A religious charity has opened the first school in Bangladesh for hijras, a transgender community whose members face widespread discrimination in the mostly conservative Muslim society and often live in abject poverty.

Ostracised by their families, hijras are often banished from their homes at a young age. With no formal education, many are forced into begging and sex work.

"People who are transgender are also human beings, they too have a right to education, to live a dignified life," said Abdur Rahman Azad, one of clerics who transformed the top floor of a three-storey building into the madrasa, an Islamic religious school.

The students will learn to read the Quran and the basic principles of Islam, but will also be taught Bengali, English, maths and receive some vocational training.

"We have a plan to open schools for them across the country so that no one is deprived of education. We are starting with just over 100 students, who will learn Islamic and vocational subjects. We wish to turn them into human resources."

The government estimates there are about 10,000 hijras in Bangladesh but rights groups say the figure could be as high as 1.5 million in the country of more than 160 million people.

Despite a landmark government's decision in 2013 to recognise hijras as a third gender, they remain marginalised in a country where same-sex sexual activity is illegal.

"I'm so thrilled. This school is a beacon of hope," said Sona Solani, 30, a student at the school.

"We're always looked down upon. We are not accepted anywhere, not even in our own house," she told Reuters, her voice choked with emotion.

"I want to show the society that we can stand as equals and prove that we're not limited to begging, that our lives are much bigger than that."

A religious charity has opened the first school in Bangladesh for hijras, a transgender community whose members face widespread discrimination in the mostly conservative Muslim society and often live in abject poverty.

A religious charity has opened the first school in Bangladesh for hijras, a transgender community whose members face widespread discrimination in the mostly conservative Muslim society and often live in abject poverty. Ostracised by their families, hijras are often banished from their homes at a young age. With no formal education, many are forced into begging and sex work. "People who are transgender are also human beings, they too have a right to education, to live a dignified life," said Abdur Rahman Azad, one of clerics who transformed the top floor of a three-storey building into the madrasa, an Islamic religious school. The students will learn to read the Quran and the basic principles of Islam, but will also be taught Bengali, English, maths and receive some vocational training. "We have a plan to open schools for them across the country so that no one is deprived of education. We are starting with just over 100 students, who will learn Islamic and vocational subjects. We wish to turn them into human resources." The government estimates there are about 10,000 hijras in Bangladesh but rights groups say the figure could be as high as 1.5 million in the country of more than 160 million people. Despite a landmark government's decision in 2013 to recognise hijras as a third gender, they remain marginalised in a country where same-sex sexual activity is illegal. "I'm so thrilled. This school is a beacon of hope," said Sona Solani, 30, a student at the school. "We're always looked down upon. We are not accepted anywhere, not even in our own house," she told Reuters, her voice choked with emotion. "I want to show the society that we can stand as equals and prove that we're not limited to begging, that our lives are much bigger than that."

'Beacon of hope': Bangladesh opens first school for transgender students

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Friday that military operations launched in the northern region of Tigray had limited objectives, as calls rise for the country to step back from what could be a devastating war.

A long-running feud erupted into armed conflict this week between Addis Ababa and Tigray, whose leaders effectively ruled the country for three decades until Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power. &nbsp;&nbsp;

UN chief Antonio Guterres called for the immediate de-escalation of tensions amid reports of heavy shelling and troop movements, while observers warned that an all-out war between the two powerful armies could be long and bloody.

Abiy, the winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize, announced Wednesday he had ordered military operations in Tigray in response to an "attack" on a military camp by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

The TPLF denies the attack occurred and accuses Abiy of concocting the story to justify deploying the military against it.

Abiy wrote on Twitter Friday that the military operations "have clear, limited and achievable objectives -- to restore the rule of law and the constitutional order, and to safeguard the rights of Ethiopians to lead a peaceful life wherever they are in the country".

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Operations by federal defence forces underway in Northern <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ethiopia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ethiopia</a> have clear, limited &amp; achievable objectives — to restore the rule of law &amp; the constitutional order, and to safeguard the rights of Ethiopians to lead a peaceful life wherever they are in the country.1/2
— Abiy Ahmed Ali 🇪🇹 (@AbiyAhmedAli) <a href="https://twitter.com/AbiyAhmedAli/status/1324632523255762944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2020</a></blockquote>
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'Shameful, senseless'&nbsp;

His comments come after the military said Wednesday the country has "entered into a war it didn't anticipate" with the TPLF.

"This war is shameful, it is senseless," Ethiopia's deputy army chief Berhanu Jula said Thursday.

Abiy appeared to be seeking to play down the bellicose rhetoric, and responded to growing international calls for dialogue.

He said the government "patiently tried for several months to resolve differences with TPLF leadership peacefully; we tried mediation, reconciliation, dialogue".

"All failed (because) of TPLF criminal hubris and intransigence. In the last straw TPLF attacked the Northern Command based in Tigray."

'Deeply alarmed'&nbsp;

In a statement on Twitter, Guterres called for "an immediate de-escalation of tensions and a peaceful resolution to the dispute".

"I'm deeply alarmed over the situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The stability of Ethiopia is important for the entire Horn of Africa region," he wrote.

Ethiopia's foreign ministry spokesman Dina Mufti said the government had explained to the diplomatic community that it "was provoked" into the current situation.&nbsp;

"Their reaction overall is that they want Ethiopia’s peace, stability and want this issue to be solved quickly. More or less we can say they expressed sympathy to our position."

Tigray president Debretsion Gebremichael said Thursday that fighting was taking place in western Tigray, and that federal troops were gathering on the border in neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions.

A diplomatic source said there were probably casualties on both sides after heavy fighting and artillery shelling Thursday on one of the main roads linking Tigray to Amhara.

An aid worker, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 25 wounded soldiers had been admitted to an Amhara health centre on Thursday, without specifying which side they were from.

Internet and phone connections in Tigray have been cut, making any tolls difficult to verify.

'Lengthy and bloody'

The International Crisis Group warned that unless the fighting was urgently halted, the conflict "will be devastating not just for the country but for the entire Horn of Africa".

It said that prolonged fighting could draw in neighbouring Eritrea, whose President Isaias Afwerki is close to Abiy and who is a "sworn enemy" of the TPLF which ruled Ethiopia when it fought a war with Eritrea.

And given Tigray has powerful military forces, with an estimated 250,000 troops, a war could be "lengthy and bloody" in Africa's second most populous country, it said.

It could also further destabilise the diverse nation, split into ethnic-based federal states, which has seen multiple outbreaks of ethnic violence in recent years.

"Immediate, concerted mediation -– local, regional and international -– is needed to avert a descent into a broader crisis," the ICG said.&nbsp;

The TPLF dominated politics in Ethiopia for nearly three decades before Abiy came to power in 2018 on the back of anti-government protests.&nbsp;

Under Abiy, Tigrayan leaders have complained of being unfairly targeted in corruption prosecutions, removed from top positions and broadly scapegoated for the country's woes.

The ICG said the descent into conflict was "sudden but predictable" after weeks of hostilities.

