Lithuania has announced stringent measures to counter the increasing incursions of helium weather balloons from Belarus, which are being used for cigarette smuggling. Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene declared that the Lithuanian army is prepared to take severe actions, including shooting down these balloons, to protect its airspace. The decision follows multiple disruptions at Vilnius Airport, which was forced to close several times over the past week, affecting 112 flights and over 16,500 passengers. Additionally, border checkpoints with Belarus have been closed indefinitely in response to the ongoing violations. Ruginiene emphasized that while diplomats, EU citizens, and Lithuanians will still be permitted to cross the border, all other movements will be restricted. She stated, ‘We are sending a clear signal to Belarus that no hybrid attack will be tolerated, and we will take the strictest measures to prevent such incidents.’ Lithuania also plans to consult its NATO allies regarding the threat posed by these balloons and may consider invoking NATO’s Article 4, which allows member states to request consultations on security concerns. The phenomenon is not new, with 544 balloons recorded entering Lithuania from Belarus this year alone, following 966 incidents in 2024. Similar airspace violations have also been reported in other European cities, including Copenhagen and Munich.
分类： world
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Kurdish PKK militants withdraw from Turkey as part of disarmament
In a significant development, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a militant group engaged in a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state, has announced its withdrawal from Turkey as part of a comprehensive disarmament process. This decision follows a call from the group’s imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, in May 2025, urging an end to armed struggle. The conflict, which began in 1984, has claimed over 40,000 lives. The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the European Union, has been based in northern Iraq in recent years, with Turkey conducting regular military strikes against its bases. In July 2025, the group symbolically burned some weapons as a gesture of goodwill. During a recent event in the Qandil Mountains, the PKK’s stronghold, a statement was read declaring the group’s commitment to laying the foundations for a ‘free, democratic, and brotherly life.’ The PKK emphasized the need for Turkey to facilitate its transition into democratic politics through integration laws. President Tayyip Erdogan’s communications director, Burhanettin Duran, welcomed the withdrawal, describing it as a positive step toward lasting peace. The PKK’s shift from seeking an independent state to advocating for greater Kurdish rights and limited autonomy marks a significant evolution in its objectives. The resolution of this conflict could have far-reaching implications for the region, including neighboring Syria, where the US supports Syrian Kurdish forces that Turkey considers a PKK offshoot.
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Ukraine mourns two journalists after a deadly Russian drone strike claimed their lives
In a solemn gathering at a Kyiv church on Monday, approximately 100 mourners paid tribute to two Ukrainian journalists who lost their lives in a Russian drone attack in the Donetsk region. Olena Hubanova, a 43-year-old war correspondent known by her pseudonym Alyona Gramova, and Yevhen Karmazin, a 33-year-old cameraman, were killed on October 23 when a Russian Lancet drone struck their vehicle near Kramatorsk, just 20 kilometers from the front lines. This incident marks the latest in a series of deadly assaults on journalists covering the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Earlier this month, French photojournalist Antoni Lallican and Ukrainian reporter Grigoriy Ivanchenko were injured in a similar attack, with Ivanchenko later undergoing a leg amputation. The increasing range of drone strikes, now extending over 20 kilometers from the front, has significantly heightened the risks for journalists and civilians alike. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, at least 135 media workers have been killed, according to Ukraine’s National Union of Journalists. Gramova and Karmazin, both employed by the state-run FreeDom TV channel, were known for their courageous reporting from the most perilous areas of Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Vadym Filashkin, the regional governor, praised their dedication to uncovering the truth about Russian atrocities and the plight of Ukrainian defenders. Gramova, originally from Yenakiieve, a city under Russian occupation since 2014, and Karmazin, a native of Kramatorsk, leave behind a legacy of fearless journalism in the face of grave danger.
