China and Sri Lanka plan to restart discussions on a free trade agreement, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said on Friday, following a high-level meeting between the two countries.

Seen as close to Beijing, Rajapaksa has appointed several members of his family to top cabinet positions since his party won a commanding majority in August's parliamentary elections,&nbsp;including his brother Mahinda, who previously also served as president.

Negotiations on a free trade agreement were last held in 2017.

China has been making increasing inroads into South Asia with its Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at financing critical infrastructure in dozens of countries across the world.

In 2017, Sri Lanka signed over control of a Chinese-financed port and land around it to Beijing after incurring heavy losses, to the alarm of the United States and regional power India.

On Friday, Rajapaksa rejected accusations that China wanted to trap Sri Lanka into mounting debt with the port deal.

"Many geo-political analysis interprets this project as a 'debt trap' set up by China to gain control over Sri Lankan affairs," Rajapaksa told the Chinese delegation, led by Yang Jiechi, China's top diplomat.

"I want to prove that it is not the case and that this large-scale project will help improve the living standards of the people," he added.

The countries also agreed to deepen ties in the agriculture, education, tourism, water supply and healthcare sectors, according to a summary of the meeting released by Rajapaksa's office.

The Chinese visit comes as Sri Lanka faces mounting worries over the state of its finances, with rating agencies warning that a coronavirus-induced shock will significantly weaken its "already fragile funding and external positions".

Rajapaksa said on Friday that the country's trade deficit with China is too high and called on Beijing to increase the volume of goods purchased from Sri Lanka to bring it down.

China and Sri Lanka plan to restart discussions on a free trade agreement, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said on Friday, following a high-level meeting between the two countries.

China and Sri Lanka plan to restart discussions on a free trade agreement, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said on Friday, following a high-level meeting between the two countries. Seen as close to Beijing, Rajapaksa has appointed several members of his family to top cabinet positions since his party won a commanding majority in August's parliamentary elections, including his brother Mahinda, who previously also served as president. Negotiations on a free trade agreement were last held in 2017. China has been making increasing inroads into South Asia with its Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at financing critical infrastructure in dozens of countries across the world. In 2017, Sri Lanka signed over control of a Chinese-financed port and land around it to Beijing after incurring heavy losses, to the alarm of the United States and regional power India. On Friday, Rajapaksa rejected accusations that China wanted to trap Sri Lanka into mounting debt with the port deal. "Many geo-political analysis interprets this project as a 'debt trap' set up by China to gain control over Sri Lankan affairs," Rajapaksa told the Chinese delegation, led by Yang Jiechi, China's top diplomat. "I want to prove that it is not the case and that this large-scale project will help improve the living standards of the people," he added. The countries also agreed to deepen ties in the agriculture, education, tourism, water supply and healthcare sectors, according to a summary of the meeting released by Rajapaksa's office. The Chinese visit comes as Sri Lanka faces mounting worries over the state of its finances, with rating agencies warning that a coronavirus-induced shock will significantly weaken its "already fragile funding and external positions". Rajapaksa said on Friday that the country's trade deficit with China is too high and called on Beijing to increase the volume of goods purchased from Sri Lanka to bring it down.

Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa draws country closer to China after summit

Google&nbsp;must open talks with publishers in France about paying to use their content, an appeals court confirmed on Thursday, paving the way for an industry-wide deal in the country&nbsp;in a long-running dispute about revenues from online news.

The ruling came as the US internet giant announced it was close to a deal on compensating French media groups for news shown in&nbsp;Google&nbsp;search results.

Such a deal would represent a climbdown by&nbsp;Google, which has so far refused to comply with new EU rules giving more copyright protection to media firms for news displayed on search engines and social media.

France was the first European country to ratify the law, which&nbsp;could act as a lifeline to newspaper groups grappling with shrinking print sales.

In April, the French competition authority ordered&nbsp;Google&nbsp;to negotiate with the press in good faith,&nbsp;a ruling it appealed, accusing the authority of overstepping its jurisdiction.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/us-supreme-court-puzzled-over-google-oracle-high-tech-copyright-clash-333473" hreflang="en">US Supreme Court puzzled over Google, Oracle high tech copyright clash</a>

Google&nbsp;argues it should not have to pay to display items produced by news companies&nbsp;since they benefit by receiving millions of visits to their websites.

The French court's decision differs from last week's pledge by&nbsp;Google&nbsp;to pay $1 billion to publishers globally over the next three years for their news, as the French arrangement involves finding a sustainable methodology to remunerate publishers and news agencies.

Google's vehicle to remunerate news publishers, dubbed&nbsp;Google&nbsp;News Showcase, is set to launch in Germany, where it has signed up German newspapers including Der Spiegel, Stern, Die Zeit, and in Brazil with Folha de S.Paulo, Band and Infobae.

The French court's ruling comes hours after&nbsp;Google, the world's biggest search engine, said it was set to reach with a deal to pay French publishers for their news, the latest move to placate media groups and head off regulators siding with publishers.

"Our priority remains to reach an agreement with the French publishers and press agencies,"&nbsp;Google&nbsp;said in a statement.

"We appealed to get legal clarity on some parts of the order, and we will now review the decision of the Paris court of appeal."

The ruling confirms a decision in April by France's competition authority, which ordered&nbsp;Google&nbsp;to negotiate with publishers and news agencies "the remuneration due to them for any re-use of protected content".

Under the same decision, the antitrust regulator ordered&nbsp;Google&nbsp;to open talks within three months of being asked to do so by publishers.

Google must open talks with publishers in France about paying to use their content, an appeals court confirmed on Thursday, paving the way for an industry-wide deal in the country in a long-running dispute about revenues from online news.

