Hong Kong's embattled leader took to Facebook Live late Thursday in a bid to reach out to citizens after months of political unrest -- and the emoji count was far from kind.

Carrie Lam -- the city's unelected chief executive -- currently boasts record-low approval ratings as the financial hub convulses with more than four months of huge, increasingly violent pro-democracy protests.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-lawmakers-dragged-from-chamber-as-leader-heckled-for-second-day-256382">Hong Kong lawmakers dragged from chamber as leader heckled for second day</a>

Backed by Beijing, her administration has refused to grant any major concessions to protesters, who are demanding greater democratic freedoms and police accountability.

Angry faces significantly outnumbered hearts and likes left by viewers on the hour-long Facebook Live broadcast, while critics also used the comments section to pile on.

By the end of the session, in which a host chose from a series of pre-selected questions and some live ones, the angry face count stood at more than 9,400 compared to 2,100 likes and 632 hearts.

Lam defended her record and stuck to her oft-repeated talking points that she cannot give in to violent protesters and won't be resigning.

"We need more dialogue and communication, more mutual understanding and tolerance," she said.&nbsp;

She added that she was taken aback by the huge rallies.

"Nobody could predict that we would be facing such a huge storm," she said.&nbsp;

Millions have taken to the streets this summer, initially against a now-dropped bid by its leaders to allow extraditions to the authoritarian Chinese mainland.

But after Beijing and Lam took a hard line, the movement snowballed into a broader push for democracy and police accountability.

Lam has previously stated a willingness to hold dialogue sessions with the public, but they have also got off to a rocky and limited start.&nbsp;

In late September she sat down with some 150 randomly selected members of the public for a live forum where questions critical of her government dominated.

Protesters also surrounded the venue and she was unable to exit for hours until the crowds dispersed.

Hong Kong's embattled leader took to Facebook Live late Thursday in a bid to reach out to citizens after months of political unrest -- and the emoji count was far from kind.

Hong Kong's embattled leader took to Facebook Live late Thursday in a bid to reach out to citizens after months of political unrest -- and the emoji count was far from kind. Carrie Lam -- the city's unelected chief executive -- currently boasts record-low approval ratings as the financial hub convulses with more than four months of huge, increasingly violent pro-democracy protests. Also read: Hong Kong lawmakers dragged from chamber as leader heckled for second day Backed by Beijing, her administration has refused to grant any major concessions to protesters, who are demanding greater democratic freedoms and police accountability. Angry faces significantly outnumbered hearts and likes left by viewers on the hour-long Facebook Live broadcast, while critics also used the comments section to pile on. By the end of the session, in which a host chose from a series of pre-selected questions and some live ones, the angry face count stood at more than 9,400 compared to 2,100 likes and 632 hearts. Lam defended her record and stuck to her oft-repeated talking points that she cannot give in to violent protesters and won't be resigning. "We need more dialogue and communication, more mutual understanding and tolerance," she said. She added that she was taken aback by the huge rallies. "Nobody could predict that we would be facing such a huge storm," she said. Millions have taken to the streets this summer, initially against a now-dropped bid by its leaders to allow extraditions to the authoritarian Chinese mainland. But after Beijing and Lam took a hard line, the movement snowballed into a broader push for democracy and police accountability. Lam has previously stated a willingness to hold dialogue sessions with the public, but they have also got off to a rocky and limited start. In late September she sat down with some 150 randomly selected members of the public for a live forum where questions critical of her government dominated. Protesters also surrounded the venue and she was unable to exit for hours until the crowds dispersed.

Angry emojis flood Hong Kong leader's Facebook Live chat

British environmental campaigners expressed regret Thursday and promised to change their ways after one of their protests caused a near-riot on the London underground.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/extinction-rebellion-climate-protests-gain-steam-all-over-the-world-254506">Extinction Rebellion </a>pressure group has been staging 10 days of colourful but disruptive action across London and other global cities to draw attention to climate change.

Protests on Thursday targeted London Underground trains and an overground train station during the morning rush hour commute.

The British Transport Police said it had arrested eight people and was also "reviewing the unacceptable violent clashes" that erupted at the Canning Town underground stop.

A clip that went viral on Twitter showed furious Londoners tossing their morning snacks and cups at an activist who had climbed atop a train at the east London station.

He was then shown being dragged to the ground by his feet before scuffles broke out.

Video journalist Elliot Laughlin told the BBC that he was also attacked while trying to film the incident from the back of the crowd.

"They said I was with them. I said I was here to film this action. Several individuals grabbed me and pulled me on the floor and about 20 Londoners beat me down," Laughlin said.

He said he remained "in a foetal position being kicked" before three Londoners jumped in and covered him to shield him from the blows.

A separate protest saw two priests climb atop a Docklands Light Railway (DLR) train and read an impromptu prayer vigil at the Shadwell stop just east of the City of London financial hub.

A third protest member glued himself to the train.

Service along both lines was halted during the morning commute. The disruptions sparked a social media backlash and drew angry headlines in the tabloid press.

"Muppets!" the mass-circulated Sun newspaper fumed.

Extinction Rebellion issued a carefully worded statement several hours later that did not explicitly apologise but did express regret.

"It is regretful that there was violence at today's action at Canning Town tube station. We would like to express our sadness that events escalated this way."

Internal splits

London police have reported making more than 1,600 arrests since activists first took to the streets at the start of last week.

The campaign has seen activists try to "occupy" London City Airport and other sites in and around the UK capital's two vibrant financial districts.

The group accuses big businesses and the government of inaction in the face of fast-rising global temperatures that scientists link to polluting carbon emissions.