Tensions escalated when Tigray held its own elections in September, after Addis Ababa decided to postpone national polls due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Both sides then refused to recognise the rule of the other, and warlike rhetoric stepped up, with Tigray's president on Monday telling the region to prepare for war, prompting the federal parliament to seek to have the TPLF declared a terrorist group.&nbsp;

Addis Ababa has imposed a six-month state of emergency on Tigray.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Friday that military operations launched in the northern region of Tigray had limited objectives, as calls rise for the country to step back from what could be a devastating war.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Friday that military operations launched in the northern region of Tigray had limited objectives, as calls rise for the country to step back from what could be a devastating war. A long-running feud erupted into armed conflict this week between Addis Ababa and Tigray, whose leaders effectively ruled the country for three decades until Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power. UN chief Antonio Guterres called for the immediate de-escalation of tensions amid reports of heavy shelling and troop movements, while observers warned that an all-out war between the two powerful armies could be long and bloody. Abiy, the winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize, announced Wednesday he had ordered military operations in Tigray in response to an "attack" on a military camp by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). The TPLF denies the attack occurred and accuses Abiy of concocting the story to justify deploying the military against it. Abiy wrote on Twitter Friday that the military operations "have clear, limited and achievable objectives -- to restore the rule of law and the constitutional order, and to safeguard the rights of Ethiopians to lead a peaceful life wherever they are in the country". Operations by federal defence forces underway in Northern #Ethiopia have clear, limited & achievable objectives — to restore the rule of law & the constitutional order, and to safeguard the rights of Ethiopians to lead a peaceful life wherever they are in the country.1/2 — Abiy Ahmed Ali 🇪🇹 (@AbiyAhmedAli) November 6, 2020 × 'Shameful, senseless' His comments come after the military said Wednesday the country has "entered into a war it didn't anticipate" with the TPLF. "This war is shameful, it is senseless," Ethiopia's deputy army chief Berhanu Jula said Thursday. Abiy appeared to be seeking to play down the bellicose rhetoric, and responded to growing international calls for dialogue. He said the government "patiently tried for several months to resolve differences with TPLF leadership peacefully; we tried mediation, reconciliation, dialogue". "All failed (because) of TPLF criminal hubris and intransigence. In the last straw TPLF attacked the Northern Command based in Tigray." 'Deeply alarmed' In a statement on Twitter, Guterres called for "an immediate de-escalation of tensions and a peaceful resolution to the dispute". "I'm deeply alarmed over the situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The stability of Ethiopia is important for the entire Horn of Africa region," he wrote. Ethiopia's foreign ministry spokesman Dina Mufti said the government had explained to the diplomatic community that it "was provoked" into the current situation. "Their reaction overall is that they want Ethiopia’s peace, stability and want this issue to be solved quickly. More or less we can say they expressed sympathy to our position." Tigray president Debretsion Gebremichael said Thursday that fighting was taking place in western Tigray, and that federal troops were gathering on the border in neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions. A diplomatic source said there were probably casualties on both sides after heavy fighting and artillery shelling Thursday on one of the main roads linking Tigray to Amhara. An aid worker, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 25 wounded soldiers had been admitted to an Amhara health centre on Thursday, without specifying which side they were from. Internet and phone connections in Tigray have been cut, making any tolls difficult to verify. 'Lengthy and bloody' The International Crisis Group warned that unless the fighting was urgently halted, the conflict "will be devastating not just for the country but for the entire Horn of Africa". It said that prolonged fighting could draw in neighbouring Eritrea, whose President Isaias Afwerki is close to Abiy and who is a "sworn enemy" of the TPLF which ruled Ethiopia when it fought a war with Eritrea. And given Tigray has powerful military forces, with an estimated 250,000 troops, a war could be "lengthy and bloody" in Africa's second most populous country, it said. It could also further destabilise the diverse nation, split into ethnic-based federal states, which has seen multiple outbreaks of ethnic violence in recent years. "Immediate, concerted mediation -– local, regional and international -– is needed to avert a descent into a broader crisis," the ICG said. The TPLF dominated politics in Ethiopia for nearly three decades before Abiy came to power in 2018 on the back of anti-government protests. Under Abiy, Tigrayan leaders have complained of being unfairly targeted in corruption prosecutions, removed from top positions and broadly scapegoated for the country's woes. The ICG said the descent into conflict was "sudden but predictable" after weeks of hostilities. Tensions escalated when Tigray held its own elections in September, after Addis Ababa decided to postpone national polls due to the coronavirus pandemic. Both sides then refused to recognise the rule of the other, and warlike rhetoric stepped up, with Tigray's president on Monday telling the region to prepare for war, prompting the federal parliament to seek to have the TPLF declared a terrorist group. Addis Ababa has imposed a six-month state of emergency on Tigray.

Ethiopia says 'limited' aims to Tigray operation as alarm grows

Russian officials said Friday that President Vladimir Putin's critic&nbsp;Alexei Navalny fell ill&nbsp;due to metabolic problems and pancreatitis, not because he was poisoned.

The Kremlin critic gained international recognition after he was allegedly poisoned with the Novichok nerve agent a few months ago which had landed Navalny into an induced coma from which he woke up in September.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-may-quit-as-russias-president-amid-fears-he-has-parkinsons-disease-sources-claim-341032">Putin may quit amid fears he has Parkinson's disease, sources claim</a>

The 44-year-old anti-graft campaigner collapsed on a flight from Siberia to Moscow and was transferred for treatment to Germany where experts ruled he was poisoned with the Soviet-designed nerve agent Novichok.

Navalny took to Twitter to share the videos and images of his office being raided by Vladimir Putin's security forces. "Unique shots. On an assignment from Vladimir Putin's bunker, masked men are trying to retrieve our office disco ball," he tweeted.&nbsp;(translated text)

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Уникальные кадры. Выполняя поручение, полученное из бункера Владимира Путина, люди в масках пытаются изъять наш офисный диско-шар <a href="https://t.co/Cq4CBXGNqT">pic.twitter.com/Cq4CBXGNqT</a>
— Alexey Navalny (@navalny) <a href="https://twitter.com/navalny/status/1324331301747400708?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alexei-navalnys-anti-corruption-foundation-office-raided-by-russian-police-341048" hreflang="en">Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation office raided by Russian police</a>

The interior ministry's Siberian branch said doctors who treated Navalny for two days before he was flown to Berlin confirmed their diagnosis of "disruption of carbohydrate metabolism and chronic pancreatitis".

"The diagnosis of 'poisoning'... was not confirmed," it said in a statement.&nbsp;

The local branch of the interior ministry added that no poisonous substances were found on Navalny's clothes or on objects collected from his hotel or the airport cafe in Siberia here he was seen before the flight.

The EU has sanctioned several senior Russian officials over the poisoning, saying the attack with the Novichok could not have been carried out without the complicity of the FSB, the defence ministry and Putin's executive office.

Navalny has claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin was personally responsible for the poisoning, while the Kremlin has rejected all allegations it could have been involved.

The head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergei Naryshkin said earlier Friday that NATO countries plotted to use a Russian opposition leader as a "sacred sacrifice" to uphold the protest mood in the country.

Navalny responded on Twitter saying it was "funny" that both the interior ministry's statement and Naryshkin's interview with state TV were released on the same day.&nbsp;

"It seems NATO countries convinced me to start a fatal diet," Navalny wrote.

On Thursday, police raided the office of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) in Moscow, removing equipment and charging one of his aides Ivan Zhdanov with contempt of court.

