. The Hannibal directive allows Israeli soldiers to use potentially massive amounts of force to prevent a soldier from falling into the hands of the enemy. Haaretz reported that the directive was invoked on October 7, while Israeli army commanders struggled to fully grasp the scale of the assault by Hamas. According to documents accessed by Haaretz, it was first invoked at Erez, a crossing between Israel and Gaza; the order given by the divisional headquarters was simply “Hannibal at Erez”; similar directives were issued five hours later at Gaza Division: “Not a single vehicle can return to Gaza.” A United Nations-backed report said more than a dozen Israeli civilians and soldiers lost their lives to Israeli fire. The IDF has declined to say whether it was used. Yoav Gallant, former Defence Minister, acknowledged in an interview with Israel's Channel 12 that the Hannibal Directive was applied during the October 7, 2023 attacks. Supernova music festival The Supernova music festival switched from the original planned location in southern Israel to near Kibbutz Re'im, roughly 4-5 kms from the Gaza border, just two days before the event began. The event was scheduled to conclude on October 6, but the Israeli military allowed it to continue till October 7. Israeli police and the Israeli military concluded that Hamas had no prior information about the festival. Because of the extension, thousands of festival-goers were still dancing at sunrise on October 7 when the initial rocket barrages and paraglider assaults began at around 6:30 am. Approving the Nova music festival to occur so close to a volatile border, negligence in the approval process, not cancelling the party despite dangerous invasion signs on October 6, and failing to send anywhere near sufficient forces to save the partygoers drew internal scrutiny from the media.

Three years after October 7, questions remain over Israel's advance warnings, military response, the Hannibal Directive and security failures at the Nova festival.

October 7 mystery: Warnings, IDF response, Hannibal Directive, Nova festival

Russia’s health agency said Wednesday that there were “no epidemic risks” for the public after reports that a laboratory technician in Siberia had died from plague.&nbsp;The statement came as Russia faced calls from the United States, the European Union and the World Health Organisation for more information and greater transparency over the reported death.&nbsp;<h2>What happened at the Siberia lab?</h2>Russian news outlet People of Baikal reported last Friday that a 28-year-old woman working at a plague research institute in Russia’s Irkutsk region had died from the disease.&nbsp;The report said she may have contracted the infection after a test tube broke at the laboratory.However, Russian authorities have rejected the report, saying the woman died of pneumonia and that the cause of her death was “undetermined”.&nbsp;Russia’s health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region was calm.&nbsp;“The sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region... is calm,” the agency said, adding that “there are no epidemic risks for the population”.&nbsp;It said investigations had found “no emergencies” and that the laboratory had followed “proper control when working with pathogenic microorganisms”.&nbsp;<h2>Russia says tests found no dangerous pathogens</h2>Rospotrebnadzor said more than 90 per cent of people who had contact with the woman had completed medical observation.&nbsp;“No health disorders associated with infectious pathology were detected,” the agency said.&nbsp;It added that the results of almost 5,000 laboratory tests had not found “any dangerous pathogenic microorganisms”.&nbsp;The agency also said the woman had been “vaccinated and had immunity to dangerous infections with which she worked”.&nbsp;Despite saying there was no epidemic risk, Rospotrebnadzor said it had introduced “anti-epidemic measures” as a precaution and in accordance with sanitary legislation.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-army-vows-preemptive-strikes-to-deter-the-enemy-from-any-aggression-1791378744004">Iran Army vows ‘preemptive strikes’ to deter ‘the enemy’ from any aggression</a><h2>US, EU and WHO seek more information</h2>The United States has asked Russia for additional information about the reported death. A State Department spokesperson said Washington was “in official communication with other countries around the world to share information.”&nbsp;The European Union also called on Russia to “share timely and transparent reporting” about the death of the laboratory technician.&nbsp;The World Health Organisation said Wednesday that it wanted more information from Russia about the death and reports of “a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause”.&nbsp;WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said full transparency was needed to properly assess the public health risk.

Russia’s health agency said there was no epidemic risk after a reported plague death in Siberia, while the US, EU and WHO sought more information from Moscow.

Russia’s health agency said Wednesday that there were “no epidemic risks” for the public after reports that a laboratory technician in Siberia had died from plague. The statement came as Russia faced calls from the United States, the European Union and the World Health Organisation for more information and greater transparency over the reported death. What happened at the Siberia lab? Russian news outlet People of Baikal reported last Friday that a 28-year-old woman working at a plague research institute in Russia’s Irkutsk region had died from the disease. The report said she may have contracted the infection after a test tube broke at the laboratory. However, Russian authorities have rejected the report, saying the woman died of pneumonia and that the cause of her death was “undetermined”. Russia’s health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region was calm. “The sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region... is calm,” the agency said, adding that “there are no epidemic risks for the population”. It said investigations had found “no emergencies” and that the laboratory had followed “proper control when working with pathogenic microorganisms”. Russia says tests found no dangerous pathogens Rospotrebnadzor said more than 90 per cent of people who had contact with the woman had completed medical observation. “No health disorders associated with infectious pathology were detected,” the agency said. It added that the results of almost 5,000 laboratory tests had not found “any dangerous pathogenic microorganisms”. The agency also said the woman had been “vaccinated and had immunity to dangerous infections with which she worked”. Despite saying there was no epidemic risk, Rospotrebnadzor said it had introduced “anti-epidemic measures” as a precaution and in accordance with sanitary legislation. Also Read: Iran Army vows ‘preemptive strikes’ to deter ‘the enemy’ from any aggression US, EU and WHO seek more information The United States has asked Russia for additional information about the reported death. A State Department spokesperson said Washington was “in official communication with other countries around the world to share information.” The European Union also called on Russia to “share timely and transparent reporting” about the death of the laboratory technician. The World Health Organisation said Wednesday that it wanted more information from Russia about the death and reports of “a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause”. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said full transparency was needed to properly assess the public health risk.

Russia’s health agency said there was no epidemic risk after a reported plague death in Siberia, while the US, EU and WHO sought more information from Moscow.

‘No epidemic risks’: Russia says 5,000 tests found no dangerous pathogens, dismisses public threat in plague case

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to deliver a major foreign policy address on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, in Athens, Greece. His speech will draw upon ancient Greek Heroes, such as Alexander the Great, and warn that the &nbsp;West is "at a crossroads" and must embrace "national power" and technological innovation or risk sliding into decline."Either we choose to act now, or lose the choice to act at all," he was set to say, according to excerpts from a speech he is to deliver later near the Acropolis. According to Rubio, the United States under President Donald Trump has made its choice to pursue "national power: to take back control of our critical supply chains, to reindustrialise our economy, to rebuild our defence, to fight for dominance of the technologies and industries of the future."US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is currently on a multi-nation European tour from October 5–8, 2026. Rubio arrived in Greece on Wednesday from Iceland and underlined the "critical" US alliance with Greece, particularly in the energy sector and announced a joint agreement on information-sharing on drug trafficking and terrorism. Rubio will head towards Lisbon on October 8 to conclude his four-day tour before returning to Washington.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/seemapuri-house-collapse-three-storey-building-east-delhi-two-injured-1791371013760">5-storey house collapses in Delhi's Seemapuri, people suspected trapped, 2 injured</a>"As you see a world that faces... destabilising events, you recognise how important this alliance with Greece is to the United States," he said, referencing the conflicts in the Middle East and between Ukraine and Russia. Greece has positioned itself as a key hub in southeastern Europe with its recently opened gas pipelines and port infrastructure to contribute to the vertical corridor through eastern Europe to Ukraine.This visit to Greece comes amid scrutiny about conflicts of interest involving the US ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former fiancée of US President Donald Trump's son, Donald Jr and was accused of promoting the commercial interests of a Greek construction and energy company during official diplomatic engagements by repeatedly allowing a registered lobbyist for that foreign company to participate in meetings with senior US officials. When asked about the possible conflict of interest, Rubio declined to answer but expressed support for the former Fox News presenter.&nbsp;

Marco Rubio will warn that the West is “at a crossroads” and urge nations to embrace national power, technological innovation and reindustrialisation.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to deliver a major foreign policy address on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, in Athens, Greece. His speech will draw upon ancient Greek Heroes, such as Alexander the Great, and warn that the West is "at a crossroads" and must embrace "national power" and technological innovation or risk sliding into decline. "Either we choose to act now, or lose the choice to act at all," he was set to say, according to excerpts from a speech he is to deliver later near the Acropolis. According to Rubio, the United States under President Donald Trump has made its choice to pursue "national power: to take back control of our critical supply chains, to reindustrialise our economy, to rebuild our defence, to fight for dominance of the technologies and industries of the future." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is currently on a multi-nation European tour from October 5–8, 2026. Rubio arrived in Greece on Wednesday from Iceland and underlined the "critical" US alliance with Greece, particularly in the energy sector and announced a joint agreement on information-sharing on drug trafficking and terrorism. Rubio will head towards Lisbon on October 8 to conclude his four-day tour before returning to Washington. Also Read: 5-storey house collapses in Delhi's Seemapuri, people suspected trapped, 2 injured "As you see a world that faces... destabilising events, you recognise how important this alliance with Greece is to the United States," he said, referencing the conflicts in the Middle East and between Ukraine and Russia. Greece has positioned itself as a key hub in southeastern Europe with its recently opened gas pipelines and port infrastructure to contribute to the vertical corridor through eastern Europe to Ukraine. This visit to Greece comes amid scrutiny about conflicts of interest involving the US ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former fiancée of US President Donald Trump's son, Donald Jr and was accused of promoting the commercial interests of a Greek construction and energy company during official diplomatic engagements by repeatedly allowing a registered lobbyist for that foreign company to participate in meetings with senior US officials. When asked about the possible conflict of interest, Rubio declined to answer but expressed support for the former Fox News presenter.

Marco Rubio will warn that the West is “at a crossroads” and urge nations to embrace national power, technological innovation and reindustrialisation.

