As Bolivia's ex-president <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivia-seeks-new-leader-as-morales-heads-for-mexico-refuge-261644">Evo Morales began his life</a> in exile in Mexico pledging to "remain in politics" and continue his "fight", the US State Department asked its citizens not to travel to the South American country amid large scale violence.

"As long as I am alive, we will remain in politics. As long as I am alive, the fight continues," Morales told reporters as soon as he got off the plane in Mexico. He was whisked away by Mexican officials to an undisclosed place citing security concerns.

Paraguayan President Mario Abdo had earlier said his country was willing to grant political asylum to Morales.

In violence-ravaged Bolivia, deputy Senate Speaker Jeanine Anez who is in line to take over declared herself interim president even as lawmakers failed to reach a consensus over the country's leadership although reports said Constitutional Court had endorsed her appointment.

"We are emerging from one of the darkest episodes of our democratic history," Jeanine Anez said, adding,"I ask that from now on we join forces and our hands to help rebuild democracy and the rule of law."

"We want to call new elections as soon as possible," Anez said in Congress while adding that, "It's a commitment we have made to the country and of course, we will fulfil it."

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-bolivian-president-resigns-takes-asylum-in-mexico-261689/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

Police set roadblocks to block political groups from clashing against each other even as the attorney general said seven people had died since violence had broken out after Morales was declared winner in a controversial election last month.

Four of those fatalities were from gunfire, Attorney General Juan Lanchipa said.

"All of these cases will be investigated until we establish the truth and find out who is responsible so they can be punished under the law," Lanchipa asserted.

Meanwhile, the US State Department told its citizens not to travel to Bolivia due to the unrest.

"Do not travel to Bolivia due to civil unrest," the State Department said in its advisory while it decided to pullout "non-emergency US government employees due to ongoing political instability in Bolivia."&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

As Bolivia's ex-president Evo Morales began his life in exile in Mexico pledging to "remain in politics" and continue his "fight", the US State Department asked its citizens not to travel to the South American country amid large scale violence.

As Bolivia's ex-president Evo Morales began his life in exile in Mexico pledging to "remain in politics" and continue his "fight", the US State Department asked its citizens not to travel to the South American country amid large scale violence. "As long as I am alive, we will remain in politics. As long as I am alive, the fight continues," Morales told reporters as soon as he got off the plane in Mexico. He was whisked away by Mexican officials to an undisclosed place citing security concerns. Paraguayan President Mario Abdo had earlier said his country was willing to grant political asylum to Morales. In violence-ravaged Bolivia, deputy Senate Speaker Jeanine Anez who is in line to take over declared herself interim president even as lawmakers failed to reach a consensus over the country's leadership although reports said Constitutional Court had endorsed her appointment. "We are emerging from one of the darkest episodes of our democratic history," Jeanine Anez said, adding,"I ask that from now on we join forces and our hands to help rebuild democracy and the rule of law." "We want to call new elections as soon as possible," Anez said in Congress while adding that, "It's a commitment we have made to the country and of course, we will fulfil it." Watch Video: Police set roadblocks to block political groups from clashing against each other even as the attorney general said seven people had died since violence had broken out after Morales was declared winner in a controversial election last month. Four of those fatalities were from gunfire, Attorney General Juan Lanchipa said. "All of these cases will be investigated until we establish the truth and find out who is responsible so they can be punished under the law," Lanchipa asserted. Meanwhile, the US State Department told its citizens not to travel to Bolivia due to the unrest. "Do not travel to Bolivia due to civil unrest," the State Department said in its advisory while it decided to pullout "non-emergency US government employees due to ongoing political instability in Bolivia."

In Mexico, Morales pledges to 'remain in politics' as Bolivia battles to restore stability

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japans-abe-tells-cabinet-to-compile-stimulus-package-to-support-economy-260734">Prime Minister Shinzo Abe</a> surged back to power seven years ago, pledging to bolster Japan's defences in response to a growing threat from China and aiming to amend the pacifist constitution.

Now on track to become Japan's longest-serving premier, Abe has kept his first promise. The second remains elusive.

That means Japan, which US&nbsp;President Donald Trump has criticised over what he called an "unfair" security alliance, still faces limits on acting as a full-fledged American ally.

Trump has even suggested changing the two-way security pact that underpins the alliance, at a time when China is flexing its military muscle in the region and North Korea is pursuing nuclear and missile programmes.

During Abe's watch, Japan has boosted defence spending by 10 per cent&nbsp;after years of decline, expanding the military's ability to project power abroad. In a historic shift in 2014, his government reinterpreted the constitution to allow Japanese troops to fight overseas for the first time since World War Two.

But the conservative leader's inability to cement his legacy by revising the charter's pacifist Article 9 symbolises persistent public wariness about putting troops in harm's way far from home and a fear of entanglement in US-led wars.

"For the Japanese people, Article 9 is a kind of Bible," Hajime Funada, a ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker and former head of a panel on revising the charter, told Reuters.

Japan's US-drafted constitution is seen by conservatives as a humiliating symbol of defeat but by others as a brake on entanglement in foreign conflicts.

For both sides, a revision would be hugely symbolic.

According to a survey by NHK TV this week, voters gave the highest marks to Abe's security and diplomacy policies. But an Asahi newspaper survey earlier this year showed 64 per cent&nbsp;opposed revising Article 9 while 28 per cent&nbsp;favoured the amendment.

Any constitutional amendment requires approval by two-thirds of both houses of parliament and a majority in a national referendum.

Abe, who quit in 2007 after a troubled one-year term, returned to office in December 2012. On November&nbsp;20, he will exceed the record 2,886 days in office set by Taro Katsura in the early 20th century.

Abe's term as LDP leader ends in September 2021 and unless party rules are revised, that would spell the end of his tenure.

A five-year defence programme unveiled last year allocates 25.5 trillion yen ($233.7 billion) in spending, a 6.4 per cent&nbsp;rise over the previous five years, and includes refitting two warships as Japan's first aircraft carriers since World War Two, a step toward a full-fledged blue-water navy.

A year after the cabinet reinterpreted the constitution, parliament enacted laws that ended a ban on exercising the right of collective self-defence, or defending a friendly country under attack, if Japan's survival is threatened.

Such steps have further pushed the limits of Article 9, which, if taken literally, bans the maintenance of a standing military but has been stretched by previous administrations to allow armed forces for self-defence.

"There is not much left of the post-war constraints," said Richard Samuels, director of the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"It was under his (Abe's) administration where the fastest progress was achieved to get more distance from Article 9."

Nonetheless, Abe has been forced by public opinion and the LDP's less hawkish coalition partner, the Komeito party, to compromise.

"Theoretically, Abe has laid the groundwork for Japan to take one step closer to ... supporting the US&nbsp;in combat for collective interests," said Ellis Krauss, professor emeritus at the University of California, San Diego.

"But I don't think Japan is near actually doing it."

Last month, Japan proposed a mission by its navy in Middle East waterways, not as part of a US-led coalition to protect merchant ships but separately under a Japanese law allowing research and intelligence gathering.

Even that sparked calls for caution from liberal media.

For Abe, revising the constitution is a personal mission - one that eluded his grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, who quit as premier in 1960 due to a furore over a US-Japan security pact.

"It's not only who he is, it's who his grandfather was and it's his base," Samuels said. "It's the view that says that ... we are a different Japan, no longer bound and constrained by the defeat of World War Two."

Abe has proposed writing the existence of Japan's Self-Defense Forces, as the military is known, into Article 9, far short of more drastic changes proposed previously by the LDP.

Critics in his own party say that would be a waste of political capital for little gain, although experts note an amendment could open the door to future bolder changes.

Abe appears unlikely to abandon the cause.

"Abe's fundamental philosophy is nationalism and without a change in Article 9, there can be no independence from the (US) Occupation regime," said Yoshihide Soeya, a political science professor at Keio University. "I think he'll never give it up."

