An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6 hit central Mindanao in the southern Philippines on Tuesday, shaking buildings and causing residents to rush from schools and offices.

The quake struck 26 km&nbsp;northeast of Tulunan, Cotabato at 9:04 am (0104 GMT), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

There were no were immediate reports of casualties or major damage, but with several aftershocks to be expected, Phivolcs advised residents in affected areas to remain outside the buildings.

The earthquake also shook nearby provinces and cities, including Davao City, the hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte and among the most populous cities in the country.

DZMM radio reported that power cables were seen swinging in Davao, while people rushed to open spaces, with some fainting because of fear.

Classes in schools were suspended after the earthquake.

It also triggered power cuts in General Santos City, ANC news channel reported.

The quake was initially reported as being of 6.7 magnitudes by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).

Earthquakes are common in the Philippines, which is on the geologically active Pacific Ring of Fire.

On October&nbsp;16, a magnitude <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-rises-to-three-from-philippines-earthquake-256395">6.4 earthquake</a> struck central Mindanao, killing five people and injuring dozens.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6 hit central Mindanao in the southern Philippines on Tuesday, shaking buildings and causing residents to rush from schools and offices.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6 hit central Mindanao in the southern Philippines on Tuesday, shaking buildings and causing residents to rush from schools and offices. The quake struck 26 km northeast of Tulunan, Cotabato at 9:04 am (0104 GMT), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. There were no were immediate reports of casualties or major damage, but with several aftershocks to be expected, Phivolcs advised residents in affected areas to remain outside the buildings. The earthquake also shook nearby provinces and cities, including Davao City, the hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte and among the most populous cities in the country. DZMM radio reported that power cables were seen swinging in Davao, while people rushed to open spaces, with some fainting because of fear. Classes in schools were suspended after the earthquake. It also triggered power cuts in General Santos City, ANC news channel reported. The quake was initially reported as being of 6.7 magnitudes by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). Earthquakes are common in the Philippines, which is on the geologically active Pacific Ring of Fire. On October 16, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck central Mindanao, killing five people and injuring dozens.

6.6-magnitude earthquake strikes off southern Philippines

A Nepali mountaineer on Tuesday smashed the record for summiting the world's 14 highest peaks, racing up all "8000ers" in just seven months, according to a post on his social media accounts.&nbsp;

Nirmal Purja completed the climb of the 14 mountains, all over 8,000 metres (26,250 feet) in seven months, the post said. The previous record was almost eight years.

"MISSION ACHIEVED! says @nimsdai from the summit of #Shishapangma," read the post on Purja's Facebook page, referring to the final peak in China.

Polish climber Jerzy Kukuczka completed the same feat after seven years, 11 months and 14 days in 1987 after Italy's legendary Reinhold Messner became the first to scale the 14 peaks a year earlier.

South Korean Kim Chang-ho completed the challenge one month slower than Kukuczka,&nbsp;although unlike Kukuczka, who died in a climbing accident in 1989, he never used supplementary oxygen.

The 36-year-old Purja, a former member of the Gurkhas,&nbsp;a unit of Nepalis recruited into the British army, as well as the elite Special Boat Service, kicked off his ambitious "Project Possible" in April.

In the first part of his record attempt, Purja climbed&nbsp;Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Kanchenjunga, Everest, Lhotse and Makalu,&nbsp;among the highest of the "8000ers",&nbsp;in just one month.&nbsp;

A month later, he headed to Pakistan for the second part, where he first tackled the notorious Nanga Parbat at 8,125 metres.

Battling sleep deprivation to meet his target, Purja said he was almost sprinting up and down five of Pakistan's highest peaks including Gasherbrum I, Gasherbrum II and K2, the second tallest in the world.

Twenty-three days later he was standing atop Broad Peak, his fifth and final mountain of the second phase.

Purja began his final push in September, reaching the tops of Cho Oyu and Manaslu within a week.

When he first told others about his new quest, "everyone was laughing at me and saying 'how it will be possible'?" Purja told AFP in a recent interview.

"It is about trusting your ability," he had said as he relaxed in Kathmandu waiting to ascend the final peak.

"You always need to have (a) positive mindset because sometimes things will go wrong."

He also said that he wanted to use his feats to inspire the next generation of Nepali climbers to break his records.

Sherpas, Nepalis who often work as&nbsp;guides for foreign mountaineers,&nbsp;are the backbone of the country's lucrative climbing industry but don't attract as much attention or accolades as their international companions.

"Nepal is home to the highest peaks in the world. There are so much better climbers out there who (haven't) got the opportunity," he told AFP in Kathmandu.

&nbsp;

A Nepali mountaineer on Tuesday smashed the record for summiting the world's 14 highest peaks, racing up all "8000ers" in just seven months, according to a post on his social media accounts.

A Nepali mountaineer on Tuesday smashed the record for summiting the world's 14 highest peaks, racing up all "8000ers" in just seven months, according to a post on his social media accounts. Nirmal Purja completed the climb of the 14 mountains, all over 8,000 metres (26,250 feet) in seven months, the post said. The previous record was almost eight years. "MISSION ACHIEVED! says @nimsdai from the summit of #Shishapangma," read the post on Purja's Facebook page, referring to the final peak in China. Polish climber Jerzy Kukuczka completed the same feat after seven years, 11 months and 14 days in 1987 after Italy's legendary Reinhold Messner became the first to scale the 14 peaks a year earlier. South Korean Kim Chang-ho completed the challenge one month slower than Kukuczka, although unlike Kukuczka, who died in a climbing accident in 1989, he never used supplementary oxygen. The 36-year-old Purja, a former member of the Gurkhas, a unit of Nepalis recruited into the British army, as well as the elite Special Boat Service, kicked off his ambitious "Project Possible" in April. In the first part of his record attempt, Purja climbed Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Kanchenjunga, Everest, Lhotse and Makalu, among the highest of the "8000ers", in just one month. A month later, he headed to Pakistan for the second part, where he first tackled the notorious Nanga Parbat at 8,125 metres. Battling sleep deprivation to meet his target, Purja said he was almost sprinting up and down five of Pakistan's highest peaks including Gasherbrum I, Gasherbrum II and K2, the second tallest in the world. Twenty-three days later he was standing atop Broad Peak, his fifth and final mountain of the second phase. Purja began his final push in September, reaching the tops of Cho Oyu and Manaslu within a week. When he first told others about his new quest, "everyone was laughing at me and saying 'how it will be possible'?" Purja told AFP in a recent interview. "It is about trusting your ability," he had said as he relaxed in Kathmandu waiting to ascend the final peak. "You always need to have (a) positive mindset because sometimes things will go wrong." He also said that he wanted to use his feats to inspire the next generation of Nepali climbers to break his records. Sherpas, Nepalis who often work as guides for foreign mountaineers, are the backbone of the country's lucrative climbing industry but don't attract as much attention or accolades as their international companions. "Nepal is home to the highest peaks in the world. There are so much better climbers out there who (haven't) got the opportunity," he told AFP in Kathmandu.