Rubio in Greece: West ‘at crossroads’, urges national power, tech dominance

Iranian Army’s spokesman Brigadier-General Mohammad Akraminia has said that Iran has carried out “preemptive operations” against the “enemy” before and will do so again if necessary to prevent an attack.Akraminia told Fars news agency in an interview that the military has continued daily production of “equipment” throughout the war and is prepared to counter any aggression with its “large stockpile of weapons”.&nbsp;Akraminia said Iran’s military doctrine had shifted in recent months from a defensive to an offensive posture, with the transition progressing rapidly.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Today, in the war waged by the United States and the Zionist regime, we used this doctrine,” he said. It was part of this approach that a US base in Jordan was targeted with missiles and bases belonging to counter-revolutionary and separatist groups have been repeatedly targeted by Air Force fighter jets, Army drones, IRGC drones and missiles, he added.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🇮🇷🇺🇸⚡️ — Iranian Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia announced that Tehran reserves the right to execute preemptive military operations if necessary to deter impending foreign aggression or hostile actions, signaling a potential shift toward a more aggressive posture amid escalating regional tensions. #Iran #USIran #MilitaryStrategy #OSINT&mdash; X-K (@ConflictRadarME) <a href="https://x.com/ConflictRadarME/status/2107804835701534957?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-has-lost-complete-control-of-hormuz-us-able-to-provide-security-in-middle-east-says-rubio-1791370061661">Iran has lost ‘complete control’ of Hormuz, US able to ‘provide security’ in Middle East, says Rubio</a>&nbsp;The army spokesperson said Iran is prepared to conduct a “more crushing, broader, more decisive, and faster” response in the event of an attack, and if necessary, Iran would carry out preemptive operations in the future to deter the enemy from any aggression or attack.&nbsp;He added that the Iranian Army continued producing military equipment on a daily basis throughout the war and is now prepared to confront any aggression, with a large stockpile of weapons, greater experience, and higher personnel morale. “If the enemy attacks again, we will deliver a response that is more crushing, broader, more decisive and faster,” he said.&nbsp;<h2>Hormuz fully controlled by Iran: IRGC Adviser</h2>&nbsp;IRGC adviser Mohammad Reza Naqdi said on Wednesday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the US accedes to Iran’s demands.&nbsp;“The Strait of Hormuz is closed, and the armed forces have complete control over it, and this situation will continue until Iran’s legitimate demands are met,” Fars news agency cited him as saying.&nbsp;He added the volume of smuggled oil is “very small” with small vessels used to transfer oil onto tankers.However, maritime experts and trackers say oil exports from the Gulf have resumed significantly in recent weeks despite a surge in attacks on ships around Hormuz.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-claims-its-weapons-production-is-up-by-250-defence-cooperation-with-russia-and-china-reinforced-1791303071777">Iran claims its weapons production is up by 250%; defence cooperation with Russia and China reinforced</a>&nbsp;Maritime intelligence firm Kpler has reported that Gulf oil flows, excluding Iran, recovered to more than 81 per cent of pre-war levels in September, while crude exports from the wider Middle East exceeded pre-war levels on 14 days during last month.&nbsp;<h2>‘Illegal routes in Hormuz to soon be blocked’</h2>&nbsp;Mohammad Reza Naqdi further said that transit ⁠routes ⁠in the Strait of Hormuz deemed illegal ⁠by Iran will soon ⁠be completely shut down.The IRGC adviser said the transit corridors were created by blasting and ⁠damaging several of ⁠the rocky passages in the strategic waterway and ⁠have been used by ⁠small boats ⁠smuggling oil.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-agrees-to-examine-plea-seeking-recall-of-split-verdict-on-cec-selection-law-1791374567828">Supreme Court agrees to examine plea seeking recall of split verdict on CEC selection law</a>&nbsp;His comments to the semi-official ‌news agency challenge the narrative that Gulf oil ‌flows through the strait are regaining pre-war ‌levels.“Soon, a small number of the routes that violators have created by blasting and destroying some of the existing rocky paths in the Strait of Hormuz will be blocked,” Naqdi was quoted as saying.

Army spokesperson Brigadier-General Mohammad Akraminia said Iran is prepared for a “more crushing, broader, more decisive, and faster” response in the event of an attack, and if necessary, it would carry out preemptive strikes in the future to deter the enemy from any aggression or attack.

Iranian Army’s spokesman Brigadier-General Mohammad Akraminia has said that Iran has carried out “preemptive operations” against the “enemy” before and will do so again if necessary to prevent an attack. Akraminia told Fars news agency in an interview that the military has continued daily production of “equipment” throughout the war and is prepared to counter any aggression with its “large stockpile of weapons”. Akraminia said Iran’s military doctrine had shifted in recent months from a defensive to an offensive posture, with the transition progressing rapidly. “Today, in the war waged by the United States and the Zionist regime, we used this doctrine,” he said. It was part of this approach that a US base in Jordan was targeted with missiles and bases belonging to counter-revolutionary and separatist groups have been repeatedly targeted by Air Force fighter jets, Army drones, IRGC drones and missiles, he added.

Army spokesperson Brigadier-General Mohammad Akraminia said Iran is prepared for a “more crushing, broader, more decisive, and faster” response in the event of an attack, and if necessary, it would carry out preemptive strikes in the future to deter the enemy from any aggression or attack.

Iran Army vows ‘preemptive strikes’ to deter ‘the enemy’ from any aggression

A 23-karat gold-coated, completely naked statue of US President Donald Trump, created by the Danish artist Jens Galschiøt, was unveiled near the European Parliament building in Strasbourg. The eight-foot-long statue, called The Orange Plague, shows a naked Donald Trump holding a golf club in one hand and the scales of justice in the other while being carried by a far smaller, visibly exhausted man, with a world-shaped ball right beneath him.Inscribed at the base: “The King of Injustice”. It reads: “I am sitting on the back of a man. He is sinking under my burden. I will do anything to help him. Except stepping down from his back.”Galschiøt said that the sculpture was a "satirical outcry" against the volatility of &nbsp;American foreign and green policy. “Trump represents one of the greatest threats to the rule-based world order, democratic values, and our common effort to solve the climate crisis,” he said in a statement. “We must address this issue and stand together against such destructive influence.”Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/seemapuri-house-collapse-three-storey-building-east-delhi-two-injured-1791371013760">5-storey house collapses in Delhi's Seemapuri, people suspected trapped, 2 injured</a>Danish MEP Per Clausen commended the unveiling of the new statue, saying, “If someone is so thin-skinned that they cannot tolerate this sculpture being exhibited in the European Parliament, then they have no place on the world stage.”The installation is supposed to remain in Strasbourg through to Thursday. It will again appear at the UN COP31 Climate Conference in Turkey, in November, when the artist will distribute 3D-printed miniature replicas to delegates.<h2>Who is Jens Galschiøt?</h2>Jens is a prominent sculptor well known for his political commentary through art. He is best known for his work ‘Pillar of Shame ’-a series of sculptures depicting eight-metre-high, twisted human bodies. It was unveiled just ahead of the handover of Hong Kong to China from British Rule, as a protest against China's crackdown on the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. This recent sculpture also bears a resemblance to, or draws inspiration from, the artist’s earlier work, Survival of the Fattest, which shows a starved boy carrying an overweight woman as a visual metaphor for global inequality.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">😂 WELL, THIS IS SOMETHING. 😂

A 23-karat-gold statue of Trump called “The Orange Plague” / “King of Injustice” is now on display inside the European Parliament. 

He’s despised all over the world. https://t.co/tnwCHpTeFp&mdash; 💕 Brittany Belle 💕 (@BrittanyinTexas) <a href="https://x.com/BrittanyinTexas/status/2107806034492330057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
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A naked 23-karat gold-coated Donald Trump statue titled The Orange Plague has been unveiled in Strasbourg as a satirical protest over US foreign and climate policy.

A 23-karat gold-coated, completely naked statue of US President Donald Trump, created by the Danish artist Jens Galschiøt, was unveiled near the European Parliament building in Strasbourg. The eight-foot-long statue, called The Orange Plague, shows a naked Donald Trump holding a golf club in one hand and the scales of justice in the other while being carried by a far smaller, visibly exhausted man, with a world-shaped ball right beneath him. Inscribed at the base: “The King of Injustice”. It reads: “I am sitting on the back of a man. He is sinking under my burden. I will do anything to help him. Except stepping down from his back.” Galschiøt said that the sculpture was a "satirical outcry" against the volatility of American foreign and green policy. “Trump represents one of the greatest threats to the rule-based world order, democratic values, and our common effort to solve the climate crisis,” he said in a statement. “We must address this issue and stand together against such destructive influence.” Also Read: 5-storey house collapses in Delhi's Seemapuri, people suspected trapped, 2 injured Danish MEP Per Clausen commended the unveiling of the new statue, saying, “If someone is so thin-skinned that they cannot tolerate this sculpture being exhibited in the European Parliament, then they have no place on the world stage.” The installation is supposed to remain in Strasbourg through to Thursday. It will again appear at the UN COP31 Climate Conference in Turkey, in November, when the artist will distribute 3D-printed miniature replicas to delegates. Who is Jens Galschiøt? Jens is a prominent sculptor well known for his political commentary through art. He is best known for his work ‘Pillar of Shame ’-a series of sculptures depicting eight-metre-high, twisted human bodies. It was unveiled just ahead of the handover of Hong Kong to China from British Rule, as a protest against China's crackdown on the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. This recent sculpture also bears a resemblance to, or draws inspiration from, the artist’s earlier work, Survival of the Fattest, which shows a starved boy carrying an overweight woman as a visual metaphor for global inequality.

A naked 23-karat gold-coated Donald Trump statue titled The Orange Plague has been unveiled in Strasbourg as a satirical protest over US foreign and climate policy.

Trump's naked 23-karat gold statue unveiled near European Parliament

One of the most closely watched Senate races has taken shape in Maine as US mid-term elections in 2026 approach, pitting five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins against sitting Democratic Governor Janet Mills. In this contest, both parties see it as central to the battle for control of the chamber. Earlier, Janet Mills suspended her US Senate campaign on April 30, 2026, ending her primary challenge against Susan Collins due to a lack of financial resources and trailing poll numbers. Collins, in the Senate since 1997, officially launched her bid for a sixth term in February, framing her campaign around experience and independence. She chairs the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and has long positioned herself as one of the chamber's more moderate Republicans, though Democrats argue she has increasingly aligned with President Trump's agenda.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-has-lost-complete-control-of-hormuz-us-able-to-provide-security-in-middle-east-says-rubio-1791370061661">Iran has lost ‘complete control’ of Hormuz, US able to ‘provide security’ in Middle East, says Rubio</a><h3>Mills enters race in October 2025</h3>Mills, Maine's two-term governor and the first woman elected to that office, entered the race in October 2025 after months of public deliberation. Barred from seeking a third term as governor, she framed her Senate run as a stand against Trump, and stated that she won't sit idly by while Maine people suffer and politicians like Susan Collins bend the knee as if this were normal. The race carries outsized national stakes. Of the 20 Senate seats Republicans are defending in 2026, Maine is the only one in a state Democrats carried in the 2024 presidential election, making it a top Democratic pickup target in their push to retake the Senate majority. Collins has never lost a Senate race in Maine; her only electoral defeat came in a 1994 gubernatorial bid. She defeated Democrat Sara Gideon by more than 8 points in 2020. But Maine has trended bluer since then, with registered Democrats now outnumbering unenrolled independent voters, a shift that could work against her. Mills, however, must first navigate a contested Democratic primary. Progressive oysterman Graham Platner has emerged as a serious rival, winning an endorsement from Senator Bernie Sanders and outraising both Mills and Collins in recent fundraising filings. Jordan Wood and Dan Kleban are also running. Sanders has publicly criticised national Democrats for pushing Mills into the race, calling Platner the stronger candidate to beat Collins.

Of the 20 Senate seats Republicans are defending in 2026, Maine is the only one in a state Democrats carried in the 2024 presidential election, making it a top Democratic pickup target in their push to retake the Senate majority.

One of the most closely watched Senate races has taken shape in Maine as US mid-term elections in 2026 approach, pitting five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins against sitting Democratic Governor Janet Mills. In this contest, both parties see it as central to the battle for control of the chamber. Earlier, Janet Mills suspended her US Senate campaign on April 30, 2026, ending her primary challenge against Susan Collins due to a lack of financial resources and trailing poll numbers. Collins, in the Senate since 1997, officially launched her bid for a sixth term in February, framing her campaign around experience and independence. She chairs the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and has long positioned herself as one of the chamber's more moderate Republicans, though Democrats argue she has increasingly aligned with President Trump's agenda. Also read: Iran has lost ‘complete control’ of Hormuz, US able to ‘provide security’ in Middle East, says Rubio Mills enters race in October 2025 Mills, Maine's two-term governor and the first woman elected to that office, entered the race in October 2025 after months of public deliberation. Barred from seeking a third term as governor, she framed her Senate run as a stand against Trump, and stated that she won't sit idly by while Maine people suffer and politicians like Susan Collins bend the knee as if this were normal. The race carries outsized national stakes. Of the 20 Senate seats Republicans are defending in 2026, Maine is the only one in a state Democrats carried in the 2024 presidential election, making it a top Democratic pickup target in their push to retake the Senate majority. Collins has never lost a Senate race in Maine; her only electoral defeat came in a 1994 gubernatorial bid. She defeated Democrat Sara Gideon by more than 8 points in 2020. But Maine has trended bluer since then, with registered Democrats now outnumbering unenrolled independent voters, a shift that could work against her. Mills, however, must first navigate a contested Democratic primary. Progressive oysterman Graham Platner has emerged as a serious rival, winning an endorsement from Senator Bernie Sanders and outraising both Mills and Collins in recent fundraising filings. Jordan Wood and Dan Kleban are also running. Sanders has publicly criticised national Democrats for pushing Mills into the race, calling Platner the stronger candidate to beat Collins.

