Voting for the 18th Lok Sabha elections in India, the world's largest democracy, begins today on Friday. In seven phases, about 97 crore voters of the country will vote and elect their preferred representatives in different parts of the country. In the first phase, polling will be held today in a total of 102 constituencies in 21 states and union territories of the country. Among them are three centers in West Bengal. The constituencies are Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri.

Voting will start from 7 am on Friday (April 19) and will continue till 6 pm. Besides the central forces, the Election Commission has also trusted the state police for election security.

The main battle in the election is going to be between the ruling BJP-led NDA alliance and the Indian National Congress-led 'India' alliance. Bharatiya Janata Party, the main party of the ruling NDA alliance, is moving ahead with the target of 370 seats. And their target for alliance is 400 seats.

The Election Commission of India has completed all preparations for the polls on Friday. In the first phase, polling will be held in 102 constituencies on April 19. Security has been beefed up across the country ahead of polling.

The United States and the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on Iran's drone program in response to retaliatory strikes against Israel.

The ban was announced simultaneously on Thursday (April 18) by two countries known to be close allies of the Jewish state.

According to the report of the British media BBC, the United States Ministry of Finance said in a statement that sanctions have been imposed on 16 individuals and 2 companies associated with the production of UAVs (drones) in Iran. They are associated with Iran's production of Shahed drones. The drone was used in the April 13 attack.

The UK is also imposing sanctions on a number of military-linked companies, individuals and institutions linked to Iran's development of drones and ballistic missiles.

Iran launched an expected and unexpected attack on Israel on Saturday night. On April 13, the attack was carried out in revenge for the killing of some senior army officers in the Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, the capital of Syria.

Iran used more than three hundred drones and missiles in this major attack. Israel claimed to have destroyed most of them in the air. The United States, United Kingdom, France and Jordan helped Israel to prevent this attack.

Israel has announced a counter attack on Iran in response to this attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has the right to defend itself.

Kenya's Defense Chief General Francis Omondi Ogolla and 9 top military officers were killed in a helicopter crash.

Several media outlets including BBC and AFP reported this news around 11:00 PM Bangladesh time on Thursday (April 18) citing the country's police source.

A senior Kenyan police officer told AFP the helicopter caught fire shortly after takeoff, killing nine senior commanders, including General Ogolla.

According to the BBC report, Kenyan President William Ruto called an emergency meeting of the country's Security Council after the military helicopter crashed. His spokesperson confirmed the matter.

According to local media, all those on the helicopter were senior military officers. Among them was General Francis Ogolla, Chief Military Adviser to the President. However, the BBC could not verify the authenticity of these reports.

According to reports, the helicopter came down in Kenya's Rift Valley and burst into flames. Rescue teams have been sent to the accident site.

Kenyan President William Ruto said an investigation team has been sent to the scene to investigate the cause of the helicopter crash.

"Our motherland has lost one of its most valiant generals," he said. General Ogolla's death is an irreparable loss to us.

Ogolla joined the Kenya Defense Forces in 1984. He was trained as a fighter pilot with the United States Air Force and as an instructor pilot with the Kenya Air Force (KAF). Ogolla was the Chief of the Kenyan Air Force before becoming the Deputy Military Chief. Last year, the country's president promoted him to become the army chief.

The United States has blocked Palestine's path to full membership as a state in the United Nations.

On Thursday (April 18), the country vetoed the resolution in the Security Council.

The draft resolution recommended to the 193-member UN General Assembly that Palestine be admitted as a full member of the United Nations. 12 of the 15 members of the Security Council voted in favor of the resolution. The United Kingdom and Switzerland abstained from voting. Israel's close ally, the United States, provided the veto.

Regarding the veto, US Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood said the US continues to strongly support the Israeli-Palestinian two-state solution. The vote does not reflect opposition to Palestinian statehood. We want them to come to a solution through direct negotiations.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the US veto as unjust, immoral and unreasonable. In a statement, he said, the US veto defies the will of the international community.

Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz praised the United States for vetoing the proposal, saying it was a "shameful rejection". Terrorism will not be rewarded.

Although Palestine is not currently a member of the United Nations, in 2012 it gained observer status at the United Nations. Palestine has been trying for years to gain full membership of the United Nations.

However, their request must first be approved by the Security Council and then at least two-thirds of the UN General Assembly.

Palestine first applied for full membership in 2011. Palestine reapplied for membership earlier this month amid Israel's military campaign in Gaza.