8000ers club: Nepal mountaineer claims new speed record for climbing world's 14 highest peaks

The United States on Monday welcomed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/china-invites-taliban-representatives-for-intra-afghan-conference-in-beijing-257677">China's proposal</a> to host a fresh meeting bringing together Afghan officials and the Taliban, after President Donald Trump abruptly ended talks with the insurgents.

The Taliban last week said that China invited a delegation to talks in Beijing, the second such meeting after a dialogue in Qatar in July that was co-arranged with Germany.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-delegation-met-us-envoy-during-visit-to-islamabad-253681">Zalmay Khalilzad</a>, the US special envoy on Afghan peace, met with his colleagues from China, Russia and Pakistan last week in Moscow, where the four countries renewed support for a "comprehensive and sustainable peace agreement."

The four countries "welcomed the Chinese proposal to host the next intra-Afghan meeting in Beijing," said a joint statement released Monday by the United States.

The talks will include "a wide range of political figures" including "representatives of the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, other Afghan leaders and the Taliban," it said.

There was however some confusion about when the talks might take place.

The Taliban last week said the conference would happen October 29-30, but on Monday an insurgent spokesman denied a report that said a Taliban delegation was in Beijing.

The Taliban have refused to negotiate formally with the Kabul government, but the Beijing and Doha gatherings are seen as fostering dialogue and planting the seeds of an eventual brokered solution.

Khalilzad negotiated for a year with the Taliban, reaching an agreement under which the United States would withdraw troops and end its longest war.

But Trump last month ended the talks, withdrawing an invitation he said he extended to the Taliban to meet near Washington, citing the killing of a US soldier.

The United States has frequently tried to blunt the global influence of China and Russia, but Khalilzad has frequently consulted with the two on his search for Afghan peace.

China shares a 76-kilometer&nbsp;border with Afghanistan and has voiced concern about a spread of Islamic extremism, while the Soviet Union in the 1980s led a disastrous intervention in the country against Islamic guerrillas then backed by Washington

For the second time, the three powers opted to include Pakistan, which was the main backer of the Taliban's 1996-2001 regime and maintains contacts with the fighters.

&nbsp;

The United States on Monday welcomed China's proposal to host a fresh meeting bringing together Afghan officials and the Taliban, after President Donald Trump abruptly ended talks with the insurgents.

The United States on Monday welcomed China's proposal to host a fresh meeting bringing together Afghan officials and the Taliban, after President Donald Trump abruptly ended talks with the insurgents. The Taliban last week said that China invited a delegation to talks in Beijing, the second such meeting after a dialogue in Qatar in July that was co-arranged with Germany. Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special envoy on Afghan peace, met with his colleagues from China, Russia and Pakistan last week in Moscow, where the four countries renewed support for a "comprehensive and sustainable peace agreement." The four countries "welcomed the Chinese proposal to host the next intra-Afghan meeting in Beijing," said a joint statement released Monday by the United States. The talks will include "a wide range of political figures" including "representatives of the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, other Afghan leaders and the Taliban," it said. There was however some confusion about when the talks might take place. The Taliban last week said the conference would happen October 29-30, but on Monday an insurgent spokesman denied a report that said a Taliban delegation was in Beijing. The Taliban have refused to negotiate formally with the Kabul government, but the Beijing and Doha gatherings are seen as fostering dialogue and planting the seeds of an eventual brokered solution. Khalilzad negotiated for a year with the Taliban, reaching an agreement under which the United States would withdraw troops and end its longest war. But Trump last month ended the talks, withdrawing an invitation he said he extended to the Taliban to meet near Washington, citing the killing of a US soldier. The United States has frequently tried to blunt the global influence of China and Russia, but Khalilzad has frequently consulted with the two on his search for Afghan peace. China shares a 76-kilometer border with Afghanistan and has voiced concern about a spread of Islamic extremism, while the Soviet Union in the 1980s led a disastrous intervention in the country against Islamic guerrillas then backed by Washington For the second time, the three powers opted to include Pakistan, which was the main backer of the Taliban's 1996-2001 regime and maintains contacts with the fighters.

US welcomes proposed intra-Afghan talks in China

A <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/firefighters-struggle-against-massive-wind-whipped-california-wildfire-258443">fast-moving wildfire</a> on Monday destroyed at least five multimillion-dollar homes in one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in Los Angeles and forced celebrities to flee in the middle of the night.

Among neighbourhoods under evacuation orders was the posh area of Brentwood, a section on the west side of the city that became world-famous in 1994 when former football star O.J. Simpson was accused of killing his ex-wife and a waiter there.

Today Brentwood is home to basketball superstar <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/houston-rockets-gm-wasnt-educated-when-he-sent-hong-kong-tweet-lebron-james-256087">LeBron James</a>, A-list Hollywood actors, wealthy producers and media company executives.

James, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, said he and his family had to drive around in the early morning hours looking for a place to stay after fleeing the home he shares with his wife and three children.

"Had to emergency evacuate my house and I’ve been driving around with my family trying to get rooms," James wrote on Twitter around 4 a.m. He later added that he found a place to take them in. "Crazy night man!," he said.

James bought a $23 million, eight-bedroom home in Brentwood in late 2017, according to media reports.

On the northern edge of Brentwood, a cluster of several multimillion-dollar homes were reduced to smoldering debris along a street festooned with Halloween decorations.

A fake bloody arm, part of the holiday decorations, had turned into melted plastic at one dwelling, and a giant skull replica remained in the front of another. Heavy smoke and ash filled the air as water-dropping helicopters and airplane tankers buzzed overhead.

Actor and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger also said he was among the thousands who had to evacuate overnight.

"If you are in an evacuation zone, don’t screw around. Get out," Schwarzenegger wrote on Twitter.

A red-carpet premiere for Schwarzenegger's new movie, "Terminator: Dark Fate," that had been scheduled for Monday night was canceled due to fires in the area.

The "Terminator" premiere had been scheduled to take place in Hollywood, several miles from the fire zone. Food intended for the premiere party was being donated to local American Red Cross shelters that were housing fire evacuees, Paramount Pictures said.

"Agents of SHIELD" actor Clark Gregg and "Sons of Anarchy" creator Kurt Sutter also said on Twitter that they had been forced to leave their homes.

The streets of Brentwood became familiar to TV viewers when Simpson stood trial on charges of stabbing ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and waiter Ronald Goldman. Prosecutors alleged Simpson killed the pair at her Brentwood home and then fled to his nearby mansion.

