The grounding of the 737 MAX for more than four months after two deadly accidents has tarnished Boeing's reputation, but it still has the confidence of US policymakers.

This is despite the fact that one of the MAX flight systems, the MCAS, has been cited in both accidents.

Is this an indication that the American aerospace giant is too big to fail?&nbsp;

President Donald Trump, whose mantra is "America first," certainly criticized Boeing early in his administration over the presidential plane, Air Force One, but he has been largely silent about the recent woes.

The wave of negative press about the flaws that caused the deaths of 346 people did not prompt legislators to summon Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg before Congress to inflict on him the kind of humiliation Wall Street bankers were subject to following the global financial crisis.&nbsp;

"Boeing is one of the engines of the US economy, it's way too big and too important for the United States," said Michel Merluzeau, an expert at Air Insight Research.

Political ties

If American politicians were to attack the manufacturer, they would be shooting themselves in the foot, Merluzeau said, because "there are many jobs involved, a very, very numerous supply chain and it cannot be replaced with Facebook or Google that don't produce anything tangible."&nbsp;

Founded 103 years ago, Boeing employs more than 150,000 people around the world, the vast majority in the United States.&nbsp;

In addition to direct jobs, its subcontractors -- like General Electric (GE), United Technologies and Spirit Aerosystems -- are large US industrial employers.&nbsp;

The location of Boeing plants resembles a political campaign map, with facilities in Republican strongholds like Alabama, South Carolina and Texas, and Democratic areas like California and Washington, as well as states that helped Trump win the election: Pennsylvania and Arizona.&nbsp;

And Muilenburg has shown political savvy in his picks for the company's board of directors, naming Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina and Trump's former ambassador to the United Nations, and Caroline Kennedy, an ally of former President Barack Obama and daughter of former president John F. Kennedy.&nbsp;

Air Force One

Boeing is a dominant player not just in civilian aircraft but in the defence and space industries and is a major supplier to the Pentagon.

The company produced the famous B-17 and B-29 bombers of World War II and the B-52 used the Vietnam War.

Today it produces a variety of aircraft including the F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet, Apache attack helicopters, the B-1 bomber and combat drones.&nbsp;

It also is part of SpaceX, which will manage travel to the International Space Station.

And Boeing manufactures the presidential plane, the iconic Air Force One.

But Boeing also "can be used as a strategic tool," said Arthur Wheaton, a professor at Cornell University in New York.&nbsp;

Chinese purchases of Boeing aircraft are part of trade negotiations with Beijing, according to a source, since that can be a fast way to reduce the US trade deficit.&nbsp;

US civilian aircraft exports fell 12 per cent to $20.4 billion in May, due to the MAX crisis, which affected the GDP, according to government data.

The grounding of the 737 MAX for more than four months after two deadly accidents has tarnished Boeing's reputation, but it still has the confidence of US policymakers.

The grounding of the 737 MAX for more than four months after two deadly accidents has tarnished Boeing's reputation, but it still has the confidence of US policymakers. This is despite the fact that one of the MAX flight systems, the MCAS, has been cited in both accidents. Is this an indication that the American aerospace giant is too big to fail? President Donald Trump, whose mantra is "America first," certainly criticized Boeing early in his administration over the presidential plane, Air Force One, but he has been largely silent about the recent woes. The wave of negative press about the flaws that caused the deaths of 346 people did not prompt legislators to summon Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg before Congress to inflict on him the kind of humiliation Wall Street bankers were subject to following the global financial crisis. "Boeing is one of the engines of the US economy, it's way too big and too important for the United States," said Michel Merluzeau, an expert at Air Insight Research. Political ties If American politicians were to attack the manufacturer, they would be shooting themselves in the foot, Merluzeau said, because "there are many jobs involved, a very, very numerous supply chain and it cannot be replaced with Facebook or Google that don't produce anything tangible." Founded 103 years ago, Boeing employs more than 150,000 people around the world, the vast majority in the United States. In addition to direct jobs, its subcontractors -- like General Electric (GE), United Technologies and Spirit Aerosystems -- are large US industrial employers. The location of Boeing plants resembles a political campaign map, with facilities in Republican strongholds like Alabama, South Carolina and Texas, and Democratic areas like California and Washington, as well as states that helped Trump win the election: Pennsylvania and Arizona. And Muilenburg has shown political savvy in his picks for the company's board of directors, naming Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina and Trump's former ambassador to the United Nations, and Caroline Kennedy, an ally of former President Barack Obama and daughter of former president John F. Kennedy. Air Force One Boeing is a dominant player not just in civilian aircraft but in the defence and space industries and is a major supplier to the Pentagon. The company produced the famous B-17 and B-29 bombers of World War II and the B-52 used the Vietnam War. Today it produces a variety of aircraft including the F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet, Apache attack helicopters, the B-1 bomber and combat drones. It also is part of SpaceX, which will manage travel to the International Space Station. And Boeing manufactures the presidential plane, the iconic Air Force One. But Boeing also "can be used as a strategic tool," said Arthur Wheaton, a professor at Cornell University in New York. Chinese purchases of Boeing aircraft are part of trade negotiations with Beijing, according to a source, since that can be a fast way to reduce the US trade deficit. US civilian aircraft exports fell 12 per cent to $20.4 billion in May, due to the MAX crisis, which affected the GDP, according to government data.

Is Boeing too big to fail?

Eleven-year-old Bess waits patiently to be immersed in water just a little cooler than her body temperature.

Her hydrotherapy session will last only 17 minutes but it does wonders for this arthritis sufferer. Bess is a cat.

To ease her joint pain, the Maine Coon, a touch overweight at 21 pounds (10 kilograms), is taken every week to the Friendship Hospital for Animals, a veterinary clinic on a pleasant Washington street.

Beyond traditional veterinary treatment, the clinic offers forms of care once reserved for humans, such as acupuncture and therapeutic ultrasound.

Pets are now increasingly seen as genuine family members, said Christine Klippen, one of the 63 veterinarians who are available at the clinic every day of the year.

And this is particularly true for millennials, she said, who see themselves as moms and dads to their "fur babies."

Given the higher incomes in the US capital, they often seek out the best pet care available.

In the United States, 84.9 million households, or 68 per cent, have a pet, according to Steve King, head of the American Pet Products Association.

"Millennials are the largest pet-owning demographic among all generations," he said, and have surpassed the postwar Baby Boom generation.

Last year, consumer spending on pets hit a record $72.6 billion and the APPA expects this will rise to $75.4 billion in 2019.

Health care spending is the fastest-rising category as pet owners learn about available treatments.

"There's less pushback than there was," said Brant Hassell, a veterinarian practising at the District Veterinary Hospital.

"These dogs are a lot of people's first children," he said.

"If I say, 'Oh, my goodness. This dog has a loose tooth,' they're just like, 'my baby!'"

Back at Friendship Hospital, Bess the cat walks on an underwater treadmill, the water up to her whiskers, the pace slow and regular as a metronome.

But to keep up, Bella, a "senior" dog, needed a little extra motivation in the form of peanut butter.