The charge is likely related to a defamation case won by Kremlin associate Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose catering firm is seeking to recoup damages of 29 million roubles ($373,800) each from Navalny, his ally Lyubov Sobol and the FBK.

Navalny has vowed to return to Russia after fully recovering in Germany.

Russian officials said Friday that President Vladimir Putin's critic Alexei Navalny fell ill due to metabolic problems and pancreatitis, not because he was poisoned.

Russian officials said Friday that President Vladimir Putin's critic Alexei Navalny fell ill due to metabolic problems and pancreatitis, not because he was poisoned. The Kremlin critic gained international recognition after he was allegedly poisoned with the Novichok nerve agent a few months ago which had landed Navalny into an induced coma from which he woke up in September. Also read: Putin may quit amid fears he has Parkinson's disease, sources claim The 44-year-old anti-graft campaigner collapsed on a flight from Siberia to Moscow and was transferred for treatment to Germany where experts ruled he was poisoned with the Soviet-designed nerve agent Novichok. Navalny took to Twitter to share the videos and images of his office being raided by Vladimir Putin's security forces. "Unique shots. On an assignment from Vladimir Putin's bunker, masked men are trying to retrieve our office disco ball," he tweeted. (translated text) Уникальные кадры. Выполняя поручение, полученное из бункера Владимира Путина, люди в масках пытаются изъять наш офисный диско-шар pic.twitter.com/Cq4CBXGNqT — Alexey Navalny (@navalny) November 5, 2020 × Also read: Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation office raided by Russian police The interior ministry's Siberian branch said doctors who treated Navalny for two days before he was flown to Berlin confirmed their diagnosis of "disruption of carbohydrate metabolism and chronic pancreatitis". "The diagnosis of 'poisoning'... was not confirmed," it said in a statement. The local branch of the interior ministry added that no poisonous substances were found on Navalny's clothes or on objects collected from his hotel or the airport cafe in Siberia here he was seen before the flight. The EU has sanctioned several senior Russian officials over the poisoning, saying the attack with the Novichok could not have been carried out without the complicity of the FSB, the defence ministry and Putin's executive office. Navalny has claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin was personally responsible for the poisoning, while the Kremlin has rejected all allegations it could have been involved. The head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergei Naryshkin said earlier Friday that NATO countries plotted to use a Russian opposition leader as a "sacred sacrifice" to uphold the protest mood in the country. Navalny responded on Twitter saying it was "funny" that both the interior ministry's statement and Naryshkin's interview with state TV were released on the same day. "It seems NATO countries convinced me to start a fatal diet," Navalny wrote. On Thursday, police raided the office of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) in Moscow, removing equipment and charging one of his aides Ivan Zhdanov with contempt of court. The charge is likely related to a defamation case won by Kremlin associate Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose catering firm is seeking to recoup damages of 29 million roubles ($373,800) each from Navalny, his ally Lyubov Sobol and the FBK. Navalny has vowed to return to Russia after fully recovering in Germany.

Navalny poisoning: Russian police says Putin critic fell ill due to metabolic problems and pancreatitis

A video of&nbsp;New Zealand's first-ever Indian-origin minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan speaking in the country's parliament is going viral on the internet.

The video was shared by&nbsp;India's Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri with the caption ''Doing India proud''.

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Doing India proud, the Indian origin minister in New Zealand <a href="https://twitter.com/priyancanzlp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@priyancanzlp</a> addresses her country's parliament in Malayalam.<a href="https://twitter.com/IndiainNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndiainNZ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NZinIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NZinIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/VMBJP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VMBJP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MEAIndia</a> <a href="https://t.co/f3yUURW2Em">pic.twitter.com/f3yUURW2Em</a>
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) <a href="https://twitter.com/HardeepSPuri/status/1324340214198775811?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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In the video, which is from a parliament session in 2017,&nbsp;Priyanca Radhakrishnan, who is from Kerala,&nbsp;is saying&nbsp;"Mr. Speaker, I believe that it's the first time my mother tongue, Malayalam, has been spoken in this house."

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/priyanca-radhakrishnan-becomes-new-zealands-first-ever-indian-origin-minister-report-339823" hreflang="en">Priyanca Radhakrishnan becomes New Zealand's first-ever Indian-origin minister</a>

Born in India, Radhakrishnan, 41, went to school in Singapore before moving to New Zealand to further her education.

Radhakrishnan&nbsp;has spent her work life advocating on behalf of people whose voices are often unheard&nbsp;of women survivors of domestic violence, and migrant workers who have been exploited.

She was elected first as a Member of Parliament belonging to the Labour Party in September 2017.

In 2019, she was appointed the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister for Ethnic Communities.

Her work in that area has helped her build the base for her new role of Minister for Diversity, Inclusion, and Ethnic Communities.

In addition to this, she has become the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector and Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment.

When&nbsp;Radhakrishnan was elected as&nbsp;New Zealand's first-ever Indian-origin minister, Kerala's Chief Minister congratulated her.

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It gives us immense happiness to learn that Priyanca Radhakrishnan (<a href="https://twitter.com/priyancanzlp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@priyancanzlp</a>) became the first-ever Indian-origin minister of New Zealand. The Labour party leader has her roots in Kerala. On behalf of the people of the State, we extend our warmest greetings.
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) <a href="https://twitter.com/vijayanpinarayi/status/1323537383782952960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

A video of New Zealand's first-ever Indian-origin minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan speaking in the country's parliament is going viral on the internet. The video was shared by India's Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri with the caption ''Doing India proud''.

A video of New Zealand's first-ever Indian-origin minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan speaking in the country's parliament is going viral on the internet. The video was shared by India's Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri with the caption ''Doing India proud''. Doing India proud, the Indian origin minister in New Zealand @priyancanzlp addresses her country's parliament in Malayalam.@IndiainNZ @NZinIndia @VMBJP @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/f3yUURW2Em — Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) November 5, 2020 × In the video, which is from a parliament session in 2017, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, who is from Kerala, is saying "Mr. Speaker, I believe that it's the first time my mother tongue, Malayalam, has been spoken in this house." Also read| Priyanca Radhakrishnan becomes New Zealand's first-ever Indian-origin minister Born in India, Radhakrishnan, 41, went to school in Singapore before moving to New Zealand to further her education. Radhakrishnan has spent her work life advocating on behalf of people whose voices are often unheard of women survivors of domestic violence, and migrant workers who have been exploited. She was elected first as a Member of Parliament belonging to the Labour Party in September 2017. In 2019, she was appointed the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister for Ethnic Communities. Her work in that area has helped her build the base for her new role of Minister for Diversity, Inclusion, and Ethnic Communities. In addition to this, she has become the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector and Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment. When Radhakrishnan was elected as New Zealand's first-ever Indian-origin minister, Kerala's Chief Minister congratulated her. It gives us immense happiness to learn that Priyanca Radhakrishnan (@priyancanzlp) became the first-ever Indian-origin minister of New Zealand. The Labour party leader has her roots in Kerala. On behalf of the people of the State, we extend our warmest greetings. — Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) November 3, 2020 ×

New Zealand's first-ever Indian-origin minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan speaks Malayalam as video goes viral

The United States&nbsp;mission in Geneva urged World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday to invite Taiwan to a major meeting the body is hosting next week expected to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic.

