Briefly

DPRK

Road, railway to ROK blocked, KCNA says

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea said on Thursday the roads and railways connecting the Republic of Korea in the eastern and western parts of the DPRK southern border have been completely blocked, the official Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, reported. "This is an inevitable and legitimate measure taken in keeping with the requirement of the DPRK Constitution, which clearly defines the ROK as a hostile state, and due to the serious security circumstances running to the unpredictable brink of war owing to the grave political and military provocations of the hostile forces," according to the KCNA report. The Ministry of National Defense said that the DPRK will continue to take measures to "permanently fortify the closed southern border", the KCNA added.

UNITED STATES

Helene joins ranks of most costly storms

Monstrous hurricanes Helene and Milton caused so much complex havoc that damages are still being added up, but government and private experts say they will likely join the infamous ranks of Katrina, Sandy and Harvey as hugely expensive $50-billion-plus killers. Making that even more painful is that most of the damage — 95 percent or more in Helene's case — was not insured, putting victims in a deeper financial hole. Storm deaths have been dropping over time, although Helene was an exception.

INDIA

More than 18 die after drinking tainted liquor

At least 18 people have died and several more are in hospital after consuming tainted liquor in India's eastern state of Bihar, a senior government official said on Thursday. The death toll is likely to rise, the official, who did not want to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the media about the matter, said. Local police have arrested 22 people for their alleged involvement in the sale of tainted liquor in the state, which banned the sale and purchase of liquor in 2016.

Agencies via Xinhua