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Pope Leo XIV will pray at the site of the 2020 Beirut port blast in his first foreign trip
Pope Leo XIV is set to embark on his first international journey as pontiff, visiting Lebanon and Turkey from November 27 to December 2. The trip, announced by the Vatican on Monday, will focus on interfaith dialogue, ecumenical relations, and addressing the challenges faced by Christians in the Middle East. A key highlight of the visit will be a prayer at the site of the 2020 Beirut port blast, which claimed over 200 lives and exacerbated Lebanon’s ongoing economic and political turmoil. This poignant moment underscores the Pope’s commitment to solidarity with those affected by the tragedy, which remains a symbol of government negligence and systemic corruption in the country. In Turkey, Pope Leo will mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, Christianity’s first ecumenical council, with a brief prayer at the archaeological site of the ancient Basilica of Saint Neophytos. He will also visit the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral in Istanbul, a site of historical significance given the contentious debate over the Armenian Genocide. While Pope Francis had previously labeled the events as the ‘first genocide of the 20th century,’ it remains to be seen whether Pope Leo will echo this characterization. The itinerary notably excludes visits to southern Lebanon, heavily impacted by the 2023 Israel-Hezbollah conflict, and Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, which was controversially reconverted into a mosque in 2020. Instead, the Pope will visit the nearby Blue Mosque, emphasizing a message of interfaith harmony. This trip, originally planned by Pope Francis, reflects Pope Leo’s dedication to continuing his predecessor’s legacy of fostering unity and addressing regional tensions.
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Mali is squeezed as militants enforce a fuel blockade
The West African nation of Mali is grappling with a severe crisis as jihadi militants enforce a blockade on fuel imports, crippling the country’s economy and daily life. Education Minister Amadou Sy Savane announced on Sunday that schools nationwide will remain closed for two weeks due to fuel shortages, which have made it nearly impossible for staff and workers to commute. Mali, a landlocked country of 25 million people, heavily relies on fuel imports from neighboring Senegal and Ivory Coast, making the blockade a significant blow to its already fragile economy. The blockade was imposed by the al-Qaida-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) group in early September, following government efforts to cut fuel supplies to remote areas as a strategy to weaken the militants. This move has left hundreds of fuel trucks stranded at the border, exacerbating the crisis. JNIM, the most potent armed group in the Sahel region, has targeted transport companies along major roads, forcing many to halt operations. Analysts suggest the blockade is a strategic effort to undermine Mali’s military junta, which came to power in a 2020 coup, by pressuring commercial operators and residents to distance themselves from the government. Despite military attempts to escort fuel trucks and conduct airstrikes against JNIM, the lack of air power has limited their effectiveness. The blockade has led to skyrocketing commodity prices, worsening living conditions for millions, with long queues forming at gas stations in the capital, Bamako. Mali, one of Africa’s top gold producers, remains one of the world’s least developed nations, with nearly half its population living in poverty. The crisis highlights the deepening security challenges in the Sahel region, where JNIM is actively destabilizing governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
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Hurricane Melissa could be strongest to ever hit Jamaica
Jamaica is on high alert as Hurricane Melissa, now classified as a Category 5 storm, threatens to unleash devastating winds and catastrophic flooding across the Caribbean nation. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) upgraded Melissa to its maximum strength early Monday, warning of its potential to become the most powerful hurricane ever to hit Jamaica. The storm has already claimed four lives on the island of Hispaniola and is expected to bring life-threatening conditions to Jamaica in the coming hours. As of 09:00 GMT, Melissa was located approximately 130 miles south-southwest of Kingston, with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, and could intensify further in the next 12 to 24 hours. Forecasters predict the storm’s core will move near or over Jamaica by Tuesday night, with potential impacts extending to southeastern Cuba and the Bahamas later in the week. The slow-moving nature of the storm raises concerns about prolonged rainfall, with up to 40 inches expected in parts of Jamaica over the next four days. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has ordered immediate evacuations in vulnerable areas, while the government has opened all 881 shelters across the island. Residents in low-lying and flood-prone regions have been urged to seek safety. The storm has already caused significant damage in Hispaniola, with three deaths in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, where a 79-year-old man was swept away by floodwaters in Santo Domingo. A 13-year-old boy is also missing after being dragged by strong currents while swimming. Authorities continue to rescue individuals trapped by rising floodwaters as the region braces for Melissa’s full impact.
