Understanding The Battle For Influence Between The U.S. & Russia In West Asia There has been a constant echo during Trump's tenure as U.S. President so far. Did Russia install a yes-man in the White House?

WION Edit: Is Putin The New Tsar Of West Asia?

The United States is not aware of any "major" escape of Islamic State extremists since <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-forces-patrolling-between-syrian-turkish-forces-256159">Turkey launched its assault on Syrian Kurdish fighters</a> holding the prisoners, an official said Tuesday.

"We haven't seen any major successful breakout so far of the detainees," the senior administration official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

His remarks appeared at odds with US Defense Secretary Mark Esper who, criticising Turkey on Monday, said the incursion "resulted in the release of many dangerous ISIS detainees."

Vice President Mike Pence will leave within 24 hours to Ankara to press <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-nations-security-council-to-meet-on-turkish-syria-assault-256140">Turkey for a ceasefire in its offensive against Syrian Kurdish fighters</a>, a US official said Tuesday.

"We will launching off to Ankara in the next 24 hours," the official said, a day after Pence announced his trip to Turkey without specifying the timing.

Turkey on Tuesday vowed to pursue its Syria offensive and slammed a "dirty deal" between President Bashar al-Assad's regime and Kurdish forces after the withdrawal of US forces from northern Syria.&nbsp;

"We will continue to combat all terrorist groups, including Daesh, whether or not the world agrees to support our efforts," Fahrettin Altun, communications director at the Turkish presidency, told AFP, using an alternative acronym for the Islamic State group.

Turkish presidency slams 'dirty deal' between Syria's Assad and Kurdish forces.

&nbsp;

The United States is not aware of any "major" escape of Islamic State extremists since Turkey launched its assault on Syrian Kurdish fighters holding the prisoners, an official said Tuesday.

The United States is not aware of any "major" escape of Islamic State extremists since Turkey launched its assault on Syrian Kurdish fighters holding the prisoners, an official said Tuesday. "We haven't seen any major successful breakout so far of the detainees," the senior administration official told reporters on condition of anonymity. His remarks appeared at odds with US Defense Secretary Mark Esper who, criticising Turkey on Monday, said the incursion "resulted in the release of many dangerous ISIS detainees." Vice President Mike Pence will leave within 24 hours to Ankara to press Turkey for a ceasefire in its offensive against Syrian Kurdish fighters, a US official said Tuesday. "We will launching off to Ankara in the next 24 hours," the official said, a day after Pence announced his trip to Turkey without specifying the timing. Turkey on Tuesday vowed to pursue its Syria offensive and slammed a "dirty deal" between President Bashar al-Assad's regime and Kurdish forces after the withdrawal of US forces from northern Syria. "We will continue to combat all terrorist groups, including Daesh, whether or not the world agrees to support our efforts," Fahrettin Altun, communications director at the Turkish presidency, told AFP, using an alternative acronym for the Islamic State group. Turkish presidency slams 'dirty deal' between Syria's Assad and Kurdish forces.

United States officials not aware of escape of Islamic State extremists, Mike Pence leaving for Turkey in 24 hours

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - October 15th, 2019

Tens of thousands of pro-democracy activists rallied in Hong Kong on October 14 in the first legal protest since the introduction of colonial-era emergency laws. Protesters pleaded for help from the United States. Watch this video to know more.

US Congress set to discuss key Hong Kong law

The Pentagon has begun removing all its troops in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syria-regime-steps-in-to-halt-turkish-assault-on-kurds-255907">northern Syria</a>, a US official said Monday, after President Donald Trump ordered them to leave in the face of Turkey's attacks on Kurds in the area.

Nearly 1,000 troops will vacate the country, leaving behind only a small contingent of 150 in the southern Syria base at Al Tanf, the official said.

"We are executing the order," the official told AFP.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/big-sanctions-coming-on-turkey-declares-us-president-trump-255891">Big sanctions coming on Turkey, declares US President Trump</a>

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been pressing a deadly assault against Kurdish forces -- a key US ally in the five-year battle to crush the Islamic State group -- in northeastern Syria since Wednesday last week.

Trump, whose order to pull back US special forces from the border effectively triggered the incursion, has faced a firestorm of criticism for appearing to give NATO member Turkey the green light for the push.

On Sunday Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Trump had ordered the withdrawal of the remaining troops deployed in northern Syria, with the US seeking to avoid getting caught between two allies.

But Esper did not make clear whether the troops would simply pull back to a position further south or quit the country completely.

Trump's critics accuse him of abandoning the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, who Ankara says support Kurdish rebels inside Turkey.

Earlier Monday Trump said he planned "big sanctions" against Turkey for the attacks into Syria, but also criticized the Kurds for allegedly trying to suck US forces into the conflict.

He suggested the Kurds were releasing Islamic State prisoners in their custody "to get us involved" in the conflict.

"Do people really think we should go to war with NATO Member Turkey?" Trump said, ruing "never ending wars."

"The same people who got us into the Middle East mess are the people who most want to stay there!" 
&nbsp;

The Pentagon has begun removing all its troops in northern Syria, a US official said Monday, after President Donald Trump ordered them to leave in the face of Turkey's attacks on Kurds in the area.

The Pentagon has begun removing all its troops in northern Syria, a US official said Monday, after President Donald Trump ordered them to leave in the face of Turkey's attacks on Kurds in the area. Nearly 1,000 troops will vacate the country, leaving behind only a small contingent of 150 in the southern Syria base at Al Tanf, the official said. "We are executing the order," the official told AFP. Also read: Big sanctions coming on Turkey, declares US President Trump Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been pressing a deadly assault against Kurdish forces -- a key US ally in the five-year battle to crush the Islamic State group -- in northeastern Syria since Wednesday last week. Trump, whose order to pull back US special forces from the border effectively triggered the incursion, has faced a firestorm of criticism for appearing to give NATO member Turkey the green light for the push. On Sunday Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Trump had ordered the withdrawal of the remaining troops deployed in northern Syria, with the US seeking to avoid getting caught between two allies. But Esper did not make clear whether the troops would simply pull back to a position further south or quit the country completely. Trump's critics accuse him of abandoning the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, who Ankara says support Kurdish rebels inside Turkey. Earlier Monday Trump said he planned "big sanctions" against Turkey for the attacks into Syria, but also criticized the Kurds for allegedly trying to suck US forces into the conflict. He suggested the Kurds were releasing Islamic State prisoners in their custody "to get us involved" in the conflict. "Do people really think we should go to war with NATO Member Turkey?" Trump said, ruing "never ending wars." "The same people who got us into the Middle East mess are the people who most want to stay there!"

US troops in northern Syria ordered to leave country: US official

US President Donald Trump said on Friday he will nominate US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan to be the US ambassador to Russia.

If confirmed by the Senate, Sullivan would be the top US diplomat in Russia at a particularly challenging time for Trump's presidency, which is facing an impeachment inquiry after Trump pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate his domestic political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden

Trump had said in August he was considering Sullivan for the envoy job. Sullivan had also been under consideration to be Trump's national security adviser, a role that ultimately ended up going to Robert O'Brien, the former US special envoy for hostage affairs.

Sullivan will replace Jon Huntsman, who resigned in August after two years in the post, amid speculation that he will run for Utah governor.

