Britain on Tuesday reacted to the ongoing clashes along the Gaza border that have left over dozens dead. The country has called for an investigation after Israeli troops clamped down on Palestinian protesters.

"There should be an investigation into this," junior foreign office minister Alistair Burt told parliament. "The United Kingdom has been clear in calling for urgently a need to establish the facts of what happened, including why such a volume of live fire was used ..."

Burt also called for infrastructure and development projects in Gaza and pressed for an easing of restrictions on movement in the region. He also urged other countries to extend international support.

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp

Britain also called for infrastructure and development projects in Gaza and pressed for an easing of restrictions on movement in the region

Britain on Tuesday reacted to the ongoing clashes along the Gaza border that have left over dozens dead. The country has called for an investigation after Israeli troops clamped down on Palestinian protesters. "There should be an investigation into this," junior foreign office minister Alistair Burt told parliament. "The United Kingdom has been clear in calling for urgently a need to establish the facts of what happened, including why such a volume of live fire was used ..." Burt also called for infrastructure and development projects in Gaza and pressed for an easing of restrictions on movement in the region. He also urged other countries to extend international support. (With inputs from Reuters)

Gaza violence: Britain calls for investigation

British Prime Minister Theresa May insisted Sunday she could be trusted to deliver a good Brexit deal as she tried to mend government rifts over the best way forward.

May's Conservative administration is divided on what sort of customs agreement Britain should have with the European Union after it leaves the bloc.

The splits were laid bare last week when Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson dismissed as "crazy" one of May's proposals for future EU customs arrangements.

But the prime minister insisted: "You can trust me to deliver", as she attempted to ease the tensions.

"The path I am setting out is the path to deliver the Brexit people voted for," she wrote in The Sunday Times newspaper.

"Of course, the details are incredibly complex and, as in any negotiation, there will have to be compromises.&nbsp

"I will need your help and support to get there. And in return, my pledge to you is simple: I will not let you down."

May said she had proposed different options for a new customs arrangement with the EU and the government would continue to work on them during the negotiations.

She said her mission in the talks was to build a new, close trading relationship with the EU, put Britain in full control over its immigration policy and taxpayer spending and build closer ties with the world's emerging economies.

She said any deal must protect the United Kingdom's constitutional and economic integrity and honour the Northern Irish peace accords.

"This means there can be no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, or between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK," May wrote.

"Any agreements must create as little friction as possible for trade," she said, adding: "We must not constrain our ability to negotiate trade agreements with other countries around the world by being bound into a customs union."

Final decision looming 
Last year, London put forward two options to ease cross-border trade with the EU but, with Brexit looming, has still yet to make a final decision on which to pursue.

May's preferred option, the customs partnership, was reportedly rejected at a meeting of her senior ministers last week, while Brussels has also condemned it as "magical thinking".

The model would involve Britain collecting EU tariffs on goods heading into the bloc but charging its own on UK-destined products.

A second option, "maximum facilitation", would involve using technology to minimise customs checks, but the EU has also cast doubt on its viability.

A decision is not expected for at least another week, but the clock is ticking ahead of a crucial EU summit in June.

The Sunday Times said May's article was "an appeal for unity as she enters another perilous phase of her premiership".

The main opposition Labour Party called Sunday for parliament to be given the chance to vote on a customs union.

British Prime Minister Theresa May insisted Sunday she could be trusted to deliver a good Brexit deal as she tried to mend government rifts over the best way forward

British Prime Minister Theresa May insisted Sunday she could be trusted to deliver a good Brexit deal as she tried to mend government rifts over the best way forward. May's Conservative administration is divided on what sort of customs agreement Britain should have with the European Union after it leaves the bloc. The splits were laid bare last week when Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson dismissed as "crazy" one of May's proposals for future EU customs arrangements. But the prime minister insisted: "You can trust me to deliver", as she attempted to ease the tensions. "The path I am setting out is the path to deliver the Brexit people voted for," she wrote in The Sunday Times newspaper. "Of course, the details are incredibly complex and, as in any negotiation, there will have to be compromises. "I will need your help and support to get there. And in return, my pledge to you is simple: I will not let you down." May said she had proposed different options for a new customs arrangement with the EU and the government would continue to work on them during the negotiations. She said her mission in the talks was to build a new, close trading relationship with the EU, put Britain in full control over its immigration policy and taxpayer spending and build closer ties with the world's emerging economies. She said any deal must protect the United Kingdom's constitutional and economic integrity and honour the Northern Irish peace accords. "This means there can be no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, or between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK," May wrote. "Any agreements must create as little friction as possible for trade," she said, adding: "We must not constrain our ability to negotiate trade agreements with other countries around the world by being bound into a customs union." Final decision looming Last year, London put forward two options to ease cross-border trade with the EU but, with Brexit looming, has still yet to make a final decision on which to pursue. May's preferred option, the customs partnership, was reportedly rejected at a meeting of her senior ministers last week, while Brussels has also condemned it as "magical thinking". The model would involve Britain collecting EU tariffs on goods heading into the bloc but charging its own on UK-destined products. A second option, "maximum facilitation", would involve using technology to minimise customs checks, but the EU has also cast doubt on its viability. A decision is not expected for at least another week, but the clock is ticking ahead of a crucial EU summit in June. The Sunday Times said May's article was "an appeal for unity as she enters another perilous phase of her premiership". The main opposition Labour Party called Sunday for parliament to be given the chance to vote on a customs union.

