Protesters on Saturday&nbsp;burned the United States&nbsp;and NATO flags in Athens as the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-and-united-states-update-mutual-defence-cooperation-pact-253940"> US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held meetings with Greek government officials</a>.

Thousands marched outside the US&nbsp;Embassy in the Greek capital, holding up signs that read "Pompeo go home," and threw red paint on a statue of former US&nbsp;President Harry Truman in the city centre.

Greece and the United States have traditionally close relations even though many blame Washington for its tacit support for a military junta that ruled Greece between 1967 and 1974. Protest marches to the US&nbsp;Embassy are an annual event.

Demonstrators, which included supporters of the Greek Communist Party, held banners against<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-can-be-pillar-for-regional-stability-pompeo-253933"> Greek - US military cooperation</a>. The United States uses a base on the island of Crete for naval and sea operations in the region.

Protesters on Saturday burned the United States and NATO flags in Athens as the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held meetings with Greek government officials. Thousands marched outside the US Embassy in the Greek capital, holding up signs that read "Pompeo go home," and threw red paint on a statue of former US President Harry Truman in the city centre.

Protesters on Saturday burned the United States and NATO flags in Athens as the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held meetings with Greek government officials. Thousands marched outside the US Embassy in the Greek capital, holding up signs that read "Pompeo go home," and threw red paint on a statue of former US President Harry Truman in the city centre. Greece and the United States have traditionally close relations even though many blame Washington for its tacit support for a military junta that ruled Greece between 1967 and 1974. Protest marches to the US Embassy are an annual event. Demonstrators, which included supporters of the Greek Communist Party, held banners against Greek - US military cooperation. The United States uses a base on the island of Crete for naval and sea operations in the region.

Protesters burn US and NATO flags during Pompeo visit in Athens

Massachusetts&nbsp;in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-trump-says-he-wont-tie-biden-concerns-to-trade-deal-with-china-253812">United States</a>&nbsp;upheld a ban on e-cigarettes Friday amid a spate of deaths and injuries linked to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-vaping-related-deaths-rise-to-18-illnesses-surpass-1000-253605">vaping</a> across the country.

Eighteen deaths in 15 states had now been positively linked to vaping since March, from a total of 1,080 illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Officials in Connecticut also announced a further death in that state on Friday.

Massachusetts became the first American state to issue an outright ban on all e-cigarette devices in September, with the prohibition to last for four months.

Manufacturers sought to challenge the ban in a Boston court, arguing that the law was disproportionate to the health risks posed by the devices.

Watch Video: US vaping-related deaths rise to 18, illnesses surpass 1,000 - CDC

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The Vapor Technology Association instead called for a limited prohibition on certain products, including black market refills and devices for vaping tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive substance of marijuana.

But the court rejected the application for an interim lifting of the ban, saying it would "conflict with the public interest."

A full hearing of the case will be held on October 15.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-court-blocks-state-ban-on-flavored-e-cigarettes-253665/amp">E-cigarettes</a> have been available in the US since 2006.

Initially conceived as a smoking cessation device, e-cigarette use has skyrocketed among teens, with preliminary official data for 2019 showing more than a quarter of high school students using e-cigarettes in the past 30 days.

They were until recently perceived as a less harmful alternative to smoking because they do not contain the 7,000 chemicals in cigarettes, dozens of which are known to cause cancer.

It is not clear whether the outbreak of vaping-related illnesses is only happening now, or if there were cases earlier that were wrongly diagnosed.

Only one case of lung injury has been reported abroad, making the outbreak more mysterious still.

Public and political opinion appears to be hardening, however, with the administration of US President Donald Trump announcing in September that it would ban flavoured e-cigarette products in the coming months.

Massachusetts in the United States upheld a ban on e-cigarettes Friday amid a spate of deaths and injuries linked to vaping across the country. Eighteen deaths in 15 states had now been positively linked to vaping since March, from a total of 1,080 illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Massachusetts in the United States upheld a ban on e-cigarettes Friday amid a spate of deaths and injuries linked to vaping across the country. Eighteen deaths in 15 states had now been positively linked to vaping since March, from a total of 1,080 illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Officials in Connecticut also announced a further death in that state on Friday. Massachusetts became the first American state to issue an outright ban on all e-cigarette devices in September, with the prohibition to last for four months. Manufacturers sought to challenge the ban in a Boston court, arguing that the law was disproportionate to the health risks posed by the devices. Watch Video: US vaping-related deaths rise to 18, illnesses surpass 1,000 - CDC × The Vapor Technology Association instead called for a limited prohibition on certain products, including black market refills and devices for vaping tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive substance of marijuana. But the court rejected the application for an interim lifting of the ban, saying it would "conflict with the public interest." A full hearing of the case will be held on October 15. E-cigarettes have been available in the US since 2006. Initially conceived as a smoking cessation device, e-cigarette use has skyrocketed among teens, with preliminary official data for 2019 showing more than a quarter of high school students using e-cigarettes in the past 30 days. They were until recently perceived as a less harmful alternative to smoking because they do not contain the 7,000 chemicals in cigarettes, dozens of which are known to cause cancer. It is not clear whether the outbreak of vaping-related illnesses is only happening now, or if there were cases earlier that were wrongly diagnosed. Only one case of lung injury has been reported abroad, making the outbreak more mysterious still. Public and political opinion appears to be hardening, however, with the administration of US President Donald Trump announcing in September that it would ban flavoured e-cigarette products in the coming months.

