Rafael Nadal has said he will travel to the ATP finals in London after undergoing a scan on an abdominal injury that forced him to retire from last week's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/paris-masters-nadal-marches-on-in-paris-djokovic-also-reaches-quarters-259155">Paris Masters</a> at the semi-final stage.

"Yesterday I had a scan in Mallorca and despite having a small strain in my right abdominal, I will travel to London," the world number one said in a statement on his official Twitter account on Tuesday.

"On Thursday or Friday I will start training on my serve and my aim is to be able to play the ATP Finals in London. Thanks for your support."

Even though he withdrew from his semi-final tie with Denis Shapovalov, Nadal's run to the last four in Paris saw him reclaim the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rafael-nadal-once-again-claims-no-1-spot-in-rankings-novak-djokovic-slips-259888">number one spot</a> from Novak Djokovic on Monday.

The ATP finals take place between November&nbsp;10-17. Nadal has never won the tournament, losing in the final to Roger Federer in 2010 and Djokovic in 2013, when it was known as the ATP World Tour finals.

Rafael Nadal has said he will travel to the ATP finals in London after undergoing a scan on an abdominal injury that forced him to retire from last week's Paris Masters at the semi-final stage.

Rafael Nadal has said he will travel to the ATP finals in London after undergoing a scan on an abdominal injury that forced him to retire from last week's Paris Masters at the semi-final stage. "Yesterday I had a scan in Mallorca and despite having a small strain in my right abdominal, I will travel to London," the world number one said in a statement on his official Twitter account on Tuesday. "On Thursday or Friday I will start training on my serve and my aim is to be able to play the ATP Finals in London. Thanks for your support." Even though he withdrew from his semi-final tie with Denis Shapovalov, Nadal's run to the last four in Paris saw him reclaim the number one spot from Novak Djokovic on Monday. The ATP finals take place between November 10-17. Nadal has never won the tournament, losing in the final to Roger Federer in 2010 and Djokovic in 2013, when it was known as the ATP World Tour finals.

Tennis: Rafael Nadal to travel to ATP finals despite injury

The world&nbsp;economy&nbsp;could&nbsp;be&nbsp;boosted by as much as $100 billion a year if employers successfully encouraged their staff to meet World Health Organization guidelines on exercise, according to an analysis of the economic impact of activity.

Adding an&nbsp;extra&nbsp;15&nbsp;minutes of&nbsp;daily&nbsp;walking, or jogging a steady one kilometre each day, would improve productivity and extend life expectancy - leading to more economic growth, the&nbsp;study&nbsp;by the health insurance group Vitality and the think tank RAND Europe found.

The economic&nbsp;boost&nbsp;would come from lower mortality rates - in other words keeping more people alive, working and contributing to the&nbsp;economy&nbsp;for longer, the&nbsp;study's authors said, and from employees taking fewer days off sick.

Hans Pung, RAND Europe's president, said the&nbsp;study&nbsp;highlighted "a significant relationship between inactivity and productivity loss" and should give policymakers and employers "new perspectives on how to enhance the productivity of their populations".

The WHO recommends that all adults should take at least&nbsp;150&nbsp;minutes of moderate exercise, or 75&nbsp;minutes of vigorous exercise, a week. In a&nbsp;study&nbsp;last year it found that around 40 per cent of adults in the United States, 36 per cent in Britain and 14 per cent in China did too little exercise to stay healthy.

The RAND/Vitality&nbsp;study&nbsp;was based in part on data from about 120,000 people across seven countries. It then modelled and projected the potential economic benefits of increased physical activity&nbsp;globally and for 23 individual countries.

It found that if all adults aged between 18 and 64&nbsp;walked&nbsp;15&nbsp;more&nbsp;minutes a day, it&nbsp;could&nbsp;increase world economic output by some $100 billion&nbsp;years on year.

It also found that physically inactive 40-year-olds&nbsp;could&nbsp;increase their life expectancy, on average, by 3.2 years, by introducing 20&nbsp;minutes of jogging a day.

The world economy could be boosted by as much as $100 billion a year if employers successfully encouraged their staff to meet World Health Organization guidelines on exercise, according to an analysis of the economic impact of activity.

The world economy could be boosted by as much as $100 billion a year if employers successfully encouraged their staff to meet World Health Organization guidelines on exercise, according to an analysis of the economic impact of activity. Adding an extra 15 minutes of daily walking, or jogging a steady one kilometre each day, would improve productivity and extend life expectancy - leading to more economic growth, the study by the health insurance group Vitality and the think tank RAND Europe found. The economic boost would come from lower mortality rates - in other words keeping more people alive, working and contributing to the economy for longer, the study's authors said, and from employees taking fewer days off sick. Hans Pung, RAND Europe's president, said the study highlighted "a significant relationship between inactivity and productivity loss" and should give policymakers and employers "new perspectives on how to enhance the productivity of their populations". The WHO recommends that all adults should take at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise, a week. In a study last year it found that around 40 per cent of adults in the United States, 36 per cent in Britain and 14 per cent in China did too little exercise to stay healthy. The RAND/Vitality study was based in part on data from about 120,000 people across seven countries. It then modelled and projected the potential economic benefits of increased physical activity globally and for 23 individual countries. It found that if all adults aged between 18 and 64 walked 15 more minutes a day, it could increase world economic output by some $100 billion years on year. It also found that physically inactive 40-year-olds could increase their life expectancy, on average, by 3.2 years, by introducing 20 minutes of jogging a day.

An extra 15 minute daily walk could boost global economy: Study

US <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-impeachment-transcripts-go-public-as-whouse-stonewalls-260028">House&nbsp;impeachment</a>&nbsp;investigators on Tuesday&nbsp;summoned&nbsp;President Donald&nbsp;Trump's acting&nbsp;chief&nbsp;of&nbsp;staff&nbsp;Mick Mulvaney for a deposition, saying he has "substantial first-hand knowledge" of&nbsp;Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine.

Mulvaney is the latest administration official to be ordered to&nbsp;testify&nbsp;with the&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;probe&nbsp;closing in around those nearest the president as it proceeds into a new public phase, in which transcripts of closed-door testimony are being released.

Mulvaney is the highest-ranking White House official to be&nbsp;summoned&nbsp;in the&nbsp;probe, although he is unlikely to comply given the White House's opposition to administration officials cooperating with investigators.

The chairs of the three House committees leading the investigation wrote Mulvaney requesting he appear before the panels on Friday at 9:00 am.

"The investigation has revealed that you may have been directly involved in an effort orchestrated by President&nbsp;Trump, his personal agent, Rudolph Giuliani and others to withhold a coveted White House meeting and nearly $400 million in security assistance in order to pressure (Ukraine) to pursue investigations that would benefit President&nbsp;Trump's personal political interests," they wrote.