But the rumbles of Londoners' discontent have been growing and police imposed a blanket ban on gatherings of more than two people at the start of the week.&nbsp;

Campaigners on Thursday were refused an urgent High Court hearing to challenge what they called an "unprecedented and disproportionate" ban.&nbsp;

Anger at the disruption appeared to reach boiling point with the Canning Town incident, prompting Extinction Rebellion to acknowledge the backlash and promise a change of tack.

"In light of today's events, Extinction Rebellion will be looking at ways to bring people together rather than create an unnecessary division," the group's statement said.

It also hinted at disagreements over tactics within its ranks.

"We are a broad and diverse movement with a wide range of views, and are aware that many people were not for this action," the statement said.

"Those that acted this morning planned their action autonomously, within Extinction Rebellion's principles and values."

The group briefly splintered when it refused to sanction an attempted drone attack on London's Heathrow Airport last month.

British environmental campaigners expressed regret Thursday and promised to change their ways after one of their protests caused a near-riot on the London underground.

British environmental campaigners expressed regret Thursday and promised to change their ways after one of their protests caused a near-riot on the London underground. The Extinction Rebellion pressure group has been staging 10 days of colourful but disruptive action across London and other global cities to draw attention to climate change. Protests on Thursday targeted London Underground trains and an overground train station during the morning rush hour commute. The British Transport Police said it had arrested eight people and was also "reviewing the unacceptable violent clashes" that erupted at the Canning Town underground stop. A clip that went viral on Twitter showed furious Londoners tossing their morning snacks and cups at an activist who had climbed atop a train at the east London station. He was then shown being dragged to the ground by his feet before scuffles broke out. Video journalist Elliot Laughlin told the BBC that he was also attacked while trying to film the incident from the back of the crowd. "They said I was with them. I said I was here to film this action. Several individuals grabbed me and pulled me on the floor and about 20 Londoners beat me down," Laughlin said. He said he remained "in a foetal position being kicked" before three Londoners jumped in and covered him to shield him from the blows. A separate protest saw two priests climb atop a Docklands Light Railway (DLR) train and read an impromptu prayer vigil at the Shadwell stop just east of the City of London financial hub. A third protest member glued himself to the train. Service along both lines was halted during the morning commute. The disruptions sparked a social media backlash and drew angry headlines in the tabloid press. "Muppets!" the mass-circulated Sun newspaper fumed. Extinction Rebellion issued a carefully worded statement several hours later that did not explicitly apologise but did express regret. "It is regretful that there was violence at today's action at Canning Town tube station. We would like to express our sadness that events escalated this way." Internal splits London police have reported making more than 1,600 arrests since activists first took to the streets at the start of last week. The campaign has seen activists try to "occupy" London City Airport and other sites in and around the UK capital's two vibrant financial districts. The group accuses big businesses and the government of inaction in the face of fast-rising global temperatures that scientists link to polluting carbon emissions. But the rumbles of Londoners' discontent have been growing and police imposed a blanket ban on gatherings of more than two people at the start of the week. Campaigners on Thursday were refused an urgent High Court hearing to challenge what they called an "unprecedented and disproportionate" ban. Anger at the disruption appeared to reach boiling point with the Canning Town incident, prompting Extinction Rebellion to acknowledge the backlash and promise a change of tack. "In light of today's events, Extinction Rebellion will be looking at ways to bring people together rather than create an unnecessary division," the group's statement said. It also hinted at disagreements over tactics within its ranks. "We are a broad and diverse movement with a wide range of views, and are aware that many people were not for this action," the statement said. "Those that acted this morning planned their action autonomously, within Extinction Rebellion's principles and values." The group briefly splintered when it refused to sanction an attempted drone attack on London's Heathrow Airport last month.

Climate activists vow change of tack after London Tube mayhem

The Islamic State group said Thursday it had "freed" women held by Syria's Kurds, the latest in a series of reported breakouts since Turkey launched a cross-border offensive last week.

In a statement released on the Telegram messaging application, IS said it had stormed a security headquarters west of its former stronghold of Raqa on Wednesday, "freeing Muslim women kidnapped" by Kurdish forces.

It did not give a number or say if the women were IS members or wives of jihadists.

Separately three former IS fighters originally from the Gaza Strip escaped a Kurdish detention centre near Tal Abyad close to the Syrian-Turkish border, a source in a political faction in Gaza said.

The three, two of whom were members of the military wing of Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas before joining the more militant IS, called their families Wednesday following their escape but said they did not intend to return home, the source said.

The prospect that thousands of the world's most fanatic jihadists could break out in the chaos caused by Turkey's invasion of northeastern Syria is causing widespread alarm.

European governments fear it could lead to a resurgence of the group that has wreaked havoc through attacks in the West and formerly controlled parts of Syria and Iraq.

According to the Kurds hundreds of IS relatives have already tried to escape since Ankara launched its offensive on October 9.

On Sunday, Kurdish authorities said nearly 800 relatives of foreign jihadists had escaped from a Kurdish-run displacement camp in the northern Syrian town of Ain Issa.&nbsp;

At least three French women who had left the camp have since joined up with IS, according to messages they sent to their lawyer, seen by AFP.

Five IS jihadists escaped from a prison near the northeastern city of Qamishli last week, according to Kurdish forces.

On Tuesday, a breakout attempt was foiled in the infamous Al-Hol camp, which is so overcrowded that wardens are struggling to control riot.

According to the Kurdish administration, there are around 12,000 suspected IS fighters in the custody of Kurdish security forces across prisons in northeastern Syria.

