Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, on Tuesday denied allegations that a COVID-19 trial volunteer suffered serious side effects from a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-europe-before-the-end-of-2020-pfizer-biontech-files-for-eu-approval-of-coronavirus-vaccine-346707">vaccine</a> developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, saying that the vaccine is safe and immunogenic.

"We would want to assure everyone that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-predicts-availability-of-covid-19-vaccines-before-christmas-346646">vaccine</a> won't be released for mass use unless it is proven immunogenic, and safe," it said in a blog.

Last week, a volunteer in Chennai claimed to have suffered serious neurological and psychological symptoms after taking the experimental shot and has sued the company along with others and a sought compensation of Rs 5 crore.

"The incident with the Chennai volunteer though highly unfortunate was in no way induced by the vaccine and Serum Institute of India is sympathetic with the volunteer's medical condition," the Pune-based institute said.

Serum is conducting trials of AstraZeneca's vaccine in India as part of a manufacturing agreement. 
"Taking into consideration the complexities and existing misnomers about vaccination and immunisation; the legal notice was sent (to the volunteer) therefore to safeguard the reputation of the company which is being unfairly maligned," Serum said.

It said all the requisite regulatory and ethical processes and guidelines were followed diligently and strictly.

"The concerned authorities were informed and the principal investigator, DSMB and the Ethics Committee independently cleared and reckoned it as a non-related issue to the vaccine trial. 
"Post which, we submitted all the reports and data related to the incident to the DCGI (Drugs Controller General of India). It is only after we cleared all the required processes that we continued with the trials," it added.

In response to claims made by the volunteer, Serum had on Sunday stated that the allegations were "malicious and misconceived".

Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, on Tuesday denied allegations that a COVID-19 trial volunteer suffered serious side effects from a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, saying that the vaccine is safe and immunogenic.

Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, on Tuesday denied allegations that a COVID-19 trial volunteer suffered serious side effects from a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, saying that the vaccine is safe and immunogenic. "We would want to assure everyone that the vaccine won't be released for mass use unless it is proven immunogenic, and safe," it said in a blog. Last week, a volunteer in Chennai claimed to have suffered serious neurological and psychological symptoms after taking the experimental shot and has sued the company along with others and a sought compensation of Rs 5 crore. "The incident with the Chennai volunteer though highly unfortunate was in no way induced by the vaccine and Serum Institute of India is sympathetic with the volunteer's medical condition," the Pune-based institute said. Serum is conducting trials of AstraZeneca's vaccine in India as part of a manufacturing agreement. "Taking into consideration the complexities and existing misnomers about vaccination and immunisation; the legal notice was sent (to the volunteer) therefore to safeguard the reputation of the company which is being unfairly maligned," Serum said. It said all the requisite regulatory and ethical processes and guidelines were followed diligently and strictly. "The concerned authorities were informed and the principal investigator, DSMB and the Ethics Committee independently cleared and reckoned it as a non-related issue to the vaccine trial. "Post which, we submitted all the reports and data related to the incident to the DCGI (Drugs Controller General of India). It is only after we cleared all the required processes that we continued with the trials," it added. In response to claims made by the volunteer, Serum had on Sunday stated that the allegations were "malicious and misconceived".

AstraZeneca vaccine safe and immunogenic: Serum Institute of India

India is considering a plan to build a 10 gigawatts (GW) hydropower project in a remote eastern state, an Indian official said on Tuesday, following reports that China could construct dams on a section of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ahead-of-monsoon-season-china-begins-sharing-hydrological-data-for-brahmaputra-with-india-220218">Brahmaputra</a> river.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-prepares-to-build-dam-on-brahmaputra-river-in-tibet-india-raises-concern-346417">Also Read:&nbsp;China prepares to build dam on Brahmaputra river in Tibet; India raises concern</a>

The river, also known as the Yarlung Tsangbo in China, flows from Tibet into India's Arunachal Pradesh state and down through Assam to Bangladesh. Indian authorities are concerned Chinese projects could trigger flash floods or create water scarcity.

"The need of the hour is to have a big dam in Arunachal Pradesh to mitigate the adverse impact of the Chinese dam projects," T.S. Mehra, a senior official in India's federal water ministry, told Reuters.

"Our proposal is under consideration at the highest level in the government," Mehra said, adding the Indian plan would create a large water storage capacity to offset the impact of Chinese dams on flows.

Diplomatic relations between India and China are at a nadir, with troops locked in a border face-off in the western Himalayas for months.

Some analysts warned that damming the Brahmaputra could potentially develop into another flashpoint, as Beijing's dam building activities moved closer to the Indian border.

"India is facing China's terrestrial aggression in the Himalayas, maritime encroachments on its backyard and, as the latest news is a reminder, even water wars," Brahma Chellaney, a specialist on India-China ties, said in a tweet.

On Monday, Chinese state media reported the country could build up to 60 GW of hydropower capacity on a section of the Brahmaputra, citing a senior executive.

Yan Zhiyong, chairman of state-owned Power Construction Corporation of China, speaking at an industry conference, said plans to dam the river were a "historic opportunity".

"Formally, we are telling them (the Chinese) that any project you undertake, should not cause an adverse impact on India. They have given an assurance, but we don't know how long their assurance will last," Mehra said.

Hydro projects on Asia's great rivers have been a growing source of regional tensions in recent years. In Southeast Asia, China has faced accusations a series of dams it has built on the Mekong have worsened drought in downstream countries, which Beijing denies.

India would be concerned if the Chinese built a dam around a so-called "great bend", where the Yarlung curves southward before entering India and where the river gains substantial volume of water, said Sayanangshu Modak, a researcher at the New-Delhi based Observer Research Foundation think-tank.

This region, however, is also geologically unstable, making potential dam construction challenging, he said.

In Bangladesh, Sheikh Rokon, secretary general of environment campaigners Riverine People, said multilateral discussion should be held before China builds any dams.

"China's downstream neighbours have a legitimate cause for concern. Water flow will be disrupted," he said.

India is considering a plan to build a 10 gigawatts (GW) hydropower project in a remote eastern state, an Indian official said on Tuesday, following reports that China could construct dams on a section of the Brahmaputra river.

India is considering a plan to build a 10 gigawatts (GW) hydropower project in a remote eastern state, an Indian official said on Tuesday, following reports that China could construct dams on a section of the Brahmaputra river. Also Read: China prepares to build dam on Brahmaputra river in Tibet; India raises concern The river, also known as the Yarlung Tsangbo in China, flows from Tibet into India's Arunachal Pradesh state and down through Assam to Bangladesh. Indian authorities are concerned Chinese projects could trigger flash floods or create water scarcity. "The need of the hour is to have a big dam in Arunachal Pradesh to mitigate the adverse impact of the Chinese dam projects," T.S. Mehra, a senior official in India's federal water ministry, told Reuters. "Our proposal is under consideration at the highest level in the government," Mehra said, adding the Indian plan would create a large water storage capacity to offset the impact of Chinese dams on flows. Diplomatic relations between India and China are at a nadir, with troops locked in a border face-off in the western Himalayas for months. Some analysts warned that damming the Brahmaputra could potentially develop into another flashpoint, as Beijing's dam building activities moved closer to the Indian border. "India is facing China's terrestrial aggression in the Himalayas, maritime encroachments on its backyard and, as the latest news is a reminder, even water wars," Brahma Chellaney, a specialist on India-China ties, said in a tweet. On Monday, Chinese state media reported the country could build up to 60 GW of hydropower capacity on a section of the Brahmaputra, citing a senior executive. Yan Zhiyong, chairman of state-owned Power Construction Corporation of China, speaking at an industry conference, said plans to dam the river were a "historic opportunity". "Formally, we are telling them (the Chinese) that any project you undertake, should not cause an adverse impact on India. They have given an assurance, but we don't know how long their assurance will last," Mehra said. Hydro projects on Asia's great rivers have been a growing source of regional tensions in recent years. In Southeast Asia, China has faced accusations a series of dams it has built on the Mekong have worsened drought in downstream countries, which Beijing denies. India would be concerned if the Chinese built a dam around a so-called "great bend", where the Yarlung curves southward before entering India and where the river gains substantial volume of water, said Sayanangshu Modak, a researcher at the New-Delhi based Observer Research Foundation think-tank. This region, however, is also geologically unstable, making potential dam construction challenging, he said. In Bangladesh, Sheikh Rokon, secretary general of environment campaigners Riverine People, said multilateral discussion should be held before China builds any dams. "China's downstream neighbours have a legitimate cause for concern. Water flow will be disrupted," he said.