United States: Massachusetts upholds e-cigarette ban amid vaping deaths

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-vaping-related-deaths-rise-to-18-illnesses-surpass-1000-253605">US </a>National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Friday it is reviewing a defect petition that claims Tesla Inc failed to issue a recall when it issued a software upgrade in 2,000 Model S and Model X vehicles in May.

The vehicles from 2012 through 2019 model years received a battery management software upgrade in response to a potential defect that could result in non-crash fires, the petition said, adding it believes the update reduces the driving range of the affected vehicles. NHTSA said Friday it had opened a formal review to evaluate the petition's claims.

Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In August, a proposed class-action lawsuit was filed in California claiming Tesla knew batteries of some vehicles were defective and "pushed out software updates despite knowing that the class vehicles would suffer from loss in range and performance." The suit added it believes Tesla's aim is "to avoid providing warranty battery replacements to rightful customers."

The suit says Tesla has placed a software-induced limitation on the total number of usable kilo-watt hours and is limiting the ability of owners "to charge the battery cells up to the natural and normal amount of approximately 4.2 volts, by placing battery capacity limitations, by decreasing the charging speed &nbsp;and by reducing the performance in terms of speed."

The suit cites over a dozen reports of Tesla's vehicles catching fire over the past six years. Tesla has not yet responded to the lawsuit.

Tesla's May 15 software update changed some settings in the cars’ battery management software related to charging and thermal controls, the suit said.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating several battery fires in Tesla vehicles.

On Wednesday, NHTSA said it was looking into parking lot crashes involving Tesla cars driving themselves to their owners using the company’s Smart Summon feature.

Several users have posted videos on social media of Tesla vehicles that appear to have been in near accidents. One posted a video of a Tesla striking a garage wall and another of a Tesla being struck by a vehicle backing up.

A Tesla software update last week added its Smart Summon feature for some customers. When the car is within 200 feet and in their line of sight, they use a phone app to summon the vehicle in a parking lot.

Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk on Wednesday tweeted that there were more than 550,000 Smart Summon uses in the first few days.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Friday it is reviewing a defect petition that claims Tesla Inc failed to issue a recall when it issued a software upgrade in 2,000 Model S and Model X vehicles in May.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Friday it is reviewing a defect petition that claims Tesla Inc failed to issue a recall when it issued a software upgrade in 2,000 Model S and Model X vehicles in May. The vehicles from 2012 through 2019 model years received a battery management software upgrade in response to a potential defect that could result in non-crash fires, the petition said, adding it believes the update reduces the driving range of the affected vehicles. NHTSA said Friday it had opened a formal review to evaluate the petition's claims. Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In August, a proposed class-action lawsuit was filed in California claiming Tesla knew batteries of some vehicles were defective and "pushed out software updates despite knowing that the class vehicles would suffer from loss in range and performance." The suit added it believes Tesla's aim is "to avoid providing warranty battery replacements to rightful customers." The suit says Tesla has placed a software-induced limitation on the total number of usable kilo-watt hours and is limiting the ability of owners "to charge the battery cells up to the natural and normal amount of approximately 4.2 volts, by placing battery capacity limitations, by decreasing the charging speed and by reducing the performance in terms of speed." The suit cites over a dozen reports of Tesla's vehicles catching fire over the past six years. Tesla has not yet responded to the lawsuit. Tesla's May 15 software update changed some settings in the cars’ battery management software related to charging and thermal controls, the suit said. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating several battery fires in Tesla vehicles. On Wednesday, NHTSA said it was looking into parking lot crashes involving Tesla cars driving themselves to their owners using the company’s Smart Summon feature. Several users have posted videos on social media of Tesla vehicles that appear to have been in near accidents. One posted a video of a Tesla striking a garage wall and another of a Tesla being struck by a vehicle backing up. A Tesla software update last week added its Smart Summon feature for some customers. When the car is within 200 feet and in their line of sight, they use a phone app to summon the vehicle in a parking lot. Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk on Wednesday tweeted that there were more than 550,000 Smart Summon uses in the first few days.

United States NHTSA reviewing claims 2,000 Tesla vehicles should have been recalled

Baloch women in Quetta city organized a protest against enforced disappearances in the south-western province of Balochistan.

The protesters led by Mama Qadir Baloch of 'Voice for Baloch Missing Persons' blamed Pakistan's secret agencies for abducting Rashid Hussain, a Baloch political activist, and a student.

Rashid was arrested by the 'United Arab Emirates' secret police from Sharjah in November 2018 and handed over to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-taliban-talks-afghanistan-slams-islamabad-india-says-closely-monitoring-development-253844">Pakistan</a>'s law enforcement agencies in June this year. 
 
He has since been kept in an undisclosed location that has further added to the miseries of his family regarding Rashid's safety and well being.

Rashid's sister, Farida Baloch, said that it has been over three months since Pakistani authorities claimed that Rashid was deported to the country but he has not been presented to any court of law nor has he been provided with a legal representative.

Watch Video: Enforced disappearances continue in Balochistan

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"We were thinking that he will be produced in court after a few days in remand. But, authorities have not produced him anywhere. We have no information about his whereabouts. In our opinion, a person cannot disappear like this. If you have charges against him, he should be produced in court," Farida said.

She added, "This is against the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-nations-rights-chief-says-troubled-by-hong-kong-violence-253918">UN human rights</a> convention and he should be given a free and fair trial."

Thousands of abducted Balochs have been kept under illegal detention and are not being released, the women alleged while staging demonstrations.