At least 2,500 of them are non-Iraqi foreigners of more than 50 different nationalities. Tunisia is thought to have the biggest contingent.

The detained fighters have thousands of relatives -- mostly women and children -- held in displacement camps.

Al-Hol alone holds 68,000 prisoners, mostly relatives of current or former IS members, according to the United Nations.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said Wednesday they were suspending operations against IS.

"We have frozen all our actions against Daesh," SDF head Mazloum Abdi told Kurdish television channel Ronahi, using an Arabic acronym for the jihadists.

The SDF, which helped defeat IS with the support of the US-led coalition, said it would only carry out defensive operations. 
&nbsp;

The Islamic State group said Thursday it had "freed" women held by Syria's Kurds, the latest in a series of reported breakouts since Turkey launched a cross-border offensive last week.

The Islamic State group said Thursday it had "freed" women held by Syria's Kurds, the latest in a series of reported breakouts since Turkey launched a cross-border offensive last week. In a statement released on the Telegram messaging application, IS said it had stormed a security headquarters west of its former stronghold of Raqa on Wednesday, "freeing Muslim women kidnapped" by Kurdish forces. It did not give a number or say if the women were IS members or wives of jihadists. Separately three former IS fighters originally from the Gaza Strip escaped a Kurdish detention centre near Tal Abyad close to the Syrian-Turkish border, a source in a political faction in Gaza said. The three, two of whom were members of the military wing of Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas before joining the more militant IS, called their families Wednesday following their escape but said they did not intend to return home, the source said. The prospect that thousands of the world's most fanatic jihadists could break out in the chaos caused by Turkey's invasion of northeastern Syria is causing widespread alarm. European governments fear it could lead to a resurgence of the group that has wreaked havoc through attacks in the West and formerly controlled parts of Syria and Iraq. According to the Kurds hundreds of IS relatives have already tried to escape since Ankara launched its offensive on October 9. On Sunday, Kurdish authorities said nearly 800 relatives of foreign jihadists had escaped from a Kurdish-run displacement camp in the northern Syrian town of Ain Issa. At least three French women who had left the camp have since joined up with IS, according to messages they sent to their lawyer, seen by AFP. Five IS jihadists escaped from a prison near the northeastern city of Qamishli last week, according to Kurdish forces. On Tuesday, a breakout attempt was foiled in the infamous Al-Hol camp, which is so overcrowded that wardens are struggling to control riot. According to the Kurdish administration, there are around 12,000 suspected IS fighters in the custody of Kurdish security forces across prisons in northeastern Syria. At least 2,500 of them are non-Iraqi foreigners of more than 50 different nationalities. Tunisia is thought to have the biggest contingent. The detained fighters have thousands of relatives -- mostly women and children -- held in displacement camps. Al-Hol alone holds 68,000 prisoners, mostly relatives of current or former IS members, according to the United Nations. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said Wednesday they were suspending operations against IS. "We have frozen all our actions against Daesh," SDF head Mazloum Abdi told Kurdish television channel Ronahi, using an Arabic acronym for the jihadists. The SDF, which helped defeat IS with the support of the US-led coalition, said it would only carry out defensive operations.

IS says 'freed' women held by Syrian Kurds

The Kremlin said on Thursday it was concerned by the humanitarian situation in northern Syria following Turkey's decision to launch a military operation there.

Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan would discuss Turkey's actions in Syria at a meeting in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Tuesday next week.

Peskov also told journalists that a letter sent by US President Donald Trump to his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan, was highly unusual for correspondence between heads of state.

The White House on Wednesday released the October 9 letter, in which Trump urged Erdogan: "Don't be a tough guy" and "Don't be a fool!"

The Kremlin said on Thursday it was concerned by the humanitarian situation in northern Syria following Turkey's decision to launch a military operation there. Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan would discuss Turkey's actions in Syria at a meeting in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Tuesday next week.

The Kremlin said on Thursday it was concerned by the humanitarian situation in northern Syria following Turkey's decision to launch a military operation there. Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan would discuss Turkey's actions in Syria at a meeting in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Tuesday next week. Peskov also told journalists that a letter sent by US President Donald Trump to his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan, was highly unusual for correspondence between heads of state. The White House on Wednesday released the October 9 letter, in which Trump urged Erdogan: "Don't be a tough guy" and "Don't be a fool!"

Kremlin worried by situation in Syria, calls Trump's letter to Erdogan 'unusual'

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker congratulated Prime Minister Boris Johnson on their Brexit withdrawal deal Thursday and said it meant there would be "no further delay".&nbsp;

"We have a deal, and this deal means there is no need for any kind of prolongation," Juncker told reporters as he welcomed the British leader to EU headquarters ahead of summit talks.

British MPs are expected to vote on the deal on Saturday. &nbsp;Pro-EU parliamentarians hope they can defeat it and Brexit can still be delayed to allow a general election or a new referendum on whether to leave the EU at all.

Arriving later at an EU summit of leaders expected to endorse the new withdrawal plan, Juncker said he hoped British MPs would pass the plan as agreed so that Britain can leave on October 31.

"There will be no prolongation. There is not an argument for further delay -- it has to be done now," he said.

"We have a deal. The British prime minister has to make sure it passes the hurdles of the British parliament. I was ruling out any sort of prolongation. We have a deal.

"I'm satisfied that we were able to find a deal. I'm sad that Britain will be leaving the European Union," he said, adding that Johnson agreed that there should be no more delay.

 
&nbsp;

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker congratulated Prime Minister Boris Johnson on their Brexit withdrawal deal Thursday and said it meant there would be "no further delay".