Sullivan was a lawyer and had served in previous Republican administrations before becoming the deputy secretary of state in 2017.

Moscow has come under fire from Washington most recently because US intelligence agencies concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential elections. Russia has denied wrongdoing.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday he will nominate US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan to be the US ambassador to Russia. If confirmed by the Senate, Sullivan would be the top US diplomat in Russia at a particularly challenging time for Trump's presidency, which is facing an impeachment inquiry after Trump pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate his domestic political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden Trump had said in August he was considering Sullivan for the envoy job.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday he will nominate US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan to be the US ambassador to Russia. If confirmed by the Senate, Sullivan would be the top US diplomat in Russia at a particularly challenging time for Trump's presidency, which is facing an impeachment inquiry after Trump pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate his domestic political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden Trump had said in August he was considering Sullivan for the envoy job. Sullivan had also been under consideration to be Trump's national security adviser, a role that ultimately ended up going to Robert O'Brien, the former US special envoy for hostage affairs. Sullivan will replace Jon Huntsman, who resigned in August after two years in the post, amid speculation that he will run for Utah governor. Sullivan was a lawyer and had served in previous Republican administrations before becoming the deputy secretary of state in 2017. Moscow has come under fire from Washington most recently because US intelligence agencies concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential elections. Russia has denied wrongdoing.

Trump names John Sullivan as his pick for US ambassador to Russia

Syria-Turkey Conflict: NATO should back Turkey says, Erdogan. To know more watch the video

Syria-Turkey Conflict: NATO should back Turkey says, Erdogan

PM Modi-President Xi Jinping: A study in contrast

Turkish troops and their Syrian rebel allies attacked Kurdish militia in northeast Syria on Wednesday, pounding them with airstrikes and artillery before starting a cross-border ground operation that could transform an eight-year-old war.

Daniele Pagani, Bureau Chief, West Asia on Turkey-Syria conflict

By Cynthia Hooper

The Russians are calling it “Ukrainegate.”

“I never thought I’d say it, but CNN is right,” remarked one pundit on Russia 1, the county’s most-watched television station. “The person who wins in this situation is Putin.”

Commentary in Russian media about the impeachment investigation of US President Donald Trump in many ways echoes the language of US&nbsp;coverage. Just a few of the jokes are different.

“Of course, if Trump is impeached, he could probably return here, if you believe the American press,” laughed one Moscow-based moderator.

As a historian who studies contemporary Russia, I have seen the pro-Kremlin Russian political and media establishment grow increasingly skilled at spinning stories to highlight US political weaknesses over the past five years – since conflict between the US and Russia first erupted over Russia’s annexation of a portion of Ukraine.

This latest scandal, revolving around a phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, is a gift for those wishing to advertise US dysfunction without seeming to engage in heavy-handed censorship or promote obviously deceptive propaganda.

One tactic is comedy. In a catchy YouTube feature by the Kremlin-funded English-language media service RT, titled “Ukrainegate: The Next Best Thing,” an enthusiastic young woman with a British accent gives a synopsis of the impeachment investigation. In less than three minutes, she succeeds in mocking both the US and Ukrainian presidents, the US political system, and the ignorance and condescension of the average Democratic operative.

She begins: “Despite all the effort that went into Russiagate, the claims against Donald Trump just won’t stick. Luckily for the Democrats, there are plenty more Eastern European countries that can be used to bring down a president.”

Ukraine is, of course, the country she’s referring to. “If you squint, it could even be Russia,” she says. “It’s big, it’s cold, and everyone speaks Russian … sort of.”

Who is to blame?

Most Russian newspapers are echoing Republican condemnation of Democrats for allegedly concocting another scandal involving Trump after failing to find proof his campaign colluded with Russia to swing his 2016 election.

“The Democrats are making a laughingstock of themselves. If they are not careful, this could end up exposing a lot of Democratic corruption dating back to the Clinton years. But at least it’s keeping them busy – otherwise, they’d return to interfering in the Russian economy.” So remarked one panellist to general applause on “Vecher” (“Evening”), a popular prime-time talk show with pro-Putin host Vladimir Soloviev.

“The actions of US Democrats are exposing their country to global ridicule,” wrote Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Facebook.

Russian pundits are also presenting the US intelligence community as highly politicised and unreliable. Many repeat variants of Trump’s own angry tweets, accusing the security organs of trying to orchestrate a coup.

At the opening of Russian Energy Week in Moscow on October 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin likewise criticised their actions, which he claimed had little to do with defending rule of law.

During Watergate, Putin said, US President Richard Nixon got into trouble “for eavesdropping on his political rivals. But here we have a totally different situation. Here Trump was eavesdropped on … and some kind of anonymous employee of the special services distributed that&nbsp; 
information.”

Trump slump

Even in defending Trump, the Russian establishment casts him as far more vulnerable than their own leader.

Putin, meanwhile, is taking a cool, professorial tone in describing the US&nbsp;situation to international audiences.

“I was taught long ago to be aware that any of my conversations could end up published,” Putin remarked at the Energy Week panel, alluding to his past training in espionage. He claimed that, consequently, he had nothing to hide and did not oppose making public the transcripts of his meetings with Trump.

Nevertheless, even independent Russian media services generally critical of the Kremlin have pointed out that Trump, not Putin, might be the one with something to hide. Citing The Washington Post, internet news company Meduza reported that in one redacted meeting Trump held in 2017 with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Trump allegedly said that “he wasn’t greatly upset about Russian meddling in the American presidential election of 2016, given that America has done the same thing in many other countries.”

Russian talk show hosts, meanwhile, are expressing incredulity at the fact that a sitting US president can’t apparently manage to keep his would-be secrets secret.

As nationalist Eduard Limonov argued: “If I were in Trump’s position, I’d create my own secret service, answering only to me, and I wouldn’t drink or eat anything that wasn’t vetted by my own people.”

Even as Russian commentators defend both Trump and to some extent Ukrainian leader Zelenskiy, they also are taking the opportunity to remind viewers that the two men both lack political experience. Trump probably thought he and Zelenskiy, the star of a popular television sitcom before he became president, could be “kindred spirits, able to reminisce about promising TV careers ruined by a move into politics,” RT joked.

Looking like a global leader

Amid a barrage of increasingly sensational Western headlines, Russian journalists can allow the US media to do their work for them. Selective quotes from US coverage of Washington’s bitter political battles are held up, in the Russian press, as examples of US hypocrisy and decay.

At the same time, Russian leaders are presenting themselves as statesmanlike and above the fray. Their benevolent attitude, at least for the moment, appears to extend to Ukraine, thanks to Zelenskiy’s apparent willingness to make peace with the Kremlin.

“I don’t envy him,” said Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on a trip to Cuba, refusing to get drawn into a reporter’s question about whether “Zelenskiy has become Trump’s Monica Lewinsky” but still laughing at the jest.

Meanwhile, Putin continues to position himself to look strong on the global stage. Taking questions with a panel of oil and gas executives in Moscow on October 2, he joked about planning to interfere in 2020 US elections.

But, speaking the next day at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi to an audience that included the King of Jordan and the presidents of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and the Philippines, Putin emphasised that today’s complex world requires global cooperation and a sense of “common responsibility.”

Taking the tone of a parent talking about a small child, Putin suggested the US try hard to correct its all-consuming domestic chaos. He stressed that Moscow will be willing to work with whomever the future US leader might be.