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe surged back to power seven years ago, pledging to bolster Japan's defences in response to a growing threat from China and aiming to amend the pacifist constitution.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe surged back to power seven years ago, pledging to bolster Japan's defences in response to a growing threat from China and aiming to amend the pacifist constitution. Now on track to become Japan's longest-serving premier, Abe has kept his first promise. The second remains elusive. That means Japan, which US President Donald Trump has criticised over what he called an "unfair" security alliance, still faces limits on acting as a full-fledged American ally. Trump has even suggested changing the two-way security pact that underpins the alliance, at a time when China is flexing its military muscle in the region and North Korea is pursuing nuclear and missile programmes. During Abe's watch, Japan has boosted defence spending by 10 per cent after years of decline, expanding the military's ability to project power abroad. In a historic shift in 2014, his government reinterpreted the constitution to allow Japanese troops to fight overseas for the first time since World War Two. But the conservative leader's inability to cement his legacy by revising the charter's pacifist Article 9 symbolises persistent public wariness about putting troops in harm's way far from home and a fear of entanglement in US-led wars. "For the Japanese people, Article 9 is a kind of Bible," Hajime Funada, a ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker and former head of a panel on revising the charter, told Reuters. Japan's US-drafted constitution is seen by conservatives as a humiliating symbol of defeat but by others as a brake on entanglement in foreign conflicts. For both sides, a revision would be hugely symbolic. According to a survey by NHK TV this week, voters gave the highest marks to Abe's security and diplomacy policies. But an Asahi newspaper survey earlier this year showed 64 per cent opposed revising Article 9 while 28 per cent favoured the amendment. Any constitutional amendment requires approval by two-thirds of both houses of parliament and a majority in a national referendum. Abe, who quit in 2007 after a troubled one-year term, returned to office in December 2012. On November 20, he will exceed the record 2,886 days in office set by Taro Katsura in the early 20th century. Abe's term as LDP leader ends in September 2021 and unless party rules are revised, that would spell the end of his tenure. A five-year defence programme unveiled last year allocates 25.5 trillion yen ($233.7 billion) in spending, a 6.4 per cent rise over the previous five years, and includes refitting two warships as Japan's first aircraft carriers since World War Two, a step toward a full-fledged blue-water navy. A year after the cabinet reinterpreted the constitution, parliament enacted laws that ended a ban on exercising the right of collective self-defence, or defending a friendly country under attack, if Japan's survival is threatened. Such steps have further pushed the limits of Article 9, which, if taken literally, bans the maintenance of a standing military but has been stretched by previous administrations to allow armed forces for self-defence. "There is not much left of the post-war constraints," said Richard Samuels, director of the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "It was under his (Abe's) administration where the fastest progress was achieved to get more distance from Article 9." Nonetheless, Abe has been forced by public opinion and the LDP's less hawkish coalition partner, the Komeito party, to compromise. "Theoretically, Abe has laid the groundwork for Japan to take one step closer to ... supporting the US in combat for collective interests," said Ellis Krauss, professor emeritus at the University of California, San Diego. "But I don't think Japan is near actually doing it." Last month, Japan proposed a mission by its navy in Middle East waterways, not as part of a US-led coalition to protect merchant ships but separately under a Japanese law allowing research and intelligence gathering. Even that sparked calls for caution from liberal media. For Abe, revising the constitution is a personal mission - one that eluded his grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, who quit as premier in 1960 due to a furore over a US-Japan security pact. "It's not only who he is, it's who his grandfather was and it's his base," Samuels said. "It's the view that says that ... we are a different Japan, no longer bound and constrained by the defeat of World War Two." Abe has proposed writing the existence of Japan's Self-Defense Forces, as the military is known, into Article 9, far short of more drastic changes proposed previously by the LDP. Critics in his own party say that would be a waste of political capital for little gain, although experts note an amendment could open the door to future bolder changes. Abe appears unlikely to abandon the cause. "Abe's fundamental philosophy is nationalism and without a change in Article 9, there can be no independence from the (US) Occupation regime," said Yoshihide Soeya, a political science professor at Keio University. "I think he'll never give it up."

Abe's mission unaccomplished: Pushing to revise Japan's pacifist charter

Egypt has been trying to deflect criticism of its human rights record and prison conditions ahead of a U.N. review in Geneva on Wednesday that comes in the wake of thousands of new arrests.

The crackdown, which rights activists say was the most intensive campaign of arrests for years, came after rare protests against President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo and other cities in late September.

More than 4,400 were detained, among them prominent activists, lawyers, academics and political figures, according to the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms.

Around 3,000 are still being held under charges including using social media to spread false news, joining a banned terrorist group, and protesting without a permit, ECRF said.

In late September, Egypt's public prosecution acknowledged the arrest of not more than 1,000 people accused of involvement in the protests.

Some of the detained are in Cairo's Tora prison, where relatives and lawyers say inmates are often held in poor conditions and denied adequate healthcare.

Tora is the prison complex in which former president Mohamed Mursi, whose overthrow in 2013 was led by Sisi, suffered a fatal heart attack in June during a courtroom hearing.

U.N. experts said on Friday the prison regime may have led directly to Mursi's death after he was held in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day and was denied life-saving care for diabetes and high blood pressure.

Thousands more are at severe risk, the experts said, adding that two senior former aides of the banned Brotherhood were "effectively being killed by the conditions under which they are held and the denial of medical treatment".

Egyptian officials have denied mistreating prisoners or neglecting their health.

On Sunday, Egypt's State Information Service released a video of an inspection of Tora by officials from the state security prosecution service. It included interviews with two prisoners who said they were largely satisfied with conditions.

A series of photos at the start of the film showed the officials visiting a well-stocked pharmacy and grocery shop and tasting food in the prison refectory.

On Monday, selected local and foreign journalists were invited to visit Tora, where they were shown a football match for prisoners, farm animals, and a metal workshop, but were not allowed to talk to inmates, according to one reporter present. Reuters was not invited on the visit.

State TV has also aired a short programme on the detention system with a commentary saying that prisons are being modernised in line with international standards.

Criticism from Western powers keen to develop security and economic ties with Sisi's Egypt has been muted, and the session in Geneva provides a rare forum in which they can pose questions publicly.

The U.N. Human Rights Council will be reviewing Egypt's record for the first time in five years, as part of the forum's regular appraisal of all U.N. member states.

Advance questions cover prison conditions, torture and the recent arrests of activists, among other issues. One rights lawyer, Mohamed al-Baqer, was interrogated over his engagement with the U.N. review following his detention, according to a question submitted by Liechtenstein.

International rights group Amnesty International called on states "to vehemently condemn the vicious crackdown by authorities against NGO workers and civil society".

It said that since accepting 237 out of 300 recommendations at its last review in 2014, Egyptian authorities had "adopted even more repressive measures that further restricted basic rights and freedoms".

Egypt has been trying to deflect criticism of its human rights record and prison conditions ahead of a U.N. review in Geneva on Wednesday that comes in the wake of thousands of new arrests.

Egypt has been trying to deflect criticism of its human rights record and prison conditions ahead of a U.N. review in Geneva on Wednesday that comes in the wake of thousands of new arrests. The crackdown, which rights activists say was the most intensive campaign of arrests for years, came after rare protests against President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo and other cities in late September. More than 4,400 were detained, among them prominent activists, lawyers, academics and political figures, according to the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms. Around 3,000 are still being held under charges including using social media to spread false news, joining a banned terrorist group, and protesting without a permit, ECRF said. In late September, Egypt's public prosecution acknowledged the arrest of not more than 1,000 people accused of involvement in the protests. Some of the detained are in Cairo's Tora prison, where relatives and lawyers say inmates are often held in poor conditions and denied adequate healthcare. Tora is the prison complex in which former president Mohamed Mursi, whose overthrow in 2013 was led by Sisi, suffered a fatal heart attack in June during a courtroom hearing. U.N. experts said on Friday the prison regime may have led directly to Mursi's death after he was held in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day and was denied life-saving care for diabetes and high blood pressure. Thousands more are at severe risk, the experts said, adding that two senior former aides of the banned Brotherhood were "effectively being killed by the conditions under which they are held and the denial of medical treatment". Egyptian officials have denied mistreating prisoners or neglecting their health. On Sunday, Egypt's State Information Service released a video of an inspection of Tora by officials from the state security prosecution service. It included interviews with two prisoners who said they were largely satisfied with conditions. A series of photos at the start of the film showed the officials visiting a well-stocked pharmacy and grocery shop and tasting food in the prison refectory. On Monday, selected local and foreign journalists were invited to visit Tora, where they were shown a football match for prisoners, farm animals, and a metal workshop, but were not allowed to talk to inmates, according to one reporter present. Reuters was not invited on the visit. State TV has also aired a short programme on the detention system with a commentary saying that prisons are being modernised in line with international standards. Criticism from Western powers keen to develop security and economic ties with Sisi's Egypt has been muted, and the session in Geneva provides a rare forum in which they can pose questions publicly. The U.N. Human Rights Council will be reviewing Egypt's record for the first time in five years, as part of the forum's regular appraisal of all U.N. member states. Advance questions cover prison conditions, torture and the recent arrests of activists, among other issues. One rights lawyer, Mohamed al-Baqer, was interrogated over his engagement with the U.N. review following his detention, according to a question submitted by Liechtenstein. International rights group Amnesty International called on states "to vehemently condemn the vicious crackdown by authorities against NGO workers and civil society". It said that since accepting 237 out of 300 recommendations at its last review in 2014, Egyptian authorities had "adopted even more repressive measures that further restricted basic rights and freedoms".

