<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/romanias-liberals-present-minority-government-258012">Romania</a> voted in the first round of a presidential election on Sunday, with pro-European incumbent Klaus Iohannis the favourite to win, potentially adding to a liberal fightback against the region's prevailing nationalism.</p>

<p>Iohannis of the centre-right National Liberal Party (PNL) repeatedly clashed with the beleaguered government of the left-wing Social Democrat (PSD) party, which collapsed last month.</p>

<p>His main rival in the presidential vote, the PSD's Viorica Dancila, served as prime minister for the government, which took power in 2016.</p>

<p>The PSD's government had engaged in a long battle with Brussels,&nbsp;and Iohannis,&nbsp;over allegations it was trying to push through controversial judicial reforms in order to neuter the judiciary and benefit PSD politicians.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Today Romanians are deciding on the future of their country," Iohannis, 60, told reporters as he cast his ballot at a school in the capital Bucharest.</p>

<p>After casting her own ballot, Dancila told supporters she voted "for a safe and dignified Romania".</p>

<p>He has made rule of law a central plank of his campaign which has mirrored that of Slovakian anti-corruption activist Zuzana Caputova, who won the presidential election in that country in March.</p>

<p>In Hungary too, the nationalist government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban suffered a rare setback last month when centre-left candidate Gergely Karacsony united the opposition to wrest the mayoralty of the capital Budapest from Orban's Fidesz party.</p>

<p><strong>'Pro-European signal'</strong>&nbsp;</p>

<p>While nationalism has been less present in Romanian politics than in Hungary or Poland, the PSD had tried to frame its clashes with EU institutions as evidence that the party was standing up for Romania.</p>

<p>However, as the German magazine Osteuropa pointed out in a recent editorial, at May's European elections "while Fidesz and (Poland's ruling) PiS party won on the back of anti-Brussels campaigns, Romanian voters punished the government and sent a pro-European signal".</p>

<p>The heavy losses in the European polls added to a series of travails for Dancila's government which eventually saw it brought down by parliament in a no-confidence vote last month.</p>

<p>Sociologist Vasile Dancu said the PSD would be "seeking a new identity after three years in power".</p>

<p>Earlier this week MPs gave their backing to a government led by the PNL's Ludovic Orban.</p>

<p>Iohannis, a member of the country's ethnic German minority, was first elected in 2014 and is widely expected to win a second five-year term in the run-off vote on November 24.</p>

<p>The former physics teacher and mayor of the city of Sibiu have warned that a PSD win would pose a threat to democracy.</p>

<p>The left-wing party is seen as the successor of the elite which dominated the country before the overthrow of communism in 1989 and is accused of harbouring corruption in its ranks.</p>

<p><strong>Record diaspora turnout</strong></p>

<p>Some four million Romanians have moved abroad in recent years and the diaspora, which predominantly votes for liberal candidates, could play a key role in the election.</p>

<p>Voting opened at many locations abroad on Friday and by Sunday morning more than 300,000 diaspora Romanians had already voted, a record for the first round of a presidential election.</p>

<p>The election could mark the end of an era. For the first time since the return to multi-party democracy the PSD,&nbsp;increasingly reliant on an ageing, rural voter base,&nbsp;can't be sure of making it through to the second round.</p>

<p>Polls indicate Dancila will face a tough fight for second place with 44-year-old Dan Barna standing for the recently formed pro-European Save Romania Union (USR) party.</p>

<p>In total 14 candidates are standing and 18.2 million people are eligible to vote.</p>

<p>Polling stations opened at 7:00 am (0500 GMT) and will close at 9:00 pm, with two exit polls expected shortly afterwards.</p>


Romania voted in the first round of a presidential election on Sunday, with pro-European incumbent Klaus Iohannis the favourite to win, potentially adding to a liberal fightback against the region's prevailing nationalism.

Romania voted in the first round of a presidential election on Sunday, with pro-European incumbent Klaus Iohannis the favourite to win, potentially adding to a liberal fightback against the region's prevailing nationalism. Iohannis of the centre-right National Liberal Party (PNL) repeatedly clashed with the beleaguered government of the left-wing Social Democrat (PSD) party, which collapsed last month. His main rival in the presidential vote, the PSD's Viorica Dancila, served as prime minister for the government, which took power in 2016. The PSD's government had engaged in a long battle with Brussels, and Iohannis, over allegations it was trying to push through controversial judicial reforms in order to neuter the judiciary and benefit PSD politicians. "Today Romanians are deciding on the future of their country," Iohannis, 60, told reporters as he cast his ballot at a school in the capital Bucharest. After casting her own ballot, Dancila told supporters she voted "for a safe and dignified Romania". He has made rule of law a central plank of his campaign which has mirrored that of Slovakian anti-corruption activist Zuzana Caputova, who won the presidential election in that country in March. In Hungary too, the nationalist government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban suffered a rare setback last month when centre-left candidate Gergely Karacsony united the opposition to wrest the mayoralty of the capital Budapest from Orban's Fidesz party. 'Pro-European signal' While nationalism has been less present in Romanian politics than in Hungary or Poland, the PSD had tried to frame its clashes with EU institutions as evidence that the party was standing up for Romania. However, as the German magazine Osteuropa pointed out in a recent editorial, at May's European elections "while Fidesz and (Poland's ruling) PiS party won on the back of anti-Brussels campaigns, Romanian voters punished the government and sent a pro-European signal". The heavy losses in the European polls added to a series of travails for Dancila's government which eventually saw it brought down by parliament in a no-confidence vote last month. Sociologist Vasile Dancu said the PSD would be "seeking a new identity after three years in power". Earlier this week MPs gave their backing to a government led by the PNL's Ludovic Orban. Iohannis, a member of the country's ethnic German minority, was first elected in 2014 and is widely expected to win a second five-year term in the run-off vote on November 24. The former physics teacher and mayor of the city of Sibiu have warned that a PSD win would pose a threat to democracy. The left-wing party is seen as the successor of the elite which dominated the country before the overthrow of communism in 1989 and is accused of harbouring corruption in its ranks. Record diaspora turnout Some four million Romanians have moved abroad in recent years and the diaspora, which predominantly votes for liberal candidates, could play a key role in the election. Voting opened at many locations abroad on Friday and by Sunday morning more than 300,000 diaspora Romanians had already voted, a record for the first round of a presidential election. The election could mark the end of an era. For the first time since the return to multi-party democracy the PSD, increasingly reliant on an ageing, rural voter base, can't be sure of making it through to the second round. Polls indicate Dancila will face a tough fight for second place with 44-year-old Dan Barna standing for the recently formed pro-European Save Romania Union (USR) party. In total 14 candidates are standing and 18.2 million people are eligible to vote. Polling stations opened at 7:00 am (0500 GMT) and will close at 9:00 pm, with two exit polls expected shortly afterwards.