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker congratulated Prime Minister Boris Johnson on their Brexit withdrawal deal Thursday and said it meant there would be "no further delay". "We have a deal, and this deal means there is no need for any kind of prolongation," Juncker told reporters as he welcomed the British leader to EU headquarters ahead of summit talks. British MPs are expected to vote on the deal on Saturday. Pro-EU parliamentarians hope they can defeat it and Brexit can still be delayed to allow a general election or a new referendum on whether to leave the EU at all. Arriving later at an EU summit of leaders expected to endorse the new withdrawal plan, Juncker said he hoped British MPs would pass the plan as agreed so that Britain can leave on October 31. "There will be no prolongation. There is not an argument for further delay -- it has to be done now," he said. "We have a deal. The British prime minister has to make sure it passes the hurdles of the British parliament. I was ruling out any sort of prolongation. We have a deal. "I'm satisfied that we were able to find a deal. I'm sad that Britain will be leaving the European Union," he said, adding that Johnson agreed that there should be no more delay.

EU's Jean-Claude Juncker says Brexit will not be delayed

The British pound had a tumultuous session on Thursday as a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-johnson-says-great-new-deal-reached-on-brexit-256464">draft Brexit deal between London and Brussels</a> sparked both hope and scepticism in a volatile forex market.

Sterling soared to within a whisker of $1.30, striking five-month peaks, when news flashed across traders' screens that the European Union had reached a draft Brexit withdrawal deal with London.

The pound held on to most of those gains for a while, absorbing a bout of profit-taking, but then the currency plunged when it dawned on investors that there was no guarantee of UK parliamentary backing for the agreement.

"After the initial relief that the UK government and EU have done a deal, markets are worried that it still does not have enough support to get through parliament on Saturday," independent economist Julian Jessop told AFP.

By 1330 GMT, the currency was pretty much back to where it started from against the dollar.

'Still chance of no deal'

It is unclear how many of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative MPs will back the deal when he brings it to lawmakers for approval Saturday, and whether the opposition will try to vote it down or attempt to force a fresh referendum.

"There is still a chance for a no-deal Brexit – although the more likely scenario would be for the Prime Minister to follow the law and request the EU for a Brexit deadline extension, which then opens up more uncertainty," said Fawad Razaqzada at Forex.com.

Northern Ireland's DUP said Thursday it was "unable to support" the draft deal. A pre-emptive DUP announcement to the same effect issued before the draft deal had already weighed on sterling, before news from Brussels gave the currency wings, if not for long.

The London stock market, which usually moves in the opposite direction from sterling, enjoyed a rise Thursday, becoming the day's star performer in otherwise lacklustre European equity trading.&nbsp;

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones index rose at the start of business.

Earlier in Asia, most markets ended in the red, with traders unable to take advantage of weak US retail data that raised the chances of another Federal Reserve interest rate cut.

Comments in the Fed's Beige Book update on the economy also pointed to a slowdown in the world's biggest economy.

Oil prices fell as data pointed to a sharp rise in US stockpiles that reinforced worries about the impact on demand from the China-US trade war and the global economic slowdown.

Key figures around 1330 GMT

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2831 from $1.2832 at 2100 GMT

Euro/pound: UP at 86.68 pence from 86.28 pence

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1124 from $1.1033&nbsp;

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 108.62 yen from 108.76 yen

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.8 percent at 7,223.88 points

Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.1 percent at 5,699.52

Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 0.6 percent at 12,740.91

EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.2 percent at 3,606.10

New York - Dow: UP 0.3 percent at 27,078.39

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.1 percent at 22,451.86 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.7 percent at 26,848.49 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 2,977.33 (close)

Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.7 percent at $59.03 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.8 percent at $52.93

The British pound had a tumultuous session on Thursday as a draft Brexit deal between London and Brussels sparked both hope and scepticism in a volatile forex market.

The British pound had a tumultuous session on Thursday as a draft Brexit deal between London and Brussels sparked both hope and scepticism in a volatile forex market. Sterling soared to within a whisker of $1.30, striking five-month peaks, when news flashed across traders' screens that the European Union had reached a draft Brexit withdrawal deal with London. The pound held on to most of those gains for a while, absorbing a bout of profit-taking, but then the currency plunged when it dawned on investors that there was no guarantee of UK parliamentary backing for the agreement. "After the initial relief that the UK government and EU have done a deal, markets are worried that it still does not have enough support to get through parliament on Saturday," independent economist Julian Jessop told AFP. By 1330 GMT, the currency was pretty much back to where it started from against the dollar. 'Still chance of no deal' It is unclear how many of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative MPs will back the deal when he brings it to lawmakers for approval Saturday, and whether the opposition will try to vote it down or attempt to force a fresh referendum. "There is still a chance for a no-deal Brexit – although the more likely scenario would be for the Prime Minister to follow the law and request the EU for a Brexit deadline extension, which then opens up more uncertainty," said Fawad Razaqzada at Forex.com. Northern Ireland's DUP said Thursday it was "unable to support" the draft deal. A pre-emptive DUP announcement to the same effect issued before the draft deal had already weighed on sterling, before news from Brussels gave the currency wings, if not for long. The London stock market, which usually moves in the opposite direction from sterling, enjoyed a rise Thursday, becoming the day's star performer in otherwise lacklustre European equity trading. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones index rose at the start of business. Earlier in Asia, most markets ended in the red, with traders unable to take advantage of weak US retail data that raised the chances of another Federal Reserve interest rate cut. Comments in the Fed's Beige Book update on the economy also pointed to a slowdown in the world's biggest economy. Oil prices fell as data pointed to a sharp rise in US stockpiles that reinforced worries about the impact on demand from the China-US trade war and the global economic slowdown. Key figures around 1330 GMT Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2831 from $1.2832 at 2100 GMT Euro/pound: UP at 86.68 pence from 86.28 pence Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1124 from $1.1033 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 108.62 yen from 108.76 yen London - FTSE 100: UP 0.8 percent at 7,223.88 points Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.1 percent at 5,699.52 Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 0.6 percent at 12,740.91 EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.2 percent at 3,606.10 New York - Dow: UP 0.3 percent at 27,078.39 Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.1 percent at 22,451.86 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.7 percent at 26,848.49 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 2,977.33 (close) Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.7 percent at $59.03 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.8 percent at $52.93