Google must open talks with publishers in France about paying to use their content, an appeals court confirmed on Thursday, paving the way for an industry-wide deal in the country in a long-running dispute about revenues from online news. The ruling came as the US internet giant announced it was close to a deal on compensating French media groups for news shown in Google search results. Such a deal would represent a climbdown by Google, which has so far refused to comply with new EU rules giving more copyright protection to media firms for news displayed on search engines and social media. France was the first European country to ratify the law, which could act as a lifeline to newspaper groups grappling with shrinking print sales. In April, the French competition authority ordered Google to negotiate with the press in good faith, a ruling it appealed, accusing the authority of overstepping its jurisdiction. Also read: US Supreme Court puzzled over Google, Oracle high tech copyright clash Google argues it should not have to pay to display items produced by news companies since they benefit by receiving millions of visits to their websites. The French court's decision differs from last week's pledge by Google to pay $1 billion to publishers globally over the next three years for their news, as the French arrangement involves finding a sustainable methodology to remunerate publishers and news agencies. Google's vehicle to remunerate news publishers, dubbed Google News Showcase, is set to launch in Germany, where it has signed up German newspapers including Der Spiegel, Stern, Die Zeit, and in Brazil with Folha de S.Paulo, Band and Infobae. The French court's ruling comes hours after Google, the world's biggest search engine, said it was set to reach with a deal to pay French publishers for their news, the latest move to placate media groups and head off regulators siding with publishers. "Our priority remains to reach an agreement with the French publishers and press agencies," Google said in a statement. "We appealed to get legal clarity on some parts of the order, and we will now review the decision of the Paris court of appeal." The ruling confirms a decision in April by France's competition authority, which ordered Google to negotiate with publishers and news agencies "the remuneration due to them for any re-use of protected content". Under the same decision, the antitrust regulator ordered Google to open talks within three months of being asked to do so by publishers.

Now, French court asks Google to pay publishers for their content

Action Fraud, the UK centre for reporting cybercrime and fraud, said on Thursday that between August 2019 and August 2020, losses reported by victims amounted to $86,242,444.

Millions of pounds have been lost to ‘romance fraud’ when people confined to spells of isolation during the coronavirus pandemic turn to online dating and end up handing over money after fraudsters gain their trust and ask for help in non-existing emergencies.

From June to August, the centre received more than 600 reports per month for romance fraud, indicating the victims may have met, and begun talking to, romance fraudsters during the lockdown caused by the pandemic.

Diana Fawcett, chief executive of charity Victim Support, said: "Lockdown restrictions meant people could not meet in person for a number of months, which led to many seeking to form new connections online.

Romance fraud, or dating fraud, occurs when people think they have met the perfect partner online. They gain trust over a number of weeks or months and have the victims believe that they are in a loving, caring relationship. Fraudsters may be based anywhere across the globe.

The centre launched a multi-agency campaign throughout October to raise awareness of romance fraud and provide clear and unambiguous protection advice to the public, following a 26 per cent&nbsp;rise in reports in the past year.

Action Fraud, the UK centre for reporting cybercrime and fraud, said on Thursday that between August 2019 and August 2020, losses reported by victims amounted to $86,242,444.

Action Fraud, the UK centre for reporting cybercrime and fraud, said on Thursday that between August 2019 and August 2020, losses reported by victims amounted to $86,242,444. Millions of pounds have been lost to ‘romance fraud’ when people confined to spells of isolation during the coronavirus pandemic turn to online dating and end up handing over money after fraudsters gain their trust and ask for help in non-existing emergencies. From June to August, the centre received more than 600 reports per month for romance fraud, indicating the victims may have met, and begun talking to, romance fraudsters during the lockdown caused by the pandemic. Diana Fawcett, chief executive of charity Victim Support, said: "Lockdown restrictions meant people could not meet in person for a number of months, which led to many seeking to form new connections online. Romance fraud, or dating fraud, occurs when people think they have met the perfect partner online. They gain trust over a number of weeks or months and have the victims believe that they are in a loving, caring relationship. Fraudsters may be based anywhere across the globe. The centre launched a multi-agency campaign throughout October to raise awareness of romance fraud and provide clear and unambiguous protection advice to the public, following a 26 per cent rise in reports in the past year.

Romance fraud on the rise in UK amid coronavirus pandemic

Taiwan's defence minister said on Thursday that the People's Liberation Army has&nbsp;mounted thousands of incursions into the island’s defense zone this year&nbsp;due to which it&nbsp;has exhausted 8 per cent of its defence budget.

Mainland China’s repeated military incursions into Taiwan's air defence zone are meant to drain the island’s air force and establish the PLA as a regular presence in the area.

China, which claims democratic&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;as its own territory, has stepped up its military activity near the island, responding to what it&nbsp;calls "collusion" between&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;and the United States.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-warns-china-against-any-attempt-to-take-taiwan-by-force-333453">US warns China against any attempt to take Taiwan by force</a>

Earlier, the United States&nbsp;national security adviser on Wednesday cautioned China&nbsp;against any attempt to take Taiwan by force.

He reminded China that the United States is required by law to provide&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;with the means to defend itself and pointed out any attempt an ''amphibious landing'' would be problematic due to&nbsp;to the 100-mile (160-km) distance between the countries.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-says-has-spent-almost-900-million-scrambling-against-china-this-year-333087">Taiwan says has spent almost $900 million scrambling against China this year</a>

China has been angered at increased US&nbsp;support for&nbsp;Taiwan, including visits by senior US&nbsp;government officials and ramped up arms sales.

In the past few weeks, Chinese fighter jets have crossed the mid line of the&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;Strait, which normally serves as an unofficial buffer zone, and flown multiple missions into&nbsp;Taiwan's southwestern air defence identification zone.

Speaking at parliament,&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;Defence Minister Yen De-fa said to the air force had scrambled 2,972 times against Chinese aircraft this year at a cost of T$25.5 billion ($886.49 million).