India plans dam on Brahmaputra to offset Chinese construction upstream

As the Trump administration prepares US troops to pull out of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-forces-kill-taliban-mastermind-of-ghazni-attack-346451"> Afghanistan</a>, German foreign minister Heiko Maas said today that premature withdrawal should not take place as it could jeopardise the peace negotiations.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/afghanistan-no-progress-in-peace-talks-whats-next-345770/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The German minister's comments come as Taliban and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-military-dog-gets-victoria-cross-for-charging-al-qaeda-gunman-in-afghanistan-345234">Afghan</a> government officials get ready for the next round of peace talks.

The United States has agreed to withdraw all foreign forces in the country in exchange for security guarantees and for the Taliban's pledge to hold talks with the Ghani government.

"As NATO partners, we want to ensure that we tie further troop reductions in Afghanistan to clear conditions," the German foreign minister said, adding,"to safeguard what we have reached so far, we must not take any rash actions."

"This is why we call on the alliance to have a very close look at how far the conditions for a further withdrawal have been met to avoid sending a wrong message regarding the peace process," Maas added.

Germany had earlier sought "more clarity" on the US plan to pull out of the country.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had earlier met the two sides in Doha calling for "expedited discussions" after talks got underway in September but soon broke down over difference between the Taliban and the government as the violence began to escalate in the region.

Britain's ally the United Kingdom had said that it will follow the United States in reducing troop levels in Afghanistan. "I expect if they (the US) are reducing at some stage, we will come down," defence secretary Ben Wallace had said.

The Pentagon had said earlier that it pull out nearly 2,000 troops from Afghanistan and would ensure the full withdrawal of all troops in mid-2021.

As the Trump administration prepares US troops to pull out of Afghanistan, German foreign minister Heiko Maas said today that premature withdrawal should not take place as it could jeopardise the peace negotiations.

As the Trump administration prepares US troops to pull out of Afghanistan, German foreign minister Heiko Maas said today that premature withdrawal should not take place as it could jeopardise the peace negotiations. Watch: The German minister's comments come as Taliban and Afghan government officials get ready for the next round of peace talks. The United States has agreed to withdraw all foreign forces in the country in exchange for security guarantees and for the Taliban's pledge to hold talks with the Ghani government. "As NATO partners, we want to ensure that we tie further troop reductions in Afghanistan to clear conditions," the German foreign minister said, adding,"to safeguard what we have reached so far, we must not take any rash actions." "This is why we call on the alliance to have a very close look at how far the conditions for a further withdrawal have been met to avoid sending a wrong message regarding the peace process," Maas added. Germany had earlier sought "more clarity" on the US plan to pull out of the country. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had earlier met the two sides in Doha calling for "expedited discussions" after talks got underway in September but soon broke down over difference between the Taliban and the government as the violence began to escalate in the region. Britain's ally the United Kingdom had said that it will follow the United States in reducing troop levels in Afghanistan. "I expect if they (the US) are reducing at some stage, we will come down," defence secretary Ben Wallace had said. The Pentagon had said earlier that it pull out nearly 2,000 troops from Afghanistan and would ensure the full withdrawal of all troops in mid-2021.

Germany warns against 'rash actions' over troop withdrawal from Afghanistan

US pharma giant Pfizer along with German company BioNTech have applied for EU regulatory approval for coronavirus <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-predicts-availability-of-covid-19-vaccines-before-christmas-346646">vaccine</a>, the company said today.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-oxford-vaccine-serum-institute-seeks-100-crores-from-vaccine-volunteer-346566/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Pfizer-BioNTech submitted an application "for Conditional Marketing Authorisation (CMA)" after declaring that the vaccine was 95 per cent effective against COVID-19.

The company said if approved it could be rolled out "in Europe before the end of 2020".&nbsp;

The European continent has registered over 400,000 deaths with UK, Spain, Italy and Germany being the worst-hit countries, in the past few months the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/leaked-documents-show-china-bluntly-lied-about-covid-19-and-mishandled-early-pandemic-346590">virus </a>has impacted eastern Europe as well with several countries now under partial lockdown as the battle a second wave.

The UK which is set to emerge from a lockdown on December 2 has decided to impose strict tier 3 lockdown in much of the country as it battles the virus.&nbsp;

However, the French government allowed shops to open ahead of the busy Christmas holidays with businesses hit on a large scale due to the virus. Belgium which has been hit hard due to the virus in recent months has also allowed shops to reopen from today.

Germany which has so far been successful in combating the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-scientists-now-claim-coronavirus-originated-in-india-in-summer-2019-346039">virus</a> has seen a surge in cases with economy minister Peter Altmaier declaring that Germans still has "three or four long winter months ahead."

Moderna had earlier said it was filing for "emergency authorization" of its vaccine in the United States and Europe after it said the vaccine was estimated to be 94.1 per cent effective.

Moderna said it expects approximately 20 million doses of the vaccine to be ready in the US by the end of this year. The United States is the worst-hit country with over 267,000 coronavirus fatalities and 12 million cases.

The death toll due to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/coronavirus-spread-china-must-allow-global-probe-to-ascertain-origin-of-covid-19-291113">virus </a>worldwide has reached 1.4 million with over 60 million infected.

US pharma giant Pfizer along with German company BioNTech have applied for EU regulatory approval for coronavirus vaccine, the company said today. Watch: Pfizer-BioNTech submitted an application "for Conditional Marketing Authorisation (CMA)" after declaring that the vaccine was 95 per cent effective against COVID-19.

US pharma giant Pfizer along with German company BioNTech have applied for EU regulatory approval for coronavirus vaccine, the company said today. Watch: Pfizer-BioNTech submitted an application "for Conditional Marketing Authorisation (CMA)" after declaring that the vaccine was 95 per cent effective against COVID-19. The company said if approved it could be rolled out "in Europe before the end of 2020". The European continent has registered over 400,000 deaths with UK, Spain, Italy and Germany being the worst-hit countries, in the past few months the virus has impacted eastern Europe as well with several countries now under partial lockdown as the battle a second wave. The UK which is set to emerge from a lockdown on December 2 has decided to impose strict tier 3 lockdown in much of the country as it battles the virus. However, the French government allowed shops to open ahead of the busy Christmas holidays with businesses hit on a large scale due to the virus. Belgium which has been hit hard due to the virus in recent months has also allowed shops to reopen from today. Germany which has so far been successful in combating the virus has seen a surge in cases with economy minister Peter Altmaier declaring that Germans still has "three or four long winter months ahead." Moderna had earlier said it was filing for "emergency authorization" of its vaccine in the United States and Europe after it said the vaccine was estimated to be 94.1 per cent effective. Moderna said it expects approximately 20 million doses of the vaccine to be ready in the US by the end of this year. The United States is the worst-hit country with over 267,000 coronavirus fatalities and 12 million cases. The death toll due to the virus worldwide has reached 1.4 million with over 60 million infected.

