Bolivians banged on pots and pans from windows and rooftops in the capital La Paz on Friday, protesting a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivias-morales-set-to-win-outright-as-disputed-vote-count-nears-completion-257985">controversial election</a> count handing President Evo Morales a fourth consecutive term that would extend his rule to nearly two decades.

Morales, 59, who swept to power in 2006 as the country's first indigenous leader, hailed the official result of Sunday's vote as another historic triumph for his leftist movement and accused the opposition, without evidence, of trying to stage a coup d'etat with foreign backing.

Morales faced a fifth day of street protests in La Paz and other cities that begun after an official quick count of votes was suddenly suspended on Sunday when it revealed Morales heading to a riskier run-off election against rival Carlos Mesa.

A confident Morales said then his socialist party MAS would get an outright win as rural votes trickled in.

The tabulation of ballots at 100 per cent&nbsp;on Friday confirmed his prediction, giving him a 10.57-point lead over Mesa, less than a point above what he needed to avoid a second-round vote.

Election monitors, the opposition and some foreign governments criticised the election for lacking transparency.

The European Union, the United States, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia called for Bolivia to convene a second-round vote to ease the unrest.

Brazil's foreign ministry said it would not recognize Morales' win while an audit of the vote count by the regional group Organization of American States (OAS) was still pending.

The only countries that have congratulated Morales on his win were Venezuela, Cuba and Mexico.

After nightfall, Bolivians banged on pots and pans in a traditional form of protest. Earlier, roads were blocked and demonstrators surrounded the headquarters of the country's electoral board, guarded by rows of police in anti-riot gear.

"Evo Morales had an acceptable administration," said protester Jose Callisaya, 38. But "it's healthy in a democracy to change leaders."

Mesa, a former president who leads the Citizen Community party, has called for indefinite protests until a second-round vote is convened, which Morales has ruled out as unconstitutional.

"The government is despising the popular vote," Mesa told local television channel Unitel on Friday. 
 
Steady growth

A former union leader for coca farmers, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivias-election-sparks-protest-as-rivals-clash-over-results-257398">Morales has overseen steady growth</a> and relative stability in one of South America's poorest countries and is now the region's longest-serving president. He has accused the opposition of trying to stir up unrest and denied charges of vote-rigging.

Officials and diplomats raised concerns the conflict could hit Bolivia's ties with global trade partners and hurt an economy already straining under declining gas exports.

The country's electoral board denied any political interference in its count and invited anyone to examine voting sheets posted on its website.

Mesa's campaign has said it had found irregularities on the website that swung some 100,000 votes in favour of Morales.

Bolivia's electoral system was "absolutely transparent," said Idelfonso Mamani, one of the five remaining members of the board following the resignation of its vice president in protest this week. "We have the means to prove the results," he said.

The office of the country's ombudsman, which monitors conflicts, said 57 people have been arrested and 29 people wounded in this week's protests. Prosecutor Juan Lanchipa said 40 people have been investigated for vandalism.

Interior Minister Carlos Romero called for calm. "There are people out for blood...to say there's a dictatorship here."

The OAS, a regional group that sent an observer mission to Bolivia, has said it had "serious doubts" about the election and earlier this week accepted an invitation by Morales' government to audit it to clear them up. It was unclear when the audit would begin.

Bolivians banged on pots and pans from windows and rooftops in the capital La Paz on Friday, protesting a controversial election count handing President Evo Morales a fourth consecutive term that would extend his rule to nearly two decades.

Bolivians banged on pots and pans from windows and rooftops in the capital La Paz on Friday, protesting a controversial election count handing President Evo Morales a fourth consecutive term that would extend his rule to nearly two decades. Morales, 59, who swept to power in 2006 as the country's first indigenous leader, hailed the official result of Sunday's vote as another historic triumph for his leftist movement and accused the opposition, without evidence, of trying to stage a coup d'etat with foreign backing. Morales faced a fifth day of street protests in La Paz and other cities that begun after an official quick count of votes was suddenly suspended on Sunday when it revealed Morales heading to a riskier run-off election against rival Carlos Mesa. A confident Morales said then his socialist party MAS would get an outright win as rural votes trickled in. The tabulation of ballots at 100 per cent on Friday confirmed his prediction, giving him a 10.57-point lead over Mesa, less than a point above what he needed to avoid a second-round vote. Election monitors, the opposition and some foreign governments criticised the election for lacking transparency. The European Union, the United States, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia called for Bolivia to convene a second-round vote to ease the unrest. Brazil's foreign ministry said it would not recognize Morales' win while an audit of the vote count by the regional group Organization of American States (OAS) was still pending. The only countries that have congratulated Morales on his win were Venezuela, Cuba and Mexico. After nightfall, Bolivians banged on pots and pans in a traditional form of protest. Earlier, roads were blocked and demonstrators surrounded the headquarters of the country's electoral board, guarded by rows of police in anti-riot gear. "Evo Morales had an acceptable administration," said protester Jose Callisaya, 38. But "it's healthy in a democracy to change leaders." Mesa, a former president who leads the Citizen Community party, has called for indefinite protests until a second-round vote is convened, which Morales has ruled out as unconstitutional. "The government is despising the popular vote," Mesa told local television channel Unitel on Friday. Steady growth A former union leader for coca farmers, Morales has overseen steady growth and relative stability in one of South America's poorest countries and is now the region's longest-serving president. He has accused the opposition of trying to stir up unrest and denied charges of vote-rigging. Officials and diplomats raised concerns the conflict could hit Bolivia's ties with global trade partners and hurt an economy already straining under declining gas exports. The country's electoral board denied any political interference in its count and invited anyone to examine voting sheets posted on its website. Mesa's campaign has said it had found irregularities on the website that swung some 100,000 votes in favour of Morales. Bolivia's electoral system was "absolutely transparent," said Idelfonso Mamani, one of the five remaining members of the board following the resignation of its vice president in protest this week. "We have the means to prove the results," he said. The office of the country's ombudsman, which monitors conflicts, said 57 people have been arrested and 29 people wounded in this week's protests. Prosecutor Juan Lanchipa said 40 people have been investigated for vandalism. Interior Minister Carlos Romero called for calm. "There are people out for blood...to say there's a dictatorship here." The OAS, a regional group that sent an observer mission to Bolivia, has said it had "serious doubts" about the election and earlier this week accepted an invitation by Morales' government to audit it to clear them up. It was unclear when the audit would begin.

Bolivians bang on pots and pans in protest at Morales election win

The United States&nbsp;and Chinese officials are "close to finalising" some parts of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-united-states-made-progress-in-trade-talks-chinese-vice-foreign-minister-257388">a trade agreement</a> after high-level telephone discussions on Friday, the US&nbsp;Trade Representative's office said, adding that deputy-level talks would proceed "continuously."

The USTR provided no details on the areas of progress.

"They made headway on specific issues and the two sides are close to finalizing some sections of the agreement. Discussions will go on continuously at the deputy level, and the principals will have another call in the near future," a statement said.

Washington and Beijing are working to agree on the text for a "Phase 1" trade agreement announced by US&nbsp;President Donald Trump on October&nbsp;11. Trump has said he hopes to sign the deal with China's President Xi Jinping next month at a summit in Chile.

Agricultural products are a major area of discussion.

Beijing wants the United States to cancel some existing US&nbsp;tariffs on Chinese imports, people briefed on the Friday call told Reuters, in return for pledging to step up its purchases of US&nbsp;commodities like soybeans.

The United States wants Beijing to commit to buying these products at a specific time and price, while Chinese buyers would like the discretion to buy based on market conditions.

The world's two largest economies are trying to calm a nearly 16-month trade war that is roiling financial markets, disrupting supply chains and slowing global economic growth.

"They want to make a deal very badly," Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday. "They're going to be buying much more farm products than anybody thought possible."

Trump agreed earlier this month to cancel an October 15 increase in tariffs on $250 billion&nbsp;in Chinese goods as part of a tentative agreement on agricultural purchases, increased access to China's financial services markets, improved protections for intellectual property rights and a currency pact.

White House advisers are hoping to cement a binding, enforceable agreement with Beijing, including a pledge not to force US&nbsp;companies to transfer technology to Chinese companies to do business there. 
 
Tariffs take the lead

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-hopes-china-will-ease-restrictions-on-diplomats-257221">Beijing</a> was expected to ask Washington during Friday's call to drop its plan to impose tariffs on $156 billion worth of Chinese goods, including cell phones, laptop computers and toys, on December&nbsp;15, two US-based sources told Reuters.

Beijing is also seeking the removal of 15 per cent&nbsp;tariffs imposed on September&nbsp;1 on about $125 billion of Chinese goods, one of the sources said. Trump imposed the tariffs in August after a failed round of talks. "The Chinese want to get back to tariffs on just the original $250 billion in goods," the source said.

US farmers have been struggling since the trade war started.

In the decade before Trump took office, China’s purchases of US&nbsp;agriculture and related products tripled, reaching $25.2 billion in 2016. But they dropped to $13.2 billion in 2018, after the US&nbsp;put tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese goods.&nbsp;

Derek Scissors, a resident scholar and China expert at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, said the original goal of the early October talks was to finalize a text on intellectual property, agriculture and market access to pave the way for a postponement of the December&nbsp;15 tariffs.

Phase One will not cover US&nbsp;allegations of Chinese hacking into US&nbsp;companies and government agencies, state subsidies, Beijing's alleged dumping of lower-priced products on global markets or China’s involvement in the fentanyl market, one person briefed on the negotiations said.

An intellectual property rights chapter in the agreement largely deals with copyright and trademark issues and pledges to curb technology transfers that Beijing has already put into a new investment law, people familiar with the discussions said.

 
Watch: China seeks sanctions on US in World Trade Organisation

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-wallet-china-seeks-sanctions-on-us-in-world-trade-organisation-257427/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

A scaled-down deal

&nbsp;

If an agreement on China buying US&nbsp;agricultural products can be sealed, Beijing in return would exempt some US&nbsp;agricultural products from tariffs, including soybeans, wheat and corn, a China-based source told Reuters.

But the ultimate amounts of China's purchases are uncertain. Trump has touted purchases of $40 billion to $50 billion annually, far above China's 2017 purchases of $19.5 billion as measured by the American Farm Bureau.

One of the sources briefed on the talks said China's offer would start at around $20 billion in annual purchases, largely restoring the pre-trade-war status quo, but this could rise over time. Purchases also would depend on market conditions and pricing.

USTR head Robert Lighthizer has emphasized China's agreement to remove some restrictions on US&nbsp;genetically modified crops and other food safety barriers, which US&nbsp;sources say could pave the way for much higher US&nbsp;farm exports to China.

Friday's high-level call came a day after US&nbsp;Vice President Mike Pence railed against China's trade practices and what he termed construction of a "surveillance state" in a major policy speech. But Pence left the door open to a trade deal with China, saying Trump wanted a "constructive" relationship with Beijing.

While the US&nbsp;tariffs on Chinese goods have brought Beijing to the negotiating table to address US&nbsp;grievances over trade and intellectual property practices, they have not sparked significant change in China's state-led economic model.

Some China trade experts said that completion of a Phase 1 deal could leave little incentive for China to negotiate further, especially with a US&nbsp;election in 2020.

"<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-wants-closer-military-coordination-with-united-states-despite-disagreements-defence-minister-257203">US-China talks</a> change very quickly from hot to cold but, the longer it takes to nail down the easy Phase 1, the harder it is to imagine a Phase 2 breakthrough," said Scissors.

The United States and Chinese officials are "close to finalising" some parts of a trade agreement after high-level telephone discussions on Friday, the US Trade Representative's office said, adding that deputy-level talks would proceed "continuously.

The United States and Chinese officials are "close to finalising" some parts of a trade agreement after high-level telephone discussions on Friday, the US Trade Representative's office said, adding that deputy-level talks would proceed "continuously." The USTR provided no details on the areas of progress. "They made headway on specific issues and the two sides are close to finalizing some sections of the agreement. Discussions will go on continuously at the deputy level, and the principals will have another call in the near future," a statement said. Washington and Beijing are working to agree on the text for a "Phase 1" trade agreement announced by US President Donald Trump on October 11. Trump has said he hopes to sign the deal with China's President Xi Jinping next month at a summit in Chile. Agricultural products are a major area of discussion. Beijing wants the United States to cancel some existing US tariffs on Chinese imports, people briefed on the Friday call told Reuters, in return for pledging to step up its purchases of US commodities like soybeans. The United States wants Beijing to commit to buying these products at a specific time and price, while Chinese buyers would like the discretion to buy based on market conditions. The world's two largest economies are trying to calm a nearly 16-month trade war that is roiling financial markets, disrupting supply chains and slowing global economic growth. "They want to make a deal very badly," Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday. "They're going to be buying much more farm products than anybody thought possible." Trump agreed earlier this month to cancel an October 15 increase in tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods as part of a tentative agreement on agricultural purchases, increased access to China's financial services markets, improved protections for intellectual property rights and a currency pact. White House advisers are hoping to cement a binding, enforceable agreement with Beijing, including a pledge not to force US companies to transfer technology to Chinese companies to do business there. Tariffs take the lead Beijing was expected to ask Washington during Friday's call to drop its plan to impose tariffs on $156 billion worth of Chinese goods, including cell phones, laptop computers and toys, on December 15, two US-based sources told Reuters. Beijing is also seeking the removal of 15 per cent tariffs imposed on September 1 on about $125 billion of Chinese goods, one of the sources said. Trump imposed the tariffs in August after a failed round of talks. "The Chinese want to get back to tariffs on just the original $250 billion in goods," the source said. US farmers have been struggling since the trade war started. In the decade before Trump took office, China’s purchases of US agriculture and related products tripled, reaching $25.2 billion in 2016. But they dropped to $13.2 billion in 2018, after the US put tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese goods. Derek Scissors, a resident scholar and China expert at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, said the original goal of the early October talks was to finalize a text on intellectual property, agriculture and market access to pave the way for a postponement of the December 15 tariffs. Phase One will not cover US allegations of Chinese hacking into US companies and government agencies, state subsidies, Beijing's alleged dumping of lower-priced products on global markets or China’s involvement in the fentanyl market, one person briefed on the negotiations said. An intellectual property rights chapter in the agreement largely deals with copyright and trademark issues and pledges to curb technology transfers that Beijing has already put into a new investment law, people familiar with the discussions said. Watch: China seeks sanctions on US in World Trade Organisation A scaled-down deal If an agreement on China buying US agricultural products can be sealed, Beijing in return would exempt some US agricultural products from tariffs, including soybeans, wheat and corn, a China-based source told Reuters. But the ultimate amounts of China's purchases are uncertain. Trump has touted purchases of $40 billion to $50 billion annually, far above China's 2017 purchases of $19.5 billion as measured by the American Farm Bureau. One of the sources briefed on the talks said China's offer would start at around $20 billion in annual purchases, largely restoring the pre-trade-war status quo, but this could rise over time. Purchases also would depend on market conditions and pricing. USTR head Robert Lighthizer has emphasized China's agreement to remove some restrictions on US genetically modified crops and other food safety barriers, which US sources say could pave the way for much higher US farm exports to China. Friday's high-level call came a day after US Vice President Mike Pence railed against China's trade practices and what he termed construction of a "surveillance state" in a major policy speech. But Pence left the door open to a trade deal with China, saying Trump wanted a "constructive" relationship with Beijing. While the US tariffs on Chinese goods have brought Beijing to the negotiating table to address US grievances over trade and intellectual property practices, they have not sparked significant change in China's state-led economic model. Some China trade experts said that completion of a Phase 1 deal could leave little incentive for China to negotiate further, especially with a US election in 2020. "US-China talks change very quickly from hot to cold but, the longer it takes to nail down the easy Phase 1, the harder it is to imagine a Phase 2 breakthrough," said Scissors.

United States, China 'close to finalising' part of Phase One trade deal: Report

China's orienteering team has been disqualified from this year's&nbsp;Military&nbsp;World&nbsp;Games&nbsp;hosted by the mainland following accusations of cheating at an event, according to a statement by the sport's international association.

The International Orienteering Federation (IOF) said in a statement that the middle distance orienteering competition at the&nbsp;games&nbsp;on Sunday had been "overshadowed by extensive cheating by the Chinese team".

Competitors in orienteering, a cross-country race, are tested on their ability to complete a course using only a map and a compass. But the IOF said the Chinese team had been helped by local spectators and had also made use of illegal course markings and small paths only they were aware of.