(Cynthia Hooper is Associate Professor of History, College of the Holy Cross)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/for-russia-talk-of-trump-impeachment-is-the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving-124689">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp;

By Cynthia Hooper The Russians are calling it “Ukrainegate.” “I never thought I’d say it, but CNN is right,” remarked one pundit on Russia 1, the county’s most-watched television station.

By Cynthia Hooper The Russians are calling it “Ukrainegate.” “I never thought I’d say it, but CNN is right,” remarked one pundit on Russia 1, the county’s most-watched television station. “The person who wins in this situation is Putin.” Commentary in Russian media about the impeachment investigation of US President Donald Trump in many ways echoes the language of US coverage. Just a few of the jokes are different. “Of course, if Trump is impeached, he could probably return here, if you believe the American press,” laughed one Moscow-based moderator. As a historian who studies contemporary Russia, I have seen the pro-Kremlin Russian political and media establishment grow increasingly skilled at spinning stories to highlight US political weaknesses over the past five years – since conflict between the US and Russia first erupted over Russia’s annexation of a portion of Ukraine. This latest scandal, revolving around a phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, is a gift for those wishing to advertise US dysfunction without seeming to engage in heavy-handed censorship or promote obviously deceptive propaganda. One tactic is comedy. In a catchy YouTube feature by the Kremlin-funded English-language media service RT, titled “Ukrainegate: The Next Best Thing,” an enthusiastic young woman with a British accent gives a synopsis of the impeachment investigation. In less than three minutes, she succeeds in mocking both the US and Ukrainian presidents, the US political system, and the ignorance and condescension of the average Democratic operative. She begins: “Despite all the effort that went into Russiagate, the claims against Donald Trump just won’t stick. Luckily for the Democrats, there are plenty more Eastern European countries that can be used to bring down a president.” Ukraine is, of course, the country she’s referring to. “If you squint, it could even be Russia,” she says. “It’s big, it’s cold, and everyone speaks Russian … sort of.” Who is to blame? Most Russian newspapers are echoing Republican condemnation of Democrats for allegedly concocting another scandal involving Trump after failing to find proof his campaign colluded with Russia to swing his 2016 election. “The Democrats are making a laughingstock of themselves. If they are not careful, this could end up exposing a lot of Democratic corruption dating back to the Clinton years. But at least it’s keeping them busy – otherwise, they’d return to interfering in the Russian economy.” So remarked one panellist to general applause on “Vecher” (“Evening”), a popular prime-time talk show with pro-Putin host Vladimir Soloviev. “The actions of US Democrats are exposing their country to global ridicule,” wrote Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Facebook. Russian pundits are also presenting the US intelligence community as highly politicised and unreliable. Many repeat variants of Trump’s own angry tweets, accusing the security organs of trying to orchestrate a coup. At the opening of Russian Energy Week in Moscow on October 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin likewise criticised their actions, which he claimed had little to do with defending rule of law. During Watergate, Putin said, US President Richard Nixon got into trouble “for eavesdropping on his political rivals. But here we have a totally different situation. Here Trump was eavesdropped on … and some kind of anonymous employee of the special services distributed that information.” Trump slump Even in defending Trump, the Russian establishment casts him as far more vulnerable than their own leader. Putin, meanwhile, is taking a cool, professorial tone in describing the US situation to international audiences. “I was taught long ago to be aware that any of my conversations could end up published,” Putin remarked at the Energy Week panel, alluding to his past training in espionage. He claimed that, consequently, he had nothing to hide and did not oppose making public the transcripts of his meetings with Trump. Nevertheless, even independent Russian media services generally critical of the Kremlin have pointed out that Trump, not Putin, might be the one with something to hide. Citing The Washington Post, internet news company Meduza reported that in one redacted meeting Trump held in 2017 with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Trump allegedly said that “he wasn’t greatly upset about Russian meddling in the American presidential election of 2016, given that America has done the same thing in many other countries.” Russian talk show hosts, meanwhile, are expressing incredulity at the fact that a sitting US president can’t apparently manage to keep his would-be secrets secret. As nationalist Eduard Limonov argued: “If I were in Trump’s position, I’d create my own secret service, answering only to me, and I wouldn’t drink or eat anything that wasn’t vetted by my own people.” Even as Russian commentators defend both Trump and to some extent Ukrainian leader Zelenskiy, they also are taking the opportunity to remind viewers that the two men both lack political experience. Trump probably thought he and Zelenskiy, the star of a popular television sitcom before he became president, could be “kindred spirits, able to reminisce about promising TV careers ruined by a move into politics,” RT joked. Looking like a global leader Amid a barrage of increasingly sensational Western headlines, Russian journalists can allow the US media to do their work for them. Selective quotes from US coverage of Washington’s bitter political battles are held up, in the Russian press, as examples of US hypocrisy and decay. At the same time, Russian leaders are presenting themselves as statesmanlike and above the fray. Their benevolent attitude, at least for the moment, appears to extend to Ukraine, thanks to Zelenskiy’s apparent willingness to make peace with the Kremlin. “I don’t envy him,” said Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on a trip to Cuba, refusing to get drawn into a reporter’s question about whether “Zelenskiy has become Trump’s Monica Lewinsky” but still laughing at the jest. Meanwhile, Putin continues to position himself to look strong on the global stage. Taking questions with a panel of oil and gas executives in Moscow on October 2, he joked about planning to interfere in 2020 US elections. But, speaking the next day at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi to an audience that included the King of Jordan and the presidents of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and the Philippines, Putin emphasised that today’s complex world requires global cooperation and a sense of “common responsibility.” Taking the tone of a parent talking about a small child, Putin suggested the US try hard to correct its all-consuming domestic chaos. He stressed that Moscow will be willing to work with whomever the future US leader might be. (Cynthia Hooper is Associate Professor of History, College of the Holy Cross) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

For Russia, talk of Donald Trump impeachment is the gift that keeps on giving

Turkish troops and their Syrian rebel allies attacked Kurdish militia in northeast Syria on Wednesday, pounding them with airstrikes and artillery before starting a cross-border ground operation that could transform an eight-year-old war. Know about the latest updates from Daniele Pagani, Bureau Chief, West Asia

Daniele Pagani, Bureau Chief, West Asia speaks on Turkey-Syria conflict

US Uses Human Rights & Democracy As Sticks To Beat Adversaries With One story, many Presidents, one theme, many versions; whenever the U.S. rakes up human rights and democracy in other countries, it's done for strategic gains. Be it Iraq, Libya or Syria, the U.S. intervention has only resulted in chaos and destruction. This report explores

Gravitas: U.S. & Its Dodgy Human Rights Reputation

Ahead Of Crucial Trade Talks With China, The U.S. Has Suddenly Woken Up To China's Treatment Of Uighurs In Xinjiang.

Gravitas: U.S. Wakes Up To China's Atrocities

Exposing The Many Human Rights Violations Of The U.S., At Home & In Other Countries.

WION Edit: Does The U.S. Have Any Locus Standi To Talk About Human Rights?

India slipped ten&nbsp;places to rank at 68th spot on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/can-india-realistically-become-us-5-trillion-economy-236846">Global Competitiveness Index</a>(GCI)&nbsp;while Singapore became the world's most competitive economy pushing the US to the second rank.