Simpson was acquitted of murder but later found liable for the deaths in a civil case. He told the Associated Press in June he now lives in Las Vegas.

Monday's fire erupted in the hills above where Simpson had lived and was near the Getty Center, a museum for the art collection of late oil magnate J. Paul Getty that includes works by Rembrandt and Van Gogh, according to the museum's website.

The Getty fire has forced schools to close in several areas, including the public school district encompassing Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades and the University of California Los Angles (UCLA).

A fast-moving wildfire on Monday destroyed at least five multimillion-dollar homes in one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in Los Angeles and forced celebrities to flee in the middle of the night.

A fast-moving wildfire on Monday destroyed at least five multimillion-dollar homes in one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in Los Angeles and forced celebrities to flee in the middle of the night. Among neighbourhoods under evacuation orders was the posh area of Brentwood, a section on the west side of the city that became world-famous in 1994 when former football star O.J. Simpson was accused of killing his ex-wife and a waiter there. Today Brentwood is home to basketball superstar LeBron James, A-list Hollywood actors, wealthy producers and media company executives. James, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, said he and his family had to drive around in the early morning hours looking for a place to stay after fleeing the home he shares with his wife and three children. "Had to emergency evacuate my house and I’ve been driving around with my family trying to get rooms," James wrote on Twitter around 4 a.m. He later added that he found a place to take them in. "Crazy night man!," he said. James bought a $23 million, eight-bedroom home in Brentwood in late 2017, according to media reports. On the northern edge of Brentwood, a cluster of several multimillion-dollar homes were reduced to smoldering debris along a street festooned with Halloween decorations. A fake bloody arm, part of the holiday decorations, had turned into melted plastic at one dwelling, and a giant skull replica remained in the front of another. Heavy smoke and ash filled the air as water-dropping helicopters and airplane tankers buzzed overhead. Actor and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger also said he was among the thousands who had to evacuate overnight. "If you are in an evacuation zone, don’t screw around. Get out," Schwarzenegger wrote on Twitter. A red-carpet premiere for Schwarzenegger's new movie, "Terminator: Dark Fate," that had been scheduled for Monday night was canceled due to fires in the area. The "Terminator" premiere had been scheduled to take place in Hollywood, several miles from the fire zone. Food intended for the premiere party was being donated to local American Red Cross shelters that were housing fire evacuees, Paramount Pictures said. "Agents of SHIELD" actor Clark Gregg and "Sons of Anarchy" creator Kurt Sutter also said on Twitter that they had been forced to leave their homes. The streets of Brentwood became familiar to TV viewers when Simpson stood trial on charges of stabbing ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and waiter Ronald Goldman. Prosecutors alleged Simpson killed the pair at her Brentwood home and then fled to his nearby mansion. Simpson was acquitted of murder but later found liable for the deaths in a civil case. He told the Associated Press in June he now lives in Las Vegas. Monday's fire erupted in the hills above where Simpson had lived and was near the Getty Center, a museum for the art collection of late oil magnate J. Paul Getty that includes works by Rembrandt and Van Gogh, according to the museum's website. The Getty fire has forced schools to close in several areas, including the public school district encompassing Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades and the University of California Los Angles (UCLA).

Arnold Schwarzenegger, LeBron James evacuated as Los Angeles wildfire continues surge

Marin Cilic and Milos Raonic booked their spots in the Paris Masters second round on Monday, while Roger Federer pulled out of the tournament with next month's ATP Finals on the horizon.

Cilic eased past Hubert Hurkacz of Poland 7-6(5) 6-4 to set up a second-round meeting with three-time Grand Slam champion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-stan-wawrinka-sets-up-quarter-final-with-roger-federer-258056">Stan Wawrinka</a>.

The 2014 US&nbsp;Open champion dictated the contest with power and precision as he won 86 per cent&nbsp;of his first-serve points to seal his third consecutive victory over Hurkacz in less than two years.

Big-serving Canadian Raonic capitalised on fast court conditions to outclass Britain's Cameron Norrie 6-3 6-2 in just over an hour at the AccorHotels Arena.

A back injury has limited Raonic to three matches since the Rogers Cup in August, but the 2014 Paris runner-up was back to full strength as he struck 14 aces in a masterful display.

Raonic will next face newly-crowned Vienna Open champion Dominic Thiem.

World number three Federer pulled out of the tournament as he fine tunes his schedule heading into the season-ending ATP Finals.

The 38-year-old Swiss lifted a record-extending <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/roger-federer-brushes-de-minaur-aside-to-claim-record-10th-basel-title-258408">10th Swiss Indoors </a>championship title in his hometown of Basel on Sunday and has decided not to play back-to-back weeks at this stage of the season.

"I am extremely disappointed to have to pull out of the Paris Masters," Federer said in a statement&nbsp;

"I have to pace myself since I want to play as long as possible on the ATP Tour. I am sorry for my French fans who I will see next year at Roland Garros."

Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, Thiem and Stefanos Tsitsipas have booked their places for next month's ATP Finals, with the Paris Masters set to determine who clinches the final two spots for the London tournament.

Italian Andreas Seppi has replaced Federer as a lucky loser in the Paris main draw and will meet Moldova's Radu Albot in the second round.

Marin Cilic and Milos Raonic booked their spots in the Paris Masters second round on Monday, while Roger Federer pulled out of the tournament with next month's ATP Finals on the horizon.

Marin Cilic and Milos Raonic booked their spots in the Paris Masters second round on Monday, while Roger Federer pulled out of the tournament with next month's ATP Finals on the horizon. Cilic eased past Hubert Hurkacz of Poland 7-6(5) 6-4 to set up a second-round meeting with three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka. The 2014 US Open champion dictated the contest with power and precision as he won 86 per cent of his first-serve points to seal his third consecutive victory over Hurkacz in less than two years. Big-serving Canadian Raonic capitalised on fast court conditions to outclass Britain's Cameron Norrie 6-3 6-2 in just over an hour at the AccorHotels Arena. A back injury has limited Raonic to three matches since the Rogers Cup in August, but the 2014 Paris runner-up was back to full strength as he struck 14 aces in a masterful display. Raonic will next face newly-crowned Vienna Open champion Dominic Thiem. World number three Federer pulled out of the tournament as he fine tunes his schedule heading into the season-ending ATP Finals. The 38-year-old Swiss lifted a record-extending 10th Swiss Indoors championship title in his hometown of Basel on Sunday and has decided not to play back-to-back weeks at this stage of the season. "I am extremely disappointed to have to pull out of the Paris Masters," Federer said in a statement "I have to pace myself since I want to play as long as possible on the ATP Tour. I am sorry for my French fans who I will see next year at Roland Garros." Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, Thiem and Stefanos Tsitsipas have booked their places for next month's ATP Finals, with the Paris Masters set to determine who clinches the final two spots for the London tournament. Italian Andreas Seppi has replaced Federer as a lucky loser in the Paris main draw and will meet Moldova's Radu Albot in the second round.