British PM Theresa May says 'trust me' on Brexit

Britain's Prince Harry weds American actress Meghan Markle next Saturday in a union of youthful royalty and Hollywood glamour expected to reinvigorate the venerable House of Windsor.

Harry, grandson of Queen Elizabeth and sixth-in-line to the throne, and Markle, star of US&nbspTV drama "Suits" will tie the knot next Saturday at Windsor Castle, home to the British royal family for nearly 1,000 years.

With celebrities expected to join the queen and senior royals for the ceremony and reception, thousands of journalists from across the globe will descend on the picturesque town of Windsor.

"It's absolutely marvellous. It's going to be a very special day for everybody," Harry's father Prince Charles said during a visit to France this week.

Harry, 33, a former army officer and one-time royal wild child, met his bride-to-be on a blind date in July 2016 after being set up through a mutual friend. Markle, 36, said she knew little about her royal date while Harry said he had never heard of Markle or watched her TV series.

However, it was love at first sight, and after just two dates, he whisked her off to Botswana for an intimate holiday, camping under the stars.

"The fact that I fell in love with Meghan so incredibly quickly was confirmation to me that all the stars were aligned, everything was just perfect," Harry said in an interview to mark the engagement last November.

"This beautiful woman just tripped and fell into my life, I fell into her life."

Saturday's wedding will take place at St George's Chapel of Windsor Castle, the queen's home west of London and the oldest and largest inhabited fortress in the world.

Some 40 monarchs have called the castle home and the chapel contains the remains of 10 kings, including Henry VIII and George VI, Elizabeth's father.

Set against all this tradition, Markle is a stark contrast in modernity. As a divorcee, with a white father and African-American mother, her background has provided a source of huge interest and comment, not all positive.

Harry's Kensington Palace office issued a rebuke to the media in November 2016, decrying the sexism and racism Markle had suffered in some press reports.

Markle's family has continued to come under scrutiny, with her half-siblings criticising her in newspapers and saying they had been snubbed after not receiving invitations to the wedding.

However, both her divorced parents, mother Doria Ragland, a clinical therapist, and father Thomas Markle, a former TV lighting director for soaps and sitcoms, will play "important roles" on the day.

Markle is due to arrive at the chapel in a car with her mother, while her father will escort her down the aisle.

Perspective

This wedding has drawn comparisons with some remarkable episodes of recent royal history: Edward VIII's relationship with American divorcee Wallis Simpson, which led him to abdicate in 1936, and the queen's late sister Margaret's decision to call off her marriage to an equerry Peter Townsend.

"Meghan will bring a new perspective to the royal family," royal biographer Claudia Joseph said. "Obviously she comes from a very different background and ... that's hugely important to take the royal family into the future."

The younger son of the late Princess Diana, Harry has always been a hugely popular figure member of the royal family.

A cheeky child who stuck his tongue out at photographers, he left a lasting memory in the minds of many when aged just 12, he walked solemnly behind his mother's coffin as her funeral cortege made its way through London after her death in a car crash in 1997.

"I don't think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances. I don't think it would happen today," he said in an interview published last June.

The impact of her death threw the prince off the rails, and his teenage years were overshadowed by negative headlines. In 2002 he admitted smoking cannabis and getting drunk when underage in a pub near the royal family's country estate.

He later scuffled with paparazzi outside a London nightclub and caused outrage by dressing as a Nazi officer at a party.

He began to get his life back on track after joining the army, serving two tours of duty in Afghanistan and escaping the media scrutiny and other trappings of his gilded upbringing.

Popular

Now a campaigner on mental health issues, he says he was close to a breakdown in his 20s. Such frank admissions of frailty have resonated with Britons as has his natural ease when mingling with the public.

"One of the reasons why Prince Harry is so popular is when he was young he was something of a wild child, he got himself into a number of scrapes," said royal historian Hugo Vickers.

"All that has served to do is make him even more popular."

A poll last week found 71 percent of respondents had a favourable view of Harry. That made him the second-highest rated members of the royals, just behind his brother but ahead of the 92-year-old queen.