Protestors stated that the disappeared people still continue to languish in illegal torture cells of Pakistan military and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Enforced disappearances still take place in Balochistan with full immunity and the Pakistani state institutions have repeatedly failed to act against such inhuman crimes of state agencies.

Baloch women in Quetta city organized a protest against enforced disappearances in the south-western province of Balochistan. The protesters led by Mama Qadir Baloch of 'Voice for Baloch Missing Persons' blamed Pakistan's secret agencies for abducting Rashid Hussain, a Baloch political activist, and a student.

Baloch women in Quetta city organized a protest against enforced disappearances in the south-western province of Balochistan. The protesters led by Mama Qadir Baloch of 'Voice for Baloch Missing Persons' blamed Pakistan's secret agencies for abducting Rashid Hussain, a Baloch political activist, and a student. Rashid was arrested by the 'United Arab Emirates' secret police from Sharjah in November 2018 and handed over to Pakistan's law enforcement agencies in June this year. He has since been kept in an undisclosed location that has further added to the miseries of his family regarding Rashid's safety and well being. Rashid's sister, Farida Baloch, said that it has been over three months since Pakistani authorities claimed that Rashid was deported to the country but he has not been presented to any court of law nor has he been provided with a legal representative. Watch Video: Enforced disappearances continue in Balochistan × "We were thinking that he will be produced in court after a few days in remand. But, authorities have not produced him anywhere. We have no information about his whereabouts. In our opinion, a person cannot disappear like this. If you have charges against him, he should be produced in court," Farida said. She added, "This is against the UN human rights convention and he should be given a free and fair trial." Thousands of abducted Balochs have been kept under illegal detention and are not being released, the women alleged while staging demonstrations. Protestors stated that the disappeared people still continue to languish in illegal torture cells of Pakistan military and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Enforced disappearances still take place in Balochistan with full immunity and the Pakistani state institutions have repeatedly failed to act against such inhuman crimes of state agencies.

Balochistan: Women protest against enforced disappearances in Quetta

Pakistani Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-made-up-the-numbers-india-on-islamabad-claiming-support-of-58-countries-at-unhrc-253777">Imran Khan</a> on Saturday warned his country's army and people not to cross over into India through Line of Control (LoC) to provide humanitarian aid or any support to Kashmiris as it will be playing into the "narrative of India" that says terrorism is driven by Pakistan.

His message for the Kashmiris on his 67th birthday came as a new admission from the Prime Minister over the fact that Pakistan indeed continues to push terrorists into India, along the LoC.

Khan took to Twitter to reiterate his&nbsp;rhetoric on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/grenade-attack-rocks-jammu-and-kashmirs-anantnag-253860">Kashmir</a>, saying that the "inhumane curfew" has been continuing since more than two months in the Valley.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-army-spokesperson-trolled-for-calling-kashmir-countrys-jugular-vain-253724">Pakistani</a>&nbsp;Prime Minister's advisory to his people to not cross over into India has come nearly ten days after the Indian Army chief revealed that terror camps in Balakot are active again, almost seven months after the Indian Air Force destroyed the Jaish-e-Mohammad-run complex run in retaliation for the Pulwama terror attack.

"Balakot has been reactivated by Pakistan very recently. That shows that Balakot has been affected. It had been damaged and destroyed. And that is why people have got away from there and now it has been reactivated," Army chief Bipin Rawat had told reporters on September 24 at the Officers Training Academy.

General Rawat added that close to 500 infiltrators are waiting to infiltrate into India.

This is not the first time that the cricketer-turned-prime minister has played a rash shot. His bid to internationalize Kashmir has disastrously failed on all international platforms.

Even before he spoke at the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-nuclear-watchdog-says-iran-taking-step-in-right-direction-253726">United Nations</a> General Assembly last month, he was forced to admit the failure of "Mission Kashmir".

"To be absolutely frank, I am a bit disappointed by the international community," adding that the reaction would have been different and more urgent had it been 8 million Europeans who had been put under siege or Jewish people or Americans, it would have been different if there were just eight Americans. He lamented, "What options do we have? What do we do?," he said in a press conference on September 25.

Despite being snubbed globally over the Kashmir issue, Khan at the U.N. General Assembly meeting had yet again warned of dire consequences in the event of a nuclear war with India over the matter.

"My belief is we will fight and when a nuclear-armed country fights till the end it will have consequence far beyond the borders. I am warning you. It's not a threat but worry about where are we heading. If this goes wrong you hope for the best but prepare for the worst," Khan had said.

India has maintained that the move is an internal matter of the country - a stance which has been supported by several countries, including the SAARC nations and the Arab World.&nbsp;