"Your failure or refusal to appear at the deposition, including at the direction or behest of the president, shall constitute further evidence of obstruction of the House's&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;inquiry and may be used as an adverse inference against you and the President."

Last month, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-houses-mick-mulvaney-did-not-mull-quitting-over-quid-pro-quo-flap-257178">Mulvaney</a> publicly stated that the decision to freeze aid was tied to the demand for investigations. He later walked back those comments.

Several current and former officials have defied House subpoenas or voluntary requests to&nbsp;testify.

John Eisenberg, a White House lawyer suspected of involvement in the Ukraine scandal, and Robert Blair, assistant to the president and senior advisor to Mulvaney, were among four officials who ignored calls to&nbsp;testify&nbsp;Monday.

The no-shows continued Tuesday when Wells Griffith, a White House adviser on energy, failed to appear.

US House impeachment investigators on Tuesday summoned President Donald Trump's acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney for a deposition, saying he has "substantial first-hand knowledge" of Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine.

US House impeachment investigators on Tuesday summoned President Donald Trump's acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney for a deposition, saying he has "substantial first-hand knowledge" of Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine. Mulvaney is the latest administration official to be ordered to testify with the impeachment probe closing in around those nearest the president as it proceeds into a new public phase, in which transcripts of closed-door testimony are being released. Mulvaney is the highest-ranking White House official to be summoned in the probe, although he is unlikely to comply given the White House's opposition to administration officials cooperating with investigators. The chairs of the three House committees leading the investigation wrote Mulvaney requesting he appear before the panels on Friday at 9:00 am. "The investigation has revealed that you may have been directly involved in an effort orchestrated by President Trump, his personal agent, Rudolph Giuliani and others to withhold a coveted White House meeting and nearly $400 million in security assistance in order to pressure (Ukraine) to pursue investigations that would benefit President Trump's personal political interests," they wrote. "Your failure or refusal to appear at the deposition, including at the direction or behest of the president, shall constitute further evidence of obstruction of the House's impeachment inquiry and may be used as an adverse inference against you and the President." Last month, Mulvaney publicly stated that the decision to freeze aid was tied to the demand for investigations. He later walked back those comments. Several current and former officials have defied House subpoenas or voluntary requests to testify. John Eisenberg, a White House lawyer suspected of involvement in the Ukraine scandal, and Robert Blair, assistant to the president and senior advisor to Mulvaney, were among four officials who ignored calls to testify Monday. The no-shows continued Tuesday when Wells Griffith, a White House adviser on energy, failed to appear.

Trump chief of staff summoned to testify in impeachment probe

Elon&nbsp;Musk, who garnered attention for quitting Twitter last week, is back on the social platform, with little explanation for the hiatus or the return.

The chief executive of electric automaker Tesla, as well as the private space firm SpaceX, was tweeting late Monday to congratulate the crew of the free-flying spacecraft Dragon.

"SpaceX team has completed 13 successful tests in a row of upgraded Mark 3 parachutes for Crew Dragon,"&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;wrote. "Most recent tests demonstrated the parachute system's ability to land the spacecraft safely in the unlikely event that one of the four main parachutes fails."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Great work by SpaceX Dragon team &amp; Airborne! To be clear, we’ve only done 1 multi-parachute test of Mk3 design, so 9 more left to reach 10 successful tests in a row. <a href="https://t.co/Q814zVoW4S">https://t.co/Q814zVoW4S</a>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1191475073758064640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Last Friday he appeared to leave the messaging service on which he has some 29 million followers, writing simply, "Not sure about good of Twitter," and then saying "Going offline."

He has not elaborated about leaving or returning to Twitter.

Musk&nbsp;has found himself in hot water in recent months over his Twitter remarks.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission which accused him of misleading Tesla investors on the platform, resulting in a court settlement requiring him to step down as chairman of the auto firm.

Musk&nbsp;also is being sued for defamation by a man who helped in the dramatic rescue of 12 boys trapped in an underwater cave in Thailand last year following his tweet calling the British caver a "pedo guy."

Elon Musk, who garnered attention for quitting Twitter last week, is back on the social platform, with little explanation for the hiatus or the return. The chief executive of electric automaker Tesla, as well as the private space firm SpaceX, was tweeting late Monday to congratulate the crew of the free-flying spacecraft Dragon.

Elon Musk, who garnered attention for quitting Twitter last week, is back on the social platform, with little explanation for the hiatus or the return. The chief executive of electric automaker Tesla, as well as the private space firm SpaceX, was tweeting late Monday to congratulate the crew of the free-flying spacecraft Dragon. "SpaceX team has completed 13 successful tests in a row of upgraded Mark 3 parachutes for Crew Dragon," Musk wrote. "Most recent tests demonstrated the parachute system's ability to land the spacecraft safely in the unlikely event that one of the four main parachutes fails." Great work by SpaceX Dragon team & Airborne! To be clear, we’ve only done 1 multi-parachute test of Mk3 design, so 9 more left to reach 10 successful tests in a row. https://t.co/Q814zVoW4S — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2019 × Last Friday he appeared to leave the messaging service on which he has some 29 million followers, writing simply, "Not sure about good of Twitter," and then saying "Going offline." He has not elaborated about leaving or returning to Twitter. Musk has found himself in hot water in recent months over his Twitter remarks. The US Securities and Exchange Commission which accused him of misleading Tesla investors on the platform, resulting in a court settlement requiring him to step down as chairman of the auto firm. Musk also is being sued for defamation by a man who helped in the dramatic rescue of 12 boys trapped in an underwater cave in Thailand last year following his tweet calling the British caver a "pedo guy."

Elon Musk back on Twitter after break

A&nbsp;top&nbsp;ally&nbsp;of President Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;admitted he told a&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;official that US military&nbsp;aid&nbsp;was contingent on Kyiv investigating&nbsp;Trump's Democratic rival Joe&nbsp;Biden, testimony released Tuesday showed.

In some of the most damning evidence yet to the House impeachment inquiry of&nbsp;Trump, Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, said he told a senior&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;official that military&nbsp;aid&nbsp;would likely not be released until Kyiv made clear it would investigate&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;and his son's ties to&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;energy firm Burisma.

Sondland, in amended testimony that reversed his earlier denial, admitted he laid out the allegedly illegal quid pro quo in a September 1 discussion with Andriy&nbsp;Yermak, a&nbsp;top&nbsp;advisor to&nbsp;Ukrainian&nbsp;President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Sondland said it was the culmination of months of pressure placed on Kyiv, primarily via&nbsp;Trump's personal lawyer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rudy-giulianis-associate-lev-parnas-will-comply-with-trump-impeachment-inquiry-260111">Rudy Giuliani</a>, to open "anti-corruption" investigations into the Bidens and into&nbsp;Trump's unfounded belief that&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;assisted the Democrats in the 2016 election.