Markle, who was born in Los Angeles, made her first TV appearance in a 2002 episode of the medical drama "General Hospital" and has appeared in other TV shows and films.

In 2011, she married film producer Trevor Engelson but they divorced two years later. She achieved the greatest fame as an actress for her starring part as Rachel Zane in the legal drama "Suits". She bowed out of the series last month after her character married her long-time love interest.

Meghan will not become a princess in her own right, but her unlikely marriage to Harry has led many to describe it as a magical children's story.

"The Americans love the British royal family and when you have an American actress marrying a British royal prince, it is the stuff of fairy tales," biographer Joseph said.

However, certainly not everyone in Britain agrees and an opinion poll this week suggested more than half the country would not watch the wedding.

"The idea that someone's aspiration should be to marry into someone else's wealth and status, the idea that Meghan Markle wasn't already successful in her own right, I don't think that's ok," Graham Smith, the chief executive of the anti-monarchist campaign group Republic, told Reuters.

"That's not my idea of a fairy tale."

It was love at first sight, and after just two dates, he whisked her off to Botswana for an intimate holiday, camping under the stars

Britain's Prince Harry weds American actress Meghan Markle next Saturday in a union of youthful royalty and Hollywood glamour expected to reinvigorate the venerable House of Windsor. Harry, grandson of Queen Elizabeth and sixth-in-line to the throne, and Markle, star of US&nbspTV drama "Suits" will tie the knot next Saturday at Windsor Castle, home to the British royal family for nearly 1,000 years. With celebrities expected to join the queen and senior royals for the ceremony and reception, thousands of journalists from across the globe will descend on the picturesque town of Windsor. "It's absolutely marvellous. It's going to be a very special day for everybody," Harry's father Prince Charles said during a visit to France this week. Harry, 33, a former army officer and one-time royal wild child, met his bride-to-be on a blind date in July 2016 after being set up through a mutual friend. Markle, 36, said she knew little about her royal date while Harry said he had never heard of Markle or watched her TV series. However, it was love at first sight, and after just two dates, he whisked her off to Botswana for an intimate holiday, camping under the stars. "The fact that I fell in love with Meghan so incredibly quickly was confirmation to me that all the stars were aligned, everything was just perfect," Harry said in an interview to mark the engagement last November. "This beautiful woman just tripped and fell into my life, I fell into her life." Saturday's wedding will take place at St George's Chapel of Windsor Castle, the queen's home west of London and the oldest and largest inhabited fortress in the world. Some 40 monarchs have called the castle home and the chapel contains the remains of 10 kings, including Henry VIII and George VI, Elizabeth's father. Set against all this tradition, Markle is a stark contrast in modernity. As a divorcee, with a white father and African-American mother, her background has provided a source of huge interest and comment, not all positive. Harry's Kensington Palace office issued a rebuke to the media in November 2016, decrying the sexism and racism Markle had suffered in some press reports. Markle's family has continued to come under scrutiny, with her half-siblings criticising her in newspapers and saying they had been snubbed after not receiving invitations to the wedding. However, both her divorced parents, mother Doria Ragland, a clinical therapist, and father Thomas Markle, a former TV lighting director for soaps and sitcoms, will play "important roles" on the day. Markle is due to arrive at the chapel in a car with her mother, while her father will escort her down the aisle. Perspective This wedding has drawn comparisons with some remarkable episodes of recent royal history: Edward VIII's relationship with American divorcee Wallis Simpson, which led him to abdicate in 1936, and the queen's late sister Margaret's decision to call off her marriage to an equerry Peter Townsend. "Meghan will bring a new perspective to the royal family," royal biographer Claudia Joseph said. "Obviously she comes from a very different background and ... that's hugely important to take the royal family into the future." The younger son of the late Princess Diana, Harry has always been a hugely popular figure member of the royal family. A cheeky child who stuck his tongue out at photographers, he left a lasting memory in the minds of many when aged just 12, he walked solemnly behind his mother's coffin as her funeral cortege made its way through London after her death in a car crash in 1997. "I don't think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances. I don't think it would happen today," he said in an interview published last June. The impact of her death threw the prince off the rails, and his teenage years were overshadowed by negative headlines. In 2002 he admitted smoking cannabis and getting drunk when underage in a pub near the royal family's country estate. He later scuffled with paparazzi outside a London nightclub and caused outrage by dressing as a Nazi officer at a party. He began to get his life back on track after joining the army, serving two tours of duty in Afghanistan and escaping the media scrutiny and other trappings of his gilded upbringing. Popular Now a campaigner on mental health issues, he says he was close to a breakdown in his 20s. Such frank admissions of frailty have resonated with Britons as has his natural ease when mingling with the public. "One of the reasons why Prince Harry is so popular is when he was young he was something of a wild child, he got himself into a number of scrapes," said royal historian Hugo Vickers. "All that has served to do is make him even more popular." A poll last week found 71 percent of respondents had a favourable view of Harry. That made him the second-highest rated members of the royals, just behind his brother but ahead of the 92-year-old queen. Markle, who was born in Los Angeles, made her first TV appearance in a 2002 episode of the medical drama "General Hospital" and has appeared in other TV shows and films. In 2011, she married film producer Trevor Engelson but they divorced two years later. She achieved the greatest fame as an actress for her starring part as Rachel Zane in the legal drama "Suits". She bowed out of the series last month after her character married her long-time love interest. Meghan will not become a princess in her own right, but her unlikely marriage to Harry has led many to describe it as a magical children's story. "The Americans love the British royal family and when you have an American actress marrying a British royal prince, it is the stuff of fairy tales," biographer Joseph said. However, certainly not everyone in Britain agrees and an opinion poll this week suggested more than half the country would not watch the wedding. "The idea that someone's aspiration should be to marry into someone else's wealth and status, the idea that Meghan Markle wasn't already successful in her own right, I don't think that's ok," Graham Smith, the chief executive of the anti-monarchist campaign group Republic, told Reuters. "That's not my idea of a fairy tale."