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday warned his country's army and people not to cross over into India through Line of Control (LoC) to provide humanitarian aid or any support to Kashmiris as it will be playing into the "narrative of India" that says terrorism is driven by Pakistan.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday warned his country's army and people not to cross over into India through Line of Control (LoC) to provide humanitarian aid or any support to Kashmiris as it will be playing into the "narrative of India" that says terrorism is driven by Pakistan. His message for the Kashmiris on his 67th birthday came as a new admission from the Prime Minister over the fact that Pakistan indeed continues to push terrorists into India, along the LoC. Khan took to Twitter to reiterate his rhetoric on Kashmir, saying that the "inhumane curfew" has been continuing since more than two months in the Valley. Pakistani Prime Minister's advisory to his people to not cross over into India has come nearly ten days after the Indian Army chief revealed that terror camps in Balakot are active again, almost seven months after the Indian Air Force destroyed the Jaish-e-Mohammad-run complex run in retaliation for the Pulwama terror attack. "Balakot has been reactivated by Pakistan very recently. That shows that Balakot has been affected. It had been damaged and destroyed. And that is why people have got away from there and now it has been reactivated," Army chief Bipin Rawat had told reporters on September 24 at the Officers Training Academy. General Rawat added that close to 500 infiltrators are waiting to infiltrate into India. This is not the first time that the cricketer-turned-prime minister has played a rash shot. His bid to internationalize Kashmir has disastrously failed on all international platforms. Even before he spoke at the United Nations General Assembly last month, he was forced to admit the failure of "Mission Kashmir". "To be absolutely frank, I am a bit disappointed by the international community," adding that the reaction would have been different and more urgent had it been 8 million Europeans who had been put under siege or Jewish people or Americans, it would have been different if there were just eight Americans. He lamented, "What options do we have? What do we do?," he said in a press conference on September 25. Despite being snubbed globally over the Kashmir issue, Khan at the U.N. General Assembly meeting had yet again warned of dire consequences in the event of a nuclear war with India over the matter. "My belief is we will fight and when a nuclear-armed country fights till the end it will have consequence far beyond the borders. I am warning you. It's not a threat but worry about where are we heading. If this goes wrong you hope for the best but prepare for the worst," Khan had said. India has maintained that the move is an internal matter of the country - a stance which has been supported by several countries, including the SAARC nations and the Arab World.

Imran Khan advises his people not to cross Line of Control

A Cameroonian military court Saturday ordered the release of main opposition leader Maurice Kamto, who has been imprisoned for nine months, after a series of conciliatory gestures by veteran ruler Paul Biya.

The court said Kamto and 101 others summoned could be released "if they have not been detained for anything else".&nbsp;

Kamto's lawyer Sylvain Souop added,&nbsp;"We note the release of our clients who should not have been in prison. Maurice Kamto is free".

Biya who has ruled Cameroon with an iron fist for nearly 37 years on Friday announced he had ordered prosecutions to be dropped against "some" opposition leaders, including a number from the main&nbsp;Movement for the Rebirth of Cameroon (MRC) led by his jailed rival Kamto.&nbsp;

Kamto went on trial with 88 others in a military court in September on charges of insurrection, hostility to the motherland and rebellion crimes that could carry the death penalty.

Biya's shock announcement came on the closing day of crunch talks aimed at easing a bloody crisis in Cameroon's anglophone regions, which were shunned by the main separatist leaders.

The talks also ended with a proposal to give more autonomy to the English-speaking regions, where a two-year armed campaign for independence has been met with a brutal crackdown and cost nearly 3,000 lives, according to the International Crisis Group.&nbsp;

The two areas in western Cameroon the&nbsp;Northwest Region and Southwest Region are home to most of the country's anglophones, who account for about a fifth of a population that is overwhelmingly French-speaking

A Cameroonian military court Saturday ordered the release of main opposition leader Maurice Kamto, who has been imprisoned for nine months, after a series of conciliatory gestures by veteran ruler Paul Biya.

A Cameroonian military court Saturday ordered the release of main opposition leader Maurice Kamto, who has been imprisoned for nine months, after a series of conciliatory gestures by veteran ruler Paul Biya. The court said Kamto and 101 others summoned could be released "if they have not been detained for anything else". Kamto's lawyer Sylvain Souop added, "We note the release of our clients who should not have been in prison. Maurice Kamto is free". Biya who has ruled Cameroon with an iron fist for nearly 37 years on Friday announced he had ordered prosecutions to be dropped against "some" opposition leaders, including a number from the main Movement for the Rebirth of Cameroon (MRC) led by his jailed rival Kamto. Kamto went on trial with 88 others in a military court in September on charges of insurrection, hostility to the motherland and rebellion crimes that could carry the death penalty. Biya's shock announcement came on the closing day of crunch talks aimed at easing a bloody crisis in Cameroon's anglophone regions, which were shunned by the main separatist leaders. The talks also ended with a proposal to give more autonomy to the English-speaking regions, where a two-year armed campaign for independence has been met with a brutal crackdown and cost nearly 3,000 lives, according to the International Crisis Group. The two areas in western Cameroon the Northwest Region and Southwest Region are home to most of the country's anglophones, who account for about a fifth of a population that is overwhelmingly French-speaking

Cameroon orders release of main opposition leader Maurice Kamto

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday renewed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-shrugs-off-thomas-cook-collapse-amid-booming-investment-252448">Turkey's</a> threat to launch an "air and ground" operation in Syria against a Kurdish militia viewed as terrorists by Ankara.

The president previously said that Turkey's patience was wearing thin after Turkish and American officials agreed in August to establish a buffer zone in northern<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-syria-camp-uncertain-future-for-foreign-islamic-state-orphans-253184"> Syria</a>.

"We've made our preparations, completed our operation plans, given the necessary instructions," Erdogan said during a televised speech, adding that the offensive could start "as soon as today, tomorrow".

"We will conduct this (operation) on the ground and in the air," he added, saying it would be east of the Euphrates river.

Erdogan has repeatedly threatened to launch a cross-border offensive and recently suggested that progress on the zone with the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-supreme-court-agrees-to-hear-case-on-restrictive-abortion-law-253858"> US</a> was not developing as Ankara wanted.

While there have been joint US-Turkey patrols, Turkey wants to urgently establish a "safe zone" for the return of up to two million Syrian refugees.

