<p>Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/i-appeal-for-calm-dont-listen-to-rumours-pm-modi-on-anti-caa-protest-270189">Narendra Modi</a> on Sunday hit out at the Opposition, accusing them of playing political games over the amended Citizenship law and asserted that the act is about giving citizenship rights, not taking them away.</p>

<p>"I repeat again, Citizenship act is not to revoke anyone's citizenship, but it is to give citizenship. After independence, Mahatma Gandhi ji and other big leaders of the time all believed that India should give citizenship to persecuted religious minorities of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/how-pakistans-failure-to-protect-minorities-compelled-india-to-bring-citizenship-amendment-bill-265778">Pakistan</a>," he said while addressing people at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-interacts-with-saints-seers-at-belur-math-in-west-bengal-273667">Belur Math</a>.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">PM Modi: I repeat again, Citizenship act is not to revoke anyone's citizenship, but it is to give citizenship. After independence, Mahatma Gandhi ji and other big leaders of the time all believed that India should give citizenship to persecuted religious minorities of Pakistan <a href="https://t.co/UFyC0MsnDe">pic.twitter.com/UFyC0MsnDe</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1216212650016690177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>"You understood this very clearly. But those playing political games purposely refuse to understand. People are being misled over the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/caa-will-benefit-marginalised-pm-modi-pleads-people-to-not-trust-rumour-mongers-at-bjp-rally-in-delhi-269570">CAA</a>," he added.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">PM Narendra Modi in Belur Math: You understood this very clearly. But those playing political games purposely refuse to understand. People are being misled over the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CitizenshipAmendmentAct?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CitizenshipAmendmentAct</a> . <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WestBengal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WestBengal</a> <a href="https://t.co/IK3u3NRtTA">pic.twitter.com/IK3u3NRtTA</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1216213935394713600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Prime Minister said that the Centre has made provisions to protect the identity, demography, and culture of the North-East.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">PM Modi: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CAA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CAA</a> mein hum nagrikta de hi rahe hain,kisi ki bhi nagrikta chheen nahi rahe hain.Iske alawa,aaj bhi,kisi bhi dharm ka vyakti,bhagwan mein maanta ho na maanta ho,jo vyakti Bharat ke samvidhaan ko maanta hai,vo tai prakriyaon ke tehet,Bharat ki nagrikta le sakta hai. <a href="https://t.co/Sp0Jg4mD9K">pic.twitter.com/Sp0Jg4mD9K</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1216216752427659264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Citizenship Amendment&nbsp;Act, 2019 grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who came to India on or before December 31, 2014.</p>


Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hit out at the Opposition, accusing them of playing political games over the amended Citizenship law and asserted that the act is about giving citizenship rights, not taking them away.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hit out at the Opposition, accusing them of playing political games over the amended Citizenship law and asserted that the act is about giving citizenship rights, not taking them away. "I repeat again, Citizenship act is not to revoke anyone's citizenship, but it is to give citizenship. After independence, Mahatma Gandhi ji and other big leaders of the time all believed that India should give citizenship to persecuted religious minorities of Pakistan," he said while addressing people at Belur Math. PM Modi: I repeat again, Citizenship act is not to revoke anyone's citizenship, but it is to give citizenship. After independence, Mahatma Gandhi ji and other big leaders of the time all believed that India should give citizenship to persecuted religious minorities of Pakistan pic.twitter.com/UFyC0MsnDe — ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2020 × "You understood this very clearly. But those playing political games purposely refuse to understand. People are being misled over the CAA," he added. PM Narendra Modi in Belur Math: You understood this very clearly. But those playing political games purposely refuse to understand. People are being misled over the #CitizenshipAmendmentAct . #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/IK3u3NRtTA — ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2020 × The Prime Minister said that the Centre has made provisions to protect the identity, demography, and culture of the North-East. PM Modi: #CAA mein hum nagrikta de hi rahe hain,kisi ki bhi nagrikta chheen nahi rahe hain.Iske alawa,aaj bhi,kisi bhi dharm ka vyakti,bhagwan mein maanta ho na maanta ho,jo vyakti Bharat ke samvidhaan ko maanta hai,vo tai prakriyaon ke tehet,Bharat ki nagrikta le sakta hai. pic.twitter.com/Sp0Jg4mD9K — ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2020 × The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who came to India on or before December 31, 2014.

Opposition playing political games over Citizenship Amendment Act: PM Modi

<p>Queen Elizabeth has summoned her grandson Prince Harry for a crisis meeting to discuss future arrangements for him and his wife Meghan following the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/as-prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-announce-separation-uk-monarchy-scrambles-for-solution-273323">couple's shock announcement</a> that they want to step back from royal duties.</p>

<p>Harry's father Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, and his elder brother Prince William, will also attend the meeting, due to take place on Monday at the queen's Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England, a Buckingham Palace source told Reuters.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/meghan-markel-goes-back-to-canada-to-be-with-son-archie-after-royal-rift-273376">Meghan</a>, an American former TV actress, will try to join via telephone from Canada where she returned earlier in the week to rejoin the couple's baby son, Archie.</p>

<p>Harry and Meghan, officially known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, surprised the rest of the royal family on Wednesday by publicly announcing they wanted a "new working model" that would allow them to spend more time in North America and to be financially independent.</p>

<p>They did not consult the 93-year-old monarch or other members of the family before making their announcement on a new website, a move which hurt and disappointed the queen and other royals, according to a royal source.</p>

<p>The meeting on Monday will be the first time the senior royals have met in person to discuss the concerns raised by Harry and Meghan.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-queen-a-great-woman-describes-royal-family-fallout-as-sad-273574">Trump calls Queen 'a great woman', describes royal family fallout as 'sad'</a></strong></p>

<p>Officials had been holding talks behind the scenes since the bombshell statement to try to work out a new arrangement for the couple, and a royal source said those efforts progressed well.</p>

<p>The consultations, which also included the British and Canadian governments, paved the way for a face-to-face meeting between Harry and the queen.</p>