When Harry weds Meghan: A week until Britain's royal wedding

Britain's Electoral Commission has fined Leave.EU, one of the main campaign groups for Brexit in the 2016 referendum, for breaking spending rules.

Leave.EU was fined 70,000 pounds ($95,000) for multiple breaches of electoral law, but the voting regulator said it had found no evidence that Leave.EU received donations or paid-for services from Cambridge Analytica, a political consultancy at the centre of a storm over how Facebook data was used in political campaigns.

Leave.EU and Cambridge Analytica had previously denied working together on the Brexit campaign. Leave.EU was not the officially designated "leave" campaign group during the referendum.

Voting regulator, however, said it had found no evidence that Leave.EU received donations or paid-for services from Cambridge Analytica.

Britain's Electoral Commission has fined Leave.EU, one of the main campaign groups for Brexit in the 2016 referendum, for breaking spending rules. Leave.EU was fined 70,000 pounds ($95,000) for multiple breaches of electoral law, but the voting regulator said it had found no evidence that Leave.EU received donations or paid-for services from Cambridge Analytica, a political consultancy at the centre of a storm over how Facebook data was used in political campaigns. Leave.EU and Cambridge Analytica had previously denied working together on the Brexit campaign. Leave.EU was not the officially designated "leave" campaign group during the referendum.

Britain's Electoral Commission fines Leave.EU over Brexit vote spending

British number one Kyle Edmund beat 12-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in three sets to reach the third round of the Madrid Open.

Edmund, 23, beat the 30-year-old Serb 6-3 2-6 6-3 in one hour, 40 minutes and is now set to reach the world's top 20.

He will play David Goffin in the next round after the Belgian's 7-5 6-3 win over Robin Haase of the Netherlands.

Djokovic stormed through the second set on the Manolo Santana court but he spurned three break points early in the decider and Edmund pounced to win.

This was only the third time Edmund had beaten a player ranked as high as world number 12.&nbsp

"Kyle was just better in the decisive moments and I was a bit unlucky," Djokovic said afterwards. "Definitely Kyle is playing the best tennis of his life."&nbsp

Djokovic is by far his biggest scalp yet. 
&nbsp

Edmund, 23, beat the 30-year-old Serb 6-3 2-6 6-3 in one hour, 40 minutes

British number one Kyle Edmund beat 12-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in three sets to reach the third round of the Madrid Open. Edmund, 23, beat the 30-year-old Serb 6-3 2-6 6-3 in one hour, 40 minutes and is now set to reach the world's top 20. He will play David Goffin in the next round after the Belgian's 7-5 6-3 win over Robin Haase of the Netherlands. Djokovic stormed through the second set on the Manolo Santana court but he spurned three break points early in the decider and Edmund pounced to win. This was only the third time Edmund had beaten a player ranked as high as world number 12. "Kyle was just better in the decisive moments and I was a bit unlucky," Djokovic said afterwards. "Definitely Kyle is playing the best tennis of his life." Djokovic is by far his biggest scalp yet.

Madrid Open: Novak Djokovic defeated by Britain's Kyle Edmund

Touching Queen Elizabeth has long been considered one of the greatest taboos surrounding the British monarch, one of the unwritten rules about how people are expected to behave around the royal family.

When American actress Meghan Markle walks down the aisle of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle to marry the queen's grandson Prince Harry on May 19, she will have to have mastered those protocols.

Lucy Hume, the associate director at Debrett's, a professional coaching company founded in 1769 and an authority on modern British etiquette, explains how members of the public should act if they happen to meet a member of Britain's royal family.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I MEET A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY?