It issued a&nbsp;statement saying, "We encourage the WHO to expand its efforts to offer Taiwan increased meaningful cooperation and collaboration with the organization, and this (an invitation to participate) would be a needed step in that direction.''

Washington has been deeply critical of the WHO and its boss Tedros for its handling of the pandemic, saying it is too close to China, and plans to withdraw.

Explainer: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explainer-why-is-taiwan-excluded-from-the-who-298975">Why is Taiwan excluded from the WHO</a>

Backed by the United States, Taiwan has stepped up lobbying this year to take part in the meeting of the WHO's decision-making body as an observer, angering China, which claims the democratically-run island as its own territory.

Taiwan&nbsp;has been excluded from the WHO and a number of other international organisations in the face of pressure from China, which regards the self-ruled democratic island of 23 million people as its own territory.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-indias-support-for-taiwans-who-membership-can-rattle-china-298744">How India's support for Taiwan's WHO membership can rattle China</a>

Taiwan, which was praised internationally for quickly containing the coronavirus, was not invited to an earlier meeting by the same body in May and it agreed to put off the issue until later in the year.

The World Medical Association (WMA), a confederation of national medical associations that jointly represent more than 10 million physicians, called Thursday for that to change.

"The Covid-19 pandemic is proof that cooperation for and with all health care systems in the world is necessary," WMA chairman Frank Montgomery said in an open letter to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

"We believe it is both cynical and counterproductive to continue excluding the health representatives from&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;from participating in the World Health Assembly."&nbsp;

"During this unprecedented global health emergency, the international community is counting on a WHA that leaves no one behind, including&nbsp;Taiwan," the US mission in Geneva said in a statement Friday.

The WHO has previously said it has no mandate to invite Taiwan since members disagree on the island's participation.

The virtual meeting of 194 member states is set to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic and related health issues.

The United States mission in Geneva urged World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday to invite Taiwan to a major meeting the body is hosting next week expected to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic.

The United States mission in Geneva urged World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday to invite Taiwan to a major meeting the body is hosting next week expected to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. It issued a statement saying, "We encourage the WHO to expand its efforts to offer Taiwan increased meaningful cooperation and collaboration with the organization, and this (an invitation to participate) would be a needed step in that direction.'' Washington has been deeply critical of the WHO and its boss Tedros for its handling of the pandemic, saying it is too close to China, and plans to withdraw. Explainer: Why is Taiwan excluded from the WHO Backed by the United States, Taiwan has stepped up lobbying this year to take part in the meeting of the WHO's decision-making body as an observer, angering China, which claims the democratically-run island as its own territory. Taiwan has been excluded from the WHO and a number of other international organisations in the face of pressure from China, which regards the self-ruled democratic island of 23 million people as its own territory. Also read: How India's support for Taiwan's WHO membership can rattle China Taiwan, which was praised internationally for quickly containing the coronavirus, was not invited to an earlier meeting by the same body in May and it agreed to put off the issue until later in the year. The World Medical Association (WMA), a confederation of national medical associations that jointly represent more than 10 million physicians, called Thursday for that to change. "The Covid-19 pandemic is proof that cooperation for and with all health care systems in the world is necessary," WMA chairman Frank Montgomery said in an open letter to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "We believe it is both cynical and counterproductive to continue excluding the health representatives from Taiwan from participating in the World Health Assembly." "During this unprecedented global health emergency, the international community is counting on a WHA that leaves no one behind, including Taiwan," the US mission in Geneva said in a statement Friday. The WHO has previously said it has no mandate to invite Taiwan since members disagree on the island's participation. The virtual meeting of 194 member states is set to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic and related health issues.

US urges WHO chief to invite Taiwan to a key meeting

Scientists have uncovered the&nbsp;oldest evidence of a 'slingshot' tongue in&nbsp;99 million-year-old amphibians.

Albanerpetontids, known for their ''ballistic tongues'', are predators&nbsp;are an extinct clade of Middle Jurassic-Pliocene and primarily Laurasian amphibians.

Researchers at the Florida Museum of Natural History believe that their findings,&nbsp;published in the journal Science, redefine how tiny animals are fed.

Albanerpetontids are characterised by numerous osteological features, including fused frontals; an interdigitating intermandibular joint; nonpedicellate marginal teeth tipped with tricuspid, chisel-shaped crowns; and modified "cervical" vertebrae that superficially resemble the atlas-axis complex in mammals.

“This discovery adds a super-cool piece to the puzzle of this obscure group of weird little animals. Knowing they had this ballistic tongue gives us a whole new understanding of this entire lineage,” said&nbsp;Edward Stanley, a co-author of the study and the director of the Florida Museum of Natural History’s digital discovery and dissemination laboratory.

Amphibians have three distinct lineages:&nbsp;frogs, salamanders, and limbless caecilians.

Researchers believe albanerpetontids, which date back to 165 million years may be the fourth&nbsp;lineage of amphibians.

According to&nbsp;Susan Evans, another co-author of the study and a professor of vertebrate morphology and palaeontology at University College London,&nbsp;“If the earliest albanerpetontids also had ballistic tongues, the feature has been around for longer than the earliest chameleons, which likely date back to 120m years ago.”

Fossils of albanerpetontids have been known since the mid-19th century&nbsp;and for over a century were interpreted as belonging to salamanders.

Albanerpetontids are of interest in their own right because they were a moderately successful clade that contained at least three genera and a dozen species, with a known temporal range of about 160 million years and a geographic distribution that encompassed Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa.

Scientists have uncovered the oldest evidence of a 'slingshot' tongue in 99 million-year-old amphibians. Albanerpetontids, known for their ''ballistic tongues'', are predators are an extinct clade of Middle Jurassic-Pliocene and primarily Laurasian amphibians.

Scientists have uncovered the oldest evidence of a 'slingshot' tongue in 99 million-year-old amphibians. Albanerpetontids, known for their ''ballistic tongues'', are predators are an extinct clade of Middle Jurassic-Pliocene and primarily Laurasian amphibians. Researchers at the Florida Museum of Natural History believe that their findings, published in the journal Science, redefine how tiny animals are fed. Albanerpetontids are characterised by numerous osteological features, including fused frontals; an interdigitating intermandibular joint; nonpedicellate marginal teeth tipped with tricuspid, chisel-shaped crowns; and modified "cervical" vertebrae that superficially resemble the atlas-axis complex in mammals. “This discovery adds a super-cool piece to the puzzle of this obscure group of weird little animals. Knowing they had this ballistic tongue gives us a whole new understanding of this entire lineage,” said Edward Stanley, a co-author of the study and the director of the Florida Museum of Natural History’s digital discovery and dissemination laboratory. Amphibians have three distinct lineages: frogs, salamanders, and limbless caecilians. Researchers believe albanerpetontids, which date back to 165 million years may be the fourth lineage of amphibians. According to Susan Evans, another co-author of the study and a professor of vertebrate morphology and palaeontology at University College London, “If the earliest albanerpetontids also had ballistic tongues, the feature has been around for longer than the earliest chameleons, which likely date back to 120m years ago.” Fossils of albanerpetontids have been known since the mid-19th century and for over a century were interpreted as belonging to salamanders. Albanerpetontids are of interest in their own right because they were a moderately successful clade that contained at least three genera and a dozen species, with a known temporal range of about 160 million years and a geographic distribution that encompassed Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa.