Turkey is home to more than 3.6 million Syrian refugees but there has been a growing public backlash against their presence.

Ankara wants to push the US-backed Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia from its border, saying that the group is a "terrorist" offshoot of Kurdish insurgents in Turkey.

But the YPG has worked closely with American troops in the fight against the Islamic State extremist group, recapturing territory in northern Syria.

The Turkish military has twice launched offensives in Syria against IS in 2016 and against the YPG in 2018

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday renewed Turkey's threat to launch an "air and ground" operation in Syria against a Kurdish militia viewed as terrorists by Ankara.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday renewed Turkey's threat to launch an "air and ground" operation in Syria against a Kurdish militia viewed as terrorists by Ankara. The president previously said that Turkey's patience was wearing thin after Turkish and American officials agreed in August to establish a buffer zone in northern Syria. "We've made our preparations, completed our operation plans, given the necessary instructions," Erdogan said during a televised speech, adding that the offensive could start "as soon as today, tomorrow". "We will conduct this (operation) on the ground and in the air," he added, saying it would be east of the Euphrates river. Erdogan has repeatedly threatened to launch a cross-border offensive and recently suggested that progress on the zone with the US was not developing as Ankara wanted. While there have been joint US-Turkey patrols, Turkey wants to urgently establish a "safe zone" for the return of up to two million Syrian refugees. Turkey is home to more than 3.6 million Syrian refugees but there has been a growing public backlash against their presence. Ankara wants to push the US-backed Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia from its border, saying that the group is a "terrorist" offshoot of Kurdish insurgents in Turkey. But the YPG has worked closely with American troops in the fight against the Islamic State extremist group, recapturing territory in northern Syria. The Turkish military has twice launched offensives in Syria against IS in 2016 and against the YPG in 2018

Turkey President Tayyip Erdogan renews Syria 'air and ground' operation threat

Hong Kong fell eerily silent on Saturday, with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-return-to-hong-kong-streets-as-metro-shops-shut-after-violence-253910">the subway and most shopping malls closed</a> in an unprecedented shutdown of one of the world's biggest commercial centres after the government invoked emergency measures to curb months of unrest.

Hundreds of anti-government protesters defied a ban on face masks and took to the streets across the Chinese-ruled city earlier in the day. But by evening they had largely dispersed in preparation for bigger marches planned for Sunday.

Rail operator MTR Corp suspended all services, paralysing transport in the Asian financial hub, while malls and shops closed early after a night of chaos in which police shot a teenage boy and protesters torched businesses and metro stations.

Protests had erupted on Friday across the former British colony hours after its embattled leader, Carrie Lam, invoked colonial-era emergency powers for the first time in more than 50 years to ban the use of face masks demonstrators have been using to hide their identities.

The night's "extreme violence" justified the use of the emergency law, Beijing-backed Lam said in a television address on Saturday.

"The radical behaviour of rioters took Hong Kong through a very dark night, leaving society today half-paralysed," she said in pre-recorded remarks.

"The extreme violence clearly illustrated that Hong Kong's public safety is widely endangered. That's the concrete reason that we had to invoke emergency law yesterday to introduce the anti-mask law", she added.

Undeterred by the ban and transport shutdown, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-protesters-defy-mask-ban-as-city-grinds-to-halt-253888">several hundred pro-democracy protesters</a> - many wearing masks - marched through the normally bustling shopping district of Causeway Bay on Saturday, but there was no repeat of Friday's violence.

Other groups gathered in Sheung Shui close to the border with mainland China and in the busy shopping and tourist district of Tsim Sha Tsui.

"We felt we had to get out and show our basic right to wear a mask," said one protester, Sue, 22, who wore a black mask and dark glasses to the Causeway Bay march.

"The government needs to learn it can’t squeeze Hong Kong people like this", she added.

The increasingly violent demonstrations that have roiled the city for four months began in opposition to a bill that would have allowed people to be extradited to mainland China for trial. They have since spiralled into a broader pro-democracy movement.

The unrest has plunged Hong Kong into its biggest political crisis since its handover from Britain to China in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula that granted it autonomy and broad freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland.

China's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office said on Friday the protests were evolving into a revolution backed by foreign forces and could not continue indefinitely.

The United Nations human rights chief called on Saturday <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-leader-invokes-emergency-powers-to-quell-escalating-violence-253684">for an independent probe</a> into the violence seen during the protests.

Michelle Bachelet told a media conference in Kuala Lumpur the U.N. was&nbsp;"alarmed by the injuries to the police and protesters, including journalists and protesters shot by law enforcement officers".

&nbsp;

Hong Kong fell eerily silent on Saturday, with the subway and most shopping malls closed in an unprecedented shutdown of one of the world's biggest commercial centres after the government invoked emergency measures to curb months of unrest.