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Envoy: China remains an opportunity for global development
In a recent address at the ‘Innovation, Openness, Shared Development’ Global Dialogue US Session, Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, emphasized China’s unwavering role as a pivotal opportunity for global development. Speaking on Friday, Ambassador Xie highlighted the outcomes of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, which outlined the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), a strategic blueprint for China’s economic and social advancement. Xie underscored China’s commitment to openness, cooperation, and mutual prosperity, stating that the nation’s vast consumer market, robust industrial system, and innovation ecosystem present unparalleled opportunities for global partners. He also pointed to China’s ongoing urbanization, industrial upgrading, and green transition as drivers of future growth, creating avenues for international collaboration in sectors like education, healthcare, and elder care. Amid rising protectionism and economic globalization challenges, Xie reaffirmed China’s dedication to multilateralism, institutional opening-up, and fostering a stable global trading system. He called for strengthened U.S.-China relations based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation, emphasizing that such a partnership would benefit both nations and the world at large. Robert Lawrence Kuhn, Chairman of The Kuhn Foundation, echoed these sentiments, noting that China’s development is integral to global progress. Denis Simon, Chairman of the Global Talent Alliance, stressed the necessity of U.S.-China collaboration in addressing pressing global issues such as climate change, AI governance, and food security. Both speakers advocated for a shift from zero-sum competition to shared solutions, transforming current tensions into trust and mutual benefits.
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Sudan’s paramilitary forces announces full control of El Fasher city
In a significant development in Sudan’s ongoing civil war, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) declared on Sunday that they have secured full control of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State. The RSF described the capture as a ‘pivotal moment,’ emphasizing the city’s symbolic, strategic, and military importance. The announcement was made via a statement on Telegram, accompanied by videos on social media platform X showing RSF fighters celebrating outside the Sudanese army’s Sixth Infantry Division headquarters, their last stronghold in the Darfur region. However, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have yet to issue an official response, and local reports suggest that battles in El Fasher may still be ongoing. The El Fasher Resistance Committees, a volunteer group, confirmed that fighters remain steadfast despite the RSF’s claims. El Fasher, the last major administrative center in Darfur under SAF control, has been under siege since May 2024, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis marked by heavy casualties and widespread displacement. The conflict between the SAF and RSF, which began in April 2023, has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions, deepening Sudan’s humanitarian catastrophe.
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Sudan’s paramilitary forces push into the army’s last Darfur stronghold, killing dozens of civilians
In a significant escalation of Sudan’s ongoing conflict, paramilitary forces known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have captured a crucial military base in el-Fasher, the last stronghold of the Sudanese army in the Darfur region. This development, reported by activists and aid groups on Monday, marks a turning point in the war that has ravaged the country since April 2023. The RSF’s advance has resulted in widespread civilian casualties, destruction of health infrastructure, and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. Medical groups reported dozens of deaths, though exact casualty figures remain unclear. El-Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur, has been a focal point of the conflict for over a year, with its fall potentially signaling a dangerous new phase in the war. The RSF, which originated from the notorious Janjaweed militias, has been accused of systematic targeting of civilians, arbitrary detentions, and acts amounting to war crimes. Satellite imagery analyzed by The Associated Press and the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale University confirmed the RSF’s advance and the damage inflicted on the military base. The United Nations has expressed deep alarm over the humanitarian crisis, with hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped in dire conditions. The conflict has already claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced more than 14 million people, creating the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The International Criminal Court is investigating alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the region.
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UN peacekeepers in Lebanon come under Israeli fire, no casualties reported
A United Nations peacekeeping patrol in southern Lebanon was targeted by Israeli forces on Sunday, according to a statement from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The incident occurred near the village of Kafr Kila, where an Israeli drone dropped a bomb near the patrol at approximately 5:45 pm local time (1545 GMT). Shortly after, an Israeli tank fired in the direction of the peacekeepers. Fortunately, no injuries or damage to UNIFIL personnel or equipment were reported. UNIFIL condemned the actions as violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and Lebanon’s sovereignty, emphasizing that such incidents endanger peacekeepers fulfilling their mandate in the region. This event follows a similar encounter earlier in the day, where an Israeli drone flew aggressively over a patrol, prompting UNIFIL to take defensive measures. Israel has not yet responded to the allegations. Since the outbreak of cross-border clashes following the Gaza war in October 2023, UNIFIL positions have been targeted multiple times. Despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Israel has continued periodic strikes in Lebanon, citing threats from Hezbollah, and has maintained border positions beyond a February 18 withdrawal deadline.