Hong Kong residential area fire under control
Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) John Lee said in the small hours on Thursday that a fire at Wang Fuk Court, a residential area in Tai Po of Hong Kong, has been gradually brought under control after firefighters' tireless efforts.
Speaking at a press briefing, Lee said that the death toll from the fire has risen to 36, with 279 people still missing. Twenty-nine remained hospitalized, including seven in critical condition. Lee said he was deeply saddened by the situation.
Lee said that from the outside, three buildings now showed no visible flames, while four others displayed only sporadic fire spots.
2 U.S. National Guard members shot near White House
Two U.S. National Guard members were shot near the White House on Wednesday afternoon and a suspect is in custody, according to local authorities.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey claimed in a post on X that both members of the West Virginia National Guard have passed away from their injuries, but said in another post about 20 minutes later that he was "receiving conflicting reports" about their condition.
FBI Director Kash Patel told reporters that the two members are "in critical condition."
Kremlin says Russian, Ukrainian representatives met in Abu Dhabi
Russian and Ukrainian representatives held a meeting on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, a Russian presidential aide said.
Yuri Ushakov said on Wednesday that U.S. representatives also met with Russian representatives.
The peace plan for Ukraine was not discussed during the meeting in the United Arab Emirates' capital, he said, adding that it was passed on to Russia but has not yet been "discussed in detail with anyone yet."
Russia views parts of the U.S. peace plan positively, but some aspects require special discussion among experts, he noted.
Guinea-Bissau's military claims control of the country
Guinea-Bissau's armed forces announced on Wednesday via the national television that they had assumed full powers of the country and imposed several emergency measures.
The military, named "the High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order," said the move was intended to respond to the actions of certain politicians attempting to destabilize the country.
Army spokesperson Dinis N'Tchama said on television that the military has taken control of Guinea-Bissau, with the ongoing electoral process immediately suspended.
Ukraine rejects constitutional amendments in peace deal
Ukraine will not amend its Constitution as part of any potential peace deal, Interfax-Ukraine reported Wednesday, citing a member of the Ukrainian delegation involved in talks with the United States, other partners and Russia.
"We have stated that Ukraine will not accept any form of recognition and Ukraine will not make any changes to the Constitution -- these are red lines," said Oleksandr Bevz, an adviser to the head of Ukraine's presidential office.
He said territorial issues should be addressed on two principles: the current contact line should serve as the basis for talks, and such questions must be handled at the level of national leaders.
4 Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza
Four Palestinians were killed on Wednesday by Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, according to the Civil Defense in the coastal enclave.
Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Civil Defense, told Xinhua that two Palestinians were killed and several others wounded in an Israeli airstrike near the Beit Lahia square in the northern Gaza Strip.
Earlier in the day, a Palestinian was killed and another wounded in an Israeli strike near Al-Farabi School in Bani Suhaila, east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, Basal said.
Israeli army launches large-scale operation in N. West Bank
Israel launched a large-scale military operation in the northern West Bank on Wednesday, imposing a curfew, setting up roadblocks, and deploying military forces, according to Israeli and Palestinian sources.
In a joint statement, the Israeli military and the Shin Bet security agency said they "began operating as part of a broad counterterrorism operation" in the area.
Israel often describes such raids in the West Bank as "counterterrorism operations" targeting individuals linked to Palestinian armed groups.
Meanwhile, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that a large-scale incursion began overnight, with significant numbers of Israeli forces and military bulldozers entering the city of Tubas and the towns of Aqqaba, Tammun, Tayaseer and Wadi al-Far'a.■