'In Europe before the end of 2020': Pfizer-BioNTech files for EU approval of coronavirus vaccine

Just a few seats shy of a majority in the state House of Representatives, Democrats in Pennsylvania this year zeroed in on Republican-held suburban districts, where disdain for President Donald Trump ran hot.

One of their prime targets was in the North Hills suburbs outside Pittsburgh, which are home to big brick houses, excellent public schools and “the fastest-trending Democratic district in the state,” according to Emily Skopov, the Democratic nominee for an open seat there, who gamely knocked on the doors of Republican voters in the days before Nov. 3.

She was half right. Joe Biden carried Pennsylvania’s House District 28, after Trump had won it by 9 percentage points in 2016.

But Skopov, the founder of a nonprofit group who positioned herself as a moderate, was defeated.

Across the country, suburban voters’ disgust with Trump — the key to Biden’s election — did not translate into a wide rebuke of other Republicans, as Democrats had expected after the party made significant gains in suburban areas in the 2018 midterm elections. From the top of the party down to the state level, Democratic officials are awakening to the reality that voters may have delivered a one-time verdict on Trump that does not equal ongoing support for center-left policies.

“There’s a significant difference between a referendum on a clown show, which is what we had at the top of the ticket, and embracing the values of the Democratic ticket,” said Nichole Remmert, Skopov’s campaign manager. “People bought into Joe Biden to stop the insanity in the White House. They did not suddenly become Democrats.”

That dawning truth is evident in the narrower majority that House Democrats will hold in Congress next year and especially in the bloodbath that the party suffered in legislative races in key states around the country, despite directing hundreds of millions of dollars and deploying top party figures like former President Barack Obama to obscure down-ballot elections.

This year, Democrats targeted a dozen state legislative chambers where Republicans held tenuous majorities, including in Pennsylvania, Texas, Arizona, North Carolina and Minnesota. Their goal was to check the power of Republicans to redraw congressional and legislative districts in 2021, and to curb the rightward drift of policies from abortion to gun safety to voting rights.

In all cases, Democrats came up short. None of their targeted legislative chambers flipped, even though Biden carried many of the districts that down-ballot Democrats did not. It could make it harder for Democrats to retain a House majority in 2022.

“In 2018 in the Philadelphia suburbs, you had rage voting against Trump,” said Sen. Bob Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania, a Democrat. But this year, with Trump on the ballot, the president brought out many more supporters who are occasional voters, diluting what Democrats had widely anticipated would be another wave election for them. “It may be suburban voters are still ticket splitters,” Casey said.

In the aftermath, moderate Democrats are feuding with progressives over whether policies that excite the party’s base, such as higher taxes to pay for social programs, policing overhauls and a rapid move away from fossil fuels, are a losing message with swing voters. Progressives have responded that moderate candidates aren’t offering voters an affirmative program to improve their lives.

Skopov echoed a Virginia congresswoman, Abigail Spanberger, who heatedly told House Democrats on a private call after the election that the party must banish the words “socialism” and “defund the police,” after Republicans defeated moderate Democrats tagged with those positions, often inaccurately, in swing House districts across the country.

On Twitter, Skopov wrote that she had been “a casualty/collateral damage of this offensively poor messaging.”

Biden’s winning margin of over 6 million in the popular vote obscured how narrow his Electoral College victory was: He carried three battleground states — Arizona, Georgia and Wisconsin — by fewer than 44,000 total votes.

“One of the big questions is whether a Trumpist 2024 candidate can be a little bit milder so as to not alienate the suburbs, yet still inspire the low-propensity Republicans to vote at 2020 levels,” said J.J. Balaban, a Democratic strategist in Pennsylvania. “If they can pull that off, it’s going to be a very hard environment for Democrats.”

In the run-up to Election Day, the major legislative campaign committees for each party, along with independent groups, poured record sums of money into races. For Democrats, the aim was to take electoral districting power away from Republicans, who after a red wave in 2010, drew gerrymandered maps that favored the party’s candidates.

The blue wave of 2018 left Democrats just a few seats away from a majority in a dozen chambers, including Arizona’s House and Senate; statehouses in Iowa, Michigan, Texas and Pennsylvania; and both the North Carolina House and Senate.

Democrats’ failure to flip any of their targeted chambers means that Republicans will have control next year of 20 state governments that will collectively draw 188 congressional districts, according to one analysis. In a bright spot for Democrats, the party is closing in on a supermajority in the New York Senate. That outcome would help give Democrats control of mapmaking in states with a total of 73 House districts.

(An additional 167 districts will be in states with divided governments or where independent commissions draw electoral maps.)

Republican mapmakers will seek to dilute the emerging Democratic strength in the nation’s suburbs by packing some of those voters into urban districts while joining others to conservative rural districts.

“The most important consequence of the elections is that Republicans prevented a decade of liberal gerrymandering and gave Republicans the chance to take back the House in 2022,” said David Abrams, deputy executive director of the Republican Legislative Leadership Committee, which raised money for state races.

Texas was Democrats’ biggest failure. After flipping a dozen seats in the Statehouse two years ago, the party was just nine seats shy of a majority.

Its most likely opportunities were nine Republican-held districts where former Rep. Beto O’Rourke surpassed Sen. Ted Cruz in their 2018 Senate race.

Most of these districts were in the suburbs of Dallas and Houston. Yet Democrats failed in all but one of the nine races, although Biden carried many of the districts. With majorities in both legislative chambers and a Republican governor, Greg Abbott, Republicans will control the drawing of as many as 39 congressional seats next year, when Texas is projected to gain three House seats after the 2020 census, more than any other state.

“I think that there were voters out there who were disgusted with Donald Trump and saw Joe Biden as an alternative,” said state Rep. Chris Turner, chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus. “They said, ‘You know what, I’m not a Democrat — maybe I’m an independent; maybe I’m a moderate Republican — I’m going to vote for Republicans down ballot.’ ”

Turner said Republicans successfully nationalized the races by accusing down-ballot Democrats of seeking to defund the police, favoring socialism and aiming to ban fossil fuels, even though none backed that agenda.

“I do think the Republican attacks, false as they were, made voters question whether we could be trusted in terms of public safety or the energy industry,” he said.

In Arizona, a state that Biden won by about 10,500 votes in the latest count, the president-elect became only the second Democratic presidential candidate to win the state since 1948, largely by carrying the demographically evolving Phoenix suburbs.

But Democrats hoping to gain majorities in the state Legislature — where they needed just three seats in the Senate and two in the House — came up short. Republicans retained control.

In the Phoenix suburb of Chandler, a Democrat won a Statehouse seat in 2018, in a district no Republican had ever lost.

This year, outside groups spent $1.3 million trying to unseat the Republican state senator from Chandler, J.D. Mesnard. Although Biden carried the district, Mesnard won by an even larger margin than two years ago.

“Those voters, it seems like they registered their protest at the top of the ticket and then reverted back to their typical voting behavior down ballot,” said Charlie Fisher, executive director of the Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.

Although the state Democratic Party encouraged candidates to run on local issues, Republican messaging in Arizona, too, succeeded in tarring moderate Democrats with threatening public safety.

But Fisher disagreed that Democrats needed to back off progressive policies.

