RUSSIAN AIRSTRIKE CLAIMS 51 LIVES AT FUNERAL IN UKRAINE: A DELIBERATE ACT OF EVIL

A Russian airstrike on the village of Hroza, southeast of Kharkiv, during a funeral gathering has resulted in at least 51 casualties, including an eight-year-old boy, according to Ukraine. The missile struck at 15:15 local time while villagers were attending a wake for a local resident. Ukraine's defense ministry asserted that there were no military targets in the area, only civilians.

Kharkiv regional head Oleh Synyehubov condemned the attack as one of the "bloodiest crimes" in the region, revealing that all the casualties were residents of the village, constituting 20% of its population. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko stated that every household in the village was affected.

The funeral was held for a Ukrainian soldier, and his widow, son (also a soldier), and daughter-in-law were among those killed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the act as a deliberate targeting of the village during the memorial service, emphasizing that it was not a blind strike but a calculated act of evil.

PUTIN ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL NEW MISSILE TEST, HINTS AT NUCLEAR TESTING

Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed that Russia has successfully tested a new strategic missile and suggested the possibility of nuclear weapons tests, marking the first time in over three decades. Putin disclosed the successful test of the Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered cruise missile with extensive potential range. He also mentioned the near-completion of Russia's Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile system, part of its new generation of nuclear weaponry. Putin emphasized that no rational entity would use nuclear weapons against Russia, as the nation possesses a formidable missile arsenal. While Russia has not conducted nuclear explosion tests since 1990, Putin didn't rule out the prospect of resuming such tests. He noted the US's lack of ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty, whereas Russia had signed and ratified it. This development raises concerns, as tensions between Russia and the US are currently at their highest in decades, with Putin suspending Russia's participation in the New START treaty earlier this year.

WARTIME POLLS IN UKRAINE? IT’S A POLITICAL HOT POTATO

Kyiv : In the midst of a war, President Volodymyr Zelensky contemplates holding a presidential election before his term ends in several months. Analysts view this as unlikely due to wartime conditions and martial law suspending elections in Ukraine. Nonetheless, there's speculation that Zelensky might pursue an election, potentially securing another term amid challenging circumstances. Critics worry this could hinder competitive elections. A petition opposing elections has garnered support from 114 civil society activists. This debate coincides with growing pressure on Ukraine to demonstrate good governance for Western donors. Zelensky supports elections if international monitors deem them free and fair, while political opponents unequivocally reject pre-war scheduled polls in March and April next year.

RUSSIA TO BUILD BASE IN BREAKAWAY GEORGIA REGION, SPARKING ROW

Russia has signed a deal for a permanent naval base on the Black Sea coast of the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia, prompting criticism from Georgia which said the move was a “gross violation” of its sovereignty. “This is all aimed at increasing the level of defence capability of both Russia and Abkhazia,” Aslan Bzhania, the self-styled president of Russianbackd Abkhazia, said on Thursday, a day after he met President Putin. “There are also things I can’t talk about.”

REUTERS

‘CHINA CO SOLD SATS TO WAGNER FOR INTEL WORK’

Russian mercenary group Wagner in 2022 signed a contract with a Chinese firm to acquire two satellites and use their images, aiding its intelligence work as the organisation sought to push Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to a document seen by AFP. The satellite images were also used to assist Wagner’s operations in Africa and even its failed mutiny in June. A source said that the contract was still active.

US SENDS SEIZED IRAN MUNITIONS TO UKRAINE

The US military’s central command said on Wednesday that it had transferred about 1.1 million rounds for AK-47 machine guns seized from Iran to Ukraine’s armed forces. Allied naval forces seized the munitions in December from an unregistered windpowered vessel sailing to Yemen.

PAK. DEFENDS DRIVE AGAINST IMMIGRANTS

A day after the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan slammed Pakistan’s decision to expel its undocumented nationals and termed it “unacceptable”, Islamabad on Thursday clarified that its ongoing operation against illegal immigrants was not targeted against people of any particular nationality.

On Tuesday, Pakistan’s caretaker government set November 1 as the deadline for thousands of undocumented immigrants, including Afghan nationals, to leave the country or risk imprisonment and deportation as it intensified its crackdown against those involved in militancy and smuggling.

Pakistan interim Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti on Tuesday said that there are currently 1.73 million unregistered illegal Afghans living in the country.

So far more than 700 Afghans have been arrested since early September in Karachi alone and hundreds more in other cities.