Launched in 1979, the GCI&nbsp;maps the competitiveness landscape of 141 economies through 103 indicators such as inflation, digital skills, life expectancy and&nbsp;trade tariffs.

India, which was ranked 58th in the annual Global Competitiveness Index compiled by Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF), is among the worst-performing BRICS nations along with Brazil which ranked even lower than India at 71st this year.

China was ranked&nbsp;at 28th spot&nbsp;same as last year&nbsp;but took the lead in terms of competitiveness among the BRICS economies.

Meanwhile, Singapore replaced the US as the world's most competitive economy. It scored for its superior public sector, labour force, diversity and infrastructure.

Hong Kong, Netherlands and Switzerland followed at third, fourth and fifth place&nbsp;respectively.

In the index, India was&nbsp;followed by some of its neighbours including Sri Lanka at 84th place, Bangladesh at 105th, Nepal at 108th and Pakistan at 110th place.

Here are the 10 most competitiveness economies of the world.

1. Singapore

2. United States

3. Hong Kong

4. Netherlands

5. Switzerland

6. Japan

7. Germany

8. Sweden

9. United Kingdom

10. Denmark

The report cautioned that the constantly changing geopolitical backdrop and escalating trade tensions have increased uncertainty in the global economy&nbsp;which could lead to an economic slowdown.

Watch: Cautious optimism about Indian economy

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The WEF reminded policymakers of the necessity to take a "holistic approach"&nbsp;on&nbsp;planning, focus on quality-centred development, and further balance the relationship among short-term factors, quarterly reports and electoral cycles.

"The international trading system is [not] perfect, it needs to be improved. There are some issues in the international trading system, but this rule-based system is the way to go. Increasing tariff is not helping at all. And yes, it's bad, this kind of protectionism is bad. It's the uncertainty that this tension creates that is affecting the business sentiment and could actually accelerate the downturn, that is for the global economy, there seems to be a downturn coming," said Thierry Geiger, head of analytics and quantitative research on&nbsp;global&nbsp;competitiveness&nbsp;and risks.

The report further stressed the importance of openness, with experts urging the importance of greater investment in education, skills training and a more balanced and inclusive development model that will contribute to the healthy development of the global economy.

(With inputs from agencies)

India slipped ten places to rank at 68th spot on the Global Competitiveness Index(GCI) while Singapore became the world's most competitive economy pushing the US to the second rank.

India slipped ten places to rank at 68th spot on the Global Competitiveness Index(GCI) while Singapore became the world's most competitive economy pushing the US to the second rank. Launched in 1979, the GCI maps the competitiveness landscape of 141 economies through 103 indicators such as inflation, digital skills, life expectancy and trade tariffs. India, which was ranked 58th in the annual Global Competitiveness Index compiled by Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF), is among the worst-performing BRICS nations along with Brazil which ranked even lower than India at 71st this year. China was ranked at 28th spot same as last year but took the lead in terms of competitiveness among the BRICS economies. Meanwhile, Singapore replaced the US as the world's most competitive economy. It scored for its superior public sector, labour force, diversity and infrastructure. Hong Kong, Netherlands and Switzerland followed at third, fourth and fifth place respectively. In the index, India was followed by some of its neighbours including Sri Lanka at 84th place, Bangladesh at 105th, Nepal at 108th and Pakistan at 110th place. Here are the 10 most competitiveness economies of the world. 1. Singapore 2. United States 3. Hong Kong 4. Netherlands 5. Switzerland 6. Japan 7. Germany 8. Sweden 9. United Kingdom 10. Denmark The report cautioned that the constantly changing geopolitical backdrop and escalating trade tensions have increased uncertainty in the global economy which could lead to an economic slowdown. Watch: Cautious optimism about Indian economy × The WEF reminded policymakers of the necessity to take a "holistic approach" on planning, focus on quality-centred development, and further balance the relationship among short-term factors, quarterly reports and electoral cycles. "The international trading system is [not] perfect, it needs to be improved. There are some issues in the international trading system, but this rule-based system is the way to go. Increasing tariff is not helping at all. And yes, it's bad, this kind of protectionism is bad. It's the uncertainty that this tension creates that is affecting the business sentiment and could actually accelerate the downturn, that is for the global economy, there seems to be a downturn coming," said Thierry Geiger, head of analytics and quantitative research on global competitiveness and risks. The report further stressed the importance of openness, with experts urging the importance of greater investment in education, skills training and a more balanced and inclusive development model that will contribute to the healthy development of the global economy. (With inputs from agencies)

Global Competitiveness Index: India slips 10 places to 68th; Singapore replaces US on top

It's not the first time and it's certainly not going to the last time. The US is going to preach human rights to every country in the world.

They have been at this game for decades, but this hypocrisy has been a historical constant.

Since the US is extremely interested in calling out other countries over human rights violations, we intend to compile America's very own dodgy track-record as far as rights are concerned.

On WION edit, we will have a brief look at this crucial issue.

Let's go back to the US and its infamous rhetoric - the so-called war on terror.

Public memory is short, and hence, it's important to narrate some dark tales over and over again.

And there isn't a darker tale than Abu Ghraib. The US army and central intelligence agency committed some of the most brutal crimes against humanity at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

The photographs that emerged out of Abu Ghraib shook the conscience of the world.

And orders to commit such crimes came from the US Department of Justice itself -- these documents that authorise brutal interrogation techniques were called 'torture memos'.

This is the same US that's preaching human rights to other countries.&nbsp;

Initially, the US denied the reports. Then the bush administration made 17 soldiers as scapegoats, of which only 2 US soldiers spent a reasonable prison time.

This is America's dark face - one that the US doesn't want anyone to see. When Abu Ghraib torture came to light, the US called it an isolated incident. But, isolated incident - it surely was not and that got proved in the Guantanamo bay episode.

Soon after the September 11 attacks, the US established Guantanamo Bay as the place to hold people perceived to be 'enemy combatants'.

Guantanamo did not come under any law - neither the laws of the United States nor international laws.

What followed was another chilling set of crimes against humanity. The US placed nearly 800 people in the Guantanamo Bay detention centre.

No charges, no trials. People held for indefinite periods of time, with no charges. And at the heart of this violation was a lie - the Bush administration said that a bulk of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay were captured from Afghanistan.

Facts prove otherwise, this is mass torture without legal recourse.

And Barack Obama - the Nobel Peace laureate did not close down Guantanamo Bay. The detention centre functions as we speak.

This is par for the course for the US. The brutal treatment and scant respect for human rights is not just for external captives.

At home, the US police shoot down nearly a thousand people every year and racism, white supremacy and xenophobia are the guiding principles.

Given this context, it's important to understand why the US is raking up china's abuse of human rights in Xinjiang.

First, it's a bargaining chip in the trade talks. Second, it's a distraction from the impeachment proceedings that could derail Trump's presidency.

With such a brutal track-record, the US would do well to address racism and police brutality at home before preaching others. 
 
(Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

It's not the first time and it's certainly not going to the last time. The US is going to preach human rights to every country in the world. They have been at this game for decades, but this hypocrisy has been a historical constant.