Egypt seeks to parry human rights criticism after mass arrests

Catholic cardinal George Pell will have one last chance to overturn his conviction for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-vatican-cleric-cardinal-pell-convicted-of-child-sex-crimes-199719">sexually assaulting two teenaged choirboys</a> after the Australian High Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the former Vatican treasurer's appeal.

Pell, 78, the most senior Catholic official worldwide to be jailed for child sex offences, is currently serving a six-year sentence handed down in March. He is not eligible for parole until 2022, when he will be 81.

The High Court hearing, to be presided over by a full bench of five or seven judges, will be held in March 2020 at the earliest, a court spokesman said. Pell will remain in prison until the appeal is heard.

Lawyers for Pell declined to comment on Wednesday's decision, which is the cardinal's final avenue to clear his name after an earlier appeal upheld his conviction by a lower court.

Prosecutors also declined to comment.

The lawyer for Pell's accuser, whose identity has been protected, said her client respected the appeals process despite the ups and downs he had been through.

"So we will be respectfully waiting for the outcome, but we do understand the anguish a lot of people in the community are feeling," lawyer Vivian Waller told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

The cardinal was found guilty in the Victorian County Court in December of abusing two 13-year-old boys at St Patrick's Cathedral in the late 1990s when he was archbishop of Melbourne. A first appeal was heard by the Victoria Court of Appeal, where judges upheld his conviction in a 2-1 majority in August.

The Australian Catholic church lamented the case dragging on due to the High Court ruling.

"This will prolong what has been a lengthy and difficult process, but we can only hope that the appeal will be heard as soon as reasonably possible and that the High Court's judgement will bring clarity and a resolution for all," Archbishop Mark Coleridge, head of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said in a statement.

The High Court on Wednesday ordered Pell's lawyers to file their arguments for appeal by January&nbsp;8, with the crown prosecutors' response due on February&nbsp;5.

Pell's lawyers took the case to the High Court on the basis the Court of Appeal was wrong to have found that the jury's verdict was not unreasonable. Lawyers also argued the majority judges had erred in shifting the burden of proof to the defense to show that it would have been impossible for Pell to have committed the offenses.

Prosecutors said in their filing to the High Court last month there were no grounds for the appeal. They argued that the majority of the Court of Appeal made no error in their approach to evaluating the facts of the case and that the proposed appeal raised "no question of law of public importance".

High Court cases are decided by a majority.

Legal experts said the move by two judges of the High Court to refer Pell's bid to appeal to the full bench was unusual. Effectively the bid to appeal and the actual appeal will be heard together.

The outcome is very hard to predict, said Ben Mathews, a law professor at Queensland University of Technology, who had expected the court to refuse to hear the appeal.

"It's a really tricky one. The fundamental question is really whether the court decides it was open to the jury to reach the guilty verdict," Mathews said.

Pell was relieved of his position as Vatican treasurer after he was convicted, but remains a cardinal. The Pope has declined to comment on the case until the appeals process is exhausted.

For Pell to be dismissed from the priesthood, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith would have to find him guilty following a separate canonical trial or a shorter process.

Catholic cardinal George Pell will have one last chance to overturn his conviction for sexually assaulting two teenaged choirboys after the Australian High Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the former Vatican treasurer's appeal.

Catholic cardinal George Pell will have one last chance to overturn his conviction for sexually assaulting two teenaged choirboys after the Australian High Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the former Vatican treasurer's appeal. Pell, 78, the most senior Catholic official worldwide to be jailed for child sex offences, is currently serving a six-year sentence handed down in March. He is not eligible for parole until 2022, when he will be 81. The High Court hearing, to be presided over by a full bench of five or seven judges, will be held in March 2020 at the earliest, a court spokesman said. Pell will remain in prison until the appeal is heard. Lawyers for Pell declined to comment on Wednesday's decision, which is the cardinal's final avenue to clear his name after an earlier appeal upheld his conviction by a lower court. Prosecutors also declined to comment. The lawyer for Pell's accuser, whose identity has been protected, said her client respected the appeals process despite the ups and downs he had been through. "So we will be respectfully waiting for the outcome, but we do understand the anguish a lot of people in the community are feeling," lawyer Vivian Waller told Australian Broadcasting Corp. The cardinal was found guilty in the Victorian County Court in December of abusing two 13-year-old boys at St Patrick's Cathedral in the late 1990s when he was archbishop of Melbourne. A first appeal was heard by the Victoria Court of Appeal, where judges upheld his conviction in a 2-1 majority in August. The Australian Catholic church lamented the case dragging on due to the High Court ruling. "This will prolong what has been a lengthy and difficult process, but we can only hope that the appeal will be heard as soon as reasonably possible and that the High Court's judgement will bring clarity and a resolution for all," Archbishop Mark Coleridge, head of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said in a statement. The High Court on Wednesday ordered Pell's lawyers to file their arguments for appeal by January 8, with the crown prosecutors' response due on February 5. Pell's lawyers took the case to the High Court on the basis the Court of Appeal was wrong to have found that the jury's verdict was not unreasonable. Lawyers also argued the majority judges had erred in shifting the burden of proof to the defense to show that it would have been impossible for Pell to have committed the offenses. Prosecutors said in their filing to the High Court last month there were no grounds for the appeal. They argued that the majority of the Court of Appeal made no error in their approach to evaluating the facts of the case and that the proposed appeal raised "no question of law of public importance". High Court cases are decided by a majority. Legal experts said the move by two judges of the High Court to refer Pell's bid to appeal to the full bench was unusual. Effectively the bid to appeal and the actual appeal will be heard together. The outcome is very hard to predict, said Ben Mathews, a law professor at Queensland University of Technology, who had expected the court to refuse to hear the appeal. "It's a really tricky one. The fundamental question is really whether the court decides it was open to the jury to reach the guilty verdict," Mathews said. Pell was relieved of his position as Vatican treasurer after he was convicted, but remains a cardinal. The Pope has declined to comment on the case until the appeals process is exhausted. For Pell to be dismissed from the priesthood, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith would have to find him guilty following a separate canonical trial or a shorter process.

Catholic cardinal Pell gets last chance to overturn Australia's sex offences conviction

Hong Kong anti-government protesters paralysed parts of the Asian financial hub for a third day, with some transport links, schools and many businesses closing after an escalation of violence.

Around 1,000 protesters blocked roads in the heart of the city's Central business district during the lunchtime rush hour. Wearing now-banned face masks and dressed in office wear, they marched and hurled bricks onto roads lined with some of the world's most expensive real estate and luxury flagship stores.

Scores of riot police tried to disperse the crowds, grappling some people to the ground and beating others with batons near the city's stock exchange.

Protesters and police had battled through the night at university campuses only hours after a senior police officer said on Tuesday the Chinese-ruled city had been pushed to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/violence-brings-hong-kong-to-brink-of-total-breakdown-metro-suspends-operations-261570">"brink of a total breakdown"</a>. Many campuses remained tense.

Activists had blocked roads, torched several vehicles, hurled petrol bombs at a police station and smashed part of a major shopping mall in various districts the previous night.

The flare-ups came after police shot an unarmed protester at close range on Monday and police said "rioters" doused a man with petrol and set him on fire in some of the worst violence since protests began more than five months ago. Police are still investigating.

Protesters also planned demonstrations across the harbour from Central on the Kowloon peninsula and in the outlying New Territories, according to notices circulated on social media.

The disruptions caused delays for thousands of commuters who queued at metro stations across the city early on Wednesday after some railway services were suspended and roads closed.

Hong Kong's Education Bureau said all schools would shut on Thursday for transport and safety reasons.

