US President Donald&nbsp;Trump and his Democratic rival Joe Biden will meet in Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday for first debate with presidency on the line.

The highly anticipated matchup comes&nbsp;five weeks before&nbsp;the US election 2020.&nbsp;It is the first of three televised debates that could shake up an already volatile race for the White House.

Fox News star Chris Wallace will&nbsp;moderate the&nbsp;debate. He is a veteran newsman who has a reputation for playing it straight at a network where the opinion hosts skew to the right.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/five-things-to-watch-in-the-first-trump-biden-debate-330979" hreflang="en">Five things to watch in the first Trump-Biden debate</a>

"I am looking very forward to the debate," Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday.

The 90-minute televised debate is likely to focus in part on Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 200,000 Americans, and his push to fill the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat on the high court.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/conservative-win-donald-trump-nominates-amy-coney-barrett-for-supreme-court-330413">Conservative win: Donald Trump nominates Amy Coney Barrett for Supreme Court</a>

The re-emergence of Trump's tax history as an election issue, in 2016 he broke a decades-old tradition of presidential nominees releasing their tax returns when seeking the White House, offers&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;another avenue of attack.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/donald-trump-faces-fresh-controversy-as-bombshell-report-claims-president-avoided-tax-for-years-330801" hreflang="en">Donald Trump faces fresh controversy as bombshell report claims president avoided tax for years</a>

The former vice president is trying to turn the tables on Trump, who ran successfully as an economic populist four years ago and is regarded by some observers as having an edge among voters on the issue of who would best manage the economy.

In recent days,&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;has characterised the race as a clash between Scranton, the working-class Pennsylvania city where he spent part of his childhood, and Park Avenue. Trump Tower, which serves as headquarters for the Trump Organization, is located near that tony boulevard in Manhattan.

Trump has painted his economic record in glowing terms, saying his policies were responsible for boosting growth and reducing U.S. unemployment to near 50-year lows prior to the outbreak of the pandemic.

His message, however, has been badly dented by the virus-triggered recession, which has put millions of Americans out of work. Democrats say Trump has mishandled the US&nbsp;response and embraced policies that favored corporations and the rich.

Biden&nbsp;is proposing to hike the corporate income tax and raise taxes on people making more than $400,000 if elected.

Trump, who signed a $1.5 trillion Republican-sponsored package of tax cuts in late 2017, accuses his opponent of pushing a far-left agenda that will destroy the economy.

Trump has said since the 2016 campaign that his refusal to release his federal income tax returns is because he is under audit by the Internal Revenue Service, but the agency has said there is no reason he cannot release his taxes while under audit.

US President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Joe Biden will meet in Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday for first debate with presidency on the line. The highly anticipated matchup comes five weeks before the US election 2020.

US President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Joe Biden will meet in Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday for first debate with presidency on the line. The highly anticipated matchup comes five weeks before the US election 2020. It is the first of three televised debates that could shake up an already volatile race for the White House. Fox News star Chris Wallace will moderate the debate. He is a veteran newsman who has a reputation for playing it straight at a network where the opinion hosts skew to the right. Also read: Five things to watch in the first Trump-Biden debate "I am looking very forward to the debate," Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday. The 90-minute televised debate is likely to focus in part on Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 200,000 Americans, and his push to fill the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat on the high court. Also see: Conservative win: Donald Trump nominates Amy Coney Barrett for Supreme Court The re-emergence of Trump's tax history as an election issue, in 2016 he broke a decades-old tradition of presidential nominees releasing their tax returns when seeking the White House, offers Biden another avenue of attack. Also read: Donald Trump faces fresh controversy as bombshell report claims president avoided tax for years The former vice president is trying to turn the tables on Trump, who ran successfully as an economic populist four years ago and is regarded by some observers as having an edge among voters on the issue of who would best manage the economy. In recent days, Biden has characterised the race as a clash between Scranton, the working-class Pennsylvania city where he spent part of his childhood, and Park Avenue. Trump Tower, which serves as headquarters for the Trump Organization, is located near that tony boulevard in Manhattan. Trump has painted his economic record in glowing terms, saying his policies were responsible for boosting growth and reducing U.S. unemployment to near 50-year lows prior to the outbreak of the pandemic. His message, however, has been badly dented by the virus-triggered recession, which has put millions of Americans out of work. Democrats say Trump has mishandled the US response and embraced policies that favored corporations and the rich. Biden is proposing to hike the corporate income tax and raise taxes on people making more than $400,000 if elected. Trump, who signed a $1.5 trillion Republican-sponsored package of tax cuts in late 2017, accuses his opponent of pushing a far-left agenda that will destroy the economy. Trump has said since the 2016 campaign that his refusal to release his federal income tax returns is because he is under audit by the Internal Revenue Service, but the agency has said there is no reason he cannot release his taxes while under audit.

US election 2020: Trump and Biden meet in Ohio for first presidential debate

Malta has called for the return&nbsp;of a prehistoric shark tooth that was given as a present to Britain's Prince George by naturalist Sir David Attenborough.