Romania votes for president with liberal incumbent favoured

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/seven-dead-in-iraq-as-security-forces-clear-protest-sites-261082">Iraqi protesters</a> struggled to keep up their anti-government sit-ins Sunday following a deadly crackdown by security forces that Amnesty International warned could turn into a "bloodbath".</p>

<p>Seven protesters died on Saturday in Baghdad and the southern city of Basra in the latest violence to hit the wave of popular protests that have shaken the country since early October.</p>

<p>The United Nations warned of a spreading "climate of fear" and its top official in Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, said it was receiving "daily reports of killings, kidnappings, arbitrary arrests, beatings and intimidation of protesters".</p>

<p>Security forces early Sunday deployed tear gas in the southern city of Nasiriyah to keep back a crowd trying to shut down the education directorate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>University students in Diwaniyah were able to gather for a protest, but police blocked school children from walking out of class to join.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Those in Hillah and Kut had more success, with government offices and schools still shuttered.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And in Basra further south, some 30 protesters marched to reach their usual protest site outside the port city's provincial headquarters but were also kept about 600 metres away by police.</p>

<p>The previous day, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraq-forces-clear-protest-sites-as-leaders-reach-deal-to-end-rallies-261074">security forces</a> had cleared out the Basra sit-in location, leaving three dead, and detained scores of demonstrators.</p>

<p>They also cracked down in Baghdad, where four protesters were killed Saturday around the central protest site of Tahrir (Liberation) Square.</p>

<p>On Sunday morning, security forces erected concrete barriers sealing off Tahrir from a nearby square, where the air was thick with tear gas, an AFP correspondent said.</p>

<p>Rights group Amnesty International said Baghdad "must immediately rein in security forces" following the previous evening's sweep through the capital.</p>

<p>"This is turning into nothing short of a bloodbath,&nbsp;all government promises of reforms or investigations ring hollow while security forces continue to shoot and kill protesters," said Amnesty's regional director Heba Morayef.</p>

<p>The demonstrations broke out in Iraq's capital and its south on October 1 in outrage at corruption, lack of jobs and poor public services.</p>

<p>But they quickly spiralled into calls to uproot the entire governing system, which is widely blamed for perpetuating graft and clientelism.</p>

<p>The government has suggested a series of reforms, the bulk of them hiring drives and welfare plans.</p>

<p>The protests initially shook the government but political leaders have since closed rank around embattled premier Adel Abdel Mahdi.</p>

<p>Around 300 people have been killed in the protests, according to a toll compiled by AFP. The government has stopped issuing figures.</p>


Iraqi protesters struggled to keep up their anti-government sit-ins Sunday following a deadly crackdown by security forces that Amnesty International warned could turn into a "bloodbath".

Iraqi protesters struggled to keep up their anti-government sit-ins Sunday following a deadly crackdown by security forces that Amnesty International warned could turn into a "bloodbath". Seven protesters died on Saturday in Baghdad and the southern city of Basra in the latest violence to hit the wave of popular protests that have shaken the country since early October. The United Nations warned of a spreading "climate of fear" and its top official in Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, said it was receiving "daily reports of killings, kidnappings, arbitrary arrests, beatings and intimidation of protesters". Security forces early Sunday deployed tear gas in the southern city of Nasiriyah to keep back a crowd trying to shut down the education directorate. University students in Diwaniyah were able to gather for a protest, but police blocked school children from walking out of class to join. Those in Hillah and Kut had more success, with government offices and schools still shuttered. And in Basra further south, some 30 protesters marched to reach their usual protest site outside the port city's provincial headquarters but were also kept about 600 metres away by police. The previous day, security forces had cleared out the Basra sit-in location, leaving three dead, and detained scores of demonstrators. They also cracked down in Baghdad, where four protesters were killed Saturday around the central protest site of Tahrir (Liberation) Square. On Sunday morning, security forces erected concrete barriers sealing off Tahrir from a nearby square, where the air was thick with tear gas, an AFP correspondent said. Rights group Amnesty International said Baghdad "must immediately rein in security forces" following the previous evening's sweep through the capital. "This is turning into nothing short of a bloodbath, all government promises of reforms or investigations ring hollow while security forces continue to shoot and kill protesters," said Amnesty's regional director Heba Morayef. The demonstrations broke out in Iraq's capital and its south on October 1 in outrage at corruption, lack of jobs and poor public services. But they quickly spiralled into calls to uproot the entire governing system, which is widely blamed for perpetuating graft and clientelism. The government has suggested a series of reforms, the bulk of them hiring drives and welfare plans. The protests initially shook the government but political leaders have since closed rank around embattled premier Adel Abdel Mahdi. Around 300 people have been killed in the protests, according to a toll compiled by AFP. The government has stopped issuing figures.

Iraqis struggle to continue protests after deadly crackdown by authorities

<p>Israelis were prevented from entering Jordanian border enclaves on Sunday after a deal allowing farmers to work land there expired, 25 years after a landmark peace treaty.</p>

<p>Since the two countries signed the deal in 1994, Jordan has allowed Israeli farmers access to the territories of Ghumar in the north and Baqura in the south under a renewable 25-year arrangement.</p>

<p>In October last year however, Jordan's King Abdullah said his country had notified Israel that it wants them back.</p>

<p>An AFP journalist in northern Israel on Sunday said the yellow gate to a bridge over the river dividing the two countries, long the portal for Israeli farmers to access Baqura, was locked.</p>

<p>Baqura, known in Hebrew as Naharayim, lines on a spit of land where the Jordan and Yarmuk rivers meet.</p>

<p>Ghumar, deep in the Negev desert south of the Dead Sea, is known in Hebrew as Tzofar.</p>

<p>The lands have been privately owned by Israeli entities for decades, but the 1994 deal saw the kingdom retain sovereignty there.</p>

<p>Since the heady days of Israel's second peace treaty with an Arab state -- after Egypt -- relations with Amman have been strained.</p>

<p>Opinion polls have repeatedly found that the peace treaty with Israel is overwhelmingly opposed by Jordanians, more than half of whom are of Palestinian origin.</p>

<p>In 1997, a Jordanian soldier opened fire at a group of Israeli schoolgirls touring the so-called "Peace Island" at Naharayim, killing seven and prompting then-King Hussein to conduct condolences visits with the families.</p>

<p>In 2017, an Israeli embassy security guard in Amman killed two Jordanians.</p>

<p>Three years earlier, an Israeli soldier at a border crossing killed a Jordanian judge he deemed a threat. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Just last month, Amman recalled its ambassador from Israel over the prolonged detention without trial in the Jewish state of two Jordanians. The ambassador returned after the two were released.</p>


Israelis were prevented from entering Jordanian border enclaves on Sunday after a deal allowing farmers to work land there expired, 25 years after a landmark peace treaty.

Israelis were prevented from entering Jordanian border enclaves on Sunday after a deal allowing farmers to work land there expired, 25 years after a landmark peace treaty. Since the two countries signed the deal in 1994, Jordan has allowed Israeli farmers access to the territories of Ghumar in the north and Baqura in the south under a renewable 25-year arrangement. In October last year however, Jordan's King Abdullah said his country had notified Israel that it wants them back. An AFP journalist in northern Israel on Sunday said the yellow gate to a bridge over the river dividing the two countries, long the portal for Israeli farmers to access Baqura, was locked. Baqura, known in Hebrew as Naharayim, lines on a spit of land where the Jordan and Yarmuk rivers meet. Ghumar, deep in the Negev desert south of the Dead Sea, is known in Hebrew as Tzofar. The lands have been privately owned by Israeli entities for decades, but the 1994 deal saw the kingdom retain sovereignty there. Since the heady days of Israel's second peace treaty with an Arab state -- after Egypt -- relations with Amman have been strained. Opinion polls have repeatedly found that the peace treaty with Israel is overwhelmingly opposed by Jordanians, more than half of whom are of Palestinian origin. In 1997, a Jordanian soldier opened fire at a group of Israeli schoolgirls touring the so-called "Peace Island" at Naharayim, killing seven and prompting then-King Hussein to conduct condolences visits with the families. In 2017, an Israeli embassy security guard in Amman killed two Jordanians. Three years earlier, an Israeli soldier at a border crossing killed a Jordanian judge he deemed a threat. Just last month, Amman recalled its ambassador from Israel over the prolonged detention without trial in the Jewish state of two Jordanians. The ambassador returned after the two were released.