"We are more selective with food when they're overweight," said Janay Austin-Carlson, a rehabilitation practitioner.

Walking in water creates greater resistance to movement, making exercise more effective.

"One minute in here is much harder than one minute outside," she said.

Given Washington's often oppressive summertime heat, where temperatures can easily hit 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) and humidity rises to 70 per cent, the animals can also exercise in relative comfort.

"We can play with the speed, the water level," said Austin-Carlson. "All those things create different dynamics."

$15,000 for dialysis

Bella's "mom," 45-year-old Freya Jackson, says hydrotherapy has been a godsend.

"When she comes, she's usually tired afterwards and needs a long nap. But the day after you can really see she could move around more freely," said Jackson.

Still, Bella's fitness regime is not exactly free: A 20-minute hydrotherapy session runs to $89 and comes after 15 minutes of laser therapy at $65.

And Bella has stuck to this weekly routine for a year.

Jackson said having a healthy dog helps her own exercise habits and, given that she has no children, the expense fits her budget.

"I'm investing in myself to stay fit and healthy and be able to run around," she said. "It is a part of my wellbeing."

Pet owners are generally healthier people, coping better with conditions such as autism, dementia and cardiovascular disease, according to studies funded by the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute.

Having a dog or cat in the house typically lowers blood pressure and children may suffer less frequently from allergies.

Generally, pets improve mental health, according to Klippen of the Friendship Hospital.

"Because we view our pets in a more human way it is no longer meaningful enough for us to simply give them a biscuit," said King of the APPA.

And some pet owners are ready to spare no expense: Dialysis can run between $12,000 and $15,000 while the price tag on orthopaedic surgery ranges from $5,000 to $7,000.&nbsp;

But humanizing pets can involve controversial or even dangerous health practices such as needlessly imposing grain or gluten-free diets on animals.&nbsp;

This simply does not suit their nutritional needs and can cause premature death, according to Klippen.

In the meantime, US authorities say they have begun scrutinizing potential ties between such popular, newfangled diets and the prevalence of heart disease in dogs.

Eleven-year-old Bess waits patiently to be immersed in water just a little cooler than her body temperature. Her hydrotherapy session will last only 17 minutes but it does wonders for this arthritis sufferer.

Eleven-year-old Bess waits patiently to be immersed in water just a little cooler than her body temperature. Her hydrotherapy session will last only 17 minutes but it does wonders for this arthritis sufferer. Bess is a cat. To ease her joint pain, the Maine Coon, a touch overweight at 21 pounds (10 kilograms), is taken every week to the Friendship Hospital for Animals, a veterinary clinic on a pleasant Washington street. Beyond traditional veterinary treatment, the clinic offers forms of care once reserved for humans, such as acupuncture and therapeutic ultrasound. Pets are now increasingly seen as genuine family members, said Christine Klippen, one of the 63 veterinarians who are available at the clinic every day of the year. And this is particularly true for millennials, she said, who see themselves as moms and dads to their "fur babies." Given the higher incomes in the US capital, they often seek out the best pet care available. In the United States, 84.9 million households, or 68 per cent, have a pet, according to Steve King, head of the American Pet Products Association. "Millennials are the largest pet-owning demographic among all generations," he said, and have surpassed the postwar Baby Boom generation. Last year, consumer spending on pets hit a record $72.6 billion and the APPA expects this will rise to $75.4 billion in 2019. Health care spending is the fastest-rising category as pet owners learn about available treatments. "There's less pushback than there was," said Brant Hassell, a veterinarian practising at the District Veterinary Hospital. "These dogs are a lot of people's first children," he said. "If I say, 'Oh, my goodness. This dog has a loose tooth,' they're just like, 'my baby!'" Back at Friendship Hospital, Bess the cat walks on an underwater treadmill, the water up to her whiskers, the pace slow and regular as a metronome. But to keep up, Bella, a "senior" dog, needed a little extra motivation in the form of peanut butter. "We are more selective with food when they're overweight," said Janay Austin-Carlson, a rehabilitation practitioner. Walking in water creates greater resistance to movement, making exercise more effective. "One minute in here is much harder than one minute outside," she said. Given Washington's often oppressive summertime heat, where temperatures can easily hit 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) and humidity rises to 70 per cent, the animals can also exercise in relative comfort. "We can play with the speed, the water level," said Austin-Carlson. "All those things create different dynamics." $15,000 for dialysis Bella's "mom," 45-year-old Freya Jackson, says hydrotherapy has been a godsend. "When she comes, she's usually tired afterwards and needs a long nap. But the day after you can really see she could move around more freely," said Jackson. Still, Bella's fitness regime is not exactly free: A 20-minute hydrotherapy session runs to $89 and comes after 15 minutes of laser therapy at $65. And Bella has stuck to this weekly routine for a year. Jackson said having a healthy dog helps her own exercise habits and, given that she has no children, the expense fits her budget. "I'm investing in myself to stay fit and healthy and be able to run around," she said. "It is a part of my wellbeing." Pet owners are generally healthier people, coping better with conditions such as autism, dementia and cardiovascular disease, according to studies funded by the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute. Having a dog or cat in the house typically lowers blood pressure and children may suffer less frequently from allergies. Generally, pets improve mental health, according to Klippen of the Friendship Hospital. "Because we view our pets in a more human way it is no longer meaningful enough for us to simply give them a biscuit," said King of the APPA. And some pet owners are ready to spare no expense: Dialysis can run between $12,000 and $15,000 while the price tag on orthopaedic surgery ranges from $5,000 to $7,000. But humanizing pets can involve controversial or even dangerous health practices such as needlessly imposing grain or gluten-free diets on animals. This simply does not suit their nutritional needs and can cause premature death, according to Klippen. In the meantime, US authorities say they have begun scrutinizing potential ties between such popular, newfangled diets and the prevalence of heart disease in dogs.

Pets in America now get human treatment

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-cpec-is-used-to-traffic-young-pakistani-women-to-china-210874">China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)</a> is not an investment into Pakistan but is structured as a resource extraction exercise, a US based frontier, and emerging market analyst has said.

In an article published by Medium.com, Farooq Tirmizi wrote that the majority of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-denies-cpec-intensified-pakistans-economic-risks-208789">Chinese investment in Pakistan</a> is self-proclaimed and is not benefitting the local economy.

"China announces that it has invested in a project in Pakistan worth, let's say US $1 billion. That US $1 billion, however, is required to mostly be spent on Chinese equipment, and labor, a significant portion of which is to be imported from China as well, with very little by way of supplies coming from the local economy," Tirmizi said.

That said amount, therefore, never hits Pakistan's economy as an investment, and goes from the Chinese government or state-owned company to a state-owned company within China to pay for equipment.&nbsp;

Even Chinese labor gets its salaries deposited into bank accounts within China.

"The money, in other words, stays completely within China and so never shows up as foreign investment into Pakistan", said Tirmizi.

The analyst believes that the majority of people in Pakistan are willing to join hands with Washington rather having faith in Beijing.