"One of the key things to bear in mind is how to greet a member of the royal family when you meet them for the first time, and it's customary in a formal situation for women to curtsy - a brief bob is sufficient - and for men to bow from the neck."

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I MEET A ROYAL AT A LESS FORMAL EVENT?

"Sometimes you might encounter a member of the royal family at a reception or a less formal occasion, in which case it might be appropriate to shake their hand, but it's best to wait for them to offer their hand first before you reach out yours."

WHAT DO I CALL THE ROYALS WHEN I MEET THEM?

"If you are introduced to the queen, you address her as 'Your Majesty'. Any other members of the royal family are addressed as 'Your Royal Highness' and for women you thereafter would call them 'Ma'am' and, for men, you would call them 'Sir'."

CAN I ASK A ROYAL FOR A SELFIE?

"It's not usually appropriate to do so. So if you do want to take a photograph, ask their permission first, possibly get somebody else to take a photograph but it's important to respect that person's personal space."

IS IT OKAY FOR ME TO PUT MY ARM AROUND A ROYAL?

"Best not to initiate personal physical contact with a member of the royal family. Again, it may be that they offered to give you a hug or to put their arm around you, but usually wait and see what's expected or what's appropriate for the event."

WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET SOMETHING WRONG?

"You're not going to be in trouble. There are no official legal rules in place. Apologise if you feel you may have caused offence, but try not to panic, and stay calm."

WILL THE ROYALS BE KIND TO ME IF I MESS UP?

"It would seem from what we've seen of members of the royal family in public that they are very accustomed to a variety of different situations. They meet people from different backgrounds all the time and they're very accustomed to putting people at ease it's unlikely you would cause offence."

Touching Queen Elizabeth has long been considered one of the greatest taboos surrounding the British monarch.

Touching Queen Elizabeth has long been considered one of the greatest taboos surrounding the British monarch, one of the unwritten rules about how people are expected to behave around the royal family. When American actress Meghan Markle walks down the aisle of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle to marry the queen's grandson Prince Harry on May 19, she will have to have mastered those protocols. Lucy Hume, the associate director at Debrett's, a professional coaching company founded in 1769 and an authority on modern British etiquette, explains how members of the public should act if they happen to meet a member of Britain's royal family. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I MEET A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY? "One of the key things to bear in mind is how to greet a member of the royal family when you meet them for the first time, and it's customary in a formal situation for women to curtsy - a brief bob is sufficient - and for men to bow from the neck." WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I MEET A ROYAL AT A LESS FORMAL EVENT? "Sometimes you might encounter a member of the royal family at a reception or a less formal occasion, in which case it might be appropriate to shake their hand, but it's best to wait for them to offer their hand first before you reach out yours." WHAT DO I CALL THE ROYALS WHEN I MEET THEM? "If you are introduced to the queen, you address her as 'Your Majesty'. Any other members of the royal family are addressed as 'Your Royal Highness' and for women you thereafter would call them 'Ma'am' and, for men, you would call them 'Sir'." CAN I ASK A ROYAL FOR A SELFIE? "It's not usually appropriate to do so. So if you do want to take a photograph, ask their permission first, possibly get somebody else to take a photograph but it's important to respect that person's personal space." IS IT OKAY FOR ME TO PUT MY ARM AROUND A ROYAL? "Best not to initiate personal physical contact with a member of the royal family. Again, it may be that they offered to give you a hug or to put their arm around you, but usually wait and see what's expected or what's appropriate for the event." WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET SOMETHING WRONG? "You're not going to be in trouble. There are no official legal rules in place. Apologise if you feel you may have caused offence, but try not to panic, and stay calm." WILL THE ROYALS BE KIND TO ME IF I MESS UP? "It would seem from what we've seen of members of the royal family in public that they are very accustomed to a variety of different situations. They meet people from different backgrounds all the time and they're very accustomed to putting people at ease it's unlikely you would cause offence."

Meghan Markle's post-wedding challenge: Master British royal protocol

President Hassan Rouhani hinted on Monday that Iran could remain in its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers even if the United States dropped out but Tehran would fiercely resist US&nbsppressure to limit its influence in the Middle East.

US&nbspPresident Donald Trump, a long-time critic of the deal reached between Iran and six powers in 2015 before he took office, has threatened to pull out by not extending sanctions waivers when they expire on May 12, unless European signatories of the accord fix what he calls its “flaws”.

Under the agreement with the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China, Iran strictly limited uranium enrichment capacity to satisfy the powers that it could not be used to develop atomic bombs. In exchange, Iran received relief from sanctions, most of which were rescinded in January 2016.

Rouhani said the Islamic Republic had been preparing for every possible scenario, including a deal without Washington - which would still include the other signatories that remain committed to it - or no deal at all.

