October 26, 2022

*) Russia and Ukraine gird for 'heaviest of battles' in Kherson A senior Ukrainian official predicted "the heaviest of battles" to come for the partially Russian-occupied strategic southern province of Kherson. The adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Russians are replenishing and strengthening their grouping in Kherson. He said this means that nobody is preparing to withdraw their forces. On the contrary, the heaviest of battles is going to take place for Kherson, he added. *) Powerful earthquake injures dozens in northern Philippines A strong earthquake has rocked a large swathe of the northern Philippines, injuring at least 26 people. Officials said the 6.4 magnitude quake also forced the closure of an international airport and the evacuation of patients in a hospital. The US Tsunami Warning System said no warning or advisory was issued. *) Pakistan's Khan announces 'long march' on Islamabad to press for snap polls Former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan has announced that he would begin a protest march from the eastern city of Lahore to the capital Islamabad on Friday to call for early elections. Smaller protests by Khan's supporters took place last week after Pakistan's election body found Khan guilty of unlawfully selling gifts from foreign dignitaries, removing him from his parliamentary seat. Since being removed from office by a no-confidence vote in the legislature in April, Khan has held protests across the country calling for snap elections *) Ethiopia, Tigray rebels begin long-awaited peace talks in South Africa Peace talks between an Ethiopian government delegation and Tigrayan rebel forces have started in South Africa to end the two-year-old conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region. Spokesperson for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, told reporters that the talks, which began in Pretoria, have been convened to find a peaceful and sustainable solution to the devastating conflict. The talks started on Tuesday and will end on Sunday. And finally… *) 'World's di