Farmers blocked as Israel-Jordan enclave deal expires

<p>As the weeks ticked down to Brazil's biggest-ever oil auction, state-run Petrobras held increasingly frantic talks to find potential partners, with the heaviest blow coming when major Exxon Mobil Corp&nbsp;pulled out days before, according to six people familiar with the matter.</p>

<p>While many firms were far from ready to take on enormous signing fees and investments, Exxon came closest but ultimately failed to reach acceptable terms for the blockbuster bidding round, according to four of the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss confidential negotiations.</p>

<p>With that, the state firm formally known as Petroleo Brasileiro SA&nbsp;was left to anchor embarrassingly empty bidding round on Wednesday with token support from Chinese firms.</p>

<p>The big Brazilian round was the latest offshore auction this year to undershoot expectations, hurt by competition from shale oil and other unconventional sources as well as lower demand forecasts.</p>

<p>Most of the talks to form consortia between Petrobras and other oil firms were and brief and informal, according to the sources. But negotiations with Exxon were relatively advanced, offering the major a large stake in the coveted Buzios oil block until talks fell apart in the last few weeks, sources said.</p>

<p>The ill-fated talks show how even global firms that were seriously interested in the landmark "transfer-of-rights" (TOR) auction on Wednesday could not accept the terms of a required partnership with Petrobras – long seen as a bottleneck to the development of Brazil's most promising deepwater resources.</p>

<p>The proposed Exxon-Petrobras consortium, which would have included the two Chinese state firms that ultimately bought 10 per cent&nbsp;of Buzios block' rights, CNODC and CNOOC, would have given a seal of private-sector approval to the landmark auction.</p>

<p>Instead the lack of major partners revealed how the powerful role of Petrobras in the so-called "pre-salt polygon," along with complicated development terms and expensive signing fees discourage interest, even among majors with large purchasing power, in one of the world's biggest proven oil reserves.</p>

<p>Exxon and Petrobras did not respond to requests for comment.</p>

<p>CNOOC and CNPC did not immediately respond to e-mails sent outside&nbsp;business&nbsp;hours.</p>

<p><strong>Differences emerge</strong></p>

<p>Much remains unclear as to why the talks did not bear fruit.</p>

<p>One source said the Petrobras and Exxon disagreed over the way billions of dollars would be paid to the Brazilian firm in compensation for prior investments. Others cited differences over how much to invest in platforms to ramp up production.</p>

<p>Exxon was interested in taking over operations at the field, a non-starter for Petrobras, according to one of the sources.</p>

<p>All sources agreed that the complicated nature of the TOR auction played a major role in keeping the talks from reaching the finish line. This has been confirmed by Brazilian authorities to explain why the country failed to catch money from foreign oil companies.</p>

<p>"It's an awful system," Economy Minister Paulo Guedes said on Thursday. "You have to go through many layers of negotiations just to get to the oil."</p>

<p>Due to an agreement signed between Petrobras and the Brazilian government in 2010, the state firm already has rights to develop up to 5 billion barrels of oil in the TOR area. The Wednesday auction concerned oil in the TOR area in excess of what Petrobras had already been promised.</p>

<p>As a result, any winning member of a consortium would have needed to bang out a complex deal reconciling itself with the existing claims of Petrobras in the region. Brazil's government would then have needed to approve the deal.</p>

<p><strong>Weak competition</strong></p>

<p>In the end, the state-run company was nearly alone in submitting minimum bids for two of the four areas in the TOR bidding round, which officials hoped would cement Brazil's ascendance as Latin America's undisputed oil powerhouse.</p>

<p>Petrobras won Itapu, the smallest block up for grabs, with a solo offer. Sepia and Atapu, the second and third largest blocks respectively, received no bids.</p>

<p>Had the government sold off all areas, it would have reaped some 106.5 billion reais ($25.8 billion) in signing bonuses. Instead, Brazil got just under 70 billion reais.</p>

<p>The following day, Petrobras was also almost completely alone when bidding for the largest of five oil blocks offered at the country's sixth pre-salt bidding round, the Aram area. China's CNODC again accompanied the state-run company by committing to a 20 per cent&nbsp;stake.</p>

<p>The results of both rounds were widely seen as a disappointment, as no private firms placed bids for fields that are known to hold billions of barrels of untapped crude.</p>

<p>Economy Minister Guedes told Reuters on Friday that the week's auctions were a "condemnation" of the production-sharing system Brazil uses in the pre-salt polygon, adding that the country needs to shift toward a concession model.</p>

<p>Following the results, Brazilian Mines and Energy Minister Bento Albuquerque said the government had learned a lesson and would adjust the rules of any future auction. That could involve lowering the minimum signing bonuses required from bidders, among other parameters, he said.</p>

<p>"We're evaluating the whole process, and we're certain that we're going to correct it," Albuquerque told Reuters.</p>


As the weeks ticked down to Brazil's biggest-ever oil auction, state-run Petrobras held increasingly frantic talks to find potential partners, with the heaviest blow coming when major Exxon Mobil Corp pulled out days before, according to six people familiar with the matter.