Pound goes on rollercoaster ride after Brexit draft deal

The killing of a non-local fruit dealer in Trenz area of Shopian by terrorists has shocked the people associated with the business in Jammu and Kashmir. Most of them feel uncertain about their harvest as they have been struggling to send their produce to the markets across India due to terror threats.

Yesterday, a group of terrorists attacked two apple dealers from Gurdaspur in Punjab when they were in the area to purchase apples from local growers. One among them, who has been identified as Charanjeet Singh died at a local hospital while his colleague Sanjay Kumar is battling his life in Srinagar hospital.

This isn’t the first target killing of a non-local in Kashmir valley after postpaid mobile connections were restored. &nbsp;During the same day, in broad daylight, a migrant labourer hailing from Chattisgarh was shot dead from a close range at Nihama village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama while another person who was accompanying him managed to save his life.

Sethi Kumar was working as a labourer at a brick kiln in the same district and was shot in the head. A similar incident took place on Monday evening when terrorists from the banned outfit, Jaish-e-Muhammed and Lashkar-e-Toiba killed a non-local driver from Rajasthan in Shopian when he arrived there to load apples and deliver them to Delhi.

Most affected by this have been the apple farmers, who have become a soft target of these groups at a time when their harvest was good and ready to move out of the valley.

“We suffered due to shutdown initially. Usually, these are the months to pick apples and sell them. Traders from outside would come to Kashmir and buy apples in bulk but now he (trader) isn’t sure if he would come back alive or not. How would he come?” asks Ali Mohammad, an apple fruit farmer.

Jammu and Kashmir police have now increased security in and around the areas where fruit traders operate and have also pasted posters of two terrorists namely Syed Naveed Mushtaq and Raheel Magray.&nbsp;

Naveed Mushtaq alias Naveed Babu was a constable with the Jammu and Kashmir police who joined banned Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfit and became a commander. His name has surfaced in several cases earlier. 
These incidents have also left non-local workers and truck drivers in a tizzy. Several migrant labours had left Kashmir when article 370 was revoked fearing hostility. &nbsp;

The business community, in general, is worried too. Although the administration has published advertisements in the local dailies to encourage people to resume normal life, most of the shops are still shut. Officials say the fear of terrorists targeting them has kept the shutters down.

“I feel for the farmers and assure them that all possible security will be provided to sell their harvest and fruits. I would ensure security to those apple growers and others also; who want to indulge in business and this will be our responsibility” Lt Gen KJS Dhillon, Chinar Corps Commander told media at a function.

The Kashmir valley currently accounts for 71 per cent of national apple production. Horticulture contributes 8 to 10 per cent GDP ratio and yearly records 8,000 to 1,000 crore turnover. Official figures reveal that 7 lakh people are directly or indirectly associated with this business in the Himalayan state.

The killing of a non-local fruit dealer in Trenz area of Shopian by terrorists has shocked the people associated with the business in Jammu and Kashmir. Most of them feel uncertain about their harvest as they have been struggling to send their produce to the markets across India due to terror threats.

The killing of a non-local fruit dealer in Trenz area of Shopian by terrorists has shocked the people associated with the business in Jammu and Kashmir. Most of them feel uncertain about their harvest as they have been struggling to send their produce to the markets across India due to terror threats. Yesterday, a group of terrorists attacked two apple dealers from Gurdaspur in Punjab when they were in the area to purchase apples from local growers. One among them, who has been identified as Charanjeet Singh died at a local hospital while his colleague Sanjay Kumar is battling his life in Srinagar hospital. This isn’t the first target killing of a non-local in Kashmir valley after postpaid mobile connections were restored. During the same day, in broad daylight, a migrant labourer hailing from Chattisgarh was shot dead from a close range at Nihama village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama while another person who was accompanying him managed to save his life. Sethi Kumar was working as a labourer at a brick kiln in the same district and was shot in the head. A similar incident took place on Monday evening when terrorists from the banned outfit, Jaish-e-Muhammed and Lashkar-e-Toiba killed a non-local driver from Rajasthan in Shopian when he arrived there to load apples and deliver them to Delhi. Most affected by this have been the apple farmers, who have become a soft target of these groups at a time when their harvest was good and ready to move out of the valley. “We suffered due to shutdown initially. Usually, these are the months to pick apples and sell them. Traders from outside would come to Kashmir and buy apples in bulk but now he (trader) isn’t sure if he would come back alive or not. How would he come?” asks Ali Mohammad, an apple fruit farmer. Jammu and Kashmir police have now increased security in and around the areas where fruit traders operate and have also pasted posters of two terrorists namely Syed Naveed Mushtaq and Raheel Magray. Naveed Mushtaq alias Naveed Babu was a constable with the Jammu and Kashmir police who joined banned Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfit and became a commander. His name has surfaced in several cases earlier. These incidents have also left non-local workers and truck drivers in a tizzy. Several migrant labours had left Kashmir when article 370 was revoked fearing hostility. The business community, in general, is worried too. Although the administration has published advertisements in the local dailies to encourage people to resume normal life, most of the shops are still shut. Officials say the fear of terrorists targeting them has kept the shutters down. “I feel for the farmers and assure them that all possible security will be provided to sell their harvest and fruits. I would ensure security to those apple growers and others also; who want to indulge in business and this will be our responsibility” Lt Gen KJS Dhillon, Chinar Corps Commander told media at a function. The Kashmir valley currently accounts for 71 per cent of national apple production. Horticulture contributes 8 to 10 per cent GDP ratio and yearly records 8,000 to 1,000 crore turnover. Official figures reveal that 7 lakh people are directly or indirectly associated with this business in the Himalayan state.