The country was a British colony until 1964. The fossil was discovered by the veteran broadcaster during a family holiday in the extinct Carcharocles megalodon in the 1960s.

Malta's culture minister Hose Herrera said&nbsp;''the fossil should be put on display in the island where it was discovered''.

Kensington Palace announced the gift on Saturday, saying the giant tooth was given to the seven-year-old prince when Attenborough attended a private viewing of his latest environmental documentary with members of the royal family.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/heres-the-real-truth-behind-prince-harry-meghan-markles-netflix-reality-show-deal-331013" hreflang="en">Here's the real truth behind Prince Harry, Meghan Markle's Netflix deal</a>

Attenborough found the fossil during a family holiday to&nbsp;Malta&nbsp;in the late 1960s, the palace said. It was embedded in soft yellow limestone, and is believed to be about 23 million years old.

However, Maltese Culture Minister Jose Herrera said the tooth should be in a local museum and promised to "set the ball rolling" to get it back.

"There are some artefacts that are important to Maltese natural heritage and which ended up abroad and deserve to be retrieved," Herrera told the Times of&nbsp;Malta, without giving details of how he intended to recover the fossil.

The tooth once belonged to a megalodon, an extinct species of giant shark that could grow up to 52 feet (16 metres).

"We rightly give a lot of attention to historical and artistic artefacts. However, it is not always the case with our natural history. I am determined to direct a change in this attitude," the minister said.

Malta has called for the return of a prehistoric shark tooth that was given as a present to Britain's Prince George by naturalist Sir David Attenborough. The country was a British colony until 1964.

Malta has called for the return of a prehistoric shark tooth that was given as a present to Britain's Prince George by naturalist Sir David Attenborough. The country was a British colony until 1964. The fossil was discovered by the veteran broadcaster during a family holiday in the extinct Carcharocles megalodon in the 1960s. Malta's culture minister Hose Herrera said ''the fossil should be put on display in the island where it was discovered''. Kensington Palace announced the gift on Saturday, saying the giant tooth was given to the seven-year-old prince when Attenborough attended a private viewing of his latest environmental documentary with members of the royal family. Also read: Here's the real truth behind Prince Harry, Meghan Markle's Netflix deal Attenborough found the fossil during a family holiday to Malta in the late 1960s, the palace said. It was embedded in soft yellow limestone, and is believed to be about 23 million years old. However, Maltese Culture Minister Jose Herrera said the tooth should be in a local museum and promised to "set the ball rolling" to get it back. "There are some artefacts that are important to Maltese natural heritage and which ended up abroad and deserve to be retrieved," Herrera told the Times of Malta, without giving details of how he intended to recover the fossil. The tooth once belonged to a megalodon, an extinct species of giant shark that could grow up to 52 feet (16 metres). "We rightly give a lot of attention to historical and artistic artefacts. However, it is not always the case with our natural history. I am determined to direct a change in this attitude," the minister said.

Malta calls for return of shark tooth gifted to Prince George

Tax evasion and illicit theft of capital is robbing Africa of nearly $89&nbsp;million a year according to a new study by the UN trade and development agency.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IllicitFinancialFlows?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IllicitFinancialFlows</a> rob Africa of $89 billion each year, says <a href="https://twitter.com/UNCTAD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNCTAD</a>’s Economic Development in Africa Report 2020. 
 
Curbing this capital flight could cut almost in half the continent's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GlobalGoals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GlobalGoals</a> financing gap, <a href="https://t.co/55eYKoPfW0">https://t.co/55eYKoPfW0</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNCTADEDAR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UNCTADEDAR</a> <a href="https://t.co/8tgkJiNpbc">pic.twitter.com/8tgkJiNpbc</a>
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According to the estimates published in the study, illegal outflows of capital from Africa totaled over USD 830 billion in the first 15 years of this century, much of it linked to movements of high-value commodities like gold, diamonds, and platinum,&nbsp;straining the ability of the continent's governments to provide services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

From 2013 to 2015,&nbsp;such outflows rose to nearly USD 89 billion a year on average. By comparison, the combined total of both official development assistance and foreign direct investment received by Africa during that three-year span averaged USD 102 billion annually.

''Illicit financial flows rob Africa and its people of their prospects, undermining transparency and accountability and eroding trust in African institutions,''&nbsp;said UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi.

The agency said that total illicit capital flight from Africa amounted to USD 836 billion between 2000 and 2015.

The largest component of illicit capital flights from Africa, totaling USD 40 billion in 2015, was related to ''extractive commodities''&nbsp;more than three-fourths of it in gold alone, followed by diamonds and platinum, UNCTAD said. It cautioned the data was incomplete and such figures were likely an underestimate of the true tally.

Illegal capital outflows from three countries:&nbsp;Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa,&nbsp;accounted for more than four-fifths of the total annually during that three-year span, with Nigeria alone making up nearly half of that, according to UNCTAD calculations.

Cracking down on such illegal outflows could help African countries retain capital for investment in roads, railways, schools, and healthcare, the agency said.

UNCTAD said African countries generally aren't doing enough to reform the international tax system in ways that could help, and said local judicial authorities often lack proper tools to combat tax evasion.

