Sterling came off five-month highs and stocks traded sideways on Wednesday as the European Union and Britain sought to avert a disorderly Brexit before an EU summit on Thursday.

Hopes of a breakthrough lifted markets on Tuesday, but investors turned more cautious after looking for a deal during the night that never came.

Conflicting reports about the ongoing talks triggered a series of sharp moves on the pound. Reports that Germany might use emergency measures to counter any market panic from a hard Brexit, such as banning bets on falling share prices, also weighed on morale.

"Most of the good news that could have been anticipated has been priced in, and now there's caution it seems on whether we get a deal today or not," said Kallum Pickering, senior economist at Berenberg.

Sterling was down by 0.4 per cent&nbsp;against the dollar with investors trading volatility levels not seen since the 2016 June Brexit referendum.

The pound had strengthened by close to 5 per cent&nbsp;over the past week as investors rushed to reprice the prospect of a last-minute Brexit deal before the October 31 deadline.

Eurozone government bonds were also volatile on Wednesday as investors watched the eleventh-hour talks.

German 10-year government bond yields were last flat at -0.42 per cent, after reaching an 11-week high of -0.397 per cent&nbsp;as Bunds extended a sell-off that began on Tuesday.

British government 10-year bond yields were down 2.7 basis points at 0.67 per cent, unaffected by data showing inflation in September reached 1.7 per cent&nbsp;year-on-year, below market expectations.

The pan-European STOXX 600&nbsp;retreated 0.1 per cent, but Britain's domestically focused midcaps, a gauge of Brexit anxiety, fell 0.8 per cent. Ireland's ISEQ, another vulnerable index, lost 0.6 per cent.

Earlier, shares rose in Asia. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan&nbsp;gained 0.5 per cent. MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe&nbsp;was flat.

"Even though we are most optimistic that a deal does happen, we don't think the most likely outcome is that it happens by October 31, so you would be looking at some form of extension and potentially elections," said, Andrew Sheets, chief cross-asset strategist at Morgan Stanley.

Third-quarter earnings are expected to show an overall decline in earnings, which could also weigh on morale, Sheets said. Morgan Stanley had a below-consensus view on how companies would fare this quarter, he said.

Europe's companies are struggling with uncertainties ranging from Brexit and the US-China trade war to Germany's manufacturing recession.

Companies listed on the STOXX 600&nbsp;index are now expected to report a decline in third-quarter earnings of as much as 3.7 per cent, worse than the 3 per cent&nbsp;expected a week ago, according to I/B/E/S data from Refinitiv.

Bloomberg reported, citing sources, that China will struggle to buy $50 billion of US&nbsp;farm goods annually unless it removes retaliatory tariffs on American products, which would require reciprocal action by US&nbsp;President Donald Trump.

The US-China trade war will cut 2019 global growth to its slowest pace since the 2008-2009 financial crisis, the International Monetary Fund warned on Tuesday.

Global gross domestic product is now expected grow 3 per cent&nbsp;in 2019, the IMF said its latest World Economic Outlook projections, down from 3.2 per cent&nbsp;in a July forecast, largely because of global trade friction.

US&nbsp;stocks, which typically track the ups and downs of the trade war, were set to open in the red. S&amp;P 500 futures&nbsp;and Nasdaq futures&nbsp;were both down 0.3 per cent.

In commodities, Brent crude&nbsp;shed about 0.1 cent to $58.66 a barrel. US&nbsp;crude&nbsp;rose 10 cents to $52.91 after falling the day before over fears the trade war would keep squeezing the global economy.

In emerging markets, Turkey's Halkbank saw its shares and bonds plunge after US&nbsp;prosecutors charged the state-owned lender with taking part in a multibillion-dollar scheme to evade US&nbsp;sanctions on Iran. A day earlier, Washington had imposed sanctions on Turkish officials, raised tariffs and halted trade talks after Turkey invaded northeastern Syria in a campaign again Kurdish fighters. Before Turkish markets opened, authorities banned short selling on seven large Turkish bank stocks, including Halkbank. Selling shares in the banks only to buy them later in the session was also banned, authorities said.

Sterling came off five-month highs and stocks traded sideways on Wednesday as the European Union and Britain sought to avert a disorderly Brexit before an EU summit on Thursday.

Sterling came off five-month highs and stocks traded sideways on Wednesday as the European Union and Britain sought to avert a disorderly Brexit before an EU summit on Thursday. Hopes of a breakthrough lifted markets on Tuesday, but investors turned more cautious after looking for a deal during the night that never came. Conflicting reports about the ongoing talks triggered a series of sharp moves on the pound. Reports that Germany might use emergency measures to counter any market panic from a hard Brexit, such as banning bets on falling share prices, also weighed on morale. "Most of the good news that could have been anticipated has been priced in, and now there's caution it seems on whether we get a deal today or not," said Kallum Pickering, senior economist at Berenberg. Sterling was down by 0.4 per cent against the dollar with investors trading volatility levels not seen since the 2016 June Brexit referendum. The pound had strengthened by close to 5 per cent over the past week as investors rushed to reprice the prospect of a last-minute Brexit deal before the October 31 deadline. Eurozone government bonds were also volatile on Wednesday as investors watched the eleventh-hour talks. German 10-year government bond yields were last flat at -0.42 per cent, after reaching an 11-week high of -0.397 per cent as Bunds extended a sell-off that began on Tuesday. British government 10-year bond yields were down 2.7 basis points at 0.67 per cent, unaffected by data showing inflation in September reached 1.7 per cent year-on-year, below market expectations. The pan-European STOXX 600 retreated 0.1 per cent, but Britain's domestically focused midcaps, a gauge of Brexit anxiety, fell 0.8 per cent. Ireland's ISEQ, another vulnerable index, lost 0.6 per cent. Earlier, shares rose in Asia. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gained 0.5 per cent. MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe was flat. "Even though we are most optimistic that a deal does happen, we don't think the most likely outcome is that it happens by October 31, so you would be looking at some form of extension and potentially elections," said, Andrew Sheets, chief cross-asset strategist at Morgan Stanley. Third-quarter earnings are expected to show an overall decline in earnings, which could also weigh on morale, Sheets said. Morgan Stanley had a below-consensus view on how companies would fare this quarter, he said. Europe's companies are struggling with uncertainties ranging from Brexit and the US-China trade war to Germany's manufacturing recession. Companies listed on the STOXX 600 index are now expected to report a decline in third-quarter earnings of as much as 3.7 per cent, worse than the 3 per cent expected a week ago, according to I/B/E/S data from Refinitiv. Bloomberg reported, citing sources, that China will struggle to buy $50 billion of US farm goods annually unless it removes retaliatory tariffs on American products, which would require reciprocal action by US President Donald Trump. The US-China trade war will cut 2019 global growth to its slowest pace since the 2008-2009 financial crisis, the International Monetary Fund warned on Tuesday. Global gross domestic product is now expected grow 3 per cent in 2019, the IMF said its latest World Economic Outlook projections, down from 3.2 per cent in a July forecast, largely because of global trade friction. US stocks, which typically track the ups and downs of the trade war, were set to open in the red. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures were both down 0.3 per cent. In commodities, Brent crude shed about 0.1 cent to $58.66 a barrel. US crude rose 10 cents to $52.91 after falling the day before over fears the trade war would keep squeezing the global economy. In emerging markets, Turkey's Halkbank saw its shares and bonds plunge after US prosecutors charged the state-owned lender with taking part in a multibillion-dollar scheme to evade US sanctions on Iran. A day earlier, Washington had imposed sanctions on Turkish officials, raised tariffs and halted trade talks after Turkey invaded northeastern Syria in a campaign again Kurdish fighters. Before Turkish markets opened, authorities banned short selling on seven large Turkish bank stocks, including Halkbank. Selling shares in the banks only to buy them later in the session was also banned, authorities said.