Sondland told Yermak "that resumption of US&nbsp;aid&nbsp;would not likely occur until&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;provided the anti-corruption statement that we had been discussing for weeks," he told investigators.

The White House has repeatedly denied there was any link between the&nbsp;aid&nbsp;and any demands by&nbsp;Trump, despite the evidence from the summary of a July 25 phone call,&nbsp;just one week after&nbsp;aid&nbsp;was frozen,&nbsp;in which&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;sought a "favor" from Zelensky and referred directly to&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;and the 2016 issue.

Sondland, appointed ambassador by&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;after donating $1 million to his inauguration, said he was fully aware of the linkage made between the $391 million in US military&nbsp;aid&nbsp;and&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;helping&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;prepare to fight for reelection next year.

"I presumed that the&nbsp;aid&nbsp;suspension had become linked to the proposed anti-corruption statement" Zelensky was told to make regarding&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;and 2016 probes.

Sondland admitted to impeachment investigators that he understood the linkage was "improper."

Asked if it was illegal, Sondland responded: "I'm not a lawyer, but I assume so."Sondland's testimony, and that of Kurt Volker, the former US Special Representative to&nbsp;Ukraine, appeared to strengthen Democrats' charges that&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;abused his office by seeking foreign help for his 2020 election campaign and should be impeached and removed from office.

The testimony, taken in private last month, was released as the House prepares for the second phase of the impeachment inquiry, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/committee-releases-first-transcripts-in-trump-impeachment-inquiry-259964">open hearings</a> that could within several weeks lead to articles of impeachment being passed by the House.

The White House, in a statement, said their testimony offered no new evidence for "this illegitimate impeachment sham."

The White House continued to block senior officials from testifying, and was expected to do the same in response to a Democrats' Tuesday request to&nbsp;Trump's chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and be interviewed by investigators.

Other witnesses have said that Mulvaney was responsible for freezing the&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;aid&nbsp;in mid-July, and that he told others it was done at&nbsp;Trump's command.

"No amount of salacious media-biased headlines, which are clearly designed to influence the narrative, change the fact that the president has done nothing wrong," said White House spokesperson Stephanie Grisham in a statement.

Yet, according to the transcripts, both Sondland and Volker described&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;as being transfixed by the wholly unsubstantiated idea, popular in Republican circles, that&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;assisted Democrats in their efforts to defeat&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;in the 2016 presidential election.

They also describe Giuliani as being&nbsp;Trump's point man for pushing Zelensky's government into finding dirt on&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;and the Democrats.

"He just kept saying: talk to Rudy, talk to Rudy," Sondland said of a May meeting with&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;on&nbsp;Ukraine.

A top ally of President Donald Trump admitted he told a Ukraine official that US military aid was contingent on Kyiv investigating Trump's Democratic rival Joe Biden, testimony released Tuesday showed.

A top ally of President Donald Trump admitted he told a Ukraine official that US military aid was contingent on Kyiv investigating Trump's Democratic rival Joe Biden, testimony released Tuesday showed. In some of the most damning evidence yet to the House impeachment inquiry of Trump, Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, said he told a senior Ukraine official that military aid would likely not be released until Kyiv made clear it would investigate Biden and his son's ties to Ukraine energy firm Burisma. Sondland, in amended testimony that reversed his earlier denial, admitted he laid out the allegedly illegal quid pro quo in a September 1 discussion with Andriy Yermak, a top advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Sondland said it was the culmination of months of pressure placed on Kyiv, primarily via Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, to open "anti-corruption" investigations into the Bidens and into Trump's unfounded belief that Ukraine assisted the Democrats in the 2016 election. Sondland told Yermak "that resumption of US aid would not likely occur until Ukraine provided the anti-corruption statement that we had been discussing for weeks," he told investigators. The White House has repeatedly denied there was any link between the aid and any demands by Trump, despite the evidence from the summary of a July 25 phone call, just one week after aid was frozen, in which Trump sought a "favor" from Zelensky and referred directly to Biden and the 2016 issue. Sondland, appointed ambassador by Trump after donating $1 million to his inauguration, said he was fully aware of the linkage made between the $391 million in US military aid and Ukraine helping Trump prepare to fight for reelection next year. "I presumed that the aid suspension had become linked to the proposed anti-corruption statement" Zelensky was told to make regarding Biden and 2016 probes. Sondland admitted to impeachment investigators that he understood the linkage was "improper." Asked if it was illegal, Sondland responded: "I'm not a lawyer, but I assume so."Sondland's testimony, and that of Kurt Volker, the former US Special Representative to Ukraine, appeared to strengthen Democrats' charges that Trump abused his office by seeking foreign help for his 2020 election campaign and should be impeached and removed from office. The testimony, taken in private last month, was released as the House prepares for the second phase of the impeachment inquiry, open hearings that could within several weeks lead to articles of impeachment being passed by the House. The White House, in a statement, said their testimony offered no new evidence for "this illegitimate impeachment sham." The White House continued to block senior officials from testifying, and was expected to do the same in response to a Democrats' Tuesday request to Trump's chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and be interviewed by investigators. Other witnesses have said that Mulvaney was responsible for freezing the Ukraine aid in mid-July, and that he told others it was done at Trump's command. "No amount of salacious media-biased headlines, which are clearly designed to influence the narrative, change the fact that the president has done nothing wrong," said White House spokesperson Stephanie Grisham in a statement. Yet, according to the transcripts, both Sondland and Volker described Trump as being transfixed by the wholly unsubstantiated idea, popular in Republican circles, that Ukraine assisted Democrats in their efforts to defeat Trump in the 2016 presidential election. They also describe Giuliani as being Trump's point man for pushing Zelensky's government into finding dirt on Biden and the Democrats. "He just kept saying: talk to Rudy, talk to Rudy," Sondland said of a May meeting with Trump on Ukraine.

Top Trump ally admits tying Ukraine aid to Biden investigation

Lebanese demonstrators hit the streets again on Tuesday evening to demand a new government, facing off in some areas with security forces attempting to re-open blockaded roads.

An unprecedented <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/roads-blocked-as-lebanon-protesters-battle-on-259828">protest movement</a> has gripped&nbsp;Lebanon&nbsp;since October 17, demanding an overhaul of a political class that has remained largely unchanged since the end of the country's 1975-1990 civil war.

Rallies took place across the country, from Tripoli in the north to Sidon in the south, with demonstrators carrying Lebanese flags and chanting "Revolution! Revolution!"

Protesters gathered on Tuesday night in a square in Tripoli, hours after the army prevented them from closing public institutions and banks, as they had on the previous day.

An AFP correspondent in Tripoli said young demonstrators paraded through the city banging pots and pans to express their solidarity with Sidon, where the army had broken up a protest camp in the morning.