<p>The palace source said it remained the queen's aim to a find a resolution to the crisis in days rather than weeks but it would require "complex and thoughtful discussions" and any agreement would take time to be implemented.</p>

<p>The split between Harry and the other Windsors is the latest crisis the royal family has faced in a period described last month as "bumpy" by the queen in a televised annual address.</p>

<p>Such is the global interest in Harry and Meghan that their news has overshadowed a scandal surrounding the queen's second son Prince Andrew and his friendship with disgraced late US&nbsp;financier Jeffrey Epstein, who hanged himself in jail in August while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.</p>

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<p>In an emotional TV interview last October, Harry admitted he and William had fallen out.</p>

<p>The Sunday Times newspaper said the elder prince had spoken of his sadness at the rift. The brothers were close for years following the death of their mother Princess Diana in a Paris car crash in 1997.</p>

<p>The newspaper quoted William as saying to an unnamed friend: "I've put my arm around my brother all our lives and I can't do that any more, we're separate entities.</p>

<p>"I'm sad about that. All we can do, and all I can do, is try and support them and hope that the time comes when we're all singing from the same page. I want everyone to play on the team."</p>

<p>Earlier on Saturday, the Times newspaper reported that Meghan had agreed to do voiceover work for Disney &lt;DIS.N&gt; in return for the company making a donation to a charity she supports that works to protect elephants.</p>

<p>A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman had no immediate comment on the report. Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.</p>


Queen Elizabeth has summoned her grandson Prince Harry for a crisis meeting to discuss future arrangements for him and his wife Meghan following the couple's shock announcement that they want to step back from royal duties.

Queen Elizabeth has summoned her grandson Prince Harry for a crisis meeting to discuss future arrangements for him and his wife Meghan following the couple's shock announcement that they want to step back from royal duties. Harry's father Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, and his elder brother Prince William, will also attend the meeting, due to take place on Monday at the queen's Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England, a Buckingham Palace source told Reuters. Meghan, an American former TV actress, will try to join via telephone from Canada where she returned earlier in the week to rejoin the couple's baby son, Archie. Harry and Meghan, officially known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, surprised the rest of the royal family on Wednesday by publicly announcing they wanted a "new working model" that would allow them to spend more time in North America and to be financially independent. They did not consult the 93-year-old monarch or other members of the family before making their announcement on a new website, a move which hurt and disappointed the queen and other royals, according to a royal source. The meeting on Monday will be the first time the senior royals have met in person to discuss the concerns raised by Harry and Meghan. Also read: Trump calls Queen 'a great woman', describes royal family fallout as 'sad' Officials had been holding talks behind the scenes since the bombshell statement to try to work out a new arrangement for the couple, and a royal source said those efforts progressed well. The consultations, which also included the British and Canadian governments, paved the way for a face-to-face meeting between Harry and the queen. The palace source said it remained the queen's aim to a find a resolution to the crisis in days rather than weeks but it would require "complex and thoughtful discussions" and any agreement would take time to be implemented. The split between Harry and the other Windsors is the latest crisis the royal family has faced in a period described last month as "bumpy" by the queen in a televised annual address. Such is the global interest in Harry and Meghan that their news has overshadowed a scandal surrounding the queen's second son Prince Andrew and his friendship with disgraced late US financier Jeffrey Epstein, who hanged himself in jail in August while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. × In an emotional TV interview last October, Harry admitted he and William had fallen out. The Sunday Times newspaper said the elder prince had spoken of his sadness at the rift. The brothers were close for years following the death of their mother Princess Diana in a Paris car crash in 1997. The newspaper quoted William as saying to an unnamed friend: "I've put my arm around my brother all our lives and I can't do that any more, we're separate entities. "I'm sad about that. All we can do, and all I can do, is try and support them and hope that the time comes when we're all singing from the same page. I want everyone to play on the team." Earlier on Saturday, the Times newspaper reported that Meghan had agreed to do voiceover work for Disney <DIS.N> in return for the company making a donation to a charity she supports that works to protect elephants. A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman had no immediate comment on the report. Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Royal family fallout: UK's Queen Elizabeth calls Prince Harry for crisis meeting

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../premier-league-improving-saints-stun-chelsea- with-2-0-win-at-stamford-bridge-270505">Chelsea</a> made amends for recent defeats at Stamford Bridge by thumping Burnley 3-0 on Saturday with goals from Jorginho, Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi's first in the Premier League.</p>

<p>The hosts looked sharp from the start and won a penalty in the 26th minute when Matthew Lowton caught Willian's legs as the Brazilian raced down the left. Italian Jorginho shimmied in the run-up to send Nick Pope the wrong way from the spot.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-liverpool-go-16-points-clear-as-firmino-nets-winner-at-spurs-273678">English Premier League: Liverpool continue dominance as Firmino nets winner at Spurs</a></p>

<p>Chelsea top scorer Abraham headed the second from a Reece James cross, the ball slipping through Pope's hands on the way into the net to give the 22-year-old England forward his 13th league strike of the season.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tammy Abraham has scored 13 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PL</a> goals for Chelsea this season<br />
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Frank Lampard is the only Englishman to score more in a single campaign in the competition for the club <a href="https://t.co/m6TRO3mUSb">pic.twitter.com/m6TRO3mUSb</a></p>
— Premier League (@premierleague) <a href="https://twitter.com/premierleague/status/1216143514951671813?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Abraham's fellow youth-team graduate Hudson-Odoi made it three home goals for the west London side for the first time in the league this season when he poked in from a cross by captain Cesar Azpilicueta four minutes after the break.</p>

<p>Chelsea strengthened their grip on fourth place with the win, notching 39 points from 22 games to stay five points clear of Manchester United in the race for Champions League places.</p>

<p>Coach Frank Lampard, who saw his young side lose at home to West Ham United, Bournemouth and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../premier-league-its-a-crime-mourinho-rages- against-festive-fixture-pile-up-270511">Southampton</a> in recent weeks without scoring in any of those games, visibly relaxed as the Stamford Bridge fans chanted his name.</p>

<p>"It's one performance at home and the message has to be continuous... but it's a nice example of a standard that we have set," Lampard told reporters.</p>