Tennis: Cilic, Raonic make winning starts at Paris Masters; Federer withdraws

An Australian regulator has filed a lawsuit against Alphabet Inc's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/google-unveils-quantum-computer-breakthrough-critics-say-wait-a-qubit-257805">Google</a>, accusing it of misleading smartphone users about how it collected and used personal location data, advancing a global crackdown on the world's biggest tech firms.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission&nbsp;said the local Google unit did not tell users of its Android operating system for almost two years that they needed to switch off two settings - not one - if they did not want the company to keep their information.

"Google's conduct caused users to understand that personal data about their location was not being obtained ... by Google when in fact personal data was being obtained," the ACCC wrote in a Federal Court filing on Tuesday, which it published on its website.

"The misleading information provided by Google meant that users were not able to make an informed choice."

The lawsuit is the first of several the ACCC said it would pursue against the local arms of global technology companies like Google and social media firm <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/facebooks-news-tab-seeks-to-reboot-its-role-within-media-258245">Facebook Inc</a>&nbsp;when it called for tougher laws concerning privacy and content-sharing.

Already European Union countries have seized on the bloc's new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules to rein in big technology companies. In January, a French regulator fined Google 50 million euros&nbsp;for breaches of privacy laws.

Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner is also investigating Google over a complaint alleging breach of privacy laws, while Facebook agreed in July to a record-breaking $5 billion fine in the United States to resolve privacy concerns dating back to its use of people's data in the 2016 presidential election.

The Australian lawsuit against Google is seeking unspecified penalties and orders requiring the publication of corrective notices by Google, the ACCC said.

The Australian regulator said in its lawsuit that Google failed to make clear that people should turn off two location-based settings, "Location History" and "Web &amp; App Activity", to stop the company collecting and using data from either.

Google further misled consumers - and breached Australian consumer law - by telling them the only way to prevent the company from collecting their location data was to stop using its main services like Google Search and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/google-offers-incognito-mode-for-maps-in-privacy-push-253314">Google Maps</a>, the regulator said.

"As a result of these on-screen representations, Google has collected, kept and used highly sensitive and valuable personal information about consumers' location without them making an informed choice," ACCC Chair Rod Sims said in a statement.

"Many consumers make a conscious decision to turn off settings to stop the collection of their location data, but we allege that Google's conduct may have prevented consumers from making that choice."

A representative for Google in Australia did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

The matter is scheduled for a case management hearing on November&nbsp;14, according to the Federal Court website.

An Australian regulator has filed a lawsuit against Alphabet Inc's Google, accusing it of misleading smartphone users about how it collected and used personal location data, advancing a global crackdown on the world's biggest tech firms.

An Australian regulator has filed a lawsuit against Alphabet Inc's Google, accusing it of misleading smartphone users about how it collected and used personal location data, advancing a global crackdown on the world's biggest tech firms. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said the local Google unit did not tell users of its Android operating system for almost two years that they needed to switch off two settings - not one - if they did not want the company to keep their information. "Google's conduct caused users to understand that personal data about their location was not being obtained ... by Google when in fact personal data was being obtained," the ACCC wrote in a Federal Court filing on Tuesday, which it published on its website. "The misleading information provided by Google meant that users were not able to make an informed choice." The lawsuit is the first of several the ACCC said it would pursue against the local arms of global technology companies like Google and social media firm Facebook Inc when it called for tougher laws concerning privacy and content-sharing. Already European Union countries have seized on the bloc's new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules to rein in big technology companies. In January, a French regulator fined Google 50 million euros for breaches of privacy laws. Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner is also investigating Google over a complaint alleging breach of privacy laws, while Facebook agreed in July to a record-breaking $5 billion fine in the United States to resolve privacy concerns dating back to its use of people's data in the 2016 presidential election. The Australian lawsuit against Google is seeking unspecified penalties and orders requiring the publication of corrective notices by Google, the ACCC said. The Australian regulator said in its lawsuit that Google failed to make clear that people should turn off two location-based settings, "Location History" and "Web & App Activity", to stop the company collecting and using data from either. Google further misled consumers - and breached Australian consumer law - by telling them the only way to prevent the company from collecting their location data was to stop using its main services like Google Search and Google Maps, the regulator said. "As a result of these on-screen representations, Google has collected, kept and used highly sensitive and valuable personal information about consumers' location without them making an informed choice," ACCC Chair Rod Sims said in a statement. "Many consumers make a conscious decision to turn off settings to stop the collection of their location data, but we allege that Google's conduct may have prevented consumers from making that choice." A representative for Google in Australia did not respond to an emailed request for comment. The matter is scheduled for a case management hearing on November 14, according to the Federal Court website.

Australian regulator files privacy suit against Google alleging location data misuse

Oil prices slipped on Tuesday as investors awaited US&nbsp;crude inventory data for a pointer on oil demand trends, while concerns about slower economic growth overshadowed signs of a thawing in the trade war between Washington and Beijing.

Brent&nbsp;futures were down 6 cents at $61.51 a barrel by 0311 GMT, having fallen 0.7 per cent&nbsp;on Monday.

US&nbsp;West Texas Intermediate (WTI)&nbsp;crude was down 12 cents at $55.69, after falling 1.5 per cent&nbsp;in the previous session.

Prices rose sharply last week amid a decline in US&nbsp;inventories and signs of an easing in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-china-close-to-finalising-part-of-a-phase-one-trade-deal-report-258209">US-China trade war</a>, but worries on Monday about weaker economic growth offset hopes of a rise in oil demand even if trade talks progress.

"The inventory read last week is still reverberating through trading, although we did see that finally start to give way last night, but we can see there is very little appetite to go on with it today," said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney.

US&nbsp;crude inventories were forecast to have increased by around 700,000 barrels last week, according to a Reuters poll of analysts, having unexpectedly fallen the previous week, the first decline in six weeks.

US&nbsp;crude oil stockpiles at Cushing, Oklahoma, the delivery point for WTI, have risen by about 1.5 million barrels in the week through Oct. 25, traders said earlier, citing data from market intelligence firm Genscape.

The American Petroleum Institute releases industry data later on Tuesday, while the US&nbsp;government's Energy Information Administration releases inventory data on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The United States Trade Representative is studying whether to extend tariff suspensions on $34 billion of Chinese goods set to expire on December&nbsp;28 this year, the agency said on Monday.