As the weeks ticked down to Brazil's biggest-ever oil auction, state-run Petrobras held increasingly frantic talks to find potential partners, with the heaviest blow coming when major Exxon Mobil Corp pulled out days before, according to six people familiar with the matter. While many firms were far from ready to take on enormous signing fees and investments, Exxon came closest but ultimately failed to reach acceptable terms for the blockbuster bidding round, according to four of the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss confidential negotiations. With that, the state firm formally known as Petroleo Brasileiro SA was left to anchor embarrassingly empty bidding round on Wednesday with token support from Chinese firms. The big Brazilian round was the latest offshore auction this year to undershoot expectations, hurt by competition from shale oil and other unconventional sources as well as lower demand forecasts. Most of the talks to form consortia between Petrobras and other oil firms were and brief and informal, according to the sources. But negotiations with Exxon were relatively advanced, offering the major a large stake in the coveted Buzios oil block until talks fell apart in the last few weeks, sources said. The ill-fated talks show how even global firms that were seriously interested in the landmark "transfer-of-rights" (TOR) auction on Wednesday could not accept the terms of a required partnership with Petrobras – long seen as a bottleneck to the development of Brazil's most promising deepwater resources. The proposed Exxon-Petrobras consortium, which would have included the two Chinese state firms that ultimately bought 10 per cent of Buzios block' rights, CNODC and CNOOC, would have given a seal of private-sector approval to the landmark auction. Instead the lack of major partners revealed how the powerful role of Petrobras in the so-called "pre-salt polygon," along with complicated development terms and expensive signing fees discourage interest, even among majors with large purchasing power, in one of the world's biggest proven oil reserves. Exxon and Petrobras did not respond to requests for comment. CNOOC and CNPC did not immediately respond to e-mails sent outside business hours. Differences emerge Much remains unclear as to why the talks did not bear fruit. One source said the Petrobras and Exxon disagreed over the way billions of dollars would be paid to the Brazilian firm in compensation for prior investments. Others cited differences over how much to invest in platforms to ramp up production. Exxon was interested in taking over operations at the field, a non-starter for Petrobras, according to one of the sources. All sources agreed that the complicated nature of the TOR auction played a major role in keeping the talks from reaching the finish line. This has been confirmed by Brazilian authorities to explain why the country failed to catch money from foreign oil companies. "It's an awful system," Economy Minister Paulo Guedes said on Thursday. "You have to go through many layers of negotiations just to get to the oil." Due to an agreement signed between Petrobras and the Brazilian government in 2010, the state firm already has rights to develop up to 5 billion barrels of oil in the TOR area. The Wednesday auction concerned oil in the TOR area in excess of what Petrobras had already been promised. As a result, any winning member of a consortium would have needed to bang out a complex deal reconciling itself with the existing claims of Petrobras in the region. Brazil's government would then have needed to approve the deal. Weak competition In the end, the state-run company was nearly alone in submitting minimum bids for two of the four areas in the TOR bidding round, which officials hoped would cement Brazil's ascendance as Latin America's undisputed oil powerhouse. Petrobras won Itapu, the smallest block up for grabs, with a solo offer. Sepia and Atapu, the second and third largest blocks respectively, received no bids. Had the government sold off all areas, it would have reaped some 106.5 billion reais ($25.8 billion) in signing bonuses. Instead, Brazil got just under 70 billion reais. The following day, Petrobras was also almost completely alone when bidding for the largest of five oil blocks offered at the country's sixth pre-salt bidding round, the Aram area. China's CNODC again accompanied the state-run company by committing to a 20 per cent stake. The results of both rounds were widely seen as a disappointment, as no private firms placed bids for fields that are known to hold billions of barrels of untapped crude. Economy Minister Guedes told Reuters on Friday that the week's auctions were a "condemnation" of the production-sharing system Brazil uses in the pre-salt polygon, adding that the country needs to shift toward a concession model. Following the results, Brazilian Mines and Energy Minister Bento Albuquerque said the government had learned a lesson and would adjust the rules of any future auction. That could involve lowering the minimum signing bonuses required from bidders, among other parameters, he said. "We're evaluating the whole process, and we're certain that we're going to correct it," Albuquerque told Reuters.

Failed Exxon talks left Petrobras stranded for auctions: Report

<p>Cyclone Bulbul lashed Bangladesh overnight, killing six people and leaving relatives in a desperate search for 36 missing fishermen, though prompt evacuations saved many lives and the worst was over, officials said on Sunday.</p>

<p>Some 30 people were injured and around 6,000 homes were partially or fully damaged, authorities said.</p>

<p>Five of the six victims were killed by falling trees, including a 52-year old woman who had spent the night in a shelter. She returned home on Sunday and was killed when a tree crashed on her house. Another victim, a 60-year old fisherman, had refused to evacuate.</p>

<p>Two fishing boats have not yet returned and relatives have been unable to contact the men on board, said Anwar Uddin, a local public representative in the southern Bhola district.</p>

<p>No major damage was immediately reported in camps in southeast Bangladesh where hundreds of thousands of refugees from neighbouring Myanmar are living.</p>

<p>Some 2 million people from all of Bangladesh's 13 coastal districts huddled in about 5,558 shelters on Saturday night. Outside, wind speeds rose to between 100 and 120 km per hour&nbsp;and some low-lying coastal areas were flooded.</p>

<p>Wind speeds have now come down to between 70 and 80 kph, authorities said.</p>

<p>"It may take couple of days to get a normal situation," Enamur Rahman, the junior minister for disaster management and relief, told Reuters.</p>

<p>About 1,200 predominantly domestic tourists were stuck at the Saint Martin island in the Cox's Bazar district, Rahman said.</p>

<p>"All of them will be rescued," he said.</p>

<p>The cyclone season in the Bay of Bengal can last from April to December. In 1999, a super-cyclone battered the coast of India's Odisha state for 30 hours, killing 10,000 people.</p>

<p>India's eastern states of West Bengal and Odisha have received heavy rainfall since early Saturday and there were reports of hundreds of trees being uprooted.</p>


Cyclone Bulbul lashed Bangladesh overnight, killing six people and leaving relatives in a desperate search for 36 missing fishermen, though prompt evacuations saved many lives and the worst was over, officials said on Sunday.

Cyclone Bulbul lashed Bangladesh overnight, killing six people and leaving relatives in a desperate search for 36 missing fishermen, though prompt evacuations saved many lives and the worst was over, officials said on Sunday. Some 30 people were injured and around 6,000 homes were partially or fully damaged, authorities said. Five of the six victims were killed by falling trees, including a 52-year old woman who had spent the night in a shelter. She returned home on Sunday and was killed when a tree crashed on her house. Another victim, a 60-year old fisherman, had refused to evacuate. Two fishing boats have not yet returned and relatives have been unable to contact the men on board, said Anwar Uddin, a local public representative in the southern Bhola district. No major damage was immediately reported in camps in southeast Bangladesh where hundreds of thousands of refugees from neighbouring Myanmar are living. Some 2 million people from all of Bangladesh's 13 coastal districts huddled in about 5,558 shelters on Saturday night. Outside, wind speeds rose to between 100 and 120 km per hour and some low-lying coastal areas were flooded. Wind speeds have now come down to between 70 and 80 kph, authorities said. "It may take couple of days to get a normal situation," Enamur Rahman, the junior minister for disaster management and relief, told Reuters. About 1,200 predominantly domestic tourists were stuck at the Saint Martin island in the Cox's Bazar district, Rahman said. "All of them will be rescued," he said. The cyclone season in the Bay of Bengal can last from April to December. In 1999, a super-cyclone battered the coast of India's Odisha state for 30 hours, killing 10,000 people. India's eastern states of West Bengal and Odisha have received heavy rainfall since early Saturday and there were reports of hundreds of trees being uprooted.