Protesters are angry about what they see as police brutality and meddling by Beijing in the freedoms guaranteed under the "one country, two systems" formula put in place when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

China denies interfering and has blamed Western countries, including Britain and the United States, for stirring up trouble.

"We just want to affect the Hong Kong economy to let the government know we are serious about our demands," said a 21- year-old student named Lee, who had spent the night making petrol <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/another-day-of-chaos-in-hong-kong-fires-lit-near-chinese-university-261697">bombs at City University</a>.

"Every day, everywhere, people are getting hurt."

There were chaotic scenes through the night at the prestigious Chinese University, with explosions, plumes of smoke, yelling and sustained firing of tear gas and rubber bullets during which scores were injured. Hong Kong's Hospital Authority said 81 people had been injured since Monday, with two in serious condition.

The youngest was 10 months old but the cause of the infant's injuries was not known.

Dozens of commuters scrambling to get to work tried to stop a rural metro station in the eastern part of the city from shutting after the metro operator, MTR Corp, announced it was stopping services there.

Several train lines, stations and bus routes were shut because of damaged facilities, the operator said, adding that its whole train network would shut by 10 p.m. (1400 GMT), more than two hours early.

"It is very painful to watch my city turn into this. Look at everyone, how angry they are," said Alexandra, a 42-year-old insurance executive who had been trying to get to work.

"We all want to return to normal, but how can the government do that if they don't listen to what Hong Kongers have been asking for," she said.

Police rammed barricades with buses to clear them outside Baptist University campus on the Kowloon peninsula. At least two people were arrested before police made a quick retreat.

Protesters later regrouped to build new roadblocks, reinforcing them with bricks dug up from the sidewalk.

"We are trying to tell the grown-ups that we can do something to stop the injustice and violence," a Baptist University student, who gave her name as Emily, told Reuters.

"Most of us are young and we are fighting for our future. This is our way of showing how much we care," she said.

Many banks and retail stores in bustling commercial areas shut on Wednesday, while Hong Kong's Jockey Club cancelled its evening races. Many recreational clubs said they were also shut for the day or planned to close early.

Hong Kong's stock market dropped 2 per cent&nbsp;to a three-week low in early trade, outpacing falls elsewhere in Asia. The drop came after the city's embattled leader, Carrie Lam, said protesters trying to paralyse the city were being "extremely selfish".

Chinese state media condemned the violence, with the China Daily newspaper saying young protesters were revelling in a "hormone-fuelled 'rebellion'".

"It is foolish and naive to believe that Hong Kong would be better off by eliminating all mainland factors. Particularly, since the mainland is the main source of fresh water, electricity and the largest supplier of food to the city," it said.

Hong Kong anti-government protesters paralysed parts of the Asian financial hub for a third day, with some transport links, schools and many businesses closing after an escalation of violence.

Hong Kong anti-government protesters paralysed parts of the Asian financial hub for a third day, with some transport links, schools and many businesses closing after an escalation of violence. Around 1,000 protesters blocked roads in the heart of the city's Central business district during the lunchtime rush hour. Wearing now-banned face masks and dressed in office wear, they marched and hurled bricks onto roads lined with some of the world's most expensive real estate and luxury flagship stores. Scores of riot police tried to disperse the crowds, grappling some people to the ground and beating others with batons near the city's stock exchange. Protesters and police had battled through the night at university campuses only hours after a senior police officer said on Tuesday the Chinese-ruled city had been pushed to the "brink of a total breakdown". Many campuses remained tense. Activists had blocked roads, torched several vehicles, hurled petrol bombs at a police station and smashed part of a major shopping mall in various districts the previous night. The flare-ups came after police shot an unarmed protester at close range on Monday and police said "rioters" doused a man with petrol and set him on fire in some of the worst violence since protests began more than five months ago. Police are still investigating. Protesters also planned demonstrations across the harbour from Central on the Kowloon peninsula and in the outlying New Territories, according to notices circulated on social media. The disruptions caused delays for thousands of commuters who queued at metro stations across the city early on Wednesday after some railway services were suspended and roads closed. Hong Kong's Education Bureau said all schools would shut on Thursday for transport and safety reasons. Protesters are angry about what they see as police brutality and meddling by Beijing in the freedoms guaranteed under the "one country, two systems" formula put in place when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. China denies interfering and has blamed Western countries, including Britain and the United States, for stirring up trouble. "We just want to affect the Hong Kong economy to let the government know we are serious about our demands," said a 21- year-old student named Lee, who had spent the night making petrol bombs at City University. "Every day, everywhere, people are getting hurt." There were chaotic scenes through the night at the prestigious Chinese University, with explosions, plumes of smoke, yelling and sustained firing of tear gas and rubber bullets during which scores were injured. Hong Kong's Hospital Authority said 81 people had been injured since Monday, with two in serious condition. The youngest was 10 months old but the cause of the infant's injuries was not known. Dozens of commuters scrambling to get to work tried to stop a rural metro station in the eastern part of the city from shutting after the metro operator, MTR Corp, announced it was stopping services there. Several train lines, stations and bus routes were shut because of damaged facilities, the operator said, adding that its whole train network would shut by 10 p.m. (1400 GMT), more than two hours early. "It is very painful to watch my city turn into this. Look at everyone, how angry they are," said Alexandra, a 42-year-old insurance executive who had been trying to get to work. "We all want to return to normal, but how can the government do that if they don't listen to what Hong Kongers have been asking for," she said. Police rammed barricades with buses to clear them outside Baptist University campus on the Kowloon peninsula. At least two people were arrested before police made a quick retreat. Protesters later regrouped to build new roadblocks, reinforcing them with bricks dug up from the sidewalk. "We are trying to tell the grown-ups that we can do something to stop the injustice and violence," a Baptist University student, who gave her name as Emily, told Reuters. "Most of us are young and we are fighting for our future. This is our way of showing how much we care," she said. Many banks and retail stores in bustling commercial areas shut on Wednesday, while Hong Kong's Jockey Club cancelled its evening races. Many recreational clubs said they were also shut for the day or planned to close early. Hong Kong's stock market dropped 2 per cent to a three-week low in early trade, outpacing falls elsewhere in Asia. The drop came after the city's embattled leader, Carrie Lam, said protesters trying to paralyse the city were being "extremely selfish". Chinese state media condemned the violence, with the China Daily newspaper saying young protesters were revelling in a "hormone-fuelled 'rebellion'". "It is foolish and naive to believe that Hong Kong would be better off by eliminating all mainland factors. Particularly, since the mainland is the main source of fresh water, electricity and the largest supplier of food to the city," it said.

Protesters block central Hong Kong streets as chaos grips city

Chile's finance minister warned on Tuesday of the "grave consequences" for the nation's economy of three weeks of often <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-end-in-sight-to-chile-unrest-as-massive-strike-more-protests-planned-261673">violent unrest </a>after the peso slid 4 per cent&nbsp;to hit a historic low against the dollar.

Ignacio Briones said the weakening of the peso was a "sign of worry" that he and his colleagues were watching very carefully.

He called on Chileans to help restore "normality" so that businesses could return to the proper functioning and people could return to work after weeks of strikes, marches and damage to property and public transport that he has estimated cost the economy $3 billion.

"The peaceful marches have made their point and that message is reflected in the measures that the government and the opposition have taken," he told journalists in Santiago. "All our actions have consequences and they are having grave consequences that are now being seen in the economy and particularly on entrepreneurs and in the most vulnerable sectors."

President Sebastian Pinera, speaking at an evening news conference in Santiago, condemned new clashes between protesters and police on Tuesday night in Santiago and other parts of the country and vowed that those responsible would be prosecuted under the strict state security law that allows for tougher penalties.

"The grave situation of violence and delinquency severely threatens our democracy, our state of law and above all, the rights of all Chileans and especially of the most vulnerable," he said.

Pinera appealed to citizens to sign up to three "national accords" to restore security, promote a more equal society and develop a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chile-to-amend-constitution-a-key-demand-of-protesters-261376">new constitution to replace</a> one crafted during the 1973-1990 Augusto Pinochet dictatorship.

The country's currency plunged to more than 800 pesos per dollar, down more than 10 per cent&nbsp;since mid-October, by midday on Tuesday as state workers and some unionized miners in Chile announced a nationwide strike, saying they were not yet satisfied following the government's decision to rewrite the constitution.

Demonstrations across the country have sometimes devolved into arson, riots and looting, leaving at least 23 people dead, 2,000 civilians hospitalized and more than 1,000 complaints of rights abuses, according to human rights groups and prosecutors.