"I'm banging pots to protest against the political class that doesn't think about our future. It's time for them to wake up and listen to us," said Abdul Ghani, 19, a protester in Tripoli.

"We won't leave the streets until they've all fallen."

Throughout the day, the army and security forces worked to open roads closed by small groups of demonstrators to exert pressure on the authorities.&nbsp;

An AFP photographer saw a group of protesters north of&nbsp;Beirut&nbsp;clash with soldiers trying to open a road, with Army forces detaining several people.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Protesters have criticised the government for delays in forming a new cabinet after Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hariri-ready-to-be-lebanese-prime-minister-again-but-with-conditions-report-258873">Hariri quit </a>on October 29 in response to the mass protests, but President Michel Aoun has yet to begin consultations necessary to appoint a new prime minister.

"They should quickly form a government that respects the rights of the people and show good will... and regain the trust of the public and investors," said demonstrator Hussein in central&nbsp;Beirut.&nbsp;

Protesters have called for a government to be formed of technocrats from outside the political elite, followed by early elections and a law to seize embezzled funds and tackle corruption.&nbsp;

Lebanese demonstrators hit the streets again on Tuesday evening to demand a new government, facing off in some areas with security forces attempting to re-open blockaded roads.

Lebanese demonstrators hit the streets again on Tuesday evening to demand a new government, facing off in some areas with security forces attempting to re-open blockaded roads. An unprecedented protest movement has gripped Lebanon since October 17, demanding an overhaul of a political class that has remained largely unchanged since the end of the country's 1975-1990 civil war. Rallies took place across the country, from Tripoli in the north to Sidon in the south, with demonstrators carrying Lebanese flags and chanting "Revolution! Revolution!" Protesters gathered on Tuesday night in a square in Tripoli, hours after the army prevented them from closing public institutions and banks, as they had on the previous day. An AFP correspondent in Tripoli said young demonstrators paraded through the city banging pots and pans to express their solidarity with Sidon, where the army had broken up a protest camp in the morning. "I'm banging pots to protest against the political class that doesn't think about our future. It's time for them to wake up and listen to us," said Abdul Ghani, 19, a protester in Tripoli. "We won't leave the streets until they've all fallen." Throughout the day, the army and security forces worked to open roads closed by small groups of demonstrators to exert pressure on the authorities. An AFP photographer saw a group of protesters north of Beirut clash with soldiers trying to open a road, with Army forces detaining several people. Protesters have criticised the government for delays in forming a new cabinet after Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned. Hariri quit on October 29 in response to the mass protests, but President Michel Aoun has yet to begin consultations necessary to appoint a new prime minister. "They should quickly form a government that respects the rights of the people and show good will... and regain the trust of the public and investors," said demonstrator Hussein in central Beirut. Protesters have called for a government to be formed of technocrats from outside the political elite, followed by early elections and a law to seize embezzled funds and tackle corruption.

Lebanese protest again as army works to open blocked roads

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday announced cyclone alert for the Gujarat coast and a yellow message as Cyclone Maha is expected to make landfall on the coast between Devbhumi-Dwarka district and Diu on Thursday.

"The Very Severe Cyclonic storm MAHA over east-central and adjoining west-central the Arabian Sea moved eastwards with a speed of 21 kmph during the past six hours. It is very likely to cross Gujarat coast around Diu as a Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 70-80 Kmph gusting to 90 Kmph around noon of November 7, 2019," the IMD stated in its weather warning bulletin today.

The cyclone Maha is very likely to intensify into a deep depression during the next 12 hours and into a Cyclonic Storm during the subsequent 24 hours.

It is very likely to move west-northwestwards initially and then north-northwestwards, towards West Bengal and adjoining north Odisha and Bangladesh coasts.

The Indian Air Force has deployed several teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in Jamnagar, in wake of the cyclonic storm 'Maha'&nbsp;alert on Tuesday.

Around 140 NDRF personnel have been deployed and nearly eight tonnes of relief material has been put in place.

About 100 more personnel are being sent to Ahmedabad to further spread the rescue and relief operations in the state.

A total of 35 teams were deployed in Gujarat and the Diu district of Union territory Daman and Diu, as per NDRF's Twitter handle.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday announced cyclone alert for the Gujarat coast and a yellow message as Cyclone Maha is expected to make landfall on the coast between Devbhumi-Dwarka district and Diu on Thursday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday announced cyclone alert for the Gujarat coast and a yellow message as Cyclone Maha is expected to make landfall on the coast between Devbhumi-Dwarka district and Diu on Thursday. "The Very Severe Cyclonic storm MAHA over east-central and adjoining west-central the Arabian Sea moved eastwards with a speed of 21 kmph during the past six hours. It is very likely to cross Gujarat coast around Diu as a Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 70-80 Kmph gusting to 90 Kmph around noon of November 7, 2019," the IMD stated in its weather warning bulletin today. The cyclone Maha is very likely to intensify into a deep depression during the next 12 hours and into a Cyclonic Storm during the subsequent 24 hours. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards initially and then north-northwestwards, towards West Bengal and adjoining north Odisha and Bangladesh coasts. The Indian Air Force has deployed several teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in Jamnagar, in wake of the cyclonic storm 'Maha' alert on Tuesday. Around 140 NDRF personnel have been deployed and nearly eight tonnes of relief material has been put in place. About 100 more personnel are being sent to Ahmedabad to further spread the rescue and relief operations in the state. A total of 35 teams were deployed in Gujarat and the Diu district of Union territory Daman and Diu, as per NDRF's Twitter handle.

Severe cyclone Maha to cross Gujarat coast today: IMD

Sudan's&nbsp;first-ever&nbsp;satellite&nbsp;for conducting research in military, economic and space technology has been launched by&nbsp;China, the northeast African country's ruling body said Tuesday.&nbsp;

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who heads&nbsp;Sudan's sovereign council, announced the launch of the&nbsp;satellite&nbsp;at a meeting of his top security officials held in Khartoum.

China's state news agency, Xinhua, reported that the&nbsp;satellite&nbsp;was launched on Sunday from north&nbsp;China's Shanxi Province.

"The&nbsp;satellite&nbsp;aims to develop research in space technology, acquire data as well as discover natural resources for the country's military needs," a statement issued by the council said.

The spokesman of the ruling body Mohamed al-Fakhi Sulaiman told AFP that "in a few months the&nbsp;satellite&nbsp;would be monitored from&nbsp;Sudan".

"China&nbsp;launched the&nbsp;satellite&nbsp;as it is a partner in this project."

Sudan, which is battling an economic crisis, has been involved in a national space programme for decades covering activities such as remote sensing and geoinformatics.

In 2013, the then Sudanese government of now-ousted leader Omar al-Bashir established the Institute of Space Research and&nbsp;Aerospace&nbsp;(ISRA) as part of an overall plan to develop space technologies.