“I always reject this notion — it’s either we’re all in on progressive policies or on trying to persuade independents and moderates to join us,” he said. “That’s a false choice. What we need to do is both those things. The energy of our party is coming from the progressives. We absolutely need to grow those numbers. But in Arizona we still need to communicate with independent voters.”

Pennsylvania may have been the most frustrating state for Democrats down ballot.

Two years ago, its candidates flipped a net of five Senate seats and 11 in the House. All of the House pickups came in the Philadelphia suburbs, which were also the key to Biden’s victory this month.

But Republicans retained their majorities in both chambers. Skopov, the losing candidate in suburban Pittsburgh, was quick to tell voters while knocking on doors before the election: “I’m a fan of our police. I’m not looking to defund police.”

Still, she was hammered in mailings by Republicans who portrayed her as having an anti-law-enforcement position, which her campaign manager, Remmert, said did great damage.

Remmert cautioned that if Democrats hoped to cement their 2020 suburban gains in a presidential race in which Republicans put up someone less divisive than Trump, they would need to recalibrate their messaging.

“A lot of the suburban districts that you’re trying to flip, you can’t win by just turning out your base,” she said. “We could get every Democratic vote in those districts and you’re still not going to win. You have to be able to turn out independents and Republican voters for your message.”

Just a few seats shy of a majority in the state House of Representatives, Democrats in Pennsylvania this year zeroed in on Republican-held suburban districts, where disdain for President Donald Trump ran hot.

Just a few seats shy of a majority in the state House of Representatives, Democrats in Pennsylvania this year zeroed in on Republican-held suburban districts, where disdain for President Donald Trump ran hot. One of their prime targets was in the North Hills suburbs outside Pittsburgh, which are home to big brick houses, excellent public schools and “the fastest-trending Democratic district in the state,” according to Emily Skopov, the Democratic nominee for an open seat there, who gamely knocked on the doors of Republican voters in the days before Nov. 3. She was half right. Joe Biden carried Pennsylvania’s House District 28, after Trump had won it by 9 percentage points in 2016. But Skopov, the founder of a nonprofit group who positioned herself as a moderate, was defeated. Across the country, suburban voters’ disgust with Trump — the key to Biden’s election — did not translate into a wide rebuke of other Republicans, as Democrats had expected after the party made significant gains in suburban areas in the 2018 midterm elections. From the top of the party down to the state level, Democratic officials are awakening to the reality that voters may have delivered a one-time verdict on Trump that does not equal ongoing support for center-left policies. “There’s a significant difference between a referendum on a clown show, which is what we had at the top of the ticket, and embracing the values of the Democratic ticket,” said Nichole Remmert, Skopov’s campaign manager. “People bought into Joe Biden to stop the insanity in the White House. They did not suddenly become Democrats.” That dawning truth is evident in the narrower majority that House Democrats will hold in Congress next year and especially in the bloodbath that the party suffered in legislative races in key states around the country, despite directing hundreds of millions of dollars and deploying top party figures like former President Barack Obama to obscure down-ballot elections. This year, Democrats targeted a dozen state legislative chambers where Republicans held tenuous majorities, including in Pennsylvania, Texas, Arizona, North Carolina and Minnesota. Their goal was to check the power of Republicans to redraw congressional and legislative districts in 2021, and to curb the rightward drift of policies from abortion to gun safety to voting rights. In all cases, Democrats came up short. None of their targeted legislative chambers flipped, even though Biden carried many of the districts that down-ballot Democrats did not. It could make it harder for Democrats to retain a House majority in 2022. “In 2018 in the Philadelphia suburbs, you had rage voting against Trump,” said Sen. Bob Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania, a Democrat. But this year, with Trump on the ballot, the president brought out many more supporters who are occasional voters, diluting what Democrats had widely anticipated would be another wave election for them. “It may be suburban voters are still ticket splitters,” Casey said. In the aftermath, moderate Democrats are feuding with progressives over whether policies that excite the party’s base, such as higher taxes to pay for social programs, policing overhauls and a rapid move away from fossil fuels, are a losing message with swing voters. Progressives have responded that moderate candidates aren’t offering voters an affirmative program to improve their lives. Skopov echoed a Virginia congresswoman, Abigail Spanberger, who heatedly told House Democrats on a private call after the election that the party must banish the words “socialism” and “defund the police,” after Republicans defeated moderate Democrats tagged with those positions, often inaccurately, in swing House districts across the country. On Twitter, Skopov wrote that she had been “a casualty/collateral damage of this offensively poor messaging.” Biden’s winning margin of over 6 million in the popular vote obscured how narrow his Electoral College victory was: He carried three battleground states — Arizona, Georgia and Wisconsin — by fewer than 44,000 total votes. “One of the big questions is whether a Trumpist 2024 candidate can be a little bit milder so as to not alienate the suburbs, yet still inspire the low-propensity Republicans to vote at 2020 levels,” said J.J. Balaban, a Democratic strategist in Pennsylvania. “If they can pull that off, it’s going to be a very hard environment for Democrats.” In the run-up to Election Day, the major legislative campaign committees for each party, along with independent groups, poured record sums of money into races. For Democrats, the aim was to take electoral districting power away from Republicans, who after a red wave in 2010, drew gerrymandered maps that favored the party’s candidates. The blue wave of 2018 left Democrats just a few seats away from a majority in a dozen chambers, including Arizona’s House and Senate; statehouses in Iowa, Michigan, Texas and Pennsylvania; and both the North Carolina House and Senate. Democrats’ failure to flip any of their targeted chambers means that Republicans will have control next year of 20 state governments that will collectively draw 188 congressional districts, according to one analysis. In a bright spot for Democrats, the party is closing in on a supermajority in the New York Senate. That outcome would help give Democrats control of mapmaking in states with a total of 73 House districts. (An additional 167 districts will be in states with divided governments or where independent commissions draw electoral maps.) Republican mapmakers will seek to dilute the emerging Democratic strength in the nation’s suburbs by packing some of those voters into urban districts while joining others to conservative rural districts. “The most important consequence of the elections is that Republicans prevented a decade of liberal gerrymandering and gave Republicans the chance to take back the House in 2022,” said David Abrams, deputy executive director of the Republican Legislative Leadership Committee, which raised money for state races. Texas was Democrats’ biggest failure. After flipping a dozen seats in the Statehouse two years ago, the party was just nine seats shy of a majority. Its most likely opportunities were nine Republican-held districts where former Rep. Beto O’Rourke surpassed Sen. Ted Cruz in their 2018 Senate race. Most of these districts were in the suburbs of Dallas and Houston. Yet Democrats failed in all but one of the nine races, although Biden carried many of the districts. With majorities in both legislative chambers and a Republican governor, Greg Abbott, Republicans will control the drawing of as many as 39 congressional seats next year, when Texas is projected to gain three House seats after the 2020 census, more than any other state. “I think that there were voters out there who were disgusted with Donald Trump and saw Joe Biden as an alternative,” said state Rep. Chris Turner, chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus. “They said, ‘You know what, I’m not a Democrat — maybe I’m an independent; maybe I’m a moderate Republican — I’m going to vote for Republicans down ballot.’ ” Turner said Republicans successfully nationalized the races by accusing down-ballot Democrats of seeking to defund the police, favoring socialism and aiming to ban fossil fuels, even though none backed that agenda. “I do think the Republican attacks, false as they were, made voters question whether we could be trusted in terms of public safety or the energy industry,” he said. In Arizona, a state that Biden won by about 10,500 votes in the latest count, the president-elect became only the second Democratic presidential candidate to win the state since 1948, largely by carrying the demographically evolving Phoenix suburbs. But Democrats hoping to gain majorities in the state Legislature — where they needed just three seats in the Senate and two in the House — came up short. Republicans retained control. In the Phoenix suburb of Chandler, a Democrat won a Statehouse seat in 2018, in a district no Republican had ever lost. This year, outside groups spent $1.3 million trying to unseat the Republican state senator from Chandler, J.D. Mesnard. Although Biden carried the district, Mesnard won by an even larger margin than two years ago. “Those voters, it seems like they registered their protest at the top of the ticket and then reverted back to their typical voting behavior down ballot,” said Charlie Fisher, executive director of the Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. Although the state Democratic Party encouraged candidates to run on local issues, Republican messaging in Arizona, too, succeeded in tarring moderate Democrats with threatening public safety. But Fisher disagreed that Democrats needed to back off progressive policies. “I always reject this notion — it’s either we’re all in on progressive policies or on trying to persuade independents and moderates to join us,” he said. “That’s a false choice. What we need to do is both those things. The energy of our party is coming from the progressives. We absolutely need to grow those numbers. But in Arizona we still need to communicate with independent voters.” Pennsylvania may have been the most frustrating state for Democrats down ballot. Two years ago, its candidates flipped a net of five Senate seats and 11 in the House. All of the House pickups came in the Philadelphia suburbs, which were also the key to Biden’s victory this month. But Republicans retained their majorities in both chambers. Skopov, the losing candidate in suburban Pittsburgh, was quick to tell voters while knocking on doors before the election: “I’m a fan of our police. I’m not looking to defund police.” Still, she was hammered in mailings by Republicans who portrayed her as having an anti-law-enforcement position, which her campaign manager, Remmert, said did great damage. Remmert cautioned that if Democrats hoped to cement their 2020 suburban gains in a presidential race in which Republicans put up someone less divisive than Trump, they would need to recalibrate their messaging. “A lot of the suburban districts that you’re trying to flip, you can’t win by just turning out your base,” she said. “We could get every Democratic vote in those districts and you’re still not going to win. You have to be able to turn out independents and Republican voters for your message.”