Chile's central bank president, Mario Marcel, urged calm, saying on Monday that despite the peso's precipitous fall, Chile's fiscal situation remained "solid."

Thousands of people including members of unions marched in large numbers through Chilean cities again on Tuesday.

Truck drivers and other protesters set up barricades on at least two major highways connecting the capital, Santiago, with outlying cities and ports, prompting huge backups on key regional arteries.

The road blockages prompted the Valparaiso-based Congress to shut down for the day.

Most of Chile's copper mining companies said they maintained operations on Tuesday, albeit with some delays and sporadic unrest, unions and management teams told Reuters.

To date, copper production in the world's largest producer of the red metal has not been significantly hurt by weeks of protests pushing demands for improvements in pensions, health and education.

Ennio Vivaldi, the rector of the University of Chile, said the school would soon file a legal complaint after a police officer on Monday evening allegedly shot a drama student in the face during a protest. He accused the police of using "tremendous violence" against peaceful protests while failing to tackle vandalism and looting.

"Never again should there be an attack on a young man in the face with bullets from two metres away," he said. "This must stop."

In the northern city of Antofagasta, the Appeal Court issued an order requested by a civilian against the police and Interior Ministry that rubber bullets could not be used against peaceful protesters and tear gas should be "limited," a judicial authority said in a statement.

The government's spokesman, Karla Rubilar, responded that police could only use firearms where there was a threat to life.

"We could not agree more. Of course, they cannot use rubber bullets on peaceful protests," she said.

Chile's finance minister warned on Tuesday of the "grave consequences" for the nation's economy of three weeks of often violent unrest after the peso slid 4 per cent to hit a historic low against the dollar.

Chile's finance minister warned on Tuesday of the "grave consequences" for the nation's economy of three weeks of often violent unrest after the peso slid 4 per cent to hit a historic low against the dollar. Ignacio Briones said the weakening of the peso was a "sign of worry" that he and his colleagues were watching very carefully. He called on Chileans to help restore "normality" so that businesses could return to the proper functioning and people could return to work after weeks of strikes, marches and damage to property and public transport that he has estimated cost the economy $3 billion. "The peaceful marches have made their point and that message is reflected in the measures that the government and the opposition have taken," he told journalists in Santiago. "All our actions have consequences and they are having grave consequences that are now being seen in the economy and particularly on entrepreneurs and in the most vulnerable sectors." President Sebastian Pinera, speaking at an evening news conference in Santiago, condemned new clashes between protesters and police on Tuesday night in Santiago and other parts of the country and vowed that those responsible would be prosecuted under the strict state security law that allows for tougher penalties. "The grave situation of violence and delinquency severely threatens our democracy, our state of law and above all, the rights of all Chileans and especially of the most vulnerable," he said. Pinera appealed to citizens to sign up to three "national accords" to restore security, promote a more equal society and develop a new constitution to replace one crafted during the 1973-1990 Augusto Pinochet dictatorship. The country's currency plunged to more than 800 pesos per dollar, down more than 10 per cent since mid-October, by midday on Tuesday as state workers and some unionized miners in Chile announced a nationwide strike, saying they were not yet satisfied following the government's decision to rewrite the constitution. Demonstrations across the country have sometimes devolved into arson, riots and looting, leaving at least 23 people dead, 2,000 civilians hospitalized and more than 1,000 complaints of rights abuses, according to human rights groups and prosecutors. Chile's central bank president, Mario Marcel, urged calm, saying on Monday that despite the peso's precipitous fall, Chile's fiscal situation remained "solid." Thousands of people including members of unions marched in large numbers through Chilean cities again on Tuesday. Truck drivers and other protesters set up barricades on at least two major highways connecting the capital, Santiago, with outlying cities and ports, prompting huge backups on key regional arteries. The road blockages prompted the Valparaiso-based Congress to shut down for the day. Most of Chile's copper mining companies said they maintained operations on Tuesday, albeit with some delays and sporadic unrest, unions and management teams told Reuters. To date, copper production in the world's largest producer of the red metal has not been significantly hurt by weeks of protests pushing demands for improvements in pensions, health and education. Ennio Vivaldi, the rector of the University of Chile, said the school would soon file a legal complaint after a police officer on Monday evening allegedly shot a drama student in the face during a protest. He accused the police of using "tremendous violence" against peaceful protests while failing to tackle vandalism and looting. "Never again should there be an attack on a young man in the face with bullets from two metres away," he said. "This must stop." In the northern city of Antofagasta, the Appeal Court issued an order requested by a civilian against the police and Interior Ministry that rubber bullets could not be used against peaceful protesters and tear gas should be "limited," a judicial authority said in a statement. The government's spokesman, Karla Rubilar, responded that police could only use firearms where there was a threat to life. "We could not agree more. Of course, they cannot use rubber bullets on peaceful protests," she said.

Chile's finance minister calls for return to 'normality' as peso slides

Turkey removed four more mayors on Wednesday as part of a widening government crackdown on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-starts-repatriation-of-captured-islamic-state-militants-report-261349">pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party</a> (HDP), bringing to 20 the number of mayors who have been dismissed after being elected earlier this year.

President Tayyip Erdogan and his government accuse the HDP of having links to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, leading to prosecutions of thousands of its members and some leaders. The HDP denies such links.

Turkey's interior ministry appointed local governors in place of the mayors in the two districts of Diyarbakir, the largest city in the country's mainly Kurdish southeast. Two mayors from districts of Sirnak and Tunceli provinces were also removed.

The HDP governs many cities in the southeast of Turkey and typically appoints one male and one female co-mayor to promote gender equality.

The former co-leaders of the HDP have both been jailed since 2016 on terrorism charges, with several other prominent members accused of supporting terrorism over what the government says are links to the PKK.

The moves against the HDP come amid a Turkish military <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eight-killed-in-bombing-in-turkish-controlled-northeast-syria-261218">offensive in neighbouring Syria </a>against the YPG Kurdish militia, which Ankara also accuses of ties to the PKK.

The HDP is the only party in the Turkish parliament that opposed the offensive in northeast Syria that began on October&nbsp;9.

Turkey removed four more mayors on Wednesday as part of a widening government crackdown on the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), bringing to 20 the number of mayors who have been dismissed after being elected earlier this year.

Turkey removed four more mayors on Wednesday as part of a widening government crackdown on the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), bringing to 20 the number of mayors who have been dismissed after being elected earlier this year. President Tayyip Erdogan and his government accuse the HDP of having links to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, leading to prosecutions of thousands of its members and some leaders. The HDP denies such links. Turkey's interior ministry appointed local governors in place of the mayors in the two districts of Diyarbakir, the largest city in the country's mainly Kurdish southeast. Two mayors from districts of Sirnak and Tunceli provinces were also removed. The HDP governs many cities in the southeast of Turkey and typically appoints one male and one female co-mayor to promote gender equality. The former co-leaders of the HDP have both been jailed since 2016 on terrorism charges, with several other prominent members accused of supporting terrorism over what the government says are links to the PKK. The moves against the HDP come amid a Turkish military offensive in neighbouring Syria against the YPG Kurdish militia, which Ankara also accuses of ties to the PKK. The HDP is the only party in the Turkish parliament that opposed the offensive in northeast Syria that began on October 9.

Turkey removes four more Kurdish mayors over alleged terror links

Hackers hit Britain's two main political parties with back-to-back cyberattacks on Tuesday, sources told Reuters, attempting to force political websites offline with a flood of malicious traffic just weeks ahead of a national election.

The attacks come after Britain's security agencies have warned that Russia and other countries may attempt to disrupt the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-set-for-third-election-in-four-years-to-try-to-break-brexit-gridlock-258692">December&nbsp;12 vote</a> with cyberattacks or divisive political messages on social media, a charge Moscow denies.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-labour-party-targeted-in-large-scale-cyber-attack-261584">opposition Labour Party</a> said on Tuesday morning it had "experienced a sophisticated and large-scale cyberattack on Labour digital platforms," but that the attack was repelled and no data was compromised.

Just hours later, the party's website and other online services came under a second digital bombardment, followed by a third attack on the website of the governing Conservative Party shortly before 1600 GMT, according to two people with knowledge of the matter and documents seen by Reuters.

The sources said there was currently nothing to link the attacks on either party to a foreign state.

One of sources said the attack on the Conservatives was larger and appeared to be conducted by different hackers, but did not take down any party websites.