US&nbsp;President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/donald-trump-isis-chief-baghdadi-died-like-a-dog-258480">Donald Trump </a>said earlier on Monday he expected to sign a significant part of the trade deal with China ahead of schedule but did not elaborate on the timing.

Leaders of the world's two biggest economies are working to agree on the text for a "Phase 1" trade agreement announced by Trump on October&nbsp;11. Trump has said he hopes to sign the deal with China's President Xi Jinping next month at a summit in Chile.

The trade war has hit economic growth around the world and kept oil prices range-bound for months.

Oil prices slipped on Tuesday as investors awaited US crude inventory data for a pointer on oil demand trends, while concerns about slower economic growth overshadowed signs of a thawing in the trade war between Washington and Beijing.

Oil prices slipped on Tuesday as investors awaited US crude inventory data for a pointer on oil demand trends, while concerns about slower economic growth overshadowed signs of a thawing in the trade war between Washington and Beijing. Brent futures were down 6 cents at $61.51 a barrel by 0311 GMT, having fallen 0.7 per cent on Monday. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down 12 cents at $55.69, after falling 1.5 per cent in the previous session. Prices rose sharply last week amid a decline in US inventories and signs of an easing in the US-China trade war, but worries on Monday about weaker economic growth offset hopes of a rise in oil demand even if trade talks progress. "The inventory read last week is still reverberating through trading, although we did see that finally start to give way last night, but we can see there is very little appetite to go on with it today," said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney. US crude inventories were forecast to have increased by around 700,000 barrels last week, according to a Reuters poll of analysts, having unexpectedly fallen the previous week, the first decline in six weeks. US crude oil stockpiles at Cushing, Oklahoma, the delivery point for WTI, have risen by about 1.5 million barrels in the week through Oct. 25, traders said earlier, citing data from market intelligence firm Genscape. The American Petroleum Institute releases industry data later on Tuesday, while the US government's Energy Information Administration releases inventory data on Wednesday. The United States Trade Representative is studying whether to extend tariff suspensions on $34 billion of Chinese goods set to expire on December 28 this year, the agency said on Monday. US President Donald Trump said earlier on Monday he expected to sign a significant part of the trade deal with China ahead of schedule but did not elaborate on the timing. Leaders of the world's two biggest economies are working to agree on the text for a "Phase 1" trade agreement announced by Trump on October 11. Trump has said he hopes to sign the deal with China's President Xi Jinping next month at a summit in Chile. The trade war has hit economic growth around the world and kept oil prices range-bound for months.

Oil prices edge lower ahead of US stockpile numbers

Democrats in Congress, answering Republican complaints that their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-lawmakers-hear-from-corroborating-witness-in-trump-impeachment-probe-258323">impeachment investigation</a> of US&nbsp;President Donald Trump is being conducted in secret, plan a vote on Thursday on how to make their inquiry public, a significant new stage in the probe.

Trump and his fellow Republicans have for weeks branded the work of committees probing Trump's overtures to Ukraine as illegitimate, arguing the full Democratic-led House of Representatives had failed to authorise their investigations in a public vote.

Meeting behind closed doors, the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Oversight committees have been looking into the possibility that Trump violated federal law by seeking foreign help for his November 2020 re-election efforts.

House Rules Committee Chairman James McGovern said on Monday: "I will be introducing a resolution to ensure transparency and provide a clear path forward."

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said in a statement the legislation would establish a format for open hearings.The US&nbsp;Constitution gives the House broad authority to set ground rules for an impeachment inquiry and Democrats say they are following House rules on investigations.

Several administration officials, including a former deputy national security adviser on Monday, have failed to testify to House committees engaged in the probe.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to her fellow House Democrats the House will vote this week - on Thursday, according to a senior Democratic aide - on a resolution that spells out how future public hearings will be held.

Pelosi promised to provide legal protections for Trump.

A source familiar with the probe said the public hearings will be held by the Intelligence Committee and that the transcripts from closed depositions with witnesses will be made public. A senior House Democratic aide said the hearings could begin within the next month.

The measure will set the stage for House investigating committees to forward evidence they have collected to the House Judiciary Committee, which would then decide whether to advance articles of impeachment against Trump.

Even if the House impeaches Trump, he would face a trial in the Republican-controlled Senate, which for the moment seems unlikely to convict the president and force his ouster.

Impeachment requires a simple majority in the 435-member House but conviction demands the support of a two-thirds majority in the 100-member Senate.

Charles Kupperman, a former deputy to ousted national security adviser John Bolton, failed to appear earlier on Monday before the three House panels conducting the Ukraine phase of the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry, lawmakers said.

Other panels are probing separate issues, including Trump's finances and abuses of White House security clearances.

Kupperman put off testifying while asking a court to rule on whether he should comply with a congressional subpoena or honour the Trump administration's order not to testify, his lawyers said last week.

Democrats in turn said they would not let further legal manoeuvrings delay their work.

At least nine others have testified despite being instructed by the White House not to do so, Schiff said.

Kupperman was expected to provide testimony about Trump's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-lawmakers-hear-from-corroborating-witness-in-trump-impeachment-probe-258323">dealings with Ukraine</a> brought to Congress' attention by a report from a whistleblower about a July 25 telephone call between the US&nbsp;president and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Trump's request to Zelenskiy that he investigate former US&nbsp;Vice President Joe Biden, a leading candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, and his son Hunter Biden, who had served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company, is the focus of the inquiry being conducted by the three panels.

Trump made his request after withholding $391 million in security aid approved by the US&nbsp;Congress to help fight Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

A separate White House official, Alexander Vindman, a lieutenant colonel who sits on the National Security Council and who listened in on the call, is expected to tell lawmakers in a closed-door hearing on Tuesday that the conversation alarmed him so much that he raised concerns with an NSC lawyer.

But Trump again dismissed the inquiry in comments to reporters.

"I had a great conversation with the Ukrainian president. I had another with him also, I think before that, which was the same thing, it was nothing. They tried to take that conversation and make it into a big scandal," Trump said on Monday.

Schiff noted that a federal judge had validated the legality of the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry in a decision about releasing information regarding a separate investigation, into Russian election interference in 2016, to Congress and that all witnesses need to come forward when called.

The Trump administration appealed that ruling on Monday.

Democrats in Congress, answering Republican complaints that their impeachment investigation of US President Donald Trump is being conducted in secret, plan a vote on Thursday on how to make their inquiry public, a significant new stage in the probe.