How Democrats suffered crushing down-ballot losses across America

As England braces for tier 3 measures after the nationwide <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-death-toll-in-europe-crosses-400000-as-germany-mulls-extending-partial-lockdown-till-early-spring-346074">lockdown</a> on December 2, anti-lockdown protesters took to the streets in London as scuffles broke out with police.

Watch:

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Reports said police arrested at least 60 people as the Metropolitan Police said there were a number of different offences, including breaching coronavirus restrictions.

People walked through Oxford Street and nearby Marble Arch as police asked protesters to leave.

The UK government has enforced strict lockdown measures amid a surge in coronavirus cases.

Britain currently has over 1.6 million coronavirus cases and more than 58,000 fatalities which is the highest in Europe accounting for nearly two-thirds of fatalities in the continent.

The protesters chanted "freedom" as they took part in anti-lockdown demonstrations.

PM Johnson's government had imposed strict lockdown rules in November as coronavirus cases began to rise in the country even as it declared tier 3 lockdown would be in place for much of northern England affecting millions of people.

Lawmakers will vote on the new restrictions on December 1 as over 20 million people will be forced to live under tough coronavirus restrictions.

Meanwhile, government scientists said the virus in Britain has retreated slightly with new infections shrinking between 0 per cent and 2 per cent every day.

Amid the grown coronavirus fatigue, PM Johnson said although he understands the frustration, but added that "we're coming out of the tough autumn measures with the incidence of the disease still really pretty high."

"It's about one 80, one in 85 people in this country have it, and what we all need to do is use the this tough tiering," the UK PM said, adding,"the tough tiering to drive the disease down, both in tier three and the tier two areas until the vaccine comes on stream, which it will, we hope, over the next weeks and months."

As England braces for tier 3 measures after the nationwide lockdown on December 2, anti-lockdown protesters took to the streets in London as scuffles broke out with police.

As England braces for tier 3 measures after the nationwide lockdown on December 2, anti-lockdown protesters took to the streets in London as scuffles broke out with police. Watch: Reports said police arrested at least 60 people as the Metropolitan Police said there were a number of different offences, including breaching coronavirus restrictions. People walked through Oxford Street and nearby Marble Arch as police asked protesters to leave. The UK government has enforced strict lockdown measures amid a surge in coronavirus cases. Britain currently has over 1.6 million coronavirus cases and more than 58,000 fatalities which is the highest in Europe accounting for nearly two-thirds of fatalities in the continent. The protesters chanted "freedom" as they took part in anti-lockdown demonstrations. PM Johnson's government had imposed strict lockdown rules in November as coronavirus cases began to rise in the country even as it declared tier 3 lockdown would be in place for much of northern England affecting millions of people. Lawmakers will vote on the new restrictions on December 1 as over 20 million people will be forced to live under tough coronavirus restrictions. Meanwhile, government scientists said the virus in Britain has retreated slightly with new infections shrinking between 0 per cent and 2 per cent every day. Amid the grown coronavirus fatigue, PM Johnson said although he understands the frustration, but added that "we're coming out of the tough autumn measures with the incidence of the disease still really pretty high." "It's about one 80, one in 85 people in this country have it, and what we all need to do is use the this tough tiering," the UK PM said, adding,"the tough tiering to drive the disease down, both in tier three and the tier two areas until the vaccine comes on stream, which it will, we hope, over the next weeks and months."

At least 60 arrested in anti-lockdown protests in London

After reports said the United States deployed aircraft carrier Nimitz along with ships to the Gulf on Wednesday shortly before the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-rouhani-accuses-mercenary-israel-of-scientist-assassination-346022">Fakhrizadeh</a>, the US navy said: "there were no specific threats".

Watch:

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"The return of Nimitz is centred on maintaining CENTCOM’s ability to remain postured and prepared to help preserve regional stability and security," Rebecca Rebarich, spokesperson for US 5th fleet told AFP.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-embassies-on-alert-over-irans-retaliation-threats-after-fakhrizadehs-assassination-report-346090">Also Read:&nbsp;Israeli embassies on alert over Iran's retaliation threats</a>

"There were no specific threats that triggered the return of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group," she added. The comments by the US Navy comes amid tensions with Iran after the killing of Iran nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh which Iranian authorities blamed Isreal, a close ally of America.&nbsp;

The Pentagon had said earlier that the carrier group was stationed to ensure cover for the US troop withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan in mid-January which was ordered by President Donald Trump.&nbsp;

US carrier Nimitz had recently taken part in naval exercise with Indian, Japanese and Australian forces in the Arabian Sea as part of the Quad group. The US regularly sends aircraft carrier groups into the Gulf for exercises and to support coalition operations in Iraq and Syria.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-khamenei-calls-for-punishing-those-behind-scientists-killing-346076">Iran</a> President Hassan Rouhani said his country would respond "at the proper time" claiming it was "the evil hands of global arrogance and the Zionist mercenaries," referring to Israel as the country moved to put its embassies worldwide on high alert.

Fakhrizadeh spearheaded Iran's nuclear effort and was known to be a central figure in a presentation by Israeli PM Netanyahu two year ago as he accused Iran of continuing to seek nuclear weapons.

"Remember that name, Fakhrizadeh," Netanyahu had said during the presentation.

After reports said the United States deployed aircraft carrier Nimitz along with ships to the Gulf on Wednesday shortly before the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the US navy said: "there were no specific threats".