Hong Kong fell eerily silent on Saturday, with the subway and most shopping malls closed in an unprecedented shutdown of one of the world's biggest commercial centres after the government invoked emergency measures to curb months of unrest. Hundreds of anti-government protesters defied a ban on face masks and took to the streets across the Chinese-ruled city earlier in the day. But by evening they had largely dispersed in preparation for bigger marches planned for Sunday. Rail operator MTR Corp suspended all services, paralysing transport in the Asian financial hub, while malls and shops closed early after a night of chaos in which police shot a teenage boy and protesters torched businesses and metro stations. Protests had erupted on Friday across the former British colony hours after its embattled leader, Carrie Lam, invoked colonial-era emergency powers for the first time in more than 50 years to ban the use of face masks demonstrators have been using to hide their identities. The night's "extreme violence" justified the use of the emergency law, Beijing-backed Lam said in a television address on Saturday. "The radical behaviour of rioters took Hong Kong through a very dark night, leaving society today half-paralysed," she said in pre-recorded remarks. "The extreme violence clearly illustrated that Hong Kong's public safety is widely endangered. That's the concrete reason that we had to invoke emergency law yesterday to introduce the anti-mask law", she added. Undeterred by the ban and transport shutdown, several hundred pro-democracy protesters - many wearing masks - marched through the normally bustling shopping district of Causeway Bay on Saturday, but there was no repeat of Friday's violence. Other groups gathered in Sheung Shui close to the border with mainland China and in the busy shopping and tourist district of Tsim Sha Tsui. "We felt we had to get out and show our basic right to wear a mask," said one protester, Sue, 22, who wore a black mask and dark glasses to the Causeway Bay march. "The government needs to learn it can’t squeeze Hong Kong people like this", she added. The increasingly violent demonstrations that have roiled the city for four months began in opposition to a bill that would have allowed people to be extradited to mainland China for trial. They have since spiralled into a broader pro-democracy movement. The unrest has plunged Hong Kong into its biggest political crisis since its handover from Britain to China in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula that granted it autonomy and broad freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland. China's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office said on Friday the protests were evolving into a revolution backed by foreign forces and could not continue indefinitely. The United Nations human rights chief called on Saturday for an independent probe into the violence seen during the protests. Michelle Bachelet told a media conference in Kuala Lumpur the U.N. was "alarmed by the injuries to the police and protesters, including journalists and protesters shot by law enforcement officers".

Hong Kong goes quiet as subway, shops close after night of violence

A Thai judge shot himself in the chest in front of a packed court after acquitting several murder suspects and decrying the kingdom's judicial system in an impassioned speech broadcast on Facebook Live.

Critics say <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/meghalaya-troops-from-india-thailand-participate-in-annual-joint-military-exercise-maitree-252506">Thailand's</a> courts often work in favour of the rich and powerful while delivering swift and harsh sentences on ordinary people for minor offences.&nbsp;

But it is virtually unheard of for judges to criticise the system.

Kanakorn Pianchana, a judge at Yala court in the heart of the insurgency-battered Thai south, was delivering the verdict for five Muslim suspects in a gun murder case on Friday afternoon.

He acquitted the group, delivered a courtroom plea for a cleaner justice system, before pulling out a handgun and shooting himself in the chest.&nbsp;

"You need clear and credible evidence to punish someone. So if you're not sure, don't punish them," the judge said addressing the court and broadcasting his words on his phone on Facebook live.

"I'm not saying that the five defendants didn't commit the crimes, they might have done so... But the judicial process needs to be transparent and credible... punishing wrong people makes them scapegoats."

The Facebook feed then cut, but witnesses said Kanakorn recited a legal oath in front of the former Thai king's portrait, before shooting himself in the chest.

"He is being treated by the doctors and is out of danger," Suriyan Hongvilai, the spokesman of the Office of the Judiciary, told AFP on Saturday.

"He shot himself because of 'personal stress'. But the cause behind the stress is not clear and will be investigated," he said.

''No Thai judge has ever breached protocol by making similar statements on the wider justice system'', he added.

A lawyer working with the suspects said Judge Kanakorn had ruled the prosecutor's evidence was insufficient to convict.&nbsp;

"Right now the five are still being detained and are waiting to see if the state prosecutor appeals their acquittal," Abdulloh Hayee-abu, of the Muslim Attorney Centre in Yala told AFP.&nbsp;

Over 7,000 people have died in 15 years of conflict in the Malay-Muslim majority southern region.&nbsp;

Thousands of suspects have been jailed for acts linked to the insurgency, many under emergency laws imposed on the restive region.

Advocacy groups in the Thai south have long accused security forces of trumping up charges against Muslim suspects and using emergency laws to drive cases through the courts.

A Thai judge shot himself in the chest in front of a packed court after acquitting several murder suspects and decrying the kingdom's judicial system in an impassioned speech broadcast on Facebook Live.

A Thai judge shot himself in the chest in front of a packed court after acquitting several murder suspects and decrying the kingdom's judicial system in an impassioned speech broadcast on Facebook Live. Critics say Thailand's courts often work in favour of the rich and powerful while delivering swift and harsh sentences on ordinary people for minor offences. But it is virtually unheard of for judges to criticise the system. Kanakorn Pianchana, a judge at Yala court in the heart of the insurgency-battered Thai south, was delivering the verdict for five Muslim suspects in a gun murder case on Friday afternoon. He acquitted the group, delivered a courtroom plea for a cleaner justice system, before pulling out a handgun and shooting himself in the chest. "You need clear and credible evidence to punish someone. So if you're not sure, don't punish them," the judge said addressing the court and broadcasting his words on his phone on Facebook live. "I'm not saying that the five defendants didn't commit the crimes, they might have done so... But the judicial process needs to be transparent and credible... punishing wrong people makes them scapegoats." The Facebook feed then cut, but witnesses said Kanakorn recited a legal oath in front of the former Thai king's portrait, before shooting himself in the chest. "He is being treated by the doctors and is out of danger," Suriyan Hongvilai, the spokesman of the Office of the Judiciary, told AFP on Saturday. "He shot himself because of 'personal stress'. But the cause behind the stress is not clear and will be investigated," he said. ''No Thai judge has ever breached protocol by making similar statements on the wider justice system'', he added. A lawyer working with the suspects said Judge Kanakorn had ruled the prosecutor's evidence was insufficient to convict. "Right now the five are still being detained and are waiting to see if the state prosecutor appeals their acquittal," Abdulloh Hayee-abu, of the Muslim Attorney Centre in Yala told AFP. Over 7,000 people have died in 15 years of conflict in the Malay-Muslim majority southern region. Thousands of suspects have been jailed for acts linked to the insurgency, many under emergency laws imposed on the restive region. Advocacy groups in the Thai south have long accused security forces of trumping up charges against Muslim suspects and using emergency laws to drive cases through the courts.