"Recently the pressure has been great. To say otherwise would be deceiving people," Yen said, without giving a comparison figure for last year.

He clarified that a figure of 4,132 air force missions this year, as provided in a ministry parliamentary briefing paper, included training and regular patrol missions.

Yen said that the armed forces would this month carry out their own drills off&nbsp;Taiwan's southwest coast, though they would not be live fire.

Taiwan's armed forces are well-trained and well-equipped but are dwarfed by those of China's, and&nbsp;Taiwan's Defence Ministry has previously acknowledged the strain the repeated Chinese drills were placing on them.

Taiwan&nbsp;is in the process of revamping its fighter fleet.

The United States last year approved an $8 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to&nbsp;Taiwan, a deal that would bring the island's total number of the aircraft to more than 200, the largest F-16 fleet in Asia.

Taiwan's defence minister said on Thursday that the People's Liberation Army has mounted thousands of incursions into the island’s defense zone this year due to which it has exhausted 8 per cent of its defence budget.

Taiwan's defence minister said on Thursday that the People's Liberation Army has mounted thousands of incursions into the island’s defense zone this year due to which it has exhausted 8 per cent of its defence budget. Mainland China’s repeated military incursions into Taiwan's air defence zone are meant to drain the island’s air force and establish the PLA as a regular presence in the area. China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its own territory, has stepped up its military activity near the island, responding to what it calls "collusion" between Taiwan and the United States. Also read: US warns China against any attempt to take Taiwan by force Earlier, the United States national security adviser on Wednesday cautioned China against any attempt to take Taiwan by force. He reminded China that the United States is required by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself and pointed out any attempt an ''amphibious landing'' would be problematic due to to the 100-mile (160-km) distance between the countries. Also read: Taiwan says has spent almost $900 million scrambling against China this year China has been angered at increased US support for Taiwan, including visits by senior US government officials and ramped up arms sales. In the past few weeks, Chinese fighter jets have crossed the mid line of the Taiwan Strait, which normally serves as an unofficial buffer zone, and flown multiple missions into Taiwan's southwestern air defence identification zone. Speaking at parliament, Taiwan Defence Minister Yen De-fa said to the air force had scrambled 2,972 times against Chinese aircraft this year at a cost of T$25.5 billion ($886.49 million). "Recently the pressure has been great. To say otherwise would be deceiving people," Yen said, without giving a comparison figure for last year. He clarified that a figure of 4,132 air force missions this year, as provided in a ministry parliamentary briefing paper, included training and regular patrol missions. Yen said that the armed forces would this month carry out their own drills off Taiwan's southwest coast, though they would not be live fire. Taiwan's armed forces are well-trained and well-equipped but are dwarfed by those of China's, and Taiwan's Defence Ministry has previously acknowledged the strain the repeated Chinese drills were placing on them. Taiwan is in the process of revamping its fighter fleet. The United States last year approved an $8 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, a deal that would bring the island's total number of the aircraft to more than 200, the largest F-16 fleet in Asia.

China is trying to wear out Taiwan's Air Force by incursions, says defence minister

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday offered his best wishes to Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for assuming charge as Kuwait's emir and also to the new crown prince, and expressed confidence that India-Kuwait friendship will be further strengthened.

"Congratulations and best wishes to His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for assuming charge as the Amir of the State of Kuwait. I also congratulate His Highness Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on his taking charge as the Crown Prince," Modi tweeted.

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Congratulations and best wishes to His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for assuming charge as the Amir of the State of Kuwait. I also congratulate His Highness Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on his taking charge as the Crown Prince.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1314562539695472641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2020</a></blockquote>
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He added, "I am confident that the State of Kuwait will continue to play an important global role under their leadership, and the historic India-Kuwait friendship will be further strengthened."

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I am confident that the State of Kuwait will continue to play an important global role under their leadership, and the historic India-Kuwait friendship will be further strengthened.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1314562542442700801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The royal family in Kuwait has moved swiftly to assure a smooth transition of power in the tiny oil-rich nation following the death last week of ruling emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, a unifying figure in the country who deftly navigated the region's stark political and sectarian divides.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday offered his best wishes to Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for assuming charge as Kuwait's emir and also to the new crown prince, and expressed confidence that India-Kuwait friendship will be further strengthened.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday offered his best wishes to Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for assuming charge as Kuwait's emir and also to the new crown prince, and expressed confidence that India-Kuwait friendship will be further strengthened. "Congratulations and best wishes to His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for assuming charge as the Amir of the State of Kuwait. I also congratulate His Highness Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on his taking charge as the Crown Prince," Modi tweeted. Congratulations and best wishes to His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for assuming charge as the Amir of the State of Kuwait. I also congratulate His Highness Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on his taking charge as the Crown Prince. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 9, 2020 × He added, "I am confident that the State of Kuwait will continue to play an important global role under their leadership, and the historic India-Kuwait friendship will be further strengthened." I am confident that the State of Kuwait will continue to play an important global role under their leadership, and the historic India-Kuwait friendship will be further strengthened. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 9, 2020 × The royal family in Kuwait has moved swiftly to assure a smooth transition of power in the tiny oil-rich nation following the death last week of ruling emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, a unifying figure in the country who deftly navigated the region's stark political and sectarian divides.

PM Modi extends best wishes to Kuwait's emir

Indonesian President Joko Widodo defended his flagship job creation law on Friday (October 9) after violent protests erupted earlier this week opposing the legislation, which demonstrators say undermines labour protections.

The country needs the sweeping "omnibus" jobs creation law to provide employment for its young population and those unemployed due to the economic crisis brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, the president said.

"I saw there were protests against the jobs creation law which were motivated by disinformation," he added.