It's not the first time and it's certainly not going to the last time. The US is going to preach human rights to every country in the world. They have been at this game for decades, but this hypocrisy has been a historical constant. Since the US is extremely interested in calling out other countries over human rights violations, we intend to compile America's very own dodgy track-record as far as rights are concerned. On WION edit, we will have a brief look at this crucial issue. Let's go back to the US and its infamous rhetoric - the so-called war on terror. Public memory is short, and hence, it's important to narrate some dark tales over and over again. And there isn't a darker tale than Abu Ghraib. The US army and central intelligence agency committed some of the most brutal crimes against humanity at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. The photographs that emerged out of Abu Ghraib shook the conscience of the world. And orders to commit such crimes came from the US Department of Justice itself -- these documents that authorise brutal interrogation techniques were called 'torture memos'. This is the same US that's preaching human rights to other countries. Initially, the US denied the reports. Then the bush administration made 17 soldiers as scapegoats, of which only 2 US soldiers spent a reasonable prison time. This is America's dark face - one that the US doesn't want anyone to see. When Abu Ghraib torture came to light, the US called it an isolated incident. But, isolated incident - it surely was not and that got proved in the Guantanamo bay episode. Soon after the September 11 attacks, the US established Guantanamo Bay as the place to hold people perceived to be 'enemy combatants'. Guantanamo did not come under any law - neither the laws of the United States nor international laws. What followed was another chilling set of crimes against humanity. The US placed nearly 800 people in the Guantanamo Bay detention centre. No charges, no trials. People held for indefinite periods of time, with no charges. And at the heart of this violation was a lie - the Bush administration said that a bulk of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay were captured from Afghanistan. Facts prove otherwise, this is mass torture without legal recourse. And Barack Obama - the Nobel Peace laureate did not close down Guantanamo Bay. The detention centre functions as we speak. This is par for the course for the US. The brutal treatment and scant respect for human rights is not just for external captives. At home, the US police shoot down nearly a thousand people every year and racism, white supremacy and xenophobia are the guiding principles. Given this context, it's important to understand why the US is raking up china's abuse of human rights in Xinjiang. First, it's a bargaining chip in the trade talks. Second, it's a distraction from the impeachment proceedings that could derail Trump's presidency. With such a brutal track-record, the US would do well to address racism and police brutality at home before preaching others. (Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

WION Edit: America's dark face

Three researchers on Wednesday won the Nobel Chemistry Prize for the development of lithium-ion batteries, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said.

John Goodenough of the US - at 97 the oldest person to be awarded a Nobel prize - Britain's Stanley Whittingham and Japan's Akira Yoshino will share the $914,000&nbsp;prize sum equally.

"This lightweight, rechargeable and powerful battery is now used in everything from mobile phones to laptops and electric vehicles... (and) can also store significant amounts of energy from solar and wind power, making possible a fossil fuel-free society," the jury said.

"Lithium batteries have revolutionised our lives since they first entered the market in 1991," it said, adding they were "of the greatest benefit to humankind".

The three will receive the prize from King Carl XVI Gustaf at a formal ceremony in Stockholm on December 10, the anniversary of the 1896 death of scientist Alfred Nobel who created the prizes in his last will and testament.

Last year, the honour went to US scientists Frances Arnold and George Smith and British researcher Gregory Winter for developing enzymes used for greener and safer chemistry and antibody drugs with fewer side effects.

Arnold was just the fifth woman to clinch chemistry's most prestigious honour since Marie Curie was honoured in 1911.

This year's Nobel prize season kicked off on Monday with the Medicine Prize awarded to Americans William Kaelin and Gregg Semenza, and Britain's Peter Ratcliffe.

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The 2019 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NobelPrize?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NobelPrize</a> in Chemistry has been awarded to John B. Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino “for the development of lithium-ion batteries.” <a href="https://t.co/LUKTeFhUbg">pic.twitter.com/LUKTeFhUbg</a>
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&nbsp;

Peace Prize on Friday

They won for research into how human cells sense and adapt to changing oxygen levels, opening up new strategies to fight such diseases as cancer and anaemia.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/peebles-mayor-and-queloz-win-2019-nobel-prize-for-physics-254501">On Tuesday, the Physics Prize honoured Canadian-American cosmologist James Peebles and Swiss astronomers Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz for research on how the Universe evolved after the Big Bang, and the first discovery of a planet outside our solar system, known as an exoplanet.</a>

The Literature Prize will follow on Thursday, with two laureates to be crowned after a sexual harassment scandal forced the Swedish Academy to postpone the 2018 award, for the first time in 70 years.

Some names creating a buzz ahead of this year's literature prize are Canadian poet Anne Carson, Kenyan writer Ngugi Wa Thiong'o, Romanian poet and novelist Mircea Cartarescu and Polish writer and activist Olga Tokarczuk.

On Friday the action moves to Norway where the Peace Prize is awarded, with bookies predicting a win for Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg on betting sites such as Ladbrokes.

The Economics Prize will wrap up the Nobel prize season on Monday, October 14.

Three researchers on Wednesday won the Nobel Chemistry Prize for the development of lithium-ion batteries, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. John Goodenough of the US - at 97 the oldest person to be awarded a Nobel prize - Britain's Stanley Whittingham and Japan's Akira Yoshino will share the $914,000 prize sum equally.

Three researchers on Wednesday won the Nobel Chemistry Prize for the development of lithium-ion batteries, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. John Goodenough of the US - at 97 the oldest person to be awarded a Nobel prize - Britain's Stanley Whittingham and Japan's Akira Yoshino will share the $914,000 prize sum equally. "This lightweight, rechargeable and powerful battery is now used in everything from mobile phones to laptops and electric vehicles... (and) can also store significant amounts of energy from solar and wind power, making possible a fossil fuel-free society," the jury said. "Lithium batteries have revolutionised our lives since they first entered the market in 1991," it said, adding they were "of the greatest benefit to humankind". The three will receive the prize from King Carl XVI Gustaf at a formal ceremony in Stockholm on December 10, the anniversary of the 1896 death of scientist Alfred Nobel who created the prizes in his last will and testament. Last year, the honour went to US scientists Frances Arnold and George Smith and British researcher Gregory Winter for developing enzymes used for greener and safer chemistry and antibody drugs with fewer side effects. Arnold was just the fifth woman to clinch chemistry's most prestigious honour since Marie Curie was honoured in 1911. This year's Nobel prize season kicked off on Monday with the Medicine Prize awarded to Americans William Kaelin and Gregg Semenza, and Britain's Peter Ratcliffe. The 2019 #NobelPrize in Chemistry has been awarded to John B. Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino “for the development of lithium-ion batteries.” pic.twitter.com/LUKTeFhUbg — The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 9, 2019 × Peace Prize on Friday They won for research into how human cells sense and adapt to changing oxygen levels, opening up new strategies to fight such diseases as cancer and anaemia. On Tuesday, the Physics Prize honoured Canadian-American cosmologist James Peebles and Swiss astronomers Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz for research on how the Universe evolved after the Big Bang, and the first discovery of a planet outside our solar system, known as an exoplanet. The Literature Prize will follow on Thursday, with two laureates to be crowned after a sexual harassment scandal forced the Swedish Academy to postpone the 2018 award, for the first time in 70 years. Some names creating a buzz ahead of this year's literature prize are Canadian poet Anne Carson, Kenyan writer Ngugi Wa Thiong'o, Romanian poet and novelist Mircea Cartarescu and Polish writer and activist Olga Tokarczuk. On Friday the action moves to Norway where the Peace Prize is awarded, with bookies predicting a win for Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg on betting sites such as Ladbrokes. The Economics Prize will wrap up the Nobel prize season on Monday, October 14.