Killing of 3 non-locals shock apple traders in Jammu and Kashmir

"Don't be a fool," Donald Trump warned his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an extraordinary letter sent the day<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-assault-in-northeast-syria-displaced-300000-monitor-256435"> Turkey launched</a> its incursion into northeastern Syria -- warning history risked branding him a "devil."

Three days after appearing to greenlight an invasion by pulling US troops from the Kurdish-dominated region, Trump told the Turkish president he would wreck Ankara's economy if the invasion went too far.

In language shorn of diplomatic niceties, Trump began with an outright threat.

<img alt="trump-letter" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="45fd2603-c0a5-4350-bd70-5ae3a0607c2a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Trump%20letter.jpg" />

"Let's work out a good deal," Trump wrote in the letter dated October 9, whose authenticity was confirmed to AFP by the White House.

"You don't want to be responsible for slaughtering thousands of people, and I don't want to be responsible for destroying the Turkish economy, and I will."

"History will look upon you favourably if you get this done the right and humane way," Trump said. "It will look upon you forever as the devil if good things don't happen."

The US leader told Erdogan a "great deal" was possible if he negotiated with the head of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, whom Turkey has labelled a "terrorist" for his ties to the Kurdish PKK militants in Turkey.

"Don't be a tough guy. Don't be a fool," he finished, adding: "I will call you later."

"Don't be a fool," Donald Trump warned his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an extraordinary letter sent the day Turkey launched its incursion into northeastern Syria -- warning history risked branding him a "devil.

"Don't be a fool," Donald Trump warned his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an extraordinary letter sent the day Turkey launched its incursion into northeastern Syria -- warning history risked branding him a "devil." Three days after appearing to greenlight an invasion by pulling US troops from the Kurdish-dominated region, Trump told the Turkish president he would wreck Ankara's economy if the invasion went too far. In language shorn of diplomatic niceties, Trump began with an outright threat. "Let's work out a good deal," Trump wrote in the letter dated October 9, whose authenticity was confirmed to AFP by the White House. "You don't want to be responsible for slaughtering thousands of people, and I don't want to be responsible for destroying the Turkish economy, and I will." "History will look upon you favourably if you get this done the right and humane way," Trump said. "It will look upon you forever as the devil if good things don't happen." The US leader told Erdogan a "great deal" was possible if he negotiated with the head of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, whom Turkey has labelled a "terrorist" for his ties to the Kurdish PKK militants in Turkey. "Don't be a tough guy. Don't be a fool," he finished, adding: "I will call you later."

'Don't be a fool': US President Trump tells Turkish President Erdogan in threatening letter

US&nbsp;astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir will make history on Friday when they conduct the first-ever all-female spacewalk to replace the power source on the International Space Station (ISS).

The pair will exit the ISS at 7:50 a.m. EDT (11:50 GMT) to fix the station’s faulty battery charge/discharge unit (BCDU) over a period of more than five hours.

An all-woman spacewalk was cancelled in March due to one woman's ill-fitting suit, leading to her replacement by a male colleague.

“Our achievements provide inspiration to students around the world, proving that hard work can lead you to great heights, and all students should be able to see themselves in those achievements,” a NASA spokeswoman said in an emailed statement.

The spacewalk will be broadcast in its entirety from 6:30 a.m. EDT (10:30 GMT) on National Aeronautics and Space Association (NASA) Television and on the agency's website.

Koch and Meir are replacing the BCDUs after they failed to provide increased power to the ISS, though this has not significantly impacted the crew or its mission.

According to NASA, BCDUs regulate the charge for batteries that draw energy from the station's solar collectors to provide power as the station orbits at night.

Koch, who is also set to complete the longest single spaceflight by a woman as she remains in orbit until February 2020, said gender milestones like the spacewalk were especially significant.

"There are a lot of people who derive motivation from inspiring stories from people who look like them, and I think that it’s an important aspect of the story to tell," she told a NASA briefing in Houston this month.

"What we’re doing now shows all the work in the decades prior from all the women that worked to get us where we are today,” Meir added.

Koch, who was slated for the earlier spacewalk, will be making her fourth walk and will become the 14th woman ever to walk in space. Friday will mark Meir's first spacewalk. The ISS has seen more than 200 spacewalks since 1998.

The March spacewalk was called off because astronaut Ann McClain needed a medium spacesuit but only a large was available. Due to safety issues with the fit, she did not participate.

"We must never accept a risk that can instead be mitigated," she said on Twitter after the event. "Safety of the crew and execution of the mission come first.”

At the time the cancellation drew widespread criticism, including from former US&nbsp;First Lady Hillary Clinton and global activism group March for Science.

Woman spacewalks date to July 1984 when Russian cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya became the first to do so. Russian cosmonaut Alexei Leonov conducted history's first spacewalk in 1965.