Of the 20 Senate seats Republicans are defending in 2026, Maine is the only one in a state Democrats carried in the 2024 presidential election, making it a top Democratic pickup target in their push to retake the Senate majority.

Collins vs. Mills: A five-term incumbent against a sitting governor in in Maine — who will set up 2026 midterm race?

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in Greece on Wednesday that Iran has “lost complete control” of the Strait of Hormuz and the pre-war oil transit volumes have been restored.“The Strait of Hormuz is open and the quantities of oil exiting through it now are exactly the same as the quantities that were exiting before its closure,” said Rubio while speaking at a news conference in Athens along with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis.&nbsp;Rubio further said that Iran has failed to take advantage of the “multiple opportunities” it had to reach an agreement with the United States on its nuclear programme.&nbsp;Rubio’s comments come even as commercial vessels continue to be attacked in the critical waterway by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.&nbsp;<h2>US has military might to provide security in Middle East: Rubio</h2>&nbsp;Rubio emphasised that the United States has the “ability to provide security” in the Middle East because of its powerful military capabilities.&nbsp;He also reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to ensuring Iran never gets a nuclear weapon as Tehran tries to “drive our forces out of the region”.At a news conference in Athens with his Greek counterpart, Rubio added that Greece will cooperate with the US in the besieged Strait of Hormuz “if necessary”.&nbsp;Rubio also said that as a result of “crippling” sanctions imposed by the US, the Iranian economy is “about to reach a place few countries in the world have been.”“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, simple, period, end of story, and anything they agree to that would be acceptable to the United States has to be something that ensures that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.”Iran is trying to “build up a conventional capability so massive that they would become untouchable”, he added.&nbsp;<h2>Iran must cut enrichment to end war, says Vance</h2>&nbsp;US Vice President JD Vance has, meanwhile, said in an interview that Iran must make a “meaningful” reduction in its nuclear enrichment capacity to satisfy US demands and end the countries’ seven-month war.&nbsp;Speaking after a campaign trip in Alaska, Vance said any agreement would require Iran to reduce its nuclear enrichment capacity.“If you don’t want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60% enriched fuel? And if you want to show commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, don’t build highly enriched ⁠fuel. That’s a very basic threshold issue,” Vance said.“I think if they want to show a commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, they would do something meaningful on their enrichment capacity,” the VP added.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasised that the United States has the “ability to provide security” in the Middle East because of its powerful military capabilities. He also reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to ensuring Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in Greece on Wednesday that Iran has “lost complete control” of the Strait of Hormuz and the pre-war oil transit volumes have been restored. “The Strait of Hormuz is open and the quantities of oil exiting through it now are exactly the same as the quantities that were exiting before its closure,” said Rubio while speaking at a news conference in Athens along with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis. Rubio further said that Iran has failed to take advantage of the “multiple opportunities” it had to reach an agreement with the United States on its nuclear programme. Rubio’s comments come even as commercial vessels continue to be attacked in the critical waterway by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. US has military might to provide security in Middle East: Rubio Rubio emphasised that the United States has the “ability to provide security” in the Middle East because of its powerful military capabilities. He also reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to ensuring Iran never gets a nuclear weapon as Tehran tries to “drive our forces out of the region”. At a news conference in Athens with his Greek counterpart, Rubio added that Greece will cooperate with the US in the besieged Strait of Hormuz “if necessary”. Rubio also said that as a result of “crippling” sanctions imposed by the US, the Iranian economy is “about to reach a place few countries in the world have been.” “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, simple, period, end of story, and anything they agree to that would be acceptable to the United States has to be something that ensures that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.” Iran is trying to “build up a conventional capability so massive that they would become untouchable”, he added. Iran must cut enrichment to end war, says Vance US Vice President JD Vance has, meanwhile, said in an interview that Iran must make a “meaningful” reduction in its nuclear enrichment capacity to satisfy US demands and end the countries’ seven-month war. Speaking after a campaign trip in Alaska, Vance said any agreement would require Iran to reduce its nuclear enrichment capacity. “If you don’t want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60% enriched fuel? And if you want to show commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, don’t build highly enriched ⁠fuel. That’s a very basic threshold issue,” Vance said. “I think if they want to show a commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, they would do something meaningful on their enrichment capacity,” the VP added.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasised that the United States has the “ability to provide security” in the Middle East because of its powerful military capabilities. He also reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to ensuring Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.

Iran has lost ‘complete control’ of Hormuz, US able to ‘provide security’ in Middle East, says Rubio

France's Henri B. Kagan and Japan's Kenso Soai have won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry “for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis,” according to the Nobel Committee. They have discovered how homochirality can surface spontaneously. A few molecules, including amino acids, exist as two mirror-image variants; however, organisms consist of only one.&nbsp;For several years, chemists struggled to understand and discover how this asymmetry could arise. In 1986, Kagan made a breakthrough after discovering a way to manipulate reactions to produce an excess of one mirror image. Soai came up with a design for a reaction having the potential to become homochiral in 1995 and, in 2003, achieved a reaction that formed only one mirror image. Their discoveries have been conclusive for pharmaceutical manufacturing.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mv-royad-mammadov-attack-indian-embassy-in-romania-steps-in-to-help-three-indian-nationals-rescued-from-black-sea-1791357856291">MV ROYAD MAMMADOV attack: Indian Embassy in Romania steps in to help three Indian nationals rescued from Black Sea</a><h3>Metal-organic frameworks</h3>Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi jointly won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for the development of metal-organic frameworks." These frameworks, known as MOFs, are ultra-porous crystalline structures that link metal ions with organic molecules. The breakthrough lets scientists trap and manipulate molecules, underpinning technologies such as carbon capture, green hydrogen storage, and harvesting drinking water from desert air.&nbsp;The Nobel Prize in Chemistry is one of the prizes established under the will of Swedish inventor and industrialist Alfred Nobel, who made his fortune through inventions including dynamite. He specified that the prizes should go to those who had conferred the "greatest benefit to humankind" in five fields: physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace.&nbsp;Chemistry was included because of the central role it played in Nobel's own scientific and industrial work. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences chooses the chemistry laureates each year. The prize was first awarded in 1901, when Dutch chemist Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff became its inaugural recipient for his work on chemical dynamics and osmotic pressure.

Kagan and Soai have discovered how homochirality can surface spontaneously. A few molecules, including amino acids, exist as two mirror-image variants; however, organisms consist of only one.

France's Henri B. Kagan and Japan's Kenso Soai have won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry “for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis,” according to the Nobel Committee. They have discovered how homochirality can surface spontaneously. A few molecules, including amino acids, exist as two mirror-image variants; however, organisms consist of only one. For several years, chemists struggled to understand and discover how this asymmetry could arise. In 1986, Kagan made a breakthrough after discovering a way to manipulate reactions to produce an excess of one mirror image. Soai came up with a design for a reaction having the potential to become homochiral in 1995 and, in 2003, achieved a reaction that formed only one mirror image. Their discoveries have been conclusive for pharmaceutical manufacturing. Also read: MV ROYAD MAMMADOV attack: Indian Embassy in Romania steps in to help three Indian nationals rescued from Black Sea Metal-organic frameworks Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi jointly won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for the development of metal-organic frameworks." These frameworks, known as MOFs, are ultra-porous crystalline structures that link metal ions with organic molecules. The breakthrough lets scientists trap and manipulate molecules, underpinning technologies such as carbon capture, green hydrogen storage, and harvesting drinking water from desert air. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry is one of the prizes established under the will of Swedish inventor and industrialist Alfred Nobel, who made his fortune through inventions including dynamite. He specified that the prizes should go to those who had conferred the "greatest benefit to humankind" in five fields: physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace. Chemistry was included because of the central role it played in Nobel's own scientific and industrial work. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences chooses the chemistry laureates each year. The prize was first awarded in 1901, when Dutch chemist Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff became its inaugural recipient for his work on chemical dynamics and osmotic pressure.

Kagan and Soai have discovered how homochirality can surface spontaneously. A few molecules, including amino acids, exist as two mirror-image variants; however, organisms consist of only one.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2026 goes to Kagan and Soai for work on 'molecular asymmetry'

Could the Flydubai incident cost Israel its place in the US Visa Waiver Programme? Israel is concerned that the United States could reassess its compliance with the Visa Waiver Program following security failures exposed by the attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, according to a report by Israeli outlet Walla.Why? The concern centres on whether Israel received and properly reviewed information about the Omani co-pilot who allegedly attacked the captain of FlyDubai Flight FZ1073 with a cockpit crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft. Notably, the United States has not publicly indicated that it is taking action against Israel. A senior State Department official told Walla that the department does not comment in advance on possible actions as a general matter.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/flydubai-co-pilot-s-alleged-photo-goes-viral-oman-air-had-reportedly-flagged-him-over-extremist-views-big-revelations-smit-machchhar-1791010820693">Flydubai co-pilot’s alleged photo goes viral; Oman Air had reportedly flagged him over extremist views - BIG revelations</a><h2>Why Israel's visa waiver status may be under scrutiny</h2>According to the Walla report, one of the requirements of Israel's participation in the US Visa Waiver Program is that Israeli authorities receive and review information concerning passengers and air crews arriving in the country. The Flydubai incident has raised questions over whether that process worked as intended.The concerns come amid mounting scrutiny of Israel's system for vetting foreign airline crews. The Times of Israel reported that the Transportation Ministry has said it does not conduct background checks on foreign pilots, while the ministry also said it did not have access to the crew list for the ill-fated flight.At the same time, Israeli authorities have said flydubai had been instructed to carry out the required checks on its crews. The Transportation Ministry said the airline had confirmed in writing that it had implemented restrictions on crew assignments for flights to Israel.<h2>US delegation reportedly heading to Israel</h2>The Times of Israel reported that a US delegation is expected to visit Israel to review its compliance with the security requirements attached to the Visa Waiver Program.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-hamam-al-hammami-omani-co-pilot-in-flydubai-cockpit-attack-was-already-flagged-over-security-concerns-smit-machchhar-1790992543064">Who is Hamam Al-Hammami? Omani co-pilot in Flydubai cockpit attack was already flagged over security concerns</a>The delegation was reportedly in the United Arab Emirates examining aviation security procedures before coming to Israel. The review would focus on whether Israel is meeting the conditions agreed upon when it joined the programme in 2023.Israel joined the US Visa Waiver Program in 2023, allowing eligible Israeli citizens to travel to the United States for short stays without obtaining a conventional visa, subject to approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA.<h2>How the flydubai attack exposed security gaps</h2>The attempted hijacking occurred on September 30 aboard Flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The Omani co-pilot, identified as Hamam al-Hammami, allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar using a cockpit axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft. The pilot and several Israeli passengers helped subdue him.The aircraft eventually made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The incident prompted an investigation across several countries and renewed questions over how al-Hammami had been cleared to serve on a flight to Israel.Reports have said al-Hammami had previously been removed from flying duties in Oman amid concerns over extremist views. It remains under investigation whether he had any links to a wider terrorist organisation. This comes as Flydubai has reportedly sought permission to resume flights to Israel after its investigation into the incident. &nbsp;

Israel’s visa-free travel to the US could face fresh scrutiny after the Flydubai cockpit attack exposed questions over how foreign airline crews are vetted. A US delegation is reportedly expected to review whether Israel is meeting the security conditions of the programme.