He urged critics to challenge the law at the Constitutional Court if they disagree with its content.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/clashes-erupt-in-protests-against-new-indonesian-jobs-law-333785" hreflang="en">Clashes erupt in protests against new Indonesian jobs law</a>

Police and demonstrators clashed in the Indonesian capital on Thursday on the third day of protests and strikes against a polarising new jobs law passed in Southeast Asia’s largest economy earlier this week.

The “omnibus” jobs creation bill, passed into law on Monday, has seen thousands of people across the world’s fourth-most populous nation take to the streets in protest against legislation they say undermines labour rights and weakens environmental protections.

Around 1,000 protesters have been detained in Jakarta and more than 100 others arrested in other cities, according to police spokespeople. At least two students have been hospitalised with head injuries, and six police officers hurt.

The government of President Joko Widodo has championed the legislation as key to boosting Indonesia’s ailing economy by cutting red tape and attracting more foreign direct investment.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo defended his flagship job creation law on Friday (October 9) after violent protests erupted earlier this week opposing the legislation, which demonstrators say undermines labour protections.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo defended his flagship job creation law on Friday (October 9) after violent protests erupted earlier this week opposing the legislation, which demonstrators say undermines labour protections. The country needs the sweeping "omnibus" jobs creation law to provide employment for its young population and those unemployed due to the economic crisis brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, the president said. "I saw there were protests against the jobs creation law which were motivated by disinformation," he added. He urged critics to challenge the law at the Constitutional Court if they disagree with its content. Also read: Clashes erupt in protests against new Indonesian jobs law Police and demonstrators clashed in the Indonesian capital on Thursday on the third day of protests and strikes against a polarising new jobs law passed in Southeast Asia’s largest economy earlier this week. The “omnibus” jobs creation bill, passed into law on Monday, has seen thousands of people across the world’s fourth-most populous nation take to the streets in protest against legislation they say undermines labour rights and weakens environmental protections. Around 1,000 protesters have been detained in Jakarta and more than 100 others arrested in other cities, according to police spokespeople. At least two students have been hospitalised with head injuries, and six police officers hurt. The government of President Joko Widodo has championed the legislation as key to boosting Indonesia’s ailing economy by cutting red tape and attracting more foreign direct investment.

Indonesia president defends new jobs law, says protests fueled by disinformation

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that&nbsp;Brexit negotiations with the European Union this week have made progress in some areas.

The two sides say they are inching towards a deal that would govern around $900 billion in trade after December&nbsp;31,&nbsp;when the current transitional arrangements end, though sticking points remain on fishing, level playing field issues and governance.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-provisions-to-stay-in-internal-market-bill-as-uk-shows-no-indication-of-withdrawal-330985">Brexit provisions to stay in Internal Market Bill as UK shows 'no indication' of withdrawal</a>

Britain's Brexit supremo, Michael Gove, said on Monday&nbsp;that the clauses of the Internal Market Bill that undercut the Withdrawal Treaty would remain, despite a demand from the European Union that London scrap them.

The British government unveiled an "Internal Markets Bill" last month which is&nbsp;now winding its way through parliament and would override parts of the Brexit treaty that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson struck with the European Union last year.

Johnson argues it will provide a "safety net" against what he claimed are EU threats to impose tariffs on UK internal trade and even stop food going from mainland Britain to Northern Ireland,&nbsp;although his government has admitted that in overwriting a treaty it breaks international law.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-us-uk-trade-deal-if-brexit-risks-northern-irish-peace-deal-biden-to-johnson-328182">No US-UK trade deal if Brexit risks Northern Irish peace deal: Biden to Johnson</a>

The proposed law has infuriated the Europeans, who had demanded that it be withdrawn or amended before a deadline of Wednesday this week,&nbsp;but, after his meeting in Brussels with Sefcovic, Gove insisted it would not be changed.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Both London and Brussels say a deal on a free trade agreement must be struck by mid-October to allow time for it to be ratified before coming into force from January 1 next year.

Failure to do so would see trade conducted on World Trade Organization rules, with higher tariffs and quotas and almost certain economic chaos for Britain and Europe.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that Brexit negotiations with the European Union this week have made progress in some areas. The two sides say they are inching towards a deal that would govern around $900 billion in trade after December 31, when the current transitional arrangements end, though sticking points remain on fishing, level playing field issues and governance.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that Brexit negotiations with the European Union this week have made progress in some areas. The two sides say they are inching towards a deal that would govern around $900 billion in trade after December 31, when the current transitional arrangements end, though sticking points remain on fishing, level playing field issues and governance. Also read: Brexit provisions to stay in Internal Market Bill as UK shows 'no indication' of withdrawal Britain's Brexit supremo, Michael Gove, said on Monday that the clauses of the Internal Market Bill that undercut the Withdrawal Treaty would remain, despite a demand from the European Union that London scrap them. The British government unveiled an "Internal Markets Bill" last month which is now winding its way through parliament and would override parts of the Brexit treaty that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson struck with the European Union last year. Johnson argues it will provide a "safety net" against what he claimed are EU threats to impose tariffs on UK internal trade and even stop food going from mainland Britain to Northern Ireland, although his government has admitted that in overwriting a treaty it breaks international law. Also read: No US-UK trade deal if Brexit risks Northern Irish peace deal: Biden to Johnson The proposed law has infuriated the Europeans, who had demanded that it be withdrawn or amended before a deadline of Wednesday this week, but, after his meeting in Brussels with Sefcovic, Gove insisted it would not be changed. Both London and Brussels say a deal on a free trade agreement must be struck by mid-October to allow time for it to be ratified before coming into force from January 1 next year. Failure to do so would see trade conducted on World Trade Organization rules, with higher tariffs and quotas and almost certain economic chaos for Britain and Europe.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says progress in Brexit talks with EU

Researchers in Boston have detected long-lived antibodies in the saliva and the blood of coronavirus patients&nbsp;at least three months after symptom onset.