Scientists uncover oldest evidence of 'slingshot' tongue

Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei has appealed against Sweden's decision to ban the company&nbsp;from 5G networks, the Swedish telecoms regulator PTS said on Friday.

"What happens now is we will send the appeal to the administrative court of Stockholm. After that, they will handle this case," a PTS spokesman said.

Sweden last month banned&nbsp;Huawei and peer ZTE from its 5G network, joining other European nations that have restricted the role of Chinese suppliers on security grounds.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/after-united-kingdom-sweden-bans-huawei-from-upcoming-5g-networks-336623">After United Kingdom, Sweden bans Huawei from upcoming 5G networks</a>

The ban came&nbsp;in line with new legislation that entered into force in January 2020, following an examination by the Swedish armed forces and security service "to ensure that the use of radio equipment in these bands does not cause harm to Sweden's security," the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority said in a statement.

"We think the decision that has been taken is not good for customers nor for Sweden in general," Kenneth Fredriksen, Huawei's Executive Vice President, Central East Europe, and Nordic Region said.

"We, therefore, want a Swedish court to look at if the decision has been taken through a proper process and according to the law."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-warns-swedish-firms-of-tit-for-tat-action-after-huawei-ban-336962">China warns Swedish firms of tit-for-tat action after Huawei ban</a>

China's foreign ministry said it was "strongly dissatisfied" with Sweden's decision, accusing the Swedish government of "blatantly suppressing Chinese telecom companies and politicising normal economic cooperation."

Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian urged Sweden to "correct its wrong decision" to avoid a "negative impact on China-Sweden economic and trade cooperation, and on the operations of Swedish companies in China."

European governments have been tightening controls on Chinese companies building 5G networks following diplomatic pressure from Washington, which alleges Huawei equipment could be used by Beijing for spying. Huawei has repeatedly denied being a national security risk.

PTS has given companies taking part in 5G spectrum auctions until January&nbsp;1, 2025 to remove Huawei and ZTE equipment from their existing infrastructure and core functions.

The auctions are expected to start next week and to benefit Huawei's Nordic rivals, Nokia and Ericsson.

Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei has appealed against Sweden's decision to ban the company from 5G networks, the Swedish telecoms regulator PTS said on Friday.

Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei has appealed against Sweden's decision to ban the company from 5G networks, the Swedish telecoms regulator PTS said on Friday. "What happens now is we will send the appeal to the administrative court of Stockholm. After that, they will handle this case," a PTS spokesman said. Sweden last month banned Huawei and peer ZTE from its 5G network, joining other European nations that have restricted the role of Chinese suppliers on security grounds. Also read: After United Kingdom, Sweden bans Huawei from upcoming 5G networks The ban came in line with new legislation that entered into force in January 2020, following an examination by the Swedish armed forces and security service "to ensure that the use of radio equipment in these bands does not cause harm to Sweden's security," the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority said in a statement. "We think the decision that has been taken is not good for customers nor for Sweden in general," Kenneth Fredriksen, Huawei's Executive Vice President, Central East Europe, and Nordic Region said. "We, therefore, want a Swedish court to look at if the decision has been taken through a proper process and according to the law." Also read: China warns Swedish firms of tit-for-tat action after Huawei ban China's foreign ministry said it was "strongly dissatisfied" with Sweden's decision, accusing the Swedish government of "blatantly suppressing Chinese telecom companies and politicising normal economic cooperation." Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian urged Sweden to "correct its wrong decision" to avoid a "negative impact on China-Sweden economic and trade cooperation, and on the operations of Swedish companies in China." European governments have been tightening controls on Chinese companies building 5G networks following diplomatic pressure from Washington, which alleges Huawei equipment could be used by Beijing for spying. Huawei has repeatedly denied being a national security risk. PTS has given companies taking part in 5G spectrum auctions until January 1, 2025 to remove Huawei and ZTE equipment from their existing infrastructure and core functions. The auctions are expected to start next week and to benefit Huawei's Nordic rivals, Nokia and Ericsson.

Huawei appeals against Sweden's ban on 5G network ban

With just a few hours to go for the result of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/us-election">US election</a> 2020 to be announced, there is a possibility that the result of the presidential race between President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> and his Democratic rival <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a> could end up in a tie.

As voters await the result of the final battle between Trump and Biden, questions have been raised about the possibility of a draw in the US election 2020.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-how-are-votes-counted-in-the-presidential-election-335422" hreflang="en">US election 2020: How are votes counted in the presidential election?</a>

One flaw of the electoral college system is that it could produce a 269-269 tie in the US election.

While there are 538 electoral votes up for grabs, a draw is possible for 269 each, although very unlikely.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-donald-trump-criticises-surprise-ballot-dumps-for-lagging-behind-joe-biden-340569" hreflang="en">Trump criticises 'surprise ballot dumps' for lagging behind Joe Biden</a>

However, if that occurs, a newly elected House of Representatives would decide the fate of the presidency on January&nbsp;6, with each state's votes determined by a delegation, as required by the 12th Amendment of the US&nbsp;Constitution.

Meanwhile, the Senate would choose the vice-president, with all 100 senators having a vote.

Currently, Republicans control 26 state delegations, while Democrats control 22. Pennsylvania is tied between Democratic and Republican members. Michigan has seven Democrats, six Republicans, and one independent.

The composition of the House will change on November&nbsp;3, when all 435 House seats are up for grabs.

Can they go to court?

Yes, both presidential candidates have the right to go to the Supreme Court.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/us-election">US election</a>&nbsp;was plunged into chaos&nbsp;as President Donald Trump prematurely declared victory and sought Supreme Court intervention to stop vote-counting, even as his Democratic rival Joe Biden voiced confidence in his own chances.

Current position

As it stands, Biden has won 238 electoral votes and Trump a maximum of 213, based on the states they've so far won.

US media outlets have projected wins for the Republican incumbent in 23 states including big prizes Florida and Texas, as well as Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio -- all states he won in 2016.

Biden has captured 20 states including his home state Delaware and big prizes California and New York, as well as the US capital. The former vice president has flipped one state won by Trump in 2016 -- Arizona, in the southwest.

A tie has not been seen in modern times but the process was implemented in the 1800s, including in the election of 1800 between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr.

With just a few hours to go for the result of the US election 2020 to be announced, there is a possibility that the result of the presidential race between President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Joe Biden could end up in a tie.