Bashir was ousted by the army in April following a nationwide protest movement against his rule of three decades.

The protests were triggered by the economic crisis led by an acute shortage of foreign currency and high inflation.

Sudan's first-ever satellite for conducting research in military, economic and space technology has been launched by China, the northeast African country's ruling body said Tuesday.

Sudan's first-ever satellite for conducting research in military, economic and space technology has been launched by China, the northeast African country's ruling body said Tuesday. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who heads Sudan's sovereign council, announced the launch of the satellite at a meeting of his top security officials held in Khartoum. China's state news agency, Xinhua, reported that the satellite was launched on Sunday from north China's Shanxi Province. "The satellite aims to develop research in space technology, acquire data as well as discover natural resources for the country's military needs," a statement issued by the council said. The spokesman of the ruling body Mohamed al-Fakhi Sulaiman told AFP that "in a few months the satellite would be monitored from Sudan". "China launched the satellite as it is a partner in this project." Sudan, which is battling an economic crisis, has been involved in a national space programme for decades covering activities such as remote sensing and geoinformatics. In 2013, the then Sudanese government of now-ousted leader Omar al-Bashir established the Institute of Space Research and Aerospace (ISRA) as part of an overall plan to develop space technologies. Bashir was ousted by the army in April following a nationwide protest movement against his rule of three decades. The protests were triggered by the economic crisis led by an acute shortage of foreign currency and high inflation.

China launches Sudan's first ever satellite: Official

President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administration-begins-formal-exit-from-paris-climate-pact-259963">Donald&nbsp;Trump</a>&nbsp;offered Tuesday to help&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;hunt the killers of nine Mormon women and children shot dead in a lawless border area&nbsp;and said the United States stood ready to back its southern neighbor in a "war"&nbsp;on&nbsp;the drug&nbsp;cartels.

Gunmen ambushed the members of the LeBaron family,&nbsp;a large clan of&nbsp;Mormons&nbsp;who emigrated to&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;in the late 19th century,&nbsp;on&nbsp;a rural road Monday between the states of Sonora and Chihuahua, which border the United States.

Three women and six children were killed, including two twin babies, said relatives and Mexican officials. Six children were also wounded in the attack, which left the family's three cars riddled with bullets and badly charred.

"If&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;needs or requests help in cleaning out these monsters, the United States stands ready, willing &amp; able to get involved and do the job quickly and effectively,"&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;wrote in a tweet.

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A wonderful family and friends from Utah got caught between two vicious drug cartels, who were shooting at each other, with the result being many great American people killed, including young children, and some missing. If Mexico needs or requests help in cleaning out these.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1191708046126399488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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He praised Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for prioritizing the fight against drug trafficking, but said "the&nbsp;cartels&nbsp;have become so large and powerful that you sometimes need an army to defeat an army!

"This is the time for&nbsp;Mexico, with the help of the United States, to wage&nbsp;WAR&nbsp;on&nbsp;the drug&nbsp;cartels&nbsp;and wipe them off the face of the earth."

Lopez Obrador&nbsp;said he would accept "all necessary cooperation" to get justice for the victims, all of whom lived&nbsp;on&nbsp;the Mexican side but had dual nationality.

But the left-wing populist, who has declared an end to&nbsp;Mexico's "drug wars," said he was not looking for a new one.

"We don't agree (with&nbsp;Trump)&nbsp;on&nbsp;that," he told a news conference. "War&nbsp;is synonymous with irrationality."

He later tweeted that he had thanked&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;for his support in a phone call.

The White House said the presidents had spoken about the "growing violent behavior" of drugs&nbsp;cartels&nbsp;and other criminal gangs.

"President&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;made clear that the United States condemns these senseless acts of violence that took the lives of nine American citizens and offered&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;assistance to ensure the perpetrators face justice," said spokesman&nbsp;Hogan Gidley.&nbsp;

Devastated members of the LeBaron family took to social media to call for people's prayers and condemn the lawless violence gripping much of the border region.

"It was a massacre," Julian LeBaron, an activist who has denounced criminal groups in the area, told Mexican radio network Formula.

He said the women were&nbsp;on&nbsp;their way to the airport with their children when their SUVs were attacked.

Several children managed to escape and return home&nbsp;on&nbsp;foot, he added.

Another, a three-month-old baby, was found wounded but alive beneath her mother's body.

An eight-year-old girl was also left missing for about 24 hours, before being found several kilometers away, unharmed.

Relatives said the children were all deeply traumatized. Five wounded children were airlifted for medical treatment in Phoenix, Arizona.

Mexican Security Minister Alfonso Durazo said the family may have been mistakenly targeted or caught in the crossfire in turf wars between rival drug&nbsp;cartels. LeBaron, however, said the family believes they were deliberately attacked.

The LeBaron community are descendants of&nbsp;Mormons&nbsp;who fled the United States in the late 1800s after being persecuted for their traditions, including polygamy. Many are dual US-Mexican citizens.

One former member is George Romney, father of 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who was born in 1907 in Colonia Dublan in Chihuahua state, according to the US network NBC.

Mitt Romney said&nbsp;on&nbsp;Twitter he was "heartbroken for the victims of the horrific attacks."

It is not the first time the LeBaron family has been targeted. Julian LeBaron's brother Benjamin, founder of a crime-fighting group called SOS Chihuahua, was assassinated in 2009 after he led protests over the kidnapping of their 16-year-old brother.

The murder came after the&nbsp;Mormons&nbsp;refused to pay the ransom. The young LeBaron was eventually released.

The region around the 3,145-kilometer&nbsp;US-Mexican border is plagued by violent crime.

Trump, who is battling to build the border wall that was his signature campaign pledge, regularly tells&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;to do more to fight drug trafficking and illegal migration across the frontier.

Lopez Obrador typically responds that the United States needs to crack down&nbsp;on&nbsp;illegal firearms trafficking, which generates an estimated $127 million in profits a year for the American gun industry.

Mexico&nbsp;has registered more than 250,000 murders since the government controversially deployed the army to fight drug trafficking in 2006.

Many experts blame the "drug wars" for spiraling violence, as fragmented&nbsp;cartels&nbsp;battle each other and the army.

Lopez Obrador has struggled to rein in the violence since taking office in December 2018. This year appears&nbsp;on&nbsp;track to set a new murder record in&nbsp;Mexico, with 25,890 so far.

President Donald Trump offered Tuesday to help Mexico hunt the killers of nine Mormon women and children shot dead in a lawless border area and said the United States stood ready to back its southern neighbor in a "war" on the drug cartels.