Asked about the second attack, a Labour spokesman said: "We have ongoing security processes in place to protect our platforms, so users may be experiencing some differences. We are dealing with this quickly and efficiently."

A Conservative Party spokeswoman had no immediate comment and said she was unaware of the attack.

Britain goes to the polls on December&nbsp;12 in an election called by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to try to break the Brexit deadlock in parliament more than three years since the country voted to leave the European Union.

The country's National Cyber Security Centre, part of the GCHQ signals intelligence agency, said the first attack on Labour was a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack - a technique used by hackers to take down websites by overwhelming them with traffic.

The sources said the same technique had been used in the subsequent attacks against Labour and the Conservatives.

"DDoS attacks are a common form of attack used by a very wide range of attackers. Mitigation techniques are available and worked in this case," a NCSC spokesman said.

The nature of such attacks often makes it difficult to attribute responsibility to any particular group, he said.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the first attack on his party was successfully repelled by the party's defence systems when the digital assault began on Monday.

"But if this is a sign of things to come in this election, I feel very nervous about it all," he said. "Because a cyberattack against a political party in an election is suspicious and something one is very worried about."

Hackers hit Britain's two main political parties with back-to-back cyberattacks on Tuesday, sources told Reuters, attempting to force political websites offline with a flood of malicious traffic just weeks ahead of a national election.

Hackers hit Britain's two main political parties with back-to-back cyberattacks on Tuesday, sources told Reuters, attempting to force political websites offline with a flood of malicious traffic just weeks ahead of a national election. The attacks come after Britain's security agencies have warned that Russia and other countries may attempt to disrupt the December 12 vote with cyberattacks or divisive political messages on social media, a charge Moscow denies. The opposition Labour Party said on Tuesday morning it had "experienced a sophisticated and large-scale cyberattack on Labour digital platforms," but that the attack was repelled and no data was compromised. Just hours later, the party's website and other online services came under a second digital bombardment, followed by a third attack on the website of the governing Conservative Party shortly before 1600 GMT, according to two people with knowledge of the matter and documents seen by Reuters. The sources said there was currently nothing to link the attacks on either party to a foreign state. One of sources said the attack on the Conservatives was larger and appeared to be conducted by different hackers, but did not take down any party websites. Asked about the second attack, a Labour spokesman said: "We have ongoing security processes in place to protect our platforms, so users may be experiencing some differences. We are dealing with this quickly and efficiently." A Conservative Party spokeswoman had no immediate comment and said she was unaware of the attack. Britain goes to the polls on December 12 in an election called by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to try to break the Brexit deadlock in parliament more than three years since the country voted to leave the European Union. The country's National Cyber Security Centre, part of the GCHQ signals intelligence agency, said the first attack on Labour was a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack - a technique used by hackers to take down websites by overwhelming them with traffic. The sources said the same technique had been used in the subsequent attacks against Labour and the Conservatives. "DDoS attacks are a common form of attack used by a very wide range of attackers. Mitigation techniques are available and worked in this case," a NCSC spokesman said. The nature of such attacks often makes it difficult to attribute responsibility to any particular group, he said. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the first attack on his party was successfully repelled by the party's defence systems when the digital assault began on Monday. "But if this is a sign of things to come in this election, I feel very nervous about it all," he said. "Because a cyberattack against a political party in an election is suspicious and something one is very worried about."

Hackers hit UK political parties with cyber attacks

Australian officials ordered people in several communities, including a major tourist destination, to evacuate immediately on Wednesday as firefighters struggled to contain more than <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/stay-alert-millions-of-australians-brace-for-catastrophic-bushfires-261487">150 bushfires</a> raging across the east coast.

While cooler weather overnight brought some relief for firefighters in New South Wales (NSW) state, attention shifted to its northern neighbour, Queensland, where hot, dry and windy conditions brought severe fire danger.

Authorities issued a "leave immediately" warning, the highest level, for several areas including Noosa, a beachside holiday destination 150 km (93 miles) north of Brisbane, the state capital of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-authorities-urge-evacuations-ahead-of-catastrophic-fire-threat-261254">Queensland</a>.

"Conditions are now very dangerous and firefighters may soon be unable to prevent the fire advancing," Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) said.

"The fire may pose a threat to all lives directly in its path."

Noosa Mayor Tony Wellington told Reuters many of the residents in the affected north, accessible only by ferry or via the beach, had got out this week.

But he added that winds were picking up, making things particularly tricky.

"There are plenty of crews battling the fire, including two helicopters," he said.

The blaze in Noosa is one of more than 80 fires across Queensland, leaving firefighters stretched.

QFES said one its water-bombing helicopters crashed while battling a fire in Pechey, west of Brisbane, though the pilot escaped with minor injuries.

Bushfires are common in Australia's hot, dry summers, but the ferocity and early arrival of the fires in the southern spring this year has caught many by surprise.

The blazes have claimed three lives and destroyed about 2.5 million acres (1 million hectares) of farmland and bush, fuelled by extremely dry conditions after three years of drought, which experts say has been exacerbated by climate change.

The hot and windy conditions are set to spike again next week.

"We will not have all these fires contained before then," NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told reporters in Sydney. "We will not have all these fires contained and locked up for many, many weeks."

"Unfortunately, what we need is rain ... and there is certainly nothing in the forecast for the foreseeable future that's going to make any discernible difference to the conditions."

Some 300 homes have been destroyed in NSW in recent days, Fitzsimmons said, as flames stretched from the state's north coast to within metres of homes in Greater Sydney.

No deaths were reported on Tuesday as warning systems and evacuation plans appeared to save lives in the face of what officials said was the greatest threat in at least a decade.

"It was just chewing up everything," Karen Weston told Australian Broadcasting Corp from an evacuation centre of a fire near Taree on the mid-north coast. "I've survived two other bushfires before this but never anything like this."

Academy award winning actor Russell Crowe tweeted photos and video footage on Wednesday of firefighters using helicopters to waterbomb his property near Nana Glen, an rural community some 580 km (360 miles) north of Sydney.

Crowe said the property had "lost a couple of buildings", some fires were still burning and "we are out of water".

The fires have sparked increasingly acrimonious debate over climate and fire-prevention policies, with the ruling conservative Liberal Party and the minor opposition Australian Greens exchanging barbs.

Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce was among those who have suggested that climate activists were at least partly responsible for the fires by lobbying to reduce so-called back burns, fires deliberately lit to clear dry undergrowth.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, meanwhile, said linking the fires to the government's support of the coal industry was "the ravings of some pure, enlightened and woke capital city greenies".

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has declined to comment on climate change during the crisis, has called for moderation in the debate.

Australian officials ordered people in several communities, including a major tourist destination, to evacuate immediately on Wednesday as firefighters struggled to contain more than 150 bushfires raging across the east coast.

Australian officials ordered people in several communities, including a major tourist destination, to evacuate immediately on Wednesday as firefighters struggled to contain more than 150 bushfires raging across the east coast. While cooler weather overnight brought some relief for firefighters in New South Wales (NSW) state, attention shifted to its northern neighbour, Queensland, where hot, dry and windy conditions brought severe fire danger. Authorities issued a "leave immediately" warning, the highest level, for several areas including Noosa, a beachside holiday destination 150 km (93 miles) north of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland. "Conditions are now very dangerous and firefighters may soon be unable to prevent the fire advancing," Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) said. "The fire may pose a threat to all lives directly in its path." Noosa Mayor Tony Wellington told Reuters many of the residents in the affected north, accessible only by ferry or via the beach, had got out this week. But he added that winds were picking up, making things particularly tricky. "There are plenty of crews battling the fire, including two helicopters," he said. The blaze in Noosa is one of more than 80 fires across Queensland, leaving firefighters stretched. QFES said one its water-bombing helicopters crashed while battling a fire in Pechey, west of Brisbane, though the pilot escaped with minor injuries. Bushfires are common in Australia's hot, dry summers, but the ferocity and early arrival of the fires in the southern spring this year has caught many by surprise. The blazes have claimed three lives and destroyed about 2.5 million acres (1 million hectares) of farmland and bush, fuelled by extremely dry conditions after three years of drought, which experts say has been exacerbated by climate change. The hot and windy conditions are set to spike again next week. "We will not have all these fires contained before then," NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told reporters in Sydney. "We will not have all these fires contained and locked up for many, many weeks." "Unfortunately, what we need is rain ... and there is certainly nothing in the forecast for the foreseeable future that's going to make any discernible difference to the conditions." Some 300 homes have been destroyed in NSW in recent days, Fitzsimmons said, as flames stretched from the state's north coast to within metres of homes in Greater Sydney. No deaths were reported on Tuesday as warning systems and evacuation plans appeared to save lives in the face of what officials said was the greatest threat in at least a decade. "It was just chewing up everything," Karen Weston told Australian Broadcasting Corp from an evacuation centre of a fire near Taree on the mid-north coast. "I've survived two other bushfires before this but never anything like this." Academy award winning actor Russell Crowe tweeted photos and video footage on Wednesday of firefighters using helicopters to waterbomb his property near Nana Glen, an rural community some 580 km (360 miles) north of Sydney. Crowe said the property had "lost a couple of buildings", some fires were still burning and "we are out of water". The fires have sparked increasingly acrimonious debate over climate and fire-prevention policies, with the ruling conservative Liberal Party and the minor opposition Australian Greens exchanging barbs. Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce was among those who have suggested that climate activists were at least partly responsible for the fires by lobbying to reduce so-called back burns, fires deliberately lit to clear dry undergrowth. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, meanwhile, said linking the fires to the government's support of the coal industry was "the ravings of some pure, enlightened and woke capital city greenies". Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has declined to comment on climate change during the crisis, has called for moderation in the debate.