<p>"I'm not getting carried away. It just feels good, it feels nice to smile in a game and enjoy watching really positive football."</p>

<p>Burnley, who were weakened by injuries and illness to several key players, enjoyed a couple of bright moments in the first half. Jeff Hendrick put the ball in the net in the 18th minute but captain Ben Mee was just offside in the build-up.</p>

<p>Mee came close in the 36th minute but Ross Barkley cleared his point-blank downward header off the line.</p>

<p>Burnley suffered their fourth league defeat in a row and are now in 15th place, just four points above the relegation zone, with coach Sean Dyche noting that his side had made a habit of going on bad runs before reversing their form.</p>

<p>"Last year it swung very quickly," he said. "People killed us off said 'no chance' and then all of a sudden you’re off and running again and we’re eight unbeaten. The mentality has got to stay strong, that's for sure."</p>

<p>Influential Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante was left out of the squad after reporting a hamstring problem after training on Friday night. Lampard said he hoped the problem was only "a small thing but we will have to see how it goes".</p>


Chelsea made amends for recent defeats at Stamford Bridge by thumping Burnley 3-0 on Saturday with goals from Jorginho, Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi's first in the Premier League.

Chelsea made amends for recent defeats at Stamford Bridge by thumping Burnley 3-0 on Saturday with goals from Jorginho, Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi's first in the Premier League. The hosts looked sharp from the start and won a penalty in the 26th minute when Matthew Lowton caught Willian's legs as the Brazilian raced down the left. Italian Jorginho shimmied in the run-up to send Nick Pope the wrong way from the spot. Also read: English Premier League: Liverpool continue dominance as Firmino nets winner at Spurs Chelsea top scorer Abraham headed the second from a Reece James cross, the ball slipping through Pope's hands on the way into the net to give the 22-year-old England forward his 13th league strike of the season. Tammy Abraham has scored 13 #PL goals for Chelsea this season Frank Lampard is the only Englishman to score more in a single campaign in the competition for the club pic.twitter.com/m6TRO3mUSb — Premier League (@premierleague) January 11, 2020 × Abraham's fellow youth-team graduate Hudson-Odoi made it three home goals for the west London side for the first time in the league this season when he poked in from a cross by captain Cesar Azpilicueta four minutes after the break. Chelsea strengthened their grip on fourth place with the win, notching 39 points from 22 games to stay five points clear of Manchester United in the race for Champions League places. Coach Frank Lampard, who saw his young side lose at home to West Ham United, Bournemouth and Southampton in recent weeks without scoring in any of those games, visibly relaxed as the Stamford Bridge fans chanted his name. "It's one performance at home and the message has to be continuous... but it's a nice example of a standard that we have set," Lampard told reporters. "I'm not getting carried away. It just feels good, it feels nice to smile in a game and enjoy watching really positive football." Burnley, who were weakened by injuries and illness to several key players, enjoyed a couple of bright moments in the first half. Jeff Hendrick put the ball in the net in the 18th minute but captain Ben Mee was just offside in the build-up. Mee came close in the 36th minute but Ross Barkley cleared his point-blank downward header off the line. Burnley suffered their fourth league defeat in a row and are now in 15th place, just four points above the relegation zone, with coach Sean Dyche noting that his side had made a habit of going on bad runs before reversing their form. "Last year it swung very quickly," he said. "People killed us off said 'no chance' and then all of a sudden you’re off and running again and we’re eight unbeaten. The mentality has got to stay strong, that's for sure." Influential Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante was left out of the squad after reporting a hamstring problem after training on Friday night. Lampard said he hoped the problem was only "a small thing but we will have to see how it goes".

English Premier League: Chelsea re-discover home form to put three past Burnley

<p>The Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday announced one-day state mourning on January 13 on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/omans-sultan-qaboos-dies-council-starts-succession-process-273505">passing away of Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said</a>, Sultan of Oman.</p>

<p>The Sultan breathed his last on Friday. Qaboos was one of the longest-serving rulers of the Middle East. He was 79 years old and had been keeping unwell for years. In early December, the Sultan spent a week in Belgium undergoing medical treatment.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">MHA: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said,Sultan of Oman passed away. As mark of respect,Indian Govt has decided that there will be one day's state mourning on January 13 throughout India.National flag to fly at half mast &amp;there will be no official entertainment on that day <a href="https://t.co/Elzr3PzXRc">pic.twitter.com/Elzr3PzXRc</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1216224217051451392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>"His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, Sultan of Oman passed away. As a mark of respect, the Indian government has decided that there will be one day's state mourning on January 13 throughout India. The National flag to fly at half-mast and there will be no official entertainment on that day," the MHA release read.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sultan Qaboos's cousin, Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, was named as his successor yesterday.</p>

<p>In a televised address, Haitham vowed to pursue peace and development of Oman.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We will continue to assist in resolving disputes peacefully," Haitham said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


The Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday announced one-day state mourning on January 13 on the passing away of Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, Sultan of Oman. The Sultan breathed his last on Friday.

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday announced one-day state mourning on January 13 on the passing away of Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, Sultan of Oman. The Sultan breathed his last on Friday. Qaboos was one of the longest-serving rulers of the Middle East. He was 79 years old and had been keeping unwell for years. In early December, the Sultan spent a week in Belgium undergoing medical treatment. MHA: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said,Sultan of Oman passed away. As mark of respect,Indian Govt has decided that there will be one day's state mourning on January 13 throughout India.National flag to fly at half mast &there will be no official entertainment on that day pic.twitter.com/Elzr3PzXRc — ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2020 × "His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, Sultan of Oman passed away. As a mark of respect, the Indian government has decided that there will be one day's state mourning on January 13 throughout India. The National flag to fly at half-mast and there will be no official entertainment on that day," the MHA release read. Sultan Qaboos's cousin, Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, was named as his successor yesterday. In a televised address, Haitham vowed to pursue peace and development of Oman. "We will continue to assist in resolving disputes peacefully," Haitham said. (With inputs from agencies)