Tax evasion and illicit theft of capital is robbing Africa of nearly $89 million a year according to a new study by the UN trade and development agency. #IllicitFinancialFlows rob Africa of $89 billion each year, says @UNCTAD’s Economic Development in Africa Report 2020.

Tax evasion and illicit theft of capital is robbing Africa of nearly $89 million a year according to a new study by the UN trade and development agency. #IllicitFinancialFlows rob Africa of $89 billion each year, says @UNCTAD’s Economic Development in Africa Report 2020. Curbing this capital flight could cut almost in half the continent's #GlobalGoals financing gap, https://t.co/55eYKoPfW0 #UNCTADEDAR pic.twitter.com/8tgkJiNpbc — UNCTAD (@UNCTAD) September 28, 2020 × According to the estimates published in the study, illegal outflows of capital from Africa totaled over USD 830 billion in the first 15 years of this century, much of it linked to movements of high-value commodities like gold, diamonds, and platinum, straining the ability of the continent's governments to provide services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure. From 2013 to 2015, such outflows rose to nearly USD 89 billion a year on average. By comparison, the combined total of both official development assistance and foreign direct investment received by Africa during that three-year span averaged USD 102 billion annually. ''Illicit financial flows rob Africa and its people of their prospects, undermining transparency and accountability and eroding trust in African institutions,'' said UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi. The agency said that total illicit capital flight from Africa amounted to USD 836 billion between 2000 and 2015. The largest component of illicit capital flights from Africa, totaling USD 40 billion in 2015, was related to ''extractive commodities'' more than three-fourths of it in gold alone, followed by diamonds and platinum, UNCTAD said. It cautioned the data was incomplete and such figures were likely an underestimate of the true tally. Illegal capital outflows from three countries: Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa, accounted for more than four-fifths of the total annually during that three-year span, with Nigeria alone making up nearly half of that, according to UNCTAD calculations. Cracking down on such illegal outflows could help African countries retain capital for investment in roads, railways, schools, and healthcare, the agency said. UNCTAD said African countries generally aren't doing enough to reform the international tax system in ways that could help, and said local judicial authorities often lack proper tools to combat tax evasion.

Tax evasion and illicit theft robbing Africa of $89 million annually: UN study

Turkish prosecutors&nbsp;on Monday indicted&nbsp;six more Saudi&nbsp;nationals as suspects&nbsp;in connection with the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist&nbsp;Jamal&nbsp;Khashoggi&nbsp;in Istanbul.

Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was last seen at the Saudi consulate on October&nbsp;2, 2018, where he had gone to obtain documents for his impending wedding.

Turkish officials believe his body was dismembered and removed from the building, while his remains have not been found.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudis-verdict-on-khashoggis-case-fell-short-of-meeting-expectations-turkey-325854">'Saudi's verdict on Khashoggi's case fell short of meeting expectations': Turkey</a>

Twenty Saudi nationals are already on trial in an Istanbul court for&nbsp;Khashoggi's killing. Local media&nbsp;said the indictment against the six suspects, including two consulate workers and four other Saudi nationals, was sent to the court to be combined with the main case.

Two of the suspects, a vice consul and an attache, were facing life jail sentences for premeditated murder with monstrous intent, the broadcaster said.

The four others had arrived in Istanbul on October&nbsp;10-11, 2018, more than a week after the killing, were charged with destroying, concealing or tampering with evidence, which carries a sentence of up to five years in jail.

The Istanbul prosecutor's office did not immediately provide comment on the media reports.

A Saudi court this month jailed eight people for between seven and 20 years for the murder, four months after&nbsp;Khashoggi's family forgave his killers and enabled earlier death sentences to be set aside.

Turkish prosecutors on Monday indicted six more Saudi nationals as suspects in connection with the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul. Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was last seen at the Saudi consulate on October 2, 2018, where he had gone to obtain documents for his impending wedding.

Turkish prosecutors on Monday indicted six more Saudi nationals as suspects in connection with the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul. Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was last seen at the Saudi consulate on October 2, 2018, where he had gone to obtain documents for his impending wedding. Turkish officials believe his body was dismembered and removed from the building, while his remains have not been found. Also read: 'Saudi's verdict on Khashoggi's case fell short of meeting expectations': Turkey Twenty Saudi nationals are already on trial in an Istanbul court for Khashoggi's killing. Local media said the indictment against the six suspects, including two consulate workers and four other Saudi nationals, was sent to the court to be combined with the main case. Two of the suspects, a vice consul and an attache, were facing life jail sentences for premeditated murder with monstrous intent, the broadcaster said. The four others had arrived in Istanbul on October 10-11, 2018, more than a week after the killing, were charged with destroying, concealing or tampering with evidence, which carries a sentence of up to five years in jail. The Istanbul prosecutor's office did not immediately provide comment on the media reports. A Saudi court this month jailed eight people for between seven and 20 years for the murder, four months after Khashoggi's family forgave his killers and enabled earlier death sentences to be set aside.