While Friday's event is a long time coming, NASA said it was not purposefully planned.

"It is something that was bound to happen eventually, and the increase in female astronauts in space for the past year is providing another window of opportunity,” its spokeswoman said.

US astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir will make history on Friday when they conduct the first-ever all-female spacewalk to replace the power source on the International Space Station (ISS).

US astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir will make history on Friday when they conduct the first-ever all-female spacewalk to replace the power source on the International Space Station (ISS). The pair will exit the ISS at 7:50 a.m. EDT (11:50 GMT) to fix the station’s faulty battery charge/discharge unit (BCDU) over a period of more than five hours. An all-woman spacewalk was cancelled in March due to one woman's ill-fitting suit, leading to her replacement by a male colleague. “Our achievements provide inspiration to students around the world, proving that hard work can lead you to great heights, and all students should be able to see themselves in those achievements,” a NASA spokeswoman said in an emailed statement. The spacewalk will be broadcast in its entirety from 6:30 a.m. EDT (10:30 GMT) on National Aeronautics and Space Association (NASA) Television and on the agency's website. Koch and Meir are replacing the BCDUs after they failed to provide increased power to the ISS, though this has not significantly impacted the crew or its mission. According to NASA, BCDUs regulate the charge for batteries that draw energy from the station's solar collectors to provide power as the station orbits at night. Koch, who is also set to complete the longest single spaceflight by a woman as she remains in orbit until February 2020, said gender milestones like the spacewalk were especially significant. "There are a lot of people who derive motivation from inspiring stories from people who look like them, and I think that it’s an important aspect of the story to tell," she told a NASA briefing in Houston this month. "What we’re doing now shows all the work in the decades prior from all the women that worked to get us where we are today,” Meir added. Koch, who was slated for the earlier spacewalk, will be making her fourth walk and will become the 14th woman ever to walk in space. Friday will mark Meir's first spacewalk. The ISS has seen more than 200 spacewalks since 1998. The March spacewalk was called off because astronaut Ann McClain needed a medium spacesuit but only a large was available. Due to safety issues with the fit, she did not participate. "We must never accept a risk that can instead be mitigated," she said on Twitter after the event. "Safety of the crew and execution of the mission come first.” At the time the cancellation drew widespread criticism, including from former US First Lady Hillary Clinton and global activism group March for Science. Woman spacewalks date to July 1984 when Russian cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya became the first to do so. Russian cosmonaut Alexei Leonov conducted history's first spacewalk in 1965. While Friday's event is a long time coming, NASA said it was not purposefully planned. "It is something that was bound to happen eventually, and the increase in female astronauts in space for the past year is providing another window of opportunity,” its spokeswoman said.

Historic all-female spacewalk set for Friday at International Space Station

Tesla&nbsp;Inc.&nbsp;was added to a government list of approved automotive manufacturers,&nbsp;China's industry ministry said on Thursday, as it granted the electric-vehicle maker a certificate it needs to&nbsp;start&nbsp;production in the country.

The list was published by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

This means "the green light is fully given to&nbsp;Tesla&nbsp;for production in&nbsp;China," said Yale Zhang, head of the Shanghai-based consultancy Automotive Foresight.&nbsp;Tesla&nbsp;can&nbsp;start&nbsp;production any time, he said

Tesla&nbsp;did not immediately respond to an e-mailed request for comment. The $2 billion factories it is building in the eastern Chinese city of Shanghai is its first car&nbsp;manufacturing&nbsp;site overseas.

Reuters reported earlier this month that&nbsp;Tesla&nbsp;plans to&nbsp;start&nbsp;production at its&nbsp;China&nbsp;factory this month. It is unclear when it will meet year-end production targets&nbsp;because of uncertainties around orders, labour and suppliers.

Tesla&nbsp;intends to produce at least 1,000 Model 3s a week from the Shanghai factory by the end of this year, as it tries to boost sales in the world's biggest auto market and avoid higher import tariffs imposed on US&nbsp;cars.

The factory,&nbsp;China's first fully foreign-owned car plant, also reflects Beijing's broader shift to open up its car market.

Shanghai authorities have offered&nbsp;Tesla&nbsp;assistance to speed up construction, and&nbsp;China&nbsp;excluded&nbsp;Tesla&nbsp;models from a 10 per cent&nbsp;car purchase tax on August&nbsp;30.

Tesla Inc. was added to a government list of approved automotive manufacturers, China's industry ministry said on Thursday, as it granted the electric-vehicle maker a certificate it needs to start production in the country.

Tesla Inc. was added to a government list of approved automotive manufacturers, China's industry ministry said on Thursday, as it granted the electric-vehicle maker a certificate it needs to start production in the country. The list was published by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. This means "the green light is fully given to Tesla for production in China," said Yale Zhang, head of the Shanghai-based consultancy Automotive Foresight. Tesla can start production any time, he said Tesla did not immediately respond to an e-mailed request for comment. The $2 billion factories it is building in the eastern Chinese city of Shanghai is its first car manufacturing site overseas. Reuters reported earlier this month that Tesla plans to start production at its China factory this month. It is unclear when it will meet year-end production targets because of uncertainties around orders, labour and suppliers. Tesla intends to produce at least 1,000 Model 3s a week from the Shanghai factory by the end of this year, as it tries to boost sales in the world's biggest auto market and avoid higher import tariffs imposed on US cars. The factory, China's first fully foreign-owned car plant, also reflects Beijing's broader shift to open up its car market. Shanghai authorities have offered Tesla assistance to speed up construction, and China excluded Tesla models from a 10 per cent car purchase tax on August 30.