Could the Flydubai incident cost Israel its place in the US Visa Waiver Programme? Israel is concerned that the United States could reassess its compliance with the Visa Waiver Program following security failures exposed by the attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, according to a report by Israeli outlet Walla. Why? The concern centres on whether Israel received and properly reviewed information about the Omani co-pilot who allegedly attacked the captain of FlyDubai Flight FZ1073 with a cockpit crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft. Notably, the United States has not publicly indicated that it is taking action against Israel. A senior State Department official told Walla that the department does not comment in advance on possible actions as a general matter. Also read | Flydubai co-pilot’s alleged photo goes viral; Oman Air had reportedly flagged him over extremist views - BIG revelations Why Israel's visa waiver status may be under scrutiny According to the Walla report, one of the requirements of Israel's participation in the US Visa Waiver Program is that Israeli authorities receive and review information concerning passengers and air crews arriving in the country. The Flydubai incident has raised questions over whether that process worked as intended. The concerns come amid mounting scrutiny of Israel's system for vetting foreign airline crews. The Times of Israel reported that the Transportation Ministry has said it does not conduct background checks on foreign pilots, while the ministry also said it did not have access to the crew list for the ill-fated flight. At the same time, Israeli authorities have said flydubai had been instructed to carry out the required checks on its crews. The Transportation Ministry said the airline had confirmed in writing that it had implemented restrictions on crew assignments for flights to Israel. US delegation reportedly heading to Israel The Times of Israel reported that a US delegation is expected to visit Israel to review its compliance with the security requirements attached to the Visa Waiver Program. Also read | Who is Hamam Al-Hammami? Omani co-pilot in Flydubai cockpit attack was already flagged over security concerns The delegation was reportedly in the United Arab Emirates examining aviation security procedures before coming to Israel. The review would focus on whether Israel is meeting the conditions agreed upon when it joined the programme in 2023. Israel joined the US Visa Waiver Program in 2023, allowing eligible Israeli citizens to travel to the United States for short stays without obtaining a conventional visa, subject to approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA. How the flydubai attack exposed security gaps The attempted hijacking occurred on September 30 aboard Flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The Omani co-pilot, identified as Hamam al-Hammami, allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar using a cockpit axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft. The pilot and several Israeli passengers helped subdue him. The aircraft eventually made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The incident prompted an investigation across several countries and renewed questions over how al-Hammami had been cleared to serve on a flight to Israel. Reports have said al-Hammami had previously been removed from flying duties in Oman amid concerns over extremist views. It remains under investigation whether he had any links to a wider terrorist organisation. This comes as Flydubai has reportedly sought permission to resume flights to Israel after its investigation into the incident.

Israel’s visa-free travel to the US could face fresh scrutiny after the Flydubai cockpit attack exposed questions over how foreign airline crews are vetted. A US delegation is reportedly expected to review whether Israel is meeting the security conditions of the programme.

Flydubai cockpit attack: Could Israel lose its US Visa Waiver status over security lapse?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leading a caretaker government ahead of the October 27 elections, with his nationalist coalition becoming the first Israeli government in over half a century to complete its full four-year term without collapse or dissolution. The only Israeli PM since Golda Meir to successfully see out a full parliamentary term in office, Netanyahu has steered the Jewish state through one of the most tumultuous periods in its history, which started with internal political instability and worsened with the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack, which cascaded into the Gaza war and the Iran-Israel-US conflict. The 25th Knesset completed its full scheduled duration and was dissolved on 17 July, &nbsp;the first time the Israeli parliament had completed its regular term on schedule since 1988. But will Netanyahu make a comeback as Israeli PM for the seventh term? What are the opinion polls and prediction markets saying?<h2>Gadi Eisenkot is the frontrunner in prediction markets</h2>Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who started his new centrist Zionist party Yashar just a year ago, &nbsp;is ahead of Netanyahu in the top prediction markets. Polymarket put Eisenkot at approximately 48 per cent, compared with 35–36 per cent for Netanyahu. Naftali Bennett is at nearly 10 per cent, while Avigdor Lieberman is at under 2 per cent. On Kalshi prediction market, the odds are in favour of Eizenkot at 49 per cent, while Netanyahu is at 34 per cent and Bennett at 8 per cent. A longer-term Kalshi market question on 'Who will succeed Netanyahu as Prime Minister of Israel' shows Eisenkot favoured higher, at around 60 per cent.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-ll-settle-score-with-everyone-involved-in-oct-7-attack-says-netanyahu-at-memorial-1791209583749">‘We’ll settle score with everyone involved in Oct. 7 attack,’ says Netanyahu at memorial</a><h2>Opinion polls paint a tighter picture</h2>In opinion polls, Yashar and Netanyahu's Likud are tied as the two largest parties, with both averaging 21–23 seats. Bennett's party averages 11 seats, Yair Golan's The Democrats 9–10, Lieberman's Yisrael Beytenu 8–9, and the right-wing Otzma Yehudit, led by firebrand Ben-Gvir, around 8. Recent polls by Kan, N12 and Channel 13 show Eisenkot leading or tied with Netanyahu, while Bennett trails Netanyahu more clearly.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/netanyahu-denounces-enemies-allies-in-un-speech-1790334334623/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/netanyahu-denounces-enemies-allies-in-un-speech-1790334334623/embed</a><h2>How is the Knesset going to look?</h2>The next government is also likely to be a coalition, given how the 120 seats in the Knesset are currently projected to be distributed. Netanyahu's outgoing coalition parties, which include Likud, Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ), average 51–54 seats across recent aggregates. &nbsp;Only some right-leaning pollsters, such as Channel 14, have projected a majority for Likud and its allies. The Zionist opposition parties combined are in the low-to-mid 50s. Arab parties are averaging around 13 seats.But no bloc has consistently cleared the 61-seat threshold required to form a government. This indicates that once again, coalition arithmetic will kick in after the elections. Whether Netanyahu will still emerge as PM will depend on Likud's electoral performance as well as post-election negotiations. On that count, this is not Netanyahu's first rodeo.

Israel’s October 27 election pits Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against top contender for premiership Gadi Eisenkot, with polls showing a tight race. Neither bloc appears near the 61-seat majority, making coalition arithmetic and post-election negotiations inevitable

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leading a caretaker government ahead of the October 27 elections, with his nationalist coalition becoming the first Israeli government in over half a century to complete its full four-year term without collapse or dissolution. The only Israeli PM since Golda Meir to successfully see out a full parliamentary term in office, Netanyahu has steered the Jewish state through one of the most tumultuous periods in its history, which started with internal political instability and worsened with the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack, which cascaded into the Gaza war and the Iran-Israel-US conflict. The 25th Knesset completed its full scheduled duration and was dissolved on 17 July, the first time the Israeli parliament had completed its regular term on schedule since 1988. But will Netanyahu make a comeback as Israeli PM for the seventh term? What are the opinion polls and prediction markets saying? Gadi Eisenkot is the frontrunner in prediction markets Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who started his new centrist Zionist party Yashar just a year ago, is ahead of Netanyahu in the top prediction markets. Polymarket put Eisenkot at approximately 48 per cent, compared with 35–36 per cent for Netanyahu. Naftali Bennett is at nearly 10 per cent, while Avigdor Lieberman is at under 2 per cent. On Kalshi prediction market, the odds are in favour of Eizenkot at 49 per cent, while Netanyahu is at 34 per cent and Bennett at 8 per cent. A longer-term Kalshi market question on 'Who will succeed Netanyahu as Prime Minister of Israel' shows Eisenkot favoured higher, at around 60 per cent. Also read: ‘We’ll settle score with everyone involved in Oct. 7 attack,’ says Netanyahu at memorial Opinion polls paint a tighter picture In opinion polls, Yashar and Netanyahu's Likud are tied as the two largest parties, with both averaging 21–23 seats. Bennett's party averages 11 seats, Yair Golan's The Democrats 9–10, Lieberman's Yisrael Beytenu 8–9, and the right-wing Otzma Yehudit, led by firebrand Ben-Gvir, around 8. Recent polls by Kan, N12 and Channel 13 show Eisenkot leading or tied with Netanyahu, while Bennett trails Netanyahu more clearly. https://www.wionews.com/videos/netanyahu-denounces-enemies-allies-in-un-speech-1790334334623/embed How is the Knesset going to look? The next government is also likely to be a coalition, given how the 120 seats in the Knesset are currently projected to be distributed. Netanyahu's outgoing coalition parties, which include Likud, Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ), average 51–54 seats across recent aggregates. Only some right-leaning pollsters, such as Channel 14, have projected a majority for Likud and its allies. The Zionist opposition parties combined are in the low-to-mid 50s. Arab parties are averaging around 13 seats. But no bloc has consistently cleared the 61-seat threshold required to form a government. This indicates that once again, coalition arithmetic will kick in after the elections. Whether Netanyahu will still emerge as PM will depend on Likud's electoral performance as well as post-election negotiations. On that count, this is not Netanyahu's first rodeo.

Israel’s October 27 election pits Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against top contender for premiership Gadi Eisenkot, with polls showing a tight race. Neither bloc appears near the 61-seat majority, making coalition arithmetic and post-election negotiations inevitable

Will Netanyahu lose premiership? How prediction markets and opinion poll numbers stack up ahead of Israeli elections