Turkey indicts six more Saudi nationals over Jamal Khashoggi murder

&nbsp;India is investigating imports of copper tubes and pipes from Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand, to determine whether producers in these countries were receiving unfair subsidies, the government said.

The investigation by India's Directorate General of Trade Remedies, the investigative arm of the commerce ministry, could result in these imports facing countervailing duties.

The probe covers imports shipped between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020.

"The Authority has also received the import data of customs of the subject goods during the past four years which indicate increased imports mainly from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam collectively account for more than 90% of total imports of subject goods," the circular said.

In a statement to Reuters, the Vietnamese foreign ministry said Vietnam strictly adhered to World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

"Trade issues between Vietnam and India should be considered objectively, fairly and transparently in accordance with WTO rules, and bilateral and multilateral trade agreements that the two countries both joined," the ministry's spokeswoman said in the statement.

Calls to two Vietnam-based companies named in the Indian investigation were not answered.

India is investigating imports of copper tubes and pipes from Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand, to determine whether producers in these countries were receiving unfair subsidies, the government said.

India is investigating imports of copper tubes and pipes from Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand, to determine whether producers in these countries were receiving unfair subsidies, the government said. The investigation by India's Directorate General of Trade Remedies, the investigative arm of the commerce ministry, could result in these imports facing countervailing duties. The probe covers imports shipped between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020. "The Authority has also received the import data of customs of the subject goods during the past four years which indicate increased imports mainly from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam collectively account for more than 90% of total imports of subject goods," the circular said. In a statement to Reuters, the Vietnamese foreign ministry said Vietnam strictly adhered to World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. "Trade issues between Vietnam and India should be considered objectively, fairly and transparently in accordance with WTO rules, and bilateral and multilateral trade agreements that the two countries both joined," the ministry's spokeswoman said in the statement. Calls to two Vietnam-based companies named in the Indian investigation were not answered.

India opens dumping probe on Malaysia, Vietnam, Thai copper tube, pipe imports

Microsoft&nbsp;Corp said on&nbsp;Monday that&nbsp;multiple&nbsp;Microsoft&nbsp;365 services, including Outlook.com and&nbsp;Microsoft&nbsp;Teams&nbsp;and other online services experience outage due to&nbsp;a recent change it introduced.

The outages were confirmed by an official spokesman and Downdetector which aggregates user reports of issues.

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User reports indicate Office 365 is having problems since 5:33 PM EDT. <a href="https://t.co/xVELvgTStJ">https://t.co/xVELvgTStJ</a> RT if you're also having problems <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Office365down?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Office365down</a>
— Downdetector (@downdetector) <a href="https://twitter.com/downdetector/status/1310694067735584768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2020</a></blockquote>
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While&nbsp;Teams is a collobaoration tool that integrates with Office 365, Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Excel are other online subcriptions the tech giant offers.

The developer of Windows and Office software said it did not "observe an increase in successful connections" even after it rolled back the change to mitigate the impact.

"A moment ago nothing was working, then I went into files in Teams and it was working, now nothing is working. Well I guess now I have an excuse to not do work and watch TV," one Twitter user tweeted.

"We're pursuing mitigation steps for this issue. In parallel, we're rerouting traffic to alternate systems to provide further relief to the affected users,"&nbsp;Microsoft&nbsp;said on its status page, without specifying how many users were affected.

Several other Twitter users complained that the outage meant they could miss their job interviews and deadline for college assignments.

The Xbox maker also said https://bit.ly/339pRgI they were working to evaluate other solutions while they investigate the root cause of the outage.

Microsoft Corp said on Monday that multiple Microsoft 365 services, including Outlook.com and Microsoft Teams and other online services experience outage due to a recent change it introduced.

Microsoft Corp said on Monday that multiple Microsoft 365 services, including Outlook.com and Microsoft Teams and other online services experience outage due to a recent change it introduced. The outages were confirmed by an official spokesman and Downdetector which aggregates user reports of issues. User reports indicate Office 365 is having problems since 5:33 PM EDT. https://t.co/xVELvgTStJ RT if you're also having problems #Office365down — Downdetector (@downdetector) September 28, 2020 × While Teams is a collobaoration tool that integrates with Office 365, Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Excel are other online subcriptions the tech giant offers. The developer of Windows and Office software said it did not "observe an increase in successful connections" even after it rolled back the change to mitigate the impact. "A moment ago nothing was working, then I went into files in Teams and it was working, now nothing is working. Well I guess now I have an excuse to not do work and watch TV," one Twitter user tweeted. "We're pursuing mitigation steps for this issue. In parallel, we're rerouting traffic to alternate systems to provide further relief to the affected users," Microsoft said on its status page, without specifying how many users were affected. Several other Twitter users complained that the outage meant they could miss their job interviews and deadline for college assignments. The Xbox maker also said https://bit.ly/339pRgI they were working to evaluate other solutions while they investigate the root cause of the outage.

Microsoft Office 365, Teams and other online services experience outage

September 29 in history: First Asian woman to swim across English Channel and more

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's government on Monday revoked regulations protecting mangroves and other fragile coastal ecosystems, despite them being&nbsp;on the front line of climate change.