"If ever there was thought within Pakistan`s leadership political, military, and business that Beijing could replace Washington as the foreign capital with the most influence in Islamabad, that idea is now firmly dead. We just have not gotten around to telling China yet," Tirmizi added.

"Over the past few weeks, Profit has spoken to several sources in both Pakistan's business elite circles as well as people who are familiar with the thought process of the military leadership and the picture emerging is not a favorable one of the relationship with China: the more Pakistanis learn about the true costs of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the less inclined they are to want to participate any further than we already have," the article read.

The analyst also believes that there is a growing imbalance in trade between Pakistan and China.

"Pakistan's imports from China have dramatically increased since 2013 when CPEC was first announced. Prior to 2013, Pakistan`s imports from China had been rising because of the 2007 China Pakistan Free Trade Agreement but had stabilized to around $6.6 billion a year. After 2013, the rise has been very steep," the article added.

Since 2013, China's net investment into Pakistan has been US $2.5 billion, which is much higher than the US $813 million China invested in Pakistan in the 10 years prior to 2013, but still a relatively small sum compared to the wild projections and promises that the Pakistani press and government wanted to believe when it was first announced.

While Pakistan's civilian and military leadership is prone to making bad decisions, they are not completely stupid.&nbsp;

They can see these numbers, and they are privy to far more details than have been told to the public about the specific terms of the agreements with China for CPEC projects.

&nbsp;And it is becoming increasingly clear that they are becoming deeply uncomfortable with the direction this has taken Pakistan.

"Neither the civilian politicians nor the military leadership wants to accept the blame for what is clearly a massive blunder on the part of the government of Pakistan in negotiating the CPEC contracts. If any lawyers reviewed them, it is unclear if they understood them, or if their views were taken into consideration at all by the decision makers", said the analyst.&nbsp;

"The deed is done now, however, and Pakistan cannot easily extricate itself from these arrangements. But, sources familiar with the military leadership's thinking tell Profit, the leadership in the military has decided to start following the first rule of being in a hole: stop digging" he added.

"A public renunciation of CPEC would be too embarrassing for the government both the politicians and the Army but they are certainly not willing to undertake any further agreements with the government of China", the analyst concluded.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is not an investment into Pakistan but is structured as a resource extraction exercise, a US based frontier, and emerging market analyst has said.

China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is not an investment into Pakistan but is structured as a resource extraction exercise, a US based frontier, and emerging market analyst has said. In an article published by Medium.com, Farooq Tirmizi wrote that the majority of Chinese investment in Pakistan is self-proclaimed and is not benefitting the local economy. "China announces that it has invested in a project in Pakistan worth, let's say US $1 billion. That US $1 billion, however, is required to mostly be spent on Chinese equipment, and labor, a significant portion of which is to be imported from China as well, with very little by way of supplies coming from the local economy," Tirmizi said. That said amount, therefore, never hits Pakistan's economy as an investment, and goes from the Chinese government or state-owned company to a state-owned company within China to pay for equipment. Even Chinese labor gets its salaries deposited into bank accounts within China. "The money, in other words, stays completely within China and so never shows up as foreign investment into Pakistan", said Tirmizi. The analyst believes that the majority of people in Pakistan are willing to join hands with Washington rather having faith in Beijing. "If ever there was thought within Pakistan`s leadership political, military, and business that Beijing could replace Washington as the foreign capital with the most influence in Islamabad, that idea is now firmly dead. We just have not gotten around to telling China yet," Tirmizi added. "Over the past few weeks, Profit has spoken to several sources in both Pakistan's business elite circles as well as people who are familiar with the thought process of the military leadership and the picture emerging is not a favorable one of the relationship with China: the more Pakistanis learn about the true costs of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the less inclined they are to want to participate any further than we already have," the article read. The analyst also believes that there is a growing imbalance in trade between Pakistan and China. "Pakistan's imports from China have dramatically increased since 2013 when CPEC was first announced. Prior to 2013, Pakistan`s imports from China had been rising because of the 2007 China Pakistan Free Trade Agreement but had stabilized to around $6.6 billion a year. After 2013, the rise has been very steep," the article added. Since 2013, China's net investment into Pakistan has been US $2.5 billion, which is much higher than the US $813 million China invested in Pakistan in the 10 years prior to 2013, but still a relatively small sum compared to the wild projections and promises that the Pakistani press and government wanted to believe when it was first announced. While Pakistan's civilian and military leadership is prone to making bad decisions, they are not completely stupid. They can see these numbers, and they are privy to far more details than have been told to the public about the specific terms of the agreements with China for CPEC projects. And it is becoming increasingly clear that they are becoming deeply uncomfortable with the direction this has taken Pakistan. "Neither the civilian politicians nor the military leadership wants to accept the blame for what is clearly a massive blunder on the part of the government of Pakistan in negotiating the CPEC contracts. If any lawyers reviewed them, it is unclear if they understood them, or if their views were taken into consideration at all by the decision makers", said the analyst. "The deed is done now, however, and Pakistan cannot easily extricate itself from these arrangements. But, sources familiar with the military leadership's thinking tell Profit, the leadership in the military has decided to start following the first rule of being in a hole: stop digging" he added. "A public renunciation of CPEC would be too embarrassing for the government both the politicians and the Army but they are certainly not willing to undertake any further agreements with the government of China", the analyst concluded.

CPEC structured as a resource extraction exercise: Expert

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taliban-indicated-a-willingness-to-strike-a-peace-deal-khalilzad-240391">The Taliban</a> governed Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001, imposing strict Islamic sharia law before being ousted and launching an insurgency.

Here is some background:

Religious students

The Taliban originated among young Afghans who studied in Sunni Muslim schools called madrassas in Pakistan after fleeing Afghanistan during the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation.

They are named from Talib, the Arabic word for a student.

In the early 1990s, with Afghanistan in the chaos and corruption of civil war, the Taliban grouped in the southern province of Kandahar under the leadership of one eyed warrior cleric Mullah Omar.

Omar, who led them until his death in 2013, was from the area, a stronghold of the powerful Pashtun ethnic group from which come most Taliban fighters.

Haibatullah Akhundzada is now the insurgents' top leader, while Taliban co-founder Mullah Baradar heads the political wing.

Dramatic rise to power

Promising to restore order and justice, the Taliban rose dramatically.

They drew substantial support from Pakistan and initially had the tacit approval of the United States.

In October 1994 they seized the southern capital of Kandahar, almost without a fight.

Equipped with tanks, heavy weapons and the cash to buy the support of local commanders, they steadily moved north, before capturing the capital on September 27, 1996.

President Burhanuddin Rabbani had already fled.

Taliban dragged former communist president Mohammed Najibullah from the United Nations office where he had been sheltering and hanged him on a public street.&nbsp;

A regime of terror

The Taliban government imposed the strictest interpretations of sharia, establishing religious police for the suppression of "vice".

Music, television, and pastimes such as kite flying were banned. Girls schools were closed; women were prevented from working and forced to wear an all-covering burkha in public.