Sterling falters as Brexit approaches its endgame

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez held emergency talks with opposition leaders on Wednesday about <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/around-30-arrested-during-catalan-protests-over-jailing-of-separatist-leaders-256215">violent protests by separatists in Catalonia</a>.

Scores of people have been hurt and dozens arrested in the past two nights of clashes between protesters and police in Barcelona and other Catalan cities.

Protesters are furious at the jailing of nine separatist leaders for their role in a failed 2017 independence bid that sparked a deep political crisis.

The convictions on Monday revived tensions in the wealthy northeastern region, split between Catalans loyal to Madrid and those who want it to break away from Spain.

In Barcelona on Tuesday night, police charged hundreds of masked demonstrators who threw projectiles at officers and set garbage bins and cardboard boxes on fire.

In a tweet, Sanchez said the government "firmly and resoundingly condemns the violence that seeks to break co-existence in Catalonia."

On Wednesday thousands of protesters departed on foot along highways from five Catalan towns towards Barcelona.

They planned to gather there on Friday when unions have called a general strike in the region.

Sanchez received conservative opposition leader Pablo Casado of the Popular Party on Wednesday morning.

He was scheduled to meet later with the leaders of centre-right Ciudadanos and far-left Podemos.

He said he would "convey the government's determination to guarantee security, with firmness, proportionality and unity."

The separatist movement has said there will be no let-up in the protests.

They erupted after the Supreme Court on Monday convicted 12 Catalan separatist leaders of sedition over the 2017 referendum and short-lived declaration of independence.

The court handed prison sentences of between nine and 13 years to nine of them and fines to the other three.

The ruling thrust the Catalan dispute to the heart of the political debate ahead of Spain's November 10 general election, its fourth in as many years.

'No return'

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fresh-protests-in-spain-over-catalan-sentence-256141">Police arrested 29 people in the province of Barcelona</a>, 14 in Tarragona province and eight in Lleida, Spain's interior ministry said.

Officials said 125 people were injured in the protests, including 72 police officers, some with broken bones.

Municipal cleaning crews used hoses to clear the streets of Barcelona of debris from the dozens of fires which were set overnight.

The violent protests marked a break with the mainly peaceful and festive pro-independence rallies which have been held in Catalonia since the separatist movement gained momentum nearly a decade ago.

The separatist camp is frustrated over Catalan regional president Quim Torra's failure to deliver on his government's promise to achieve independence.

On the wall of a luxury watch shop in an upscale Barcelona neighbourhood, someone had scrawled "Torra, traitor".

"We have embarked on a road of no return," the Committees for the Defence of the Republic (CDR), a radical separatist movement, tweeted.

It called on the separatist regional government to "take a step forward by breaking with the Spanish state."

'Raising tensions'

Catalonia's vice president Pere Aragones urged demonstrators to avoid violence.

He said that would give Spain's central government a pretext to intervene in the region, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jailed-catalan-separatist-leader-says-new-referendum-inevitable-256099">as it did when it suspended Catalonia's autonomy</a> after the 2017 independence bid.

"Do not give them what they want," he said.

Spain's conservative parties have branded Sanchez a traitor for accepting the backing of Catalan separatist parties to help him secure power in 2018, and for his willingness to negotiate with them.

The conservative parties have urged him to take a harder line against the protesters.

"In the face of the violent unrest which is raising tensions in Catalonia, Sanchez must activate the national security law," Casado said.

"It is urgent to guarantee security and public order."

On Monday, some 10,000 people blocked access to Barcelona airport, Spain's second busiest, for several hours on Monday.