Democrats in Congress, answering Republican complaints that their impeachment investigation of US President Donald Trump is being conducted in secret, plan a vote on Thursday on how to make their inquiry public, a significant new stage in the probe. Trump and his fellow Republicans have for weeks branded the work of committees probing Trump's overtures to Ukraine as illegitimate, arguing the full Democratic-led House of Representatives had failed to authorise their investigations in a public vote. Meeting behind closed doors, the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Oversight committees have been looking into the possibility that Trump violated federal law by seeking foreign help for his November 2020 re-election efforts. House Rules Committee Chairman James McGovern said on Monday: "I will be introducing a resolution to ensure transparency and provide a clear path forward." House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said in a statement the legislation would establish a format for open hearings.The US Constitution gives the House broad authority to set ground rules for an impeachment inquiry and Democrats say they are following House rules on investigations. Several administration officials, including a former deputy national security adviser on Monday, have failed to testify to House committees engaged in the probe. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to her fellow House Democrats the House will vote this week - on Thursday, according to a senior Democratic aide - on a resolution that spells out how future public hearings will be held. Pelosi promised to provide legal protections for Trump. A source familiar with the probe said the public hearings will be held by the Intelligence Committee and that the transcripts from closed depositions with witnesses will be made public. A senior House Democratic aide said the hearings could begin within the next month. The measure will set the stage for House investigating committees to forward evidence they have collected to the House Judiciary Committee, which would then decide whether to advance articles of impeachment against Trump. Even if the House impeaches Trump, he would face a trial in the Republican-controlled Senate, which for the moment seems unlikely to convict the president and force his ouster. Impeachment requires a simple majority in the 435-member House but conviction demands the support of a two-thirds majority in the 100-member Senate. Charles Kupperman, a former deputy to ousted national security adviser John Bolton, failed to appear earlier on Monday before the three House panels conducting the Ukraine phase of the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry, lawmakers said. Other panels are probing separate issues, including Trump's finances and abuses of White House security clearances. Kupperman put off testifying while asking a court to rule on whether he should comply with a congressional subpoena or honour the Trump administration's order not to testify, his lawyers said last week. Democrats in turn said they would not let further legal manoeuvrings delay their work. At least nine others have testified despite being instructed by the White House not to do so, Schiff said. Kupperman was expected to provide testimony about Trump's dealings with Ukraine brought to Congress' attention by a report from a whistleblower about a July 25 telephone call between the US president and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Trump's request to Zelenskiy that he investigate former US Vice President Joe Biden, a leading candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, and his son Hunter Biden, who had served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company, is the focus of the inquiry being conducted by the three panels. Trump made his request after withholding $391 million in security aid approved by the US Congress to help fight Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. A separate White House official, Alexander Vindman, a lieutenant colonel who sits on the National Security Council and who listened in on the call, is expected to tell lawmakers in a closed-door hearing on Tuesday that the conversation alarmed him so much that he raised concerns with an NSC lawyer. But Trump again dismissed the inquiry in comments to reporters. "I had a great conversation with the Ukrainian president. I had another with him also, I think before that, which was the same thing, it was nothing. They tried to take that conversation and make it into a big scandal," Trump said on Monday. Schiff noted that a federal judge had validated the legality of the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry in a decision about releasing information regarding a separate investigation, into Russian election interference in 2016, to Congress and that all witnesses need to come forward when called. The Trump administration appealed that ruling on Monday.

Democrats set to vote on on how to make Trump impeachment probe public

Hong Kong jeweler Jun Lam has already closed one shop. His remaining outlet sits in an almost deserted shopping mall at the heart of a district regularly hit by sometimes violent protests that have rocked the Chinese-ruled city since June.

Restaurants, hotels and retail outlets like Lam's, many of which cater to mostly mainland Chinese tourists, form a central pillar of a small business sector that employs more than one million people in the city.

But with visitors deterred by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/protests-erupt-in-hong-kong-police-fire-tear-gas-to-clear-rally-258401">months of violence</a>, many firms have closed or are struggling to turn a profit.

"It's only a third of the pedestrian flow compared with the past. On some days, almost no shops were open in this mall," Lam said. To stay afloat, he has closed his other store in the New Territories district of Tseun Wan, the site of some violent demonstrations between protesters and police.

When Reuters visited The Capital shopping mall, where Lam's remaining shop sits, almost half the units were closed or emptied.

In the surrounding Tsim Sha Tsui shopping and hotel precinct, many shutters on closed shops bore 'To Let' signs or letters demanding rent from landlords.

Just last Sunday, the district was blanketed in tear gas during cat-and-mouse clashes between police and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/protests-in-hong-kong-continue-rally-against-police-brutality-258386">pro-democracy protesters</a>.

It was the 21st consecutive weekend of protests over fears Beijing is tightening its grip on the territory, the worst political crisis since colonial ruler Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997.

The unrest has dealt a double blow to the financial hub, which was already grappling with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/hong-kong-enters-recession-as-protests-show-no-sign-of-relenting-258425">sluggish economic growth</a>.

Government support has been modest, and there is little optimism amid a record decline in retail sales, rising unemployment and bankruptcies that have started to hit banks' bottom lines.

Larger firms impacted by the protests can often fall back on their wider footprint, access to emergency capital or international business, industry watchers say, but for many small firms there is no such safety net.

"It's a very serious situation," said Brian King, associate dean of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

"There is no buffer for the owners - it's not easy for them to get loans and there's not a particularly strong welfare system in Hong Kong."

Confirming the city entered recession in the third quarter, the city's finance chief Paul Chan on Sunday urged an end to violence.

Chan earlier this month said at least 100 restaurants have closed due to the unrest with about 2,000 employees affected.

Hong Kong is home to around 340,000 small and medium-sized firms, according to official figures, providing jobs for about 1.3 million people. That accounts for around 45 per cent&nbsp;of total employment, excluding the civil service, and 98 per cent&nbsp;of business units covered by quarterly government surveys.

High street rents in the city, among the most expensive in the world, fell the most since the 1998 Asian financial crisis in the third quarter, while authorities have repeatedly called for landlords to cut rents during the crisis.

But, for many small firms, that may not be enough to stave off closure.

"Many stores are waiting to die," said Bob Yip, operator of Wing Li Dispensary, located on the popular protest route of Causeway Bay on Hong Kong island.

Yip said his business, which mainly caters to tourists from mainland China, has dropped by 80 per cent, while his local custom has dwindled due to regular closures of the transport network during the protests.

Yip said the government was not doing enough to resolve the disputes with pro-democracy demonstrators.

Others say police tactics are making the situation worse.

On Sunday, a tear gas canister landed inside a pharmacy during clashes in Yau Ma Tei district, sending spluttering shoppers and workers fleeing from the cramped, smoke-filled store, local media coverage of the incident showed.

The shopkeeper, surnamed Wu, told local media four representatives of the police visited the store on Monday morning and said they were sorry, without explaining why tear gas was fired at the pharmacy.