The study, published in the journal Science, points to the IgG class of antibodies as the longest-lasting antibodies detectable in the patients during this time frame and may serve as promising targets to detect and evaluate immune responses against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

According to the researchers, including those from the Harvard Medical School in the US, these antibodies could be detected at similar levels in both blood and saliva, suggesting that saliva could be used as an alternative biofluid for antibody testing.

In the research, Anita Iyer and her team measured antibody responses in the blood of 343 patients with COVID-19 for up to 122 days after symptom onset, and compared these responses to those of 1,548 control individuals sampled before the pandemic.

The scientists focused only on antibodies specific to the receptor binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein which it uses to enter host cells.

They estimated sensitivities of the antibody types IgG, IgA, and IgM at 95 per cent, 90 per cent and 81 per cent, respectively, for detecting infected individuals between 15 to 28 weeks after symptom onset.

Among these antibodies, the study noted that spike protein-specific IgM and IgA were short-lived, dropping beneath detection levels at around 49 and 71 days, respectively, after the appearance of symptoms.

However, it noted that the spike protein-targeted IgG responses decayed slowly over a period of 90 days, with only three individuals losing them within this timeframe.

According to the researchers, the levels of spike protein-specific IgG strongly correlated with levels of neutralising antibodies in the patients.

They also did not observe cross-reactivity of any SARS-CoV-2-targeting antibodies with other "common cold" coronaviruses.

Another study published in the journal Science also found that while IgA and IgM antibodies targeting the spike protein's receptor binding domain rapidly decayed, the IgG type remained relatively stable for up to 105 days after symptom onset in 402 patients with COVID-19.

In this study, researchers including Baweleta Isho from the University of Toronto in Canada, detected spike protein-specific antibodies in the saliva, as well as the blood, of these patients.

They charted the patients' antibody responses from three to 115 days after symptom onset, and compared their profiles with 339 pre-pandemic controls.

The scientists found that patients with COVID-19 showed peak IgG levels at 16 to 30 days after the appearance of symptoms.

According to the researchers, the levels of all spike protein-specific IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies in the blood positively correlated with levels observed in matched saliva samples.

"Given that the virus can also be measured in saliva by PCR, using saliva as a biofluid for both virus and antibody measurements may have some diagnostic value," they wrote in the study.

&nbsp;

Researchers in Boston have detected long-lived antibodies in the saliva and the blood of coronavirus patients at least three months after symptom onset. The study, published in the journal Science, points to the IgG class of antibodies as the longest-lasting antibodies detectable in the patients during this time frame and may serve as promising targets to detect and evaluate immune responses against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Researchers in Boston have detected long-lived antibodies in the saliva and the blood of coronavirus patients at least three months after symptom onset. The study, published in the journal Science, points to the IgG class of antibodies as the longest-lasting antibodies detectable in the patients during this time frame and may serve as promising targets to detect and evaluate immune responses against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. According to the researchers, including those from the Harvard Medical School in the US, these antibodies could be detected at similar levels in both blood and saliva, suggesting that saliva could be used as an alternative biofluid for antibody testing. In the research, Anita Iyer and her team measured antibody responses in the blood of 343 patients with COVID-19 for up to 122 days after symptom onset, and compared these responses to those of 1,548 control individuals sampled before the pandemic. The scientists focused only on antibodies specific to the receptor binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein which it uses to enter host cells. They estimated sensitivities of the antibody types IgG, IgA, and IgM at 95 per cent, 90 per cent and 81 per cent, respectively, for detecting infected individuals between 15 to 28 weeks after symptom onset. Among these antibodies, the study noted that spike protein-specific IgM and IgA were short-lived, dropping beneath detection levels at around 49 and 71 days, respectively, after the appearance of symptoms. However, it noted that the spike protein-targeted IgG responses decayed slowly over a period of 90 days, with only three individuals losing them within this timeframe. According to the researchers, the levels of spike protein-specific IgG strongly correlated with levels of neutralising antibodies in the patients. They also did not observe cross-reactivity of any SARS-CoV-2-targeting antibodies with other "common cold" coronaviruses. Another study published in the journal Science also found that while IgA and IgM antibodies targeting the spike protein's receptor binding domain rapidly decayed, the IgG type remained relatively stable for up to 105 days after symptom onset in 402 patients with COVID-19. In this study, researchers including Baweleta Isho from the University of Toronto in Canada, detected spike protein-specific antibodies in the saliva, as well as the blood, of these patients. They charted the patients' antibody responses from three to 115 days after symptom onset, and compared their profiles with 339 pre-pandemic controls. The scientists found that patients with COVID-19 showed peak IgG levels at 16 to 30 days after the appearance of symptoms. According to the researchers, the levels of all spike protein-specific IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies in the blood positively correlated with levels observed in matched saliva samples. "Given that the virus can also be measured in saliva by PCR, using saliva as a biofluid for both virus and antibody measurements may have some diagnostic value," they wrote in the study.

Long-lived antibodies detected in saliva, blood of coronavirus patients

A T-Rex skeleton has broken the dinosaur fossil&nbsp;record after being sold for&nbsp;d $31.8 million in New York, nearly quadrupling the previous highest price for a dinosaur at auction.

The impressive&nbsp;skeleton nicknamed Stan after&nbsp;an amateur paleontologist who discovered it, is&nbsp;four meters&nbsp;high and 40 feet long.

The apex predator made mincemeat of Christie's opening price of between six and eight million dollars, showing off the lasting power of the T-Rex.

It then shredded the previous record set by a specimen called Sue that was sold for $8.4 million in October 1997 by Sotheby's to the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.

Only around 50 Tyrannosaurus fossils have been discovered since the first was unearthed in 1902.

Bids hit the $9 million mark in less than two minutes after the start of the auction, but after 14 minutes there were just three bidders left in the race, until the hammer came down on an offer of $27.5 million, to which were added costs and commissions.&nbsp;

The sale was organized in New York, where the expert assessor was located, but with lines open to Hong Kong and London, where Christie's specialists were taking calls from collectors.