After reports said the United States deployed aircraft carrier Nimitz along with ships to the Gulf on Wednesday shortly before the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the US navy said: "there were no specific threats". Watch: "The return of Nimitz is centred on maintaining CENTCOM’s ability to remain postured and prepared to help preserve regional stability and security," Rebecca Rebarich, spokesperson for US 5th fleet told AFP. Also Read: Israeli embassies on alert over Iran's retaliation threats "There were no specific threats that triggered the return of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group," she added. The comments by the US Navy comes amid tensions with Iran after the killing of Iran nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh which Iranian authorities blamed Isreal, a close ally of America. The Pentagon had said earlier that the carrier group was stationed to ensure cover for the US troop withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan in mid-January which was ordered by President Donald Trump. US carrier Nimitz had recently taken part in naval exercise with Indian, Japanese and Australian forces in the Arabian Sea as part of the Quad group. The US regularly sends aircraft carrier groups into the Gulf for exercises and to support coalition operations in Iraq and Syria. Iran President Hassan Rouhani said his country would respond "at the proper time" claiming it was "the evil hands of global arrogance and the Zionist mercenaries," referring to Israel as the country moved to put its embassies worldwide on high alert. Fakhrizadeh spearheaded Iran's nuclear effort and was known to be a central figure in a presentation by Israeli PM Netanyahu two year ago as he accused Iran of continuing to seek nuclear weapons. "Remember that name, Fakhrizadeh," Netanyahu had said during the presentation.

US navy denies aircraft carrier Nimitz moved into Gulf over Iran tensions

Police in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-policemen-detained-after-they-beat-black-man-345966">France</a> fired tear gas shells at protesters who were demonstrating against police violence in Paris.

Watch:

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People demanding free press took out protests in France as anger boiled into the streets as police beating of a Black music producer riled citizens.

The demonstrators have been protesting against the new security law which restricts the right of the press to broadcast images of police officers in action.

People filled the Place de la Republique in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-mulls-law-to-ban-pictures-of-police-officials-in-action-345159">Paris</a> amid the coronavirus pandemic. President Emmanuel Macron had earlier said that the images of the beating of black music producer Michel Zecler "shame us" calling it an &nbsp;"unacceptable attack". The police have meanwhile opened an investigation against four officers.&nbsp;

"France must never allow hate or racism to spread," Macron said.

The protesters marched from Place de la Republique to Place de la Bastille as public anger boiled over. In an attempt to cool tempers, PM Jean Castex had said that he would appoint a commission to redraft Article 24 but backtraced after Speaker Richard Ferrand accused the prime minister of overriding the parliament.

In Nantes, organisers said there were at least 6,000-7,000 people with 5,000 people in southern Montpellier.

The demonstrators have been calling for Article 24 to be withdrawn asserting that goes against the fundamental public freedom of the Republic.

In more headache for the Macron government, reports say trade unions and yellow vest protesters are also expected to join the protests as people in Toulouse demonstrated on Friday against police brutality.

Police in France fired tear gas shells at protesters who were demonstrating against police violence in Paris. Watch: People demanding free press took out protests in France as anger boiled into the streets as police beating of a Black music producer riled citizens.

Police in France fired tear gas shells at protesters who were demonstrating against police violence in Paris. Watch: People demanding free press took out protests in France as anger boiled into the streets as police beating of a Black music producer riled citizens. The demonstrators have been protesting against the new security law which restricts the right of the press to broadcast images of police officers in action. People filled the Place de la Republique in Paris amid the coronavirus pandemic. President Emmanuel Macron had earlier said that the images of the beating of black music producer Michel Zecler "shame us" calling it an "unacceptable attack". The police have meanwhile opened an investigation against four officers. "France must never allow hate or racism to spread," Macron said. The protesters marched from Place de la Republique to Place de la Bastille as public anger boiled over. In an attempt to cool tempers, PM Jean Castex had said that he would appoint a commission to redraft Article 24 but backtraced after Speaker Richard Ferrand accused the prime minister of overriding the parliament. In Nantes, organisers said there were at least 6,000-7,000 people with 5,000 people in southern Montpellier. The demonstrators have been calling for Article 24 to be withdrawn asserting that goes against the fundamental public freedom of the Republic. In more headache for the Macron government, reports say trade unions and yellow vest protesters are also expected to join the protests as people in Toulouse demonstrated on Friday against police brutality.

Security officials in France fire tear gas at protesters over police violence

Thailand's anti-government protesters took to the streets once again on Saturday moving to the outskirts of capital <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thailands-pro-democracy-protesters-warn-of-possible-coup-346027">Bangkok</a>.

Watch:

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The protesters gathered outside Nonthaburi and Bang Na in northwest and southeast Bangkok calling for Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha removal with a duck parade and speeches.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/now-bad-student-group-protests-against-thailand-government-344542">Also Read:&nbsp;Now, 'bad student' group protests against Thailand government</a>

The anti-government protesters called for re-election which has been demanded by the opposition who have accused Prayuth of stealing the election. The protesters have also been demanding curb in the powers of the monarchy of King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

On Wednesday, Twelve Thai pro-democracy leaders were summoned by police to over charges of royal defamation. Under the country's penal code anyone convicted of defaming, insulting or threatening the king faces between three to 15 years in prison.

PM Prayut had warned that authorities would use harsh royal defamation charges to crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

On Friday, the protesters rehearsed "coup prevention" strategies as they blocked roads in capital Bangkok. Thailand has been rocked by months of anti-government protests led by youth leaders and students demanding a new constitution.

However, Thai Army chief Narongphan Jittkaewtae rejected coup rumours calling chances of that happening to "less than zero".&nbsp;

Amid the protests, a court in Bangkok is set to on whether Prayut has broken rules by living in an army house given the fact the former general is no longer in the military with experts of the view that losing the case could see Prayut forced out of office. 
&nbsp;

Thailand's anti-government protesters took to the streets once again on Saturday moving to the outskirts of capital Bangkok. Watch: The protesters gathered outside Nonthaburi and Bang Na in northwest and southeast Bangkok calling for Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha removal with a duck parade and speeches.

Thailand's anti-government protesters took to the streets once again on Saturday moving to the outskirts of capital Bangkok. Watch: The protesters gathered outside Nonthaburi and Bang Na in northwest and southeast Bangkok calling for Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha removal with a duck parade and speeches. Also Read: Now, 'bad student' group protests against Thailand government The anti-government protesters called for re-election which has been demanded by the opposition who have accused Prayuth of stealing the election. The protesters have also been demanding curb in the powers of the monarchy of King Maha Vajiralongkorn. On Wednesday, Twelve Thai pro-democracy leaders were summoned by police to over charges of royal defamation. Under the country's penal code anyone convicted of defaming, insulting or threatening the king faces between three to 15 years in prison. PM Prayut had warned that authorities would use harsh royal defamation charges to crackdown on pro-democracy protesters. On Friday, the protesters rehearsed "coup prevention" strategies as they blocked roads in capital Bangkok. Thailand has been rocked by months of anti-government protests led by youth leaders and students demanding a new constitution. However, Thai Army chief Narongphan Jittkaewtae rejected coup rumours calling chances of that happening to "less than zero". Amid the protests, a court in Bangkok is set to on whether Prayut has broken rules by living in an army house given the fact the former general is no longer in the military with experts of the view that losing the case could see Prayut forced out of office.

Protesters in Thailand move to Bangkok suburbs calling for election

France is not stopping at radical imams, it has taken a series of retaliatory measures against Pakistan. It includes Pakistan's military establishment.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan is paying a hefty price for his tweet posted by Pakistan's human rights minister Shireen Mazari. It had claimed that Macron is treating Muslims like Nazis had treated Jews.

