World

Hong Kong shut down ahead of Super Typhoon Ragasa on Tuesday, the world's most powerful tropical cyclone this year, with authorities urging people to stay at home, while most passenger flights were due to be suspended until Thursday.

People piled into supermarkets, leaving little on the shelves, as panic buying set in and residents stocked up on necessities for fear that shops could be closed for two days.

Windows in homes and businesses across the city were taped up, with residents hoping it could help reduce the impact of any shattered glass. Ragasa, packing hurricane-force winds of up to 220km/h (137 mph), is posing a "severe threat to the coast of Guangdong", the Hong Kong Observatory said, referring to the Chinese province that neighbours the financial hub.

It will maintain super typhoon intensity as it edges closer to the coast of Guangdong, and as it impacts Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan, after sweeping through the northern Philippines on Monday.

Hong Kong issued the typhoon signal 8, its third highest at 2.20 p.m. (0620 GMT), which urges most businesses and transport services to shut down. More than 700 flights have been disrupted, including in the neighbouring gambling hub of Macau and in Taiwan.

The weather is expected to deteriorate rapidly later on Tuesday and the observatory said it will assess whether to issue a higher warning late on Tuesday or early Wednesday.

Hurricane-force winds offshore and on high ground were likely in Hong Kong on Wednesday, with heavy rain expected to lead to a significant storm and sea surge in the densely packed city.

It warned of rising sea levels, which it said would be similar to those seen during Typhoon Hato in 2017 and Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, both of which caused billions of dollars in damage.

Water levels will rise about two metres (six feet) along Hong Kong's coastal areas and maximum water levels could reach four to five metres (12-15 feet) in some areas, the observatory said, urging residents to take appropriate precautions.

Local authorities handed out sandbags for residents to bolster their homes in low-lying areas, while many people stockpiled daily necessities.

A 35-year-old resident surnamed Mak said he had already bought some groceries but still needed to get more and was preparing his home for the typhoon. "We shut the windows and doors closely at home and checked if there is leaking," he said

While some businesses were hoping to profit from people working from home, with one bar on the outlying island of Lantau offering 20% off all drinks throughout a T8 signal.

Hong Kong's Stock Exchange will remain open. It changed its policy late last year to continue trading whatever the weather.

STORM SURGES

At Ragasa's peak intensity on Monday, maximum sustained winds near its eye topped 260 kph (162 mph), making it the world's most powerful Category 5 storm in 2025.

The typhoon has since weakened slightly but is still capable of wreaking havoc on the densely populated Chinese coast as a Category 4 typhoon. Chinese authorities have activated flood control measures in several southern provinces, warning of heavy rain from late on Tuesday.

More than 10 cities in Guangdong, including technology hub Shenzhen and coastal city Zhuhai had suspended work, transport services and schools due to warnings of storm surges and high waves.

China's Environmental Forecasting centre said that coastal waters off Guangdong would be hit by huge to extremely rough waves with heights of up to seven metres (21 feet).

Authorities in Shenzhen have prepared more than 800 emergency shelters, while in the city's Nanshan district, teams were chainsawing tree branches along main roads in preparation for the typhoon.

“It’s just the bigger ones where there’s a risk. We’ll be out all afternoon all over the district,” said a worker surnamed Zhang, surrounded by piles of logs from behind a taped-off area of pavement

Residents in the world's largest gambling hub of Macau also braced for significant impact. All its casinos will be forced to shut by 5.00 p.m. (0900 GMT) when the former Portuguese colony lifts its typhoon signal to 8.

Taiwan logged almost 60 cm (24 inches) of rainfall in its mountainous east and reported 25 people injured, while transport disruptions continued for a second day on Tuesday with 273 flights cancelled.

(Source - Reuters)

Indian PM Narendra Modi speaks with Nepal’s interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki

Indian media report that Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a phone conversation with Nepal’s interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki. This was their first discussion since Karki took office as Nepal’s interim leader.

During the call, PM Modi expressed his condolences over the recent deaths that occurred amid protests in Nepal.

He also said that India is ready to work to strengthen the special ties between the two countries. Modi assured full support from India to restore peace and stability in Nepal and to help the Nepali people’s progress.

A South Korean-born New Zealand woman was convicted on Tuesday of murdering her two children, whose bodies were discovered in suitcases in an abandoned storage locker, local media reported.

Hakyung Lee admitted killing the children, aged eight and six, but had pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder on the grounds of insanity. She chose to represent herself throughout the trial, assisted by two lawyers.

The court heard Lee gave the children an overdose of prescription medicine in 2018 before wrapping their bodies in plastic bags and putting them in the suitcases, New Zealand media said.

Their father had died of cancer in late 2017.

Lee stood with her head bowed and showed no reaction as the jury delivered their unanimous verdict. Neither the prosecution or defence spoke to the media as they left the court, RNZ reported.

The children's remains were discovered in 2022 by a family going through the contents of a storage locker they had bought at an online auction.

New Zealand police launched a murder investigation and Lee, who had moved to South Korea in 2018, was extradited to face trial in November 2022.