India declares one-day state mourning on passing away of Sultan of Oman

<p>China will not change its position that Taiwan belongs to it, Beijing said on Sunday, after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-president-tsai-ing-wen-declares-victory-in-taiwan-election-273651">President Tsai Ing-wen won re-election</a> and said she would not submit to China's threats, as state media warned she was courting disaster.</p>

<p>The election campaign was dominated by China's ramped-up efforts to get the democratic island to accept Beijing's rule under a "one country, two systems" model, as well as by anti-government protests in Chinese-ruled Hong Kong.</p>

<p>"No matter what changes there are to the internal situation in Taiwan, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not change," China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement, responding to the result.</p>

<p>While China says Taiwan is its territory, Taiwan maintains it is an independent country called the Republic of China, its formal name.</p>

<p>Tsai, who has firmly rejected China's "one country, two systems" model, won another four-year term by a landslide, and her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) secured a majority in parliament.</p>

<p>Speaking on Saturday after the scale of her victory become clear, Tsai called for talks to resume with China, but said she hoped Beijing understood Taiwan and its people would not submit to intimidation.</p>

<p>China will not change its stance sticking to the "one China" principle and opposing independence for Taiwan, the Chinese foreign ministry said.</p>

<p>"The universal consensus of the international community adhering to the 'one China' principle will not change either."</p>

<p>China hoped the world would understand and support the "just cause" of Chinese people to oppose secessionist activities and "realise national reunification", it added.</p>

<p>Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said China should respect the election result and stop putting pressure on the island.</p>

<p>"Our government will firmly defend the sovereignty of the Republic of China and Taiwan's democracy and freedom," it said.</p>

<p>'<strong>Policy toolbox</strong>'</p>

<p>In a strongly worded commentary, China's official Xinhua news agency said Tsai had won by deploying dirty tricks, hyping the China threat and colluding with forces in the West.</p>

<p>"Whether it is to curb Taiwan independence secessionist activities or to benefit Taiwan compatriots, the mainland has a full 'policy toolbox'," it said.</p>

<p>"Tsai and the DPP must be aware that they should not act wilfully because of a fluke."</p>

<p>US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo congratulated Tsai on her re-election and lauded her for seeking stability with China "in the face of unrelenting pressure".</p>

<p>Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also sent congratulations, referring to Taiwan as a "precious friend".</p>

<p>China's Taiwan Affairs Office said in a separate statement on Saturday it would stick to promoting the "one country, two systems" model for Taiwan, which Beijing uses to run Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy.</p>

<p>Many in the former British colony fear promises made under the system are not being kept.</p>

<p>On China's internet, there was unusual criticism for the Taiwan Affairs Office's failure to win over the island, especially as Tsai's win followed a landslide for pro-democracy candidates in Hong Kong's local elections in November.</p>

<p>"What have you been doing?" wrote one user on China's Twitter-like Weibo. "All the money you have spent and all you have done is give succour to hypocrites and traitors."</p>

<p>Late on Friday, whether by design or a quirk of timing, the Communist Party's anti-corruption watchdog criticised the office for not following the party line sufficiently enthusiastically and for being too bureaucratic.</p>

<p>The top Taiwan policy-making body is run by Liu Jieyi, a former Chinese ambassador at the United Nations.</p>

<p>In the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily this month, he wrote that people in Taiwan were "positively exploring" the "one country, two systems" model, but offered no evidence.</p>


China will not change its position that Taiwan belongs to it, Beijing said on Sunday, after President Tsai Ing-wen won re-election and said she would not submit to China's threats, as state media warned she was courting disaster.

China will not change its position that Taiwan belongs to it, Beijing said on Sunday, after President Tsai Ing-wen won re-election and said she would not submit to China's threats, as state media warned she was courting disaster. The election campaign was dominated by China's ramped-up efforts to get the democratic island to accept Beijing's rule under a "one country, two systems" model, as well as by anti-government protests in Chinese-ruled Hong Kong. "No matter what changes there are to the internal situation in Taiwan, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not change," China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement, responding to the result. While China says Taiwan is its territory, Taiwan maintains it is an independent country called the Republic of China, its formal name. Tsai, who has firmly rejected China's "one country, two systems" model, won another four-year term by a landslide, and her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) secured a majority in parliament. Speaking on Saturday after the scale of her victory become clear, Tsai called for talks to resume with China, but said she hoped Beijing understood Taiwan and its people would not submit to intimidation. China will not change its stance sticking to the "one China" principle and opposing independence for Taiwan, the Chinese foreign ministry said. "The universal consensus of the international community adhering to the 'one China' principle will not change either." China hoped the world would understand and support the "just cause" of Chinese people to oppose secessionist activities and "realise national reunification", it added. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said China should respect the election result and stop putting pressure on the island. "Our government will firmly defend the sovereignty of the Republic of China and Taiwan's democracy and freedom," it said. 'Policy toolbox' In a strongly worded commentary, China's official Xinhua news agency said Tsai had won by deploying dirty tricks, hyping the China threat and colluding with forces in the West. "Whether it is to curb Taiwan independence secessionist activities or to benefit Taiwan compatriots, the mainland has a full 'policy toolbox'," it said. "Tsai and the DPP must be aware that they should not act wilfully because of a fluke." US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo congratulated Tsai on her re-election and lauded her for seeking stability with China "in the face of unrelenting pressure". Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also sent congratulations, referring to Taiwan as a "precious friend". China's Taiwan Affairs Office said in a separate statement on Saturday it would stick to promoting the "one country, two systems" model for Taiwan, which Beijing uses to run Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy. Many in the former British colony fear promises made under the system are not being kept. On China's internet, there was unusual criticism for the Taiwan Affairs Office's failure to win over the island, especially as Tsai's win followed a landslide for pro-democracy candidates in Hong Kong's local elections in November. "What have you been doing?" wrote one user on China's Twitter-like Weibo. "All the money you have spent and all you have done is give succour to hypocrites and traitors." Late on Friday, whether by design or a quirk of timing, the Communist Party's anti-corruption watchdog criticised the office for not following the party line sufficiently enthusiastically and for being too bureaucratic. The top Taiwan policy-making body is run by Liu Jieyi, a former Chinese ambassador at the United Nations. In the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily this month, he wrote that people in Taiwan were "positively exploring" the "one country, two systems" model, but offered no evidence.