"The jury decided to disqualify all competitors in the Chinese team," IOF said, adding the Chinese appealed the decision but were unsuccessful.

Chinese runners initially came in first, second and fourth place among the women and second among the men. The best finishing time is now held by Matthias Kyburz of Switzerland, but no medals have yet been awarded, the IOF said.

Reuters was not immediately able to reach the organisers of the&nbsp;games, the International&nbsp;Military&nbsp;Sports Council (CISM). The General Administration of Sport of China did not respond to a faxed request for comment.

Domestic media have not yet reported the incident. A preview of the orienteering events was published in the local Yangtze Daily newspaper, saying the Chinese team was expected to be successful due to strong "group collaboration".

The official website of the Wuhan&nbsp;military&nbsp;games&nbsp;did not refer directly to the disqualifications, though the names of the Chinese competitors have been removed from the final standings.

China's Weibo microblogging service only had two posts referring to the incident and both citing foreign media.

CISM said in a statement that "rumors" of misconduct "cannot in any way taint the image of the&nbsp;games", though it is unclear when the statement was posted.

The&nbsp;military&nbsp;games, held every year, kicked off in the Chinese city of Wuhan on Oct. 19 after an opening ceremony attended by President Xi Jinping.

Held under the banner of "Military&nbsp;Glory, World Peace", the&nbsp;games&nbsp;have featured over 9,300&nbsp;military&nbsp;personnel from 109 nations, its official website said.

China's orienteering team has been disqualified from this year's Military World Games hosted by the mainland following accusations of cheating at an event, according to a statement by the sport's international association.

China's orienteering team has been disqualified from this year's Military World Games hosted by the mainland following accusations of cheating at an event, according to a statement by the sport's international association. The International Orienteering Federation (IOF) said in a statement that the middle distance orienteering competition at the games on Sunday had been "overshadowed by extensive cheating by the Chinese team". Competitors in orienteering, a cross-country race, are tested on their ability to complete a course using only a map and a compass. But the IOF said the Chinese team had been helped by local spectators and had also made use of illegal course markings and small paths only they were aware of. "The jury decided to disqualify all competitors in the Chinese team," IOF said, adding the Chinese appealed the decision but were unsuccessful. Chinese runners initially came in first, second and fourth place among the women and second among the men. The best finishing time is now held by Matthias Kyburz of Switzerland, but no medals have yet been awarded, the IOF said. Reuters was not immediately able to reach the organisers of the games, the International Military Sports Council (CISM). The General Administration of Sport of China did not respond to a faxed request for comment. Domestic media have not yet reported the incident. A preview of the orienteering events was published in the local Yangtze Daily newspaper, saying the Chinese team was expected to be successful due to strong "group collaboration". The official website of the Wuhan military games did not refer directly to the disqualifications, though the names of the Chinese competitors have been removed from the final standings. China's Weibo microblogging service only had two posts referring to the incident and both citing foreign media. CISM said in a statement that "rumors" of misconduct "cannot in any way taint the image of the games", though it is unclear when the statement was posted. The military games, held every year, kicked off in the Chinese city of Wuhan on Oct. 19 after an opening ceremony attended by President Xi Jinping. Held under the banner of "Military Glory, World Peace", the games have featured over 9,300 military personnel from 109 nations, its official website said.

China orienteering team disqualified from world military games

Spain exhumes remains of dictator Francisco Franco

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivias-election-sparks-protest-as-rivals-clash-over-results-257398">Bolivia's leftist leader Evo Morales</a> was on track to win a fraught presidential race outright, edging to a decisive 10-point lead over his main rival after accusing the opposition on Wednesday of attempting a "coup" against him.

Delays during the count following Sunday's election and a sudden shift in fortunes in Morales favour fanned tensions, resulting in protests and marches in the main cities of one of South America's poorest countries.

On Wednesday evening, with the counting almost done, hundreds of flag-waving opposition supporters kept up their protest outside the electoral building in La Paz, chanting and setting off fireworks.

At around midnight in Bolivia, the official count showed Morales, who has governed landlocked Bolivia for almost 14 years, had 46.77 per cent&nbsp;of the vote with just over 98 per cent&nbsp;of ballots counted, putting him 10 points ahead of main rival Carlos Mesa.

If Morales holds onto that lead he would win outright and avoid a risky second-round run-off in a vote that has drawn allegations of fraud.

After all the demonstrations over the past few days, the mood in the plaza outside the electoral building had turned more boisterous than angry, with small bonfires and mostly young people chanting that they did not want to live in a dictatorship.

"Evo has accumulated so much power. Look at everything that has happened, he doesn't want to leave," said Franco Garcia, 21, adding he voted for Mesa, a former president because he would be easier to topple if needed.

"If we continue with Evo, then something like Venezuela awaits us. He has too much power."

The unrest, already the severest test of Morales' rule since he came to power in 2006, could spread if the outright victory is confirmed, after monitors, foreign governments and the opposition called on Morales to hold a second-round vote.

The tensions began after an official quick vote count was disrupted by a day-long halt starting late on Sunday when a preliminary count of almost 84% of ballots showed the two main rivals heading to a second round. 
 
'Coup D'etat'

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/morales-leads-bolivia-election-but-faces-run-off-257140">Morales, the country's first indigenous leader</a>, struck a defiant tone on Wednesday.

In a fiery speech at the government office in La Paz, Morales criticized recent violence that saw electoral offices torched and skirmishes between protesters and police, blaming it on the right-wing opposition and what he described as their foreign backers.

"I have called this conference to denounce, in front of the Bolivian people and the entire world, that a coup d'etat is in progress. In advance, the right had prepared with international support for a coup," he said.

Morales called on the people to "defend democracy." Later in the day, he sought to shore up backing from the country's military at an event in the region of Cochabamba, a key source of political support.

At an evening news conference, government minister Carlos Romero denounced "violent groups," which he said were seeking to confront police with explosives, adding the government would look to hold responsible those promoting the violence.

Mesa, in a video statement on Wednesday, called for "permanent protests" until a second-round vote was confirmed, and said he would present evidence of electoral fraud.

Protesters have demonstrated in La Paz, Santa Cruz and Potosi, with strikes also called in some cities. 
 
'What's he afraid of?'

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-of-thousands-voice-outrage-over-bolivian-leaders-response-to-forest-fires-254027">Morales, a former union leader for coca farmers</a>, has overseen relative stability and economic growth but angered many by running for a fourth consecutive term in defiance of term limits and a 2016 referendum that voted against him doing so.

"If he wants to be elected cleanly, he should accept a second-round election. What's he afraid of?" asked Maria Luz Vargas, 65, a newspaper seller in La Paz who had joined the protests.

The official election monitor, the Organisation of American States, had called the count into question and cited a "drastic" and inexplicable shift in the vote, which it said hurt voters' confidence in the electoral process.

Antonio Costas, one of the six-member electoral team coordinating the vote, stepped down on Tuesday in protest at the halt to the rapid count, although he told Reuters he had not come under political pressure.

A number of foreign governments, including the United States, Brazil and the European Union, also voiced concerns about the integrity of the vote.

At a meeting on Wednesday, the OAS recommended a second-round vote go ahead even if Morales reached a 10-point lead.

Morales has maintained throughout that when the final vote count was announced, he would obtain a first-round win, helped by strong support in the countryside.

"Our triumph has always been with the votes from the rural areas with the votes of the indigenous movement," he said on Wednesday, adding he would respect the final result.

Bolivia's leftist leader Evo Morales was on track to win a fraught presidential race outright, edging to a decisive 10-point lead over his main rival after accusing the opposition on Wednesday of attempting a "coup" against him.

Bolivia's leftist leader Evo Morales was on track to win a fraught presidential race outright, edging to a decisive 10-point lead over his main rival after accusing the opposition on Wednesday of attempting a "coup" against him. Delays during the count following Sunday's election and a sudden shift in fortunes in Morales favour fanned tensions, resulting in protests and marches in the main cities of one of South America's poorest countries. On Wednesday evening, with the counting almost done, hundreds of flag-waving opposition supporters kept up their protest outside the electoral building in La Paz, chanting and setting off fireworks. At around midnight in Bolivia, the official count showed Morales, who has governed landlocked Bolivia for almost 14 years, had 46.77 per cent of the vote with just over 98 per cent of ballots counted, putting him 10 points ahead of main rival Carlos Mesa. If Morales holds onto that lead he would win outright and avoid a risky second-round run-off in a vote that has drawn allegations of fraud. After all the demonstrations over the past few days, the mood in the plaza outside the electoral building had turned more boisterous than angry, with small bonfires and mostly young people chanting that they did not want to live in a dictatorship. "Evo has accumulated so much power. Look at everything that has happened, he doesn't want to leave," said Franco Garcia, 21, adding he voted for Mesa, a former president because he would be easier to topple if needed. "If we continue with Evo, then something like Venezuela awaits us. He has too much power." The unrest, already the severest test of Morales' rule since he came to power in 2006, could spread if the outright victory is confirmed, after monitors, foreign governments and the opposition called on Morales to hold a second-round vote. The tensions began after an official quick vote count was disrupted by a day-long halt starting late on Sunday when a preliminary count of almost 84% of ballots showed the two main rivals heading to a second round. 'Coup D'etat' Morales, the country's first indigenous leader, struck a defiant tone on Wednesday. In a fiery speech at the government office in La Paz, Morales criticized recent violence that saw electoral offices torched and skirmishes between protesters and police, blaming it on the right-wing opposition and what he described as their foreign backers. "I have called this conference to denounce, in front of the Bolivian people and the entire world, that a coup d'etat is in progress. In advance, the right had prepared with international support for a coup," he said. Morales called on the people to "defend democracy." Later in the day, he sought to shore up backing from the country's military at an event in the region of Cochabamba, a key source of political support. At an evening news conference, government minister Carlos Romero denounced "violent groups," which he said were seeking to confront police with explosives, adding the government would look to hold responsible those promoting the violence. Mesa, in a video statement on Wednesday, called for "permanent protests" until a second-round vote was confirmed, and said he would present evidence of electoral fraud. Protesters have demonstrated in La Paz, Santa Cruz and Potosi, with strikes also called in some cities. 'What's he afraid of?' Morales, a former union leader for coca farmers, has overseen relative stability and economic growth but angered many by running for a fourth consecutive term in defiance of term limits and a 2016 referendum that voted against him doing so. "If he wants to be elected cleanly, he should accept a second-round election. What's he afraid of?" asked Maria Luz Vargas, 65, a newspaper seller in La Paz who had joined the protests. The official election monitor, the Organisation of American States, had called the count into question and cited a "drastic" and inexplicable shift in the vote, which it said hurt voters' confidence in the electoral process. Antonio Costas, one of the six-member electoral team coordinating the vote, stepped down on Tuesday in protest at the halt to the rapid count, although he told Reuters he had not come under political pressure. A number of foreign governments, including the United States, Brazil and the European Union, also voiced concerns about the integrity of the vote. At a meeting on Wednesday, the OAS recommended a second-round vote go ahead even if Morales reached a 10-point lead. Morales has maintained throughout that when the final vote count was announced, he would obtain a first-round win, helped by strong support in the countryside. "Our triumph has always been with the votes from the rural areas with the votes of the indigenous movement," he said on Wednesday, adding he would respect the final result.

Bolivia's Morales set to win outright as disputed vote count nears completion

The United States was awarded ownership of a North Korean cargo ship that was seized for violating international sanctions, the US Justice Department said.

The Wise Honest -- the first North Korean vessel to be seized by the US for sanctions violation,&nbsp;was caught carrying a $3 million shipment of coal in Indonesian waters last year and later handed over to the US.

The latest ruling by the Southern District of New York finalises the US government's seizure of the North Korean vessel and ends its use in a "criminal scheme", the Justice Department said in a statement.

"This order of forfeiture sinks the Wise Honest's career as one of North Korea's largest sanctions-busting vessels," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers.

The court ordered the vessel to be forfeited to the US government and for the Treasury Department to "dispose of" it.

Washington filed a civil forfeiture complaint about the ownership of the Wise Honest in May, court documents showed.

Petitions were filed in July and September by the families of two victims of North Korean torture including the parents of Otto Warmbier, a US student who died shortly after Pyongyang released him in a state of coma.

The Warmbiers and the family of Kim Dong Shik,&nbsp;a pastor believed to have been detained, tortured and executed in the North in 2000 -- were seeking a claim in the vessel but had "resolved" their petitions, the documents showed.

The Justice Department thanked the Warmbiers for "their willingness to voluntarily withdraw their claim" in its statement.

The Wise Honest -- one of the largest cargo ships in North Korea's fleet,&nbsp;was detained in Indonesia in April 2018 and seized by the US a year later.

It marked the first such seizure after years of high seas cat-and-mouse games in which North Korean shippers renamed their vessels, used false flags and turned off their tracking devices to avoid detection.

The seizure came with nuclear talks deadlocked since the collapse of the second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi in February.

Pyongyang has protested the seizure and has warned of "undesirable consequences" if it was not returned.

North Korea is sanctioned under multiple UN Security Council resolutions for its nuclear and missile programmes, and lifting of some of the measures was a key demand from Pyongyang at the Hanoi summit that ended without a deal.

The United States was awarded ownership of a North Korean cargo ship that was seized for violating international sanctions, the US Justice Department said. The Wise Honest -- the first North Korean vessel to be seized by the US for sanctions violation, was caught carrying a $3 million shipment of coal in Indonesian waters last year and later handed over to the US.

The United States was awarded ownership of a North Korean cargo ship that was seized for violating international sanctions, the US Justice Department said. The Wise Honest -- the first North Korean vessel to be seized by the US for sanctions violation, was caught carrying a $3 million shipment of coal in Indonesian waters last year and later handed over to the US. The latest ruling by the Southern District of New York finalises the US government's seizure of the North Korean vessel and ends its use in a "criminal scheme", the Justice Department said in a statement. "This order of forfeiture sinks the Wise Honest's career as one of North Korea's largest sanctions-busting vessels," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. The court ordered the vessel to be forfeited to the US government and for the Treasury Department to "dispose of" it. Washington filed a civil forfeiture complaint about the ownership of the Wise Honest in May, court documents showed. Petitions were filed in July and September by the families of two victims of North Korean torture including the parents of Otto Warmbier, a US student who died shortly after Pyongyang released him in a state of coma. The Warmbiers and the family of Kim Dong Shik, a pastor believed to have been detained, tortured and executed in the North in 2000 -- were seeking a claim in the vessel but had "resolved" their petitions, the documents showed. The Justice Department thanked the Warmbiers for "their willingness to voluntarily withdraw their claim" in its statement. The Wise Honest -- one of the largest cargo ships in North Korea's fleet, was detained in Indonesia in April 2018 and seized by the US a year later. It marked the first such seizure after years of high seas cat-and-mouse games in which North Korean shippers renamed their vessels, used false flags and turned off their tracking devices to avoid detection. The seizure came with nuclear talks deadlocked since the collapse of the second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi in February. Pyongyang has protested the seizure and has warned of "undesirable consequences" if it was not returned. North Korea is sanctioned under multiple UN Security Council resolutions for its nuclear and missile programmes, and lifting of some of the measures was a key demand from Pyongyang at the Hanoi summit that ended without a deal.

United States wins ownership of seized North Korean vessel

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-votes-as-trudeau-his-sunny-ways-dimmed-by-scandals-seeks-to-retain-power-257377">Canada's ruling Liberals</a> took an early lead after polls closed in four provinces on Monday, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau battled to remain in power after two major scandals and a spirited challenge by the opposition Conservatives.

The Liberals were leading or elected in 25 of 32 electoral districts in Atlantic Canada by&nbsp;0030 GMT on Tuesday&nbsp;despite a drop in their overall popular vote from the 2015 election, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

Some Liberal losses had been expected in the region after Trudeau led the party to a clean sweep there four years ago. Atlantic Canada makes up less than 10% of the seats in the House of Commons.

The national race was expected to be closer as Trudeau, who took power as a charismatic figure promising "sunny ways," battles Conservative leader Andrew Scheer for the chance to form the next government.

Polls close in the vote-rich provinces of Ontario and Quebec at 0130 GMT on Tuesday. National voting is scheduled to end in the Pacific Coast province of British Columbia at 0200 GMT on Tuesday.

Trudeau, 47, the Liberal Party leader, was endorsed by former US&nbsp;President Barack Obama in the final stretch of the campaign and is viewed as one of the last remaining progressive leaders among the world's major democracies.