"We are not worried about America's cruel decisions ... We are prepared for all scenarios and no change will occur in our lives next week," Rouhani said in a speech broadcast live on state TV.

"If we can get what we want from a deal without America, then Iran will continue to remain committed to the deal. What Iran wants is our interests to be guaranteed by its non-American signatories ... In that case, getting rid of America's mischievous presence will be fine for Iran."

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<h5>If they want to make sure that we are not after a nuclear bomb, we have said repeatedly that we are not and we will not be,' said Rouhani, who engineered the nuclear accord to ease Iran's isolation</h5>
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"If they want to make sure that we are not after a nuclear bomb, we have said repeatedly that we are not and we will not be," said Rouhani, who engineered the nuclear accord to ease Iran's isolation.

"But if they want to weaken Iran and limit its influence whether in the region or globally, Iran will fiercely resist."

Tehran has made repeated threats to walk away if Trump does, but several Iranian officials told Reuters last week that as long as Tehran was not excluded from the global financial and trading system, it could consider respecting the accord.

Diplomats say Tehran would rather the deal remain intact out of concern about a revival of domestic unrest over economic hardships that mounted over the years sanctions were in place.

EUROPEAN POWERS VOW TO UPHOLD DEAL

Britain, France and Germany remain committed to the accord and, in an effort to address U.S. complaints, want to open talks on Iran's ballistic missile programme, its nuclear activities beyond 2025 - when pivotal provisions of the deal expire - and its role in the wars in Syria and Yemen.

Whatever Trump decides, France, Britain and Germany will stick to the deal because it is the best way to stop Iran developing a nuclear bomb, French Foreign Minister Yean-Yves Le Drian said on Monday after meeting his German counterpart.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the deal, which is being policed by U.N. nuclear inspectors, "makes the world safer", and would do everything possible to uphold it.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, now in Washington for talks, said the deal had weaknesses but these could be remedied. "...At this moment Britain is working alongside the Trump administration and our French and German allies to ensure that they are," he said in a commentary in the New York Times.

"I am sure of one thing: every available alternative is worse. The wisest course would be to improve the handcuffs rather than break them."

Even if Trump rejects a possible remedy being worked out by U.S. and European officials and decides to bring back sanctions, the most drastic U.S. measures targeting Iran's oil sales will not immediately resume.

There are at least two avenues potentially offering more time for talks after May 12.

The agreement has a dispute resolution clause that provides at least 35 days to consider a claim that any party has violated its terms. That can be extended if all parties agree.

And if Trump restores the core U.S. sanctions, under U.S. law he must wait at least 180 days before reimposing penalties on banks of nations that do not slash purchases of Iranian oil.

Iran's clerical rulers have repeatedly ruled out reducing its sway across the region, as demanded by the United States and its European allies. Tehran says its missile capabilities are purely defensive and nuclear ambitions only civilian in nature.

The UN&nbspnuclear watchdog says it is maintaining the "world's most robust verification regime" in Iran and has repeatedly said Tehran is complying with the deal terms.

President Hassan Rouhani hinted on Monday that Iran could remain in its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers even if the United States dropped out but Tehran would fiercely resist US pressure to limit its influence in the Middle East