"We already half-closed our shutter when the tear gas canister was thrown into our shop suddenly," Wu told local broadcaster RTHK. "We all ran outside. There weren't many people on the streets but the police fired tear gas nevertheless."

Hong Kong jeweler Jun Lam has already closed one shop. His remaining outlet sits in an almost deserted shopping mall at the heart of a district regularly hit by sometimes violent protests that have rocked the Chinese-ruled city since June.

Hong Kong jeweler Jun Lam has already closed one shop. His remaining outlet sits in an almost deserted shopping mall at the heart of a district regularly hit by sometimes violent protests that have rocked the Chinese-ruled city since June. Restaurants, hotels and retail outlets like Lam's, many of which cater to mostly mainland Chinese tourists, form a central pillar of a small business sector that employs more than one million people in the city. But with visitors deterred by months of violence, many firms have closed or are struggling to turn a profit. "It's only a third of the pedestrian flow compared with the past. On some days, almost no shops were open in this mall," Lam said. To stay afloat, he has closed his other store in the New Territories district of Tseun Wan, the site of some violent demonstrations between protesters and police. When Reuters visited The Capital shopping mall, where Lam's remaining shop sits, almost half the units were closed or emptied. In the surrounding Tsim Sha Tsui shopping and hotel precinct, many shutters on closed shops bore 'To Let' signs or letters demanding rent from landlords. Just last Sunday, the district was blanketed in tear gas during cat-and-mouse clashes between police and pro-democracy protesters. It was the 21st consecutive weekend of protests over fears Beijing is tightening its grip on the territory, the worst political crisis since colonial ruler Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997. The unrest has dealt a double blow to the financial hub, which was already grappling with sluggish economic growth. Government support has been modest, and there is little optimism amid a record decline in retail sales, rising unemployment and bankruptcies that have started to hit banks' bottom lines. Larger firms impacted by the protests can often fall back on their wider footprint, access to emergency capital or international business, industry watchers say, but for many small firms there is no such safety net. "It's a very serious situation," said Brian King, associate dean of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. "There is no buffer for the owners - it's not easy for them to get loans and there's not a particularly strong welfare system in Hong Kong." Confirming the city entered recession in the third quarter, the city's finance chief Paul Chan on Sunday urged an end to violence. Chan earlier this month said at least 100 restaurants have closed due to the unrest with about 2,000 employees affected. Hong Kong is home to around 340,000 small and medium-sized firms, according to official figures, providing jobs for about 1.3 million people. That accounts for around 45 per cent of total employment, excluding the civil service, and 98 per cent of business units covered by quarterly government surveys. High street rents in the city, among the most expensive in the world, fell the most since the 1998 Asian financial crisis in the third quarter, while authorities have repeatedly called for landlords to cut rents during the crisis. But, for many small firms, that may not be enough to stave off closure. "Many stores are waiting to die," said Bob Yip, operator of Wing Li Dispensary, located on the popular protest route of Causeway Bay on Hong Kong island. Yip said his business, which mainly caters to tourists from mainland China, has dropped by 80 per cent, while his local custom has dwindled due to regular closures of the transport network during the protests. Yip said the government was not doing enough to resolve the disputes with pro-democracy demonstrators. Others say police tactics are making the situation worse. On Sunday, a tear gas canister landed inside a pharmacy during clashes in Yau Ma Tei district, sending spluttering shoppers and workers fleeing from the cramped, smoke-filled store, local media coverage of the incident showed. The shopkeeper, surnamed Wu, told local media four representatives of the police visited the store on Monday morning and said they were sorry, without explaining why tear gas was fired at the pharmacy. "We already half-closed our shutter when the tear gas canister was thrown into our shop suddenly," Wu told local broadcaster RTHK. "We all ran outside. There weren't many people on the streets but the police fired tear gas nevertheless."

Hong Kong shops shutter as months of protest darken economic gloom

Hong Kong pro-democracy <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-summons-german-ambassador-over-joshua-wongs-berlin-visit-249082">activist Joshua Wong </a>said on Tuesday that he has been barred from running in district elections.

"I strongly condemn the government for conducting political screening and censorship, depriving me of my political rights," Wong said in a Facebook post.

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Last month<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-foreign-minister-heiko-maas-meeting-with-hong-kongs-joshua-wong-disrespectful-china-248822"> Wong had appeared</a> before a US Congressional committee on China where he urged authorities to pass legislation to combat human rights abuses in Hong Kong.&nbsp;

The US House of Representatives later passed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act which aggravated China as it accused "external forces" of fuelling protests in the Asian financial hub.

Hong Kong has been at the centre of violent pro-democracy demonstrations for the past four months with students clashing with police almost every day, especially on weekends with thousands taking up protests in airports, metro and other important city landmarks.

The protests which began with demands to drop the extradition bill was finally withdrawn by the Hong Kong legislature as unrest escalated in the city.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam had agreed to pull the bill after months of protests which erupted in June, if the bill had been passed, Hong Kong residents could be extradited to mainland China which was seen as an attempt by Beijing to tighten its grip over the city.

However, the move failed to quell the protests as the city continued to see widespread movement against authorities in an endless surge of violence.

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong said on Tuesday that he has been barred from running in district elections. "I strongly condemn the government for conducting political screening and censorship, depriving me of my political rights," Wong said in a Facebook post.

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong said on Tuesday that he has been barred from running in district elections. "I strongly condemn the government for conducting political screening and censorship, depriving me of my political rights," Wong said in a Facebook post. × Last month Wong had appeared before a US Congressional committee on China where he urged authorities to pass legislation to combat human rights abuses in Hong Kong. The US House of Representatives later passed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act which aggravated China as it accused "external forces" of fuelling protests in the Asian financial hub. Hong Kong has been at the centre of violent pro-democracy demonstrations for the past four months with students clashing with police almost every day, especially on weekends with thousands taking up protests in airports, metro and other important city landmarks. The protests which began with demands to drop the extradition bill was finally withdrawn by the Hong Kong legislature as unrest escalated in the city. Chief Executive Carrie Lam had agreed to pull the bill after months of protests which erupted in June, if the bill had been passed, Hong Kong residents could be extradited to mainland China which was seen as an attempt by Beijing to tighten its grip over the city. However, the move failed to quell the protests as the city continued to see widespread movement against authorities in an endless surge of violence.

Joshua Wong barred from contesting local elections in Hong Kong

The body of the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rescue-efforts-underway-for-over-75-hours-to-save-2-yr-old-sujith-trapped-in-a-borewell-258556"> two-year-old boy</a>, who had fallen down a borewell, is in a highly decomposed state and is under final observation, said J Radhakrishnan, the Principal Secretary of Transport Department during the wee hours of Tuesday.