Tesla gets approval to start manufacturing in China

British&nbsp;retailer&nbsp;WH&nbsp;Smith&nbsp;Plc&nbsp;said on Thursday it will&nbsp;buy&nbsp;Marshall&nbsp;Retail&nbsp;Group for about $400&nbsp;million, betting that the American peer's network of stores at&nbsp;US&nbsp;airports will help boost profits soured by turmoil on the British high street.

Business at&nbsp;WH&nbsp;Smith's stores at airports and railway stations has been booming as the over 200-year-old company benefits from rising passenger footfall and new larger-format outlets.

The company,&nbsp;which sells everything from books and sandwiches to Bluetooth headphones, began its&nbsp;push&nbsp;into the United States last year&nbsp;when it bought digital accessories&nbsp;retailer InMotion.

WH&nbsp;Smith&nbsp;said it would fund the all-cash deal for&nbsp;Marshall&nbsp;through a combination of 200&nbsp;million&nbsp;pounds&nbsp;in new debt and a 155&nbsp;million&nbsp;pound equity raise. The company will suspend its share&nbsp;buyback programme&nbsp;while it pays off debt.

The reliance on travelling consumers was highlighted on Thursday&nbsp;when&nbsp;WH&nbsp;Smith&nbsp;reported a 7 per cent&nbsp;rise in headline annual pre-tax profit, boosted by a 14 per cent&nbsp;jump in earnings from its travel business.

Headline profit before tax rose to 155&nbsp;million&nbsp;pounds from 145&nbsp;million&nbsp;pounds in the year ended August&nbsp;31, marginally beating analyst estimates of 154.2&nbsp;million&nbsp;pounds, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

The company also said it was prepared for Brexit and has put in place contingency plans, including increasing the stock of convenience products.

British retailer WH Smith Plc said on Thursday it will buy Marshall Retail Group for about $400 million, betting that the American peer's network of stores at US airports will help boost profits soured by turmoil on the British high street.

British retailer WH Smith Plc said on Thursday it will buy Marshall Retail Group for about $400 million, betting that the American peer's network of stores at US airports will help boost profits soured by turmoil on the British high street. Business at WH Smith's stores at airports and railway stations has been booming as the over 200-year-old company benefits from rising passenger footfall and new larger-format outlets. The company, which sells everything from books and sandwiches to Bluetooth headphones, began its push into the United States last year when it bought digital accessories retailer InMotion. WH Smith said it would fund the all-cash deal for Marshall through a combination of 200 million pounds in new debt and a 155 million pound equity raise. The company will suspend its share buyback programme while it pays off debt. The reliance on travelling consumers was highlighted on Thursday when WH Smith reported a 7 per cent rise in headline annual pre-tax profit, boosted by a 14 per cent jump in earnings from its travel business. Headline profit before tax rose to 155 million pounds from 145 million pounds in the year ended August 31, marginally beating analyst estimates of 154.2 million pounds, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. The company also said it was prepared for Brexit and has put in place contingency plans, including increasing the stock of convenience products.

WH Smith to buy Marshall Retail for $400 million in US push

US Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-delegations-head-to-turkey-256376">departed for Turkey</a> on Wednesday, seeking to secure a ceasefire in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-assault-in-northeast-syria-displaced-300000-monitor-256435">Turkish invasion</a> of northern Syria.

"Our mission set is to see if we can get a ceasefire, see if we can get this brokered," Pompeo told reporters on his plane.

Pence and Pompeo, who travelled on different planes, were scheduled to hold talks on Thursday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but Erdogan has said he will not meet them.

Erdogan has also vowed that Turkey's operation,&nbsp;which was facilitated by the withdrawal of US troops from northern Syria, would continue.

US President Donald Trump, facing with mounting criticism over the abrupt pullout, has denied he gave Erdogan a "green light" to launch operations against the Kurds.

Pence's office said the US would pursue "punishing economic sanctions" unless there was an immediate ceasefire.

After the trip to Turkey, Pompeo will stop in Jerusalem Friday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss Syria and the "need to counter the Iranian regime's destabilizing behavior in the region," according to a statement from the State Department.

Iran is an arch-foe for the Trump administration, which pulled out of a multinational deal on curbing Tehran's nuclear program and instead slapped punishing sanctions.

Later Friday, Pompeo will also meet with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels, the statement said.

US Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo departed for Turkey on Wednesday, seeking to secure a ceasefire in the Turkish invasion of northern Syria.

US Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo departed for Turkey on Wednesday, seeking to secure a ceasefire in the Turkish invasion of northern Syria. "Our mission set is to see if we can get a ceasefire, see if we can get this brokered," Pompeo told reporters on his plane. Pence and Pompeo, who travelled on different planes, were scheduled to hold talks on Thursday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but Erdogan has said he will not meet them. Erdogan has also vowed that Turkey's operation, which was facilitated by the withdrawal of US troops from northern Syria, would continue. US President Donald Trump, facing with mounting criticism over the abrupt pullout, has denied he gave Erdogan a "green light" to launch operations against the Kurds. Pence's office said the US would pursue "punishing economic sanctions" unless there was an immediate ceasefire. After the trip to Turkey, Pompeo will stop in Jerusalem Friday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss Syria and the "need to counter the Iranian regime's destabilizing behavior in the region," according to a statement from the State Department. Iran is an arch-foe for the Trump administration, which pulled out of a multinational deal on curbing Tehran's nuclear program and instead slapped punishing sanctions. Later Friday, Pompeo will also meet with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels, the statement said.

United States' Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo head to Turkey seeking ceasefire

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