Not so long ago, the term 'brain drain' referred to the loss of skilled manpower from developing nations like India to foreign countries such as the US. Today, comparable levels of emigration are taking place from India to a larger number of nations. But the term 'brain drain' is not heard as much as it was in the past, in media or academic circles. The migration of skilled labour, such as software engineers and doctors, could be considered a kind of export. Celebrating the material success of the Indian diaspora is one way of looking at this. But it belies a potential crisis and raises the question: Is India unable to retain its talent within the country?<h2>India has the world's largest emigrant population</h2>Recently, economist and former Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Djoomart Otorbaev wrote that India is not merely exporting software, pharmaceuticals, and services. It is exporting something consequential: human beings. While China became the world's workshop, India is increasingly becoming the world's labour pool. That observation is accurate, going by global as well as Indian government data. The number of India-born people living abroad was estimated at 18.5 million in 2024 by the United Nations, which is roughly 6 per cent of all international migrants. It is a near-tripling from 6.5 million in 1990.India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) data shows a much bigger number of 34.36 million as of January 2025, which includes 17.18 million Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and 17.18 million Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). Of this total, the US hosts 5.69 million, the UAE 3.90 million and Canada 3.61 million. These are mission-compiled estimates, and the totals have varied between various parliamentary replies.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indians-now-australia-s-top-migrant-group-surpasses-uk-s-population-more-details-inside-1777533766737">Indians now Australia’s top migrant group, surpasses UK's population: More details inside</a><h2>Voting with their feet: The number of Indians giving up their citizenship is growing</h2>In migration studies, the term 'voting with their feet' refers to people leaving their home country for better opportunities, driven by 'push and pull' factors — relatively poor conditions at home and better living standards, opportunities and attractive currency exchange rates abroad. One of the clearest signs of this is a permanent exit: the renunciation of citizenship. India does not allow dual nationality, though people of Indian origin can apply for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, which provides certain rights but is not equivalent to Indian citizenship. Between 2011 and 2024, according to MEA data, 2.09 million Indians gave up their citizenship.When taken annually, these renunciations ranged between 121,000 and 144,000 in the 2011- 2019 period. Then came a sudden jump to 225,620 in 2022, followed by 216,219 in 2023 and 206,378 in 2024. Nearly 900,000 people left the citizenship rolls in the five years to 2024 alone.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/how-are-migration-and-urbanisation-leaving-millions-of-elderly-parents-without-care-1783593293480">How are migration and urbanisation leaving millions of elderly parents without care</a><h2>Rich nations are taking the cream of the crop from India</h2>Much of this migration is a combination of the pre-selection of the best talent by foreign firms and nations, something Otorbaev referred to as 'filtering the pool', and the self-selection of destination countries by migrants themselves. In spite of growing rhetoric against Indian migration to the US, Indian-born workers received 283,400 of 399,400 approved US H-1B petitions, which is 71 per cent of the total pool, in 2024-25. For the US, as well as several other countries, India was the leading source of international students, with more than 363,000 enrolled in the US in 2024-25 alone, according to Migration Policy Institute data. Many of them go on to find jobs in the nations where they studied.This migration is increasingly including Europe, Scandinavia and Oceania, besides traditional destinations such as the US, UK and Canada. The other stream is lower- and mid-skilled workers who move towards the Gulf, where taking citizenship is not possible in most cases. Government data showed that the UAE and the US each hosted 17 per cent of India's emigrants in 2024, while Gulf countries accounted for around half of all Indian migrants.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/global-work-visa-options-top-countries-opening-work-visas-for-indians-1758778533092/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/global-work-visa-options-top-countries-opening-work-visas-for-indians-1758778533092/embed</a>&nbsp;<h2>The good side: India's rise to the top of remittance-receiving nations helps its foreign currency reserves</h2>India has been the world's largest remittance recipient since 2008, with remittances standing at around $137.7 billion in 2024. This is more than double the amount flowing to the next-ranked country, Mexico, which received around $67 billion, much of it from 'near-far' migration into the US.Indian remittances are around 3.5 per cent of its GDP and have been growing at nearly 14 per cent annually in the last few years. These inflows add to India's foreign currency reserves, helping it pay bills and balance its currency during difficult periods such as the current conflict in West Asia.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/home-not-a-hotel-australia-vows-biggest-immigration-cut-in-history-what-it-means-for-indians-1791274843735">'Home, not a hotel': Australia vows 'biggest immigration cut' in history - What it means for Indians</a><h2>What the migration reveals: The job situation for youth in India</h2>The story of migration cannot be read without considering the 'push factor': a lack of employment opportunities for skilled labour in India for young and able-bodied workforce, and the anticipation of unemployment at the student stage itself for many individuals. As a result, many are planning their studies abroad, often taking bank loans, with the intention of finding a job in the destination countries and possibly settling there.<h2>The lack of enough productive jobs for available labour in the country</h2>Youth unemployment, for those aged between 15 and 29, is estimated to be nearly 10 per cent, and that is problematic for a nation with the 'demographic dividend' of a young, employable population.The data is worse for urban youth, where unemployment is averaging around 13 per cent.This essentially means India is at a crossroads when it comes to balancing unemployment and emigration. The benefits of India's education system — much of it subsidised by the government — are not being transferred back to the nation due to permanent or long-term emigration. This is the classic ‘brain drain’ problem.In short, richer economies take advantage of the benefits of Indians' relatively cheaper education. This is starting to look very much like the 'brain drain' of the 1980s and 1990s. But the counterargument is the benefits of remittances.&nbsp;The world, as Otorbaev put it, is competing for Indian talent. But can India compete to keep its own talent at home?. Ultimately, it is about the cost-benefit analysis of retaining skilled workforce at home versus getting their inward remittances from abroad. And the balance might tilt.

India's skilled labour migration is expanding beyond traditional destinations. When placed against youth unemployment and talent retention issues, it amounts to a brain drain. Record remittances are the silver lining, but the balance might tilt.

Not so long ago, the term 'brain drain' referred to the loss of skilled manpower from developing nations like India to foreign countries such as the US. Today, comparable levels of emigration are taking place from India to a larger number of nations. But the term 'brain drain' is not heard as much as it was in the past, in media or academic circles. The migration of skilled labour, such as software engineers and doctors, could be considered a kind of export. Celebrating the material success of the Indian diaspora is one way of looking at this. But it belies a potential crisis and raises the question: Is India unable to retain its talent within the country? India has the world's largest emigrant population Recently, economist and former Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Djoomart Otorbaev wrote that India is not merely exporting software, pharmaceuticals, and services. It is exporting something consequential: human beings. While China became the world's workshop, India is increasingly becoming the world's labour pool. That observation is accurate, going by global as well as Indian government data. The number of India-born people living abroad was estimated at 18.5 million in 2024 by the United Nations, which is roughly 6 per cent of all international migrants. It is a near-tripling from 6.5 million in 1990. India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) data shows a much bigger number of 34.36 million as of January 2025, which includes 17.18 million Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and 17.18 million Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). Of this total, the US hosts 5.69 million, the UAE 3.90 million and Canada 3.61 million. These are mission-compiled estimates, and the totals have varied between various parliamentary replies. Also read: Indians now Australia’s top migrant group, surpasses UK's population: More details inside Voting with their feet: The number of Indians giving up their citizenship is growing In migration studies, the term 'voting with their feet' refers to people leaving their home country for better opportunities, driven by 'push and pull' factors — relatively poor conditions at home and better living standards, opportunities and attractive currency exchange rates abroad. One of the clearest signs of this is a permanent exit: the renunciation of citizenship. India does not allow dual nationality, though people of Indian origin can apply for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, which provides certain rights but is not equivalent to Indian citizenship. Between 2011 and 2024, according to MEA data, 2.09 million Indians gave up their citizenship. When taken annually, these renunciations ranged between 121,000 and 144,000 in the 2011- 2019 period. Then came a sudden jump to 225,620 in 2022, followed by 216,219 in 2023 and 206,378 in 2024. Nearly 900,000 people left the citizenship rolls in the five years to 2024 alone. Also read: How are migration and urbanisation leaving millions of elderly parents without care Rich nations are taking the cream of the crop from India Much of this migration is a combination of the pre-selection of the best talent by foreign firms and nations, something Otorbaev referred to as 'filtering the pool', and the self-selection of destination countries by migrants themselves. In spite of growing rhetoric against Indian migration to the US, Indian-born workers received 283,400 of 399,400 approved US H-1B petitions, which is 71 per cent of the total pool, in 2024-25. For the US, as well as several other countries, India was the leading source of international students, with more than 363,000 enrolled in the US in 2024-25 alone, according to Migration Policy Institute data. Many of them go on to find jobs in the nations where they studied. This migration is increasingly including Europe, Scandinavia and Oceania, besides traditional destinations such as the US, UK and Canada. The other stream is lower- and mid-skilled workers who move towards the Gulf, where taking citizenship is not possible in most cases. Government data showed that the UAE and the US each hosted 17 per cent of India's emigrants in 2024, while Gulf countries accounted for around half of all Indian migrants. https://www.wionews.com/videos/global-work-visa-options-top-countries-opening-work-visas-for-indians-1758778533092/embed The good side: India's rise to the top of remittance-receiving nations helps its foreign currency reserves India has been the world's largest remittance recipient since 2008, with remittances standing at around $137.7 billion in 2024. This is more than double the amount flowing to the next-ranked country, Mexico, which received around $67 billion, much of it from 'near-far' migration into the US. Indian remittances are around 3.5 per cent of its GDP and have been growing at nearly 14 per cent annually in the last few years. These inflows add to India's foreign currency reserves, helping it pay bills and balance its currency during difficult periods such as the current conflict in West Asia. Also read: 'Home, not a hotel': Australia vows 'biggest immigration cut' in history - What it means for Indians What the migration reveals: The job situation for youth in India The story of migration cannot be read without considering the 'push factor': a lack of employment opportunities for skilled labour in India for young and able-bodied workforce, and the anticipation of unemployment at the student stage itself for many individuals. As a result, many are planning their studies abroad, often taking bank loans, with the intention of finding a job in the destination countries and possibly settling there. The lack of enough productive jobs for available labour in the country Youth unemployment, for those aged between 15 and 29, is estimated to be nearly 10 per cent, and that is problematic for a nation with the 'demographic dividend' of a young, employable population. The data is worse for urban youth, where unemployment is averaging around 13 per cent. This essentially means India is at a crossroads when it comes to balancing unemployment and emigration. The benefits of India's education system — much of it subsidised by the government — are not being transferred back to the nation due to permanent or long-term emigration. This is the classic ‘brain drain’ problem. In short, richer economies take advantage of the benefits of Indians' relatively cheaper education. This is starting to look very much like the 'brain drain' of the 1980s and 1990s. But the counterargument is the benefits of remittances. The world, as Otorbaev put it, is competing for Indian talent. But can India compete to keep its own talent at home?. Ultimately, it is about the cost-benefit analysis of retaining skilled workforce at home versus getting their inward remittances from abroad. And the balance might tilt.

India's skilled labour migration is expanding beyond traditional destinations. When placed against youth unemployment and talent retention issues, it amounts to a brain drain. Record remittances are the silver lining, but the balance might tilt.

Are Indians 'voting with their feet?' Skilled labour emigration grows, but no one's crying 'brain drain'

The three Indian nationals rescued from the commercial vessel MV ROYAD MAMMADOV after an attack in the Black Sea are safe and receiving necessary assistance, the Indian Embassy in Romania said. The embassy said its representative met the three Indians following their rescue by Romanian authorities. Two of them are currently staying at a hotel, while the third is undergoing treatment at the County Hospital in Constanța. All three are in stable condition. The incident reportedly killed two foreign seafarers and injured several crew members.<h2>Indian Embassy coordinates assistance</h2>The Indian Embassy said it is working with Romanian authorities and other stakeholders to ensure the sailors' welfare and facilitate their return from Romania. “Two are presently accommodated at a hotel, while the third person is undergoing treatment at the County Hospital in Constanța. All three are in stable condition,” the embassy said in a post on X.The mission said essential items, including mobile phones, were arranged for the rescued sailors through the local agent of the shipping company. Indian food was also arranged through a local Indian restaurant.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-reaffirms-viksit-bharat-resolve-says-we-will-do-it-as-he-marks-25-years-in-government-1791351970176">PM Modi reaffirms ‘Viksit Bharat’ resolve, says ‘we will do it’ as he marks 25 years in government</a>An embassy representative met local police officials, the shipping company's agent and the doctors treating the injured crew members to coordinate further assistance.Indian Ambassador to Romania Manoj Mohapatra also spoke with the three Indian nationals receiving treatment at Constanța County Hospital. The embassy said the hospital's chief physician confirmed that they were in good health and receiving necessary medical care.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">All three Indian nationals are safe. We have spoken to them. One of them has been injured and is receiving medical attention. We are in close touch with the hospital authorities. 

We are extending all possible support for the welfare and wellbeing of the Indian crew members.

@MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy @PMOIndia @DrSJaishankar @PIB_India @DDNewslive @airnewsalerts&mdash; India in Romania (@eoiromania) <a href="https://x.com/eoiromania/status/2107176940813922534?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Embassy representative today visited the three Indian nationals rescued yesterday from MV ROYAD MAMMADOV in the Black Sea. Two are presently accommodated at a hotel, while the third person is undergoing treatment at the County Hospital in Constanța. All three are in stable condition.

The Embassy assured them of all necessary assistance and support for their safe and early departure from Romania. Essential items, including mobile phones, were facilitated through the shipping company’s local agent, while Indian food was arranged through a local Indian restaurant.

The Embassy representative also met with the local police authorities, shipping company’s agent and treating medical doctors to coordinate further assistance. The Embassy remains in close contact with the concerned authorities and continues to extend all necessary support.&mdash; India in Romania (@eoiromania) <a href="https://x.com/eoiromania/status/2107542904977990123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
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<h2>India condemns attack on commercial vessel</h2>India on Tuesday condemned the attack on MV ROYAD MAMMADOV, expressing concern over the safety of commercial shipping and seafarers operating in international waters.The Ministry of External Affairs said two foreign seafarers were killed and several crew members, including three Indians, were injured in the incident. “The injured have been rescued by Romanian authorities and are receiving medical attention. The three Indian nationals, who were part of the crew of the ship, are safe,” the MEA said.New Delhi thanked Romanian authorities for their swift response and for ensuring the safety of the affected seafarers.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ai-used-to-fabricate-evidence-of-molestation-at-anti-cec-protest-delhi-police-arrest-man-over-fake-acp-vivek-bhagat-poster-1791342744693">AI used to fabricate ‘evidence’ of molestation at anti-CEC protest? Delhi Police arrest man over fake ACP Vivek Bhagat CCTV video</a><h2>India calls for dialogue and diplomacy</h2>The MEA said attacks targeting commercial shipping and seafarers pose risks to global commerce and the welfare of people around the world. “The targeting of traffic in international waterways is severely undermining global commerce and the welfare of people across the world. We continue to call for dialogue and diplomacy to bring an end to the ongoing conflicts,” the ministry said.India also highlighted its role in the 25-nation Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers, launched by India and Liberia during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.The coalition aims to promote the safety and security of merchant crews and commercial shipping against targeted attacks.<h2>Jaishankar flags risks to seafarers</h2>External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had also raised concerns over attacks on commercial vessels and seafarers during his address to the UN General Assembly last week.He called for immediate restraint and de-escalation in the Gulf region, stressing the need to protect civilian crews and ensure uninterrupted energy supplies and global trade.The Indian Embassy in Romania said it remains in close contact with relevant authorities as investigations continue and further details about the attack are established.

Three Indian nationals rescued after the attack on commercial vessel MV ROYAD MAMMADOV in the Black Sea are safe and stable, the Indian Embassy in Romania said. India has condemned the attack, which killed two foreign seafarers, and called for dialogue and diplomacy.


The three Indian nationals rescued from the commercial vessel MV ROYAD MAMMADOV after an attack in the Black Sea are safe and receiving necessary assistance, the Indian Embassy in Romania said. The embassy said its representative met the three Indians following their rescue by Romanian authorities. Two of them are currently staying at a hotel, while the third is undergoing treatment at the County Hospital in Constanța. All three are in stable condition. The incident reportedly killed two foreign seafarers and injured several crew members. Indian Embassy coordinates assistance The Indian Embassy said it is working with Romanian authorities and other stakeholders to ensure the sailors' welfare and facilitate their return from Romania. “Two are presently accommodated at a hotel, while the third person is undergoing treatment at the County Hospital in Constanța. All three are in stable condition,” the embassy said in a post on X. The mission said essential items, including mobile phones, were arranged for the rescued sailors through the local agent of the shipping company. Indian food was also arranged through a local Indian restaurant. Also read | PM Modi reaffirms ‘Viksit Bharat’ resolve, says ‘we will do it’ as he marks 25 years in government An embassy representative met local police officials, the shipping company's agent and the doctors treating the injured crew members to coordinate further assistance. Indian Ambassador to Romania Manoj Mohapatra also spoke with the three Indian nationals receiving treatment at Constanța County Hospital. The embassy said the hospital's chief physician confirmed that they were in good health and receiving necessary medical care.

Three Indian nationals rescued after the attack on commercial vessel MV ROYAD MAMMADOV in the Black Sea are safe and stable, the Indian Embassy in Romania said. India has condemned the attack, which killed two foreign seafarers, and called for dialogue and diplomacy.

MV ROYAD MAMMADOV attack: Indian Embassy in Romania steps in to help three Indian nationals rescued from Black Sea

The United States Mission in Nigeria has offered its condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those killed in the Nigerian Air Force crash in Ondo State. In a post on its official X account on Tuesday, the mission said Washington stands with Nigerians and remains committed to the two countries' security partnership.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The aircraft, an ATR 42 designated NAF 931, was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when it crashed in the Igbokoda area on Monday. NAF's Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said no survivor had been found.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;President Bola Tinubu declared three days of national mourning and ordered that the national flag be flown at half-mast across the country, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga. In a message to Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke and the service's personnel, the President described the moment as painful for the Armed Forces and the nation, and said the sacrifice of those lost would not be forgotten.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tinubu said the Chief of Air Staff had briefed him, and that he had directed the Air Force to begin a thorough investigation immediately, to establish the cause and prevent a recurrence. He also commended the Air Force for activating search and rescue at once, and praised first responders and the Ondo State Government for their support. Aneke separately ordered a comprehensive inquiry, and NAF urged the public to avoid speculation and respect the privacy of the bereaved families.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-marks-third-anniversary-of-october-7-hamas-attack-amid-new-gaza-strikes-1791346569801"> Israel marks third anniversary of October 7 Hamas attack amid new Gaza strikes</a>&nbsp;A register has been opened at Air Force Headquarters in Abuja for senior officials, diplomats, security chiefs and other well-wishers. NAF has also released the names of those on board.&nbsp; The Defence Headquarters said military personnel and some relatives were on the flight. &nbsp;Various reports indicated that the aircraft came down in a swampy creek, which complicated rescue efforts.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;However, The official casualty figures differ. NAF's statement counted 25 people, five crew and 20 passengers, while The presidency's earlier statement referred to 25 passengers and seven crew members. According to sahara reporters, The 20 passengers were identified as Flight Lieutenant TL Lazarus; Flight Lieutenant M Akinloye; Flying Officer IM Adeshina; Master Warrant Officer Onwuka F; Master Warrant Officer Matini BA; Warrant Officer Nuhu FS; Flight Sergeant James RB; and Flight Sergeant Mohammed AI.&nbsp;&nbsp;Others were Sergeant Ani AE; Sergeant Izibenikien SI; Sergeant Alafuka C; Sergeant Mbadugha AN; Lance Corporal Ugwuba FC; Lance Corporal Eledan GE; Mrs Ezeh Nneka; Godstmine Tarabina; Joy Micheal; Sunday Micheal; Ukeme David; and Gideon Omotola.&nbsp;&nbsp;While The five crew members killed in the crash were identified as Squadron Leader MI Aburime, the flight captain; ; Flight Lieutenant IS Bako, co-pilot; Warrant Officer Abubakar A, aircraft technician; and Corporal Uguru HC, aircraft technician and &nbsp;Squadron Leader Ahamefule Aham Man-Ugwueje, &nbsp;co-pilot, who got married in an elaborate ceremony in Abuja two weeks before the accident.&nbsp;

President Bola Tinubu declared three days of national mourning and ordered that the national flag be flown at half-mast across the country, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga. 

The United States Mission in Nigeria has offered its condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those killed in the Nigerian Air Force crash in Ondo State. In a post on its official X account on Tuesday, the mission said Washington stands with Nigerians and remains committed to the two countries' security partnership. The aircraft, an ATR 42 designated NAF 931, was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when it crashed in the Igbokoda area on Monday. NAF's Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said no survivor had been found. President Bola Tinubu declared three days of national mourning and ordered that the national flag be flown at half-mast across the country, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga. In a message to Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke and the service's personnel, the President described the moment as painful for the Armed Forces and the nation, and said the sacrifice of those lost would not be forgotten. Tinubu said the Chief of Air Staff had briefed him, and that he had directed the Air Force to begin a thorough investigation immediately, to establish the cause and prevent a recurrence. He also commended the Air Force for activating search and rescue at once, and praised first responders and the Ondo State Government for their support. Aneke separately ordered a comprehensive inquiry, and NAF urged the public to avoid speculation and respect the privacy of the bereaved families. Also read: Israel marks third anniversary of October 7 Hamas attack amid new Gaza strikes A register has been opened at Air Force Headquarters in Abuja for senior officials, diplomats, security chiefs and other well-wishers. NAF has also released the names of those on board. The Defence Headquarters said military personnel and some relatives were on the flight. Various reports indicated that the aircraft came down in a swampy creek, which complicated rescue efforts. However, The official casualty figures differ. NAF's statement counted 25 people, five crew and 20 passengers, while The presidency's earlier statement referred to 25 passengers and seven crew members. According to sahara reporters, The 20 passengers were identified as Flight Lieutenant TL Lazarus; Flight Lieutenant M Akinloye; Flying Officer IM Adeshina; Master Warrant Officer Onwuka F; Master Warrant Officer Matini BA; Warrant Officer Nuhu FS; Flight Sergeant James RB; and Flight Sergeant Mohammed AI. Others were Sergeant Ani AE; Sergeant Izibenikien SI; Sergeant Alafuka C; Sergeant Mbadugha AN; Lance Corporal Ugwuba FC; Lance Corporal Eledan GE; Mrs Ezeh Nneka; Godstmine Tarabina; Joy Micheal; Sunday Micheal; Ukeme David; and Gideon Omotola. While The five crew members killed in the crash were identified as Squadron Leader MI Aburime, the flight captain; ; Flight Lieutenant IS Bako, co-pilot; Warrant Officer Abubakar A, aircraft technician; and Corporal Uguru HC, aircraft technician and Squadron Leader Ahamefule Aham Man-Ugwueje, co-pilot, who got married in an elaborate ceremony in Abuja two weeks before the accident.

President Bola Tinubu declared three days of national mourning and ordered that the national flag be flown at half-mast across the country, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.&nbsp;

US mourns with Nigeria as Tinubu declares three days of national mourning over Ondo air crash

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack across border on Israel. The attack resulted in the killing of 1,221 people, according to official Israeli figures. Three years on, the photographs from that morning remain difficult to look at. They also remain difficult to forget.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack across border on Israel. The attack resulted in the killing of 1,221 people, according to official Israeli figures. Three years on, the photographs from that morning remain difficult to look at. They also remain difficult to forget.