Mazari deleted her tweet but the damage was done. The anger in France was boiling over, however, to blame everything on a tweet would be unfair because Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan was the one who decided to pick a fight with France but Mazari's statement only made the situation worse.

Paris is now hitting back at Islamabad. France will not upgrade Pakistan's fleet of Mirage fighter jets, an air defence system and the Agosta 90B class submarines.

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France has reportedly sent a message to Qatar&nbsp;asking them to not allow Pakistani-origin technicians to work on the Rafale jets if that wasn't enough France will now put asylum requests from Pakistan under detailed scrutiny.

Pakistan's decision to take on France seems to have come with a hefty price tag. It all began when Imran Khan sided with Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan and accused the French president of attacking Islam.&nbsp;

Erdogan, alongside Imran Khan and Mahathir Mohamad, added fuel to the fire against France. Their statements added to the outrage against France in the Muslim world leading to violent rallies across major Islamic countries.

There were protests in Pakistan too where protesters burnt effigies of Macron and desecrated the French flag. Extremists and radicals took to the streets with large crowds as they tried to target the French embassy in Islamabad.

Recently, Islamabad was held hostage by Islamists led by the far-right Islamic political party Tehreek-e-Labbaik. Its supporters forced the Imran khan government to make concessions.

Pakistani ministers signed on an agreement promising to evict the French ambassador to Pakistan and a boycott of French goods at the government level.&nbsp;

The Pakistan Prime Minister has lost control of his own anti-France campaign with Islamists dictating the terms of engagement with France at home and France responding with diplomatic actions.

Imran Khan now finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place.

France is not stopping at radical imams, it has taken a series of retaliatory measures against Pakistan. It includes Pakistan's military establishment. Pakistan PM Imran Khan is paying a hefty price for his tweet posted by Pakistan's human rights minister Shireen Mazari.

France is not stopping at radical imams, it has taken a series of retaliatory measures against Pakistan. It includes Pakistan's military establishment. Pakistan PM Imran Khan is paying a hefty price for his tweet posted by Pakistan's human rights minister Shireen Mazari. It had claimed that Macron is treating Muslims like Nazis had treated Jews. Mazari deleted her tweet but the damage was done. The anger in France was boiling over, however, to blame everything on a tweet would be unfair because Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan was the one who decided to pick a fight with France but Mazari's statement only made the situation worse. Paris is now hitting back at Islamabad. France will not upgrade Pakistan's fleet of Mirage fighter jets, an air defence system and the Agosta 90B class submarines. × France has reportedly sent a message to Qatar asking them to not allow Pakistani-origin technicians to work on the Rafale jets if that wasn't enough France will now put asylum requests from Pakistan under detailed scrutiny. Pakistan's decision to take on France seems to have come with a hefty price tag. It all began when Imran Khan sided with Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan and accused the French president of attacking Islam. Erdogan, alongside Imran Khan and Mahathir Mohamad, added fuel to the fire against France. Their statements added to the outrage against France in the Muslim world leading to violent rallies across major Islamic countries. There were protests in Pakistan too where protesters burnt effigies of Macron and desecrated the French flag. Extremists and radicals took to the streets with large crowds as they tried to target the French embassy in Islamabad. Recently, Islamabad was held hostage by Islamists led by the far-right Islamic political party Tehreek-e-Labbaik. Its supporters forced the Imran khan government to make concessions. Pakistani ministers signed on an agreement promising to evict the French ambassador to Pakistan and a boycott of French goods at the government level. The Pakistan Prime Minister has lost control of his own anti-France campaign with Islamists dictating the terms of engagement with France at home and France responding with diplomatic actions. Imran Khan now finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place.

How PM Imran Khan lost control of anti-France campaign in Pakistan

French President Emmanuel Macron is standing at a crucial juncture - it is a make or break moment for him.

When Macron came to power in 2017, he promised to "transform not reform" France. He called for an international roadmap to fight terrorism and promised zero tolerance for crimes. Macron is France's youngest president and three years into office, he has been dealing with multiple challenges.

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Macron is fighting criticism at home and abroad and thousands of miles from Paris, there are people burning Macron's effigies, stepping on his photos, brandishing swords and calling for the boycott of French goods.

In Pakistan, things have spiralled out of control. The government bowed to Islamists and agreed to have the French envoy leave the country. Macron has suddenly become one of the world's most controversial leaders by standing up for the French constitution and for sovereignty, and freedom of expression.

He has cracked down on terror and called out political Islam and in doing so, he has become one of the most hated leaders in the Muslim world. There are countries standing by Macron as he fights radicalism but there are also countries like Pakistan. Leaders like Imran Khan, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Malaysia's Mahathir Mohammad who are trying to build a chorus against Macron.

Macron's troubles do not end there, in Marseille, people have been protesting the Wuhan virus lockdown measures. Restaurant owners want the Macron government to allow businesses to reopen. Gym owners want their gyms to reopen, nightclub owners too have the same demand.

In Cannes, people are unhappy with the Macron government.

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"We have been closed since October 15, there's no one around anymore. We've scheduled to open on April 1, because now, it's not worth it. Just to sell two rooms, money will just go down the drain. So it's unfortunate. Cannes runs on conventions. We haven't had a convention this year. It runs on national travel and flights," owner of hotel Pruly, Jean-luc Drouot, says. 
" 
Similar sentiments are being echoed across France where restrictions have been implemented to deal with the impact of the second wave of the Wuhan virus. After Macron's government proposed a security law which would make publishing images of police officers a criminal offence things have got worse for him.

The government says the proposal is intended to protect police officials and critics say it endangers journalists and observers who take photos and capture videos of the police conduct during demonstrations.

France is headed for a presidential election in 2022. Macron won 66 per cent of French votes in 2017 but a year into office he faced the yellow vest protests. Macron's approval rating fell to 29 per cent, now throw in the pandemic, and the humanitarian crisis it has brought along, add to that the global economic crisis, the protests against Macron at home and abroad...

A poll conducted in October found 63 per cent people disapproved of Macron. His popularity dropped by 3 per cent within a month. When Macron came to office in 2017, he promised to transform France and the French police system and promised to uphold secularism and fight terrorism. 
&nbsp; 
If Macron manages to turn things around he will set an example for not just Europe but the entire world but if he slips, he loses office.

French President Emmanuel Macron is standing at a crucial juncture - it is a make or break moment for him. When Macron came to power in 2017, he promised to "transform not reform" France.