With just a few hours to go for the result of the US election 2020 to be announced, there is a possibility that the result of the presidential race between President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Joe Biden could end up in a tie. As voters await the result of the final battle between Trump and Biden, questions have been raised about the possibility of a draw in the US election 2020. Also read| US election 2020: How are votes counted in the presidential election? One flaw of the electoral college system is that it could produce a 269-269 tie in the US election. While there are 538 electoral votes up for grabs, a draw is possible for 269 each, although very unlikely. Also read: Trump criticises 'surprise ballot dumps' for lagging behind Joe Biden However, if that occurs, a newly elected House of Representatives would decide the fate of the presidency on January 6, with each state's votes determined by a delegation, as required by the 12th Amendment of the US Constitution. Meanwhile, the Senate would choose the vice-president, with all 100 senators having a vote. Currently, Republicans control 26 state delegations, while Democrats control 22. Pennsylvania is tied between Democratic and Republican members. Michigan has seven Democrats, six Republicans, and one independent. The composition of the House will change on November 3, when all 435 House seats are up for grabs. Can they go to court? Yes, both presidential candidates have the right to go to the Supreme Court. The US election was plunged into chaos as President Donald Trump prematurely declared victory and sought Supreme Court intervention to stop vote-counting, even as his Democratic rival Joe Biden voiced confidence in his own chances. Current position As it stands, Biden has won 238 electoral votes and Trump a maximum of 213, based on the states they've so far won. US media outlets have projected wins for the Republican incumbent in 23 states including big prizes Florida and Texas, as well as Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio -- all states he won in 2016. Biden has captured 20 states including his home state Delaware and big prizes California and New York, as well as the US capital. The former vice president has flipped one state won by Trump in 2016 -- Arizona, in the southwest. A tie has not been seen in modern times but the process was implemented in the 1800s, including in the election of 1800 between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr.

US election 2020: What happens if the result is a tie

Interior Ministry officials of&nbsp;Austria have confirmed that&nbsp;ll 15 people arrested in connection with a deadly rampage in Vienna on Monday are part of the radical Islamist scene and just under half have criminal convictions, some for terrorism offences.

A 20-year-old native of the city, who had previously been jailed for trying to join Islamic State in Syria, was shot dead by police within nine minutes of opening fire on bystanders and bars on Monday. He killed four people.

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"We are dealing with a violent perpetrator who was evidently intensely involved in the network of political Islam, of sympathisers, who took on their ideology," Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said.

The 15 are being held on suspicion of belonging to a terrorist organisation. Seven of them have criminal convictions, Of those, four are for terrorism-related offences, Director General for Public Security Franz Ruf said.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vienna-terror-attack-austria-was-warned-about-the-attacker-says-minister-340568" hreflang="en">Vienna terror attack: Austria was warned about the attacker, says minister</a>

Of those four, two involved acts of violence like assault and two were for attempted so-called honour killings, Ruf said, adding: "One can see that all are to be linked to the radical Islamist milieu".

Switzerland has also arrested two men in connection with the attack, and Austria was in close contact with another unspecified country in its investigation, Nehammer said.

Separately, German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer told parliament there was a connection between the attack and people in Germany who are "monitored around the clock".

Interior Ministry officials of Austria have confirmed that ll 15 people arrested in connection with a deadly rampage in Vienna on Monday are part of the radical Islamist scene and just under half have criminal convictions, some for terrorism offences.

Interior Ministry officials of Austria have confirmed that ll 15 people arrested in connection with a deadly rampage in Vienna on Monday are part of the radical Islamist scene and just under half have criminal convictions, some for terrorism offences. A 20-year-old native of the city, who had previously been jailed for trying to join Islamic State in Syria, was shot dead by police within nine minutes of opening fire on bystanders and bars on Monday. He killed four people. "We are dealing with a violent perpetrator who was evidently intensely involved in the network of political Islam, of sympathisers, who took on their ideology," Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said. The 15 are being held on suspicion of belonging to a terrorist organisation. Seven of them have criminal convictions, Of those, four are for terrorism-related offences, Director General for Public Security Franz Ruf said. Also read| Vienna terror attack: Austria was warned about the attacker, says minister Of those four, two involved acts of violence like assault and two were for attempted so-called honour killings, Ruf said, adding: "One can see that all are to be linked to the radical Islamist milieu". Switzerland has also arrested two men in connection with the attack, and Austria was in close contact with another unspecified country in its investigation, Nehammer said. Separately, German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer told parliament there was a connection between the attack and people in Germany who are "monitored around the clock".

Vienna terror attack: Austria confirms that all suspects arrested are part of 'radical Islamist scene'

Storm Eta unleashed torrential rains and catastrophic flooding in Central America, killing at least eight in the region, turning city streets into waist-high water channels and stranding scores of people.

Families waded through flooded streets of the northern Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, while cars sat almost submerged in parts of the central Guatemalan city of San Pedro Carcha, television footage, and images posted on social media showed.

"The situation is serious, it's shocking and needs to be dealt with professionally, fast," Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez told HCH television, pointing to reports of people stranded in remote areas or stuck on roofs of flooded homes.

Damage and destruction had spread across the "vast majority" of the country and speedboats and helicopters would be sent to rescue people in inaccessible areas, Hernandez said.

By Thursday morning, authorities confirmed there had been at least six deaths, four of them in Guatemala and two in Honduras. Media in Nicaragua also reported two miners had died in a mudslide. Authorities have not commented on that report.

The fate of dozens of fisherman stranded off Honduras on Tuesday was still uncertain.

One of the most powerful storms to sweep down on Central America in years, Eta struck Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane packing winds of 150 miles per hour (241 kph) before weakening as it moved inland and into neighboring Honduras.

By Thursday morning, Eta was a tropical depression moving north-west through Honduras, at 9 miles per hour (14 kph), the US&nbsp;National Hurricane Center said. Heavy rains continued. Its maximum winds had fallen to 30 mph (48 kph).

Across swathes of Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica, high winds and heavy rain have damaged homes, roads and bridges, forcing thousands to take cover in shelters.

One unidentified woman broadcast on Honduran television made a desperate plea for help in a neighborhood of La Lima, a municipality on the southeastern flank of San Pedro Sula.

"I've got five children on the roof of my house and nobody's helping me to get them down," she said.

Eta is forecast to return to sea and regain momentum as a tropical storm, reaching Cuba and southern Florida this weekend, the US&nbsp;National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

Storm Eta unleashed torrential rains and catastrophic flooding in Central America, killing at least eight in the region, turning city streets into waist-high water channels and stranding scores of people.

Storm Eta unleashed torrential rains and catastrophic flooding in Central America, killing at least eight in the region, turning city streets into waist-high water channels and stranding scores of people. Families waded through flooded streets of the northern Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, while cars sat almost submerged in parts of the central Guatemalan city of San Pedro Carcha, television footage, and images posted on social media showed. "The situation is serious, it's shocking and needs to be dealt with professionally, fast," Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez told HCH television, pointing to reports of people stranded in remote areas or stuck on roofs of flooded homes. Damage and destruction had spread across the "vast majority" of the country and speedboats and helicopters would be sent to rescue people in inaccessible areas, Hernandez said. By Thursday morning, authorities confirmed there had been at least six deaths, four of them in Guatemala and two in Honduras. Media in Nicaragua also reported two miners had died in a mudslide. Authorities have not commented on that report. The fate of dozens of fisherman stranded off Honduras on Tuesday was still uncertain. One of the most powerful storms to sweep down on Central America in years, Eta struck Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane packing winds of 150 miles per hour (241 kph) before weakening as it moved inland and into neighboring Honduras. By Thursday morning, Eta was a tropical depression moving north-west through Honduras, at 9 miles per hour (14 kph), the US National Hurricane Center said. Heavy rains continued. Its maximum winds had fallen to 30 mph (48 kph). Across swathes of Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica, high winds and heavy rain have damaged homes, roads and bridges, forcing thousands to take cover in shelters. One unidentified woman broadcast on Honduran television made a desperate plea for help in a neighborhood of La Lima, a municipality on the southeastern flank of San Pedro Sula. "I've got five children on the roof of my house and nobody's helping me to get them down," she said. Eta is forecast to return to sea and regain momentum as a tropical storm, reaching Cuba and southern Florida this weekend, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

Storm Eta wreaks 'shocking' devastation in Central America, 8 dead

With only a few hours for the much-anticipated result of the US election 2020 to be declared, US President Donald Trump's campaign has won a&nbsp;court ruling to gain access to Philadelphia vote counting.