The decision eliminated so-called "permanent protection zones" created in 2002 to preserve Brazil's many tropical mangroves and the sand-dune scrublands known as "restinga" along its Atlantic coast.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-fires-burn-bolsonaro-says-brazil-should-be-congratulated-for-its-environment-work-328408">As fires burn, Bolsonaro says Brazil should be congratulated for its 'environment work'</a>

Environmentalists condemned the measure&nbsp;as a "crime" that would lead to their destruction and&nbsp;warned that rolling back the regulations would open such lands up to development, with possibly catastrophic impact on their ecosystems.

"These areas are already under intense pressure from real-estate development," said Mario Mantovani, head of environmental group SOS Mata Atlantica.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/brazil-president-jair-bolsonaro-and-his-non-normal-antics-314020">Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro and his 'non-normal' antics</a>

Mangroves cover 13,989 square kilometers along Brazil’s coast, an area larger than the US&nbsp;state of Maryland, and are a vital protection against climate change, according to biologist Renato de Almeida with the nearby Federal University of Reconcavo da Bahia.

It is the latest in a series of environmental controversies for the far-right president, who has presided over a surge in deforestation and fires in the Amazon rainforest and Pantanal wetlands since taking office in January 2019.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazilian-mayor-asks-bolsonaro-to-resign-shut-up-and-stay-at-home-as-death-toll-mounts-300982">Brazilian mayor asks Bolsonaro to 'resign, shut up, and stay at home' as death toll mounts</a>

The decision was made at a meeting of the National Environmental Council (Conama), which is presided over by controversial Environment Minister Ricardo Salles.

The council brings together government officials, environmental groups and business associations, but the administration has dramatically changed its composition.

Last year, the government issued a decree reducing the number of council members from 96 to 23, giving its own members more weight.

In other decisions, the council also repealed a measure requiring environmental permits for irrigation projects and authorized cement companies to burn empty pesticide containers to recycle them in concrete, a practice environmentalists say is highly polluting.

"Even as we witness record environmental devastation and Brazil is in flames, Salles dedicates his time to promoting even more destruction," environmental group Greenpeace said in a statement on the measures.

Salles has a knack for stirring up controversy.

In April, a video recording was made public of a Bolsonaro cabinet meeting at which the environment minister said the coronavirus pandemic was an opportunity to roll back regulations "now that the media's only talking about Covid."

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's government on Monday revoked regulations protecting mangroves and other fragile coastal ecosystems, despite them being on the front line of climate change.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's government on Monday revoked regulations protecting mangroves and other fragile coastal ecosystems, despite them being on the front line of climate change. The decision eliminated so-called "permanent protection zones" created in 2002 to preserve Brazil's many tropical mangroves and the sand-dune scrublands known as "restinga" along its Atlantic coast. Also read: As fires burn, Bolsonaro says Brazil should be congratulated for its 'environment work' Environmentalists condemned the measure as a "crime" that would lead to their destruction and warned that rolling back the regulations would open such lands up to development, with possibly catastrophic impact on their ecosystems. "These areas are already under intense pressure from real-estate development," said Mario Mantovani, head of environmental group SOS Mata Atlantica. Also see: Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro and his 'non-normal' antics Mangroves cover 13,989 square kilometers along Brazil’s coast, an area larger than the US state of Maryland, and are a vital protection against climate change, according to biologist Renato de Almeida with the nearby Federal University of Reconcavo da Bahia. It is the latest in a series of environmental controversies for the far-right president, who has presided over a surge in deforestation and fires in the Amazon rainforest and Pantanal wetlands since taking office in January 2019. Also read: Brazilian mayor asks Bolsonaro to 'resign, shut up, and stay at home' as death toll mounts The decision was made at a meeting of the National Environmental Council (Conama), which is presided over by controversial Environment Minister Ricardo Salles. The council brings together government officials, environmental groups and business associations, but the administration has dramatically changed its composition. Last year, the government issued a decree reducing the number of council members from 96 to 23, giving its own members more weight. In other decisions, the council also repealed a measure requiring environmental permits for irrigation projects and authorized cement companies to burn empty pesticide containers to recycle them in concrete, a practice environmentalists say is highly polluting. "Even as we witness record environmental devastation and Brazil is in flames, Salles dedicates his time to promoting even more destruction," environmental group Greenpeace said in a statement on the measures. Salles has a knack for stirring up controversy. In April, a video recording was made public of a Bolsonaro cabinet meeting at which the environment minister said the coronavirus pandemic was an opportunity to roll back regulations "now that the media's only talking about Covid."

Brazil: Bolsonaro's government triggers alarm after revoking mangrove protections

Saudi Arabia on Monday said it had broken up a terrorist cell this month that had received training from Iran's Revolutionary Guards, arresting 10 people and seizing weapons and explosives.

The spokesman for the presidency of state security said in a statement on state media that three of those arrested had been trained in Iran while the rest were "linked to the cell in various roles".