But he was shaken during the campaign by a blackface scandal and has been dogged by criticism of his handling of a corruption case involving a major Canadian construction company. Trudeau, the son of the late Liberal Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, has also had to overcome a sense of fatigue with his government.

Trudeau, accompanied by his family, voted in Montreal on Monday after a marathon sprint campaigning across the country in the past four days. Scheer voted in his Saskatchewan electoral district.

On Twitter, he repeatedly urged people to get out and vote. Voter turnout is crucial for the Liberals, who privately fear low engagement will affect them more than the Conservatives.

"The truth is it's a coin toss right now," Ipsos pollster Darrell Bricker said.

A year ago, no one would have predicted that Trudeau risked becoming the first prime minister since the 1930s to secure a parliamentary majority and then fail to win a second term.

The latest opinion polls suggest he may narrowly avert that result and could win a minority in the 338-seat House of Commons. That would still leave him in a weakened position and needing the support of left-leaning opposition parties to push through key pieces of legislation.

"(A minority government) would force people to talk to each other, which is what we need," said Naomi Higgins, a 25-year-old voter in Toronto who supported the Liberals four years ago but switched to the Greens in this election. "We need to ... start doing what's best for everyone instead of what makes one party or the other look best."

Liberal campaign strategists say four members of Trudeau's Cabinet could lose their parliamentary seats, including Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, a veteran member of parliament who is seen as one of the government's heavyweights.

Goodale, 70, is the only Liberal member of parliament from the western province of Saskatchewan, where anger at Trudeau is mounting over federal environmental policies that the energy industry says will harm output.

The oil industry’s top lobbying group has blamed Trudeau’s policies for throttling investment in the sector, and some global energy companies have shed assets in the oil sands region of Alberta, the country's main oil-producing province.

Canada's economy, however, has been on a general upswing in 2019. The Canadian dollar has been the best-performing G10 currency this year, rising more than 4% against its U.S. counterpart, as the economy added jobs at a robust pace and inflation stayed close to the Bank of Canada's 2 per cent&nbsp;target.

Bumpy campaign ride

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/liberals-tories-slug-it-out-on-last-day-of-canada-election-257159">The six-week official campaign</a> period has been a rough and meandering ride with dirty tactics on both sides.

The liberal image of Trudeau, who has championed diversity as prime minister and whose father opened the country to mass immigration, took a severe blow when pictures emerged early in the campaign of him wearing blackface in the early 1990s and in 2001.

Trudeau had already been wrestling with the fallout from accusations he pressured his justice minister to help shield engineering firm SNC-Lavalin Group Inc&nbsp;from corruption charges. In August, a top watchdog said Trudeau breached ethics rules.

Scheer also has proven to be a determined opponent.

"He can't even remember how many times he put blackface on because the fact of the matter is he's always wearing a mask," Scheer said during a leaders' debate. "Mr&nbsp;Trudeau, you are a phoney and you are a fraud and you do not deserve to govern this country."

Scheer, 40, is also promising to balance the federal budget and eliminate a "carbon tax" on fossil fuels. He is running his first campaign as party leader after winning a bitter leadership fight in 2017.

Given the fact that neither of the front-runners could come away with a parliamentary majority, it is the smaller left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP) or the separatist Bloc Quebecois that could end up holding the balance of power.

"I am a lifelong Liberal voter and I am stumped on this one, mostly because I am really concerned about a Conservative win and just trying to figure out how to vote strategically," said Kristin Street, 33, a strategy manager at a computer games company, in Port Moody, British Columbia.

EKOS Research pollster Frank Graves said the Liberals needed turn out to be similar to four years ago or otherwise the Conservatives may have an edge.

"We may well be waiting until the final vote tallies in British Columbia to see who will win on Monday," Graves said.

Canada's ruling Liberals took an early lead after polls closed in four provinces on Monday, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau battled to remain in power after two major scandals and a spirited challenge by the opposition Conservatives.

Canada's ruling Liberals took an early lead after polls closed in four provinces on Monday, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau battled to remain in power after two major scandals and a spirited challenge by the opposition Conservatives. The Liberals were leading or elected in 25 of 32 electoral districts in Atlantic Canada by 0030 GMT on Tuesday despite a drop in their overall popular vote from the 2015 election, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Some Liberal losses had been expected in the region after Trudeau led the party to a clean sweep there four years ago. Atlantic Canada makes up less than 10% of the seats in the House of Commons. The national race was expected to be closer as Trudeau, who took power as a charismatic figure promising "sunny ways," battles Conservative leader Andrew Scheer for the chance to form the next government. Polls close in the vote-rich provinces of Ontario and Quebec at 0130 GMT on Tuesday. National voting is scheduled to end in the Pacific Coast province of British Columbia at 0200 GMT on Tuesday. Trudeau, 47, the Liberal Party leader, was endorsed by former US President Barack Obama in the final stretch of the campaign and is viewed as one of the last remaining progressive leaders among the world's major democracies. But he was shaken during the campaign by a blackface scandal and has been dogged by criticism of his handling of a corruption case involving a major Canadian construction company. Trudeau, the son of the late Liberal Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, has also had to overcome a sense of fatigue with his government. Trudeau, accompanied by his family, voted in Montreal on Monday after a marathon sprint campaigning across the country in the past four days. Scheer voted in his Saskatchewan electoral district. On Twitter, he repeatedly urged people to get out and vote. Voter turnout is crucial for the Liberals, who privately fear low engagement will affect them more than the Conservatives. "The truth is it's a coin toss right now," Ipsos pollster Darrell Bricker said. A year ago, no one would have predicted that Trudeau risked becoming the first prime minister since the 1930s to secure a parliamentary majority and then fail to win a second term. The latest opinion polls suggest he may narrowly avert that result and could win a minority in the 338-seat House of Commons. That would still leave him in a weakened position and needing the support of left-leaning opposition parties to push through key pieces of legislation. "(A minority government) would force people to talk to each other, which is what we need," said Naomi Higgins, a 25-year-old voter in Toronto who supported the Liberals four years ago but switched to the Greens in this election. "We need to ... start doing what's best for everyone instead of what makes one party or the other look best." Liberal campaign strategists say four members of Trudeau's Cabinet could lose their parliamentary seats, including Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, a veteran member of parliament who is seen as one of the government's heavyweights. Goodale, 70, is the only Liberal member of parliament from the western province of Saskatchewan, where anger at Trudeau is mounting over federal environmental policies that the energy industry says will harm output. The oil industry’s top lobbying group has blamed Trudeau’s policies for throttling investment in the sector, and some global energy companies have shed assets in the oil sands region of Alberta, the country's main oil-producing province. Canada's economy, however, has been on a general upswing in 2019. The Canadian dollar has been the best-performing G10 currency this year, rising more than 4% against its U.S. counterpart, as the economy added jobs at a robust pace and inflation stayed close to the Bank of Canada's 2 per cent target. Bumpy campaign ride The six-week official campaign period has been a rough and meandering ride with dirty tactics on both sides. The liberal image of Trudeau, who has championed diversity as prime minister and whose father opened the country to mass immigration, took a severe blow when pictures emerged early in the campaign of him wearing blackface in the early 1990s and in 2001. Trudeau had already been wrestling with the fallout from accusations he pressured his justice minister to help shield engineering firm SNC-Lavalin Group Inc from corruption charges. In August, a top watchdog said Trudeau breached ethics rules. Scheer also has proven to be a determined opponent. "He can't even remember how many times he put blackface on because the fact of the matter is he's always wearing a mask," Scheer said during a leaders' debate. "Mr Trudeau, you are a phoney and you are a fraud and you do not deserve to govern this country." Scheer, 40, is also promising to balance the federal budget and eliminate a "carbon tax" on fossil fuels. He is running his first campaign as party leader after winning a bitter leadership fight in 2017. Given the fact that neither of the front-runners could come away with a parliamentary majority, it is the smaller left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP) or the separatist Bloc Quebecois that could end up holding the balance of power. "I am a lifelong Liberal voter and I am stumped on this one, mostly because I am really concerned about a Conservative win and just trying to figure out how to vote strategically," said Kristin Street, 33, a strategy manager at a computer games company, in Port Moody, British Columbia. EKOS Research pollster Frank Graves said the Liberals needed turn out to be similar to four years ago or otherwise the Conservatives may have an edge. "We may well be waiting until the final vote tallies in British Columbia to see who will win on Monday," Graves said.

Trudeau's Liberals take early lead after first Canadian polls close

Gold prices were little changed on Monday as investors waited for more clarity on US-China trade negotiations, and Brexit after British parliamentarians delayed a crucial vote on the divorce deal.

Spot gold was flat at $1,490.03 per ounce as of 0519 GMT. US&nbsp;gold futures dipped slightly to $1,493.50.

Asian shares edged higher, limiting bullion's gains, with MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan up 0.2 per cent.

"The markets are quite long, and people are worried about the trade war. Investors are waiting for pullbacks in gold to step in again," AxiTrader market strategist Stephen Innes said.

"What has been supportive for gold are recessionary fears, and provided that remains in the headlines, it is a significant reason to stay long gold. Right now, there is no major catalyst to drive it any direction."

The long-standing Sino-US&nbsp;trade war has taken a toll on economies around the world with Japan's exports down for a 10th straight month, South Korean exports plunging 19.5 per cent&nbsp;in October, and Thai exports missing expectations.

In China, new home prices grew at a steady pace in September, a relief for policymakers who remain wary of high debt and bubble risk, and are refraining from stimulating the sector as the economy cools.

Providing little comfort to market sentiment, British Lawmakers on Saturday voted to withhold a decision on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's deal, a move that forced him to seek from the EU the third postponement of Britain's departure from the bloc.

The vote for an extension dealt a blow to optimism that a deal agreed last week would ensure Brexit happens with little economic disruption.

Spot gold looks neutral in a range of $1,479-$1,502 per ounce, and an escape could suggest a direction, Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao said.

Among other precious metals, silver rose 0.2 per cent&nbsp;to $17.57 per ounce, and platinum rose 0.4 per cent&nbsp;to $892.64.

Meanwhile, palladium gained 0.9 per cent&nbsp;to $1,770.07 an ounce, slightly lower than a high of $1,783.21 it struck on Thursday.

"Sell rates for palladium reached the highest level since January. This suggests the recent rally has been driven by fundamentals, rather than speculative interest," ANZ Bank said in a note.

"And with the market likely to remain tight for the foreseeable future, we believe there is plenty more upside for (palladium) prices."

Gold prices were little changed on Monday as investors waited for more clarity on US-China trade negotiations, and Brexit after British parliamentarians delayed a crucial vote on the divorce deal.

Gold prices were little changed on Monday as investors waited for more clarity on US-China trade negotiations, and Brexit after British parliamentarians delayed a crucial vote on the divorce deal. Spot gold was flat at $1,490.03 per ounce as of 0519 GMT. US gold futures dipped slightly to $1,493.50. Asian shares edged higher, limiting bullion's gains, with MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan up 0.2 per cent. "The markets are quite long, and people are worried about the trade war. Investors are waiting for pullbacks in gold to step in again," AxiTrader market strategist Stephen Innes said. "What has been supportive for gold are recessionary fears, and provided that remains in the headlines, it is a significant reason to stay long gold. Right now, there is no major catalyst to drive it any direction." The long-standing Sino-US trade war has taken a toll on economies around the world with Japan's exports down for a 10th straight month, South Korean exports plunging 19.5 per cent in October, and Thai exports missing expectations. In China, new home prices grew at a steady pace in September, a relief for policymakers who remain wary of high debt and bubble risk, and are refraining from stimulating the sector as the economy cools. Providing little comfort to market sentiment, British Lawmakers on Saturday voted to withhold a decision on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's deal, a move that forced him to seek from the EU the third postponement of Britain's departure from the bloc. The vote for an extension dealt a blow to optimism that a deal agreed last week would ensure Brexit happens with little economic disruption. Spot gold looks neutral in a range of $1,479-$1,502 per ounce, and an escape could suggest a direction, Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao said. Among other precious metals, silver rose 0.2 per cent to $17.57 per ounce, and platinum rose 0.4 per cent to $892.64. Meanwhile, palladium gained 0.9 per cent to $1,770.07 an ounce, slightly lower than a high of $1,783.21 it struck on Thursday. "Sell rates for palladium reached the highest level since January. This suggests the recent rally has been driven by fundamentals, rather than speculative interest," ANZ Bank said in a note. "And with the market likely to remain tight for the foreseeable future, we believe there is plenty more upside for (palladium) prices."

Gold flat as markets eye trade talk cues, Brexit deal

British Members&nbsp;of Parliament&nbsp;gathered on Saturday for a knife-edge vote on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-deal-new-way-forward-for-britain-and-eu-pm-boris-johnson-256870">Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit deal </a>for a decision that could see the United Kingdom leave the European Union this month or plunge the country into fresh uncertainty.

Parliament was holding its first Saturday sitting since the 1982 Falklands War to debate the terms of a last-ditch divorce agreement Johnson struck with European Union leaders Thursday.

Opposition parties and Johnson's own Northern Irish allies have rejected the text but the prime minister and his team have spent the past 48 hours frantically trying to win the support of wavering MPs.

The vote is widely seen as too close to call but Johnson warned his deal was still the best way out of the tortuous Brexit process that has left Britain in political turmoil since a 2016 referendum.

The Conservative premier told lawmakers his deal would be a "new way forward and a new and better deal both for Britain and our friends in the EU".

He wants Britain to end its 46-year membership of the EU as planned on October 31 and is seeking a clear-cut vote that either approves or rejects the divorce treaty.

But MPs are proposing an amendment for approval of the deal to be withheld unless and until all necessary implementing legislation has passed.

They fear is that even if MPs approve the deal, they will not have enough time to debate the formal withdrawal agreement bill before the October 31 deadline, which could see no-deal Brexit by accident.

If the amendment, which has the support of the main opposition Labour party, is passed then it would trigger a law requiring Johnson asking EU leaders to delay Brexit again.

But Downing Street officials say even if that happens, they would introduce the bill on Monday, in the hope it would still be debated and passed in time for Britain to leave at the end of the month.

Johnson said that further delay would be "pointless, expensive and deeply corrosive to public trust".

Heated debate

Securing a deal was a personal victory for Johnson, a figurehead in the Leave campaign who has vowed to deliver Brexit on October 31 come what may.

But parliament, like the frustrated public,&nbsp;is still bittered divided over how and even if Britain should end almost half a century of integration with its closest neighbours.

The debate coincides with a mass demonstration to parliament demanding a second referendum, with an option to reverse Brexit.

A defeat for Johnson would trigger a law requiring him to ask EU leaders to delay Brexit for what would be the third time. He has said he would "rather be dead in a ditch" than do so.

Any extension would depend on all 27 EU leaders saying yes.&nbsp;

'Sell-out deal'

Johnson took office in July after his predecessor Theresa May failed three times to get her own divorce deal through parliament.

He insists that Brexit must happen this month to end the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-kingdom-brexit-vote-amendment-could-cause-another-delay-256888"> uncertainty that has weighed on the economy </a>and dominated political and public debate.

However, the vote rests on a knife-edge.

Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, which supports Johnson's minority government, will vote against the agreement because of its arrangements for the British province.

Labour, led by veteran leftist Jeremy Corbyn, is set against the deal.

"Boris Johnson's sell-out deal risks triggering a race to the bottom on rights and protections: putting food safety at risk, cutting environmental standards and workers' rights, and opening up our NHS (National Health Service) to a takeover by US corporations," said Corbyn.

'Sick and tired'

Eurosceptic newspapers urged MPs to back the deal.

The Daily Express front page said: "Respect the will of the people and let's move on."

The Daily Telegraph said it was Britain's best chance for an orderly departure.

"People are sick and tired of the delay and fed up with procedural trickery," it said of the proposed amendment.

An online Survation poll of 1,025 adults on Thursday and Friday for the Daily Mail found that 50 per cent said MPs should vote for the deal, while 38 per cent said not.

Meanwhile, The Times said: "On behalf of a bored and disillusioned country, increasingly angry with Westminster, MPs should back the deal."

EU leaders in Brussels this week urged lawmakers to back the deal, to allow both sides to move on to discussing their future relationship.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-day-of-reckoning-parliament-to-vote-on-boris-johnsons-deal-256805">The deal covers Britain's financial settlement</a>, protects the rights of EU citizens and sets out a post-Brexit transition period potentially until 2022 to allow both sides to agree to new trade terms.