Thai judge shoots himself in court after railing at justice system

An Australian travel-blogging couple held in Iran on spying charges have been freed and returned home, authorities said Saturday, in a possible swap for an Iranian student&nbsp;wanted in the US.

Perth-based Jolie King and Mark Firkin had been documenting their journey from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/australian-pm-to-visit-india-in-january-calls-india-a-natural-partner-253636">Australia</a> to Britain on social media for the past two years but went silent after posting updates from Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan about three months ago.

The pair, who have tens of thousands of followers on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, were alleged to have used a drone to take pictures of "military sites and forbidden areas", an Iranian judiciary spokesman said last month.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said they were released after "very sensitive negotiations" and had been reunited with their family in Australia.

"We are extremely happy and relieved&nbsp;to be safely back in Australia with those we love," the couple said in a statement issued by the foreign ministry in Canberra.

"While the past few months have been very difficult, we know it has also been tough for those back home who have been worried for us", they added.

Hours later, state media in Tehran said an Iranian student held in Australia for 13 months on accusations of circumventing US sanctions on military equipment had also been released and returned home.

Australia's attorney general Christian Porter confirmed in a statement that he had stopped&nbsp;the extradition of Reza Dehbashi to the United States.

But he dismissed "speculation" over the case, amid media reports including in the Sydney Morning Herald that it could be part of a prisoner swap involving the bloggers.

Porter declined to comment further "particularly when any such response from me may diminish our government's capacity to deal with future matters of this type in Australia's best interests."

State media in Tehran said Dehbashi, a PhD student at the University of Queensland, had been detained on allegations of "attempting to purchase and transfer advanced American military radar equipment via Dubai to Iran".

It said Dehbashi had dismissed the charges as "a misunderstanding".

Emotional reunion

An Iranian state channel showed footage of what it said was Dehbashi arriving at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport and hugging a tearful woman apparently from his family.

The Australian couple sought privacy, however.

They said in their statement that intense media coverage "may not be helpful" in the negotiations for the release of a third Australian detained in Iran in an unrelated case.

Melbourne University Academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who specialises in Middle East politics with a focus on Gulf states, had been detained for "some months" before King and Firkin were arrested.

Her case also came to light last month. Moore-Gilbert is accused by Iranian authorities of "spying for another country".

Negotiations over the fate of the university lecturer are "very long term", Payne said.

"She has been detained for some considerable time and has faced the Iranian legal system and has been convicted and sentenced," the minister said.

"We don't accept the charges on which she was convicted and we would seek to have her returned to Australia," Payne added, declining to comment further on the case.

Payne has maintained the cases of those detained were not related to diplomatic tensions.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-nations-urges-australia-to-release-tamil-family-253223">Australia</a> said in August that it would join a US-led naval coalition to escort commercial ships in the Gulf, after a spate of attacks blamed on Iran but that Tehran denied.

However, that announcement is believed to have come after the arrests.

Prisoner swap proposal

News of the release of the King and Firkin comes just weeks after an Iranian woman arrested in Australia and sentenced in the United States was returned home.

Negar Ghodskani was sentenced last month in Minneapolis to 27 months in prison for violating sanctions against Tehran, but was released following time served in custody in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-asked-australia-for-help-discrediting-russia-probe-252947">Australia and the United States</a>.

After her extradition to the US, she confessed to participation in a conspiracy to illegally export technology to Iran in breach of sanctions, according to the US Justice Department.

She was pregnant when she was arrested in 2017 in Australia where she was a legal resident. She gave birth while in Australian custody and her son was sent to Iran to live with his father.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in April floated a potential prisoner swap with a British-Iranian mother being held in Tehran.

He suggested exchanging Ghodskani for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, in jail in Tehran for alleged sedition.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe has also been separated from her daughter while in custody.

An Australian travel-blogging couple held in Iran on spying charges have been freed and returned home, authorities said Saturday, in a possible swap for an Iranian student wanted in the US.