Taliban courts handed out extreme punishments including chopping off the hands of thieves, public executions and stoning to death women accused of adultery.&nbsp;

By 1998 they had control of 80 per cent of the country but were only recognized as the legal government by Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.

In March 2001 they blew up 1,500-year-old giant statues of the Buddha in the central Bamiyan valley, considered anti-Islamic.

Mullah Omar was based mostly in Kandahar where he lived in a house reportedly built for him by the chief of the Al-Qaeda jihadist group, Saudi billionaire Osama bin Laden.

The Taliban allowed Afghanistan to become a sanctuary for Al-Qaeda, which set up training camps.

Taliban toppled

The September 11, 2001 attacks that killed 3,000 people in New York and Washington were immediately blamed on Al-Qaeda.

Accusing the Taliban of refusing to hand over Bin Laden, the United States and its allies launched airstrikes on Afghanistan in October.

By early December the Taliban government had fallen, its leaders fleeing to their strongholds in the south and east or back across the border into Pakistan's tribal zone.

Bloody insurgency

At first, written off as a spent force, the Taliban rebuilt and re-emerged to lead an insurgency against the new Western-backed government.

Making heavy use of improvised bombings and suicide attacks, they labeled as "crusaders" the tens of thousands of foreign troops deployed into the country as part of a US dominated NATO force.

But the NATO combat mission in December 2014 ended and the bulk of Western forces withdrew.

In July 2015 Pakistan hosted the first direct talks between Afghan and Taliban leaders, with support from China and the US, but they collapsed after Mullah Omar's death was revealed.

The rival Islamic State jihadist group emerged in Afghanistan in 2015, launching its own series of devastating attacks, mainly in Kabul.

A UN tally found that 2018 was the deadliest year on record for Afghans, with at least 3,804 civilian deaths caused by the war -- including 927 children.

Direct talks between the US and the Taliban started last year, with the effort led since September by US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, a previous ambassador to Afghanistan. 
&nbsp;

The Taliban governed Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001, imposing strict Islamic sharia law before being ousted and launching an insurgency. Here is some background: Religious students The Taliban originated among young Afghans who studied in Sunni Muslim schools called madrassas in Pakistan after fleeing Afghanistan during the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation.

The Taliban governed Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001, imposing strict Islamic sharia law before being ousted and launching an insurgency. Here is some background: Religious students The Taliban originated among young Afghans who studied in Sunni Muslim schools called madrassas in Pakistan after fleeing Afghanistan during the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation. They are named from Talib, the Arabic word for a student. In the early 1990s, with Afghanistan in the chaos and corruption of civil war, the Taliban grouped in the southern province of Kandahar under the leadership of one eyed warrior cleric Mullah Omar. Omar, who led them until his death in 2013, was from the area, a stronghold of the powerful Pashtun ethnic group from which come most Taliban fighters. Haibatullah Akhundzada is now the insurgents' top leader, while Taliban co-founder Mullah Baradar heads the political wing. Dramatic rise to power Promising to restore order and justice, the Taliban rose dramatically. They drew substantial support from Pakistan and initially had the tacit approval of the United States. In October 1994 they seized the southern capital of Kandahar, almost without a fight. Equipped with tanks, heavy weapons and the cash to buy the support of local commanders, they steadily moved north, before capturing the capital on September 27, 1996. President Burhanuddin Rabbani had already fled. Taliban dragged former communist president Mohammed Najibullah from the United Nations office where he had been sheltering and hanged him on a public street. A regime of terror The Taliban government imposed the strictest interpretations of sharia, establishing religious police for the suppression of "vice". Music, television, and pastimes such as kite flying were banned. Girls schools were closed; women were prevented from working and forced to wear an all-covering burkha in public. Taliban courts handed out extreme punishments including chopping off the hands of thieves, public executions and stoning to death women accused of adultery. By 1998 they had control of 80 per cent of the country but were only recognized as the legal government by Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. In March 2001 they blew up 1,500-year-old giant statues of the Buddha in the central Bamiyan valley, considered anti-Islamic. Mullah Omar was based mostly in Kandahar where he lived in a house reportedly built for him by the chief of the Al-Qaeda jihadist group, Saudi billionaire Osama bin Laden. The Taliban allowed Afghanistan to become a sanctuary for Al-Qaeda, which set up training camps. Taliban toppled The September 11, 2001 attacks that killed 3,000 people in New York and Washington were immediately blamed on Al-Qaeda. Accusing the Taliban of refusing to hand over Bin Laden, the United States and its allies launched airstrikes on Afghanistan in October. By early December the Taliban government had fallen, its leaders fleeing to their strongholds in the south and east or back across the border into Pakistan's tribal zone. Bloody insurgency At first, written off as a spent force, the Taliban rebuilt and re-emerged to lead an insurgency against the new Western-backed government. Making heavy use of improvised bombings and suicide attacks, they labeled as "crusaders" the tens of thousands of foreign troops deployed into the country as part of a US dominated NATO force. But the NATO combat mission in December 2014 ended and the bulk of Western forces withdrew. In July 2015 Pakistan hosted the first direct talks between Afghan and Taliban leaders, with support from China and the US, but they collapsed after Mullah Omar's death was revealed. The rival Islamic State jihadist group emerged in Afghanistan in 2015, launching its own series of devastating attacks, mainly in Kabul. A UN tally found that 2018 was the deadliest year on record for Afghans, with at least 3,804 civilian deaths caused by the war -- including 927 children. Direct talks between the US and the Taliban started last year, with the effort led since September by US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, a previous ambassador to Afghanistan.

The rise and rise of Afghanistan's Taliban movement

A Frenchman who has spent years developing a jet-powered hoverboard zoomed across the English Channel on Sunday after a first attempt last month was cut short when he fell into the water while trying to refuel.

Franky Zapata set off on his "Flyboard" from Sangatte on the northern coast of France for the 20-minute trip to St. Margaret's Bay in Dover, on England's south coast.

Escorted by three helicopters, Zapata glided across the water in the early morning light and landed in the picturesque bay, where dozens of onlookers and journalists awaited him.

The five turbines on the former jet-ski champion's craft propel him at speeds of up to 190 kilometres (118 miles) an hour, powered by a backpack full of kerosene that can keep him airborne for around 10 minutes.

He had planned to make the 35-kilometre (22-mile) crossing in 20 minutes, keeping an average speed of 140 kilometres an hour (87 mph) at a height of 15-20 metres (50-65 feet) above the water.

Zapata tumbled into the middle of the busy shipping lane on July 25 after failing to land on a boat waiting in English waters to give him a fresh pack of kerosene.

"The trickiest part is really the refuelling," the 40-year-old Zapata said last Thursday. "I didn't let up on the gas at the right moment."

"Aviation is the result of people who have had failures, and it's by getting back up that we move forward," he said.

This time the refuelling boat was bigger and had a larger landing area, and French navy vessels in the area kept an eye out in case of trouble.

French maritime authorities gave Zapata's team permission to keep the refuelling boat in French waters, something they had refused the first time around citing safety concerns.

Zapata's team had been racing to repair the hoverboard after it was damaged from falling in the Channel waters 10 days ago.