Six dead, 36 fishermen missing after cyclone Bulbul lashes Bangladesh

<p>Introducing new character from the magnum opus 'Panipat',&nbsp;Arjun Kapoor shared the poster of Sakina Begum which is portrayed by veteran star Zeenat Aman.<br />
<br />
In the poster, the iconic star can be seen donning heavy traditional jewelry along with a bun. Giving a subtle look, the star can be seen covering her head with a veil.<br />
<br />
"Sakina Begum - Friends can be found in the darkest of places," he captioned the picture. Apart from the 'Dum Maro Dum'&nbsp;fame star, Arjun also shared the first look poster of another veteran star Padmini Kolhapure who will be seen playing the role of Gopika Bai.&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4pC2JMgrTY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Sakina Begum - Friends can be found in the darkest of places. #PanipatLook #Panipat #Dec6 @duttsanjay @kritisanon #ZeenatAman #AshutoshGowariker @sunita.gowariker @rohit.shelatkar @sarkarshibasish @agppl @visionworldfilm @reliance.entertainment @zeemusiccompany</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/arjunkapoor/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Arjun Kapoor</a> (@arjunkapoor) on <time datetime="2019-11-09T10:28:03+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Nov 9, 2019 at 2:28am PST</time></p>
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<p>In the poster, clad in traditional Maharashtrian attire with heavy jewelry, the actor is looking regal and charming. Padmini is set to return to the silver screen after a hiatus of six years as her last outing was Shahid Kapoor's mother in 'Phata Poster Nikla Hero'&nbsp;in 2013.<br />
<br />
Earlier, the '2 States'&nbsp;actor had also shared the character poster of the entire ensemble star-cast of the film. Arjun aced the look of a fierce warrior with headgear and armor as he unveiled his first character poster from the upcoming historical drama. The actor who underwent a drastic physical transformation will be seen playing the role of Maratha warrior Sadashiv Rao Bhau.</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4b9Xu_gxgV/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Sadashiv Rao Bhau - Bravery Is To Stand For What You Believe In, Even If You Stand Alone. Panipat Trailer Out Tomorrow. #PanipatLook #Panipat #Dec6 @duttsanjay @kritisanon #AshutoshGowariker @sunita.gowariker #RohitShelatkar @agppl @visionworldfilm @reliance.entertainment @zeemusiccompany @avigowariker @ckmurali.dop @nitinchandrakantdesai @neeta_lulla @padminikolhapure @mohnish_bahl #ZeenatAman</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/arjunkapoor/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Arjun Kapoor</a> (@arjunkapoor) on <time datetime="2019-11-04T08:30:05+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Nov 4, 2019 at 12:30am PST</time></p>
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<p>Kriti Sanon who is still basking in the success of her latest release 'Housefull 4'&nbsp;will be seen playing the role of a queen named 'Parvati'. Sanjay Dutt will be the antagonist who will play the role of a fierce battle warrior Ahmad Shah Abdali.<br />
<br />
The historical drama produced and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker is slated to release on December 6.</p>


Introducing new character from the magnum opus 'Panipat', Arjun Kapoor shared the poster of Sakina Begum which is portrayed by veteran star Zeenat Aman. In the poster, the iconic star can be seen donning heavy traditional jewelry along with a bun.

Introducing new character from the magnum opus 'Panipat', Arjun Kapoor shared the poster of Sakina Begum which is portrayed by veteran star Zeenat Aman. In the poster, the iconic star can be seen donning heavy traditional jewelry along with a bun. Giving a subtle look, the star can be seen covering her head with a veil. "Sakina Begum - Friends can be found in the darkest of places," he captioned the picture. Apart from the 'Dum Maro Dum' fame star, Arjun also shared the first look poster of another veteran star Padmini Kolhapure who will be seen playing the role of Gopika Bai. View this post on Instagram Sakina Begum - Friends can be found in the darkest of places. #PanipatLook #Panipat #Dec6 @duttsanjay @kritisanon #ZeenatAman #AshutoshGowariker @sunita.gowariker @rohit.shelatkar @sarkarshibasish @agppl @visionworldfilm @reliance.entertainment @zeemusiccompany A post shared by Arjun Kapoor (@arjunkapoor) on Nov 9, 2019 at 2:28am PST × In the poster, clad in traditional Maharashtrian attire with heavy jewelry, the actor is looking regal and charming. Padmini is set to return to the silver screen after a hiatus of six years as her last outing was Shahid Kapoor's mother in 'Phata Poster Nikla Hero' in 2013. Earlier, the '2 States' actor had also shared the character poster of the entire ensemble star-cast of the film. Arjun aced the look of a fierce warrior with headgear and armor as he unveiled his first character poster from the upcoming historical drama. The actor who underwent a drastic physical transformation will be seen playing the role of Maratha warrior Sadashiv Rao Bhau. View this post on Instagram Sadashiv Rao Bhau - Bravery Is To Stand For What You Believe In, Even If You Stand Alone. Panipat Trailer Out Tomorrow. #PanipatLook #Panipat #Dec6 @duttsanjay @kritisanon #AshutoshGowariker @sunita.gowariker #RohitShelatkar @agppl @visionworldfilm @reliance.entertainment @zeemusiccompany @avigowariker @ckmurali.dop @nitinchandrakantdesai @neeta_lulla @padminikolhapure @mohnish_bahl #ZeenatAman A post shared by Arjun Kapoor (@arjunkapoor) on Nov 4, 2019 at 12:30am PST × Kriti Sanon who is still basking in the success of her latest release 'Housefull 4' will be seen playing the role of a queen named 'Parvati'. Sanjay Dutt will be the antagonist who will play the role of a fierce battle warrior Ahmad Shah Abdali. The historical drama produced and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker is slated to release on December 6.

'Panipat': Arjun Kapoor introduces Zeenat Aman as Sakina Begum

<p>Famous Hollywood franchise 'Harry Potter'&nbsp;star Tom Felton who played the role of Draco Malfoy, shared his childhood picture from the series and talked about aging.<br />
<br />
On Thursday, the 32-year-old star shared a picture of himself posing next to a framed photo of him in the character. In the frame, the actor can be seen sporting his signature green and black Slytherin cloak.</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4lROF1gvP0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Agings a bitch</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/t22felton/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Tom Felton</a> (@t22felton) on <time datetime="2019-11-07T23:16:41+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Nov 7, 2019 at 3:16pm PST</time></p>
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<p>"Agings a b----," he captioned the picture. As soon as the star shared the picture on the photo-sharing application, his fellow former co-star, Matthew Lewis, who played the role of Neville Longbottom in the highly-appreciated series, had something else to say about aging.<br />
<br />
"Speak for yourself lad," the 30-year-old star wrote back. According to the news agency, the two have stayed close friends since the final 'Harry Potter'&nbsp;film wrapped nearly a decade ago and have even had several meet-ups over the years.<img alt="harry porter" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5c050b64-8cc1-4f4f-add6-46ffde8ddaaf" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2825%29_5.jpg" /><br />
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In August 2018, the two reunited with former co-star Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the franchise.&nbsp;</p>


Famous Hollywood franchise 'Harry Potter' star Tom Felton who played the role of Draco Malfoy, shared his childhood picture from the series and talked about aging.

Famous Hollywood franchise 'Harry Potter' star Tom Felton who played the role of Draco Malfoy, shared his childhood picture from the series and talked about aging. On Thursday, the 32-year-old star shared a picture of himself posing next to a framed photo of him in the character. In the frame, the actor can be seen sporting his signature green and black Slytherin cloak. View this post on Instagram Agings a bitch A post shared by Tom Felton (@t22felton) on Nov 7, 2019 at 3:16pm PST × "Agings a b----," he captioned the picture. As soon as the star shared the picture on the photo-sharing application, his fellow former co-star, Matthew Lewis, who played the role of Neville Longbottom in the highly-appreciated series, had something else to say about aging. "Speak for yourself lad," the 30-year-old star wrote back. According to the news agency, the two have stayed close friends since the final 'Harry Potter' film wrapped nearly a decade ago and have even had several meet-ups over the years. In August 2018, the two reunited with former co-star Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the franchise.