British Members of Parliament gathered on Saturday for a knife-edge vote on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit deal for a decision that could see the United Kingdom leave the European Union this month or plunge the country into fresh uncertainty.

British Members of Parliament gathered on Saturday for a knife-edge vote on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit deal for a decision that could see the United Kingdom leave the European Union this month or plunge the country into fresh uncertainty. Parliament was holding its first Saturday sitting since the 1982 Falklands War to debate the terms of a last-ditch divorce agreement Johnson struck with European Union leaders Thursday. Opposition parties and Johnson's own Northern Irish allies have rejected the text but the prime minister and his team have spent the past 48 hours frantically trying to win the support of wavering MPs. The vote is widely seen as too close to call but Johnson warned his deal was still the best way out of the tortuous Brexit process that has left Britain in political turmoil since a 2016 referendum. The Conservative premier told lawmakers his deal would be a "new way forward and a new and better deal both for Britain and our friends in the EU". He wants Britain to end its 46-year membership of the EU as planned on October 31 and is seeking a clear-cut vote that either approves or rejects the divorce treaty. But MPs are proposing an amendment for approval of the deal to be withheld unless and until all necessary implementing legislation has passed. They fear is that even if MPs approve the deal, they will not have enough time to debate the formal withdrawal agreement bill before the October 31 deadline, which could see no-deal Brexit by accident. If the amendment, which has the support of the main opposition Labour party, is passed then it would trigger a law requiring Johnson asking EU leaders to delay Brexit again. But Downing Street officials say even if that happens, they would introduce the bill on Monday, in the hope it would still be debated and passed in time for Britain to leave at the end of the month. Johnson said that further delay would be "pointless, expensive and deeply corrosive to public trust". Heated debate Securing a deal was a personal victory for Johnson, a figurehead in the Leave campaign who has vowed to deliver Brexit on October 31 come what may. But parliament, like the frustrated public, is still bittered divided over how and even if Britain should end almost half a century of integration with its closest neighbours. The debate coincides with a mass demonstration to parliament demanding a second referendum, with an option to reverse Brexit. A defeat for Johnson would trigger a law requiring him to ask EU leaders to delay Brexit for what would be the third time. He has said he would "rather be dead in a ditch" than do so. Any extension would depend on all 27 EU leaders saying yes. 'Sell-out deal' Johnson took office in July after his predecessor Theresa May failed three times to get her own divorce deal through parliament. He insists that Brexit must happen this month to end the uncertainty that has weighed on the economy and dominated political and public debate. However, the vote rests on a knife-edge. Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, which supports Johnson's minority government, will vote against the agreement because of its arrangements for the British province. Labour, led by veteran leftist Jeremy Corbyn, is set against the deal. "Boris Johnson's sell-out deal risks triggering a race to the bottom on rights and protections: putting food safety at risk, cutting environmental standards and workers' rights, and opening up our NHS (National Health Service) to a takeover by US corporations," said Corbyn. 'Sick and tired' Eurosceptic newspapers urged MPs to back the deal. The Daily Express front page said: "Respect the will of the people and let's move on." The Daily Telegraph said it was Britain's best chance for an orderly departure. "People are sick and tired of the delay and fed up with procedural trickery," it said of the proposed amendment. An online Survation poll of 1,025 adults on Thursday and Friday for the Daily Mail found that 50 per cent said MPs should vote for the deal, while 38 per cent said not. Meanwhile, The Times said: "On behalf of a bored and disillusioned country, increasingly angry with Westminster, MPs should back the deal." EU leaders in Brussels this week urged lawmakers to back the deal, to allow both sides to move on to discussing their future relationship. The deal covers Britain's financial settlement, protects the rights of EU citizens and sets out a post-Brexit transition period potentially until 2022 to allow both sides to agree to new trade terms.

Brexit in balance as British Members of Parliament hold knife-edge vote

Five young children and two adults were killed when a fire ripped through a two-storey residential building in the central Russian city of Rostov early Saturday, authorities said.

The youngest child to have died was 15 months old and the oldest six, a spokeswoman for the emergencies ministry told AFP.

Three more people were hospitalised with various injuries, said Sergei Shokin, head of the Rostov municipal district.

Rostov is located some 200 kilometres northeast&nbsp;of the capital Moscow.

Officials did not immediately say what caused the fire but confirmed investigators were working at the scene.

The Investigative Committee said it had opened a criminal probe.

Five young children and two adults were killed when a fire ripped through a two-storey residential building in the central Russian city of Rostov early Saturday, authorities said.

Five young children and two adults were killed when a fire ripped through a two-storey residential building in the central Russian city of Rostov early Saturday, authorities said. The youngest child to have died was 15 months old and the oldest six, a spokeswoman for the emergencies ministry told AFP. Three more people were hospitalised with various injuries, said Sergei Shokin, head of the Rostov municipal district. Rostov is located some 200 kilometres northeast of the capital Moscow. Officials did not immediately say what caused the fire but confirmed investigators were working at the scene. The Investigative Committee said it had opened a criminal probe.

Five young children killed in Russian fire

Thousands of&nbsp;climate-change&nbsp;protesters&nbsp;took to the&nbsp;streets&nbsp;in cities&nbsp;around&nbsp;the&nbsp;world&nbsp;on Monday, launching two weeks of peaceful civil disobedience to demand immediate action to cut carbon emissions and avert an ecological disaster.

In London, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/climate-change-protests-kicks-off-central-london-254315">police arrested 276 activists </a>from the Extinction Rebellion group as they&nbsp;blocked bridges and roads in the city center, and glued themselves to cars, while&nbsp;protesters&nbsp;in Berlin halted traffic at the Victory Column roundabout.

Dutch police stepped in to arrest more than 100&nbsp;climate&nbsp;activists&nbsp;blocking a street in front of the country's national museum and there were similar protests in Austria, Australia, France, Spain, and New Zealand.

"SORRY that we&nbsp;blocked the road, but this is an emergency," declared placards held by activists in Amsterdam.

In New York's financial district,&nbsp;protesters&nbsp;spattered the Wall Street Bull and themselves with fake blood and lay prone&nbsp;around&nbsp;the sculpture to evoke their fears of a deadly environmental catastrophe.

The protests are the latest stage in an global campaign for tougher and swifter steps against&nbsp;climate&nbsp;change coordinated by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/paris-climate-activists-kick-off-global-extinction-rebellion-protests-254022">Extinction Rebellion</a>, which rose to prominence in April when it snarled traffic in central London for 11 days.

Last month, millions of young people flooded onto the&nbsp;streets&nbsp;of cities&nbsp;around&nbsp;the&nbsp;world, inspired to take action by 16-year-old <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-how-dare-you-greta-thunberg-thunders-at-world-leaders-at-united-nations-251573">Swedish activist Greta Thunberg</a>.

Extinction Rebellion says it expects peaceful protests over the next two weeks in more than 60 cities from New Delhi to New York calling on governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025 and halt a loss of biodiversity.

Banging drums and chanting,&nbsp;protesters&nbsp;in London took over Trafalgar Square and marched down the Mall, the avenue that leads to Buckingham Palace. They carried banners with slogans including "Climate&nbsp;change denies our children a future unless we act now".

"We're here because the government is not doing enough on the&nbsp;climate&nbsp;emergency," protester Lizzy Mansfield said. "We only get one planet and so we're here to try and defend it."

Police chiefs said last week they would mobilise thousands of officers to handle the protests in London and that anyone who broke the law, even as part of non-violent civil disobedience, would be arrested.

On Saturday, officers used a battering ram to enter a building in south London where activists had been storing materials to use during the protests. Eight people were arrested during the raid.

Defying almost freezing temperatures in Berlin, activists singing "Solid as a rock, rooted as a tree" gathered at dawn at the Victory Column roundabout near Tiergarten park.

At sunrise, some were sleeping in insulated bags in the middle of the roundabout as police on motorbikes drove by. No arrests were made and the protest remained peaceful.

Police&nbsp;blocked the five avenues that converge on the roundabout to stop cars and buses reaching the demonstration, as this would have resulted in traffic chaos during rush hour.

By midday, the protest had swelled to 4,000 people, a policeman said, and a second main roundabout was also&nbsp;blocked by activists sitting in the middle of the road.

Police began removing chanting&nbsp;protesters&nbsp;from Berlin's Potsdamer Platz later in the day after they had occupied the central artery for much of the day, singing, making speeches and fashioning a makeshift camp out of salvaged armchairs and tents.

The rallies came as German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended&nbsp;climate&nbsp;protection measures her government is due to approve on Wednesday but which critics have condemned as unambitious.

In Amsterdam, police were lining up empty city buses to take the arrested demonstrators away as they tried to clear a major thoroughfare in the afternoon.

"The&nbsp;climate&nbsp;crisis is not being taken seriously enough by politics, and also not by the companies. That's why I joined," said one demonstrator, who gave his name as Christiaan.

Meanwhile activists in London, some wearing yellow safety helmets with "Rebel at Work" painted on the side, glued or chained themselves to cars parked in the middle of roads or to street lamps, making it hard for police officers to detain them.

"We are out of time, there is none left, we have to act now," said a protester called Benjamin.

In central Paris, dozens of Extinction Rebellion activists&nbsp;blocked a street and bridge in the Chatelet district. They also built temporary shelters or held impromptu concerts and workshops in a good-natured atmosphere.

"This is clearly non-violent, it is human, we are not here with guns, we are here as human beings," protester Francoise Loiseau said.

With events like extreme weather, thawing permafrost and a sea-level rise unfolding much faster than expected, scientists say the urgency of the&nbsp;climate&nbsp;crisis has intensified since the signing in 2015 of the Paris accord on curbing global warming.

Nearly 70 countries announced plans at a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-said-what-at-united-nations-climate-summit-251604">U.N.&nbsp;climate&nbsp;action summit</a> last month to beef up their Paris pledges, but most major economies including the United States and China failed to announce stronger new measures.

Thousands of climate-change protesters took to the streets in cities around the world on Monday, launching two weeks of peaceful civil disobedience to demand immediate action to cut carbon emissions and avert an ecological disaster.

Thousands of climate-change protesters took to the streets in cities around the world on Monday, launching two weeks of peaceful civil disobedience to demand immediate action to cut carbon emissions and avert an ecological disaster. In London, police arrested 276 activists from the Extinction Rebellion group as they blocked bridges and roads in the city center, and glued themselves to cars, while protesters in Berlin halted traffic at the Victory Column roundabout. Dutch police stepped in to arrest more than 100 climate activists blocking a street in front of the country's national museum and there were similar protests in Austria, Australia, France, Spain, and New Zealand. "SORRY that we blocked the road, but this is an emergency," declared placards held by activists in Amsterdam. In New York's financial district, protesters spattered the Wall Street Bull and themselves with fake blood and lay prone around the sculpture to evoke their fears of a deadly environmental catastrophe. The protests are the latest stage in an global campaign for tougher and swifter steps against climate change coordinated by Extinction Rebellion, which rose to prominence in April when it snarled traffic in central London for 11 days. Last month, millions of young people flooded onto the streets of cities around the world, inspired to take action by 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. Extinction Rebellion says it expects peaceful protests over the next two weeks in more than 60 cities from New Delhi to New York calling on governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025 and halt a loss of biodiversity. Banging drums and chanting, protesters in London took over Trafalgar Square and marched down the Mall, the avenue that leads to Buckingham Palace. They carried banners with slogans including "Climate change denies our children a future unless we act now". "We're here because the government is not doing enough on the climate emergency," protester Lizzy Mansfield said. "We only get one planet and so we're here to try and defend it." Police chiefs said last week they would mobilise thousands of officers to handle the protests in London and that anyone who broke the law, even as part of non-violent civil disobedience, would be arrested. On Saturday, officers used a battering ram to enter a building in south London where activists had been storing materials to use during the protests. Eight people were arrested during the raid. Defying almost freezing temperatures in Berlin, activists singing "Solid as a rock, rooted as a tree" gathered at dawn at the Victory Column roundabout near Tiergarten park. At sunrise, some were sleeping in insulated bags in the middle of the roundabout as police on motorbikes drove by. No arrests were made and the protest remained peaceful. Police blocked the five avenues that converge on the roundabout to stop cars and buses reaching the demonstration, as this would have resulted in traffic chaos during rush hour. By midday, the protest had swelled to 4,000 people, a policeman said, and a second main roundabout was also blocked by activists sitting in the middle of the road. Police began removing chanting protesters from Berlin's Potsdamer Platz later in the day after they had occupied the central artery for much of the day, singing, making speeches and fashioning a makeshift camp out of salvaged armchairs and tents. The rallies came as German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended climate protection measures her government is due to approve on Wednesday but which critics have condemned as unambitious. In Amsterdam, police were lining up empty city buses to take the arrested demonstrators away as they tried to clear a major thoroughfare in the afternoon. "The climate crisis is not being taken seriously enough by politics, and also not by the companies. That's why I joined," said one demonstrator, who gave his name as Christiaan. Meanwhile activists in London, some wearing yellow safety helmets with "Rebel at Work" painted on the side, glued or chained themselves to cars parked in the middle of roads or to street lamps, making it hard for police officers to detain them. "We are out of time, there is none left, we have to act now," said a protester called Benjamin. In central Paris, dozens of Extinction Rebellion activists blocked a street and bridge in the Chatelet district. They also built temporary shelters or held impromptu concerts and workshops in a good-natured atmosphere. "This is clearly non-violent, it is human, we are not here with guns, we are here as human beings," protester Francoise Loiseau said. With events like extreme weather, thawing permafrost and a sea-level rise unfolding much faster than expected, scientists say the urgency of the climate crisis has intensified since the signing in 2015 of the Paris accord on curbing global warming. Nearly 70 countries announced plans at a U.N. climate action summit last month to beef up their Paris pledges, but most major economies including the United States and China failed to announce stronger new measures.

'Sorry, this is an emergency': Climate protesters block streets around the world

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-ghosn-nissan-ceo-hiroto-saikawa-to-step-down-over-financial-irregularities-accusation-248639">Nissan Motor Co</a> named the head of its Chinese business as its next CEO on Tuesday, picking an executive known for close ties to top shareholder Renault and for a frank, straight-talking manner that has marked him as an outsider.

By selecting Senior Vice President Makoto Uchida, Nissan's board has gone with someone slightly at odds with its traditional corporate culture. He joined the carmaker mid-career in 2003, a rarity in a country where top executives usually spend their entire working lives at the same company.

Known for his unflagging work ethic and relentless focus on cost control, Uchida was described by one long-time associate who spoke on condition of anonymity as a "foreigner with a Japanese face" - direct and to the point in conversations.

He will be joined by newly appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) Ashwani Gupta, currently COO of junior partner Mitsubishi Motors Corp, in trying to find new ways to revive a business that has been struggling for months with plunging profits, management scandal and tensions with Renault.

Japan's second-largest automaker has been shaken in particular by the arrest of former Chairman Carlos Ghosn last year on allegations of financial misconduct, which he denies, and the more recent departure of CEO Hiroto Saikawa after he admitted to being improperly overpaid.

Whether the 53-year-old former theology student can deliver a miracle turnaround - particularly at Nissan's business in the United States - and repair ties with Renault will now be a focus for investors.

"The biggest business challenge for Nissan is speeding up," the head of Nissan's nominations committee, Masakazu Toyoda, told a news conference.

"Speedy decision making is a challenge that Uchida raised, and to this end, he said that he wants to empower people as much as possible, so we decided to ask Uchida to take on the CEO role."

One source close to Renault described the selection as "a victory for the alliance", saying that both Uchida and Gupta knew the business and were ready to help Nissan recover.

'Isn't really Japanese'

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/crisis-hit-nissan-ceo-set-to-resign-as-board-meets-248599">Before his ouster, Ghosn had been working on a plan for a full merger of Renault and Nissan</a>, but had met resistance in Japan, which is concerned about French influence in the alliance. The French government is a major Renault shareholder.

Relations were further strained this year when Renault held abortive merger talks with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

Nissan's former China chief Jun Seki, who was seen as one of the top contenders for the CEO job, will be vice COO, the company said. The three appointees will take up their positions by January&nbsp;1.

"All three are global citizens, attach importance to the alliance, and are motivated to speed decision making" Toyoda said.

The Uchida associate described him as a "Japanese person who isn't really Japanese inside. Very direct in his language, to the point, easy to understand."