President Donald Trump offered Tuesday to help Mexico hunt the killers of nine Mormon women and children shot dead in a lawless border area and said the United States stood ready to back its southern neighbor in a "war" on the drug cartels. Gunmen ambushed the members of the LeBaron family, a large clan of Mormons who emigrated to Mexico in the late 19th century, on a rural road Monday between the states of Sonora and Chihuahua, which border the United States. Three women and six children were killed, including two twin babies, said relatives and Mexican officials. Six children were also wounded in the attack, which left the family's three cars riddled with bullets and badly charred. "If Mexico needs or requests help in cleaning out these monsters, the United States stands ready, willing & able to get involved and do the job quickly and effectively," Trump wrote in a tweet. A wonderful family and friends from Utah got caught between two vicious drug cartels, who were shooting at each other, with the result being many great American people killed, including young children, and some missing. If Mexico needs or requests help in cleaning out these..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2019 × He praised Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for prioritizing the fight against drug trafficking, but said "the cartels have become so large and powerful that you sometimes need an army to defeat an army! "This is the time for Mexico, with the help of the United States, to wage WAR on the drug cartels and wipe them off the face of the earth." Lopez Obrador said he would accept "all necessary cooperation" to get justice for the victims, all of whom lived on the Mexican side but had dual nationality. But the left-wing populist, who has declared an end to Mexico's "drug wars," said he was not looking for a new one. "We don't agree (with Trump) on that," he told a news conference. "War is synonymous with irrationality." He later tweeted that he had thanked Trump for his support in a phone call. The White House said the presidents had spoken about the "growing violent behavior" of drugs cartels and other criminal gangs. "President Trump made clear that the United States condemns these senseless acts of violence that took the lives of nine American citizens and offered Mexico assistance to ensure the perpetrators face justice," said spokesman Hogan Gidley. Devastated members of the LeBaron family took to social media to call for people's prayers and condemn the lawless violence gripping much of the border region. "It was a massacre," Julian LeBaron, an activist who has denounced criminal groups in the area, told Mexican radio network Formula. He said the women were on their way to the airport with their children when their SUVs were attacked. Several children managed to escape and return home on foot, he added. Another, a three-month-old baby, was found wounded but alive beneath her mother's body. An eight-year-old girl was also left missing for about 24 hours, before being found several kilometers away, unharmed. Relatives said the children were all deeply traumatized. Five wounded children were airlifted for medical treatment in Phoenix, Arizona. Mexican Security Minister Alfonso Durazo said the family may have been mistakenly targeted or caught in the crossfire in turf wars between rival drug cartels. LeBaron, however, said the family believes they were deliberately attacked. The LeBaron community are descendants of Mormons who fled the United States in the late 1800s after being persecuted for their traditions, including polygamy. Many are dual US-Mexican citizens. One former member is George Romney, father of 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who was born in 1907 in Colonia Dublan in Chihuahua state, according to the US network NBC. Mitt Romney said on Twitter he was "heartbroken for the victims of the horrific attacks." It is not the first time the LeBaron family has been targeted. Julian LeBaron's brother Benjamin, founder of a crime-fighting group called SOS Chihuahua, was assassinated in 2009 after he led protests over the kidnapping of their 16-year-old brother. The murder came after the Mormons refused to pay the ransom. The young LeBaron was eventually released. The region around the 3,145-kilometer US-Mexican border is plagued by violent crime. Trump, who is battling to build the border wall that was his signature campaign pledge, regularly tells Mexico to do more to fight drug trafficking and illegal migration across the frontier. Lopez Obrador typically responds that the United States needs to crack down on illegal firearms trafficking, which generates an estimated $127 million in profits a year for the American gun industry. Mexico has registered more than 250,000 murders since the government controversially deployed the army to fight drug trafficking in 2006. Many experts blame the "drug wars" for spiraling violence, as fragmented cartels battle each other and the army. Lopez Obrador has struggled to rein in the violence since taking office in December 2018. This year appears on track to set a new murder record in Mexico, with 25,890 so far.

Trump calls for 'war' on cartels as Mormons murdered in Mexico

Chilean President Sebastian&nbsp;Pinera&nbsp;said Tuesday he will not&nbsp;resign&nbsp;in the face of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mega-rally-marks-chile-protests-third-week-as-president-struggles-259970">deadly&nbsp;protests</a>&nbsp;over&nbsp;inequality and poor social conditions that have entered their third week.

Asked by the BBC in an interview whether he will step down, the billionaire conservative&nbsp;leader&nbsp;said: "No."

"These problems have been accumulating for the past 30 years,"&nbsp;Pinera&nbsp;said. "I am responsible (for) part of it and I assume my responsiblity, but I'm not the only one."

Fresh clashes broke out Tuesday, adding to the violence gripping one of Latin America's most prosperous countries. It has forced the government to cancel two major international economic and climate summits and open talks with the leftist opposition.

Thousands of protesters took the streets in the capital, and in the southern cities of Concepcion and Vina del Mar, west of Santiago.

Police firing birdshot injured two students among a group trying to overrun a public high school in Santiago, police said. The students were treated at a hospital and released.

Citing public order fears, South American football chiefs announced they were switching the venue for a major continental soccer final from Santiago.

This month's showpiece Copa Libertadores final will now be held in the Peruvian capital Lima, soccer authority CONMEBOL said after meeting in Paraguay.

"The choice is based on the offer of the government of Peru, and on the security guarantees it has given," it said in a statement.

Prosecutors say 20 people have died in unrest since the&nbsp;protests&nbsp;began here on October 20.

A UN human rights mission is investigating allegations of police brutality.

Chile's football federation earlier Tuesday called off a November 15 international friendly in Santiago with Bolivia.

In his interview,&nbsp;Pinera&nbsp;defended his decision to declare a state of emergency but promised to look into allegations of police violence and abuse.

The interview came as the president announced a package of measures for small and medium-sized businesses hit by the unrest.

Some 6,800 companies affected by rioting, looting and fires will benefit from financial aid and tax deductions.

Demonstrators and riot police clashed again in the capital Santiago on Tuesday, when around 2,000 people gathered in the capital.

The&nbsp;protests&nbsp;and violence were on a smaller scale to Monday's huge rally marking the beginning of a third week of&nbsp;protests&nbsp;in Santiago.

On Monday, tens of thousands of people gathered in the Plaza de Italia, the epicenter of the unrest&nbsp;over&nbsp;economic inequality and a raft of other social woes, and tried to march on the presidential palace in downtown Santiago.

Fights broke out with police trying to contain them, with officers firing water cannon and tear gas. One officer was hit in the face with a Molotov cocktail.

Looting and vandalism were reported in the cities of Vina del Mar, Valparaiso and Concepcion.

Protesters organized rallies on Monday under the slogan "This is not&nbsp;over."

Some citizens returned to work despite vandalism that has damaged the underground train network.

"There are many alleged complaints about excessive use of force and if that took place I can guarantee you that it will be investigated,"&nbsp;Pinera&nbsp;said.

"There will be no impunity," he said, defending the stepped up security measures as "democratic and constitutional."