Demonstrators issued calls on social media to "Turn Catalonia into the new Hong Kong", a reference to recent demonstrations against Chinese influence in that territory.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez held emergency talks with opposition leaders on Wednesday about violent protests by separatists in Catalonia. Scores of people have been hurt and dozens arrested in the past two nights of clashes between protesters and police in Barcelona and other Catalan cities.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez held emergency talks with opposition leaders on Wednesday about violent protests by separatists in Catalonia. Scores of people have been hurt and dozens arrested in the past two nights of clashes between protesters and police in Barcelona and other Catalan cities. Protesters are furious at the jailing of nine separatist leaders for their role in a failed 2017 independence bid that sparked a deep political crisis. The convictions on Monday revived tensions in the wealthy northeastern region, split between Catalans loyal to Madrid and those who want it to break away from Spain. In Barcelona on Tuesday night, police charged hundreds of masked demonstrators who threw projectiles at officers and set garbage bins and cardboard boxes on fire. In a tweet, Sanchez said the government "firmly and resoundingly condemns the violence that seeks to break co-existence in Catalonia." On Wednesday thousands of protesters departed on foot along highways from five Catalan towns towards Barcelona. They planned to gather there on Friday when unions have called a general strike in the region. Sanchez received conservative opposition leader Pablo Casado of the Popular Party on Wednesday morning. He was scheduled to meet later with the leaders of centre-right Ciudadanos and far-left Podemos. He said he would "convey the government's determination to guarantee security, with firmness, proportionality and unity." The separatist movement has said there will be no let-up in the protests. They erupted after the Supreme Court on Monday convicted 12 Catalan separatist leaders of sedition over the 2017 referendum and short-lived declaration of independence. The court handed prison sentences of between nine and 13 years to nine of them and fines to the other three. The ruling thrust the Catalan dispute to the heart of the political debate ahead of Spain's November 10 general election, its fourth in as many years. 'No return' Police arrested 29 people in the province of Barcelona, 14 in Tarragona province and eight in Lleida, Spain's interior ministry said. Officials said 125 people were injured in the protests, including 72 police officers, some with broken bones. Municipal cleaning crews used hoses to clear the streets of Barcelona of debris from the dozens of fires which were set overnight. The violent protests marked a break with the mainly peaceful and festive pro-independence rallies which have been held in Catalonia since the separatist movement gained momentum nearly a decade ago. The separatist camp is frustrated over Catalan regional president Quim Torra's failure to deliver on his government's promise to achieve independence. On the wall of a luxury watch shop in an upscale Barcelona neighbourhood, someone had scrawled "Torra, traitor". "We have embarked on a road of no return," the Committees for the Defence of the Republic (CDR), a radical separatist movement, tweeted. It called on the separatist regional government to "take a step forward by breaking with the Spanish state." 'Raising tensions' Catalonia's vice president Pere Aragones urged demonstrators to avoid violence. He said that would give Spain's central government a pretext to intervene in the region, as it did when it suspended Catalonia's autonomy after the 2017 independence bid. "Do not give them what they want," he said. Spain's conservative parties have branded Sanchez a traitor for accepting the backing of Catalan separatist parties to help him secure power in 2018, and for his willingness to negotiate with them. The conservative parties have urged him to take a harder line against the protesters. "In the face of the violent unrest which is raising tensions in Catalonia, Sanchez must activate the national security law," Casado said. "It is urgent to guarantee security and public order." On Monday, some 10,000 people blocked access to Barcelona airport, Spain's second busiest, for several hours on Monday. Demonstrators issued calls on social media to "Turn Catalonia into the new Hong Kong", a reference to recent demonstrations against Chinese influence in that territory.

Spain Prime Minister holds emergency talks over violent Catalan protests

India's fuel demand fell to its lowest in more than two years in September, data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) showed.

Consumption of fuel, a proxy for oil demand, totalled 16.01 million tonnes,&nbsp;its lowest since July 2017, down about 0.3 per cent&nbsp;compared with the same month last year.

Meanwhile, consumption of diesel, which is widely used for transportation as well as for irrigation needs in India, slipped more than 3 per cent&nbsp;year-over-year to 5.83 million tonnes, its lowest since January 2017.

Sales of gasoline, or petrol, were 6.3 per cent&nbsp;higher from a year earlier at 2.37 million tonnes.

Cooking gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sales increased by nearly 6 per cent&nbsp;to 2.18 million tonnes, while naphtha sales slumped 26 per cent&nbsp;to 0.84 million tonnes.

Sales of bitumen, used for making roads, were 7.3 per cent&nbsp;lower, while fuel oil use edged lower 3.8 per cent&nbsp;in September.

India's fuel demand fell to its lowest in more than two years in September, data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) showed. Consumption of fuel, a proxy for oil demand, totalled 16.

India's fuel demand fell to its lowest in more than two years in September, data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) showed. Consumption of fuel, a proxy for oil demand, totalled 16.01 million tonnes, its lowest since July 2017, down about 0.3 per cent compared with the same month last year. Meanwhile, consumption of diesel, which is widely used for transportation as well as for irrigation needs in India, slipped more than 3 per cent year-over-year to 5.83 million tonnes, its lowest since January 2017. Sales of gasoline, or petrol, were 6.3 per cent higher from a year earlier at 2.37 million tonnes. Cooking gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sales increased by nearly 6 per cent to 2.18 million tonnes, while naphtha sales slumped 26 per cent to 0.84 million tonnes. Sales of bitumen, used for making roads, were 7.3 per cent lower, while fuel oil use edged lower 3.8 per cent in September.

India's September fuel demand slips to its lowest in over two years

The United States carried out a secret cyber operation against Iran in the wake of the September&nbsp;14 attacks on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mike-pompeo-says-abundantly-clear-iran-was-behind-saudi-oil-attacks-250674">Saudi Arabia's oil facilities</a>, which Washington and Riyadh blame on Tehran, two US&nbsp;officials have told Reuters.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the operation took place in late September and took aim at Tehran's ability to spread "propaganda."

One of the officials said the strike affected physical hardware, but did not provide further details.

The attack highlights how President Donald Trump's administration has been trying to counter what it sees as Iranian aggression without spiralling into a broader conflict.

Asked about Reuters reporting on Wednesday, Iran's Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mohammad Javad Azari-Jahromi said: "They must have dreamt it," Fars news agency reported.

The US&nbsp;strike appears more limited than other such operations against Iran this year after the downing of an American drone in June and an alleged attack by Iran's Revolutionary Guards on oil tankers in the Gulf in May.

The United States, Saudi Arabia, Britain, France and Germany have publicly blamed the September&nbsp;14 attack on Iran, which denied involvement in the strike. The Iran-aligned Houthi militant group in Yemen claimed responsibility.

Publicly, the Pentagon has responded by sending thousands of additional <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/weapons-used-in-saudi-oil-attacks-came-from-iran-saudi-coalition-250062">troops and equipment to bolster Saudi defences</a>, the latest US&nbsp;deployment to the region this year.

The Pentagon declined to comment about the cyber strike.

"As a matter of policy and for operational security, we do not discuss cyberspace operations, intelligence, or planning," said Pentagon spokeswoman Elissa Smith. 
 
Gulf tensions rise sharply

The impact of the attack, if any, could take months to determine, but cyber strikes are seen as a less-provocative option below the threshold of war.

"You can do damage without killing people or blowing things up; it adds an option to the toolkit that we didn't have before and our willingness to use it is important," said James Lewis, a cyber expert with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Lewis added that it may not be possible to deter Iranian behaviour with even conventional military strikes.

Tensions in the Gulf have escalated sharply since May 2018, when Trump withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Tehran that put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the easing of sanctions.

It was unclear whether there have been other US&nbsp;cyberattacks since the one in late September.

Iran has used such tactics against the United States. This month, a hacking group that appears linked to the Iranian government tried to infiltrate email accounts related to Trump's re-election campaign.