Lee will be sentenced on November 26.

(Source - Reuters)

The families of four passengers who died on an Air India jet that crashed in June have filed a lawsuit in the US against planemaker Boeing and aircraft parts maker Honeywell, accusing the companies of negligence.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday, and seen by the BBC, said faulty fuel switches caused the accident and accused the companies of doing “nothing” despite being aware of the risks of the aircraft’s design.

Air India Flight 171 bound for London Gatwick, a Boeing 787, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.

Fuel switches have become a focus for investigators after a preliminary inquiry found that fuel to the engines was cut off moments after the plane left the ground.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said earlier that fuel control switches in Boeing aeroplanes are safe.

The BBC has contacted Boeing and Honeywell for a response.

The US plane manufacturer did not comment on the case. Instead it pointed to India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) preliminary investigation report into the crash.

The lawsuit alleges that both firms knew about the risk of a crash since they developed and marketed the 787 Dreamliner and its components.

It cited a 2018 FAA advisory that urged - but did not mandate - operators to inspect the fuel switches’ locking mechanism to ensure that it could not be accidentally moved, thereby cutting off fuel supply.

In the case of Air India Flight 171, the switch was moved from “run” to the “cut-off” position, hampering the thrust of the plane, according to the AAIB’s preliminary investigation report.

The families said this amounted to a design “defect” that “allowed for inadvertent cutoff of fuel supply and total loss of thrust necessary to propel” the plane.

They said: “And what did Honeywell and Boeing do to prevent the inevitable catastrophe? Nothing.”

The companies also failed to warn airlines that the switches required inspection and repair, and did not supply replacement parts to enable its customers to install them, according to the lawsuit.

Boeing and Honeywell “sat idly” behind a gentle advisory that merely recommended inspecting the switches, said the families, who are represented by Texas-based Lanier Law Firm.

A more detailed report of the crash is expected sometime in 2026.

A total of 229 passengers, 12 cabin crew and 19 people on the ground perished when the plane crashed.

Source: BBC

• Agencies

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr ordered the Philippines disaster response agency to go on full alert and mobilise all government agencies as Super Typhoon Ragasa threatened the north of the country and set off storm alerts across East and Southeast Asia. Packing winds of 215 kph (134 mph) and gusts of up to 295 kph (160 mph), Ragasa made landfall in Calayan Island in Cagayan province, raising the risk of storm surges exceeding three metres (nine feet), the state weather agency said.

The Babuyan islands remained under a high-level storm warning signal, with residents advised to stay away from coastal areas and riverbanks. Video clips shared by disaster agencies showed the northern Cagayan province being pummelled by fierce winds and heavy rain, triggering strong waves and sending trees swaying violently. The government suspended work and classes across Metro Manila and large parts of Luzon as outer rainbands began lashing the region, prompting warnings of power outages, landslides, floods, and dangerous seas. Airlines have cancelled two dozen domestic flights, mostly serving Luzon's main hubs, while ports have suspended ferry services.

Although Ragasa will not directly hit Taiwan, its outer bands are expected to bring heavy rain to the island's sparsely populated east coast. Taiwan has issued land and sea warnings, cancelled 146 domestic flights, and evacuated more than 900 people from mountainous southern and eastern areas. Vietnam's defence ministry has ordered its forces to monitor the storm and prepare for a possible landfall later this week. Chinese authorities have activated flood control measures in several southern provinces, warning of heavy rain beginning Tuesday night. Hong Kong said its airport will remain open, but operations will be scaled down. Yeung Tat-wing, director of service delivery at the Hong Kong Airport Authority, said flight operations would be significantly reduced after 6 p.m. (1000 GMT) on Tuesday, and most flights will be affected on Wednesday. Cathay Pacific said it will cancel about 500 flights.

Macau and Zhuhai are also bracing for impact, with school closures and evacuation plans under way. In Hong Kong, residents started stockpiling daily necessities on Monday morning. Long queues formed at supermarkets where products like milk had already sold out, while vegetables were being sold for more than triple their normal price at fresh markets, according to Reuters witnesses

(Source - Reuters)

Foreign media report that Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, is reportedly preparing to present photographs and scientific evidence to prove her gender identity as a woman.

The allegations arose after American political commentator Candace Owens claimed that Brigitte Macron, the French first lady, was born male.

In response, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, have taken legal action in a U.S. court against Owens.

Their lawyer, Tom Clare, told the media that such defamatory statements affect not only anyone with a professional or family life but also President Macron in his capacity as the head of state.

He further stated that scientific expert evidence will be presented in due course and that the couple is fully prepared to demonstrate that the allegations are entirely false.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Israel has no right to invade other countries.

He made this remark while rejecting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s so-called “Greater Israel” plan, which is said to include neighboring lands.

The Iranian President expressed these views during an interview with a Chinese media outlet.

He also strongly criticized Israel’s activities in the Middle East region.

In addition, he condemned U.S. support for Israel, stressing that other countries should not remain silent about Israel’s illegal, unjust, and inhumane actions.