Australians ordered to evacuate as firefighters struggled to contain bushfires

Israel killed a top commander from the Iranian-backed Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad in a rare targeted strike in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-minister-seeks-non-aggression-pacts-with-arab-nations-254068">Gaza Strip</a> on Tuesday, while militants responded by firing rockets at Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv.

In the most serious escalation in months, an Israeli missile attack also targeted the home of an Islamic Jihad official in Damascus, killing two people including one of his sons, Syrian state media said.

Islamic Jihad said the target was the home of political leader Akram Al-Ajouri.

Hours later, sirens sounded in central Israeli cities, including the commercial capital of Tel Aviv the military and witnesses said, warning of possible rocket launches from the Gaza Strip.

Israel's home-front command ordered schools shut across southern and central Israel, and instructed civilians to stay at home and not go into work unless it was vital and public shelters were opened.

There were no immediate reports of casualties. Israeli media reported that some of the rockets were intercepted.

The slaying of Baha Abu Al-Atta in his Gaza home looked likely to pose a new challenge for Gaza's ruling Hamas faction, which has mostly tried to maintain a truce with Israel since a 2014 war.

Israel said Al-Atta had carried out a series of cross-border attacks and was planning more.

Israel casts rising Gaza tensions as part of a wider regional struggle with arch-foe Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cited such scenarios in trying to form a broad coalition government after two inconclusive elections this year.

Al-Atta's wife was also killed in the blast that ripped through the building in Gaza City's Shejaia district before dawn, Islamic Jihad said. Two people were wounded.

Shortly after, Palestinian militants launched a salvo of rockets into Israel, setting off sirens as far as its port city of Ashdod, about 20 km (12.5 miles) away, witnesses said.

Video circulated on social media, which Reuters could not immediately verify, showed mid-air rocket interceptions by Israel's Iron Dome air defence system. There was no word of casualties or damage. Police closed roads on the Gaza outskirts as a precaution.

In a statement, the Israeli military said Netanyahu had authorised the operation against Al-Atta, blaming him for recent rocket, drone and sniper attacks against Israel, and attempted infiltrations into the country.

"Abu Al-Atta was responsible for most of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's activity in the Gaza Strip and was a ticking bomb," the statement said, accusing Al-Atta of planning "imminent terror attacks through various means".

An Islamic Jihad statement confirmed the death of Al-Atta, who it said had been in the midst of "heroic jihadist action".

"Our inevitable retaliation will rock the Zionist entity," the statement said, referring to Israel.

Separately, Hamas said Israel "bears full responsibility for all consequences of this escalation" and pledged that Al-Atta's death "will not go unpunished".

Syrian state media said the Israeli attack in Damascus had been carried out using several missiles, one of which was shot down over the nearby suburb of Daraya.

At the scene of the, a Reuters witness said the top floor of a two-storey building had been completely scorched.

A neighbour said he had been woken up at around (0200 GMT) 4 a.m. by three consecutive explosions that had blown open the doors in his house.

Syrian state media said six people were wounded in the attack, describing the target as a civilian home in Mezzah, a western district of the capital where several foreign embassies are located.

Photos published by state news agency SANA showed damage to a two-storey building and debris strewn over cars.

In recent years, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria against regional arch foe Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah group, which it calls the biggest threat to its borders.

Israel killed a top commander from the Iranian-backed Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad in a rare targeted strike in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, while militants responded by firing rockets at Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv.

Israel killed a top commander from the Iranian-backed Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad in a rare targeted strike in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, while militants responded by firing rockets at Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv. In the most serious escalation in months, an Israeli missile attack also targeted the home of an Islamic Jihad official in Damascus, killing two people including one of his sons, Syrian state media said. Islamic Jihad said the target was the home of political leader Akram Al-Ajouri. Hours later, sirens sounded in central Israeli cities, including the commercial capital of Tel Aviv the military and witnesses said, warning of possible rocket launches from the Gaza Strip. Israel's home-front command ordered schools shut across southern and central Israel, and instructed civilians to stay at home and not go into work unless it was vital and public shelters were opened. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Israeli media reported that some of the rockets were intercepted. The slaying of Baha Abu Al-Atta in his Gaza home looked likely to pose a new challenge for Gaza's ruling Hamas faction, which has mostly tried to maintain a truce with Israel since a 2014 war. Israel said Al-Atta had carried out a series of cross-border attacks and was planning more. Israel casts rising Gaza tensions as part of a wider regional struggle with arch-foe Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cited such scenarios in trying to form a broad coalition government after two inconclusive elections this year. Al-Atta's wife was also killed in the blast that ripped through the building in Gaza City's Shejaia district before dawn, Islamic Jihad said. Two people were wounded. Shortly after, Palestinian militants launched a salvo of rockets into Israel, setting off sirens as far as its port city of Ashdod, about 20 km (12.5 miles) away, witnesses said. Video circulated on social media, which Reuters could not immediately verify, showed mid-air rocket interceptions by Israel's Iron Dome air defence system. There was no word of casualties or damage. Police closed roads on the Gaza outskirts as a precaution. In a statement, the Israeli military said Netanyahu had authorised the operation against Al-Atta, blaming him for recent rocket, drone and sniper attacks against Israel, and attempted infiltrations into the country. "Abu Al-Atta was responsible for most of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's activity in the Gaza Strip and was a ticking bomb," the statement said, accusing Al-Atta of planning "imminent terror attacks through various means". An Islamic Jihad statement confirmed the death of Al-Atta, who it said had been in the midst of "heroic jihadist action". "Our inevitable retaliation will rock the Zionist entity," the statement said, referring to Israel. Separately, Hamas said Israel "bears full responsibility for all consequences of this escalation" and pledged that Al-Atta's death "will not go unpunished". Syrian state media said the Israeli attack in Damascus had been carried out using several missiles, one of which was shot down over the nearby suburb of Daraya. At the scene of the, a Reuters witness said the top floor of a two-storey building had been completely scorched. A neighbour said he had been woken up at around (0200 GMT) 4 a.m. by three consecutive explosions that had blown open the doors in his house. Syrian state media said six people were wounded in the attack, describing the target as a civilian home in Mezzah, a western district of the capital where several foreign embassies are located. Photos published by state news agency SANA showed damage to a two-storey building and debris strewn over cars. In recent years, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria against regional arch foe Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah group, which it calls the biggest threat to its borders.

Israel kills Islamic Jihad's top commander in missile attack

Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey have repeatedly violated an arms embargo on Libya and it is "highly probable" that a foreign attack aircraft is responsible for a deadly strike on a migrant detention centre, according to U.N. experts monitoring the implementation of sanctions on Libya.

A report to the U.N. Security Council Libya sanctions committee, seen by Reuters on Monday, also accused Sudan and the head of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo - known by his nickname Hemeti - of violating U.N. sanctions by deploying 1,000 Sudanese troops to Libya.

The U.N. missions of Jordan, Turkey and Sudan did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the accusations in the confidential report, which is due to be made public next month.

"The transfers (of military material) to Libya were repeated and sometimes blatant with scant regard being paid to compliance with the sanctions measures," the independent U.N. experts wrote.