BANGLADESH GETS ITS FIRST BATCH OF URANIUM

Bangladesh received the first uranium delivery on Thursday for its Russian-backed nuclear plant, a project aimed at bolstering its overstretched energy grid but complicated by sanctions on Moscow.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has courted Russian ties with renewed vigour after Western criticism over her government’s rights record.

Moscow is bankrolling the $12.65-billion plant with a loan for 90% of its cost, with hopes it will alleviate the chronic blackouts plaguing the South Asian nation.

“Bangladesh is our long-term friend and partner,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a videoconference with Ms. Hasina to mark the handover.

Mr. Putin also pledged assistance for uranium supply, maintenance and management of spent fuel.

Construction on the nuclear plant at Rooppur, a village on the banks of the Ganges river 175 km west of the capital Dhaka, began in 2017. The first of its twin 1,200-megawatt units is slated to begin operations next year and both reactors should be fully online in 2025.

IMRAN MASTERMINDED MAY 9 VIOLENCE TO OUST ARMY CHIEF: AIDE

Islamabad : Imran Khan masterminded the May 9 violence and planned the attacks on sensitive military installations with an aim to remove army chief General Asim Munir, his close aide Usman Dar has said.

Dar, who was regarded as one of Khan’s trusted aides, had reportedly gone underground after unrest broke out following the PTI chief’s arrest on May 9, Express Tribune reported.

Dar claimed that the planning to target sensitive installations was done in a meeting chaired by Khan. Dar said the purpose of the violence was to exert pressure on the military and remove General Munir from his position. He added that the conspiracy had been brewing for a long period.

SYRIA WAR: AT LEAST 100 DEAD IN DRONE ATTACK ON CADET GRADUATION CEREMONY

A drone attack at a  military academy in Homs killed over 100 people, including women and children, during a graduation ceremony. The army attributed the attack to "terrorist grouSyrianps backed by known international forces." No rebel or jihadist group immediately claimed responsibility. The attack is believed to have originated from opposition-held areas northwest of Homs. Responding to the incident, Syria's armed forces condemned it as a "criminal act" and vowed a strong response against the responsible terrorist groups. Health Minister Hassan al-Gabbash reported over 200 injuries and confirmed the deaths of six women and six children among the casualties. A witness described the aftermath, with numerous casualties and panicked relatives at the scene.

NORWEGIAN PLAYWRIGHT JON FOSSE WINS LIT NOBEL

Stockholm : Jon Fosse,a master of spare Nordic prose in a sprawling body of work ranging from plays to novels and children’s books, won the Nobel Prize in literature Thursday. Fosse’s work, rooted in his Norwegian background, “focuses on human insecurity and anxiety”, Anders Olsson, chair of the Nobel literature committee, said. “The basic choices you make in life, very elemental stuff.”

Fosse said he had “cautiously prepared” himself for a decade to receive the news that he had won. “I was surprised when they called, yet at the same time not,” the 64-year-old said. “It was a great joy for me to get the phone call.” Author of 40 plays and novels, short stories, children’s books, poetry and essays, Fosse was honoured “for his innovative plays and prose, which give voice to the unsayable”, the Swedish Academy said.

NOBEL LAUREATE YUNUS APPEARS BEFORE GRAFT WATCHDOG OVER MULTIPLE CHARGES

Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus appeared before Bangladesh’s anti-graft watchdog on Thursday over corruption charges that his lawyers said were part of a campaign of government harassment.

Mr. Yunus, 83, is credited with lifting millions out of poverty with his pioneering micro-credit bank, but he has fallen out with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has accused him of “sucking blood” from the poor. He is facing around 175 separate criminal and labour tribunal cases related to social business firms he set up in Bangladesh aimed at creating jobs and bringing services to the poor.

“I have not committed any offence,” Mr. Yunus told presspersons after leaving the Anti-Corruption Commission in the capital Dhaka.

Defence lawyer Abdullah al Mamun said that Mr. Yunus had to cut short his trip to United Nations headquarters in New York to attend the hearing. Khaja Tanvir Ahmed, another lawyer for Yunus, said he was interrogated for more than an hour in the office.

“These cases are all part of the continuous harassment against Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus,” he added.

Mr. Yunus and seven officials of Grameen Telecom, a social business firm he founded, are accused of money laundering and embezzling 250 million taka ($2.3 million), according to charges filed by the commission in May.

He faces up to 12 years in jail if convicted.