Cell members "received military and field training, including on how to make explosives, inside Revolutionary Guards sites in Iran" for several weeks in late 2017, he said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unga-2020-lebanons-iran-backed-hezbollah-must-be-disarmed-says-saudi-king-salman-329749">UNGA 2020: Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah must be 'disarmed', says Saudi King Salman</a>

The statement said weapons and explosives were confiscated at two locations, a house and a farm, in the Gulf Arab state, the world's largest oil exporter and a key US&nbsp;ally.

On September 23, Saudi Arabia's King&nbsp;Salman&nbsp;bin Abdulaziz had called for a comprehensive solution on Iran and disarming its affiliate Hezbollah in Lebanon&nbsp;during his first address to the United Nations General Assembly.

King&nbsp;Salman had said Iran has exploited a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers "to intensify its expansionist activities, create its terrorist networks, and use terrorism," adding that this had produced nothing but "chaos, extremism, and sectarianism."

Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite Iran are locked in several proxy wars in the region, including in Yemen. Riyadh has blamed Iran for an unprecedented missile and drone attack on the kingdom's oil facilities last year, a charge Tehran denies.

Saudi Arabia on Monday said it had broken up a terrorist cell this month that had received training from Iran's Revolutionary Guards, arresting 10 people and seizing weapons and explosives.

Saudi Arabia on Monday said it had broken up a terrorist cell this month that had received training from Iran's Revolutionary Guards, arresting 10 people and seizing weapons and explosives. The spokesman for the presidency of state security said in a statement on state media that three of those arrested had been trained in Iran while the rest were "linked to the cell in various roles". Cell members "received military and field training, including on how to make explosives, inside Revolutionary Guards sites in Iran" for several weeks in late 2017, he said. Also read: UNGA 2020: Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah must be 'disarmed', says Saudi King Salman The statement said weapons and explosives were confiscated at two locations, a house and a farm, in the Gulf Arab state, the world's largest oil exporter and a key US ally. On September 23, Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz had called for a comprehensive solution on Iran and disarming its affiliate Hezbollah in Lebanon during his first address to the United Nations General Assembly. King Salman had said Iran has exploited a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers "to intensify its expansionist activities, create its terrorist networks, and use terrorism," adding that this had produced nothing but "chaos, extremism, and sectarianism." Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite Iran are locked in several proxy wars in the region, including in Yemen. Riyadh has blamed Iran for an unprecedented missile and drone attack on the kingdom's oil facilities last year, a charge Tehran denies.

Terrorist cell trained by Iran's Revolutionary Guards busted by Saudi Arabia

Ligen Eliyas deftly turns the excavator's hydraulic arm to push a huge boulder into the Zanskar river below in a cloud of dust, clearing another bit of land for a strategic highway that India is hurriedly building near the Chinese border.

The construction site near the hamlet of Chilling in the Ladakh region is around 250 km (150 miles) west of the area where Indian and Chinese troops are locked in the most serious confrontation in decades.

But when ready, the road will provide the only year-round access to large parts of Ladakh, including the border zone.&nbsp;

Also see|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/india-china-standoff-how-indias-t-90-bhishma-battle-tank-is-outflanking-chinas-pla-at-lac-328483" hreflang="en">India-China standoff: How India's T-90 Bhishma battle tank is outflanking China's PLA at LAC</a>

"It will become a lot easier for the army after this road is finished," Eliyas said, with parts of his face and khaki uniform caked in fine stone dust.

The protracted standoff in the remote western Himalayan region erupted into a bloody hand-to-hand clash in June in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed and China suffered an unspecified number of casualties. The Asian giants fought a brief but bloody border war in 1962.

Also see|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/india-china-standoff-how-indian-military-is-preparing-for-the-treacherous-high-altitude-winter-against-pla-at-lac-327944" hreflang="en">India-China standoff: How Indian military is preparing for the treacherous, high-altitude winter against PLA at LAC</a>

The 283-km (175-mile)-long Nimmu-Padam-Darcha (NPD) highway, where Eliyas is working, is expected to be completed in three years, officials said. It highlights the efforts by India, which have been redoubled after the latest tensions, to develop key infrastructure - roads, tunnels, bridges and airfields - along the unsettled 3,500 km (2,170 mile) border with China.

The road will link up with an 8.8-km tunnel that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate in coming weeks, opening the snow deserts of Ladakh to the rest of the country all year round.

There are two main highways that connect Ladakh to the rest of India, but they are closed for at least four months every winter. The only way urgent supplies are sent to Ladakh during these months is by air.

With thousands of its troops amassed at the border and no sign of a drawdown, India is now pushing harder to blast and smash its way through the Himalayas.

"We will not back down from taking any big and tough step in the interest of our country," Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told parliament this month, adding the government had doubled the budget for infrastructure work on the China border.

The frenetic construction itself has become a thorny issue this summer with the Chinese complaining that the Indian activity in the mountains was destabilising, Indian officials said. But China built its infrastructure in the area years ago, and it needs to be matched, they said.

"China does not recognise the so-called 'Ladakh Union Territory' illegally set up by India and is opposed to infrastructure building at the border area for the purpose of military control," the office of China's foreign ministry spokesperson said. It added that according to a recent consensus by both sides, no side should be taking any action that complicates the situation at the border area.