Over 30 days in August and September, the group, which Microsoft dubbed "Phosphorous," made more than 2,700 attempts to identify consumer accounts, then attacked 241 of them.

Tehran is also thought to be a major player in spreading disinformation.

Last year a Reuters investigation found more than 70 websites that push Iranian propaganda to 15 countries, in an operation that cybersecurity experts, social media firms and journalists are only starting to uncover.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/saudi-oil-attacks-put-us-commitments-to-the-test-250551">Tensions with Iran have been high since the September&nbsp;14 attack</a>. Tehran has said an Iranian tanker was hit by rockets in the Red Sea last week and warned that there would be consequences.

On Monday, President Hassan Rouhani reiterated his country's policy toward the Trump administration, ruling out bilateral talks unless Washington returns to the landmark nuclear deal and lifts crippling US&nbsp;economic sanctions.

The United States carried out a secret cyber operation against Iran in the wake of the September 14 attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities, which Washington and Riyadh blame on Tehran, two US officials have told Reuters.

The United States carried out a secret cyber operation against Iran in the wake of the September 14 attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities, which Washington and Riyadh blame on Tehran, two US officials have told Reuters. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the operation took place in late September and took aim at Tehran's ability to spread "propaganda." One of the officials said the strike affected physical hardware, but did not provide further details. The attack highlights how President Donald Trump's administration has been trying to counter what it sees as Iranian aggression without spiralling into a broader conflict. Asked about Reuters reporting on Wednesday, Iran's Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mohammad Javad Azari-Jahromi said: "They must have dreamt it," Fars news agency reported. The US strike appears more limited than other such operations against Iran this year after the downing of an American drone in June and an alleged attack by Iran's Revolutionary Guards on oil tankers in the Gulf in May. The United States, Saudi Arabia, Britain, France and Germany have publicly blamed the September 14 attack on Iran, which denied involvement in the strike. The Iran-aligned Houthi militant group in Yemen claimed responsibility. Publicly, the Pentagon has responded by sending thousands of additional troops and equipment to bolster Saudi defences, the latest US deployment to the region this year. The Pentagon declined to comment about the cyber strike. "As a matter of policy and for operational security, we do not discuss cyberspace operations, intelligence, or planning," said Pentagon spokeswoman Elissa Smith. Gulf tensions rise sharply The impact of the attack, if any, could take months to determine, but cyber strikes are seen as a less-provocative option below the threshold of war. "You can do damage without killing people or blowing things up; it adds an option to the toolkit that we didn't have before and our willingness to use it is important," said James Lewis, a cyber expert with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. Lewis added that it may not be possible to deter Iranian behaviour with even conventional military strikes. Tensions in the Gulf have escalated sharply since May 2018, when Trump withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Tehran that put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the easing of sanctions. It was unclear whether there have been other US cyberattacks since the one in late September. Iran has used such tactics against the United States. This month, a hacking group that appears linked to the Iranian government tried to infiltrate email accounts related to Trump's re-election campaign. Over 30 days in August and September, the group, which Microsoft dubbed "Phosphorous," made more than 2,700 attempts to identify consumer accounts, then attacked 241 of them. Tehran is also thought to be a major player in spreading disinformation. Last year a Reuters investigation found more than 70 websites that push Iranian propaganda to 15 countries, in an operation that cybersecurity experts, social media firms and journalists are only starting to uncover. Tensions with Iran have been high since the September 14 attack. Tehran has said an Iranian tanker was hit by rockets in the Red Sea last week and warned that there would be consequences. On Monday, President Hassan Rouhani reiterated his country's policy toward the Trump administration, ruling out bilateral talks unless Washington returns to the landmark nuclear deal and lifts crippling US economic sanctions.

United States carried out secret cyber strike on Iran in wake of Saudi oil attack: Officials

The European Union's powerful anti-trust authority on Wednesday ordered United States chipmaker Broadcom to immediately halt certain practices, in an unprecedented salvo against US big tech.

The European Commission took the extremely rare move of ordering the interim changes from one of Silicon Valley's pioneer companies while the EU's investigation was still underway, citing the "irreparable" threats to competition.

"Broadcom's behaviour is likely, in the absence of intervention, to create serious and irreversible harm to competition," the EU's Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.

"We have strong indications that Broadcom, the world's leading supplier of chipsets used for TV set-top boxes and modems, is engaging in anticompetitive practices," she said.

With the order, Vestager significantly stepped up her scrutiny of US tech giants, where investigations usually dragged on for years before companies were fined or ordered into compliance.

The ongoing investigation centres on Broadcom's highly popular TV and modem chipsets, devices that offer television and internet access to customers at home or work.

The commission said it has obtained information that Broadcom may be requiring firms to buy only its components or granting them rebates and other advantages if they buy high quantities.

The commission said it had also heard Broadcom maybe bundling products or deliberately undermining the "interoperability" between Broadcom products and other products.

The commission in June sent a "statement of objections on interim measures" to Broadcom requiring it to swiftly stop such alleged practices.

The European Union's powerful anti-trust authority on Wednesday ordered United States chipmaker Broadcom to immediately halt certain practices, in an unprecedented salvo against US big tech.

The European Union's powerful anti-trust authority on Wednesday ordered United States chipmaker Broadcom to immediately halt certain practices, in an unprecedented salvo against US big tech. The European Commission took the extremely rare move of ordering the interim changes from one of Silicon Valley's pioneer companies while the EU's investigation was still underway, citing the "irreparable" threats to competition. "Broadcom's behaviour is likely, in the absence of intervention, to create serious and irreversible harm to competition," the EU's Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement. "We have strong indications that Broadcom, the world's leading supplier of chipsets used for TV set-top boxes and modems, is engaging in anticompetitive practices," she said. With the order, Vestager significantly stepped up her scrutiny of US tech giants, where investigations usually dragged on for years before companies were fined or ordered into compliance. The ongoing investigation centres on Broadcom's highly popular TV and modem chipsets, devices that offer television and internet access to customers at home or work. The commission said it has obtained information that Broadcom may be requiring firms to buy only its components or granting them rebates and other advantages if they buy high quantities. The commission said it had also heard Broadcom maybe bundling products or deliberately undermining the "interoperability" between Broadcom products and other products. The commission in June sent a "statement of objections on interim measures" to Broadcom requiring it to swiftly stop such alleged practices.