China says will not change position on Taiwan after landslide election

<p>The United States and China have agreed to restart semi-annual talks aimed at resolving economic disputes between the two countries, a process abandoned at the start of the Trump administration as a trade conflict between the countries escalated.</p>

<p>An official familiar with the deliberations said the resumption of the US&nbsp;China Comprehensive Economic Dialogue will be announced on Jan. 15 as part of the signing of a Phase 1 trade deal between the US&nbsp;and China.</p>

<p>The restart of the meetings was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.</p>

<p>The regular meetings will provide a forum for steady, high-level conversation between the world's two largest economies separate from the sometimes rocky negotiations over their trade relationship.</p>

<p>The sessions will likely be lead by US&nbsp;Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/details-of-us-china-deal-to-be-published-after-signing-white-house-273483">Details of US-China deal to be published after signing: White House</a></strong></p>

<p>The two sides have been embroiled in a trade war for well over a year, with the use of import tariffs by both sides upending global supply chains and dealing a blow to business confidence.</p>

<p>The twice-yearly Strategic Economic Dialogue began under former President George W. Bush as a way for the world's two largest economic powers to manage the growing array of issues that arose between them as China's economy and its exports to the US&nbsp;expanded rapidly in the early 2000s.</p>

<p>It was continued under President Barack Obama and initially by President Donald Trump as well. The first round of what the Trump administration renamed the Comprehensive Economic Dialogue was held in July, 2017.</p>

<p>But the regular sessions, sprawling affairs often criticized as heavy on process and light on tangible outcomes, were abandoned as the Trump administration moved towards a more confrontational approach to China that relied on the use of tariffs to pressure the country into economic concessions.</p>


The United States and China have agreed to restart semi-annual talks aimed at resolving economic disputes between the two countries, a process abandoned at the start of the Trump administration as a trade conflict between the countries escalated.

The United States and China have agreed to restart semi-annual talks aimed at resolving economic disputes between the two countries, a process abandoned at the start of the Trump administration as a trade conflict between the countries escalated. An official familiar with the deliberations said the resumption of the US China Comprehensive Economic Dialogue will be announced on Jan. 15 as part of the signing of a Phase 1 trade deal between the US and China. The restart of the meetings was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. The regular meetings will provide a forum for steady, high-level conversation between the world's two largest economies separate from the sometimes rocky negotiations over their trade relationship. The sessions will likely be lead by US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He. Also read: Details of US-China deal to be published after signing: White House The two sides have been embroiled in a trade war for well over a year, with the use of import tariffs by both sides upending global supply chains and dealing a blow to business confidence. The twice-yearly Strategic Economic Dialogue began under former President George W. Bush as a way for the world's two largest economic powers to manage the growing array of issues that arose between them as China's economy and its exports to the US expanded rapidly in the early 2000s. It was continued under President Barack Obama and initially by President Donald Trump as well. The first round of what the Trump administration renamed the Comprehensive Economic Dialogue was held in July, 2017. But the regular sessions, sprawling affairs often criticized as heavy on process and light on tangible outcomes, were abandoned as the Trump administration moved towards a more confrontational approach to China that relied on the use of tariffs to pressure the country into economic concessions.

US, China agree to semi-annual talks aimed at reforms, resolving disputes

<p>Libyan eastern forces loyal to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-asks-russia-to-get-libyan-general-to-accept-truce-273642">commander Khalifa Haftar</a> announced on Saturday a ceasefire in the western region, which includes the capital Tripoli, starting 00:01 a.m. on Sunday (22:01 GMT) and the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) agreed to the truce.</p>

<p>Since April, Libyan National Army <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/libya-haftar-forces-seize-large-parts-of-sirte-city-272759">forces loyal to Haftar</a> have been waging a campaign to take Tripoli, where they are battling forces aligned with the GNA.</p>

<p>In a statement posted online early on Sunday, the Tripoli based GNA said: "In response to the Turkish president and the Russian president's call for a ceasefire, the head of the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord announces a ceasefire starting 00:00 on Jan. 12."</p>

<p>While the LNA had on Thursday rebuffed a call by Turkey and Russia for a ceasefire in a conflict that is drawing increasing foreign involvement and concern, LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari said in a video statement late on Saturday that the LNA accepted a truce in the west "provided that the other party abides by the ceasefire."</p>

<p>He warned that "any breach will be met with a harsh response".</p>

<p>The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) welcomed the truce and urged the warring parties "to strictly abide by the ceasefire and make a room for peaceful efforts to address all disputes through a Libyan-Libyan dialogue".</p>

<p>Turkey backs the Tripoli-based GNA headed by Fayez al-Serraj, while Russian military contractors have been deployed alongside the eastern forces.</p>

<p>A senior GNA official said on Thursday that it welcomed any credible ceasefire proposal but had a duty to protect Libyans from Haftar's offensive.</p>

<p>Any ceasefire will likely be hard to uphold after a recent escalation in fighting around Tripoli and the strategic coastal city of Sirte and given the fractious, loose nature of Libya’s military alliances.</p>

<p>Forces loyal to Haftar said this week they had taken control of Sirte in a rapid advance preceded by air strikes.</p>

<p>Earlier on Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Libyan peace talks will be held in Berlin, adding that Libya's warring parties would need to play a major role to help find a solution.</p>


Libyan eastern forces loyal to commander Khalifa Haftar announced on Saturday a ceasefire in the western region, which includes the capital Tripoli, starting 00:01 a.