Indian troops have participated in the Russian-led Zapad-2025 military drills, Russian state agency TASS said on Tuesday, highlighting Moscow’s close ties with New Delhi, whose growing ties with the United States have been strained by the imposition of hefty tariffs by President Donald Trump.

The Indian Ministry of Defence confirmed that it had sent 65 armed forces personnel to participate in the five-day military exercise, a theatrical demonstration of firepower conducted jointly by Russia and Belarus to test their combat readiness in the event of an invasion.

The manoeuvres, which featured 100,000 troops in a display of might that included nuclear-capable bombers and warships, took place at a time of heightened tension with NATO countries, coming just days after the downing of Russian drones in Poland last week.

“Today we are conducting the final part of the Zapad 2025 strategic exercise,” said Putin, wearing a military uniform.

India was not the only foreign power involved, with “task forces and military contingents” from Iran, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Mali also joining in, TASS reported, citing the Kremlin.

But India’s participation, led by a battalion of the highly respected Kumaon Regiment and aimed at strengthening “the spirit of cooperation and mutual trust” with Russia, will have raised eyebrows amid signs that the US may be losing a key ally in Asia, seen as an important counterweight to China.

Strains emerged between the two countries last month after the Trump administration imposed 50 percent tariffs on Indian imports, accusing New Delhi of fuelling Moscow’s deadly attacks on Ukraine with its purchases of Russian oil.

Earlier this month, Trump seemed to confirm the rift, posting on social media that both India and Russia appeared to have been “lost” to “deepest, darkest China” as the three countries cozied up at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin.

India-US ties back on track?

But last week, Trump announced on X that India and the US are continuing negotiations to address trade barriers between the two nations. He previously accused India of imposing high tariffs on US goods.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to Trump’s post on X, saying: “India and the US are close friends and natural partners”.

“I am confident that our trade negotiations will pave the way for unlocking the limitless potential of the India-US partnership,” Modi added.

On Tuesday, Modi thanked Trump for wishing him a happy 75th birthday.

“Thank you, my friend, President Trump, for your phone call and warm greetings on my 75th birthday. Like you, I am also fully committed to taking the India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights,” he posted on X.

This is not the first time that India has participated in Russian military exercises. In 2021, shortly before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, New Delhi said it sent an unspecified number of troops to Russia’s Volgograd region to join activities linked to “Counter Terrorism and Conventional operations”.

India’s ties with Russia go back to the erstwhile USSR, which provided extensive help to the Indian economy. Throughout the Cold War, India chose to remain non-aligned, but it sourced most of its weapons from the Soviet Union.

New Delhi still buys most of its defence equipment from Moscow, but over the past two decades, it has attempted to diversify its weapons imports.

Iran-Russia continue strategic alignment

Iran also participated in this year’s Zapad, according to the TASS, though the presence of its troops was not confirmed by official channels.

Tehran is known to be a close strategic partner of Russia, supplying it with self-detonating Shahed drones used in the Ukraine war and, according to Western intelligence sources, ballistic missiles.

This year, the two countries signed a “comprehensive strategic partnership treaty”, deepening their relationship on military and other fronts.

Tehran and Moscow launched a joint military drill in the Caspian Sea after Israel launched bombings of Iran, leading to 12 days of war. The US also joined the war after targeting an Iranian nuclear site with bunker buster bombs.

On Tuesday, the US confirmed that its military officials observed the military drills the previous day after accepting an invitation to the event.

The US presence on the sidelines comes as it tries to wrestle Russia into bringing its war in Ukraine to an end, while seeking closer ties with Belarus.

(lankaleader.lk)

A cyberattack has disrupted operations at several major airports across Europe.

Airports including Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin have been affected, according to foreign media reports. The attack targeted an online system used for boarding passengers onto flights.

As a result, delays and cancellations have occurred. However, airport authorities say steps are being taken to restore normal operations as quickly as possible.

Israel has launched a major ground assault on Gaza City, an operation reportedly planned for some time.

According to foreign media reports, the offensive was accompanied by heavy airstrikes carried out late last night (16).

Hamas stated that in the past 24 hours alone, Israeli attacks have killed 59 people and injured at least 386 others.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the operation was being conducted against what he described as Hamas’ last major stronghold, despite mounting criticism from the United Kingdom and other nations.

A drone strike hit a Muslim mosque in the Darfur region of Sudan.

According to international media reports, more than 70 people were killed in the attack.

Authorities say the paramilitary group RSF is responsible for the strike, although the group has not yet claimed responsibility.

Nepal’s tourism industry has suffered a severe setback following the recent wave of protests.

According to international media reports, tourist arrivals have dropped by nearly 30 percent amid the ongoing unrest. The decline is particularly significant as this period normally marks a peak season for visitors, especially those traveling for mountain trekking.

Reports further highlight that in Kathmandu’s bustling Thamel tourist district, shops and restaurants have been left deserted due to the instability.

The violent demonstrations in Nepal have already claimed 72 lives, while more than 2,000 others have been injured.