US-UK-Japan trio win chemistry Nobel for lithium-ion battery

Montgomery, the capital of the southern US&nbsp;state of Alabama, known as the birthplace of the civil rights movement for its 1950s bus boycotts over segregated seating, has elected the first black mayor in its 200-year history.

Steven Reed, a county probate judge who is black, defeated David Woods, a white businessman who owns a regional television station, unofficial results posted online by the city show, by winning 67 per cent of the vote in a nonpartisan runoff.

Media photographs online showed Reed supporters holding up campaign T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan, "We made history," in the city of about 200,000, about 60 per cent of whom are African American, according to the US&nbsp;Census Bureau.

"This election has never been about me," Mayor-elect Reed said in his victory speech late on Tuesday, according to the Montgomery Advertiser newspaper.

"This election has never been about just my ideas. It's been about all the hopes and dreams we have as individuals and collectively in this city."

Reed's victory came in a city still getting to terms with its past. It was the first capital of the Confederate States of America in 1861.

Last year, the Equal Justice Initiative opened the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum in downtown Montgomery to honour victims of lynching in the racially segregated era after the US&nbsp;Civil War.

The city is the site of the Montgomery bus boycott, a year-long civil rights protest that started in 1955, led by black seamstress Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat to a white patron, as the law then required, and was famously jailed.

The US&nbsp;Supreme Court ultimately ordered Montgomery to integrate its bus system, and one of the boycott leaders was the Rev&nbsp;Martin Luther King, Jr, who would emerge as the most prominent leader of the American civil rights movement.

Reed was also the first African-American elected the county's probate judge in 2012, the Advertiser said. In 2015, he was the first probate judge in Alabama to issue same-sex marriage licenses.

Reed is scheduled to be sworn into office on November&nbsp;12 at city hall.

Montgomery, the capital of the southern US state of Alabama, known as the birthplace of the civil rights movement for its 1950s bus boycotts over segregated seating, has elected the first black mayor in its 200-year history.

Montgomery, the capital of the southern US state of Alabama, known as the birthplace of the civil rights movement for its 1950s bus boycotts over segregated seating, has elected the first black mayor in its 200-year history. Steven Reed, a county probate judge who is black, defeated David Woods, a white businessman who owns a regional television station, unofficial results posted online by the city show, by winning 67 per cent of the vote in a nonpartisan runoff. Media photographs online showed Reed supporters holding up campaign T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan, "We made history," in the city of about 200,000, about 60 per cent of whom are African American, according to the US Census Bureau. "This election has never been about me," Mayor-elect Reed said in his victory speech late on Tuesday, according to the Montgomery Advertiser newspaper. "This election has never been about just my ideas. It's been about all the hopes and dreams we have as individuals and collectively in this city." Reed's victory came in a city still getting to terms with its past. It was the first capital of the Confederate States of America in 1861. Last year, the Equal Justice Initiative opened the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum in downtown Montgomery to honour victims of lynching in the racially segregated era after the US Civil War. The city is the site of the Montgomery bus boycott, a year-long civil rights protest that started in 1955, led by black seamstress Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat to a white patron, as the law then required, and was famously jailed. The US Supreme Court ultimately ordered Montgomery to integrate its bus system, and one of the boycott leaders was the Rev Martin Luther King, Jr, who would emerge as the most prominent leader of the American civil rights movement. Reed was also the first African-American elected the county's probate judge in 2012, the Advertiser said. In 2015, he was the first probate judge in Alabama to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Reed is scheduled to be sworn into office on November 12 at city hall.

Birthplace of US civil rights movement elects first black mayor

At least 30 civilians were killed and nine others had sustained injuries in a US-led airstrike in the western Afghan province of Farah in May, the United Nations has said in a report.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan on Wednesday released a report cited by Tolo News said that the airstrike took place in Bakwa district, and that civilian houses were hit during the airstrike.

On May 5, the Afghan Ministry of Interior had announced that 68 illicit narcotic-processing factories were targeted in an airstrike in Bakwa, Farah.

The&nbsp;report also claimed that "150 Taliban were killed and 40 were wounded" in these attacks.

But the residents denied this the claim, saying that the victims were civilians.

At least 30 civilians were killed and nine others had sustained injuries in a US-led airstrike in the western Afghan province of Farah in May, the United Nations has said in a report.

At least 30 civilians were killed and nine others had sustained injuries in a US-led airstrike in the western Afghan province of Farah in May, the United Nations has said in a report. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan on Wednesday released a report cited by Tolo News said that the airstrike took place in Bakwa district, and that civilian houses were hit during the airstrike. On May 5, the Afghan Ministry of Interior had announced that 68 illicit narcotic-processing factories were targeted in an airstrike in Bakwa, Farah. The report also claimed that "150 Taliban were killed and 40 were wounded" in these attacks. But the residents denied this the claim, saying that the victims were civilians.

30 Afghans killed in US airstrike in Farah in May: Report

US blacklists 28 Chinese companies and government agencies. Watch video to know more.

US blacklists 28 Chinese companies and government agencies

China's foreign ministry on Tuesday strongly denounced the United States' recent blacklisting of some of its top artificial intelligence start-ups, calling it an "interference in China's domestic affairs".

The US&nbsp;Commerce Department said in a filing the "entities have been implicated in human rights violations and abuses in the implementation of China's campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs, Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups."

"We urge the US&nbsp;to immediately correct its mistakes and withdraw the relevant decisions, and stop interfering with China's internal affairs. China will take firm and strong actions to firmly protect its interests of sovereignty, safety and development," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said during a briefing in Beijing.

The blacklisting targets 20 Chinese public security bureaus and eight companies including video surveillance firm Hikvision, as well as leaders in facial recognition technology SenseTime Group Ltd and Megvii Technology Ltd.

China's foreign ministry on Tuesday strongly denounced the United States' recent blacklisting of some of its top artificial intelligence start-ups, calling it an "interference in China's domestic affairs".

China's foreign ministry on Tuesday strongly denounced the United States' recent blacklisting of some of its top artificial intelligence start-ups, calling it an "interference in China's domestic affairs". The US Commerce Department said in a filing the "entities have been implicated in human rights violations and abuses in the implementation of China's campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs, Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups." "We urge the US to immediately correct its mistakes and withdraw the relevant decisions, and stop interfering with China's internal affairs. China will take firm and strong actions to firmly protect its interests of sovereignty, safety and development," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said during a briefing in Beijing. The blacklisting targets 20 Chinese public security bureaus and eight companies including video surveillance firm Hikvision, as well as leaders in facial recognition technology SenseTime Group Ltd and Megvii Technology Ltd.

Stop interfering in our internal affairs, says China after US blacklists companies

A Major Crisis In Brewing In West Asia. U.S. Backs Turkey's Operations Against The Kurdish Forces. The kurdish forces were the most reliable partner of the U.S. in its fight against the Islamic state. But after the defeat of the ISIS, U.S. has dumped its ally. U.S. backs Turkey's operations against the Kurdish forces. Here's a ground report from the Syria-Turkey border.