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After Trump declared he was ready to go to the US Supreme Court to dispute the vote counting, his campaign announced a recount demand in Wisconsin and lawsuits in Michigan and Pennsylvania, three states critical to winning the presidency.

US media networks have called Michigan and Wisconsin for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, while Pennsylvania remains a tossup.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-set-to-win-michigan-battleground-state-exit-poll-340656" hreflang="en">Biden set to win Michigan battleground state: Exit poll</a>

Trump's campaign&nbsp;sued over changes to voter identification, made to adjust to the pandemic, saying it violated the election code.

However,&nbsp;the counting was live-streamed.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-trump-demands-vote-count-to-stop-in-battleground-states-counteveryvote-trends-340625" hreflang="en">As Trump demands vote count to stop in battleground states, #CountEveryVote trends</a>

Trump's campaign said it&nbsp;expected to launch additional legal action in Pennsylvania and Nevada and predicted that the Republican incumbent would emerge victorious in the US&nbsp;election by as early as Friday evening.

Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien told reporters on a conference call that Trump was "alive and well" with regard to the presidential race.

Campaign adviser Jason Miller said he expected legal action in Pennsylvania to ensure visibility on previous ballots that have been counted in that state.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-result-2020-trumps-campaign-files-lawsuit-in-georgia-asking-to-pause-vote-count-340622" hreflang="en">US Election result 2020: Trump's campaign files lawsuit in Georgia asking to pause vote count</a>

Late Wednesday the Trump campaign filed suit in a fourth battleground, Georgia, as the president's lead there shrank to less than a percentage point.

Trump's behavior raised the specter of the election ultimately being decided, as in 2000, by a Supreme Court ruling on how states can tally votes.

&nbsp;

With only a few hours for the much-anticipated result of the US election 2020 to be declared, US President Donald Trump's campaign has won a court ruling to gain access to Philadelphia vote counting.

With only a few hours for the much-anticipated result of the US election 2020 to be declared, US President Donald Trump's campaign has won a court ruling to gain access to Philadelphia vote counting. Big legal win in Pennsylvania! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2020 × After Trump declared he was ready to go to the US Supreme Court to dispute the vote counting, his campaign announced a recount demand in Wisconsin and lawsuits in Michigan and Pennsylvania, three states critical to winning the presidency. US media networks have called Michigan and Wisconsin for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, while Pennsylvania remains a tossup. Also read: Biden set to win Michigan battleground state: Exit poll Trump's campaign sued over changes to voter identification, made to adjust to the pandemic, saying it violated the election code. However, the counting was live-streamed. Also read: As Trump demands vote count to stop in battleground states, #CountEveryVote trends Trump's campaign said it expected to launch additional legal action in Pennsylvania and Nevada and predicted that the Republican incumbent would emerge victorious in the US election by as early as Friday evening. Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien told reporters on a conference call that Trump was "alive and well" with regard to the presidential race. Campaign adviser Jason Miller said he expected legal action in Pennsylvania to ensure visibility on previous ballots that have been counted in that state. Also read| US Election result 2020: Trump's campaign files lawsuit in Georgia asking to pause vote count Late Wednesday the Trump campaign filed suit in a fourth battleground, Georgia, as the president's lead there shrank to less than a percentage point. Trump's behavior raised the specter of the election ultimately being decided, as in 2000, by a Supreme Court ruling on how states can tally votes.

US election 2020: Trump campaign wins court ruling to gain access to Philadelphia vote counting

China's last-minute abandonment of&nbsp;Ant&nbsp;Group's record-breaking IPO stems from an intensifying battle for the soul of the nation's financial system that the fintech giant and its charismatic leader Jack Ma helped to ignite.

Global markets were stunned Tuesday when&nbsp;Ant's record-breaking $34 billion IPO was abruptly shelved, frustrating investors eager for a piece of the fast-growing company.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/china-envisions-a-new-hong-kong-firmly-under-its-control-340596" hreflang="en">China envisions a new Hong Kong, firmly under its control</a>

The last-minute ambush by China's regulators was seen by analysts and investors as an attempt to cut&nbsp;Ant&nbsp;founder Jack Ma and his financial services empire down to size but they expected it to eventually list in Hong Kong and Shanghai as planned.&nbsp;

The debacle has prompted head-scratching over how the IPO got so close,&nbsp;shares were to begin trading Thursday,&nbsp;only to collapse at the finish line.

Analysts say it was the culmination of an escalating rivalry between Ma,&nbsp;Ant's co-founder and the billionaire founder of Alibaba, and a state-dominated Chinese banking and regulatory system controlled by the Communist Party that has become uncomfortable with&nbsp;Ant's growing power.

Ant&nbsp;Group&nbsp;made its name via its main product Alipay, the online payments platform, and super-app that is now deeply embedded in China's economy.

But the company has also expanded into offering loans, credit, investments, and insurance to hundreds of millions of consumers and small businesses, spurring fear and jealously in a wider banking system geared more for supporting state policy and large corporations.

As global demand for the dual Hong Kong-Shanghai listing pushed the IPO toward record valuations -- potentially handing Ma and&nbsp;Ant&nbsp;Group&nbsp;even more funding, legitimacy and clout -- Chinese regulators acted.

In recent weeks, new minimum capital requirements and other restrictions on online lending were imposed to guard against "systemic risk", plugging some of the regulatory gaps that&nbsp;Ant&nbsp;Group&nbsp;had stepped through, analysts said.

"Given the magnitude of&nbsp;Ant&nbsp;Group's operations, the regulators might have felt that they did not have an appropriate handle on the flow of money being processed through&nbsp;Ant&nbsp;Group&nbsp;products," said Philippe Espinasse, a capital markets consultant and former investment banker.

Ant&nbsp;has been trying to present itself as a technology firm rather than a financial giant&nbsp;and its valuation up until now has benefited from its tech focus.

But Chinese regulators have become uncomfortable with parts of its sprawling empire - namely its lucrative online lending business which contributed almost 40% of its overall revenue in the first half of the year.

Under draft rules published on Monday, online lenders in China would have to stump up more of their own capital for loans, which is expected to hurt&nbsp;Ant's business model.&nbsp;Ant's co-lending subsidiaries Huabei and Jiebei would also no longer be allowed to sell wealth management products, analysts said.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said on Wednesday that recent regulatory changes could have a "major impact" on&nbsp;Ant's business structure and profit model.

It said suspending the initial public offering (IPO) was a responsible move both for investors and markets.

Ma sounds off&nbsp;

The moves angered Ma, 56, who had stood to become Asia's richest man via the IPO.

He uncharacteristically lashed out in a speech two weeks ago, saying capital requirements were outdated and that China lacked a true "financial ecosystem".&nbsp;

Ma likened Chinese banks to "pawn shops" for requiring loan collateral and implied that they underserved smaller, younger borrowers.

Chinese public figures rarely call out the government, and the reaction was swift.