The main uncertainty this time around, Zapata said Saturday, was that his hoverboard might end up having "a little problem."

"Normally we test the machines for several weeks before big events. Here, it's a little bit worrying to be using a machine that has just been rebuilt," he said.

'My life's work'

Zapata has been developing his hoverboard for the past three years, despite losing two fingers during its maiden flight in his garage near Marseille, when they got sucked into the turbines.

He already holds the Guinness World Record for the farthest hoverboard flight, a 2.2-kilometre trip over the Mediterranean Sea in April 2016.

No Guinness adjudicator was on hand for the latest Channel attempt, though a spokeswoman said he could still be awarded a new record if the trip meets its guidelines.

Zapata burst into the spotlight at this year's July 14 Bastille Day military parade in Paris, where he and his craft soared noisily above a crowd of stunned onlookers that included French President Emmanuel Macron.

His device has also captured the attention of the French military, which in December gave Zapata's company, Z-AIR, a 1.3 million euro ($1.4 million) development grant.

Defence Minister Florence Parly told France Inter radio that it might eventually serve a variety of purposes, "for example as a flying logistical platform or, indeed, as an assault platform."

"I can't help it, the first time I saw it fly I said, 'This is going to be my life's work'," Zapata told the French online media site Brut in a recent interview. 
&nbsp;

A Frenchman who has spent years developing a jet-powered hoverboard zoomed across the English Channel on Sunday after a first attempt last month was cut short when he fell into the water while trying to refuel.

A Frenchman who has spent years developing a jet-powered hoverboard zoomed across the English Channel on Sunday after a first attempt last month was cut short when he fell into the water while trying to refuel. Franky Zapata set off on his "Flyboard" from Sangatte on the northern coast of France for the 20-minute trip to St. Margaret's Bay in Dover, on England's south coast. Escorted by three helicopters, Zapata glided across the water in the early morning light and landed in the picturesque bay, where dozens of onlookers and journalists awaited him. The five turbines on the former jet-ski champion's craft propel him at speeds of up to 190 kilometres (118 miles) an hour, powered by a backpack full of kerosene that can keep him airborne for around 10 minutes. He had planned to make the 35-kilometre (22-mile) crossing in 20 minutes, keeping an average speed of 140 kilometres an hour (87 mph) at a height of 15-20 metres (50-65 feet) above the water. Zapata tumbled into the middle of the busy shipping lane on July 25 after failing to land on a boat waiting in English waters to give him a fresh pack of kerosene. "The trickiest part is really the refuelling," the 40-year-old Zapata said last Thursday. "I didn't let up on the gas at the right moment." "Aviation is the result of people who have had failures, and it's by getting back up that we move forward," he said. This time the refuelling boat was bigger and had a larger landing area, and French navy vessels in the area kept an eye out in case of trouble. French maritime authorities gave Zapata's team permission to keep the refuelling boat in French waters, something they had refused the first time around citing safety concerns. Zapata's team had been racing to repair the hoverboard after it was damaged from falling in the Channel waters 10 days ago. The main uncertainty this time around, Zapata said Saturday, was that his hoverboard might end up having "a little problem." "Normally we test the machines for several weeks before big events. Here, it's a little bit worrying to be using a machine that has just been rebuilt," he said. 'My life's work' Zapata has been developing his hoverboard for the past three years, despite losing two fingers during its maiden flight in his garage near Marseille, when they got sucked into the turbines. He already holds the Guinness World Record for the farthest hoverboard flight, a 2.2-kilometre trip over the Mediterranean Sea in April 2016. No Guinness adjudicator was on hand for the latest Channel attempt, though a spokeswoman said he could still be awarded a new record if the trip meets its guidelines. Zapata burst into the spotlight at this year's July 14 Bastille Day military parade in Paris, where he and his craft soared noisily above a crowd of stunned onlookers that included French President Emmanuel Macron. His device has also captured the attention of the French military, which in December gave Zapata's company, Z-AIR, a 1.3 million euro ($1.4 million) development grant. Defence Minister Florence Parly told France Inter radio that it might eventually serve a variety of purposes, "for example as a flying logistical platform or, indeed, as an assault platform." "I can't help it, the first time I saw it fly I said, 'This is going to be my life's work'," Zapata told the French online media site Brut in a recent interview.

Frenchman lands in UK after crossing Channel on 'flyboard'

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government has urged EU leaders again to drop their opposition to renegotiating the terms of Brexit, claiming <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britains-johnson-suffers-first-electoral-setback-as-pm-240346">recent European elections </a>required a change of approach.

Johnson, who took office late last month, says he wants to leave the European Union with a deal but insists the current terms are unacceptable and if necessary Britain will exit on October 31 with no agreement at all.

In an article in the Mail on Sunday newspaper, Johnson's Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay said European Parliament elections in May had changed the political dynamic and urged EU leaders to amend the mandate of their chief negotiator, Michel Barnier.

"The political realities have changed since Mr Barnier's instructions were set," Barclay wrote.

"Since the last mandate was agreed, 61 percent of all the EU states' MEPs have changed. Such a fundamental shift illustrates the need for a change of approach.

"Mr Barnier needs to urge EU leaders to consider this if they too want an agreement, to enable him to negotiate in a way that finds common ground with the UK.&nbsp;

"Otherwise, no deal is coming down the tracks."

Former prime minister Theresa May quit after delaying Brexit twice while she tried unsuccessfully to get the divorce terms she struck with Brussels through the British parliament.

But the EU has refused to reopen the deal, the result of 17 months of tough negotiations.

Johnson has ramped up preparations for leaving without any agreement.

However, some British lawmakers have vowed to stop him, fearing the economic consequences of severing ties with Britain's closest trading partner overnight.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government has urged EU leaders again to drop their opposition to renegotiating the terms of Brexit, claiming recent European elections required a change of approach.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government has urged EU leaders again to drop their opposition to renegotiating the terms of Brexit, claiming recent European elections required a change of approach. Johnson, who took office late last month, says he wants to leave the European Union with a deal but insists the current terms are unacceptable and if necessary Britain will exit on October 31 with no agreement at all. In an article in the Mail on Sunday newspaper, Johnson's Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay said European Parliament elections in May had changed the political dynamic and urged EU leaders to amend the mandate of their chief negotiator, Michel Barnier. "The political realities have changed since Mr Barnier's instructions were set," Barclay wrote. "Since the last mandate was agreed, 61 percent of all the EU states' MEPs have changed. Such a fundamental shift illustrates the need for a change of approach. "Mr Barnier needs to urge EU leaders to consider this if they too want an agreement, to enable him to negotiate in a way that finds common ground with the UK. "Otherwise, no deal is coming down the tracks." Former prime minister Theresa May quit after delaying Brexit twice while she tried unsuccessfully to get the divorce terms she struck with Brussels through the British parliament. But the EU has refused to reopen the deal, the result of 17 months of tough negotiations. Johnson has ramped up preparations for leaving without any agreement. However, some British lawmakers have vowed to stop him, fearing the economic consequences of severing ties with Britain's closest trading partner overnight.