One of the most complete specimens of a T-Rex&nbsp;fossil in the world, the fossil has&nbsp;puncture marks in the skull and neck that experts believe show evidence of fights with fellow T-Rexes. He would have weighed in at around eight tons when alive, some 67 million years ago.

The fossil was discovered in South Dakota in 1987 and named after the amateur paleontologist who came across the remains, Stan Sacrison.

Paleontologists from the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research in South Dakota spent more than 30,000 hours excavating and then assembling the 188 bones of the skeleton.

Casts were then taken for dozens of museums around the world that wanted a copy of this exceptional specimen of Tyrannosaur, which experts believe was around 20 years old when it died.

Ironically, the terms of the sale prevent the buyer from producing 3D models of the dinosaur.&nbsp;

By law, such specimens can only be sold if the fossil was discovered on private land, which in this case it was.

A T-Rex skeleton has broken the dinosaur fossil record after being sold for d $31.8 million in New York, nearly quadrupling the previous highest price for a dinosaur at auction.

A T-Rex skeleton has broken the dinosaur fossil record after being sold for d $31.8 million in New York, nearly quadrupling the previous highest price for a dinosaur at auction. The impressive skeleton nicknamed Stan after an amateur paleontologist who discovered it, is four meters high and 40 feet long. The apex predator made mincemeat of Christie's opening price of between six and eight million dollars, showing off the lasting power of the T-Rex. It then shredded the previous record set by a specimen called Sue that was sold for $8.4 million in October 1997 by Sotheby's to the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. Only around 50 Tyrannosaurus fossils have been discovered since the first was unearthed in 1902. Bids hit the $9 million mark in less than two minutes after the start of the auction, but after 14 minutes there were just three bidders left in the race, until the hammer came down on an offer of $27.5 million, to which were added costs and commissions. The sale was organized in New York, where the expert assessor was located, but with lines open to Hong Kong and London, where Christie's specialists were taking calls from collectors. One of the most complete specimens of a T-Rex fossil in the world, the fossil has puncture marks in the skull and neck that experts believe show evidence of fights with fellow T-Rexes. He would have weighed in at around eight tons when alive, some 67 million years ago. The fossil was discovered in South Dakota in 1987 and named after the amateur paleontologist who came across the remains, Stan Sacrison. Paleontologists from the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research in South Dakota spent more than 30,000 hours excavating and then assembling the 188 bones of the skeleton. Casts were then taken for dozens of museums around the world that wanted a copy of this exceptional specimen of Tyrannosaur, which experts believe was around 20 years old when it died. Ironically, the terms of the sale prevent the buyer from producing 3D models of the dinosaur. By law, such specimens can only be sold if the fossil was discovered on private land, which in this case it was.

T-Rex dinosaur fossil named Stan sells for record-breaking $31.8 million

Telecoms operators Orange Belgium announced on&nbsp;on Friday that it has selected&nbsp;Nokia&nbsp;to renew its networks and roll out 5G instead on Huawei.

Orange along with&nbsp;local rival Proximus&nbsp;had decided to progressively replace Huawei-made&nbsp;mobile equipment in Belgium and Luxembourg with Nokia equipment.

The Belgian division of the operators, which share their mobile network, signed an agreement last year to share their mobile network, which is why the decision to shift to Nokia was a collective one.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/british-parliaments-defence-committee-says-huawei-colludes-with-chinese-communist-party-333440">British parliament's defence committee says Huawei colludes with Chinese Communist Party</a>

Sources close to the matter said&nbsp;they had faced political pressure to drop Huawei as a supplier following US&nbsp;accusations that Huawei’s gear could be used for spying by Beijing.

The move by Orange and Proximus represents one of the first cases in Europe where commercial operators have dropped Huawei from their next generation mobile Internet, or 5G, networks in response to political pressure.

While the United States is pressing allies to bar Huawei from 5G networks on security grounds, China and Huawei deny the spying allegations.

Belgium’s capital Brussels is home to the European Union’s executive body and parliament, making it a strategic location and a matter of particular concern for US&nbsp;intelligence agencies.

"This is the outcome of a tender organised by operators and the result of the free market," a Huawei spokesman said on the issue.

"We embrace fair competition, the more diversified a supply chain the more competitive it becomes," he said, adding that Huawei has been supplying equipment in Belgium for more than a decade and its commitment remains unchanged.

Nokia announced late last month it had clinched a deal with Britain's biggest mobile operator BT&nbsp;to supply 5G radio equipment.

Telecoms operators Orange Belgium announced on on Friday that it has selected Nokia to renew its networks and roll out 5G instead on Huawei. Orange along with local rival Proximus had decided to progressively replace Huawei-made mobile equipment in Belgium and Luxembourg with Nokia equipment.

Telecoms operators Orange Belgium announced on on Friday that it has selected Nokia to renew its networks and roll out 5G instead on Huawei. Orange along with local rival Proximus had decided to progressively replace Huawei-made mobile equipment in Belgium and Luxembourg with Nokia equipment. The Belgian division of the operators, which share their mobile network, signed an agreement last year to share their mobile network, which is why the decision to shift to Nokia was a collective one. Also read: British parliament's defence committee says Huawei colludes with Chinese Communist Party Sources close to the matter said they had faced political pressure to drop Huawei as a supplier following US accusations that Huawei’s gear could be used for spying by Beijing. The move by Orange and Proximus represents one of the first cases in Europe where commercial operators have dropped Huawei from their next generation mobile Internet, or 5G, networks in response to political pressure. While the United States is pressing allies to bar Huawei from 5G networks on security grounds, China and Huawei deny the spying allegations. Belgium’s capital Brussels is home to the European Union’s executive body and parliament, making it a strategic location and a matter of particular concern for US intelligence agencies. "This is the outcome of a tender organised by operators and the result of the free market," a Huawei spokesman said on the issue. "We embrace fair competition, the more diversified a supply chain the more competitive it becomes," he said, adding that Huawei has been supplying equipment in Belgium for more than a decade and its commitment remains unchanged. Nokia announced late last month it had clinched a deal with Britain's biggest mobile operator BT to supply 5G radio equipment.