The United Arab Emirates ambassador to the U.N., Lana Nusseibeh, said she could not comment on the findings of the report as she has not seen it, but said that the UAE was "firmly committed to complying with its obligations under the Libya sanctions regime and all relevant Security Council resolutions."

The U.N. Security Council issued a statement in July urging other countries not to intervene or exacerbate the conflict in Libya, but any action over the sanctions violations reported by the U.N. experts is unlikely.

Libya descended into chaos after a NATO-backed uprising that overthrew leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Thousands of people have been killed in sporadic fighting since 2014 between factions in the east and west. The violence has allowed militants and migrant smugglers to flourish, hit Libya's oil industry and divided the country's key institutions.

Seven months ago commander Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) launched an offensive against the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) and its forces in Tripoli. But the war has reached an impasse.

"The frontline of the fighting has remained fluid but constrained within narrow bounds since April. Neither side has the military capability to effectively decide the outcome to their advantage," the U.N. experts wrote in their report.

The U.N. experts accuse Jordan and the United Arab Emirates of supplying military material to Haftar's forces, which they said then prompted Libya's Government of National Accord to ask Turkey for help.

"Both parties to the conflict received weapons, military equipment, technical support and non-Libyan fighters in non-compliance with the sanctions measures related to arms," the experts wrote.

"Jordan, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates routinely and sometimes blatantly supplied weapons with little effort to disguise the source," they said. "The panel also identified the presence of Chadian and Sudanese armed groups in support of forces affiliated to the GNA and LNA."

The report accuses Sudan and Hemeti of deploying 1,000 Sudanese troops to Libya in July to guard critical national infrastructure so Haftar's forces could focus on their offensive on Tripoli.

Libya has been one of the main departure points for migrants trying to reach Europe and has an estimated migrant population of 640,000. Boatloads of migrants leave frequently from Libya's north-western coast, though the number attempting the crossing has dropped sharply since mid-2017.

More than 50 people were killed and 130 more injured when a July airstrike hit a migrant detention centre in Tripoli.

The U.N. experts found that it was "highly probable" that the attack was conducted by a modern attack aircraft using precision-guided munitions "owned and operated by a member state acting in direct support" of Haftar.

"The panel reserves identification of this member state until further physical evidence or imagery emerges to increase attribution confidence levels and continues to investigate the circumstances of the airstrikes," the report said.

Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey have repeatedly violated an arms embargo on Libya and it is "highly probable" that a foreign attack aircraft is responsible for a deadly strike on a migrant detention centre, according to U.

Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey have repeatedly violated an arms embargo on Libya and it is "highly probable" that a foreign attack aircraft is responsible for a deadly strike on a migrant detention centre, according to U.N. experts monitoring the implementation of sanctions on Libya. A report to the U.N. Security Council Libya sanctions committee, seen by Reuters on Monday, also accused Sudan and the head of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo - known by his nickname Hemeti - of violating U.N. sanctions by deploying 1,000 Sudanese troops to Libya. The U.N. missions of Jordan, Turkey and Sudan did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the accusations in the confidential report, which is due to be made public next month. "The transfers (of military material) to Libya were repeated and sometimes blatant with scant regard being paid to compliance with the sanctions measures," the independent U.N. experts wrote. The United Arab Emirates ambassador to the U.N., Lana Nusseibeh, said she could not comment on the findings of the report as she has not seen it, but said that the UAE was "firmly committed to complying with its obligations under the Libya sanctions regime and all relevant Security Council resolutions." The U.N. Security Council issued a statement in July urging other countries not to intervene or exacerbate the conflict in Libya, but any action over the sanctions violations reported by the U.N. experts is unlikely. Libya descended into chaos after a NATO-backed uprising that overthrew leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Thousands of people have been killed in sporadic fighting since 2014 between factions in the east and west. The violence has allowed militants and migrant smugglers to flourish, hit Libya's oil industry and divided the country's key institutions. Seven months ago commander Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) launched an offensive against the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) and its forces in Tripoli. But the war has reached an impasse. "The frontline of the fighting has remained fluid but constrained within narrow bounds since April. Neither side has the military capability to effectively decide the outcome to their advantage," the U.N. experts wrote in their report. The U.N. experts accuse Jordan and the United Arab Emirates of supplying military material to Haftar's forces, which they said then prompted Libya's Government of National Accord to ask Turkey for help. "Both parties to the conflict received weapons, military equipment, technical support and non-Libyan fighters in non-compliance with the sanctions measures related to arms," the experts wrote. "Jordan, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates routinely and sometimes blatantly supplied weapons with little effort to disguise the source," they said. "The panel also identified the presence of Chadian and Sudanese armed groups in support of forces affiliated to the GNA and LNA." The report accuses Sudan and Hemeti of deploying 1,000 Sudanese troops to Libya in July to guard critical national infrastructure so Haftar's forces could focus on their offensive on Tripoli. Libya has been one of the main departure points for migrants trying to reach Europe and has an estimated migrant population of 640,000. Boatloads of migrants leave frequently from Libya's north-western coast, though the number attempting the crossing has dropped sharply since mid-2017. More than 50 people were killed and 130 more injured when a July airstrike hit a migrant detention centre in Tripoli. The U.N. experts found that it was "highly probable" that the attack was conducted by a modern attack aircraft using precision-guided munitions "owned and operated by a member state acting in direct support" of Haftar. "The panel reserves identification of this member state until further physical evidence or imagery emerges to increase attribution confidence levels and continues to investigate the circumstances of the airstrikes," the report said.

Jordan, UAE, Turkey, Sudan repeatedly violated Libya arms embargo: U.N. report

Pneumonia killed more than 800,000 babies and young children last year - or one child every 39 seconds - despite being curable and mostly preventable, global health agencies said on Tuesday.

In a report on what they described as a "forgotten epidemic", the United Nations children's fund UNICEF, the international charity Save The Children and four other health agencies urged governments to step up investment in vaccines to prevent the disease and in health services and medicines to treat it.

"The fact that this preventable, treatable and easily diagnosed disease is still the world's biggest killer of young children is frankly shocking," said Seth Berkley, chief executive of the GAVI vaccines alliance.

Pneumonia is a lung disease that can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. Its victims have to fight for breath as their lungs fill with pus and fluid.

It can be prevented with vaccines, and treated with antibiotics and - in severe cases - with oxygen, but in poorer countries, access to these is often limited.

Nigeria, India, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia accounted for more than half the children who died of pneumonia last year - most of them babies who had not reached their second birthday.

"Millions of children are dying for want of vaccines, affordable antibiotics and routine oxygen treatment," said Kevin Watkins, chief executive of Save the Children. "This is a forgotten global epidemic that demands an urgent international response."

The report said pneumonia causes 15 per cent&nbsp;of deaths in under-5s, but accounts for only 3 per cent&nbsp;of spending on research into infectious diseases, lagging far behind other diseases such as malaria.

Pneumonia killed more than 800,000 babies and young children last year - or one child every 39 seconds - despite being curable and mostly preventable, global health agencies said on Tuesday.

Pneumonia killed more than 800,000 babies and young children last year - or one child every 39 seconds - despite being curable and mostly preventable, global health agencies said on Tuesday. In a report on what they described as a "forgotten epidemic", the United Nations children's fund UNICEF, the international charity Save The Children and four other health agencies urged governments to step up investment in vaccines to prevent the disease and in health services and medicines to treat it. "The fact that this preventable, treatable and easily diagnosed disease is still the world's biggest killer of young children is frankly shocking," said Seth Berkley, chief executive of the GAVI vaccines alliance. Pneumonia is a lung disease that can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. Its victims have to fight for breath as their lungs fill with pus and fluid. It can be prevented with vaccines, and treated with antibiotics and - in severe cases - with oxygen, but in poorer countries, access to these is often limited. Nigeria, India, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia accounted for more than half the children who died of pneumonia last year - most of them babies who had not reached their second birthday. "Millions of children are dying for want of vaccines, affordable antibiotics and routine oxygen treatment," said Kevin Watkins, chief executive of Save the Children. "This is a forgotten global epidemic that demands an urgent international response." The report said pneumonia causes 15 per cent of deaths in under-5s, but accounts for only 3 per cent of spending on research into infectious diseases, lagging far behind other diseases such as malaria.

Pneumonia kills a child every 39 seconds, health agencies say

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