European Union orders emergency anti-trust measures against chip-maker Broadcom

Bulgarian police said on Wednesday they had detained six people in connection with the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/euro-2020-qualifier-anti-racism-body-says-england-game-should-have-been-abandoned-256082">racist abuse faced by England's black players</a> during a Euro 2020 qualifier in Sofia with more arrests likely.

England thrashed Bulgaria 6-0 on Monday to hand the hosts their heaviest ever home defeat but the match was marred by a section of home supporters taunting the visiting players with Nazi salutes and monkey chants.

"Six people were detained so far and we're searching for three more as we have collected evidence about their involvement in the incidents" Senior Commissioner Georgi Hadzhiev, director of the Sofia police department, said.

Hadzhiev added that the operation was still underway and they were trying to identify more suspects.

The match on Monday at the Vasil Levski stadium was temporarily halted by the Croatian&nbsp;referee under a three-step protocol devised by European soccer governing body UEFA.

UEFA said it had opened disciplinary proceedings against Bulgaria on a number of charges including racist behaviour and the throwing of objects.

Bulgarian police said on Wednesday they had detained six people in connection with the racist abuse faced by England's black players during a Euro 2020 qualifier in Sofia with more arrests likely.

Bulgarian police said on Wednesday they had detained six people in connection with the racist abuse faced by England's black players during a Euro 2020 qualifier in Sofia with more arrests likely. England thrashed Bulgaria 6-0 on Monday to hand the hosts their heaviest ever home defeat but the match was marred by a section of home supporters taunting the visiting players with Nazi salutes and monkey chants. "Six people were detained so far and we're searching for three more as we have collected evidence about their involvement in the incidents" Senior Commissioner Georgi Hadzhiev, director of the Sofia police department, said. Hadzhiev added that the operation was still underway and they were trying to identify more suspects. The match on Monday at the Vasil Levski stadium was temporarily halted by the Croatian referee under a three-step protocol devised by European soccer governing body UEFA. UEFA said it had opened disciplinary proceedings against Bulgaria on a number of charges including racist behaviour and the throwing of objects.

Bulgarian police detain six over racist chants at England game

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-of-syria-kurds-seek-refuge-in-iraq-256251">Syrians returning to their homes</a> after being displaced by the country's eight-year civil war face arbitrary detentions, endemic corruption and inefficient public services, an activist group said Wednesday.

After a series of Russia-backed victories against jihadists and other rebels, President Bashar al-Assad's government is back in control of around 60 per cent of Syria.

Moscow and Damascus are trying to encourage Syrians displaced by the war in and outside the country to make their way home.

But the Syrian Association for Citizens' Dignity warned against returns to areas back under the control of President Bashar al-Assad's government.

"It is not safe for displaced Syrians to return to Assad-held areas," SACD warned in a report released in Istanbul, based on the testimony of 165 people living in government-held areas.

"Two-thirds of the interviewees stated that they live in constant fear of arrest or harassment from the security services and various militias that run a maze of checkpoints," it said.

"Forced conscription into Assad's forces is rampant."&nbsp;

The report, which gathered testimonies from Aleppo, Homs and Daraa provinces, said residents also have to deal with&nbsp;blackmail and demands for bribes.

"Corruption and extortion by the regime and militias permeate every aspect of life for returnees," the report said.

More than 60 per cent of respondents found health standards to be sub-standard, and an overwhelming majority complained about very poor water, electricity and municipal services.&nbsp;

Among the 5.6 million <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkeys-erdogan-rules-out-talks-with-syrian-kurdish-forces-256247">Syrians who have fled to neighbouring countries</a>, a majority live in Turkey and Lebanon, countries which have stepped up pressure on them in recent months in a bid to persuade them to go home.

The UN refugee agency UNHCR has repeatedly stressed all returns should be voluntary.

It says 198,000 Syrians went home between 2016 and August this year.

But the Damascus government has denied reports that returnees are arrested.

"I defy them to share the name of a single person who has been arrested among those who have returned to Syria," Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said earlier this month.

"We don't detain anyone. We encourage them to make safe returns to their villages."

Syrians returning to their homes after being displaced by the country's eight-year civil war face arbitrary detentions, endemic corruption and inefficient public services, an activist group said Wednesday.

Syrians returning to their homes after being displaced by the country's eight-year civil war face arbitrary detentions, endemic corruption and inefficient public services, an activist group said Wednesday. After a series of Russia-backed victories against jihadists and other rebels, President Bashar al-Assad's government is back in control of around 60 per cent of Syria. Moscow and Damascus are trying to encourage Syrians displaced by the war in and outside the country to make their way home. But the Syrian Association for Citizens' Dignity warned against returns to areas back under the control of President Bashar al-Assad's government. "It is not safe for displaced Syrians to return to Assad-held areas," SACD warned in a report released in Istanbul, based on the testimony of 165 people living in government-held areas. "Two-thirds of the interviewees stated that they live in constant fear of arrest or harassment from the security services and various militias that run a maze of checkpoints," it said. "Forced conscription into Assad's forces is rampant." The report, which gathered testimonies from Aleppo, Homs and Daraa provinces, said residents also have to deal with blackmail and demands for bribes. "Corruption and extortion by the regime and militias permeate every aspect of life for returnees," the report said. More than 60 per cent of respondents found health standards to be sub-standard, and an overwhelming majority complained about very poor water, electricity and municipal services. Among the 5.6 million Syrians who have fled to neighbouring countries, a majority live in Turkey and Lebanon, countries which have stepped up pressure on them in recent months in a bid to persuade them to go home. The UN refugee agency UNHCR has repeatedly stressed all returns should be voluntary. It says 198,000 Syrians went home between 2016 and August this year. But the Damascus government has denied reports that returnees are arrested. "I defy them to share the name of a single person who has been arrested among those who have returned to Syria," Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said earlier this month. "We don't detain anyone. We encourage them to make safe returns to their villages."

Arrests, extortion, detention: Syrians warned against heading home

A Norwegian politician has nominated the "people of Hong Kong" for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize, in a move which risks drawing China's ire.

"I have nominated the people of Hong Kong, who risk their lives and security every day to stand up for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-leader-carrie-lam-abandons-speech-after-heckles-from-lawmakers-256227">freedom of speech and basic democracy</a>, to the Nobel Peace Prize for 2020," Guri Melby, a member of Norway's parliament for the liberal party, said in a Twitter post on Tuesday.