Orange venture in Belgium replaces Huawei and awards 5G contract to Nokia

The World Trade Organization announced Thursday&nbsp;Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and South Korea's Yoo Myung-hee are the finalists to become its next director-general, ensuring a woman in the top job for the first time.

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These are the candidates moving on for members' further consideration. The result creates an historic precedent for the WTO: the 7th Director-General will become the first woman to lead the Organization. Consultations resume on 19 Oct <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WTODG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WTODG</a> 
Find out more: <a href="https://t.co/q4pHXjEl2z">https://t.co/q4pHXjEl2z</a> <a href="https://t.co/l4viBOncSk">pic.twitter.com/l4viBOncSk</a>
— WTO (@wto) <a href="https://twitter.com/wto/status/1314152398420684803?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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WTO spokeman, Keith Rockwell said the third and final stage of the run will take place from October 19 to Ocotber 27 and that a decision should be made by November 7.

We're right on schedule for this. We might even be a little bit ahead of schedule," he said.

Asked about changes that might occur as US presidential elections will take place four days before the deadline for the decision, Rockwell said: "I don't think the domestic political situation of any country has really entered into this at all, as far as I can tell".

A selection committee said that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria and Yoo Myung-hee of South Korea qualified for the final round in a race expected to end in the coming weeks. They were picked out of a pool of five candidates.

The Geneva-based WTO's General Council, made up of envoys from the 164-member body, eliminated Amina Mohamed, a former trade minister from Kenya; Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri, a Saudi former economy minister, and British former International Trade Secretary and Brexit proponent Liam Fox.

''Deeply grateful and honored to be selected for the final round in the selection process of the next @WTO Director General!''&nbsp;tweeted Yoo, who has a law degree from Vanderbilt University.

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Deeply grateful and honored to be selected for the final round in the selection process of the next <a href="https://twitter.com/wto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WTO</a> Director General! 
 
We need a capable &amp; experienced new leader who can rebuild trust and restore relevance of the <a href="https://twitter.com/wto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WTO</a>. I look forward to your continued support! Thank you!!! <a href="https://t.co/Gz94jTzgzB">https://t.co/Gz94jTzgzB</a>
— Yoo Myung-hee (@YooMyunghee1) <a href="https://twitter.com/YooMyunghee1/status/1314161822992228352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Okonjo-Iweala on Twitter thanked WTO members for their support and wrote that she was ''happy to be in the final round."&nbsp;

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Happy to be in the final round of the <a href="https://twitter.com/wto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wto</a> DG campaign. Thanks, WTO members for your continued support of my candidacy. I could not have made it without the prayers and support of all Nigerians and friends around the world. Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/MBuhari?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MBuhari</a> and all my friends. Aluta continua!
— Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) <a href="https://twitter.com/NOIweala/status/1314189379594842118?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The previous WTO director-general, Roberto Azevedo of Brazil, made a surprise announcement in May that he would leave the job a year early, citing a ''personal decision''.&nbsp;He left without a successor on August 31.

Azevedo's seven-year tenure was marked by intense pressure from US&nbsp;President Donald Trump, who repeatedly accused the WTO of ''unfair''&nbsp;treatment of the U.S. And started a trade war with China in defiance of the WTO system. In the past, Trump has threatened to pull the United States out of the trade body altogether.

The WTO's dispute settlement system is perhaps the world's best-known venue for resolving international trade disputes - such as those pitting plane-makers Boeing and Airbus in recent decades. But the United States has clogged up the dispute settlement machinery by blocking any new members for its highest court, the Appellate Body, which has unable to address new disputes since last year.

The next director-general will face the daunting task of keeping the United States on board if Trump wins a second term, amid Washington's allegations that China is engaged in unfair practices such as excessively subsidizing industries and stealing intellectual property,&nbsp;notably at the expense of Western businesses hoping to tap the expanding Chinese market. China rejects the allegations.

The WTO, which was created in 1995 out of the former General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, has never had a woman director-general or national from Africa as its leader. It operates by consensus, meaning that any single member country can block decisions.

The World Trade Organization announced Thursday Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and South Korea's Yoo Myung-hee are the finalists to become its next director-general, ensuring a woman in the top job for the first time.