"The two-year-old toddler's body is now in a decomposed state. All efforts were put in to bring the child alive but now, in an unfortunate turn of events, bad smell has started to come from the borewell in which the child had fallen," Radhakrishnan told media persons while quoting doctors.

"The body is now highly decomposed and is in final observation," he added.

Government officials and rescue workers had been working continuously for the last 80 plus hours to retrieve the child. However, now the digging process has been stopped at a depth of 65 feet of the borewell.

As per the officials present at the site, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), doctors and special teams are working near the borewell and a complete report will be given.

On October 25, the toddler&nbsp;fell into the borewell while playing near his house at about 5:30 pm here in Trichy.

Later, he slipped further down into the borewell.

More than six crews from the NDRF, as well as the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), have been deployed to rescue Wilson.

A medical team was also providing oxygen to the boy.

The body of the two-year-old boy, who had fallen down a borewell, is in a highly decomposed state and is under final observation, said J Radhakrishnan, the Principal Secretary of Transport Department during the wee hours of Tuesday.

The body of the two-year-old boy, who had fallen down a borewell, is in a highly decomposed state and is under final observation, said J Radhakrishnan, the Principal Secretary of Transport Department during the wee hours of Tuesday. "The two-year-old toddler's body is now in a decomposed state. All efforts were put in to bring the child alive but now, in an unfortunate turn of events, bad smell has started to come from the borewell in which the child had fallen," Radhakrishnan told media persons while quoting doctors. "The body is now highly decomposed and is in final observation," he added. Government officials and rescue workers had been working continuously for the last 80 plus hours to retrieve the child. However, now the digging process has been stopped at a depth of 65 feet of the borewell. As per the officials present at the site, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), doctors and special teams are working near the borewell and a complete report will be given. On October 25, the toddler fell into the borewell while playing near his house at about 5:30 pm here in Trichy. Later, he slipped further down into the borewell. More than six crews from the NDRF, as well as the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), have been deployed to rescue Wilson. A medical team was also providing oxygen to the boy.

Toddler's body in decomposed state: Tamil Nadu official

Elina&nbsp;Svitolina&nbsp;made a winning start to her WTA Finals defence in Shenzhen on Monday when the Ukrainian defeated <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/karolina-pliskosva-closes-gap-on-world-number-one-barty-249988">Karolina Pliskova</a> in straight sets while Wimbledon champion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-champion-simona-halep-targets-strong-finish-in-asia-251694">Simona Halep</a> saved a match point to beat Bianca Andreescu.

Svitolina&nbsp;secured a 7-6 (12) 6-4 win over the former world number one to top the standings in the Purple Group in the round-robin phase of the competition, with Halep joining her following her victory over Andreescu.

"I was just trying to be ready for her big serves and then try to take on the second serves, I just tried to move very quickly and react quick,"&nbsp;Svitolina&nbsp;said at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center.

"The surface is a little bit slow so I had a little bit more time and I think it benefited a little bit my returns. I was just trying to focus on what I had to do and in the end I delivered."

Svitolina&nbsp;conceded a break on her own serve in the opening game and was trailing but, after picking up three straight games to restore parity, she then ground her opponent down in the tiebreaker and clinched the first set.

The second set was almost as keenly fought, with&nbsp;Svitolina&nbsp;picking up the opening two games as she maintained her momentum.

Pliskova, however, won three straight games to ensure matters were back on serve before&nbsp;Svitolina&nbsp;claimed another break in the seventh when her opponent sent her attempt long from behind the baseline.

That gave the eighth seed the platform to secure her fourth straight win over Pliskova.

Later in the evening, Halep showed all her fighting qualities to come back from a set down to claim a 3-6 7-6(6) 6-3 win over U.S. Open champion Andreescu, saving a match point in the process.

Andreesca had her older opponent on the ropes throughout the first set, including forcing Halep to fight back from 0-40 down to save her own serve in the fifth game, before winning the last four games to take the lead.

Both players struggled to hold serve throughout the second set and Halep saved a match point in her final service game before forcing a tiebreaker.

Halep prevailed to send the match into a deciding set which featured five breaks of serve before the Romanian closed out the match after two hours and 34 minutes.

"It was a very tough match," said Halep. "I knew that she's a great player and that she's playing until the end, without giving up so I had to fight.

"I didn't play so much since Wimbledon so I’m a little bit dead but I have time tomorrow to recover and I'm happy I could win finally a match at the WTA Finals."

Elina Svitolina made a winning start to her WTA Finals defence in Shenzhen on Monday when the Ukrainian defeated Karolina Pliskova in straight sets while Wimbledon champion Simona Halep saved a match point to beat Bianca Andreescu.

Elina Svitolina made a winning start to her WTA Finals defence in Shenzhen on Monday when the Ukrainian defeated Karolina Pliskova in straight sets while Wimbledon champion Simona Halep saved a match point to beat Bianca Andreescu. Svitolina secured a 7-6 (12) 6-4 win over the former world number one to top the standings in the Purple Group in the round-robin phase of the competition, with Halep joining her following her victory over Andreescu. "I was just trying to be ready for her big serves and then try to take on the second serves, I just tried to move very quickly and react quick," Svitolina said at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center. "The surface is a little bit slow so I had a little bit more time and I think it benefited a little bit my returns. I was just trying to focus on what I had to do and in the end I delivered." Svitolina conceded a break on her own serve in the opening game and was trailing but, after picking up three straight games to restore parity, she then ground her opponent down in the tiebreaker and clinched the first set. The second set was almost as keenly fought, with Svitolina picking up the opening two games as she maintained her momentum. Pliskova, however, won three straight games to ensure matters were back on serve before Svitolina claimed another break in the seventh when her opponent sent her attempt long from behind the baseline. That gave the eighth seed the platform to secure her fourth straight win over Pliskova. Later in the evening, Halep showed all her fighting qualities to come back from a set down to claim a 3-6 7-6(6) 6-3 win over U.S. Open champion Andreescu, saving a match point in the process. Andreesca had her older opponent on the ropes throughout the first set, including forcing Halep to fight back from 0-40 down to save her own serve in the fifth game, before winning the last four games to take the lead. Both players struggled to hold serve throughout the second set and Halep saved a match point in her final service game before forcing a tiebreaker. Halep prevailed to send the match into a deciding set which featured five breaks of serve before the Romanian closed out the match after two hours and 34 minutes. "It was a very tough match," said Halep. "I knew that she's a great player and that she's playing until the end, without giving up so I had to fight. "I didn't play so much since Wimbledon so I’m a little bit dead but I have time tomorrow to recover and I'm happy I could win finally a match at the WTA Finals."

Tennis: Svitolina starts WTA title defence with win as Halep sees off Andreescu

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