In an interview published by the newspaper&nbsp;Aftenposten on Wednesday Melby explained that "what they do has an impact far beyond Hong Kong, both in the region and in the rest of the world".

The former British colony is going through its worst political crisis since its return to China in 1997.

Millions have taken to the streets of Hong Kong, initially against a now-dropped bid by its leaders to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/firmly-oppose-us-house-of-representatives-insistence-on-passing-hong-kong-democracy-act-china-256179">allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland</a>.

But after Beijing and Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam took a hard line, the movement snowballed into a broader push for democracy and police accountability.

Activists say <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-senator-warns-hong-kong-of-becoming-police-state-255828">freedoms are being eroded by Beijing</a>, contrary to a deal that outlined Hong Kong's 1997 return to China from British colonial rule.

Melby's initiative is likely to displease China, which was already angered by the Nobel Committee's 2010 decision to give the award to imprisoned Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, who has since died.

Although the Nobel Committee is independent of the government in Norway, Beijing froze its relations with the Scandinavian country, suspended negotiations for a free trade agreement and blocked imports of Norwegian salmon.

Relations between the countries did not normalise until December 2016, after Oslo committed to not "support actions that undermine" Chinese interests.

Nominations are however common and this year the Nobel Committee had to pick from 301 candidates.

In the end, the prize was awarded to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for his work in resolving the conflict with bitter foe Eritrea.

A Norwegian politician has nominated the "people of Hong Kong" for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize, in a move which risks drawing China's ire. "I have nominated the people of Hong Kong, who risk their lives and security every day to stand up for freedom of speech and basic democracy, to the Nobel Peace Prize for 2020," Guri Melby, a member of Norway's parliament for the liberal party, said in a Twitter post on Tuesday.

A Norwegian politician has nominated the "people of Hong Kong" for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize, in a move which risks drawing China's ire. "I have nominated the people of Hong Kong, who risk their lives and security every day to stand up for freedom of speech and basic democracy, to the Nobel Peace Prize for 2020," Guri Melby, a member of Norway's parliament for the liberal party, said in a Twitter post on Tuesday. In an interview published by the newspaper Aftenposten on Wednesday Melby explained that "what they do has an impact far beyond Hong Kong, both in the region and in the rest of the world". The former British colony is going through its worst political crisis since its return to China in 1997. Millions have taken to the streets of Hong Kong, initially against a now-dropped bid by its leaders to allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland. But after Beijing and Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam took a hard line, the movement snowballed into a broader push for democracy and police accountability. Activists say freedoms are being eroded by Beijing, contrary to a deal that outlined Hong Kong's 1997 return to China from British colonial rule. Melby's initiative is likely to displease China, which was already angered by the Nobel Committee's 2010 decision to give the award to imprisoned Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, who has since died. Although the Nobel Committee is independent of the government in Norway, Beijing froze its relations with the Scandinavian country, suspended negotiations for a free trade agreement and blocked imports of Norwegian salmon. Relations between the countries did not normalise until December 2016, after Oslo committed to not "support actions that undermine" Chinese interests. Nominations are however common and this year the Nobel Committee had to pick from 301 candidates. In the end, the prize was awarded to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for his work in resolving the conflict with bitter foe Eritrea.

'People of Hong Kong' nominated for Nobel Peace Prize 2020

The Democratic presidential contenders head back to the campaign trail on Wednesday after a debate that featured repeated attacks on surging progressive United States&nbsp;Senator <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elizabeth-warren-and-bernie-sanders-defend-progressive-policies-in-us-democratic-debate-239616">Elizabeth Warren and exposed the party's divisions</a> on issues like healthcare and taxes.

While Warren has risen in the past month into a virtual tie with former Vice President Joe Biden in opinion polls atop the Democratic race, most other contenders face an urgent challenge in breaking out of the pack while the political world is riveted by the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry of Republican President Donald Trump.

The first nominating contest in the Democratic race to pick a challenger to Trump in the November 2020 election is February&nbsp;3 in Iowa, giving candidates less than four months to make their case to voters on why they are best suited for the job.

Many of the contenders also face a scramble to qualify for the next Democratic debate in Georgia in November, when the polling and fundraising qualifying criteria will be even tougher. So far, just eight candidates have qualified.

In Tuesday's debate, moderates Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and US&nbsp;Senator Amy Klobuchar aggressively went after Warren to explain how she would pay for ambitious proposals including her Medicare for All plan and how much they would cost.

Both candidates are trying to break out of the middle of the crowded Democratic pack. Buttigieg has qualified for the November debate, while Klobuchar has not.

"I think we owe it to the American people to tell them where to send the invoice," Klobuchar told Warren. "The difference between a plan and a pipe dream is something you can actually get done."

Klobuchar pushed back when Warren said critics of her wealth tax were trying to protect billionaires, saying: "No one on this stage wants to protect billionaires," adding: "Your idea is not the only idea."

Crammed debate stage

The sharp exchanges were a sign of the heightened stakes as a dozen candidates crammed the debate stage in the electoral battleground state of Ohio. It was the most crowded debate so far in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elizabeth-warren-builds-largest-united-states-presidential-campaign-staff-210823">Democratic presidential race</a>.

The debate comes at a critical time, as Biden has seen his once solid lead in opinion polls among Democrats diminished by Warren, a leader of the party's progressive movement, who has steadily risen over the past two months.

Warren stayed calm under the attacks, offering her proposals to end income inequality and level the economic playing field for workers.

She did not directly respond to questions about whether she would raise taxes for the healthcare plan, but she said she would not sign any bill that does not lower healthcare costs for middle-class families.

"I have made clear what my principles are here, and that is that costs will go up for the wealthy and for big corporations and, for hard-working middle-class families, costs will go down," she said.

The expansive Medicare for All proposal, based on the government-run healthcare plan for Americans over age 65, has sharply divided Democratic presidential contenders. Some analysts have said it would cost $32 trillion over a decade.

Many other Democratic candidates back a Medicare-based plan as just one option for Americans seeking healthcare coverage.

US&nbsp;Senator Bernie Sanders, who sponsored a bill in the Senate to create a Medicare for All plan, said he thought it was "appropriate to acknowledge that taxes would go up" under the proposal.

The debate marked the return of Sanders, 78, the oldest candidate in the field, who suffered a heart attack two weeks ago and has been recuperating at home in Vermont since having stents inserted to open a blocked artery.