President Hassan Rouhani hinted on Monday that Iran could remain in its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers even if the United States dropped out but Tehran would fiercely resist US&nbsppressure to limit its influence in the Middle East. US&nbspPresident Donald Trump, a long-time critic of the deal reached between Iran and six powers in 2015 before he took office, has threatened to pull out by not extending sanctions waivers when they expire on May 12, unless European signatories of the accord fix what he calls its “flaws”. Under the agreement with the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China, Iran strictly limited uranium enrichment capacity to satisfy the powers that it could not be used to develop atomic bombs. In exchange, Iran received relief from sanctions, most of which were rescinded in January 2016. Rouhani said the Islamic Republic had been preparing for every possible scenario, including a deal without Washington - which would still include the other signatories that remain committed to it - or no deal at all. "We are not worried about America's cruel decisions ... We are prepared for all scenarios and no change will occur in our lives next week," Rouhani said in a speech broadcast live on state TV. "If we can get what we want from a deal without America, then Iran will continue to remain committed to the deal. What Iran wants is our interests to be guaranteed by its non-American signatories ... In that case, getting rid of America's mischievous presence will be fine for Iran." If they want to make sure that we are not after a nuclear bomb, we have said repeatedly that we are not and we will not be,' said Rouhani, who engineered the nuclear accord to ease Iran's isolation × "If they want to make sure that we are not after a nuclear bomb, we have said repeatedly that we are not and we will not be," said Rouhani, who engineered the nuclear accord to ease Iran's isolation. "But if they want to weaken Iran and limit its influence whether in the region or globally, Iran will fiercely resist." Tehran has made repeated threats to walk away if Trump does, but several Iranian officials told Reuters last week that as long as Tehran was not excluded from the global financial and trading system, it could consider respecting the accord. Diplomats say Tehran would rather the deal remain intact out of concern about a revival of domestic unrest over economic hardships that mounted over the years sanctions were in place. EUROPEAN POWERS VOW TO UPHOLD DEAL Britain, France and Germany remain committed to the accord and, in an effort to address U.S. complaints, want to open talks on Iran's ballistic missile programme, its nuclear activities beyond 2025 - when pivotal provisions of the deal expire - and its role in the wars in Syria and Yemen. Whatever Trump decides, France, Britain and Germany will stick to the deal because it is the best way to stop Iran developing a nuclear bomb, French Foreign Minister Yean-Yves Le Drian said on Monday after meeting his German counterpart. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the deal, which is being policed by U.N. nuclear inspectors, "makes the world safer", and would do everything possible to uphold it. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, now in Washington for talks, said the deal had weaknesses but these could be remedied. "...At this moment Britain is working alongside the Trump administration and our French and German allies to ensure that they are," he said in a commentary in the New York Times. "I am sure of one thing: every available alternative is worse. The wisest course would be to improve the handcuffs rather than break them." Even if Trump rejects a possible remedy being worked out by U.S. and European officials and decides to bring back sanctions, the most drastic U.S. measures targeting Iran's oil sales will not immediately resume. There are at least two avenues potentially offering more time for talks after May 12. The agreement has a dispute resolution clause that provides at least 35 days to consider a claim that any party has violated its terms. That can be extended if all parties agree. And if Trump restores the core U.S. sanctions, under U.S. law he must wait at least 180 days before reimposing penalties on banks of nations that do not slash purchases of Iranian oil. Iran's clerical rulers have repeatedly ruled out reducing its sway across the region, as demanded by the United States and its European allies. Tehran says its missile capabilities are purely defensive and nuclear ambitions only civilian in nature. The UN&nbspnuclear watchdog says it is maintaining the "world's most robust verification regime" in Iran and has repeatedly said Tehran is complying with the deal terms.

Iran says could remain in nuclear deal if its interests guaranteed: State TV

US&nbspPresident Donald Trump spoke with Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May on Saturday on issues including the Iran nuclear deal, a week before the president is to decide whether Washington will leave the pact, the White House said.

Trump is set to decide by May 12 whether to withdraw from the 2015 Iran deal, in which the Islamic Republic agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump has all but decided to withdraw, White House officials said on May 2.

Still, Trump could figure out a way to stay in the deal between the Islamic Republic and six world powers: Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.

Britain, France and Germany agreed that the deal is the best way of stopping Tehran from getting nuclear weapons, May's office said in late April.

French President Emmanuel Macron urged Trump to stay in the deal when he met with the president in Washington last month.

In the call with May, Trump "underscored his commitment to ensure that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon," the White House said.

The two also talked about nuclear issues in North Korea. "As planning continues for his upcoming meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, President Trump emphasized his goal of a denuclearized North Korea," the White House said.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is travelling to Washington on Sunday for a two-day visit, when he will meet Vice President Mike Pence and national security adviser John Bolton, for talks on Iran, North Korea, Syria and other issues, Britain said.

"The UK, the United States, and European partners are "united in our effort to tackle the kind of Iranian behavior that makes the Middle East region less secure - its cyber activities, its support for groups like Hezbollah, and its dangerous missile program, which is arming Houthi militias in Yemen," Johnson said in a statement.

Trump is slated visit the United Kingdom in July.

Trump is set to decide by May 12 whether to withdraw from the 2015 Iran deal

US&nbspPresident Donald Trump spoke with Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May on Saturday on issues including the Iran nuclear deal, a week before the president is to decide whether Washington will leave the pact, the White House said. Trump is set to decide by May 12 whether to withdraw from the 2015 Iran deal, in which the Islamic Republic agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump has all but decided to withdraw, White House officials said on May 2. Still, Trump could figure out a way to stay in the deal between the Islamic Republic and six world powers: Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. Britain, France and Germany agreed that the deal is the best way of stopping Tehran from getting nuclear weapons, May's office said in late April. French President Emmanuel Macron urged Trump to stay in the deal when he met with the president in Washington last month. In the call with May, Trump "underscored his commitment to ensure that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon," the White House said. The two also talked about nuclear issues in North Korea. "As planning continues for his upcoming meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, President Trump emphasized his goal of a denuclearized North Korea," the White House said. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is travelling to Washington on Sunday for a two-day visit, when he will meet Vice President Mike Pence and national security adviser John Bolton, for talks on Iran, North Korea, Syria and other issues, Britain said. "The UK, the United States, and European partners are "united in our effort to tackle the kind of Iranian behavior that makes the Middle East region less secure - its cyber activities, its support for groups like Hezbollah, and its dangerous missile program, which is arming Houthi militias in Yemen," Johnson said in a statement. Trump is slated visit the United Kingdom in July.