UK urges European Union to reflect 'political reality' on Brexit

An Iranian general said on Sunday the chances of a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-will-take-third-step-to-reduce-commitments-to-2015-nuclear-deal-iran-foreign-minister-240373">conflict breaking out in the Gulf</a> region have decreased, after a spate of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-warship-commander-says-iran-trying-to-test-britain-in-gulf-239693">hostile acts </a>in the key waterway.

"At first glance, it may seem that the situation in the Persian Gulf is heading towards a military conflict but when studying the situation more deeply, we see that chances for such a conflict become less probable," said Brigadier General Ahmadreza Pourdastan.

"All countries which have interests in the region are by no means willing to see a new crisis in the Middle East," he said, quoted by Mehr news agency.

"The military capabilities of our armed forces are to such an extent that the enemies don't dare go for a military option against us.

"The Persian Gulf is like a tinderbox and explosion of the first firecracker can lead to a huge disaster," the general said.

Tensions between arch-enemies <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-3-women-get-55-years-in-jail-for-defying-compulsory-hijab-240344">Iran</a> and the United States have soared this year after Washington stepped up its "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran.

Ships have been attacked, drones downed and oil tankers seized since May, after the United States withdrew from a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and reimposed biting sanctions against the country.

At the height of the crisis, US President Donald Trump called off air strikes against Iran at the last minute in June after the Islamic republic's forces shot down a US drone.

An Iranian general said on Sunday the chances of a conflict breaking out in the Gulf region have decreased, after a spate of hostile acts in the key waterway. "At first glance, it may seem that the situation in the Persian Gulf is heading towards a military conflict but when studying the situation more deeply, we see that chances for such a conflict become less probable," said Brigadier General Ahmadreza Pourdastan.

An Iranian general said on Sunday the chances of a conflict breaking out in the Gulf region have decreased, after a spate of hostile acts in the key waterway. "At first glance, it may seem that the situation in the Persian Gulf is heading towards a military conflict but when studying the situation more deeply, we see that chances for such a conflict become less probable," said Brigadier General Ahmadreza Pourdastan. "All countries which have interests in the region are by no means willing to see a new crisis in the Middle East," he said, quoted by Mehr news agency. "The military capabilities of our armed forces are to such an extent that the enemies don't dare go for a military option against us. "The Persian Gulf is like a tinderbox and explosion of the first firecracker can lead to a huge disaster," the general said. Tensions between arch-enemies Iran and the United States have soared this year after Washington stepped up its "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran. Ships have been attacked, drones downed and oil tankers seized since May, after the United States withdrew from a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and reimposed biting sanctions against the country. At the height of the crisis, US President Donald Trump called off air strikes against Iran at the last minute in June after the Islamic republic's forces shot down a US drone.

Iran general says chances of Gulf conflict decreasing

Indonesia's capital Jakarta and some neighbouring provinces on Java island have been hit by a major electricity outage after problems at a number of power stations on Java, the country's state power company PLN said in a statement on Sunday.

The mass rapid transit system has also had to evacuate passengers from trains after the power outage, the company that operates the system said in a statement. It wasn't immediately clear how long the disruption might last, though it appeared to have affected most areas of Jakarta prompting the use of generators in some offices and apartments.

The city of Jakarta is the centre for government and business in Indonesia and is home to more than 10 million people, with around three times that many people living in the surrounding towns in the provinces and West Java and Banten.

The outage caused traffic lights to go out in some areas of the capital as well as disrupting train networks and leaving some passengers stranded.

Indonesia's capital Jakarta and some neighbouring provinces on Java island have been hit by a major electricity outage after problems at a number of power stations on Java, the country's state power company PLN said in a statement on Sunday.

Indonesia's capital Jakarta and some neighbouring provinces on Java island have been hit by a major electricity outage after problems at a number of power stations on Java, the country's state power company PLN said in a statement on Sunday. The mass rapid transit system has also had to evacuate passengers from trains after the power outage, the company that operates the system said in a statement. It wasn't immediately clear how long the disruption might last, though it appeared to have affected most areas of Jakarta prompting the use of generators in some offices and apartments. The city of Jakarta is the centre for government and business in Indonesia and is home to more than 10 million people, with around three times that many people living in the surrounding towns in the provinces and West Java and Banten. The outage caused traffic lights to go out in some areas of the capital as well as disrupting train networks and leaving some passengers stranded.

Indonesia capital hit by major power blackout

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-demands-social-media-details-email-addresses-for-5-years-from-visa-applicants-223685">United States</a> and North Korea are in regular communication for the resumption of working-level talks to revive denuclearisation negotiations, and are working on establishing a time and location for the meet, a senior US State Department official said on Friday.

"While we would like to be further along in restarting working-level negotiations, we are in regular contact with the North Koreans," the official said, according to a transcript released by the State Department.

"And I think it`s fair to say that (President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-defends-attack-on-african-american-us-lawmaker-elijah-cummings-239036">Donald Trump</a> and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo) are expecting that we will be resuming those negotiations relatively soon," he added, as cited by Yonhap news agency.&nbsp;

The official added that the US has not changed its goal of denuclearising North Korea in exchange for a "brighter future", meaning sanctions relief and other concessions.

On June 30, Trump and Kim had held an impromptu meeting at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where the two leaders agreed to resume working-level talks to put denuclearisation talks back on track.

However, North Korea has warned that the future of talks will depend on whether South Korea and the US will go ahead with the joint military exercises planned for next month.

In the past 8 days, North Korea has conducted three tests of projectiles, including short-range ballistic missiles, signalling its displeasure with South Korea-U.S. military exercises planned for this month.

The United States and North Korea are in regular communication for the resumption of working-level talks to revive denuclearisation negotiations, and are working on establishing a time and location for the meet, a senior US State Department official said on Friday.

The United States and North Korea are in regular communication for the resumption of working-level talks to revive denuclearisation negotiations, and are working on establishing a time and location for the meet, a senior US State Department official said on Friday. "While we would like to be further along in restarting working-level negotiations, we are in regular contact with the North Koreans," the official said, according to a transcript released by the State Department. "And I think it`s fair to say that (President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo) are expecting that we will be resuming those negotiations relatively soon," he added, as cited by Yonhap news agency. The official added that the US has not changed its goal of denuclearising North Korea in exchange for a "brighter future", meaning sanctions relief and other concessions. On June 30, Trump and Kim had held an impromptu meeting at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where the two leaders agreed to resume working-level talks to put denuclearisation talks back on track. However, North Korea has warned that the future of talks will depend on whether South Korea and the US will go ahead with the joint military exercises planned for next month. In the past 8 days, North Korea has conducted three tests of projectiles, including short-range ballistic missiles, signalling its displeasure with South Korea-U.S. military exercises planned for this month.

US, North Korea in regular communication for resumption of denuclearisation talks: Official

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers on Friday urged the Trump Administration to suspend future sales of munitions and crowd-control equipment to Hong Kong police which has been accused of using excessive force against anti-government protesters.