'Harry Potter' stars Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis indulge in online banter

<p>Olajide KSI Olatunji prevailed in a split decision over Logan Paul in a boxing bout between YouTube celebrities on Saturday at Staples Center in Los Angeles.<br />
<br />
In a slugfest between the two inexperienced fighters, Briton KSI got the decision on the scorecard after six wild rounds. Two judges scored the fight 57-54, 56-55 in favour over KSI, while one had it 56-55 for Paul.<br />
<br />
Each boxer seemed to throw all of their force in the opening three rounds before tiring. American Paul landed a big uppercut in the fourth round but was deducted two points when he pulled KSI down to the canvas and hit him in the back of the head.<br />
<br />
KSI was allowed time to recover, and he did so in a big way by getting the best of the final furious three minutes of the fight. "I'm a dog. I don’t stop, I keep going,''&nbsp;KSI said, following the win.<br />
<br />
''I was scared to fight last time, I was scared to get close to him; this time I just kept going. I've done it, I'm victorious''.<br />
<br />
Paul paid respect to his opponent. "I just want to say fair play to JJ, you're one of the toughest people I know," Paul said. "He had my respect before the fight, it was all for show. I wish you the best. You'll see me in the squared circle again, I'll be back!"<br />
<br />
The online personalities, who boast 20 million YouTube subscribers each, fought to a draw at Manchester Arena in August 2018 before setting up a rematch.<br />
Prior to Saturday's&nbsp;bout, Paul's brother Jake, also a well-known YouTuber, announced that he has wanted to fight KSI.<br />
<br />
"I want a KSI. I am waiting patiently in the stands tonight to watch Logan beat KSI, and then it's my turn," Jake said.</p>


Olajide KSI Olatunji prevailed in a split decision over Logan Paul in a boxing bout between YouTube celebrities on Saturday at Staples Center in Los Angeles. In a slugfest between the two inexperienced fighters, Briton KSI got the decision on the scorecard after six wild rounds.

Olajide KSI Olatunji prevailed in a split decision over Logan Paul in a boxing bout between YouTube celebrities on Saturday at Staples Center in Los Angeles. In a slugfest between the two inexperienced fighters, Briton KSI got the decision on the scorecard after six wild rounds. Two judges scored the fight 57-54, 56-55 in favour over KSI, while one had it 56-55 for Paul. Each boxer seemed to throw all of their force in the opening three rounds before tiring. American Paul landed a big uppercut in the fourth round but was deducted two points when he pulled KSI down to the canvas and hit him in the back of the head. KSI was allowed time to recover, and he did so in a big way by getting the best of the final furious three minutes of the fight. "I'm a dog. I don’t stop, I keep going,'' KSI said, following the win. ''I was scared to fight last time, I was scared to get close to him; this time I just kept going. I've done it, I'm victorious''. Paul paid respect to his opponent. "I just want to say fair play to JJ, you're one of the toughest people I know," Paul said. "He had my respect before the fight, it was all for show. I wish you the best. You'll see me in the squared circle again, I'll be back!" The online personalities, who boast 20 million YouTube subscribers each, fought to a draw at Manchester Arena in August 2018 before setting up a rematch. Prior to Saturday's bout, Paul's brother Jake, also a well-known YouTuber, announced that he has wanted to fight KSI. "I want a KSI. I am waiting patiently in the stands tonight to watch Logan beat KSI, and then it's my turn," Jake said.

KSI defeats Logan Paul in bout of YouTube boxers

<p>Taking the curiosity of their fans&nbsp;to the next level, makers of 'Dabangg 3'&nbsp;dropped yet another track on Saturday, sung by none other than the very famous 'Chulbul Pandey'&nbsp;Salman Khan! The third in the list 'Yu Karke'&nbsp;seems to be a dance number filmed on the lead pair, Salman and Sonakshi.<br />
<br />
The poster of the song features the two hugging close where Salman has donned his usual Chulbul Pandey avatar, while Sonakshi is seen draped in a bright pink sari paired with a shimmery blouse. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/dabangg-3-trailer-salman-khan-is-back-to-settle-some-old-score-257753">Watch Dabangg 3' trailer: Salman Khan is back to settle some old score.</a>&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Payal Dev has sung the track with the 'Dabangg'&nbsp;actor. The music has been given by Sajid-Wajid and lyrics have been penned by Danish Sabri. Sharing the foot-tapping song on her Twitter handle, the 'Mission Mangal'&nbsp;star wrote, "Aa gaya hai Dabangg 3 ka naya song 'Yu Karke', sabke favorite supercop Chulbul Pandey ki aawaaz mein #YuKarkeSong".</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Aa gaya hai Dabangg 3 ka naya song&nbsp;'Yu Karke', sabke favorite supercop Chulbul Pandey ki aawaaz mein <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YuKarkeSong?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YuKarkeSong</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://t.co/PzZey6oauF">https://t.co/PzZey6oauF</a><a href="https://twitter.com/BeingSalmanKhan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BeingSalmanKhan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/arbaazSkhan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@arbaazSkhan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/saieemmanjrekar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@saieemmanjrekar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PDdancing?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PDdancing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Nikhil_Dwivedi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nikhil_dwivedi</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SajidMusicKhan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SajidMusicKhan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/wajidkhan7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wajidkhan7</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/iPayalDev?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ipayaldev</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SKFilmsOfficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SKFilmsOfficial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TSeries?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TSeries</a></p>
— Sonakshi Sinha (@sonakshisinha) <a href="https://twitter.com/sonakshisinha/status/1193102410069053440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Prior to its release, the makers have shared<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/salman-khan-drops-romantic-track-naina-lade-song-from-dabangg-3-260557"> the love anthem 'Naina Lade'&nbsp;</a>and the film's title track. The third installment in the 'Dabangg'&nbsp;franchise will see Salman opposite Sonakshi and veteran actor Mahesh Mamnjarekar's daughter, Saiee Manjarekar. The movie is slated to release on December 20.&nbsp;</p>


Taking the curiosity of their fans to the next level, makers of 'Dabangg 3' dropped yet another track on Saturday, sung by none other than the very famous 'Chulbul Pandey' Salman Khan!

Taking the curiosity of their fans to the next level, makers of 'Dabangg 3' dropped yet another track on Saturday, sung by none other than the very famous 'Chulbul Pandey' Salman Khan! The third in the list 'Yu Karke' seems to be a dance number filmed on the lead pair, Salman and Sonakshi. The poster of the song features the two hugging close where Salman has donned his usual Chulbul Pandey avatar, while Sonakshi is seen draped in a bright pink sari paired with a shimmery blouse. Watch Dabangg 3' trailer: Salman Khan is back to settle some old score. Payal Dev has sung the track with the 'Dabangg' actor. The music has been given by Sajid-Wajid and lyrics have been penned by Danish Sabri. Sharing the foot-tapping song on her Twitter handle, the 'Mission Mangal' star wrote, "Aa gaya hai Dabangg 3 ka naya song 'Yu Karke', sabke favorite supercop Chulbul Pandey ki aawaaz mein #YuKarkeSong". Aa gaya hai Dabangg 3 ka naya song 'Yu Karke', sabke favorite supercop Chulbul Pandey ki aawaaz mein #YuKarkeSong https://t.co/PzZey6oauF@BeingSalmanKhan @arbaazSkhan @saieemmanjrekar @PDdancing @nikhil_dwivedi @SajidMusicKhan @wajidkhan7 @ipayaldev @SKFilmsOfficial @TSeries — Sonakshi Sinha (@sonakshisinha) November 9, 2019 × Prior to its release, the makers have shared the love anthem 'Naina Lade' and the film's title track. The third installment in the 'Dabangg' franchise will see Salman opposite Sonakshi and veteran actor Mahesh Mamnjarekar's daughter, Saiee Manjarekar. The movie is slated to release on December 20.