Libyan eastern forces loyal to commander Khalifa Haftar announced on Saturday a ceasefire in the western region, which includes the capital Tripoli, starting 00:01 a.m. on Sunday (22:01 GMT) and the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) agreed to the truce. Since April, Libyan National Army forces loyal to Haftar have been waging a campaign to take Tripoli, where they are battling forces aligned with the GNA. In a statement posted online early on Sunday, the Tripoli based GNA said: "In response to the Turkish president and the Russian president's call for a ceasefire, the head of the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord announces a ceasefire starting 00:00 on Jan. 12." While the LNA had on Thursday rebuffed a call by Turkey and Russia for a ceasefire in a conflict that is drawing increasing foreign involvement and concern, LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari said in a video statement late on Saturday that the LNA accepted a truce in the west "provided that the other party abides by the ceasefire." He warned that "any breach will be met with a harsh response". The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) welcomed the truce and urged the warring parties "to strictly abide by the ceasefire and make a room for peaceful efforts to address all disputes through a Libyan-Libyan dialogue". Turkey backs the Tripoli-based GNA headed by Fayez al-Serraj, while Russian military contractors have been deployed alongside the eastern forces. A senior GNA official said on Thursday that it welcomed any credible ceasefire proposal but had a duty to protect Libyans from Haftar's offensive. Any ceasefire will likely be hard to uphold after a recent escalation in fighting around Tripoli and the strategic coastal city of Sirte and given the fractious, loose nature of Libya’s military alliances. Forces loyal to Haftar said this week they had taken control of Sirte in a rapid advance preceded by air strikes. Earlier on Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Libyan peace talks will be held in Berlin, adding that Libya's warring parties would need to play a major role to help find a solution.

Libyan forces loyal to Haftar announce ceasefire, GNA agrees to truce

<p>US President Donald Trump said Saturday the United States was monitoring Iranian demonstrations closely, warning against any new "massacre" as protests broke out after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-pm-justin-trudeau-wants-full-investigation-into-plane-crash-273614">Tehran admitted to shooting down a passenger plane</a>.</p>

<p>Iran said earlier it unintentionally downed a Ukrainian jetliner outside Tehran, killing all 176 people aboard, in an abrupt about-turn after initially denying Western claims it was struck by a missile. The firing came shortly after Iran launched missiles at bases in Iraq housing American forces.</p>

<p>President Hassan Rouhani said a military probe into the tragedy had found "missiles fired due to human error" brought down the Boeing 737, calling it an "unforgivable mistake."</p>

<p>At a student protest to pay tribute to the crash victims on Saturday, Iranian authorities briefly detained Britain's ambassador, in what the British government called a violation of international law. He was later released.</p>

<p>Trump told Iranians -- in tweets in both English and Farsi -- that he stands by them and is monitoring the demonstrations.</p>

<p>"To the brave, long-suffering people of Iran: I've stood with you since the beginning of my Presidency, and my Administration will continue to stand with you," he tweeted.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-supreme-leader-khameneis-twitter-account-temporarily-suspended-273641">Iran's supreme leader Khamenei's Twitter account temporarily suspended</a></strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">To the brave, long-suffering people of Iran: I've stood with you since the beginning of my Presidency, and my Administration will continue to stand with you. We are following your protests closely, and are inspired by your courage.</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1216114135529902081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>"There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an internet shutdown. The world is watching," he added, apparently referring to an Iranian crackdown on street protests that broke out in November.</p>

<p>"We are following your protests closely, and are inspired by your courage," he said.</p>

<p>The new demonstrations follow an Iranian crackdown on street protests that broke out in November. Amnesty International has said it left more than 300 people dead.</p>

<p>Internet access was reportedly cut off in multiple Iranian provinces ahead of memorials planned a month after the protests.</p>

<p>Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has demanded that Iran provide "full clarity" on the downing of the plane. Ottawa says the dead included 57 Canadians.</p>

<p>Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also offered his condolences and ordered the armed forces to address "shortcomings" so that such a disaster does not happen again.</p>

<p>Tehran's acknowledgement came after officials in Iran denied for days Western claims that the Ukraine International Airlines plane had been struck by a missile in a catastrophic error.</p>

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<p>The Kiev-bound jet slammed into a field shortly after taking off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport on Wednesday.</p>

<p>The crash came hours after Tehran launched missiles at bases hosting American forces in Iraq in response to the killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike.</p>

<p>Fears grew of an all-out war between Iran and its arch-enemy the United States, but those concerns have subsided after Trump said Tehran appeared to be standing down after targeting the US bases.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/soleimani-was-probably-planning-to-attack-four-us-embassies-donald-trump-273535">Soleimani was 'probably' planning to attack four US embassies: Donald Trump</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>Protesters 'dispersed'</strong></p>

<p>On Saturday evening, police dispersed students who had converged on Amir Kabir University in Tehran to pay tribute to the victims, after some among the hundreds gathered shouted "destructive" slogans, Fars news agency said.</p>

<p>British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said UK envoy Rob Macaire had been detained.</p>

<p>"The arrest of our ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law," Raab said in a statement. The US called on Iran to apologize.</p>

<p>Iran's Tasnim News Agency, which is close to the country's conservatives, said the envoy had been "provoking radical acts" among students. He was released a few hours later and would be summoned again by Iranian officials on Sunday, it said.</p>

<p>State television reported that students shouted "anti-regime" chants, while Fars reported that posters of Soleimani had been torn down.</p>

<p>The aerospace commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards accepted full responsibility for Wednesday's accident.</p>

<p>But Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh said the missile operator acted independently, targeting the 737 after mistaking it for a "cruise missile".</p>

<p>The operator failed to obtain approval from his superiors because of disruptions to a communications system, he said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The government of Iran must allow human rights groups to monitor and report facts from the ground on the ongoing protests by the Iranian people. There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an internet shutdown. The world is watching.</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1216120362230067202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>"He had 10 seconds to decide. He could have decided to strike or not to strike and under such circumstances, he took the wrong decision."</p>

<p><strong>Justice, compensation</strong></p>

<p>Iran had been under mounting international pressure to allow a "credible" investigation after video emerged appearing to show the moment the airliner was hit.</p>

<p>In footage that the New York Times said it had verified, a fast-moving object is seen rising into the sky before a bright flash appears. Several seconds later, an explosion is heard.</p>