Sanders will return to the campaign trail on Saturday with a rally in New York, where a Sanders campaign source said he would be endorsed by progressive US&nbsp;Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He also was endorsed on Tuesday by US&nbsp;Representative Ilhan Omar, an ally of Ocasio-Cortez.

The two congresswomen have been frequent targets of Trump for their views.

The Democratic presidential contenders head back to the campaign trail on Wednesday after a debate that featured repeated attacks on surging progressive United States Senator Elizabeth Warren and exposed the party's divisions on issues like healthcare and taxes.

The Democratic presidential contenders head back to the campaign trail on Wednesday after a debate that featured repeated attacks on surging progressive United States Senator Elizabeth Warren and exposed the party's divisions on issues like healthcare and taxes. While Warren has risen in the past month into a virtual tie with former Vice President Joe Biden in opinion polls atop the Democratic race, most other contenders face an urgent challenge in breaking out of the pack while the political world is riveted by the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry of Republican President Donald Trump. The first nominating contest in the Democratic race to pick a challenger to Trump in the November 2020 election is February 3 in Iowa, giving candidates less than four months to make their case to voters on why they are best suited for the job. Many of the contenders also face a scramble to qualify for the next Democratic debate in Georgia in November, when the polling and fundraising qualifying criteria will be even tougher. So far, just eight candidates have qualified. In Tuesday's debate, moderates Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and US Senator Amy Klobuchar aggressively went after Warren to explain how she would pay for ambitious proposals including her Medicare for All plan and how much they would cost. Both candidates are trying to break out of the middle of the crowded Democratic pack. Buttigieg has qualified for the November debate, while Klobuchar has not. "I think we owe it to the American people to tell them where to send the invoice," Klobuchar told Warren. "The difference between a plan and a pipe dream is something you can actually get done." Klobuchar pushed back when Warren said critics of her wealth tax were trying to protect billionaires, saying: "No one on this stage wants to protect billionaires," adding: "Your idea is not the only idea." Crammed debate stage The sharp exchanges were a sign of the heightened stakes as a dozen candidates crammed the debate stage in the electoral battleground state of Ohio. It was the most crowded debate so far in the Democratic presidential race. The debate comes at a critical time, as Biden has seen his once solid lead in opinion polls among Democrats diminished by Warren, a leader of the party's progressive movement, who has steadily risen over the past two months. Warren stayed calm under the attacks, offering her proposals to end income inequality and level the economic playing field for workers. She did not directly respond to questions about whether she would raise taxes for the healthcare plan, but she said she would not sign any bill that does not lower healthcare costs for middle-class families. "I have made clear what my principles are here, and that is that costs will go up for the wealthy and for big corporations and, for hard-working middle-class families, costs will go down," she said. The expansive Medicare for All proposal, based on the government-run healthcare plan for Americans over age 65, has sharply divided Democratic presidential contenders. Some analysts have said it would cost $32 trillion over a decade. Many other Democratic candidates back a Medicare-based plan as just one option for Americans seeking healthcare coverage. US Senator Bernie Sanders, who sponsored a bill in the Senate to create a Medicare for All plan, said he thought it was "appropriate to acknowledge that taxes would go up" under the proposal. The debate marked the return of Sanders, 78, the oldest candidate in the field, who suffered a heart attack two weeks ago and has been recuperating at home in Vermont since having stents inserted to open a blocked artery. Sanders will return to the campaign trail on Saturday with a rally in New York, where a Sanders campaign source said he would be endorsed by progressive US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He also was endorsed on Tuesday by US Representative Ilhan Omar, an ally of Ocasio-Cortez. The two congresswomen have been frequent targets of Trump for their views.

United States Democrats back on 2020 campaign trail after debate attacks on Warren

Some 500 Syrian Kurds have entered neighbouring Iraqi Kurdistan over the past four days fleeing a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-pushes-offensive-in-syria-despite-sanctions-and-calls-to-stop-256184">Turkish invasion</a> now entering its second week, officials said on Wednesday.

The refugees were taken to camps in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, an official in the border province of Dohuk told AFP.

Iraqi Kurdistan previously hosted more than one million Iraqis who fled fighting with the jihadists of the Islamic State group between 2014 and 2017.

NGOs operating in the region said they had been on alert since Ankara launched its invasion of northern Syria on October 9.

On Saturday evening, 182 Syrian Kurds started crossing the border into Iraqi Kurdistan "to escape bombardments in northeastern Syria", the International Organization for Migration said.

Dohuk province humanitarian affairs chief Ismail Ahmed said they were "Syrian Kurds already living in Iraqi Kurdistan, who went to visit relatives in Syria before returning because of the bombardments."

On Wednesday, fresh fighting was reported in northern Syria pitting <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-pushes-offensive-in-syria-despite-sanctions-and-calls-to-stop-256184">Turkey's Syrian proxies against Kurdish forces</a> backed by the Syrian army.&nbsp;

Damascus deployed troops to Kurdish-held areas that had been outside its control since 2012 under an accord with Kurdish authorities announced on Sunday.

Some 500 Syrian Kurds have entered neighbouring Iraqi Kurdistan over the past four days fleeing a Turkish invasion now entering its second week, officials said on Wednesday.

Some 500 Syrian Kurds have entered neighbouring Iraqi Kurdistan over the past four days fleeing a Turkish invasion now entering its second week, officials said on Wednesday. The refugees were taken to camps in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, an official in the border province of Dohuk told AFP. Iraqi Kurdistan previously hosted more than one million Iraqis who fled fighting with the jihadists of the Islamic State group between 2014 and 2017. NGOs operating in the region said they had been on alert since Ankara launched its invasion of northern Syria on October 9. On Saturday evening, 182 Syrian Kurds started crossing the border into Iraqi Kurdistan "to escape bombardments in northeastern Syria", the International Organization for Migration said. Dohuk province humanitarian affairs chief Ismail Ahmed said they were "Syrian Kurds already living in Iraqi Kurdistan, who went to visit relatives in Syria before returning because of the bombardments." On Wednesday, fresh fighting was reported in northern Syria pitting Turkey's Syrian proxies against Kurdish forces backed by the Syrian army. Damascus deployed troops to Kurdish-held areas that had been outside its control since 2012 under an accord with Kurdish authorities announced on Sunday.

Hundreds of Syria Kurds seek refuge in Iraq

There are still issues to be resolved in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/united-kingdom-hiring-falls-by-most-in-over-four-years-as-brexit-nears-256066">Brexit negotiations</a>, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Wednesday, as European Union sources said the eleventh-hour talks with London were at a standstill.