China's Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

MATTER OF HOURS

China's network of roads and railways, logistics depots and helipads mean that it can move troops to forward areas in a matter of hours, said Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, a distinguished fellow at New Delhi think-tank Observer Research Foundation.

For India, it would take days to match those deployments, she said.

"The infrastructure buildup by the Chinese is not only aiming at the quick deployment of forces but also to sustain them for a relatively longer period of time," Rajagopalan said.

Conceived in 1999, India's NPD project moved at a glacial pace till work picked just a couple of year ago, said N.K. Jain, a commander in the state-run Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

Since then, the BRO has built some 100 km of the NPD project, and constructed 11 of the 15 major bridges on the route. "Our work is happening at double the speed in the last two years," Jain said.

New drilling machines that push dynamite sticks deeper and faster into hard rock to blow them apart have improved the speed of construction, said B. Kishen, a BRO executive engineer who is supervising the project near Chilling.

On a recent afternoon, dozens of workers cleared debris from a freshly blasted section of the road. A few kilometres away, another group crouched under an excavator as explosives went off to clear land for another section of the highway.

Work will continue through the bitter winter, when temperatures drop to below minus 40 Celsius (minus 40 Fahrenheit) and biting winds at altitudes above 11,000 feet (3,300 m) make road construction even more challenging, Kishen said.

The government has identified 73 strategically important roads along the Chinese border, of which 61 are with the BRO, running over 3,300 km (2,000 miles). A parliamentary committee report in March noted that 75% of the work under BRO had been completed.

The full network of roads will cut down travel time between key Indian military bases, allowing for quicker mobilisation of troops and ease patrolling in some forward areas, an Indian official said.

"It will also lead to lower expenditure for the forces," the official said, with all-weather roads replacing the need for expensive airlift operations during the winter months.

"We will have a better chance of catching up with the Chinese."

Ligen Eliyas deftly turns the excavator's hydraulic arm to push a huge boulder into the Zanskar river below in a cloud of dust, clearing another bit of land for a strategic highway that India is hurriedly building near the Chinese border.

Ligen Eliyas deftly turns the excavator's hydraulic arm to push a huge boulder into the Zanskar river below in a cloud of dust, clearing another bit of land for a strategic highway that India is hurriedly building near the Chinese border. The construction site near the hamlet of Chilling in the Ladakh region is around 250 km (150 miles) west of the area where Indian and Chinese troops are locked in the most serious confrontation in decades. But when ready, the road will provide the only year-round access to large parts of Ladakh, including the border zone. Also see| India-China standoff: How India's T-90 Bhishma battle tank is outflanking China's PLA at LAC "It will become a lot easier for the army after this road is finished," Eliyas said, with parts of his face and khaki uniform caked in fine stone dust. The protracted standoff in the remote western Himalayan region erupted into a bloody hand-to-hand clash in June in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed and China suffered an unspecified number of casualties. The Asian giants fought a brief but bloody border war in 1962. Also see| India-China standoff: How Indian military is preparing for the treacherous, high-altitude winter against PLA at LAC The 283-km (175-mile)-long Nimmu-Padam-Darcha (NPD) highway, where Eliyas is working, is expected to be completed in three years, officials said. It highlights the efforts by India, which have been redoubled after the latest tensions, to develop key infrastructure - roads, tunnels, bridges and airfields - along the unsettled 3,500 km (2,170 mile) border with China. The road will link up with an 8.8-km tunnel that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate in coming weeks, opening the snow deserts of Ladakh to the rest of the country all year round. There are two main highways that connect Ladakh to the rest of India, but they are closed for at least four months every winter. The only way urgent supplies are sent to Ladakh during these months is by air. With thousands of its troops amassed at the border and no sign of a drawdown, India is now pushing harder to blast and smash its way through the Himalayas. "We will not back down from taking any big and tough step in the interest of our country," Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told parliament this month, adding the government had doubled the budget for infrastructure work on the China border. The frenetic construction itself has become a thorny issue this summer with the Chinese complaining that the Indian activity in the mountains was destabilising, Indian officials said. But China built its infrastructure in the area years ago, and it needs to be matched, they said. "China does not recognise the so-called 'Ladakh Union Territory' illegally set up by India and is opposed to infrastructure building at the border area for the purpose of military control," the office of China's foreign ministry spokesperson said. It added that according to a recent consensus by both sides, no side should be taking any action that complicates the situation at the border area. China's Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. MATTER OF HOURS China's network of roads and railways, logistics depots and helipads mean that it can move troops to forward areas in a matter of hours, said Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, a distinguished fellow at New Delhi think-tank Observer Research Foundation. For India, it would take days to match those deployments, she said. "The infrastructure buildup by the Chinese is not only aiming at the quick deployment of forces but also to sustain them for a relatively longer period of time," Rajagopalan said. Conceived in 1999, India's NPD project moved at a glacial pace till work picked just a couple of year ago, said N.K. Jain, a commander in the state-run Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Since then, the BRO has built some 100 km of the NPD project, and constructed 11 of the 15 major bridges on the route. "Our work is happening at double the speed in the last two years," Jain said. New drilling machines that push dynamite sticks deeper and faster into hard rock to blow them apart have improved the speed of construction, said B. Kishen, a BRO executive engineer who is supervising the project near Chilling. On a recent afternoon, dozens of workers cleared debris from a freshly blasted section of the road. A few kilometres away, another group crouched under an excavator as explosives went off to clear land for another section of the highway. Work will continue through the bitter winter, when temperatures drop to below minus 40 Celsius (minus 40 Fahrenheit) and biting winds at altitudes above 11,000 feet (3,300 m) make road construction even more challenging, Kishen said. The government has identified 73 strategically important roads along the Chinese border, of which 61 are with the BRO, running over 3,300 km (2,000 miles). A parliamentary committee report in March noted that 75% of the work under BRO had been completed. The full network of roads will cut down travel time between key Indian military bases, allowing for quicker mobilisation of troops and ease patrolling in some forward areas, an Indian official said. "It will also lead to lower expenditure for the forces," the official said, with all-weather roads replacing the need for expensive airlift operations during the winter months. "We will have a better chance of catching up with the Chinese."