Pinera&nbsp;held inconclusive talks with opposition parties last week but made no reference to them in segments of the interview aired by the BBC.

Protesters are calling for constitutional reform.&nbsp;Chile's current constitution dates back to the 1973-1990 dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet.

A survey by pollster Cadem published on Sunday indicated that 87 per cent of Chileans favored such reforms.

The study indicated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/support-for-chiles-pinera-lowest-for-president-since-pinochet-era-poll-258433">Pinera's approval rating</a> had plunged to 13 per cent.

The government said&nbsp;Chile's economy grew three per cent in September but it forecast a contraction of 0.5 per cent in October due to the unrest.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said Tuesday he will not resign in the face of deadly protests over inequality and poor social conditions that have entered their third week.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said Tuesday he will not resign in the face of deadly protests over inequality and poor social conditions that have entered their third week. Asked by the BBC in an interview whether he will step down, the billionaire conservative leader said: "No." "These problems have been accumulating for the past 30 years," Pinera said. "I am responsible (for) part of it and I assume my responsiblity, but I'm not the only one." Fresh clashes broke out Tuesday, adding to the violence gripping one of Latin America's most prosperous countries. It has forced the government to cancel two major international economic and climate summits and open talks with the leftist opposition. Thousands of protesters took the streets in the capital, and in the southern cities of Concepcion and Vina del Mar, west of Santiago. Police firing birdshot injured two students among a group trying to overrun a public high school in Santiago, police said. The students were treated at a hospital and released. Citing public order fears, South American football chiefs announced they were switching the venue for a major continental soccer final from Santiago. This month's showpiece Copa Libertadores final will now be held in the Peruvian capital Lima, soccer authority CONMEBOL said after meeting in Paraguay. "The choice is based on the offer of the government of Peru, and on the security guarantees it has given," it said in a statement. Prosecutors say 20 people have died in unrest since the protests began here on October 20. A UN human rights mission is investigating allegations of police brutality. Chile's football federation earlier Tuesday called off a November 15 international friendly in Santiago with Bolivia. In his interview, Pinera defended his decision to declare a state of emergency but promised to look into allegations of police violence and abuse. The interview came as the president announced a package of measures for small and medium-sized businesses hit by the unrest. Some 6,800 companies affected by rioting, looting and fires will benefit from financial aid and tax deductions. Demonstrators and riot police clashed again in the capital Santiago on Tuesday, when around 2,000 people gathered in the capital. The protests and violence were on a smaller scale to Monday's huge rally marking the beginning of a third week of protests in Santiago. On Monday, tens of thousands of people gathered in the Plaza de Italia, the epicenter of the unrest over economic inequality and a raft of other social woes, and tried to march on the presidential palace in downtown Santiago. Fights broke out with police trying to contain them, with officers firing water cannon and tear gas. One officer was hit in the face with a Molotov cocktail. Looting and vandalism were reported in the cities of Vina del Mar, Valparaiso and Concepcion. Protesters organized rallies on Monday under the slogan "This is not over." Some citizens returned to work despite vandalism that has damaged the underground train network. "There are many alleged complaints about excessive use of force and if that took place I can guarantee you that it will be investigated," Pinera said. "There will be no impunity," he said, defending the stepped up security measures as "democratic and constitutional." Pinera held inconclusive talks with opposition parties last week but made no reference to them in segments of the interview aired by the BBC. Protesters are calling for constitutional reform. Chile's current constitution dates back to the 1973-1990 dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet. A survey by pollster Cadem published on Sunday indicated that 87 per cent of Chileans favored such reforms. The study indicated Pinera's approval rating had plunged to 13 per cent. The government said Chile's economy grew three per cent in September but it forecast a contraction of 0.5 per cent in October due to the unrest.

Chile leader Pinera says will not resign over protests

Turkish and Russian troops on Tuesday began their second joint patrol in northern Syria near Kobani, under a deal that has forced a Kurdish militia away from Turkey's border, while local media released footage of angry crowds pelting a convoy with stones.

Nearly a month ago, Turkey and Syrian rebel allies launched a cross-border incursion against Kurdish YPG fighters, seizing control of 120 km (75 miles) of land along the frontier.

Under a subsequent deal, Russia and Turkey agreed to push the YPG militia to a depth of at least 30 km (19 miles) south of the border and to hold joint patrols to monitor the agreement.

President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that the YPG had not withdrawn from that planned "safe zone", despite Turkey's agreements with both Russia and the United States.

Ankara considers the YPG - which helped the United States smash the Islamic State caliphate in Syria - a terrorist group because of its ties to militants who have waged an insurgency in southeast Turkey since 1984.

Tuesday's patrol was launched 7 km (4.4 miles) east of Kobani, a Syrian border town of special significance to the YPG, which fought off Islamic State militants trying to seize it in 2014-15 in one of the fiercest battles of the Syrian war.

Armoured vehicles crossed through a gap in the border wall to the Syrian side and headed east, a witness said. Security sources said the patrol would cover a distance of 72 km (45 miles) at a depth of 5 km (3 miles) from the border.

Near Kobani, crowds pelted passing Turkish and Russian armoured vehicles of the patrol with stones from a roadside and chanted slogans, footage from local North Press Agency showed.

Several dozen people managed to stop two Russian armoured vehicles and some of them climbed onto one of the cars with Russian military police insignia, a video released by local news outlet Anha showed.

The Russian Defence Ministry said on Tuesday there were no incidents during the patrol mission.

The Turkish Defence Ministry shared photos on Twitter showing Turkish and Russian soldiers meeting at the border and studying maps before the start of the patrol. It said drones were also taking part.

Russia is the Syrian government's most powerful ally and since 2015 has helped it retake much of the country from rebels, turning the tide in the civil war. The Turkish-Russian deal enabled Syrian government forces to move back into border regions from which they had been absent for years.

Russian military police arrived in Kobani on Oct. 23 under the deal reached by Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The first patrol, on Friday, was held around the Syrian border town of Darbasiya, east of the region from where Turkish and their Syrian rebel allies forced out the YPG fighters.&nbsp;

Erdogan said last week that Turkey planned to establish a "refugee town or towns" in that region between Tel Abyad and Ras al Ain, part of a project that state media have said would cost 151 billion lira ($26 billion).

Ankara launched its offensive against the YPG following President Donald Trump's abrupt withdrawal of 1,000 US&nbsp;troops from northern Syria in early October.

Turkish and Russian troops on Tuesday began their second joint patrol in northern Syria near Kobani, under a deal that has forced a Kurdish militia away from Turkey's border, while local media released footage of angry crowds pelting a convoy with stones.