A Hong Kong democracy activist, Joshua Wong, this week tweeted pictures of teargas shells and rubber bullets he said were used by police against protesters.

Representatives Christopher Smith and James McGovern, chairs of a congressional human rights commission, made their request in a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

"We ask that you suspend future sales of munitions and crowd and riot control equipment to the Hong Kong Police Force and publicly announce that the US&nbsp;will not contribute to the internal repression of peaceful protest in Hong Kong," they wrote.

They also urged the secretaries to push back "against the Hong Kong and Chinese governments` efforts to characterize the demonstrations as `riots` and to blame the US for political instability which they alone created."

The State Department and the Commerce Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

"All these weapons are imported from the United States. Given the innumerable proof of police brutality in recent protests, all countries should call a halt to the sale of arms to the notorious Hong Kong Police," Wong said on Twitter.

Thousands of civil servants joined in the anti-government protests in Hong Kong on Friday for the first time since they started two months ago, defying a warning from the authorities to remain politically neutral.

Protests against a proposed bill that would allow people to be extradited to stand trial in mainland China have grown increasingly violent, with police accused of excessive use of force and failing to protect protesters from suspected gang attacks.&nbsp;

The human rights commission is composed of more than 40 members of the US House of Representatives. Smith is Republican and McGovern a Democrat.

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers on Friday urged the Trump Administration to suspend future sales of munitions and crowd-control equipment to Hong Kong police which has been accused of using excessive force against anti-government protesters.

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers on Friday urged the Trump Administration to suspend future sales of munitions and crowd-control equipment to Hong Kong police which has been accused of using excessive force against anti-government protesters. A Hong Kong democracy activist, Joshua Wong, this week tweeted pictures of teargas shells and rubber bullets he said were used by police against protesters. Representatives Christopher Smith and James McGovern, chairs of a congressional human rights commission, made their request in a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. "We ask that you suspend future sales of munitions and crowd and riot control equipment to the Hong Kong Police Force and publicly announce that the US will not contribute to the internal repression of peaceful protest in Hong Kong," they wrote. They also urged the secretaries to push back "against the Hong Kong and Chinese governments` efforts to characterize the demonstrations as `riots` and to blame the US for political instability which they alone created." The State Department and the Commerce Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. "All these weapons are imported from the United States. Given the innumerable proof of police brutality in recent protests, all countries should call a halt to the sale of arms to the notorious Hong Kong Police," Wong said on Twitter. Thousands of civil servants joined in the anti-government protests in Hong Kong on Friday for the first time since they started two months ago, defying a warning from the authorities to remain politically neutral. Protests against a proposed bill that would allow people to be extradited to stand trial in mainland China have grown increasingly violent, with police accused of excessive use of force and failing to protect protesters from suspected gang attacks. The human rights commission is composed of more than 40 members of the US House of Representatives. Smith is Republican and McGovern a Democrat.

Lawmakers urge US to block sales of crowd-control gear to Hong Kong

A judge on Friday blocked a move by US President Donald Trump's administration to stop <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mexico-opens-new-migrant-shelter-as-us-continues-to-send-back-asylum-seekers-240177">migrants from claiming asylum</a> unless they had entered the country at an official border crossing, news outlets reported.

The policy, enacted by Trump last year, is among a host of measures his government has taken against the movement of hundreds of thousands of migrants from Central America and elsewhere who have recently tried to cross into the US from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-says-migrant-numbers-at-us-border-down-40-since-may-239609">Mexico</a> and request asylum.

Federal judge Randolph Moss, sitting in Washington, ruled that the policy was "in excess of statutory... authority," ABC News reported.

Moss said it contradicts standing US immigration law, which allows undocumented people who are physically present in the country to apply for asylum even if they did not enter at an official port of entry, The Hill newspaper said.

The policy had earlier been blocked by a judge in San Francisco, a ruling the government is appealing.

Watch: The immigration debate: seesaws placed at US-Mexico border

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Trump's immigration policy has been the subject of numerous court challenges.

Last week, a federal judge in California issued a preliminary injunction blocking the administration's new rule barring most immigrants from obtaining asylum in the US if they transit through Mexico.

That policy would have effectively prevented most Central American asylum seekers from gaining entry into the United States at the southern border, as the majority come through Mexico.

Day later, Guatemala signed an agreement with the US that, according to Washington, makes it a "safe third country," meaning migrants who want to seek asylum in the United States but travel through Guatemala must request asylum in the Central American country.

The number of border-crossers detained by the US Border Patrol surged to a 13-year high of more than 144,000 in May before easing to 104,000 in June -- still up 142 per cent from a year earlier.

Most are families from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

A judge on Friday blocked a move by US President Donald Trump's administration to stop migrants from claiming asylum unless they had entered the country at an official border crossing, news outlets reported.

A judge on Friday blocked a move by US President Donald Trump's administration to stop migrants from claiming asylum unless they had entered the country at an official border crossing, news outlets reported. The policy, enacted by Trump last year, is among a host of measures his government has taken against the movement of hundreds of thousands of migrants from Central America and elsewhere who have recently tried to cross into the US from Mexico and request asylum. Federal judge Randolph Moss, sitting in Washington, ruled that the policy was "in excess of statutory... authority," ABC News reported. Moss said it contradicts standing US immigration law, which allows undocumented people who are physically present in the country to apply for asylum even if they did not enter at an official port of entry, The Hill newspaper said. The policy had earlier been blocked by a judge in San Francisco, a ruling the government is appealing. Watch: The immigration debate: seesaws placed at US-Mexico border × Trump's immigration policy has been the subject of numerous court challenges. Last week, a federal judge in California issued a preliminary injunction blocking the administration's new rule barring most immigrants from obtaining asylum in the US if they transit through Mexico. That policy would have effectively prevented most Central American asylum seekers from gaining entry into the United States at the southern border, as the majority come through Mexico. Day later, Guatemala signed an agreement with the US that, according to Washington, makes it a "safe third country," meaning migrants who want to seek asylum in the United States but travel through Guatemala must request asylum in the Central American country. The number of border-crossers detained by the US Border Patrol surged to a 13-year high of more than 144,000 in May before easing to 104,000 in June -- still up 142 per cent from a year earlier. Most are families from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

Judge blocks Trump asylum restriction: Reports

President Donald Trump's controversial pick to be the next Director of National Intelligence, Representative John Ratcliffe, withdrew from consideration on Friday amid questions over his experience and credentials.

Trump blamed Ratcliffe's withdrawal on attacks from the media but the nomination of the Republican lawmaker from Texas had raised broad concerns about the politicization of the sensitive post and his Senate confirmation was far from assured.&nbsp;

Trump said he would announce a new nominee "shortly" to replace Republican former senator Dan Coats as head of the 17 agencies that make up the US intelligence community.

"Our great Republican Congressman John Ratcliffe is being treated very unfairly by the LameStream Media," Trump said in a tweet announcing the withdrawal of his choice for DNI.