India builds Himalayan bridges and highways amid standoff with China

A Pakistan Army officer was killed in a terrorist attack in the northwest tribal district of South Waziristan, the Army said on Monday night.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the army, the attack took place when terrorists opened fire at security forces while they were conducting patrolling to check terrorists` move at Shakai area of the district Sunday night, Xinhua reported.

The area was cordoned off for clearance operation, the statement said.

No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

The Pakistani military had conducted a series of operations against terrorist groups in South Waziristan in recent years.

A Pakistan Army officer was killed in a terrorist attack in the northwest tribal district of South Waziristan, the Army said on Monday night. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the army, the attack took place when terrorists opened fire at security forces while they were conducting patrolling to check terrorists` move at Shakai area of the district Sunday night, Xinhua reported.

A Pakistan Army officer was killed in a terrorist attack in the northwest tribal district of South Waziristan, the Army said on Monday night. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the army, the attack took place when terrorists opened fire at security forces while they were conducting patrolling to check terrorists` move at Shakai area of the district Sunday night, Xinhua reported. The area was cordoned off for clearance operation, the statement said. No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. The Pakistani military had conducted a series of operations against terrorist groups in South Waziristan in recent years.

Pakistan Army officer killed in terror attack in Waziristan

French President&nbsp;Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday&nbsp;invited&nbsp;Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya to address his country's&nbsp;parliament, following a meeting with her during his Lithunai visit.

Tikhanovskaya said&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;promised her to help negotiate with the Belarus authorities and secure the release of the political prisoners.

"He promised us to do everything to help with negotiations, (during) this political crisis in our country ... and he will do everything to help to release all the political prisoners", Tsikhanouskaya told reporters in English after the meeting in Vilnius.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/we-come-in-peace-belarusian-women-dressed-in-white-protest-against-corrupt-leadership-321060">We come in peace: Belarusian women dressed in white protest against corrupt leadership</a>

Highest-profile meeting yet

It was&nbsp;Tikhanovskaya's most high-profile meeting with an international leader since the elections on August 9 and the protests which she has helped inspire.

She has previously met with leaders in neighbouring Poland and Lithuania, which have taken a lead in European diplomacy on Belarus, and with EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

The EU is considering personal sanctions against Lukashenko and other high-profile figures seen as responsible for the violent crackdown.

On Monday, on his first day in Vilnius, where Tsikhanouskaya fled into exile,&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;urged Belarus authorities to stop unlawful arrests, release protesters detained arbitrarily and respect election results.

He had urged Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko to go on Sunday, hardening his stance as tens of thousands marched in Belarus for a seventh straight weekend to demand Lukashenko quit.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday invited Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya to address his country's parliament, following a meeting with her during his Lithunai visit.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday invited Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya to address his country's parliament, following a meeting with her during his Lithunai visit. Tikhanovskaya said Macron promised her to help negotiate with the Belarus authorities and secure the release of the political prisoners. "He promised us to do everything to help with negotiations, (during) this political crisis in our country ... and he will do everything to help to release all the political prisoners", Tsikhanouskaya told reporters in English after the meeting in Vilnius. Also see: We come in peace: Belarusian women dressed in white protest against corrupt leadership Highest-profile meeting yet It was Tikhanovskaya's most high-profile meeting with an international leader since the elections on August 9 and the protests which she has helped inspire. She has previously met with leaders in neighbouring Poland and Lithuania, which have taken a lead in European diplomacy on Belarus, and with EU foreign ministers in Brussels. The EU is considering personal sanctions against Lukashenko and other high-profile figures seen as responsible for the violent crackdown. On Monday, on his first day in Vilnius, where Tsikhanouskaya fled into exile, Macron urged Belarus authorities to stop unlawful arrests, release protesters detained arbitrarily and respect election results. He had urged Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko to go on Sunday, hardening his stance as tens of thousands marched in Belarus for a seventh straight weekend to demand Lukashenko quit.

Emmanuel Macron invites Belarus opposition leader to address French parliament

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