French President Emmanuel Macron is standing at a crucial juncture - it is a make or break moment for him. When Macron came to power in 2017, he promised to "transform not reform" France. He called for an international roadmap to fight terrorism and promised zero tolerance for crimes. Macron is France's youngest president and three years into office, he has been dealing with multiple challenges. × Macron is fighting criticism at home and abroad and thousands of miles from Paris, there are people burning Macron's effigies, stepping on his photos, brandishing swords and calling for the boycott of French goods. In Pakistan, things have spiralled out of control. The government bowed to Islamists and agreed to have the French envoy leave the country. Macron has suddenly become one of the world's most controversial leaders by standing up for the French constitution and for sovereignty, and freedom of expression. He has cracked down on terror and called out political Islam and in doing so, he has become one of the most hated leaders in the Muslim world. There are countries standing by Macron as he fights radicalism but there are also countries like Pakistan. Leaders like Imran Khan, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Malaysia's Mahathir Mohammad who are trying to build a chorus against Macron. Macron's troubles do not end there, in Marseille, people have been protesting the Wuhan virus lockdown measures. Restaurant owners want the Macron government to allow businesses to reopen. Gym owners want their gyms to reopen, nightclub owners too have the same demand. In Cannes, people are unhappy with the Macron government. × "We have been closed since October 15, there's no one around anymore. We've scheduled to open on April 1, because now, it's not worth it. Just to sell two rooms, money will just go down the drain. So it's unfortunate. Cannes runs on conventions. We haven't had a convention this year. It runs on national travel and flights," owner of hotel Pruly, Jean-luc Drouot, says. " Similar sentiments are being echoed across France where restrictions have been implemented to deal with the impact of the second wave of the Wuhan virus. After Macron's government proposed a security law which would make publishing images of police officers a criminal offence things have got worse for him. The government says the proposal is intended to protect police officials and critics say it endangers journalists and observers who take photos and capture videos of the police conduct during demonstrations. France is headed for a presidential election in 2022. Macron won 66 per cent of French votes in 2017 but a year into office he faced the yellow vest protests. Macron's approval rating fell to 29 per cent, now throw in the pandemic, and the humanitarian crisis it has brought along, add to that the global economic crisis, the protests against Macron at home and abroad... A poll conducted in October found 63 per cent people disapproved of Macron. His popularity dropped by 3 per cent within a month. When Macron came to office in 2017, he promised to transform France and the French police system and promised to uphold secularism and fight terrorism. If Macron manages to turn things around he will set an example for not just Europe but the entire world but if he slips, he loses office.

Macron faces opposition at home and abroad

After the deadly stabbing in Nice, French President Emmanuel Macron had travelled to the city appearing before the press he had said: "France is under attack".

On that day Macron did not hesitate, just like the attack in Paris he called the stabbings in Nice an act of "Islamist terrorism". Macron said France will not give in to terror. &nbsp;The French president's reaction has been swift and decisive as dozens of raids have been conducted.

A mosque was shut down, a new law is being brought in to crack down on Islamist extremism. Today, France has taken another bold step, a Pakistani imam has been jailed and banned by France because he was using TikTok to propagate terror.

Luqman Haider, a Pakistani has been sentenced to 18 months in jail. He had arrived in France back in 2015. Occasionally he officiated as the imam at a mosque in Villiers-le-Bel in a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris.

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Luqman Haider is a terror apologist. He put out three videos on TikTok. In the first video, he talked about the Charlie Hebdo cartoons saying "Muslim worshippers are willing to sacrifice themselves for the prophet".

In the second video, he spoke of "attacking non-Muslims and disbelievers" and "sending them to hell."

The final video shared on September 25 was a tribute for the terrorist who wounded four in a knife attack outside the former offices of Charlie Hebdo. The attack took place in September in which the terrorist was a Pakistani national.

The imam called him a "brave man". France now has zero-tolerance for such imams. A case was filed at a local court which found the imam guilty and sentenced him to 18 months in jail. Now, due to this conviction, he can no longer stay in France.

The imam will have to go back to Pakistan.&nbsp;

"From the moment you find him guilty on the 25th, given that he has no right to be in France with two obligations to leave the territory, it seems reasonable both for public opinion, I think, and for him to understand as well," Xavier Nogueras, lawyer for the imam, said.

The tough stand against foreign imams is not new while France has laws in place to punish such imams, the Macron government wants to implement its own rulebook. In February, before the recent terror attacks, the French president had announced new measures. Macron had taken some steps towards ending a programme that allowed foreign countries to send imams and teachers to France.

Macron had said his government wants to combat "foreign interference" in how Islam is practised and the way religious institutions are organised.

"Today, there are 300 imams who are sent to France every year. Those who arrived in 2020 will be the last cohort of such volume to come, and we will gradually stop allowing new ones and let the last cohort of imams stay until their tenures end, with a dialogue and improved conditions," Macron asserted, adding," ending what is called consular Islam is extremely important in order to be able to curb foreign influence and ensure that everyone fully abides by the laws of the republic with a common framework."

Macron wants to stop importing imams because he doesn't want foreign powers to dictate the rules of Islam in France exactly what Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan tried to do by whipping up passions against France through a campaign of hate against Macron.

Protests had broken out across the Islamic countries but Pakistan saw the most vicious kind of protest in Islamabad. Inside a madrasa, a teacher beheaded an effigy of Emmanuel Macron in front of children.

The imam who was reportedly punished in France used to teach children between 6 and 11 years of age. He shared similar beliefs as this teacher in Islamabad.&nbsp; 
This is what France is fighting - extremist teachers who are radicalising young and impressionable minds.

After the deadly stabbing in Nice, French President Emmanuel Macron had travelled to the city appearing before the press he had said: "France is under attack". On that day Macron did not hesitate, just like the attack in Paris he called the stabbings in Nice an act of "Islamist terrorism".

After the deadly stabbing in Nice, French President Emmanuel Macron had travelled to the city appearing before the press he had said: "France is under attack". On that day Macron did not hesitate, just like the attack in Paris he called the stabbings in Nice an act of "Islamist terrorism". Macron said France will not give in to terror. The French president's reaction has been swift and decisive as dozens of raids have been conducted. A mosque was shut down, a new law is being brought in to crack down on Islamist extremism. Today, France has taken another bold step, a Pakistani imam has been jailed and banned by France because he was using TikTok to propagate terror. Luqman Haider, a Pakistani has been sentenced to 18 months in jail. He had arrived in France back in 2015. Occasionally he officiated as the imam at a mosque in Villiers-le-Bel in a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris. × Luqman Haider is a terror apologist. He put out three videos on TikTok. In the first video, he talked about the Charlie Hebdo cartoons saying "Muslim worshippers are willing to sacrifice themselves for the prophet". In the second video, he spoke of "attacking non-Muslims and disbelievers" and "sending them to hell." The final video shared on September 25 was a tribute for the terrorist who wounded four in a knife attack outside the former offices of Charlie Hebdo. The attack took place in September in which the terrorist was a Pakistani national. The imam called him a "brave man". France now has zero-tolerance for such imams. A case was filed at a local court which found the imam guilty and sentenced him to 18 months in jail. Now, due to this conviction, he can no longer stay in France. The imam will have to go back to Pakistan. "From the moment you find him guilty on the 25th, given that he has no right to be in France with two obligations to leave the territory, it seems reasonable both for public opinion, I think, and for him to understand as well," Xavier Nogueras, lawyer for the imam, said. The tough stand against foreign imams is not new while France has laws in place to punish such imams, the Macron government wants to implement its own rulebook. In February, before the recent terror attacks, the French president had announced new measures. Macron had taken some steps towards ending a programme that allowed foreign countries to send imams and teachers to France. Macron had said his government wants to combat "foreign interference" in how Islam is practised and the way religious institutions are organised. "Today, there are 300 imams who are sent to France every year. Those who arrived in 2020 will be the last cohort of such volume to come, and we will gradually stop allowing new ones and let the last cohort of imams stay until their tenures end, with a dialogue and improved conditions," Macron asserted, adding," ending what is called consular Islam is extremely important in order to be able to curb foreign influence and ensure that everyone fully abides by the laws of the republic with a common framework." Macron wants to stop importing imams because he doesn't want foreign powers to dictate the rules of Islam in France exactly what Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan tried to do by whipping up passions against France through a campaign of hate against Macron. Protests had broken out across the Islamic countries but Pakistan saw the most vicious kind of protest in Islamabad. Inside a madrasa, a teacher beheaded an effigy of Emmanuel Macron in front of children. The imam who was reportedly punished in France used to teach children between 6 and 11 years of age. He shared similar beliefs as this teacher in Islamabad. This is what France is fighting - extremist teachers who are radicalising young and impressionable minds.

How Pakistani imam used TikTok in France to propagate terror

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Rustam

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