He is extremely proficient in English and worked with Renault, which owns 43.4 per cent of Nissan, on alliance procurement.

Although he is steeped in cost control and rose through ranks in purchasing and procurement - two key things for Nissan - there are other traits that mark him as an outsider.

Unlike other top executives, he has not spent his entire career at Nissan, having joined from Nissho Iwai, now part of trading house Sojitz. He also graduated from Doshisha University in Kyoto, where he studied theology. Many top executives in Japan come from the University of Tokyo, and often study law.

As such he is seen as a "tozama", a lord who was considered an outsider in feudal Japan, the associate said.

Directors at Nissan, including those from Renault, voted unanimously in favour of the two executives, a source familiar with the matter said.

APE, which handles the French state's holdings in companies, said it was delighted "with a unanimous decision that will allow Nissan and the alliance to move forward."

Nissan Motor Co named the head of its Chinese business as its next CEO on Tuesday, picking an executive known for close ties to top shareholder Renault and for a frank, straight-talking manner that has marked him as an outsider.

Nissan Motor Co named the head of its Chinese business as its next CEO on Tuesday, picking an executive known for close ties to top shareholder Renault and for a frank, straight-talking manner that has marked him as an outsider. By selecting Senior Vice President Makoto Uchida, Nissan's board has gone with someone slightly at odds with its traditional corporate culture. He joined the carmaker mid-career in 2003, a rarity in a country where top executives usually spend their entire working lives at the same company. Known for his unflagging work ethic and relentless focus on cost control, Uchida was described by one long-time associate who spoke on condition of anonymity as a "foreigner with a Japanese face" - direct and to the point in conversations. He will be joined by newly appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) Ashwani Gupta, currently COO of junior partner Mitsubishi Motors Corp, in trying to find new ways to revive a business that has been struggling for months with plunging profits, management scandal and tensions with Renault. Japan's second-largest automaker has been shaken in particular by the arrest of former Chairman Carlos Ghosn last year on allegations of financial misconduct, which he denies, and the more recent departure of CEO Hiroto Saikawa after he admitted to being improperly overpaid. Whether the 53-year-old former theology student can deliver a miracle turnaround - particularly at Nissan's business in the United States - and repair ties with Renault will now be a focus for investors. "The biggest business challenge for Nissan is speeding up," the head of Nissan's nominations committee, Masakazu Toyoda, told a news conference. "Speedy decision making is a challenge that Uchida raised, and to this end, he said that he wants to empower people as much as possible, so we decided to ask Uchida to take on the CEO role." One source close to Renault described the selection as "a victory for the alliance", saying that both Uchida and Gupta knew the business and were ready to help Nissan recover. 'Isn't really Japanese' Before his ouster, Ghosn had been working on a plan for a full merger of Renault and Nissan, but had met resistance in Japan, which is concerned about French influence in the alliance. The French government is a major Renault shareholder. Relations were further strained this year when Renault held abortive merger talks with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Nissan's former China chief Jun Seki, who was seen as one of the top contenders for the CEO job, will be vice COO, the company said. The three appointees will take up their positions by January 1. "All three are global citizens, attach importance to the alliance, and are motivated to speed decision making" Toyoda said. The Uchida associate described him as a "Japanese person who isn't really Japanese inside. Very direct in his language, to the point, easy to understand." He is extremely proficient in English and worked with Renault, which owns 43.4 per cent of Nissan, on alliance procurement. Although he is steeped in cost control and rose through ranks in purchasing and procurement - two key things for Nissan - there are other traits that mark him as an outsider. Unlike other top executives, he has not spent his entire career at Nissan, having joined from Nissho Iwai, now part of trading house Sojitz. He also graduated from Doshisha University in Kyoto, where he studied theology. Many top executives in Japan come from the University of Tokyo, and often study law. As such he is seen as a "tozama", a lord who was considered an outsider in feudal Japan, the associate said. Directors at Nissan, including those from Renault, voted unanimously in favour of the two executives, a source familiar with the matter said. APE, which handles the French state's holdings in companies, said it was delighted "with a unanimous decision that will allow Nissan and the alliance to move forward."

Nissan pins revival hopes on 'foreigner with a Japanese face'

Italy's parliament votes Tuesday on cutting the number of the country's lawmakers, a move linked to an electoral law reform that the left-leaning government hopes will help keep the far-right from power.

Slashing the number of MPs and senators in Italy by 345 was a flagship manifesto promise of the anti-establishment <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/italys-5-star-makes-deal-with-pd-to-avoid-elections-246334">Five Star Movement</a>, which rules in coalition with the country's center-left, and has promised voters it would tackle political elitism and wasteful spending.

Italy currently has the second-highest number of lawmakers in the EU after Britain -- some 630 elected representatives in the lower house and 315 in the Senate.

The constitutional reform, which will likely be subjected to a popular referendum in the coming months, would cut the number of MPs to 400 and senators to 200 from the next legislature, with an expected saving of some 100 million euros ($110 million) a year.

"It's a well-balanced reform with an excellent profile," legal expert Guido Neppi Modona told Il Fatto Quotidiano on Monday.

A reduced number of lawmakers will "lead parties to take particular care in choosing candidates," he said.

Critics have warned the cut could affect popular representation, and increase the influence of lobbyists over governing institutions -- all for a minimal saving that will have little effect on debt-laden Italy's book balance.

This is the country's eighth attempt to cut its number lawmakers since 1983, according to the Open news website.

This time it is broadly expected to be successful, with most opposition parties on board -- though the head of Italy's far-right League Matteo Salvini on Friday warned his party would wait to see if the law was "mere horse-trading".

Five Star (M5S) made the cut a condition of its alliance with the center-left Democratic Party (PD), following the collapse of the previous, far-right coalition in August.

The PD had previously voted against the reduction, but agreed to support it if it meant clinching a deal with the M5S which would prevent a return to the polls and keep popular hardliner Salvini out of power.

The party has insisted the cut be followed by a new electoral law and is pushing for the reintroduction of a proportional representation system.

Under the current mix of proportional representation and first-past-the-post, a winning coalition needs more than 40 percent of the vote to have the necessary parliamentary majority.

With full proportional representation, parties or coalitions would need a much bigger majority to form a government.

That would force Salvini to ditch any plans to run alone or with a small fellow far-right party at the next election, and force him instead to turn to former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's center-right Forza Italy party for help, the weekly L'Espresso said.

"Why the haste to cut the seats?" Massimo Luciani said in the Corriere Della Sera newspaper, pointing out that the coalition government -- an unlikely alliance of former foes -- could fall before changes to the electoral law can be made.

"To avoid 'surprises', the package of reforms should be launched at the same time," he said.

Lorenzo Codogno, former chief economist at the Italian Treasury Department, told AFP the pressing need to change the electoral law could serve as glue to hold the coalition together.

He warned however that "I have a feeling that (the electoral law) won't happen very soon".

International markets and European investors watching the stability of the new coalition was right "to worry about everything," he said.

Italy's parliament votes Tuesday on cutting the number of the country's lawmakers, a move linked to an electoral law reform that the left-leaning government hopes will help keep the far-right from power.

Italy's parliament votes Tuesday on cutting the number of the country's lawmakers, a move linked to an electoral law reform that the left-leaning government hopes will help keep the far-right from power. Slashing the number of MPs and senators in Italy by 345 was a flagship manifesto promise of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, which rules in coalition with the country's center-left, and has promised voters it would tackle political elitism and wasteful spending. Italy currently has the second-highest number of lawmakers in the EU after Britain -- some 630 elected representatives in the lower house and 315 in the Senate. The constitutional reform, which will likely be subjected to a popular referendum in the coming months, would cut the number of MPs to 400 and senators to 200 from the next legislature, with an expected saving of some 100 million euros ($110 million) a year. "It's a well-balanced reform with an excellent profile," legal expert Guido Neppi Modona told Il Fatto Quotidiano on Monday. A reduced number of lawmakers will "lead parties to take particular care in choosing candidates," he said. Critics have warned the cut could affect popular representation, and increase the influence of lobbyists over governing institutions -- all for a minimal saving that will have little effect on debt-laden Italy's book balance. This is the country's eighth attempt to cut its number lawmakers since 1983, according to the Open news website. This time it is broadly expected to be successful, with most opposition parties on board -- though the head of Italy's far-right League Matteo Salvini on Friday warned his party would wait to see if the law was "mere horse-trading". Five Star (M5S) made the cut a condition of its alliance with the center-left Democratic Party (PD), following the collapse of the previous, far-right coalition in August. The PD had previously voted against the reduction, but agreed to support it if it meant clinching a deal with the M5S which would prevent a return to the polls and keep popular hardliner Salvini out of power. The party has insisted the cut be followed by a new electoral law and is pushing for the reintroduction of a proportional representation system. Under the current mix of proportional representation and first-past-the-post, a winning coalition needs more than 40 percent of the vote to have the necessary parliamentary majority. With full proportional representation, parties or coalitions would need a much bigger majority to form a government. That would force Salvini to ditch any plans to run alone or with a small fellow far-right party at the next election, and force him instead to turn to former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's center-right Forza Italy party for help, the weekly L'Espresso said. "Why the haste to cut the seats?" Massimo Luciani said in the Corriere Della Sera newspaper, pointing out that the coalition government -- an unlikely alliance of former foes -- could fall before changes to the electoral law can be made. "To avoid 'surprises', the package of reforms should be launched at the same time," he said. Lorenzo Codogno, former chief economist at the Italian Treasury Department, told AFP the pressing need to change the electoral law could serve as glue to hold the coalition together. He warned however that "I have a feeling that (the electoral law) won't happen very soon". International markets and European investors watching the stability of the new coalition was right "to worry about everything," he said.

Italy to vote on streamlining parliament

Since they erupted a week ago, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-violent-protests-in-iraq-at-least-100-dead-over-6000-hurt-254349">deadly protests in Iraq </a>have been tracked closely in Iran where they are seen as a plot to undermine ties between the neighbours.

Tehran has close but complicated relations with Baghdad, holding significant clout among its Shiite political groups.

The two countries fought a devastating war from 1980 to 1988 and Iran's influence in Iraq grew after the US-led invasion toppled longtime dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Clashes that broke out in Iraq last week between protesters and security forces have claimed more than 100 lives, and wounded over 6,000,&nbsp;most of them demonstrators struck by bullets.

The rallies began on Tuesday with calls to reduce corruption and unemployment but have spiralled into demands for the fall of the government and overhaul of the political system.

A string of Iranian officials have&nbsp;since come out with statements accusing their country's arch-foes of being behind the unrest.

"Enemies seek to sow discord but they've failed &amp; their conspiracy won't be effective," supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, quoted on his office's Twitter account.

"Iran and #Iraq are two nations whose hearts &amp; souls are tied together... This bond will grow stronger day by day," he added.

State news agency IRNA said the supreme leader was reacting to the violence in Iraq.

The official news agency weighed in with its own commentary, accusing the US, Saudi Arabia and Israel of stirring the Iraqi protests in order to spoil Iran's ties with Iraq and Syria.

"Unprecedented protests in Iraqi cities... show that some forces inside and outside of the region are seriously concerned about the closeness and cooperation" of Baghdad, Tehran, and Damascus, it added.

Iran's government spokesman Ali Rabiei opened his weekly news conference on Monday with a statement on the Iraqi crisis.

He said there "are ill-wishers who seek to sabotage any opening between us and those neighbours who've had differences of opinions in recent years".

The spokesman called on "the great people of Iraq to show more self-restraint and seek democratic and legal means to reach their demands.

"As always, the Islamic Republic of Iran expresses its readiness to stand beside Iraqi brothers and sisters and help them.

"No form of propaganda can sever the people of Iran and Iraq."

Iran has accused its foes of deliberately stirring trouble in Iraq at a time when vast numbers of pilgrims are heading there for one of the world's largest religious events.

A top military adviser to Khamenei said those behind the unrest would be unable to deter the faithful, however.

"They want to scare people into not going to Arbaeen, but even if it rains arrows and stones, Hussein's lovers will not be afraid," Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.

Arbaeen marks the end of the 40-day mourning period for the seventh-century killing of Imam Hussein by the forces of the Caliph Yazid.

Last week, Iran urged citizens who were planning to head to Iraq to delay their travel for the pilgrimage that culminates on October 17 with the Arbaeen commemoration.

On Monday, Iran reopened the Khosravi border crossing with Iraq following its closure last week as the protests raged.

IRNA said the fact that the "provocations" came ahead of Arbaeen showed Iran's enemies were "scared".

Judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi said those responsible for the unrest in Iraq aimed to undermine Arbaeen.

"The seditionists intend to undermine and sap enthusiasm for this great event," he said, quoted by state television's website.

"The vigilant people of Iraq exposed this sedition. But everyone must be careful. The seditionists are seeking new tricks at any moment to overshadow the Arbaeen ceremony and to undermine it."

The hardline Keyhan newspaper said "evidence" pointed to the Americans, Saudis and Israelis being involved.

A columnist in the reformist Shargh daily also suggested the Americans, Israelis and Saudis might be the "hidden hands" behind the Iraqi protests.

"Even if that is not the case, the chaotic and tense situation in Iraq today can prepare the grounds for these actors to ride the wave to fulfill their objectives and demands," wrote Abdelrahman Fathollahi.

Since they erupted a week ago, deadly protests in Iraq have been tracked closely in Iran where they are seen as a plot to undermine ties between the neighbours. Tehran has close but complicated relations with Baghdad, holding significant clout among its Shiite political groups.

Since they erupted a week ago, deadly protests in Iraq have been tracked closely in Iran where they are seen as a plot to undermine ties between the neighbours. Tehran has close but complicated relations with Baghdad, holding significant clout among its Shiite political groups. The two countries fought a devastating war from 1980 to 1988 and Iran's influence in Iraq grew after the US-led invasion toppled longtime dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003. Clashes that broke out in Iraq last week between protesters and security forces have claimed more than 100 lives, and wounded over 6,000, most of them demonstrators struck by bullets. The rallies began on Tuesday with calls to reduce corruption and unemployment but have spiralled into demands for the fall of the government and overhaul of the political system. A string of Iranian officials have since come out with statements accusing their country's arch-foes of being behind the unrest. "Enemies seek to sow discord but they've failed & their conspiracy won't be effective," supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, quoted on his office's Twitter account. "Iran and #Iraq are two nations whose hearts & souls are tied together... This bond will grow stronger day by day," he added. State news agency IRNA said the supreme leader was reacting to the violence in Iraq. The official news agency weighed in with its own commentary, accusing the US, Saudi Arabia and Israel of stirring the Iraqi protests in order to spoil Iran's ties with Iraq and Syria. "Unprecedented protests in Iraqi cities... show that some forces inside and outside of the region are seriously concerned about the closeness and cooperation" of Baghdad, Tehran, and Damascus, it added. Iran's government spokesman Ali Rabiei opened his weekly news conference on Monday with a statement on the Iraqi crisis. He said there "are ill-wishers who seek to sabotage any opening between us and those neighbours who've had differences of opinions in recent years". The spokesman called on "the great people of Iraq to show more self-restraint and seek democratic and legal means to reach their demands. "As always, the Islamic Republic of Iran expresses its readiness to stand beside Iraqi brothers and sisters and help them. "No form of propaganda can sever the people of Iran and Iraq." Iran has accused its foes of deliberately stirring trouble in Iraq at a time when vast numbers of pilgrims are heading there for one of the world's largest religious events. A top military adviser to Khamenei said those behind the unrest would be unable to deter the faithful, however. "They want to scare people into not going to Arbaeen, but even if it rains arrows and stones, Hussein's lovers will not be afraid," Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency. Arbaeen marks the end of the 40-day mourning period for the seventh-century killing of Imam Hussein by the forces of the Caliph Yazid. Last week, Iran urged citizens who were planning to head to Iraq to delay their travel for the pilgrimage that culminates on October 17 with the Arbaeen commemoration. On Monday, Iran reopened the Khosravi border crossing with Iraq following its closure last week as the protests raged. IRNA said the fact that the "provocations" came ahead of Arbaeen showed Iran's enemies were "scared". Judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi said those responsible for the unrest in Iraq aimed to undermine Arbaeen. "The seditionists intend to undermine and sap enthusiasm for this great event," he said, quoted by state television's website. "The vigilant people of Iraq exposed this sedition. But everyone must be careful. The seditionists are seeking new tricks at any moment to overshadow the Arbaeen ceremony and to undermine it." The hardline Keyhan newspaper said "evidence" pointed to the Americans, Saudis and Israelis being involved. A columnist in the reformist Shargh daily also suggested the Americans, Israelis and Saudis might be the "hidden hands" behind the Iraqi protests. "Even if that is not the case, the chaotic and tense situation in Iraq today can prepare the grounds for these actors to ride the wave to fulfill their objectives and demands," wrote Abdelrahman Fathollahi.

