Global Headlines: Putin Warns West, Stoltenberg's New Role, and More

A summary of current world news covering a range of topics including Putin's warning to the West regarding missile use in Ukraine, NATO's Stoltenberg new role, Senegal's upcoming elections, Israeli-Hamas conflict, U.S. election developments, and China's academic exchange challenges.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

President Vladimir Putin has issued a stark warning to Western nations, stating that allowing Ukraine to use Western-made long-range missiles against Russian territory would mean direct involvement in the conflict.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will succeed Christoph Heusgen as the chair of the Munich Security Conference, a key international forum for political and military leaders.

Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye dissolved the national assembly, paving the way for early elections amid governmental gridlock.

The Israeli military named nine Hamas militants killed in Gaza airstrikes, attributing some of them as UNRWA staff, a claim yet to be independently verified.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urges global pressure on Hamas for a new Gaza deal after the group rejects a conditional ceasefire.

In the U.S., a Georgia judge dismissed two criminal charges against Donald Trump in the state's 2020 election interference case due to lack of prosecutorial authority.

Meanwhile, China continues its stringent censorship, challenging historians and researchers despite its push for academic exchanges.

Lastly, a Reuters/Ipsos poll shows U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris leading Donald Trump in the presidential race, bolstered by her debated perceived victory.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russia of attacking a grain vessel near NATO-member Romania, escalating Black Sea tensions.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will attend the United Nations General Assembly, yet Palestine remains without full member status or voting rights.

(With inputs from agencies.)