October 7, three years later: Haunting images that captured the horror of the Hamas attack on Israel

Israel marked the third anniversary of Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Wednesday and carried out new strikes in Gaza, with Palestinian officials reporting two dead. Additionally, dozens of Israeli occupiers surrounded homes of Palestinians in separate attacks across the occupied West Bank on Oct 6, and four died. Reports said that elsewhere in the Hebron area, Israeli occupiers attacked Palestinian homes and opened fire in Beit Ummar. No injuries or arrests were reported. Mourners observed a moment of silence at the site of the Nova music festival, which Hamas infiltrated on October 7, 2023 through cars and paragliders, family members bowed their heads at 6:29 am (0329 GMT), surrounded by portraits of victims with flowers placed underneath.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/captain-smit-machchhar-helped-stop-mega-terrorist-attack-israel-envoy-azar-says-hits-out-at-disinformation-campaigns-followed-flydubai-attack-1791308572548">Capt Smit Machchhar helped 'stop mega terror attack', Israel envoy Azar says</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, the commemorative events will be held under heightened security measures, three weeks from Israel's general elections and one week after a foiled attack on a Tel Aviv-bound passenger plane. Israel's defence minister said that he had put the military on high alert "in light of intelligence regarding Hamas's intentions to attempt to carry out attacks" against troops in Gaza on the anniversary. State memorial ceremonies were held &nbsp;during which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there would be no Hamas rule in Gaza and vowed to continue targeting anyone who was involved in the October 7 attack or who held hostages.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-almost-shot-down-flydubai-flight-fearing-9-11-style-attack-1791280718453">Israel was ready to shoot down FlyDubai flight fearing 9/11-style attack: Report</a>&nbsp;In Gaza, the humanitarian situation remains dire despite a fragile US-brokered ceasefire declared last October, with hundreds of thousands still forced to live in tents and temporary structures. The political future and reconstruction of the war-shattered territory also remains largely stalled in practice. Since the ceasefire, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,430 people in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry.&nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron also marked the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks in a post on X. Macron said the attacks by Hamas had claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people, including 51 French nationals. He said France continued to share the grief of Israel and bereaved families three years after the attacks. "Three years later, we do not forget the names or the faces," Macron said, naming Maya, Ohad and Valentin among those remembered. Macron also reaffirmed France's commitment to combating antisemitism and terrorism "everywhere and always", while working for peace and the security of all.&nbsp;

Israel marked the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks with memorial events across the country as new Israeli strikes in Gaza killed two Palestinians, according to Palestinian officials. Security was heightened amid warnings of possible attacks

Israel marked the third anniversary of Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Wednesday and carried out new strikes in Gaza, with Palestinian officials reporting two dead. Additionally, dozens of Israeli occupiers surrounded homes of Palestinians in separate attacks across the occupied West Bank on Oct 6, and four died. Reports said that elsewhere in the Hebron area, Israeli occupiers attacked Palestinian homes and opened fire in Beit Ummar. No injuries or arrests were reported. Mourners observed a moment of silence at the site of the Nova music festival, which Hamas infiltrated on October 7, 2023 through cars and paragliders, family members bowed their heads at 6:29 am (0329 GMT), surrounded by portraits of victims with flowers placed underneath. Also Read: Capt Smit Machchhar helped 'stop mega terror attack', Israel envoy Azar says Meanwhile, the commemorative events will be held under heightened security measures, three weeks from Israel's general elections and one week after a foiled attack on a Tel Aviv-bound passenger plane. Israel's defence minister said that he had put the military on high alert "in light of intelligence regarding Hamas's intentions to attempt to carry out attacks" against troops in Gaza on the anniversary. State memorial ceremonies were held during which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there would be no Hamas rule in Gaza and vowed to continue targeting anyone who was involved in the October 7 attack or who held hostages. Also Read: Israel was ready to shoot down FlyDubai flight fearing 9/11-style attack: Report In Gaza, the humanitarian situation remains dire despite a fragile US-brokered ceasefire declared last October, with hundreds of thousands still forced to live in tents and temporary structures. The political future and reconstruction of the war-shattered territory also remains largely stalled in practice. Since the ceasefire, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,430 people in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry. French President Emmanuel Macron also marked the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks in a post on X. Macron said the attacks by Hamas had claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people, including 51 French nationals. He said France continued to share the grief of Israel and bereaved families three years after the attacks. "Three years later, we do not forget the names or the faces," Macron said, naming Maya, Ohad and Valentin among those remembered. Macron also reaffirmed France's commitment to combating antisemitism and terrorism "everywhere and always", while working for peace and the security of all.

Israel marked the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks with memorial events across the country as new Israeli strikes in Gaza killed two Palestinians, according to Palestinian officials. Security was heightened amid warnings of possible attacks

Israel marks third anniversary of October 7 Hamas attack amid new Gaza strikes

Google has been accused of misusing its dominance to impose excessive commissions on app developers, as a mass consumer lawsuit worth more than £1 billion ($1.33 billion) ​started in London on Tuesday (October 7). The claim is brought on behalf of about ‌20 million consumers who bought apps using Google's Play Store, or paid for in-app purchases and subscriptions between 2015 and this July. It marks the latest case in Britain against Big ​Tech. Lawyers for consumer advocate Liz Coll, who is leading the action, stated that ​Google abused its dominant position by charging commissions of up ⁠to 30 per cent on Play Store app purchases, in-app purchases and subscriptions. They argue that app developers passed these excessive commissions on to consumers. As an example, they point to Google's own YouTube Premium: when it was sold through Apple's App Store, Google chose to pass on the commission it was charged.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-breaks-silence-on-possible-pneumonic-plague-in-russia-seeks-clarity-on-second-reported-death-1791344075932">WHO breaks silence on possible pneumonic plague in Russia, seeks clarity on second reported death</a><h3>Competition from Apple's App Store</h3>However, Alphabet, Google's ​parent company, is fighting the lawsuit. A spokesperson stated that the company has ignored the ​degree of choice the Android platform gives consumers and that it charges "some of the lowest fees ‌in ⁠the market". The tech giant's lawyers argued that the Play Store experienced strong competitive constraints both on the developer and consumer sides from Apple's App Store and other alternative platforms. The trial at London's Competition Appeal Tribunal follows similar cases against Apple and Sony over their App Store and PlayStation Store, both of which involved commissions of up to 30 per cent. Coll's claim also comes after years of regulatory scrutiny and litigation over Google's app store practices, including a long-running dispute with "Fortnite" maker Epic Games, whose London lawsuit was due to be heard alongside hers. In March, Google and Epic reached a worldwide settlement under which Google said it would expand billing options and cut developer fees. Last month, Google also paid £260 million to settle another lawsuit, brought on behalf of app developers, without admitting liability or wrongdoing.

Lawyers for consumer advocate Liz Coll, who is leading the action, stated that ​Google abused its dominant position by charging commissions of up ⁠to 30 per cent on Play Store app purchases, in-app purchases and subscriptions.

Google has been accused of misusing its dominance to impose excessive commissions on app developers, as a mass consumer lawsuit worth more than £1 billion ($1.33 billion) started in London on Tuesday (October 7). The claim is brought on behalf of about ‌20 million consumers who bought apps using Google's Play Store, or paid for in-app purchases and subscriptions between 2015 and this July. It marks the latest case in Britain against Big Tech. Lawyers for consumer advocate Liz Coll, who is leading the action, stated that Google abused its dominant position by charging commissions of up ⁠to 30 per cent on Play Store app purchases, in-app purchases and subscriptions. They argue that app developers passed these excessive commissions on to consumers. As an example, they point to Google's own YouTube Premium: when it was sold through Apple's App Store, Google chose to pass on the commission it was charged. Also read: WHO breaks silence on possible pneumonic plague in Russia, seeks clarity on second reported death Competition from Apple's App Store However, Alphabet, Google's parent company, is fighting the lawsuit. A spokesperson stated that the company has ignored the degree of choice the Android platform gives consumers and that it charges "some of the lowest fees ‌in ⁠the market". The tech giant's lawyers argued that the Play Store experienced strong competitive constraints both on the developer and consumer sides from Apple's App Store and other alternative platforms. The trial at London's Competition Appeal Tribunal follows similar cases against Apple and Sony over their App Store and PlayStation Store, both of which involved commissions of up to 30 per cent. Coll's claim also comes after years of regulatory scrutiny and litigation over Google's app store practices, including a long-running dispute with "Fortnite" maker Epic Games, whose London lawsuit was due to be heard alongside hers. In March, Google and Epic reached a worldwide settlement under which Google said it would expand billing options and cut developer fees. Last month, Google also paid £260 million to settle another lawsuit, brought on behalf of app developers, without admitting liability or wrongdoing.

Lawyers for consumer advocate Liz Coll, who is leading the action, stated that ​Google abused its dominant position by charging commissions of up ⁠to 30 per cent on Play Store app purchases, in-app purchases and subscriptions.

Big Tech case: Google faces £1 billion consumer lawsuit in UK over play store fees

Latest News Today Live Updates: Delhi Police has registered an FIR after Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other INDIA bloc MPs allegedly entered the Akashvani Bhavan premises during Tuesday's protest over electoral roll revisions and demands for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. The leaders were detained and later released, according to police.US President Donald Trump has reiterated his claims over US control of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, calling the American naval presence an effective blockade against Iran. Oil prices rose as concerns over attacks on shipping resurfaced.Indian PM Narendra Modi has marked 25 years as head of government, while Union ministers and chief ministers extended greetings. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi described his retirement from international football as the saddest day of his career after Argentina's win over Benin.

Delhi Police have registered an FIR against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several others over their alleged forcible entry into the Akashvani Bhavan premises during an INDIA bloc protest on Tuesday. Delhi Police registered the FIR after receiving a complaint stating that Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with other MPs and people, entered the Akashvani Bhavan premises during Opposition protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Delhi Police file FIR against Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka

France's Henri B. Kagan and Japan's Kenso Soai have won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry “for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis,” according to the Nobel Committee. They have discovered how homochirality can surface spontaneously. A few molecules, including amino acids, exist as two mirror-image variants; however, organisms consist of only one.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2026 goes to Kagan and Soai 

Japan will provide $10m in emergency aid to Yemen and Djibouti in response to Yemen’s worsening humanitarian situation as the war’s effects spill over into neighbouring countries.

Japan gives $10m in emergency aid to Yemen and Djibouti

This morning’s targeting of Riyadh is the third such attack in less than a month. There was a similar assault in mid-September and another attempted strike at the end of the month. The Saudi-led coalition said at the time it intercepted those Houthi missiles.

Houthi forces target Saudi capital for 3rd time in less than a month

Iran has failed to take advantage of “multiple opportunities” to reach an agreement with the United States on its nuclear programme, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says.

Iran has lost ‘complete control’ of Hormuz Strait, says US’s Rubio

When Indian captain Smit Machchhar suffered severe injuries after being attacked by co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami, a dentist travelling on the flydubai flight came to rescue. The Georgian doctor has been identified as Shota Masuev. He reportedly spent 45 minutes treating the pilot using T-shirts and ice packs, and constantly monitored Machchhar to keep him alive until the plane landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Speaking to ABC News, Musaev recalled the medical emergency and his efforts to keep the injured pilot alive as the plane continued its journey with more than 170 passengers on board.

‘Lips were blue, pulse dropped too low’: Dentist recalls race to save flydubai Indian pilot 

Rubio in Athens: The U.S. and Greece are launching a new security program to boost counterterrorism information-sharing, as Rubio calls Greece a “true and strong” NATO ally and a source of stability amid conflicts involving Iran, Yemen and Russia.