A series of commentaries in government media mouthpieces pushed back against Ma, warning of extensive risks from online lenders like&nbsp;Ant&nbsp;Group&nbsp;and vowing tighter supervision.

Things came to a head Monday when Ma and two other&nbsp;Ant&nbsp;executives were summoned to a highly unusual meeting with financial regulators.&nbsp;

Exact details of the talks remain unknown, but the next day the Shanghai exchange pulled the IPO.

Ma's critiques "didn't sit well with regulators, many of whom have been grappling with the risks of micro-lending", said Alex Capri, a research fellow at Hinrich Foundation.

"Ant&nbsp;has grown too large and too influential as a financial institution in China, something that will not be tolerated by the (ruling Communist Party)," Capri said.

Experts say a robust online lending sector is needed to meet the needs of ordinary consumers but that China has reason to fear a borrowing binge.

Bad debt in the country's chaotic financial system is a perennial risk, and regulators launched a crackdown on a growing nationwide credit addiction three years ago owing to fears of a financial meltdown.

'Awful' timing

But&nbsp;Ant&nbsp;now boasts around 500 million users of its loan and credit products, which allow consumers to take out cash loans or access revolving credit lines.

This has stoked fears of a younger digital generation with little risk awareness falling into a life-long debt spiral, said Zhang Gang, a strategist with Central China Securities.

"Because of&nbsp;Ant's scale and influence, they may dominate private lending in the future and ... (acquire) private lending companies," said Zhang, who feels tighter regulations are badly needed.

The IPO is expected to eventually go ahead after&nbsp;Ant&nbsp;complies with the new regulatory requirements, which it has vowed to do, although analysts expect the size and valuation to be lower in light of the curbs on&nbsp;Ant's businesses.

But the "awful" timing of the IPO's withdrawal could dent China's hopes of being viewed as a financial and technology force to rival the United States, said Espinasse.

Beijing is pushing its national tech champions to list on China's stock exchanges rather than in the US, partly because of an escalating bilateral rivalry.

"This potentially has significant implications, not just for homecoming listings but also for listings of Chinese tech companies more generally," Espinasse said.&nbsp;

"Ultimately, financial markets are all about trust and transparency and it looks like we don’t have that right now."

China's last-minute abandonment of Ant Group's record-breaking IPO stems from an intensifying battle for the soul of the nation's financial system that the fintech giant and its charismatic leader Jack Ma helped to ignite.

China's last-minute abandonment of Ant Group's record-breaking IPO stems from an intensifying battle for the soul of the nation's financial system that the fintech giant and its charismatic leader Jack Ma helped to ignite. Global markets were stunned Tuesday when Ant's record-breaking $34 billion IPO was abruptly shelved, frustrating investors eager for a piece of the fast-growing company. Also read: China envisions a new Hong Kong, firmly under its control The last-minute ambush by China's regulators was seen by analysts and investors as an attempt to cut Ant founder Jack Ma and his financial services empire down to size but they expected it to eventually list in Hong Kong and Shanghai as planned. The debacle has prompted head-scratching over how the IPO got so close, shares were to begin trading Thursday, only to collapse at the finish line. Analysts say it was the culmination of an escalating rivalry between Ma, Ant's co-founder and the billionaire founder of Alibaba, and a state-dominated Chinese banking and regulatory system controlled by the Communist Party that has become uncomfortable with Ant's growing power. Ant Group made its name via its main product Alipay, the online payments platform, and super-app that is now deeply embedded in China's economy. But the company has also expanded into offering loans, credit, investments, and insurance to hundreds of millions of consumers and small businesses, spurring fear and jealously in a wider banking system geared more for supporting state policy and large corporations. As global demand for the dual Hong Kong-Shanghai listing pushed the IPO toward record valuations -- potentially handing Ma and Ant Group even more funding, legitimacy and clout -- Chinese regulators acted. In recent weeks, new minimum capital requirements and other restrictions on online lending were imposed to guard against "systemic risk", plugging some of the regulatory gaps that Ant Group had stepped through, analysts said. "Given the magnitude of Ant Group's operations, the regulators might have felt that they did not have an appropriate handle on the flow of money being processed through Ant Group products," said Philippe Espinasse, a capital markets consultant and former investment banker. Ant has been trying to present itself as a technology firm rather than a financial giant and its valuation up until now has benefited from its tech focus. But Chinese regulators have become uncomfortable with parts of its sprawling empire - namely its lucrative online lending business which contributed almost 40% of its overall revenue in the first half of the year. Under draft rules published on Monday, online lenders in China would have to stump up more of their own capital for loans, which is expected to hurt Ant's business model. Ant's co-lending subsidiaries Huabei and Jiebei would also no longer be allowed to sell wealth management products, analysts said. The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said on Wednesday that recent regulatory changes could have a "major impact" on Ant's business structure and profit model. It said suspending the initial public offering (IPO) was a responsible move both for investors and markets. Ma sounds off The moves angered Ma, 56, who had stood to become Asia's richest man via the IPO. He uncharacteristically lashed out in a speech two weeks ago, saying capital requirements were outdated and that China lacked a true "financial ecosystem". Ma likened Chinese banks to "pawn shops" for requiring loan collateral and implied that they underserved smaller, younger borrowers. Chinese public figures rarely call out the government, and the reaction was swift. A series of commentaries in government media mouthpieces pushed back against Ma, warning of extensive risks from online lenders like Ant Group and vowing tighter supervision. Things came to a head Monday when Ma and two other Ant executives were summoned to a highly unusual meeting with financial regulators. Exact details of the talks remain unknown, but the next day the Shanghai exchange pulled the IPO. Ma's critiques "didn't sit well with regulators, many of whom have been grappling with the risks of micro-lending", said Alex Capri, a research fellow at Hinrich Foundation. "Ant has grown too large and too influential as a financial institution in China, something that will not be tolerated by the (ruling Communist Party)," Capri said. Experts say a robust online lending sector is needed to meet the needs of ordinary consumers but that China has reason to fear a borrowing binge. Bad debt in the country's chaotic financial system is a perennial risk, and regulators launched a crackdown on a growing nationwide credit addiction three years ago owing to fears of a financial meltdown. 'Awful' timing But Ant now boasts around 500 million users of its loan and credit products, which allow consumers to take out cash loans or access revolving credit lines. This has stoked fears of a younger digital generation with little risk awareness falling into a life-long debt spiral, said Zhang Gang, a strategist with Central China Securities. "Because of Ant's scale and influence, they may dominate private lending in the future and ... (acquire) private lending companies," said Zhang, who feels tighter regulations are badly needed. The IPO is expected to eventually go ahead after Ant complies with the new regulatory requirements, which it has vowed to do, although analysts expect the size and valuation to be lower in light of the curbs on Ant's businesses. But the "awful" timing of the IPO's withdrawal could dent China's hopes of being viewed as a financial and technology force to rival the United States, said Espinasse. Beijing is pushing its national tech champions to list on China's stock exchanges rather than in the US, partly because of an escalating bilateral rivalry. "This potentially has significant implications, not just for homecoming listings but also for listings of Chinese tech companies more generally," Espinasse said. "Ultimately, financial markets are all about trust and transparency and it looks like we don’t have that right now."

Ant Group's IPO fiasco culmination of escalating rivalry between Jack Ma and China's Communist Party

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