Turkish and Russian troops on Tuesday began their second joint patrol in northern Syria near Kobani, under a deal that has forced a Kurdish militia away from Turkey's border, while local media released footage of angry crowds pelting a convoy with stones. Nearly a month ago, Turkey and Syrian rebel allies launched a cross-border incursion against Kurdish YPG fighters, seizing control of 120 km (75 miles) of land along the frontier. Under a subsequent deal, Russia and Turkey agreed to push the YPG militia to a depth of at least 30 km (19 miles) south of the border and to hold joint patrols to monitor the agreement. President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that the YPG had not withdrawn from that planned "safe zone", despite Turkey's agreements with both Russia and the United States. Ankara considers the YPG - which helped the United States smash the Islamic State caliphate in Syria - a terrorist group because of its ties to militants who have waged an insurgency in southeast Turkey since 1984. Tuesday's patrol was launched 7 km (4.4 miles) east of Kobani, a Syrian border town of special significance to the YPG, which fought off Islamic State militants trying to seize it in 2014-15 in one of the fiercest battles of the Syrian war. Armoured vehicles crossed through a gap in the border wall to the Syrian side and headed east, a witness said. Security sources said the patrol would cover a distance of 72 km (45 miles) at a depth of 5 km (3 miles) from the border. Near Kobani, crowds pelted passing Turkish and Russian armoured vehicles of the patrol with stones from a roadside and chanted slogans, footage from local North Press Agency showed. Several dozen people managed to stop two Russian armoured vehicles and some of them climbed onto one of the cars with Russian military police insignia, a video released by local news outlet Anha showed. The Russian Defence Ministry said on Tuesday there were no incidents during the patrol mission. The Turkish Defence Ministry shared photos on Twitter showing Turkish and Russian soldiers meeting at the border and studying maps before the start of the patrol. It said drones were also taking part. Russia is the Syrian government's most powerful ally and since 2015 has helped it retake much of the country from rebels, turning the tide in the civil war. The Turkish-Russian deal enabled Syrian government forces to move back into border regions from which they had been absent for years. Russian military police arrived in Kobani on Oct. 23 under the deal reached by Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The first patrol, on Friday, was held around the Syrian border town of Darbasiya, east of the region from where Turkish and their Syrian rebel allies forced out the YPG fighters. Erdogan said last week that Turkey planned to establish a "refugee town or towns" in that region between Tel Abyad and Ras al Ain, part of a project that state media have said would cost 151 billion lira ($26 billion). Ankara launched its offensive against the YPG following President Donald Trump's abrupt withdrawal of 1,000 US troops from northern Syria in early October.

Crowd pelts with stones Turkish-Russian patrol in Syria: State media

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/johnson-in-phone-call-urges-trump-to-lift-tariffs-on-scotch-whisky-260215">British Prime Minister Boris Johnson</a> will formally announce a December&nbsp;12 election on Wednesday, urging voters to back him and promising to "get Brexit done in the next few weeks".

The early election was agreed by parliament last week, ending two years of deep disagreement over Brexit that has sapped investors' faith in the stability of the world's fifth largest economy and damaged Britain's international standing.

The outcome of the vote is hard to predict, with the immediate question of Britain's exit from the European Union scrambling voters' traditional loyalties and giving smaller rivals a chance to challenge the two biggest parties, Johnson's Conservatives and the left-of-centre Labour Party.

After dissolving parliament and paying a formal visit to Queen Elizabeth on Wednesday, Johnson will return to his Downing Street residence to announce the election. He will launch his party's campaign at a rally later in the day.

"I don’t want an election. No prime minister wants an early election, especially not in December," he will say, according to advance extracts of his speech.

"But as things stand we simply have no choice – because it is only by getting Brexit done in the next few weeks that we can focus on all the priorities of the British people."

Polls show Johnson's Conservatives are well ahead of Labour, but polling analysts caution that sentiment is unusually volatile.

Johnson, 55, is hoping to win a big enough majority in parliament to get the Brexit deal he agreed with Brussels last month ratified and lead Britain out of the EU at the end of December or in January.

Britain had been due to leave in March, but has had to extend that deadline three times after parliament rejected a deal negotiated by Johnson's predecessor Theresa May, and then forced Johnson himself to ask for more time.

His campaign launch will paint Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn as someone who wants to stall the Brexit process by holding another referendum, holding the country back from focusing on domestic issues.

Corbyn said on Tuesday he wanted to negotiate a new Brexit deal and then let the public decide between leaving on his terms, or not leaving at all. He has accused Johnson of negotiating a bad deal that would hurt the economy and erode workers' rights.

Attempting to capitalise on voters' Brexit fatigue, more than three years after Britain voted 52% to 48% in favour of leaving the bloc, Johnson will say:

"It’s time to change the dismal pattern of the last three years and to get out of our rut. It’s time to end this debilitating delay."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will formally announce a December 12 election on Wednesday, urging voters to back him and promising to "get Brexit done in the next few weeks".

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will formally announce a December 12 election on Wednesday, urging voters to back him and promising to "get Brexit done in the next few weeks". The early election was agreed by parliament last week, ending two years of deep disagreement over Brexit that has sapped investors' faith in the stability of the world's fifth largest economy and damaged Britain's international standing. The outcome of the vote is hard to predict, with the immediate question of Britain's exit from the European Union scrambling voters' traditional loyalties and giving smaller rivals a chance to challenge the two biggest parties, Johnson's Conservatives and the left-of-centre Labour Party. After dissolving parliament and paying a formal visit to Queen Elizabeth on Wednesday, Johnson will return to his Downing Street residence to announce the election. He will launch his party's campaign at a rally later in the day. "I don’t want an election. No prime minister wants an early election, especially not in December," he will say, according to advance extracts of his speech. "But as things stand we simply have no choice – because it is only by getting Brexit done in the next few weeks that we can focus on all the priorities of the British people." Polls show Johnson's Conservatives are well ahead of Labour, but polling analysts caution that sentiment is unusually volatile. Johnson, 55, is hoping to win a big enough majority in parliament to get the Brexit deal he agreed with Brussels last month ratified and lead Britain out of the EU at the end of December or in January. Britain had been due to leave in March, but has had to extend that deadline three times after parliament rejected a deal negotiated by Johnson's predecessor Theresa May, and then forced Johnson himself to ask for more time. His campaign launch will paint Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn as someone who wants to stall the Brexit process by holding another referendum, holding the country back from focusing on domestic issues. Corbyn said on Tuesday he wanted to negotiate a new Brexit deal and then let the public decide between leaving on his terms, or not leaving at all. He has accused Johnson of negotiating a bad deal that would hurt the economy and erode workers' rights. Attempting to capitalise on voters' Brexit fatigue, more than three years after Britain voted 52% to 48% in favour of leaving the bloc, Johnson will say: "It’s time to change the dismal pattern of the last three years and to get out of our rut. It’s time to end this debilitating delay."

Johnson to launch election bid with promise to 'get Brexit done'

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