For Iran, Iraq's unrest is plot to undo bilateral ties

Iraq's president called Monday for a "halt to escalation" after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-violent-protests-in-iraq-at-least-100-dead-over-6000-hurt-254349">widespread protests that killed dozens</a>, including an overnight rally in east Baghdad in which the military admitted using "excessive force".

Demonstrations have rocked the capital and Iraq's southern provinces since Tuesday, first demanding reforms to fight corruption and unemployment but ramping up to calls for a total overhaul of the country's political system.

In a televised address, President Barham Saleh appealed for a "halt to escalation" and proposed a "national, all-encompassing and frank dialogue… without foreign interference" to chart a way out of the crisis. &nbsp;

"There is no legitimacy to any political process or system that does not work to achieve your demands," Saleh said, addressing protesters.

The demonstrations are unprecedented in Iraq because of their apparent spontaneity and independence in a deeply politicized society.

But they have also been exceptionally deadly with more than 100 people killed and 6,000 wounded since Tuesday.

Witnesses have reported that security forces used tear gas and live rounds while authorities accused "unidentified snipers" of shooting at protesters and the police.

Saleh said those who attacked demonstrators and security forces were "enemies of the people" and denounced weekend raids on local and regional media stations.

His statement came hours after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraq-military-admits-excessive-force-used-in-deadly-protests-254197">Iraq's military admitted using "excessive force outside the rules of engagement</a>" against a protest in the eastern Baghdad district of Sadr City. &nbsp;

An <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-18-killed-in-iraq-protests-overnight-government-issues-new-promises-254103/amp">overnight rally</a> there deteriorated into clashes that left 13 people dead, according to medics and security sources.

In videos distributed on social media, protesters could be seen ducking into streets littered with burning tires as volleys of gunfire and suspected heavy weapons were heard.

But by Monday evening, in line with government orders, the military had been pulled out of Sadr City and a few police officers could be seen on the edges of the neighbourhood, an AFP photographer there said.

Monday’s statement was the first time security forces acknowledged using disproportionate measures, a step cautiously welcomed by Amnesty International.

"The security forces' admission of using excessive force is a first step that must be translated on the ground, to rein in the behavior of security forces and the army," it said in Arabic.

"The next step is accountability."

The International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday urged for Iraqi health workers to be allowed to treat the wounded safely.

"The alternative is unthinkable for a population already weary and in need," said Katharina Ritz, ICRC's head of delegation in Iraq.

Sadr City, a densely populated, impoverished part of the capital, is a bastion of firebrand cleric Moqtada Sadr who has thrown his weight behind the protests by calling on Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi's government to resign.

But the embattled premier instead announced a series of reforms to create jobs, boost social welfare and oust corrupt officials.

He has accused "saboteurs" of infiltrating the protests, a claim echoed by the Hashed al-Shaabi, a powerful network of mostly-Shiite, pro-Iran paramilitary units opposed to the US.

"We know who stands behind these protests. The plan to bring down the regime has failed," its chief Faleh Al-Fayyadh told journalists in Baghdad.

He said his forces would support actions against corrupt institutions but not "the fall of the regime", a chant that has featured more prominently in the protests in recent days.

"Those who wanted to defame Iraq will be punished," Fayyadh said, adding that his forces were "ready for any government order".

His words echoed a statement earlier Monday by Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who accused "enemies" of trying to drive a wedge between Tehran and Baghdad.

"Enemies seek to sow discord but they've failed &amp; their conspiracy won't be effective," Khamenei was quoted as saying on his office's Twitter account.

Iran has urged its citizens planning to take part in a major Shiite pilgrimage in Iraq to delay their travel into the country over the violence.

Baghdad has close but complicated ties with Tehran, which enjoys significant influence among its Shiite political groups, but is also an ally of Washington.

On Monday, Abdel Mahdi said he discussed the recent events and reform plans in a phone call with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, without providing further details.

And he said he met on Monday with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Iraq's president called Monday for a "halt to escalation" after widespread protests that killed dozens, including an overnight rally in east Baghdad in which the military admitted using "excessive force".

Iraq's president called Monday for a "halt to escalation" after widespread protests that killed dozens, including an overnight rally in east Baghdad in which the military admitted using "excessive force". Demonstrations have rocked the capital and Iraq's southern provinces since Tuesday, first demanding reforms to fight corruption and unemployment but ramping up to calls for a total overhaul of the country's political system. In a televised address, President Barham Saleh appealed for a "halt to escalation" and proposed a "national, all-encompassing and frank dialogue… without foreign interference" to chart a way out of the crisis. "There is no legitimacy to any political process or system that does not work to achieve your demands," Saleh said, addressing protesters. The demonstrations are unprecedented in Iraq because of their apparent spontaneity and independence in a deeply politicized society. But they have also been exceptionally deadly with more than 100 people killed and 6,000 wounded since Tuesday. Witnesses have reported that security forces used tear gas and live rounds while authorities accused "unidentified snipers" of shooting at protesters and the police. Saleh said those who attacked demonstrators and security forces were "enemies of the people" and denounced weekend raids on local and regional media stations. His statement came hours after Iraq's military admitted using "excessive force outside the rules of engagement" against a protest in the eastern Baghdad district of Sadr City. An overnight rally there deteriorated into clashes that left 13 people dead, according to medics and security sources. In videos distributed on social media, protesters could be seen ducking into streets littered with burning tires as volleys of gunfire and suspected heavy weapons were heard. But by Monday evening, in line with government orders, the military had been pulled out of Sadr City and a few police officers could be seen on the edges of the neighbourhood, an AFP photographer there said. Monday’s statement was the first time security forces acknowledged using disproportionate measures, a step cautiously welcomed by Amnesty International. "The security forces' admission of using excessive force is a first step that must be translated on the ground, to rein in the behavior of security forces and the army," it said in Arabic. "The next step is accountability." The International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday urged for Iraqi health workers to be allowed to treat the wounded safely. "The alternative is unthinkable for a population already weary and in need," said Katharina Ritz, ICRC's head of delegation in Iraq. Sadr City, a densely populated, impoverished part of the capital, is a bastion of firebrand cleric Moqtada Sadr who has thrown his weight behind the protests by calling on Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi's government to resign. But the embattled premier instead announced a series of reforms to create jobs, boost social welfare and oust corrupt officials. He has accused "saboteurs" of infiltrating the protests, a claim echoed by the Hashed al-Shaabi, a powerful network of mostly-Shiite, pro-Iran paramilitary units opposed to the US. "We know who stands behind these protests. The plan to bring down the regime has failed," its chief Faleh Al-Fayyadh told journalists in Baghdad. He said his forces would support actions against corrupt institutions but not "the fall of the regime", a chant that has featured more prominently in the protests in recent days. "Those who wanted to defame Iraq will be punished," Fayyadh said, adding that his forces were "ready for any government order". His words echoed a statement earlier Monday by Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who accused "enemies" of trying to drive a wedge between Tehran and Baghdad. "Enemies seek to sow discord but they've failed & their conspiracy won't be effective," Khamenei was quoted as saying on his office's Twitter account. Iran has urged its citizens planning to take part in a major Shiite pilgrimage in Iraq to delay their travel into the country over the violence. Baghdad has close but complicated ties with Tehran, which enjoys significant influence among its Shiite political groups, but is also an ally of Washington. On Monday, Abdel Mahdi said he discussed the recent events and reform plans in a phone call with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, without providing further details. And he said he met on Monday with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Iraqi President urges end to 'escalation' after days of deadly protests

The dollar rose on Friday after three straight days of losses, as investors took comfort in a US&nbsp;non-farm payrolls number which, while below the consensus forecast, was not as bad as the market initially feared.

The greenback hit session highs against the yen and euro following the jobs report, after trading lower for most of the session.

Data showed that US&nbsp;nonfarm payrolls increased by 136,000 jobs last month. August data was revised to show 168,000 jobs created instead of the previously reported 130,000 positions. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast payrolls would increase by 145,000 jobs in September.

The unemployment rate dropped to a near 50-year low of 3.5 per cent.

"Going into it and considering what we saw with the two ISM surveys, it could have been a lot worse. It's probably just right for the market and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/slower-us-job-growth-expected-but-enough-to-support-economy-247977">not as dire as many people expected</a>," said John Velis, global macro strategist, at BNY Mellon in New York.

"It doesn't mean that the economy and the jobs market are falling off a cliff. On the other hand, it's not strong enough that it's going to take out this additional Fed easing that has been priced into the curve the last few days."

A drop in US&nbsp;unemployment in September pushed traders of US&nbsp;short-term interest rate futures on Friday to pare bets the Federal Reserve will cut rates at both of its two upcoming meetings.

The jobs data was a big relief to dollar bulls after two weak reports that heightened US&nbsp;recession fears.

On Thursday, a survey from the US&nbsp;Institute for Supply Management (ISM) showed its non-manufacturing activity index falling to 52.6 in September, the lowest since August 2016 and down from 56.4 in August.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/dollar-pinned-down-after-poor-us-manufacturing-data-pound-slips-253220">non-manufacturing data</a> came on the heels of ISM's survey on Tuesday on manufacturing that showed activity plunging to more than 10-year lows.

In morning trading, the dollar index &nbsp;was up 0.1 per cent&nbsp;at 98.933, rising slightly against the yen to 106.98 yen &lt;JPY=&gt;.

The euro was modestly higher though versus the dollar at $1.0973.&nbsp;

Elsewhere, the Australian dollar&nbsp;and the New Zealand dollar were off their highs after the US&nbsp;report.

The dollar rose on Friday after three straight days of losses, as investors took comfort in a US non-farm payrolls number which, while below the consensus forecast, was not as bad as the market initially feared.

The dollar rose on Friday after three straight days of losses, as investors took comfort in a US non-farm payrolls number which, while below the consensus forecast, was not as bad as the market initially feared. The greenback hit session highs against the yen and euro following the jobs report, after trading lower for most of the session. Data showed that US nonfarm payrolls increased by 136,000 jobs last month. August data was revised to show 168,000 jobs created instead of the previously reported 130,000 positions. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast payrolls would increase by 145,000 jobs in September. The unemployment rate dropped to a near 50-year low of 3.5 per cent. "Going into it and considering what we saw with the two ISM surveys, it could have been a lot worse. It's probably just right for the market and not as dire as many people expected," said John Velis, global macro strategist, at BNY Mellon in New York. "It doesn't mean that the economy and the jobs market are falling off a cliff. On the other hand, it's not strong enough that it's going to take out this additional Fed easing that has been priced into the curve the last few days." A drop in US unemployment in September pushed traders of US short-term interest rate futures on Friday to pare bets the Federal Reserve will cut rates at both of its two upcoming meetings. The jobs data was a big relief to dollar bulls after two weak reports that heightened US recession fears. On Thursday, a survey from the US Institute for Supply Management (ISM) showed its non-manufacturing activity index falling to 52.6 in September, the lowest since August 2016 and down from 56.4 in August. The non-manufacturing data came on the heels of ISM's survey on Tuesday on manufacturing that showed activity plunging to more than 10-year lows. In morning trading, the dollar index was up 0.1 per cent at 98.933, rising slightly against the yen to 106.98 yen <JPY=>. The euro was modestly higher though versus the dollar at $1.0973. Elsewhere, the Australian dollar and the New Zealand dollar were off their highs after the US report.

Dollar rises after US jobs come out better than worst expectations

Oil prices rose on Friday, although remained on track for a second consecutive weekly loss, as an increase in US&nbsp;jobs eased financial market concerns that the slowing economy was on the brink of a recession amid lingering trade tensions.

Benchmark Brent crude rose 94 cents, or 1.6 per cent, to $58.65 a barrel by 1319 GMT. US&nbsp;West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 68 cents, or 1.3 per cent, to $53.13.

However, Brent was down 5.2 per cent on the week, its lowest since mid-August, and US&nbsp;crude lost 5 per cent&nbsp;on the week, marking its biggest weekly loss since July.

"Both are on track for hefty weekly losses and it will take a brave man to bet against the bearish side," said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM.

"As things stand, demand and supply-side developments are anything but supportive and there can be no happy ending for those of a bullish disposition."

US&nbsp;job growth increased moderately in September, with the unemployment rate dropping to near a 50-year low of 3.5 per cent.

The report, however, came on the heels of a string of weak economic reports, including a plunge in manufacturing activity to more than a 10-year low in September and a sharp slowdown in services industry growth to levels last seen in 2016.

"The crisis in the manufacturing sector now appears to be spilling over to the previously robust services sector. This is not good news for oil demand. After all, this also reduces the demand for transport," said Carsten Fritsch, senior commodity analyst at Commerzbank.

On the supply side, Saudi Arabia's energy minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, said on Thursday the world's top crude oil exporter had <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-restores-full-oil-output-after-attacks-focused-on-aramco-ipo-253556">fully restored oil output</a> after attacks on its facilities last month knocked out more than 5 per cent&nbsp;of global oil supply.

"That Saudi restored its production back to original capacity sooner than expected means investors had to price out raised supply risks at a faster clip than would have otherwise been the case," said Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at futures brokerage Forex.com.

Razaqzada that weak economic data, particularly from the US&nbsp;manufacturing sector, also raised fears for oil demand, "but now that some of these factors have been priced in, oil prices may fall less sharply going forward or at best start to form a base".

France said Iran and the United States have one month to get to the negotiating table, suggesting that Tehran's plan to increase its nuclear activities in November would spark renewed tension in the region.

Oil prices rose on Friday, although remained on track for a second consecutive weekly loss, as an increase in US jobs eased financial market concerns that the slowing economy was on the brink of a recession amid lingering trade tensions.

Oil prices rose on Friday, although remained on track for a second consecutive weekly loss, as an increase in US jobs eased financial market concerns that the slowing economy was on the brink of a recession amid lingering trade tensions. Benchmark Brent crude rose 94 cents, or 1.6 per cent, to $58.65 a barrel by 1319 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 68 cents, or 1.3 per cent, to $53.13. However, Brent was down 5.2 per cent on the week, its lowest since mid-August, and US crude lost 5 per cent on the week, marking its biggest weekly loss since July. "Both are on track for hefty weekly losses and it will take a brave man to bet against the bearish side," said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM. "As things stand, demand and supply-side developments are anything but supportive and there can be no happy ending for those of a bullish disposition." US job growth increased moderately in September, with the unemployment rate dropping to near a 50-year low of 3.5 per cent. The report, however, came on the heels of a string of weak economic reports, including a plunge in manufacturing activity to more than a 10-year low in September and a sharp slowdown in services industry growth to levels last seen in 2016. "The crisis in the manufacturing sector now appears to be spilling over to the previously robust services sector. This is not good news for oil demand. After all, this also reduces the demand for transport," said Carsten Fritsch, senior commodity analyst at Commerzbank. On the supply side, Saudi Arabia's energy minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, said on Thursday the world's top crude oil exporter had fully restored oil output after attacks on its facilities last month knocked out more than 5 per cent of global oil supply. "That Saudi restored its production back to original capacity sooner than expected means investors had to price out raised supply risks at a faster clip than would have otherwise been the case," said Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at futures brokerage Forex.com. Razaqzada that weak economic data, particularly from the US manufacturing sector, also raised fears for oil demand, "but now that some of these factors have been priced in, oil prices may fall less sharply going forward or at best start to form a base". France said Iran and the United States have one month to get to the negotiating table, suggesting that Tehran's plan to increase its nuclear activities in November would spark renewed tension in the region.

Oil rises on fall in US unemployment rate

Iraq's revered Shiite spiritual leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani on Friday endorsed the protests engulfing the country, and called on the government to heed them "before it's too late."

Speaking through a representative, Sistani said the government "must do what it can to improve public services, find work for the unemployed, end clientelism, deal with the corruption issue and send those implicated in it to prison".

"The government must change its approach in dealing with the country's problems," the cleric said, adding that lawmakers also bore a heavy responsibility.

Sistani wields huge influence within Iraq's Shiite majority community, among whom the deadly protests of the past four days have been concentrated.