<p>Iran's military said it had been at the highest level of alert after American "threats" and that the plane had turned and come close to a "sensitive" military site before it was targeted due to "human error."</p>

<p>Rouhani said Iran had been on alert for possible US attacks after Soleimani's "martyrdom."</p>

<p>Rouhani added he had ordered "all relevant bodies to take all necessary actions (to ensure) compensation" to the families of those killed.</p>

<p>The majority of passengers on Flight PS752 were Iranians and Canadians, including dual nationals, while Ukrainians, Afghans, Britons and Swedes were also aboard.</p>

<p>Rouhani told his Ukrainian counterpart Saturday that "all the persons involved in this air disaster will be brought to justice," Ukraine's presidency said.</p>

<p>This is Iran's worst civil aviation disaster since 1988 when the US military said it shot down an Iran Air plane over the Gulf by mistake, killing all 290 people on board.</p>


US President Donald Trump said Saturday the United States was monitoring Iranian demonstrations closely, warning against any new "massacre" as protests broke out after Tehran admitted to shooting down a passenger plane.

US President Donald Trump said Saturday the United States was monitoring Iranian demonstrations closely, warning against any new "massacre" as protests broke out after Tehran admitted to shooting down a passenger plane. Iran said earlier it unintentionally downed a Ukrainian jetliner outside Tehran, killing all 176 people aboard, in an abrupt about-turn after initially denying Western claims it was struck by a missile. The firing came shortly after Iran launched missiles at bases in Iraq housing American forces. President Hassan Rouhani said a military probe into the tragedy had found "missiles fired due to human error" brought down the Boeing 737, calling it an "unforgivable mistake." At a student protest to pay tribute to the crash victims on Saturday, Iranian authorities briefly detained Britain's ambassador, in what the British government called a violation of international law. He was later released. Trump told Iranians -- in tweets in both English and Farsi -- that he stands by them and is monitoring the demonstrations. "To the brave, long-suffering people of Iran: I've stood with you since the beginning of my Presidency, and my Administration will continue to stand with you," he tweeted. Also read: Iran's supreme leader Khamenei's Twitter account temporarily suspended To the brave, long-suffering people of Iran: I've stood with you since the beginning of my Presidency, and my Administration will continue to stand with you. We are following your protests closely, and are inspired by your courage. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2020 × "There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an internet shutdown. The world is watching," he added, apparently referring to an Iranian crackdown on street protests that broke out in November. "We are following your protests closely, and are inspired by your courage," he said. The new demonstrations follow an Iranian crackdown on street protests that broke out in November. Amnesty International has said it left more than 300 people dead. Internet access was reportedly cut off in multiple Iranian provinces ahead of memorials planned a month after the protests. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has demanded that Iran provide "full clarity" on the downing of the plane. Ottawa says the dead included 57 Canadians. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also offered his condolences and ordered the armed forces to address "shortcomings" so that such a disaster does not happen again. Tehran's acknowledgement came after officials in Iran denied for days Western claims that the Ukraine International Airlines plane had been struck by a missile in a catastrophic error. × The Kiev-bound jet slammed into a field shortly after taking off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport on Wednesday. The crash came hours after Tehran launched missiles at bases hosting American forces in Iraq in response to the killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike. Fears grew of an all-out war between Iran and its arch-enemy the United States, but those concerns have subsided after Trump said Tehran appeared to be standing down after targeting the US bases. Also read: Soleimani was 'probably' planning to attack four US embassies: Donald Trump Protesters 'dispersed' On Saturday evening, police dispersed students who had converged on Amir Kabir University in Tehran to pay tribute to the victims, after some among the hundreds gathered shouted "destructive" slogans, Fars news agency said. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said UK envoy Rob Macaire had been detained. "The arrest of our ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law," Raab said in a statement. The US called on Iran to apologize. Iran's Tasnim News Agency, which is close to the country's conservatives, said the envoy had been "provoking radical acts" among students. He was released a few hours later and would be summoned again by Iranian officials on Sunday, it said. State television reported that students shouted "anti-regime" chants, while Fars reported that posters of Soleimani had been torn down. The aerospace commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards accepted full responsibility for Wednesday's accident. But Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh said the missile operator acted independently, targeting the 737 after mistaking it for a "cruise missile". The operator failed to obtain approval from his superiors because of disruptions to a communications system, he said. The government of Iran must allow human rights groups to monitor and report facts from the ground on the ongoing protests by the Iranian people. There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an internet shutdown. The world is watching. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2020 × "He had 10 seconds to decide. He could have decided to strike or not to strike and under such circumstances, he took the wrong decision." Justice, compensation Iran had been under mounting international pressure to allow a "credible" investigation after video emerged appearing to show the moment the airliner was hit. In footage that the New York Times said it had verified, a fast-moving object is seen rising into the sky before a bright flash appears. Several seconds later, an explosion is heard. Iran's military said it had been at the highest level of alert after American "threats" and that the plane had turned and come close to a "sensitive" military site before it was targeted due to "human error." Rouhani said Iran had been on alert for possible US attacks after Soleimani's "martyrdom." Rouhani added he had ordered "all relevant bodies to take all necessary actions (to ensure) compensation" to the families of those killed. The majority of passengers on Flight PS752 were Iranians and Canadians, including dual nationals, while Ukrainians, Afghans, Britons and Swedes were also aboard. Rouhani told his Ukrainian counterpart Saturday that "all the persons involved in this air disaster will be brought to justice," Ukraine's presidency said. This is Iran's worst civil aviation disaster since 1988 when the US military said it shot down an Iran Air plane over the Gulf by mistake, killing all 290 people on board.