The World Trade Organization announced Thursday Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and South Korea's Yoo Myung-hee are the finalists to become its next director-general, ensuring a woman in the top job for the first time. These are the candidates moving on for members' further consideration. The result creates an historic precedent for the WTO: the 7th Director-General will become the first woman to lead the Organization. Consultations resume on 19 Oct #WTODG Find out more: https://t.co/q4pHXjEl2z pic.twitter.com/l4viBOncSk — WTO (@wto) October 8, 2020 × WTO spokeman, Keith Rockwell said the third and final stage of the run will take place from October 19 to Ocotber 27 and that a decision should be made by November 7. We're right on schedule for this. We might even be a little bit ahead of schedule," he said. Asked about changes that might occur as US presidential elections will take place four days before the deadline for the decision, Rockwell said: "I don't think the domestic political situation of any country has really entered into this at all, as far as I can tell". A selection committee said that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria and Yoo Myung-hee of South Korea qualified for the final round in a race expected to end in the coming weeks. They were picked out of a pool of five candidates. The Geneva-based WTO's General Council, made up of envoys from the 164-member body, eliminated Amina Mohamed, a former trade minister from Kenya; Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri, a Saudi former economy minister, and British former International Trade Secretary and Brexit proponent Liam Fox. ''Deeply grateful and honored to be selected for the final round in the selection process of the next @WTO Director General!'' tweeted Yoo, who has a law degree from Vanderbilt University. Deeply grateful and honored to be selected for the final round in the selection process of the next @WTO Director General! We need a capable & experienced new leader who can rebuild trust and restore relevance of the @WTO. I look forward to your continued support! Thank you!!! https://t.co/Gz94jTzgzB — Yoo Myung-hee (@YooMyunghee1) October 8, 2020 × Okonjo-Iweala on Twitter thanked WTO members for their support and wrote that she was ''happy to be in the final round." Happy to be in the final round of the @wto DG campaign. Thanks, WTO members for your continued support of my candidacy. I could not have made it without the prayers and support of all Nigerians and friends around the world. Thank you @MBuhari and all my friends. Aluta continua! — Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) October 8, 2020 × The previous WTO director-general, Roberto Azevedo of Brazil, made a surprise announcement in May that he would leave the job a year early, citing a ''personal decision''. He left without a successor on August 31. Azevedo's seven-year tenure was marked by intense pressure from US President Donald Trump, who repeatedly accused the WTO of ''unfair'' treatment of the U.S. And started a trade war with China in defiance of the WTO system. In the past, Trump has threatened to pull the United States out of the trade body altogether. The WTO's dispute settlement system is perhaps the world's best-known venue for resolving international trade disputes - such as those pitting plane-makers Boeing and Airbus in recent decades. But the United States has clogged up the dispute settlement machinery by blocking any new members for its highest court, the Appellate Body, which has unable to address new disputes since last year. The next director-general will face the daunting task of keeping the United States on board if Trump wins a second term, amid Washington's allegations that China is engaged in unfair practices such as excessively subsidizing industries and stealing intellectual property, notably at the expense of Western businesses hoping to tap the expanding Chinese market. China rejects the allegations. The WTO, which was created in 1995 out of the former General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, has never had a woman director-general or national from Africa as its leader. It operates by consensus, meaning that any single member country can block decisions.

In a first, World Trade Organization to be led by a woman

A turf war raging between criminal armed groups in&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;refugee camps in southern Bangladesh has forced thousands of people to flee and at least eight have been killed in clashes in recent days, police and humanitarian workers said on Thursday.

Authorities have arrested 12 people after days of gunfire, arson, and abductions by gangs competing for dominance in the sprawling settlement, the world’s largest refugee camp home to more than a million people.

“A tense situation is prevailing there,” Rafiqul Islam, an additional police superintendent based in the nearest town of Cox's Bazar, told Reuters by phone.

“Two groups are trying to establish dominance in the area,” he said, adding that they were suspected drug and human traffickers.

The region is a crucible of the lucrative trade in methamphetamine, mostly manufactured across the border in Myanmar.

More than 100&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;have been killed since 2018 in incidents human rights groups say are extrajudicial killings but police say the victims were caught in the “cross-fire” during shootouts with suspected drug smugglers.

Three refugees speaking on condition of anonymity named the two groups behind the fighting as the “Munna” gang, named after a notorious local alleged drug baron, and the Arakan&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;Salvation Army (ARSA), an armed group that has a presence in the sprawling camps and that refugees have accused of carrying out kidnappings and attacks.

In a Twitter post, ARSA denied responsibility for the latest violence and blamed criminals seeking to cast aspersions on the group.

Attacks by ARSA on police posts in Myanmar in 2017 triggered a sweeping military crackdown that led more than 730,000&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;to flee to Bangladesh.

About 2,000&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;families were displaced in the latest violence, though some had returned by Thursday, according to additional refugee relief and repatriation commissioner Mohammad Shamsu Douza.

“We are living in fear, especially at night,” one of the refugees told Reuters by phone.

“Last night also, one group carried out an arson attack. Where will we go now?”

A turf war raging between criminal armed groups in Rohingya refugee camps in southern Bangladesh has forced thousands of people to flee and at least eight have been killed in clashes in recent days, police and humanitarian workers said on Thursday.

A turf war raging between criminal armed groups in Rohingya refugee camps in southern Bangladesh has forced thousands of people to flee and at least eight have been killed in clashes in recent days, police and humanitarian workers said on Thursday. Authorities have arrested 12 people after days of gunfire, arson, and abductions by gangs competing for dominance in the sprawling settlement, the world’s largest refugee camp home to more than a million people. “A tense situation is prevailing there,” Rafiqul Islam, an additional police superintendent based in the nearest town of Cox's Bazar, told Reuters by phone. “Two groups are trying to establish dominance in the area,” he said, adding that they were suspected drug and human traffickers. The region is a crucible of the lucrative trade in methamphetamine, mostly manufactured across the border in Myanmar. More than 100 Rohingya have been killed since 2018 in incidents human rights groups say are extrajudicial killings but police say the victims were caught in the “cross-fire” during shootouts with suspected drug smugglers. Three refugees speaking on condition of anonymity named the two groups behind the fighting as the “Munna” gang, named after a notorious local alleged drug baron, and the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), an armed group that has a presence in the sprawling camps and that refugees have accused of carrying out kidnappings and attacks. In a Twitter post, ARSA denied responsibility for the latest violence and blamed criminals seeking to cast aspersions on the group. Attacks by ARSA on police posts in Myanmar in 2017 triggered a sweeping military crackdown that led more than 730,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh. About 2,000 Rohingya families were displaced in the latest violence, though some had returned by Thursday, according to additional refugee relief and repatriation commissioner Mohammad Shamsu Douza. “We are living in fear, especially at night,” one of the refugees told Reuters by phone. “Last night also, one group carried out an arson attack. Where will we go now?”

Gang war erupts in Rohingya refugee camps, at least 8 killed, thousands flee

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