Gravitas: United States To Withdraw Troops From Syria

The U.S.' War On Terror Has Left Iraq Is A Deadly Chaos 16 years after the U.S. invasion, Iraq is in a shambles. The war has killed over 2 lakh civilians, it has crippled Iraq's politics & economy. The U.S. hasn't yet proved the allegations that Iraq possessed 'Weapons of Mass Destruction'. This report charts Iraq's slide into anarchy

Gravitas: 16 Years After The U.S. Invasion, Iraq Is In a Shambles

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-diplomats-to-testify-about-trump-ukraine-efforts-as-democrats-build-impeachment-case-254216">A federal judge on Monday dismissed US President Donald Trump's bid to block access to years of his personal and corporate tax returns</a>, saying sitting presidents are not immune from criminal investigations.

In a 75-page ruling, US District Judge Victor Marrero rejected Trump's argument, saying such vast immunity would "operate to frustrate the administration of justice" by putting the president's personal and professional affairs off-limits.

"This court cannot endorse such a categorical and limitless assertion of presidential immunity from judicial process," Marrero wrote.

"The Court cannot square a vision of presidential immunity that would place the President above the law," added the US District Court judge for the Southern District of New York.

The decision opened a new front in&nbsp;a years-long effort to obtain copies of the president's tax returns, which he promised during the campaign to make public after an audit -&nbsp;but has since refused to share.

Lawyers for Trump immediately appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which issued a temporary stay of the judge's order, Jay Sekulow, a lawyer for the president, said in a statement.

Trump had filed suit against Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr, who had subpoenaed the accounting firm Mazars USA, seeking access to the president's returns dating back to 2011.

Vance is investigating payments made by Michael Cohen, Trump's former personal attorney, to Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress who claimed to have had a sexual liaison with Trump before he ran for president in 2016.

Cohen is currently serving three years in prison after admitting paying hush money - in violation of campaign finance laws -&nbsp;to Daniels and another woman, tax fraud, and lying to Congress.

Trump has declined to release his tax returns, claiming they were under audit by the Internal Revenue Service, and there have been various attempts to obtain them, including by the Democratic-led House of Representatives.

Trump pushes back

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-amps-up-complaints-says-pelosi-may-be-guilty-of-treason-254144">Trump lashed out on Twitter at the move by Manhattan prosecutors following Judge Marrero's ruling</a>.

"The Radical Left Democrats have failed on all fronts, so now they are pushing local New York City and State Democrat prosecutors to go get President Trump," he tweeted.&nbsp;

"A thing like this has never happened to any President before. Not even close!"

Trump broke with a long-established norm during the 2016 presidential election by refusing to release his tax returns as most presidents have done since the 1970s even though it is not required by law.

California's governor signed a law in July that would prevent Trump from appearing on the state's primary ballot unless he discloses his income tax returns.&nbsp;

"These are extraordinary times and states have a legal and moral duty to do everything in their power to ensure leaders seeking the highest offices meet minimal standards," California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom said at the time.

"The disclosure required by this bill will shed light on conflicts of interest, self-dealing, or influence from domestic and foreign business interest," Newsom said.&nbsp;

The California law means any candidate for president must file five years' worth of returns in order to contest primary elections in the country's most populous state.

The bill was passed by California's heavily Democratic legislature.

The law is being challenged in court by Trump's lawyers and is not expected to seriously impact his bid for the 2020 Republican nomination.

A federal judge on Monday dismissed US President Donald Trump's bid to block access to years of his personal and corporate tax returns, saying sitting presidents are not immune from criminal investigations.

A federal judge on Monday dismissed US President Donald Trump's bid to block access to years of his personal and corporate tax returns, saying sitting presidents are not immune from criminal investigations. In a 75-page ruling, US District Judge Victor Marrero rejected Trump's argument, saying such vast immunity would "operate to frustrate the administration of justice" by putting the president's personal and professional affairs off-limits. "This court cannot endorse such a categorical and limitless assertion of presidential immunity from judicial process," Marrero wrote. "The Court cannot square a vision of presidential immunity that would place the President above the law," added the US District Court judge for the Southern District of New York. The decision opened a new front in a years-long effort to obtain copies of the president's tax returns, which he promised during the campaign to make public after an audit - but has since refused to share. Lawyers for Trump immediately appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which issued a temporary stay of the judge's order, Jay Sekulow, a lawyer for the president, said in a statement. Trump had filed suit against Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr, who had subpoenaed the accounting firm Mazars USA, seeking access to the president's returns dating back to 2011. Vance is investigating payments made by Michael Cohen, Trump's former personal attorney, to Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress who claimed to have had a sexual liaison with Trump before he ran for president in 2016. Cohen is currently serving three years in prison after admitting paying hush money - in violation of campaign finance laws - to Daniels and another woman, tax fraud, and lying to Congress. Trump has declined to release his tax returns, claiming they were under audit by the Internal Revenue Service, and there have been various attempts to obtain them, including by the Democratic-led House of Representatives. Trump pushes back Trump lashed out on Twitter at the move by Manhattan prosecutors following Judge Marrero's ruling. "The Radical Left Democrats have failed on all fronts, so now they are pushing local New York City and State Democrat prosecutors to go get President Trump," he tweeted. "A thing like this has never happened to any President before. Not even close!" Trump broke with a long-established norm during the 2016 presidential election by refusing to release his tax returns as most presidents have done since the 1970s even though it is not required by law. California's governor signed a law in July that would prevent Trump from appearing on the state's primary ballot unless he discloses his income tax returns. "These are extraordinary times and states have a legal and moral duty to do everything in their power to ensure leaders seeking the highest offices meet minimal standards," California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom said at the time. "The disclosure required by this bill will shed light on conflicts of interest, self-dealing, or influence from domestic and foreign business interest," Newsom said. The California law means any candidate for president must file five years' worth of returns in order to contest primary elections in the country's most populous state. The bill was passed by California's heavily Democratic legislature. The law is being challenged in court by Trump's lawyers and is not expected to seriously impact his bid for the 2020 Republican nomination.

US judge orders Trump to produce tax returns, president appeals

18 years of US war in Afghanistan; America's longest war in its history. Watch video to know more.

18 years of US war in Afghanistan; America's longest war in its history

US-Afghan war: Pregnant wife mourns killed US soldier. Watch video to know more.

US-Afghan war: Pregnant wife mourns killed US soldier

Four people lost their lives and nine are injured in a mass shooting in a bar at Kansas city. Watch this video to know more.

US: 4 killed in mass shooting in a Kansas bar

Unemployment rate in the U.S falls to lowest in 50 years. Trump takes to Twitter to announce this 'Breaking News'

A good news for President Donald Trump

Massachusetts&nbsp;in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-trump-says-he-wont-tie-biden-concerns-to-trade-deal-with-china-253812">United States</a>&nbsp;upheld a ban on e-cigarettes Friday amid a spate of deaths and injuries linked to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-vaping-related-deaths-rise-to-18-illnesses-surpass-1000-253605">vaping</a> across the country.

Eighteen deaths in 15 states had now been positively linked to vaping since March, from a total of 1,080 illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Officials in Connecticut also announced a further death in that state on Friday.

Massachusetts became the first American state to issue an outright ban on all e-cigarette devices in September, with the prohibition to last for four months.