Celebratory gunfire sounded around <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iraq-declares-curfew-in-baghdad-until-further-notice-pm-adel-abdul-mahdi-253478">Baghdad</a> as Sistani's endorsement was relayed to protesters.

Demonstrators have clashed repeatedly with riot police and troops in the capital and cities across the Shiite-dominated youth, but the mainly Kurdish north and Sunni Arab west have remained calm.

Sistani warned the government, which is dominated by Shiite factions, that the protests would only intensify if they failed to deal with people's grievances.

"The government must change its approach in dealing with the country's problems," he said.

It must take "clear and practical steps" or the protesters will "simply come back even stronger".

Sistani voiced dismay at the mounting death toll from the protests.

"There are <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraqi-forces-fire-at-protesters-in-baghdad-after-pm-pledges-vague-reform-253693">attacks on peaceful protesters</a> and security forces which we reject and condemn," he said.

At least <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-in-bloody-protests-across-iraq-31-dead-253590">31&nbsp;people have been killed,</a> including four police, since Tuesday, medical and security sources told AFP.

Iraq's revered Shiite spiritual leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani on Friday endorsed the protests engulfing the country, and called on the government to heed them "before it's too late.

Iraq's revered Shiite spiritual leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani on Friday endorsed the protests engulfing the country, and called on the government to heed them "before it's too late." Speaking through a representative, Sistani said the government "must do what it can to improve public services, find work for the unemployed, end clientelism, deal with the corruption issue and send those implicated in it to prison". "The government must change its approach in dealing with the country's problems," the cleric said, adding that lawmakers also bore a heavy responsibility. Sistani wields huge influence within Iraq's Shiite majority community, among whom the deadly protests of the past four days have been concentrated. Celebratory gunfire sounded around Baghdad as Sistani's endorsement was relayed to protesters. Demonstrators have clashed repeatedly with riot police and troops in the capital and cities across the Shiite-dominated youth, but the mainly Kurdish north and Sunni Arab west have remained calm. Sistani warned the government, which is dominated by Shiite factions, that the protests would only intensify if they failed to deal with people's grievances. "The government must change its approach in dealing with the country's problems," he said. It must take "clear and practical steps" or the protesters will "simply come back even stronger". Sistani voiced dismay at the mounting death toll from the protests. "There are attacks on peaceful protesters and security forces which we reject and condemn," he said. At least 31 people have been killed, including four police, since Tuesday, medical and security sources told AFP.

Top Shiite cleric urges Iraq government to heed protesters

The U.N. called on Iraq on Friday to rapidly and transparently investigate force used by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-in-bloody-protests-across-iraq-31-dead-253590">anti-riot police in clashes with protesters</a> that have left dozens dead.

"We call on the Iraqi Government to allow people to freely exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly," Marta Hurtado, spokeswoman for the U.N. rights office, told journalists in Geneva.

Her appeal came as protesters continued to clash with anti-riot police on the fourth day of mass rallies that have left 34 people dead, according to an AFP count.

Hurtado said the U.N. rights office had independently confirmed 12 of those deaths in Baghdad, adding that "hundreds of other people have reportedly been injured, including members of the security forces".

"Dozens of demonstrators have been detained, although most were subsequently released," she said.

Demonstrations over corruption, unemployment and lacking services first broke out in Baghdad on Tuesday and have since spread to the Shiite-dominated south, while the northern and western provinces have remained relatively quiet.

They are unprecedented because of their apparent spontaneity and independence in a country where rallies are typically called by politicians or religious figures.

"We are worried by reports that security forces have used live ammunition and rubber bullets in some areas, and have also fired tear gas canisters directly at protestors," Hurtado said, insisting that in dealing with demonstrations, "the use of force should be exceptional".

"Any use of force must comply with applicable international human rights norms and standards," she said, stressing that firearms should never be used "except as a last resort to protect against an imminent threat of death or serious injury."

"All incidents in which the actions of security forces have resulted in death and injury should be promptly, independently and transparently investigated," she said.

The U.N. rights office stressed that the demonstrators' demands for economic and social rights to be respected were "legitimate".

"People's grievances need to be heard," Hurtado said.

The U.N. was also deeply concerned about the detention of at least three journalists, two of whom had subsequently been released, warning that this risked "deterring other journalists from reporting on the situation".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iraq-declares-curfew-in-baghdad-until-further-notice-pm-adel-abdul-mahdi-253478">Cuts to internet service</a> across much of the country were also of concern, Hurtado said, stressing that "blanket internet shutdowns are likely to contravene freedom of expression."

The U.N. called on Iraq on Friday to rapidly and transparently investigate force used by anti-riot police in clashes with protesters that have left dozens dead. "We call on the Iraqi Government to allow people to freely exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly," Marta Hurtado, spokeswoman for the U.

The U.N. called on Iraq on Friday to rapidly and transparently investigate force used by anti-riot police in clashes with protesters that have left dozens dead. "We call on the Iraqi Government to allow people to freely exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly," Marta Hurtado, spokeswoman for the U.N. rights office, told journalists in Geneva. Her appeal came as protesters continued to clash with anti-riot police on the fourth day of mass rallies that have left 34 people dead, according to an AFP count. Hurtado said the U.N. rights office had independently confirmed 12 of those deaths in Baghdad, adding that "hundreds of other people have reportedly been injured, including members of the security forces". "Dozens of demonstrators have been detained, although most were subsequently released," she said. Demonstrations over corruption, unemployment and lacking services first broke out in Baghdad on Tuesday and have since spread to the Shiite-dominated south, while the northern and western provinces have remained relatively quiet. They are unprecedented because of their apparent spontaneity and independence in a country where rallies are typically called by politicians or religious figures. "We are worried by reports that security forces have used live ammunition and rubber bullets in some areas, and have also fired tear gas canisters directly at protestors," Hurtado said, insisting that in dealing with demonstrations, "the use of force should be exceptional". "Any use of force must comply with applicable international human rights norms and standards," she said, stressing that firearms should never be used "except as a last resort to protect against an imminent threat of death or serious injury." "All incidents in which the actions of security forces have resulted in death and injury should be promptly, independently and transparently investigated," she said. The U.N. rights office stressed that the demonstrators' demands for economic and social rights to be respected were "legitimate". "People's grievances need to be heard," Hurtado said. The U.N. was also deeply concerned about the detention of at least three journalists, two of whom had subsequently been released, warning that this risked "deterring other journalists from reporting on the situation". Cuts to internet service across much of the country were also of concern, Hurtado said, stressing that "blanket internet shutdowns are likely to contravene freedom of expression."

U.N. urges Iraq to probe protest deaths 'transparently'

The colonial-era law that gives Hong Kong leader sweeping powers

Ukraine plans to carry out a major prisoner swap with Russia and hopes it will take place next week, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said late on Thursday.

The comments come after a breakthrough at talks between Moscow and Kiev this week that opens the way for an international summit to be held aimed at ending the conflict between Kiev and pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine's east.

Russia and Ukraine swapped dozens of prisoners on Sept. 7 in a carefully-negotiated rapprochement that was praised in the West and appeared to presage a thawing in relations that have been frozen since Moscow's annexation of Crimea in 2014.

"I hope that very soon, and I mean literally next week, we plan an even more large-scale exchange," Prystaiko said on a talk show on Ukraine's 1+1 television channel late on Thursday.

Ukraine plans to carry out a major prisoner swap with Russia and hopes it will take place next week, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said late on Thursday.

Ukraine plans to carry out a major prisoner swap with Russia and hopes it will take place next week, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said late on Thursday. The comments come after a breakthrough at talks between Moscow and Kiev this week that opens the way for an international summit to be held aimed at ending the conflict between Kiev and pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine's east. Russia and Ukraine swapped dozens of prisoners on Sept. 7 in a carefully-negotiated rapprochement that was praised in the West and appeared to presage a thawing in relations that have been frozen since Moscow's annexation of Crimea in 2014. "I hope that very soon, and I mean literally next week, we plan an even more large-scale exchange," Prystaiko said on a talk show on Ukraine's 1+1 television channel late on Thursday.

Ukraine plans second major prisoner swap with Russia

Canadian Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadian-pm-trudeau-dissolves-parliament-launches-campaign-for-october-21-election-249077">Justin Trudeau</a>, trying to revive his electoral fortunes after the emergence of embarrassing&nbsp;photographs, used the first televised campaign debate on Wednesday to launch repeated attacks on his main rival.

Polls suggest Trudeau's left-leaning Liberals could lose power to the opposition Conservatives of Andrew Scheer on October&nbsp;21 amid voter unhappiness with images of Trudeau in blackface, as well as other scandals.

Trudeau, variously interrupting and talking over Scheer, took the offensive from the start during the French-language debate in the politically important province of Quebec.

He first suggested Scheer would be open to reviving the debate on abortion.

"Do you - as a party leader, as a father and a husband - believe women should have a choice?" Trudeau asked Scheer.

There are few restrictions on abortion in Canada and the Conservatives have traditionally steered clear of the topic, fearing they could alienate progressive voters.

"Quebecers can be confident that a Conservative government led by me will not reopen this debate," Scheer responded.

Jagmeet Singh of the left-leaning New Democrats and Yves-Francois Blanchet of the separatist Bloc Quebecois - the other two leaders in the debate hosted by private channel TVA - also criticized Scheer on the issue.

"We are seeing that three of us are aligned on values, the values of Quebecers, and we have a fourth, a Conservative party that is not aligned ... on the rights of women," said Trudeau.

French is the predominant language in Quebec, Canada's second-most populous province that accounts for 78 of the 338 seats in the federal House of Commons.

The Liberals had been confident of adding to the 40 Quebec seats they won in 2015 but now face a challenge from the Conservatives as well as the Bloc, which wants independence for the province of 8.4 million people.

Scheer, whose French is the least fluent of the four leaders, sometimes stumbled over his words and on occasion looked flustered. The Conservative chief, who says Canadians are most interested in tackling the high cost of living, later accused Trudeau of planning to raise taxes.

After Scheer accused Trudeau of harbouring a secret agenda to decriminalize all drugs, the Liberal leader replied: "Again, we see the politics of fear that you are promoting."

The exchanges were the first between the leaders of the major parties since the blackface photos emerged last month, temporarily derailing Trudeau's campaign.

None of the leaders mentioned the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/justin-trudeaus-blackface-apology-rings-hollow-and-highlights-anti-arab-stereotypes-251432"> blackface incident.</a>

TVA has the biggest audience of any news channel in Quebec. The Canadian Broadcasting Corp will host an English-language debate on October&nbsp;7 and another French-language session on October&nbsp;10.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, trying to revive his electoral fortunes after the emergence of embarrassing photographs, used the first televised campaign debate on Wednesday to launch repeated attacks on his main rival.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, trying to revive his electoral fortunes after the emergence of embarrassing photographs, used the first televised campaign debate on Wednesday to launch repeated attacks on his main rival. Polls suggest Trudeau's left-leaning Liberals could lose power to the opposition Conservatives of Andrew Scheer on October 21 amid voter unhappiness with images of Trudeau in blackface, as well as other scandals. Trudeau, variously interrupting and talking over Scheer, took the offensive from the start during the French-language debate in the politically important province of Quebec. He first suggested Scheer would be open to reviving the debate on abortion. "Do you - as a party leader, as a father and a husband - believe women should have a choice?" Trudeau asked Scheer. There are few restrictions on abortion in Canada and the Conservatives have traditionally steered clear of the topic, fearing they could alienate progressive voters. "Quebecers can be confident that a Conservative government led by me will not reopen this debate," Scheer responded. Jagmeet Singh of the left-leaning New Democrats and Yves-Francois Blanchet of the separatist Bloc Quebecois - the other two leaders in the debate hosted by private channel TVA - also criticized Scheer on the issue. "We are seeing that three of us are aligned on values, the values of Quebecers, and we have a fourth, a Conservative party that is not aligned ... on the rights of women," said Trudeau. French is the predominant language in Quebec, Canada's second-most populous province that accounts for 78 of the 338 seats in the federal House of Commons. The Liberals had been confident of adding to the 40 Quebec seats they won in 2015 but now face a challenge from the Conservatives as well as the Bloc, which wants independence for the province of 8.4 million people. Scheer, whose French is the least fluent of the four leaders, sometimes stumbled over his words and on occasion looked flustered. The Conservative chief, who says Canadians are most interested in tackling the high cost of living, later accused Trudeau of planning to raise taxes. After Scheer accused Trudeau of harbouring a secret agenda to decriminalize all drugs, the Liberal leader replied: "Again, we see the politics of fear that you are promoting." The exchanges were the first between the leaders of the major parties since the blackface photos emerged last month, temporarily derailing Trudeau's campaign. None of the leaders mentioned the blackface incident. TVA has the biggest audience of any news channel in Quebec. The Canadian Broadcasting Corp will host an English-language debate on October 7 and another French-language session on October 10.

Canada's Trudeau goes on attack in debate as he seeks to revive campaign

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadian-pm-trudeau-dissolves-parliament-launches-campaign-for-october-21-election-249077">election campaign</a> team were on the way to the airport in Nova Scotia on Sept. 18 when Time magazine journalists called with alarming news.

Within hours, the magazine would publish a picture that could doom his bid to win another four years in power. The 2001 image showed a 29-year-old Trudeau at an Arabian Nights party, his face covered in dark makeup, evoking racial stereotypes that seemed contrary to everything he stood for.

Parked on the Halifax airport tarmac that Wednesday, as campaign planners pushed for a timely departure to Winnipeg, Trudeau’s closest aides nixed the idea of spending the next four hours in the air. Then and there, they would scramble to get ahead of the explosive story.

The election was a month away.

While some aides prepared a contrite message for Trudeau to deliver to the media, the 47-year-old prime minister began calling&nbsp;as many Liberal legislators and cabinet ministers from ethnic minorities as he could, hoping to beat the news on Twitter. One was Omar Alghabra, a Liberal parliamentarian of Syrian descent, who said that Trudeau's heads-up came with profuse apologies.

Still, in the plane, Trudeau&nbsp;called a nationally televised media conference at which he not only <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/justin-trudeaus-blackface-apology-rings-hollow-and-highlights-anti-arab-stereotypes-251432">apologized repeatedly</a> but also admitted to another incident of donning dark make-up.

Interviews with that confidant and five other aides and strategists&nbsp;show how a hastily but carefully choreographed strategy over the ensuing week aimed to quickly rehabilitate the prime minister’s image before the damage gelled. None of the six who spoke to Reuters agreed to be named, citing the sensitivity of the situation. No one connected to the campaign would speak on the record.

"You can't dodge, you can't spin. You just have to put him out there and let people shout at him if they want to," said one Liberal aide who helped craft the strategy.

Whether the strategy to quickly apologize was the right one remains to be seen: Polls showed Trudeau’s popularity dipping in the immediate aftermath of the revelations before recovering. Since then, however, surveys of public opinion show the Liberals will be lucky to eke out even a weak minority government and could lose to the official opposition Conservatives led by Andrew Scheer.&nbsp;

"We won't know the effect of the pictures until election day," said a senior Trudeau adviser. "People might decide that however much they support us, they can't vote Liberal because of this."

Liberal officials say lower voter turnout among Trudeau's supporters is a major risk.

In response to questions for this article, Conservative campaign spokesman Daniel Schow said the Liberal’s campaign strategy hasn’t worked.

“Justin Trudeau has spent the last four years lecturing Canadians about social and diversity issues with a holier-than-thou attitude. There’s no way to spin hypocrisy. Canadians now realize that Justin Trudeau is not as advertised."

Scheer, the Conservative leader, said at a news conference on Sept 19 that Trudeau had not been sincere in his apology or fully truthful about his past. He cited a video in which Trudeau was captured dancing in blackface. Trudeau told reporters he had not remembered the 1990s incident.

“I think Canadians might have accepted Justin Trudeau’s apology if he hadn’t lied about it," Sheer said at the news conference. “I think he has lost the moral authority to govern.”

Inside the Trudeau camp, three people took charge of damage control: Former journalist Ben Chin, who had been chief of staff to the finance minister and was now in charge of messaging; Cyrus Reporter,&nbsp;a long-time Trudeau ally and former chief of staff when Trudeau was in opposition; and current chief of staff Katie Telford, one of his closest confidants.

Working with Ottawa-based officials, the trio were crucial in devising the response in the hours and days to come,&nbsp;the sources told Reuters. Chin and Reporter, brought on a few months earlier, both were experienced in crisis management.