Salman Khan Returns as vocalist in Dabangg 3's 'Yu Karke'

<p>'Avengers'&nbsp;actor Gwyneth Paltrow who once accused Harvey Weinstein of sexually assaulting her, recently opened up about her relationship with the disgraced producer.<br />
<br />
At The New York Times DealBook conference recently, Paltrow confessed that she is not sure&nbsp;about her and Weinstein's relationship. "I'm not sure how I feel. He was a very, very important figure in my life. He was my main boss," Fox News quoted the actor as saying.<br />
<br />
"He gave me an incredible opportunity and yet during that time we had a very, very fraught, complicated relationship. Highs and lows," she added. The 47-year-old actor was amongst the first major Hollywood celebrities who spoke against Weinstein.<br />
<br />
'Shakespeare in Love', produced by Weinstein earned Paltrow an Oscar. "You know, I don't like to be binary about people or about things. I think we're all equal parts or varying percentages light and dark," Paltrow further said about the #MeToo movement.<br />
<br />
She first opened up about her alleged experience in a 2017 New York Times report. Meanwhile, Weinstein is set to go to trial in January 2020 for charges of rape, predatory sexual assault and criminal sexual act based on the accusations of two women.</p>


'Avengers' actor Gwyneth Paltrow who once accused Harvey Weinstein of sexually assaulting her, recently opened up about her relationship with the disgraced producer.

'Avengers' actor Gwyneth Paltrow who once accused Harvey Weinstein of sexually assaulting her, recently opened up about her relationship with the disgraced producer. At The New York Times DealBook conference recently, Paltrow confessed that she is not sure about her and Weinstein's relationship. "I'm not sure how I feel. He was a very, very important figure in my life. He was my main boss," Fox News quoted the actor as saying. "He gave me an incredible opportunity and yet during that time we had a very, very fraught, complicated relationship. Highs and lows," she added. The 47-year-old actor was amongst the first major Hollywood celebrities who spoke against Weinstein. 'Shakespeare in Love', produced by Weinstein earned Paltrow an Oscar. "You know, I don't like to be binary about people or about things. I think we're all equal parts or varying percentages light and dark," Paltrow further said about the #MeToo movement. She first opened up about her alleged experience in a 2017 New York Times report. Meanwhile, Weinstein is set to go to trial in January 2020 for charges of rape, predatory sexual assault and criminal sexual act based on the accusations of two women.

Gwyneth Paltrow opens up about her relationship with Harvey Weinstein

<p>Impressing fans as a dusky girl in the latest release 'Bala',&nbsp;Bhumi Pednekar says she paid no heed to the people who told her that playing the dark-skinned character was a brave move on her part. Elucidating further upon the statement, she said, "Everyone is me that I have been brave to play this role but I have been telling them that I see myself as an artist, someone who wants to shed herself and become a character in the film because that's what is important".<br />
<br />
"I can't always be thinking about how I'm looking on screen because I will do a disservice to the vision of the film and the character I have willingly chosen to do," she opined.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bala-review-ayushmann-khurranas-film-tackles-societal-prejudices-head-on-260673">Read the movie review here</a><br />
<br />
This is the third outing of Bhumi along with Ayushmann Khurrana, who has managed to pull off every role and wow the audience with their roles. With films like 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha'&nbsp;and 'Shubh Mangal Saavdhaan',&nbsp;which had hit hard against certain societal norms, Bhumi called herself a "catalyst of change".<br />
<br />
"When I read the script of Bala, I was blown over by the fact that my character is the voice of reason for the protagonist, a catalyst for change and I immediately connected with the social message that our film was trying to give to audiences," she explained.<br />
<br />
Overwhelmed by the tremendous response and appreciation received from the critics and audience, the actor said, "I'm delighted that my character is getting so much love and adulation and is being praised for standing her ground in a stereotyped society, becoming a mirror to prejudices and telling everyone that self-respect and self-love is all that should matter".<br />
<br />
Bhumi also praised her entire star-cast for making the film soar grandeur at the box office."It is an art to deliver a strong message while entertaining audiences thoroughly and our director Amar Kaushik has managed to do it brilliantly".<br />
<br />
"I congratulate Amar, Ayushmann, Yami, Dinesh Vijan, our powerful cast members and everyone associated with the film on the superb start it has got at the box office," she added.</p>


Impressing fans as a dusky girl in the latest release 'Bala', Bhumi Pednekar says she paid no heed to the people who told her that playing the dark-skinned character was a brave move on her part.

Impressing fans as a dusky girl in the latest release 'Bala', Bhumi Pednekar says she paid no heed to the people who told her that playing the dark-skinned character was a brave move on her part. Elucidating further upon the statement, she said, "Everyone is me that I have been brave to play this role but I have been telling them that I see myself as an artist, someone who wants to shed herself and become a character in the film because that's what is important". "I can't always be thinking about how I'm looking on screen because I will do a disservice to the vision of the film and the character I have willingly chosen to do," she opined. Read the movie review here This is the third outing of Bhumi along with Ayushmann Khurrana, who has managed to pull off every role and wow the audience with their roles. With films like 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha' and 'Shubh Mangal Saavdhaan', which had hit hard against certain societal norms, Bhumi called herself a "catalyst of change". "When I read the script of Bala, I was blown over by the fact that my character is the voice of reason for the protagonist, a catalyst for change and I immediately connected with the social message that our film was trying to give to audiences," she explained. Overwhelmed by the tremendous response and appreciation received from the critics and audience, the actor said, "I'm delighted that my character is getting so much love and adulation and is being praised for standing her ground in a stereotyped society, becoming a mirror to prejudices and telling everyone that self-respect and self-love is all that should matter". Bhumi also praised her entire star-cast for making the film soar grandeur at the box office."It is an art to deliver a strong message while entertaining audiences thoroughly and our director Amar Kaushik has managed to do it brilliantly". "I congratulate Amar, Ayushmann, Yami, Dinesh Vijan, our powerful cast members and everyone associated with the film on the superb start it has got at the box office," she added.