"There is a pathway to a possible deal but there are many issues that still need to be fully resolved," Varadkar said in a speech.

He said he had spoken to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier in the day.

"I do think we are making progress but there are issues yet to be resolved and hopefully that can be done today."

"But if it's not, there is still more time. October 31 is still a few weeks away and there is the possibility of an additional summit before that if we need one ... Although time is running short, I am confident that (Ireland's) objectives can be met."

Shortly before Varadkar spoke, EU sources said the talks had reached a "standstill" over a future trade deal between <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-unions-brexit-minister-says-united-kingdoms-proposals-fall-short-need-agreement-by-end-of-day-256061">Britain and the bloc</a>, as well as the rejection by Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party of customs solutions tentatively agreed by negotiators.

Britain's Brexit minister Steve Barclay said he would not consider accepting a delay to Britain's EU exit beyond October&nbsp;31, even if it was only used to tie up the necessary legal requirements of an agreement.

"No, I think it is important that we leave on the&nbsp;October 31," Barclay told a British parliamentary committee.

Reports that the last-ditch talks <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/london-retains-global-finance-throne-amid-brexit-chaos-256018">to seal a Brexit deal</a>, to be approved by a summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday and Friday before Britain is due out on October 31, hit sterling and stocks in London.

There are still issues to be resolved in Brexit negotiations, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Wednesday, as European Union sources said the eleventh-hour talks with London were at a standstill.

There are still issues to be resolved in Brexit negotiations, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Wednesday, as European Union sources said the eleventh-hour talks with London were at a standstill. "There is a pathway to a possible deal but there are many issues that still need to be fully resolved," Varadkar said in a speech. He said he had spoken to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier in the day. "I do think we are making progress but there are issues yet to be resolved and hopefully that can be done today." "But if it's not, there is still more time. October 31 is still a few weeks away and there is the possibility of an additional summit before that if we need one ... Although time is running short, I am confident that (Ireland's) objectives can be met." Shortly before Varadkar spoke, EU sources said the talks had reached a "standstill" over a future trade deal between Britain and the bloc, as well as the rejection by Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party of customs solutions tentatively agreed by negotiators. Britain's Brexit minister Steve Barclay said he would not consider accepting a delay to Britain's EU exit beyond October 31, even if it was only used to tie up the necessary legal requirements of an agreement. "No, I think it is important that we leave on the October 31," Barclay told a British parliamentary committee. Reports that the last-ditch talks to seal a Brexit deal, to be approved by a summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday and Friday before Britain is due out on October 31, hit sterling and stocks in London.

Irish Prime Minister says there are outstanding Brexit issues, may need more time

The senior United States&nbsp;defence official for Asia said on Tuesday the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/firmly-oppose-us-house-of-representatives-insistence-on-passing-hong-kong-democracy-act-china-256179">US wants China</a> to improve its enforcement of sanctions on North Korea and take other steps to press Pyongyang to be more constructive in talks with the United States.

Randall Schriver, the US&nbsp;assistant secretary of defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, told a Washington conference there had been some slippage in sanctions enforcement by China, particularly when it came to controlling ship-to-ship transfers of banned goods in its waters.

"We want them to do better," Schriver said.

"At a minimum, sanctions enforcement, but I think there are other ways China could help pressure Pyongyang into being a more constructive participant in the talks, should they resume, and we are just not seeing this right now."

Schriver, who spoke at an event organised by the Jamestown Foundation, was referring to efforts by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-sees-no-difference-with-us-on-trade-deal-256089">United States to revive talks</a> aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.

Responding to Schriver's comments, China's foreign ministry said on Wednesday it has always fulfilled its duty pertaining to resolutions on North Korea from the U.N. Security Council.

"China has been persistent in earnestly carrying out its duty in the resolutions related to North Korea. The concerned countries should all also completely carry out (the Security Council's) aforementioned resolutions," said Geng Shuang, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, at a daily press briefing.

"The Korean Peninsula's denuclearisation discussion is at a critical moment. We hope that all the concerned sides will continue to uphold the hard-earned ease in tensions and momentum in dialogue, (and) equitably push for progress in a political solution," he said.

Earlier this month, the United States and North Korea held their first working-level talks since a failed summit in February between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but the North Koreans accused the US&nbsp;side of inflexibility and have yet to say if they will attend another round.

China is North Korea's neighbour and main ally. It is a signatory to tough U.N. sanctions on Pyongyang over its past nuclear and missile testing but has urged the United States to adopt an approach more conducive to dialogue and suggested that sanctions relief be considered.

The senior United States defence official for Asia said on Tuesday the US wants China to improve its enforcement of sanctions on North Korea and take other steps to press Pyongyang to be more constructive in talks with the United States.

The senior United States defence official for Asia said on Tuesday the US wants China to improve its enforcement of sanctions on North Korea and take other steps to press Pyongyang to be more constructive in talks with the United States. Randall Schriver, the US assistant secretary of defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, told a Washington conference there had been some slippage in sanctions enforcement by China, particularly when it came to controlling ship-to-ship transfers of banned goods in its waters. "We want them to do better," Schriver said. "At a minimum, sanctions enforcement, but I think there are other ways China could help pressure Pyongyang into being a more constructive participant in the talks, should they resume, and we are just not seeing this right now." Schriver, who spoke at an event organised by the Jamestown Foundation, was referring to efforts by the United States to revive talks aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. Responding to Schriver's comments, China's foreign ministry said on Wednesday it has always fulfilled its duty pertaining to resolutions on North Korea from the U.N. Security Council. "China has been persistent in earnestly carrying out its duty in the resolutions related to North Korea. The concerned countries should all also completely carry out (the Security Council's) aforementioned resolutions," said Geng Shuang, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, at a daily press briefing. "The Korean Peninsula's denuclearisation discussion is at a critical moment. We hope that all the concerned sides will continue to uphold the hard-earned ease in tensions and momentum in dialogue, (and) equitably push for progress in a political solution," he said. Earlier this month, the United States and North Korea held their first working-level talks since a failed summit in February between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but the North Koreans accused the US side of inflexibility and have yet to say if they will attend another round. China is North Korea's neighbour and main ally. It is a signatory to tough U.N. sanctions on Pyongyang over its past nuclear and missile testing but has urged the United States to adopt an approach more conducive to dialogue and suggested that sanctions relief be considered.

United States wants China to press North Korea to be more constructive in talks: Pentagon official

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