The&nbsp;approach: Be open, remorseful and solicitous of questions from the public and the media. Take a break from campaigning-as-usual. And draw the air out of the issue as early as possible ahead of the Oct 21 election.

Scott Reid, chief spokesman for former Liberal prime minister Paul Martin, said the quick apology was the right track: “Waiting to compose your thoughts and seeing how the dust settles is evidence of people who are perhaps not thoroughly motivated by the right instincts.”

Cabinet ministers – including those from ethnic minorities – expressed disappointment with the revelations but pledged loyalty to Trudeau. Aides dismissed the idea that he was racist, noting he had been the driving force behind a decision to welcome around 40,000 Syrian refugees since taking power in November 2015.

But the crisis meant the Liberals had to temporarily toss their general-election playbook to the side. It had called for an aggressive campaign that painted the Conservative Party of Canada as a haven for racist, anti-gay and anti-abortion candidates while stressing measures to make life more affordable for Canadians.

That approach, the aides who spoke to Reuters said, had been intended to help the Liberals get around another obstacle: voter distrust after Canada's ethics watchdog formally reprimanded Trudeau and his top officials in August for inappropriately interfering in a corporate corruption case.

Trudeau’s plane took off for Winnipeg later that Wednesday, and according to one observer,&nbsp;he remained locked in conversation with Cyrus Reporter for much of the flight. Upon arrival, the prime minister and his team decamped to a different hotel than the traveling press corps and, unusually, had no communication with accompanying media for 12 hours.

For much of that time, Trudeau was in a room calling more Liberal parliamentarians and community leaders, said a Liberal aide familiar with the matter.

The aides decided to cancel a planned announcement on education that had been scheduled for the next day. Trudeau told aides he did not want to immediately pivot to a campaign announcement.&nbsp;“I don't want (speech) lines that say, 'I am very sorry for what happened, but here's something even more important,'" one person who helped draw up Trudeau's strategy recalled the prime minister saying.

His campaign news conferences usually run for 15 to 20 minutes, but that first day in Winnipeg, Trudeau overruled advisers, opting to speak at length in the middle of a public square "where we had no way of controlling who was present," according to one aide.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

For nearly an hour, reporters aggressively quizzed Trudeau on his thinking when he wore blackface, on whether there were other similar incidents and if he planned to resign.

Standing in front of hundreds of spectators, Trudeau again apologized for his "massive blind spot" and appealed for forgiveness.

Back on the campaign plane, he headed&nbsp;to the western city of Saskatoon, a planned nighttime rally of Liberal supporters was canceled and replaced by a town hall where anyone could ask whatever they wanted.

"We couldn't do a triumphant rally that night. We didn't know how people felt," said one campaign team member.

"A rally would have been highly inappropriate – he was in the penalty box,' said another Liberal directly involved with the campaign, referring to the temporary punishment meted out to ice hockey players.

After two days of apologies, however, Trudeau was ready to go&nbsp;back on the offensive. He rattled off four major policies in just three days, including an announcement Sept. 20 on gun control in Toronto.

The next day, the front page of the Globe and Mail national newspaper led on the guns measure rather than the black-face images.&nbsp;

Nanos Research pollster Nik Nanos, who describes himself as unaffiliated with any political party, said the Liberals were lucky that there was still time for their poll numbers to rise.

"If this had happened in the last week of the campaign, we'd be saying Prime Minister Andrew Scheer,” Nanos said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his election campaign team were on the way to the airport in Nova Scotia on Sept. 18 when Time magazine journalists called with alarming news.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his election campaign team were on the way to the airport in Nova Scotia on Sept. 18 when Time magazine journalists called with alarming news. Within hours, the magazine would publish a picture that could doom his bid to win another four years in power. The 2001 image showed a 29-year-old Trudeau at an Arabian Nights party, his face covered in dark makeup, evoking racial stereotypes that seemed contrary to everything he stood for. Parked on the Halifax airport tarmac that Wednesday, as campaign planners pushed for a timely departure to Winnipeg, Trudeau’s closest aides nixed the idea of spending the next four hours in the air. Then and there, they would scramble to get ahead of the explosive story. The election was a month away. While some aides prepared a contrite message for Trudeau to deliver to the media, the 47-year-old prime minister began calling as many Liberal legislators and cabinet ministers from ethnic minorities as he could, hoping to beat the news on Twitter. One was Omar Alghabra, a Liberal parliamentarian of Syrian descent, who said that Trudeau's heads-up came with profuse apologies. Still, in the plane, Trudeau called a nationally televised media conference at which he not only apologized repeatedly but also admitted to another incident of donning dark make-up. Interviews with that confidant and five other aides and strategists show how a hastily but carefully choreographed strategy over the ensuing week aimed to quickly rehabilitate the prime minister’s image before the damage gelled. None of the six who spoke to Reuters agreed to be named, citing the sensitivity of the situation. No one connected to the campaign would speak on the record. "You can't dodge, you can't spin. You just have to put him out there and let people shout at him if they want to," said one Liberal aide who helped craft the strategy. Whether the strategy to quickly apologize was the right one remains to be seen: Polls showed Trudeau’s popularity dipping in the immediate aftermath of the revelations before recovering. Since then, however, surveys of public opinion show the Liberals will be lucky to eke out even a weak minority government and could lose to the official opposition Conservatives led by Andrew Scheer. "We won't know the effect of the pictures until election day," said a senior Trudeau adviser. "People might decide that however much they support us, they can't vote Liberal because of this." Liberal officials say lower voter turnout among Trudeau's supporters is a major risk. In response to questions for this article, Conservative campaign spokesman Daniel Schow said the Liberal’s campaign strategy hasn’t worked. “Justin Trudeau has spent the last four years lecturing Canadians about social and diversity issues with a holier-than-thou attitude. There’s no way to spin hypocrisy. Canadians now realize that Justin Trudeau is not as advertised." Scheer, the Conservative leader, said at a news conference on Sept 19 that Trudeau had not been sincere in his apology or fully truthful about his past. He cited a video in which Trudeau was captured dancing in blackface. Trudeau told reporters he had not remembered the 1990s incident. “I think Canadians might have accepted Justin Trudeau’s apology if he hadn’t lied about it," Sheer said at the news conference. “I think he has lost the moral authority to govern.” Inside the Trudeau camp, three people took charge of damage control: Former journalist Ben Chin, who had been chief of staff to the finance minister and was now in charge of messaging; Cyrus Reporter, a long-time Trudeau ally and former chief of staff when Trudeau was in opposition; and current chief of staff Katie Telford, one of his closest confidants. Working with Ottawa-based officials, the trio were crucial in devising the response in the hours and days to come, the sources told Reuters. Chin and Reporter, brought on a few months earlier, both were experienced in crisis management. The approach: Be open, remorseful and solicitous of questions from the public and the media. Take a break from campaigning-as-usual. And draw the air out of the issue as early as possible ahead of the Oct 21 election. Scott Reid, chief spokesman for former Liberal prime minister Paul Martin, said the quick apology was the right track: “Waiting to compose your thoughts and seeing how the dust settles is evidence of people who are perhaps not thoroughly motivated by the right instincts.” Cabinet ministers – including those from ethnic minorities – expressed disappointment with the revelations but pledged loyalty to Trudeau. Aides dismissed the idea that he was racist, noting he had been the driving force behind a decision to welcome around 40,000 Syrian refugees since taking power in November 2015. But the crisis meant the Liberals had to temporarily toss their general-election playbook to the side. It had called for an aggressive campaign that painted the Conservative Party of Canada as a haven for racist, anti-gay and anti-abortion candidates while stressing measures to make life more affordable for Canadians. That approach, the aides who spoke to Reuters said, had been intended to help the Liberals get around another obstacle: voter distrust after Canada's ethics watchdog formally reprimanded Trudeau and his top officials in August for inappropriately interfering in a corporate corruption case. Trudeau’s plane took off for Winnipeg later that Wednesday, and according to one observer, he remained locked in conversation with Cyrus Reporter for much of the flight. Upon arrival, the prime minister and his team decamped to a different hotel than the traveling press corps and, unusually, had no communication with accompanying media for 12 hours. For much of that time, Trudeau was in a room calling more Liberal parliamentarians and community leaders, said a Liberal aide familiar with the matter. The aides decided to cancel a planned announcement on education that had been scheduled for the next day. Trudeau told aides he did not want to immediately pivot to a campaign announcement. “I don't want (speech) lines that say, 'I am very sorry for what happened, but here's something even more important,'" one person who helped draw up Trudeau's strategy recalled the prime minister saying. His campaign news conferences usually run for 15 to 20 minutes, but that first day in Winnipeg, Trudeau overruled advisers, opting to speak at length in the middle of a public square "where we had no way of controlling who was present," according to one aide. For nearly an hour, reporters aggressively quizzed Trudeau on his thinking when he wore blackface, on whether there were other similar incidents and if he planned to resign. Standing in front of hundreds of spectators, Trudeau again apologized for his "massive blind spot" and appealed for forgiveness. Back on the campaign plane, he headed to the western city of Saskatoon, a planned nighttime rally of Liberal supporters was canceled and replaced by a town hall where anyone could ask whatever they wanted. "We couldn't do a triumphant rally that night. We didn't know how people felt," said one campaign team member. "A rally would have been highly inappropriate – he was in the penalty box,' said another Liberal directly involved with the campaign, referring to the temporary punishment meted out to ice hockey players. After two days of apologies, however, Trudeau was ready to go back on the offensive. He rattled off four major policies in just three days, including an announcement Sept. 20 on gun control in Toronto. The next day, the front page of the Globe and Mail national newspaper led on the guns measure rather than the black-face images. Nanos Research pollster Nik Nanos, who describes himself as unaffiliated with any political party, said the Liberals were lucky that there was still time for their poll numbers to rise. "If this had happened in the last week of the campaign, we'd be saying Prime Minister Andrew Scheer,” Nanos said.

How the Trudeau campaign scrambled to sidestep political disaster

Britain's economy appears to have slipped into recession as firms brace for the risk of a disruptive Brexit in just a few weeks' time, according to a survey which showed the dominant services sector took an unexpectedly sharp downturn last month.

Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-be-out-of-eu-by-october-31-come-what-may-says-british-pm-johnson-253298">Boris Johnson has promised to take Britain out </a>of the European Union by October&nbsp;31 come what may, despite parliament passing a law ordering him to seek a delay if he cannot secure a new transition deal to soften the economic blow.

September's IHS Markit/CIPS services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell by more than any economist predicted in a Reuters poll, tumbling to a six-month low of 49.5, below the 50 level that divides growth from contraction.

It was also the worst reading for service PMIs among major advanced economies in September.

Combined with even weaker manufacturing and construction surveys this week, September's all-sector PMI sank to 48.8 from 49.7, its lowest since the month after the referendum decision to leave the EU in June 2016, and before that 2009.

IHS Markit said the figures suggested Britain's economy shrank by 0.1% in the three months to September.

"Coming on the heels of a decline in the second quarter, (this) would mean the UK is facing a heightened risk of recession," IHS Markit economist Chris Williamson said.

British government bond yields fell slightly on the news, which added to speculation that the Bank of England might cut interest rates. But sterling was little changed, and several economists said they believed the PMIs overstated the slowdown.

Ruth Gregory at Capital Economics said the PMI surveys did not cover Britain's relatively resilient retail sector nor a recent increase in spending on public services. She stuck to her forecast for 0.3% growth in the third quarter.

"Nonetheless, the surveys are probably giving us a reasonable steer on the underlying strength of economic activity, and the risks to our Q4/Q1 GDP growth forecasts appear to be firmly to the downside," she said in an email to clients.

Britain's economy shrank by 0.2% in the three months to June - the first decline since 2012 - and a second quarterly contraction would meet the recession definition used in Europe.

On Wednesday, Johnson sent <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/lets-get-brexit-done-uk-pm-johnson-tells-conservative-party-253358">new Brexit proposals </a>to the EU and said that unless the bloc compromised, Britain would leave without a deal at the end of this month. The proposals received a cold reception in Brussels.

Leaving the EU without a deal risks causing major disruption to trade, at least in the short term, due to the immediate imposition of new tariffs and regulatory checks at ports.

Britain's economy is also slowing due to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/sensex-nifty-slip-as-united-states-widens-trade-war-to-europe-yes-bank-recovers-253385">global trade tensions</a>. On Wednesday the United States imposed 10% tariffs on Airbus planes partly made in Britain and 25% duties on whisky and cheese as punishment for EU aircraft subsidies.

The PMI data are not a fail-safe guide to the outlook for the economy. They overstated economic weakness just before Britain was originally due to leave the EU in March and immediately after the 2016 Brexit referendum.

But longer-term trends in the all-sector PMI generally match up well with official quarterly growth numbers.

"September's decline is all the more ominous, being the result of an insidious weakening of demand over the past year rather than a sudden shock," Williamson said.

Firms said foreign customers were switching business away from Britain due to fears of a no-deal Brexit and new export orders fell at the sharpest rate since March.

Solid consumer demand has so far cushioned Britain's economy from some of the impact of Brexit uncertainty. But the latest survey added to signs from consumer sentiment surveys that jobs could be becoming less secure.

Taken as a whole, this week's PMIs pointed to the sharpest fall in employment since December 2009.

Britain's economy appears to have slipped into recession as firms brace for the risk of a disruptive Brexit in just a few weeks' time, according to a survey which showed the dominant services sector took an unexpectedly sharp downturn last month.

Britain's economy appears to have slipped into recession as firms brace for the risk of a disruptive Brexit in just a few weeks' time, according to a survey which showed the dominant services sector took an unexpectedly sharp downturn last month. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to take Britain out of the European Union by October 31 come what may, despite parliament passing a law ordering him to seek a delay if he cannot secure a new transition deal to soften the economic blow. September's IHS Markit/CIPS services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell by more than any economist predicted in a Reuters poll, tumbling to a six-month low of 49.5, below the 50 level that divides growth from contraction. It was also the worst reading for service PMIs among major advanced economies in September. Combined with even weaker manufacturing and construction surveys this week, September's all-sector PMI sank to 48.8 from 49.7, its lowest since the month after the referendum decision to leave the EU in June 2016, and before that 2009. IHS Markit said the figures suggested Britain's economy shrank by 0.1% in the three months to September. "Coming on the heels of a decline in the second quarter, (this) would mean the UK is facing a heightened risk of recession," IHS Markit economist Chris Williamson said. British government bond yields fell slightly on the news, which added to speculation that the Bank of England might cut interest rates. But sterling was little changed, and several economists said they believed the PMIs overstated the slowdown. Ruth Gregory at Capital Economics said the PMI surveys did not cover Britain's relatively resilient retail sector nor a recent increase in spending on public services. She stuck to her forecast for 0.3% growth in the third quarter. "Nonetheless, the surveys are probably giving us a reasonable steer on the underlying strength of economic activity, and the risks to our Q4/Q1 GDP growth forecasts appear to be firmly to the downside," she said in an email to clients. Britain's economy shrank by 0.2% in the three months to June - the first decline since 2012 - and a second quarterly contraction would meet the recession definition used in Europe. On Wednesday, Johnson sent new Brexit proposals to the EU and said that unless the bloc compromised, Britain would leave without a deal at the end of this month. The proposals received a cold reception in Brussels. Leaving the EU without a deal risks causing major disruption to trade, at least in the short term, due to the immediate imposition of new tariffs and regulatory checks at ports. Britain's economy is also slowing due to global trade tensions. On Wednesday the United States imposed 10% tariffs on Airbus planes partly made in Britain and 25% duties on whisky and cheese as punishment for EU aircraft subsidies. The PMI data are not a fail-safe guide to the outlook for the economy. They overstated economic weakness just before Britain was originally due to leave the EU in March and immediately after the 2016 Brexit referendum. But longer-term trends in the all-sector PMI generally match up well with official quarterly growth numbers. "September's decline is all the more ominous, being the result of an insidious weakening of demand over the past year rather than a sudden shock," Williamson said. Firms said foreign customers were switching business away from Britain due to fears of a no-deal Brexit and new export orders fell at the sharpest rate since March. Solid consumer demand has so far cushioned Britain's economy from some of the impact of Brexit uncertainty. But the latest survey added to signs from consumer sentiment surveys that jobs could be becoming less secure. Taken as a whole, this week's PMIs pointed to the sharpest fall in employment since December 2009.

UK economy flirting with recession after services shrink unexpectedly

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