An Australian travel-blogging couple held in Iran on spying charges have been freed and returned home, authorities said Saturday, in a possible swap for an Iranian student wanted in the US. Perth-based Jolie King and Mark Firkin had been documenting their journey from Australia to Britain on social media for the past two years but went silent after posting updates from Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan about three months ago. The pair, who have tens of thousands of followers on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, were alleged to have used a drone to take pictures of "military sites and forbidden areas", an Iranian judiciary spokesman said last month. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said they were released after "very sensitive negotiations" and had been reunited with their family in Australia. "We are extremely happy and relieved to be safely back in Australia with those we love," the couple said in a statement issued by the foreign ministry in Canberra. "While the past few months have been very difficult, we know it has also been tough for those back home who have been worried for us", they added. Hours later, state media in Tehran said an Iranian student held in Australia for 13 months on accusations of circumventing US sanctions on military equipment had also been released and returned home. Australia's attorney general Christian Porter confirmed in a statement that he had stopped the extradition of Reza Dehbashi to the United States. But he dismissed "speculation" over the case, amid media reports including in the Sydney Morning Herald that it could be part of a prisoner swap involving the bloggers. Porter declined to comment further "particularly when any such response from me may diminish our government's capacity to deal with future matters of this type in Australia's best interests." State media in Tehran said Dehbashi, a PhD student at the University of Queensland, had been detained on allegations of "attempting to purchase and transfer advanced American military radar equipment via Dubai to Iran". It said Dehbashi had dismissed the charges as "a misunderstanding". Emotional reunion An Iranian state channel showed footage of what it said was Dehbashi arriving at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport and hugging a tearful woman apparently from his family. The Australian couple sought privacy, however. They said in their statement that intense media coverage "may not be helpful" in the negotiations for the release of a third Australian detained in Iran in an unrelated case. Melbourne University Academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who specialises in Middle East politics with a focus on Gulf states, had been detained for "some months" before King and Firkin were arrested. Her case also came to light last month. Moore-Gilbert is accused by Iranian authorities of "spying for another country". Negotiations over the fate of the university lecturer are "very long term", Payne said. "She has been detained for some considerable time and has faced the Iranian legal system and has been convicted and sentenced," the minister said. "We don't accept the charges on which she was convicted and we would seek to have her returned to Australia," Payne added, declining to comment further on the case. Payne has maintained the cases of those detained were not related to diplomatic tensions. Australia said in August that it would join a US-led naval coalition to escort commercial ships in the Gulf, after a spate of attacks blamed on Iran but that Tehran denied. However, that announcement is believed to have come after the arrests. Prisoner swap proposal News of the release of the King and Firkin comes just weeks after an Iranian woman arrested in Australia and sentenced in the United States was returned home. Negar Ghodskani was sentenced last month in Minneapolis to 27 months in prison for violating sanctions against Tehran, but was released following time served in custody in Australia and the United States. After her extradition to the US, she confessed to participation in a conspiracy to illegally export technology to Iran in breach of sanctions, according to the US Justice Department. She was pregnant when she was arrested in 2017 in Australia where she was a legal resident. She gave birth while in Australian custody and her son was sent to Iran to live with his father. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in April floated a potential prisoner swap with a British-Iranian mother being held in Tehran. He suggested exchanging Ghodskani for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, in jail in Tehran for alleged sedition. Zaghari-Ratcliffe has also been separated from her daughter while in custody.

Australian bloggers return home after being held for spying charges in Iran

United States&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with defence and foreign ministers in Greece on Saturday&nbsp;as the US seeks to enhance defence cooperation with the Mediterranean country.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-can-be-pillar-for-regional-stability-pompeo-253933">Greece and the United States signed an amendment</a> of the Mutual Defence Cooperation Agreement, which will "enhance our common military and strategic footprint in the area, always to the benefit of regional security and stability," a statement from the Greek Prime Minister's office said.

The United States uses the Souda Bay facility in Crete for naval and air support. Greece contributes to NATO operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo.

The two countries also agreed to strengthen relations on economic, trade, and cultural issues.

Greece asked the United States to use its influence to defuse tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, where Cyprus and Turkey are locked in a dispute over offshore rights.

Pompeo arrives in Greece after visiting Montenegro, North Macedonia and Italy.

Pompeo's trip to Southern Europe has been overshadowed by an impeachment enquiry at home against US President Donald Trump.

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with defence and foreign ministers in Greece on Saturday as the US seeks to enhance defence cooperation with the Mediterranean country.

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with defence and foreign ministers in Greece on Saturday as the US seeks to enhance defence cooperation with the Mediterranean country. Greece and the United States signed an amendment of the Mutual Defence Cooperation Agreement, which will "enhance our common military and strategic footprint in the area, always to the benefit of regional security and stability," a statement from the Greek Prime Minister's office said. The United States uses the Souda Bay facility in Crete for naval and air support. Greece contributes to NATO operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo. The two countries also agreed to strengthen relations on economic, trade, and cultural issues. Greece asked the United States to use its influence to defuse tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, where Cyprus and Turkey are locked in a dispute over offshore rights. Pompeo arrives in Greece after visiting Montenegro, North Macedonia and Italy. Pompeo's trip to Southern Europe has been overshadowed by an impeachment enquiry at home against US President Donald Trump.

Greece and United States update mutual defence cooperation pact

The United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet on Friday paid a visit to a school for Rohingya refugees children in Kuala Lumpur during a visit to Malaysia.

The visit was the first by a current U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to Malaysia.

During her visit, Bachelet met with Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed and other government officials to discuss efforts to protect and uphold human rights in the country.

She expressed hope for Malaysia to rectify the UN Refugee Convention saying that refugees should be given access to health care, education and given the right to work.

The United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet on Friday paid a visit to a school for Rohingya refugees children in Kuala Lumpur during a visit to Malaysia.

The United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet on Friday paid a visit to a school for Rohingya refugees children in Kuala Lumpur during a visit to Malaysia. The visit was the first by a current U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to Malaysia. During her visit, Bachelet met with Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed and other government officials to discuss efforts to protect and uphold human rights in the country. She expressed hope for Malaysia to rectify the UN Refugee Convention saying that refugees should be given access to health care, education and given the right to work.

U.N. Human Rights Commissioner meets Rohingya refugees in Malaysia

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