Manufacturers sought to challenge the ban in a Boston court, arguing that the law was disproportionate to the health risks posed by the devices.

Watch Video: US vaping-related deaths rise to 18, illnesses surpass 1,000 - CDC

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The Vapor Technology Association instead called for a limited prohibition on certain products, including black market refills and devices for vaping tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive substance of marijuana.

But the court rejected the application for an interim lifting of the ban, saying it would "conflict with the public interest."

A full hearing of the case will be held on October 15.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-court-blocks-state-ban-on-flavored-e-cigarettes-253665/amp">E-cigarettes</a> have been available in the US since 2006.

Initially conceived as a smoking cessation device, e-cigarette use has skyrocketed among teens, with preliminary official data for 2019 showing more than a quarter of high school students using e-cigarettes in the past 30 days.

They were until recently perceived as a less harmful alternative to smoking because they do not contain the 7,000 chemicals in cigarettes, dozens of which are known to cause cancer.

It is not clear whether the outbreak of vaping-related illnesses is only happening now, or if there were cases earlier that were wrongly diagnosed.

Only one case of lung injury has been reported abroad, making the outbreak more mysterious still.

Public and political opinion appears to be hardening, however, with the administration of US President Donald Trump announcing in September that it would ban flavoured e-cigarette products in the coming months.

Massachusetts in the United States upheld a ban on e-cigarettes Friday amid a spate of deaths and injuries linked to vaping across the country. Eighteen deaths in 15 states had now been positively linked to vaping since March, from a total of 1,080 illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Massachusetts in the United States upheld a ban on e-cigarettes Friday amid a spate of deaths and injuries linked to vaping across the country. Eighteen deaths in 15 states had now been positively linked to vaping since March, from a total of 1,080 illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Officials in Connecticut also announced a further death in that state on Friday. Massachusetts became the first American state to issue an outright ban on all e-cigarette devices in September, with the prohibition to last for four months. Manufacturers sought to challenge the ban in a Boston court, arguing that the law was disproportionate to the health risks posed by the devices. Watch Video: US vaping-related deaths rise to 18, illnesses surpass 1,000 - CDC × The Vapor Technology Association instead called for a limited prohibition on certain products, including black market refills and devices for vaping tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive substance of marijuana. But the court rejected the application for an interim lifting of the ban, saying it would "conflict with the public interest." A full hearing of the case will be held on October 15. E-cigarettes have been available in the US since 2006. Initially conceived as a smoking cessation device, e-cigarette use has skyrocketed among teens, with preliminary official data for 2019 showing more than a quarter of high school students using e-cigarettes in the past 30 days. They were until recently perceived as a less harmful alternative to smoking because they do not contain the 7,000 chemicals in cigarettes, dozens of which are known to cause cancer. It is not clear whether the outbreak of vaping-related illnesses is only happening now, or if there were cases earlier that were wrongly diagnosed. Only one case of lung injury has been reported abroad, making the outbreak more mysterious still. Public and political opinion appears to be hardening, however, with the administration of US President Donald Trump announcing in September that it would ban flavoured e-cigarette products in the coming months.

United States: Massachusetts upholds e-cigarette ban amid vaping deaths

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-vaping-related-deaths-rise-to-18-illnesses-surpass-1000-253605">US </a>National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Friday it is reviewing a defect petition that claims Tesla Inc failed to issue a recall when it issued a software upgrade in 2,000 Model S and Model X vehicles in May.

The vehicles from 2012 through 2019 model years received a battery management software upgrade in response to a potential defect that could result in non-crash fires, the petition said, adding it believes the update reduces the driving range of the affected vehicles. NHTSA said Friday it had opened a formal review to evaluate the petition's claims.

Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In August, a proposed class-action lawsuit was filed in California claiming Tesla knew batteries of some vehicles were defective and "pushed out software updates despite knowing that the class vehicles would suffer from loss in range and performance." The suit added it believes Tesla's aim is "to avoid providing warranty battery replacements to rightful customers."

The suit says Tesla has placed a software-induced limitation on the total number of usable kilo-watt hours and is limiting the ability of owners "to charge the battery cells up to the natural and normal amount of approximately 4.2 volts, by placing battery capacity limitations, by decreasing the charging speed &nbsp;and by reducing the performance in terms of speed."

The suit cites over a dozen reports of Tesla's vehicles catching fire over the past six years. Tesla has not yet responded to the lawsuit.

Tesla's May 15 software update changed some settings in the cars’ battery management software related to charging and thermal controls, the suit said.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating several battery fires in Tesla vehicles.

On Wednesday, NHTSA said it was looking into parking lot crashes involving Tesla cars driving themselves to their owners using the company’s Smart Summon feature.

Several users have posted videos on social media of Tesla vehicles that appear to have been in near accidents. One posted a video of a Tesla striking a garage wall and another of a Tesla being struck by a vehicle backing up.

A Tesla software update last week added its Smart Summon feature for some customers. When the car is within 200 feet and in their line of sight, they use a phone app to summon the vehicle in a parking lot.

Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk on Wednesday tweeted that there were more than 550,000 Smart Summon uses in the first few days.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Friday it is reviewing a defect petition that claims Tesla Inc failed to issue a recall when it issued a software upgrade in 2,000 Model S and Model X vehicles in May.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Friday it is reviewing a defect petition that claims Tesla Inc failed to issue a recall when it issued a software upgrade in 2,000 Model S and Model X vehicles in May. The vehicles from 2012 through 2019 model years received a battery management software upgrade in response to a potential defect that could result in non-crash fires, the petition said, adding it believes the update reduces the driving range of the affected vehicles. NHTSA said Friday it had opened a formal review to evaluate the petition's claims. Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In August, a proposed class-action lawsuit was filed in California claiming Tesla knew batteries of some vehicles were defective and "pushed out software updates despite knowing that the class vehicles would suffer from loss in range and performance." The suit added it believes Tesla's aim is "to avoid providing warranty battery replacements to rightful customers." The suit says Tesla has placed a software-induced limitation on the total number of usable kilo-watt hours and is limiting the ability of owners "to charge the battery cells up to the natural and normal amount of approximately 4.2 volts, by placing battery capacity limitations, by decreasing the charging speed and by reducing the performance in terms of speed." The suit cites over a dozen reports of Tesla's vehicles catching fire over the past six years. Tesla has not yet responded to the lawsuit. Tesla's May 15 software update changed some settings in the cars’ battery management software related to charging and thermal controls, the suit said. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating several battery fires in Tesla vehicles. On Wednesday, NHTSA said it was looking into parking lot crashes involving Tesla cars driving themselves to their owners using the company’s Smart Summon feature. Several users have posted videos on social media of Tesla vehicles that appear to have been in near accidents. One posted a video of a Tesla striking a garage wall and another of a Tesla being struck by a vehicle backing up. A Tesla software update last week added its Smart Summon feature for some customers. When the car is within 200 feet and in their line of sight, they use a phone app to summon the vehicle in a parking lot. Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk on Wednesday tweeted that there were more than 550,000 Smart Summon uses in the first few days.

United States NHTSA reviewing claims 2,000 Tesla vehicles should have been recalled

US, Taliban peace talks end in Pakistan. Watch this video to know more.

US, Taliban peace talks end in Pakistan

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