Trump warns Iran against 'massacre' as protests erupt over downing of Ukrainian airplane

January 12 in history: Transmission of first long-distance radio message from Eiffel Tower and more

<p>Sydney's iconic Opera House was lit up on Saturday with images of valiant firefighters who are battling devastating <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-bushfires-cooler-temperature-and-rainfall-ease-conditions-ahead-of-rough-night-273517">blazes in Australia</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The light installation came as a gesture of gratitude and hope to all those affected by the country’s ongoing bushfire crisis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The display had photographs from the fire ground where one image showed a woman hugging a volunteer firefighter while the other one was of a sign which read, "Thank you firies!"</p>

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<p>The crisis is now becoming increasingly political.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Australian PM Scott Morrison has proposed a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-pm-proposes-high-powered-inquiry-into-bushfires-response-273680">high-powered enquiry into bushfires response</a>.</p>

<p>After facing pressure from all ends to tackle the climate change crisis and acknowledging the role of climate change in this summer's bushfire crisis, Morrison said his government will look into improving its performance on curbing emissions but ruled out carbon tax as a response.</p>

<p><img alt="Australia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="18ff7581-2966-4542-9c88-61f2cde0a92b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/austtalia.JPG" /></p>

<p>Morrison has also announced a 76 million dollar mental health package for those affected by the devastating bushfires.</p>

<p>As part of the health package, firefighters and residents in fire-affected communities will be able to access free psychological counselling.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As blazes show no signs of abating, the death toll in the worst fire season on record has risen to 28 since October 2019.</p>

<p>More than 2,000 homes have been destroyed by the wild bushfires, razing off over than 10.3 million hectares of land - an area the size of South Korea. It is estimated that over a whopping 1 billion animals have been killed in the catastrophe. &nbsp;</p>


Sydney's iconic Opera House was lit up on Saturday with images of valiant firefighters who are battling devastating blazes in Australia. The light installation came as a gesture of gratitude and hope to all those affected by the country’s ongoing bushfire crisis.

Sydney's iconic Opera House was lit up on Saturday with images of valiant firefighters who are battling devastating blazes in Australia. The light installation came as a gesture of gratitude and hope to all those affected by the country’s ongoing bushfire crisis. The display had photographs from the fire ground where one image showed a woman hugging a volunteer firefighter while the other one was of a sign which read, "Thank you firies!" × The crisis is now becoming increasingly political. Australian PM Scott Morrison has proposed a high-powered enquiry into bushfires response. After facing pressure from all ends to tackle the climate change crisis and acknowledging the role of climate change in this summer's bushfire crisis, Morrison said his government will look into improving its performance on curbing emissions but ruled out carbon tax as a response. Morrison has also announced a 76 million dollar mental health package for those affected by the devastating bushfires. As part of the health package, firefighters and residents in fire-affected communities will be able to access free psychological counselling. As blazes show no signs of abating, the death toll in the worst fire season on record has risen to 28 since October 2019. More than 2,000 homes have been destroyed by the wild bushfires, razing off over than 10.3 million hectares of land - an area the size of South Korea. It is estimated that over a whopping 1 billion animals have been killed in the catastrophe.

Australia bushfires: Sydney Opera House lights up in tribute to valiant firefighters

<p>Awe-inspiring pictures and videos of snow-blanketed regions in Saudi Arabia are doing the rounds on social media and are going viral.</p>

<p>According to reports, Saudi Arabia's mountainous region - Tabuk in particular - have been hit by a snowstorm. Parts of Lebanon and Syria also experienced snowstorms while hail was reported in parts of Egypt.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Currently:<br />
Snow in Saudi Arabia deserts (Tabuk). <a href="https://t.co/tNJFU8Yia4">pic.twitter.com/tNJFU8Yia4</a></p>
— د. أحمد نبيل (@Dr_Ahmad_Nabeel) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dr_Ahmad_Nabeel/status/1215653574589501440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Middle East nations like Qatar, the UAE, parts of Iran and Oman experienced heavy rainfall earlier this week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There was a forecast of Middle Eastern regions like Dubai and Doha to receive around 150mm of rainfall when they usually record around 70mm of rainfall for the whole year.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tabuk?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tabuk</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Neom?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Neom</a> in Saudi Arabia at<br />
winter season, beauty of snow❄️🖤! <a href="https://t.co/CjvZK2A2Nd">pic.twitter.com/CjvZK2A2Nd</a></p>
— Abdualaziz M. Alawadh (@abdualaziz_666) <a href="https://twitter.com/abdualaziz_666/status/1215601370004426752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Earlier this week, Israel witnessed heavy rainfall that led to flooding in its border areas with Lebanon to the Negev desert. At least five people have been killed in Israel due to rising floodwaters, local media reported.&nbsp;</p>


Awe-inspiring pictures and videos of snow-blanketed regions in Saudi Arabia are doing the rounds on social media and are going viral. According to reports, Saudi Arabia's mountainous region - Tabuk in particular - have been hit by a snowstorm.

Awe-inspiring pictures and videos of snow-blanketed regions in Saudi Arabia are doing the rounds on social media and are going viral. According to reports, Saudi Arabia's mountainous region - Tabuk in particular - have been hit by a snowstorm. Parts of Lebanon and Syria also experienced snowstorms while hail was reported in parts of Egypt. Currently: Snow in Saudi Arabia deserts (Tabuk). pic.twitter.com/tNJFU8Yia4 — د. أحمد نبيل (@Dr_Ahmad_Nabeel) January 10, 2020 × Middle East nations like Qatar, the UAE, parts of Iran and Oman experienced heavy rainfall earlier this week. There was a forecast of Middle Eastern regions like Dubai and Doha to receive around 150mm of rainfall when they usually record around 70mm of rainfall for the whole year. #Tabuk & #Neom in Saudi Arabia at winter season, beauty of snow❄️🖤! pic.twitter.com/CjvZK2A2Nd — Abdualaziz M. Alawadh (@abdualaziz_666) January 10, 2020 × Earlier this week, Israel witnessed heavy rainfall that led to flooding in its border areas with Lebanon to the Negev desert. At least five people have been killed in Israel due to rising floodwaters, local media reported.

Snow in Saudi Arabia? Locals share pictures, videos of snow-blanketed Tabuk 

Snow blankets covered parts of Saudi Arabia on Friday, January 10 as temperatures dropped below zero degrees Celsius. Watch this video to know more.

Parts of Saudi Arabia covered in snow as temperature drops below freezing point

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