"Rather than going through months of slander and libel, I explained to John how miserable it would be for him and his family to deal with these people," Trump said. "John has therefore decided to stay in Congress where he has done such an outstanding job representing the people of Texas, and our Country."

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Our great Republican Congressman John Ratcliffe is being treated very unfairly by the LameStream Media. Rather than going through months of slander and libel, I explained to John how miserable it would be for him and his family to deal with these people....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1157352000327180289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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....John has therefore decided to stay in Congress where he has done such an outstanding job representing the people of Texas, and our Country. I will be announcing my nomination for DNI shortly.
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The nomination of Ratcliffe, a staunch Trump supporter, to become the chief US intelligence official had come in for strong criticism from Democrats.

It received only tepid support from key Republicans, putting a question mark over whether the 53-year-old Ratcliffe could have earned the 51 votes needed for Senate confirmation.

"Rep. Ratcliffe never should have been considered in the first place," said New York Senator Chuck Schumer, the head of the Democratic minority in the Senate. "This is part of a pattern from President Trump: nomination on a whim without consultation or vetting, and then forced withdrawal when mess ensues.

"The next Director of National Intelligence must be someone who is nonpartisan, sees the world objectively and speaks truth to power," Schumer said.

Ratcliffe is the latest of several people Trump has floated for key jobs in the US government who pulled out before they could assume the posts.

"This is as close as Trump will ever get to acknowledging that the individual he nominated is so woefully under-qualified for DNI," said Ned Price, a former CIA officer and spokesman for the National Security Council under Democratic president Barack Obama.

Price said on Twitter that Ratcliffe was "so extraordinarily hyper-partisan, and so brazenly deceitful in his resume that he would've met a freight train even in a rubber stamp Senate."

Ratcliffe's resume has been the subject of several news articles in recent days which suggested he may have burnished his anti-terrorism credentials. He claimed on his website that he sent terrorists to prison while a prosecutor but that does not appear to be the case.

The outspoken defender of the president frequently appears on Fox News repeating conspiracy theories, like alleging that special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference was a political hit-job by Democrats working with US intelligence.

Before arriving in Congress in 2015, he was mayor of a small, wealthy lakeside suburb of Dallas, Texas for eight years, a staff lawyer for the local federal district attorney, and then interim district attorney for just one year in 2007.

- 'Humbled and honored' -

In a statement, Ratcliffe, who serves on the House intelligence, judiciary and homeland security committees, thanked Trump for nominating him.

"I was humbled and honored that the President put his trust in me to lead our nation's intelligence operations and remain convinced that when confirmed, I would have done so with the objectivity, fairness and integrity that our intelligence agencies need and deserve," he said.

"However, I do not wish for a national security and intelligence debate surrounding my confirmation, however untrue, to become a purely political and partisan issue," Ratcliffe said. "The country we all love deserves that it be treated as an American issue.

"Accordingly, I have asked the President to nominate someone other than me for this position."

Coats, the current DNI chief, announced Sunday that he would be stepping down on August 15.

Coats did not always see eye-to-eye with Trump on a range of issues while serving as the official who oversees and coordinates the CIA, the National Security Agency and other US intelligence bodies.

President Donald Trump's controversial pick to be the next Director of National Intelligence, Representative John Ratcliffe, withdrew from consideration on Friday amid questions over his experience and credentials.

President Donald Trump's controversial pick to be the next Director of National Intelligence, Representative John Ratcliffe, withdrew from consideration on Friday amid questions over his experience and credentials. Trump blamed Ratcliffe's withdrawal on attacks from the media but the nomination of the Republican lawmaker from Texas had raised broad concerns about the politicization of the sensitive post and his Senate confirmation was far from assured. Trump said he would announce a new nominee "shortly" to replace Republican former senator Dan Coats as head of the 17 agencies that make up the US intelligence community. "Our great Republican Congressman John Ratcliffe is being treated very unfairly by the LameStream Media," Trump said in a tweet announcing the withdrawal of his choice for DNI. "Rather than going through months of slander and libel, I explained to John how miserable it would be for him and his family to deal with these people," Trump said. "John has therefore decided to stay in Congress where he has done such an outstanding job representing the people of Texas, and our Country." Our great Republican Congressman John Ratcliffe is being treated very unfairly by the LameStream Media. Rather than going through months of slander and libel, I explained to John how miserable it would be for him and his family to deal with these people.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 2, 2019 × ....John has therefore decided to stay in Congress where he has done such an outstanding job representing the people of Texas, and our Country. I will be announcing my nomination for DNI shortly. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 2, 2019 × The nomination of Ratcliffe, a staunch Trump supporter, to become the chief US intelligence official had come in for strong criticism from Democrats. It received only tepid support from key Republicans, putting a question mark over whether the 53-year-old Ratcliffe could have earned the 51 votes needed for Senate confirmation. "Rep. Ratcliffe never should have been considered in the first place," said New York Senator Chuck Schumer, the head of the Democratic minority in the Senate. "This is part of a pattern from President Trump: nomination on a whim without consultation or vetting, and then forced withdrawal when mess ensues. "The next Director of National Intelligence must be someone who is nonpartisan, sees the world objectively and speaks truth to power," Schumer said. Ratcliffe is the latest of several people Trump has floated for key jobs in the US government who pulled out before they could assume the posts. "This is as close as Trump will ever get to acknowledging that the individual he nominated is so woefully under-qualified for DNI," said Ned Price, a former CIA officer and spokesman for the National Security Council under Democratic president Barack Obama. Price said on Twitter that Ratcliffe was "so extraordinarily hyper-partisan, and so brazenly deceitful in his resume that he would've met a freight train even in a rubber stamp Senate." Ratcliffe's resume has been the subject of several news articles in recent days which suggested he may have burnished his anti-terrorism credentials. He claimed on his website that he sent terrorists to prison while a prosecutor but that does not appear to be the case. The outspoken defender of the president frequently appears on Fox News repeating conspiracy theories, like alleging that special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference was a political hit-job by Democrats working with US intelligence. Before arriving in Congress in 2015, he was mayor of a small, wealthy lakeside suburb of Dallas, Texas for eight years, a staff lawyer for the local federal district attorney, and then interim district attorney for just one year in 2007. - 'Humbled and honored' - In a statement, Ratcliffe, who serves on the House intelligence, judiciary and homeland security committees, thanked Trump for nominating him. "I was humbled and honored that the President put his trust in me to lead our nation's intelligence operations and remain convinced that when confirmed, I would have done so with the objectivity, fairness and integrity that our intelligence agencies need and deserve," he said. "However, I do not wish for a national security and intelligence debate surrounding my confirmation, however untrue, to become a purely political and partisan issue," Ratcliffe said. "The country we all love deserves that it be treated as an American issue. "Accordingly, I have asked the President to nominate someone other than me for this position." Coats, the current DNI chief, announced Sunday that he would be stepping down on August 15. Coats did not always see eye-to-eye with Trump on a range of issues while serving as the official who oversees and coordinates the CIA, the National Security Agency and other US intelligence bodies.

Trump drops US spy chief pick Ratcliffe and mulls a replacement

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