US State Secretary Marco Rubio in Athens

&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&gt;&lt;p lang="ja" dir="ltr"&gt;本日、モディ首相（@narendramodi）の首長在職25周年に際し、心からお祝い申し上げます。 インドの社会と国家の発展に長年尽力され、2001年以降は首長として長きにわたり卓越した政治的リーダーシップを発揮されてきたこと、インドの発展と国際社会における地位向上を成し遂げられていることに、深い敬意を表します。 また、本年7月の私のインド訪問の際には、大変温かいおもてなしをいただき、改めて感謝申し上げます。 インドの食文化や音楽に触れながら、日印の「特別戦略的グローバル・パートナーシップ」を新たな段階へと導くための施策について、モディ首相と具体的な意見交換を行うことができ、実り多き滞在となりました。 来年は「日印国交樹立75周年」を迎えます。 「自由で開かれたインド太平洋（FOIP）」の実現のため、戦略的方向性を共有する日印で、パートナーシップを更に前に進めるべく、モディ首相と一層連携していきます。 प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेंद्र मोदी जी के सरकार के प्रमुख के तौर पर 25 वर्ष की अवधि पूरे होने पर मैं अपनी शुभकामनाएँ व्यक्त करना चाहती हूँ। भारत के समाज और राष्ट्र के विकास को साकार करने के लिए वे वर्षों से प्रयास करते आए हैं और सन् 2001 से अपने उत्कृष्ट राजनीतिक नेतृत्व से सरकार के प्रमुख के पद संभालते आए हैं। उन्होंने भारत के विकास को गति देने के साथ ही अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्तर पर भी भारत की प्रतिष्ठा को नई ऊंचाइयों तक पहुंचाया। इन सारी उपलब्धियों के लिए, मैं एक साथी राजनीतिज्ञ के रूप में सम्मान भावना व्यक्त करती हूँ। मैं फिर से प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेंद्र मोदी जी का आभार व्यक्त करना चाहती हूँ कि इस जुलाई में मेरी भारत यात्रा के दौरान मुझे उनका बेहद गर्मजोशी भरा स्वागत मिला। भारत की खाद्य संस्कृति और संगीत का अनुभव करते हुए, मुझे जापान-भारत की &amp;quot;विशेष रणनीतिक और वैश्विक साझेदारी&amp;quot; को अगले स्तर तक ले जाने के लिए उनके साथ ठोस कदमों पर विचार-विमर्श करने का शुभ अवसर प्राप्त हुआ। मेरी भारत यात्रा बहुत ही फलदायी रही। अगले वर्ष जापान-भारत राजनयिक संबंधों की स्थापना की 75वीं वर्षगाँठ है। मुक्त एवं खुले हिन्द-प्रशांत क्षेत्र (FOIP) को साकार करने हेतु मैं प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेंद्र मोदी जी के साथ मिलकर काम करना चाहती हूँ ताकि रणनीतिक दिशा को साझा करने वाले जापान तथा भारत मिलकर हमारी साझेदारी को और आगे बढ़ाया जा सके।&lt;/p&gt;&amp;mdash; 高市早苗 (@takaichi_sanae) &lt;a href="https://x.com/takaichi_sanae/status/2107645666839412817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;October 7, 2026&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

'For many years, you have dedicated yourself to the development of Indian society': Japan PM Sanae Takaichi hails PM Modi

&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;Message from His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the 25th Anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Head of Government in Gujarat and the Republic of India. @officialABAT | @narendramodi https://t.co/7AsH0ba97m&lt;/p&gt;&amp;mdash; Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) &lt;a href="https://x.com/NGRPresident/status/2107583337233895525?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;October 6, 2026&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

Nigeria congratulates PM Modi on the 25th anniversary 

A spokesman for the Russian transport ministry told state-run TASS news agency that the Indian crew members, who came under attack by drone boats off Russia's Black Sea coast have been rescued

23 Indian crew rescued after drone boat attack on tanker near Sochi

&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;Warm congratulations to Hon. Prime Minister of India Shri @narendramodi on completing 25 years of continuous leadership as head of government. Best wishes for continued success in advancing India’s prosperity and strengthening the enduring Nepal-India friendship. https://t.co/0ZPKVvb6IY&lt;/p&gt;&amp;mdash; Nepal Embassy, India (@EONIndia) &lt;a href="https://x.com/EONIndia/status/2107734445688344796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;October 7, 2026&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

Nepal embassy congratulates PM Modi on completing 25 years of continuous leadership

&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;To Prime Minister @narendramodi, An avatar of our times https://t.co/84RDOEfELm&lt;/p&gt;&amp;mdash; Tshering Tobgay (@tsheringtobgay) &lt;a href="https://x.com/tsheringtobgay/status/2107715602249048274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;October 7, 2026&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay calls PM Modi ‘an avatar of our times’

The Saudi-led coalition said that it intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Yemen's Houthis at Saudi Arabia, as government forces backed by the kingdom battled to retake territory seized by the group in a lightning offensive.

Saudi military says it intercepted ballistic missile that was fired by Houthis towards Riyadh

The Supreme Court has agreed to examine an application seeking recall of the September 23 split verdict on challenges to the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023. The plea comes amid an apprehension of bias against Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, who was part of the bench that delivered the split verdict, after it emerged that his son is standing counsel for the Election Commission of India before the Madhya Pradesh High Court. &nbsp;Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan mentioned the application before a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana. The counsel said an interlocutory application (IA) was filed seeking recall of the judgment delivered by a bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma. “We will examine and then take a call,” CJI Surya Kant said.

CEC Act row: SC agrees to examine plea seeking recall of split verdict

From Bhuj earthquake to Chandrayaan and Covid,PM Modi enlisted several events as defining moment of his long work-life. Addressing the ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha’, PM Modi said that the 2001 Bhuj earthquake taught him to remain steadfast during reconstruction, and the Chandrayaan mission taught him how to rise after failure. He also added that the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic made him understand the importance of the nation's collective consciousness. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/from-2001-bhuj-earthquake-to-covid-19-pm-modi-lists-lessons-he-learnt-in-25-years-of-service-says-people-are-god-1791354349910">READ MORE</a>

From 2001 Bhuj earthquake to Covid-19, PM Modi lists lessons he learnt in 25 years of service; says 'people are God'

Addressing the ‘Seva Jyoti’ programme at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, PM Modi reflected on his journey, noted the lessons he learnt and renewed his resolve for ‘Viksit Bharat 2047.’ In his speech, PM Modi also hailed Indian pilot Smit Machchhar and batted for ‘Made in India’ planes. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-envisions-made-in-india-planes-says-world-is-already-talking-about-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-1791355625540">READ MORE</a>

PM Modi envisions 'Made-in-India' planes, says world is already talking about Indian pilot Smit Machchhar

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (Oct 07) reaffirmed his commitment to building a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047 as he marked 25 years as head of government. “We will do it,” he declared as he reflected on 25 years of continuous service. Addressing the ‘Seva Jyoti’ programme at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, Modi expressed gratitude to the people, experiences and circumstances that he said had shaped his journey in public life. “Today, when I look back, only a feeling of gratitude emerges. I am grateful to every person and every incident that has taught me something or the other,” Modi said.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-reaffirms-viksit-bharat-resolve-says-we-will-do-it-as-he-marks-25-years-in-government-1791351970176">Read more here</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn3.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20261007/image-1791352387947.png?rect=(0,0,1200,900)&amp;imwidth=800&amp;imheight=600&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="PM Modi reaffirms ‘Viksit Bharat’ resolve, says ‘we will do it’ as he marks 25 years in government"></figure>

PM Modi reaffirms ‘Viksit Bharat’ resolve, says ‘we will do it’ as he marks 25 years in government

The United States is seeking more information from Russia on the reported plague death of a laboratory technician, a State Department spokesperson said Tuesday."We have officially requested additional information from the Russian government," the spokesperson said, adding that Washington was “in official communication with other countries around the world to share information.”

US seeking more information from Russia on plague reports

Asian markets broadly declined on Wednesday as investors reacted to renewed concerns over shipping and energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, Wellington and Taipei were in the red. The market retreat came after the Nasdaq and S&amp;P 500 hit records in the US, helped by renewed enthusiasm for artificial intelligence stocks and gains in Nvidia.

Global markets slide as Hormuz tensions weigh on investors

Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho paid tribute to Messi following his final Argentina appearance, praising his career, World Cup triumph and dedication to the national team. “A pleasure and what joy to have been part of your story from the very first day, brother!” Ronaldinho wrote, adding that Messi's name was “etched in the history of your country, of the whole world”.

Messi receives emotional tribute from Ronaldinho

Lionel Messi described his retirement from international football as the “saddest day of my career” after playing his final game for Argentina in a 3-0 victory over Benin. Messi scored one goal and provided two assists in the match. Reflecting on more than two decades with Argentina, he said representing the national team had been a huge source of pride and that leaving was deeply painful.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Messi calls Argentina retirement the 'saddest day' of his career

Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Wednesday raised the country's real GDP growth projection for the current financial year 2026-27 by 40 basis points to 7.1 per cent, citing the strength of economic activity despite global headwinds. Announcing the outcome of the RBI Monetary Policy Committee meeting, Malhotra said geopolitical tensions, elevated international commodity prices, additional frictions in global trade and tightening global financial conditions could weigh on India's growth outlook. "Taking all these factors into consideration, real GDP growth for this year is projected at 7.1 percent, with Q2 at 7.2 percent, Q3 at 6.9, and Q4 at 6.8 percent," Malhotra said. He said the 40 basis points upward revision reflected the strength of economic activity despite the significant global challenges. The RBI Governor said India's real GDP growth stood at 7.8 per cent in Q1, supported by resilient private consumption and strong investment activity, which recorded almost a 12 per cent increase. The contribution of net exports also remained positive. "We exhibited resilience amidst global headwinds, as evident from real GDP growth of 7.8 per cent in Q1," Malhotra said. &nbsp;

RBI raises FY27 GDP growth forecast by 40 bps to 7.1%, says India resilience amidst global headwinds

Delhi Police have arrested a 24-year-old man for allegedly creating and circulating AI-generated content that falsely portrayed ACP Vivek Bhagat sexually assaulting a woman during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar. The accused, identified as Nadeem Ahmed of Palwal, Haryana, allegedly presented the manipulated material as genuine CCTV footage from the protest site.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ai-used-to-fabricate-evidence-of-molestation-at-anti-cec-protest-delhi-police-arrest-man-over-fake-acp-vivek-bhagat-poster-1791342744693">All you need to know here</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn3.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20261007/image-1791345445639.png?rect=(0,0,1200,900)&amp;imwidth=800&amp;imheight=600&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="AI used to fabricate ‘evidence’ of molestation at anti-CEC protest? Delhi Police arrest man over fake ACP Vivek Bhagat CCTV video"></figure>

AI used to fabricate ‘evidence’ of molestation at anti-CEC protest? Delhi Police arrest man over fake ACP Vivek Bhagat CCTV video

Latest News Today Live Updates: FIR has been filed against Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra after the INDIA bloc anti-CEC protest. Trump escalates his Hormuz claims as oil rises, while Messi bids farewell to Argentina. Stay connected to WION News for all LIVE updates.

Latest News Today Live Updates: Delhi Police has registered an FIR after Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other INDIA bloc MPs allegedly entered the Akashvani Bhavan premises during Tuesday's protest over electoral roll revisions and demands for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. The leaders were detained and later released, according to police. US President Donald Trump has reiterated his claims over US control of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, calling the American naval presence an effective blockade against Iran. Oil prices rose as concerns over attacks on shipping resurfaced. Indian PM Narendra Modi has marked 25 years as head of government, while Union ministers and chief ministers extended greetings. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi described his retirement from international football as the saddest day of his career after Argentina's win over Benin.

Latest News Today Live Updates: FIR has been filed against Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra after the INDIA bloc anti-CEC protest. Trump escalates his Hormuz claims as oil rises, while Messi bids farewell to Argentina. Stay connected to WION News for all LIVE updates.

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LIVE | Latest News Today: 25 years of PM Modi, Rubio in Greece, and more