Everyone is calling me brave for playing dark-skinned character: Bhumi Pednekar

<p>Seven protesters were killed Saturday in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraq-forces-clear-protest-sites-as-leaders-reach-deal-to-end-rallies-261074">Iraq as security forces cleared protest sites</a> in Baghdad and Basra after political leaders agreed to stand by the embattled government by any means.</p>

<p>The leaders, sources told AFP, also agreed to put an end to rallies rocking Iraq's capital and its south since October 1 and demanding an overhaul of the political system.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The crackdown began in the morning when security forces wrested back control from demonstrators of three bridges spanning the River Tigris&nbsp;in the heart of Baghdad.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Iraqi forces then moved towards Tahrir (Liberation) Square, ground zero for the month-long movement demanding regime change, firing live rounds and tear gas.</p>

<p>Three demonstrators died from bullet wounds and a fourth when a tear gas canister pierced his skull, medics and police sources told AFP.</p>

<p>"The security forces are getting closer to us, but the protesters are trying to hold them off by burning tires," a doctor in Tahrir told AFP.</p>

<p>"We can hear live-fire now and there are so many wounded."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Three protesters were killed and dozens wounded in the southern city of Basra, medical sources said, as security forces cleared a protest camp outside the provincial government headquarters.</p>

<p>Security forces also rounded up demonstrators in Basra.</p>

<p>And in the revered Shiite holy city of Kerbala, south of Baghdad, the tents of protesters were reduced to ashes when security forces fired searing hot tear gas canisters at them.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>'Any means possible</strong>'</p>

<p>The bloodshed came after political leaders agreed to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraq-factions-reach-deal-to-save-government-protests-to-end-soon-261015">rally around Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi</a>, whose embattled government was threatened by the largest and deadliest grassroots protests in Iraq in decades.</p>

<p>Abdel Mahdi, 77, came to power last year through a shaky alliance between populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and Hadi al-Ameri, a leader of the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network.</p>

<p>When the protests first erupted in October, Sadr threw his weight behind them while the Hashed backed the government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But they closed rank around the premier this week after a series of meetings led by Major General Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's foreign operations arm.</p>

<p>Soleimani, who often plays a mediating role during times of crisis in Iraq, met Sadr and persuaded him to return to the fold, said a source present at the meetings.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Those meetings resulted in an agreement that Abdel Mahdi would remain in office," the source said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sadr has since gone silent amid reports he is in Iran.</p>

<p>The source also told AFP Soleimani met Mohammed Ridha Sistani, the son of Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani.</p>

<p>But on Saturday Sistani's office issued a statement denying that cleric "was part of a deal for the current government to stay and the protests to end".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Another source said political factions agreed this week to move forward on reforms and constitutional amendments if the premier and government stayed in place.</p>

<p>"They agreed to end the protests with any means possible and to reopen the bridges and shuttered streets," said a senior member of a party represented at the gathering.</p>

<p>Abdel Mahdi met President Barham Saleh on Saturday for the first time in days. Government sources had told AFP ties between them had been cut after Saleh proposed the premier be replaced.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And on Saturday parliament convened to discuss reform proposals, including hiring drives and increased welfare payouts.</p>

<p><strong>Protesters despair</strong></p>

<p>Meanwhile, the streets around <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraq-forces-retake-key-bridges-from-protesters-report-260956">Tahrir were in chaos</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The security forces told us the protests are over and everyone should go home," one protester shouted.</p>

<p>"But we put up more barricades so they won't enter Tahrir. Tomorrow, no one goes to work."</p>

<p>Protesters are now on the back foot but still occupy part of Al-Jumhuriyah (Republic) Bridge, the closest to Tahrir.</p>

<p>"Our situation as protesters is not good, but we'll stay until we find a solution," said another protester.</p>

<p>Oil-rich Iraq is OPEC's second-biggest producer, but one in five people live in poverty and youth unemployment stands at 25 per cent, the World Bank says.</p>

<p>Those staggering rates sparked the first wave of protests on October 1, and public anger quickly spiralled into calls for the overhaul of the entire ruling system.</p>

<p>Protesters say the current framework allows political parties to dole out government jobs based on affiliation and bribes, choking out independents in a country with a weak private sector.</p>

<p>They are demanding profound reform and constitutional amendments.</p>

<p>Around 300 people have been killed in the protests, according to toll compiled by AFP. The government has stopped issuing figures.</p>


Seven protesters were killed Saturday in Iraq as security forces cleared protest sites in Baghdad and Basra after political leaders agreed to stand by the embattled government by any means.

Seven protesters were killed Saturday in Iraq as security forces cleared protest sites in Baghdad and Basra after political leaders agreed to stand by the embattled government by any means. The leaders, sources told AFP, also agreed to put an end to rallies rocking Iraq's capital and its south since October 1 and demanding an overhaul of the political system. The crackdown began in the morning when security forces wrested back control from demonstrators of three bridges spanning the River Tigris in the heart of Baghdad. Iraqi forces then moved towards Tahrir (Liberation) Square, ground zero for the month-long movement demanding regime change, firing live rounds and tear gas. Three demonstrators died from bullet wounds and a fourth when a tear gas canister pierced his skull, medics and police sources told AFP. "The security forces are getting closer to us, but the protesters are trying to hold them off by burning tires," a doctor in Tahrir told AFP. "We can hear live-fire now and there are so many wounded." Three protesters were killed and dozens wounded in the southern city of Basra, medical sources said, as security forces cleared a protest camp outside the provincial government headquarters. Security forces also rounded up demonstrators in Basra. And in the revered Shiite holy city of Kerbala, south of Baghdad, the tents of protesters were reduced to ashes when security forces fired searing hot tear gas canisters at them. 'Any means possible' The bloodshed came after political leaders agreed to rally around Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi, whose embattled government was threatened by the largest and deadliest grassroots protests in Iraq in decades. Abdel Mahdi, 77, came to power last year through a shaky alliance between populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and Hadi al-Ameri, a leader of the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network. When the protests first erupted in October, Sadr threw his weight behind them while the Hashed backed the government. But they closed rank around the premier this week after a series of meetings led by Major General Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's foreign operations arm. Soleimani, who often plays a mediating role during times of crisis in Iraq, met Sadr and persuaded him to return to the fold, said a source present at the meetings. "Those meetings resulted in an agreement that Abdel Mahdi would remain in office," the source said. Sadr has since gone silent amid reports he is in Iran. The source also told AFP Soleimani met Mohammed Ridha Sistani, the son of Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani. But on Saturday Sistani's office issued a statement denying that cleric "was part of a deal for the current government to stay and the protests to end". Another source said political factions agreed this week to move forward on reforms and constitutional amendments if the premier and government stayed in place. "They agreed to end the protests with any means possible and to reopen the bridges and shuttered streets," said a senior member of a party represented at the gathering. Abdel Mahdi met President Barham Saleh on Saturday for the first time in days. Government sources had told AFP ties between them had been cut after Saleh proposed the premier be replaced. And on Saturday parliament convened to discuss reform proposals, including hiring drives and increased welfare payouts. Protesters despair Meanwhile, the streets around Tahrir were in chaos. "The security forces told us the protests are over and everyone should go home," one protester shouted. "But we put up more barricades so they won't enter Tahrir. Tomorrow, no one goes to work." Protesters are now on the back foot but still occupy part of Al-Jumhuriyah (Republic) Bridge, the closest to Tahrir. "Our situation as protesters is not good, but we'll stay until we find a solution," said another protester. Oil-rich Iraq is OPEC's second-biggest producer, but one in five people live in poverty and youth unemployment stands at 25 per cent, the World Bank says. Those staggering rates sparked the first wave of protests on October 1, and public anger quickly spiralled into calls for the overhaul of the entire ruling system. Protesters say the current framework allows political parties to dole out government jobs based on affiliation and bribes, choking out independents in a country with a weak private sector. They are demanding profound reform and constitutional amendments. Around 300 people have been killed in the protests, according to toll compiled by AFP. The government has stopped issuing figures.

Seven dead in Iraq as security forces clear protest sites

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Bharat Sharma

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