Trump speaks with Britain's May on Iran, North Korea

Chancellor Angela Merkel pressed her conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) on Saturday to attract more women to their ranks or else lose their status as one of Germany's two big popular parties, or 'Volksparteien'.

Speaking on the 70th anniversary of her conservatives' women's union, Merkel said the CDU needed to boost the proportion of women in its membership above some 25 percent if it wanted to win more than 40 percent of the vote.

"That's why this is not just a question of women who want to make a career, but it is a survival matter for this Volkspartei," she said.

Both the mainstream political blocs - the CDU and their Bavarian allies, and the left-leaning Social Democrats (SPD) - suffered their worst post-war election results in last September's national election - 33 and 21 percent respectively.

Frustration about the influx of more than a million migrants since 2015 propelled the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) into parliament for the first time.

Merkel, 63, is the CDU's first female leader and the first woman to be German chancellor. Earlier this year, the CDU elected another woman, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who is sometimes dubbed 'mini-Merkel', as party general-secretary, putting her in pole position to succeed Merkel as chancellor.

Speaking on the 70th anniversary of her conservatives' women's union, Merkel said the CDU needed to boost the proportion of women in its membership

Chancellor Angela Merkel pressed her conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) on Saturday to attract more women to their ranks or else lose their status as one of Germany's two big popular parties, or 'Volksparteien'. Speaking on the 70th anniversary of her conservatives' women's union, Merkel said the CDU needed to boost the proportion of women in its membership above some 25 percent if it wanted to win more than 40 percent of the vote. "That's why this is not just a question of women who want to make a career, but it is a survival matter for this Volkspartei," she said. Both the mainstream political blocs - the CDU and their Bavarian allies, and the left-leaning Social Democrats (SPD) - suffered their worst post-war election results in last September's national election - 33 and 21 percent respectively. Frustration about the influx of more than a million migrants since 2015 propelled the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) into parliament for the first time. Merkel, 63, is the CDU's first female leader and the first woman to be German chancellor. Earlier this year, the CDU elected another woman, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who is sometimes dubbed 'mini-Merkel', as party general-secretary, putting her in pole position to succeed Merkel as chancellor.

We must attract more women to survive, Merkel tells her party

US President Donald Trump sparked anger in France and Britain by suggesting looser gun laws could have helped prevent deadly attacks in Paris in 2015, and linking a wave of knife crime in London to a handgun ban.&nbsp;

In a speech to the National Rifle Association (NRA) on Friday, Trump mimicked the shooting of victims in the Paris rampage, and said if civilians had been armed “it would have been a whole different story.”

The French government issued its strongest criticism of Trump since he took office, at a time when President Emmanuel Macron has been reinforcing bilateral ties following a state visit.

“France expresses its firm disapproval of President Trump’s comments about the Paris attacks on November 13, 2015, and demands that the memory of the victims is respected,” the foreign office said in a statement.

“Every country freely decides on its own laws on carrying firearms, as in other areas. France is proud to be a country where acquiring and carrying firearms is strictly regulated.”&nbsp;

Other French politicians including the mayor of Paris took issue with Trump’s comments after he acted out the scene of the massacre by Islamist assailants at Paris’ Bataclan concert hall, where 90 of the 130 victims of the attacks died.

“They took their time and gunned them down one by one. Boom! Come over here. Boom! Come over here. Boom!,” Trump said, using his hands in a gun gesture.

Former French president Francois Hollande, who was head of state at the time, said on Twitter that Trump’s comments and antics were “shameful” and “obscene”.

‘KNIVES, KNIVES, KNIVES, KNIVES’

Trauma surgeons in London, meanwhile, said Trump had missed the point after, in the same speech, he linked to knife crime there to an absence of guns.

Comments by Trump have caused upset before in Britain. Relations with Prime Minister Theresa May cooled last year after she criticized him for retweeting anti-Islam videos by a British far-right group.

Trump, who is due to visit Britain on July 13, told NRA members that a “once very prestigious” London hospital, which he did not name, had become overwhelmed with victims of knife attacks.

“They don’t have guns. They have knives and instead there’s blood all over the floors of this hospital,” he said. “They say it’s as bad as a military war zone hospital. Knives, knives, knives, knives,” he added, making stabbing gestures.

London suffered a spike in knife crime early this year and saw more murders during February and March than New York.&nbsp;

Last month, trauma surgeon Martin Griffiths told the BBC that some of his colleagues had likened the Royal London Hospital in east London where he works to the former British military base Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.

But on Saturday he indicated Trump had drawn the wrong conclusion from his remarks.

Griffiths posted his comment next to an animation of a stick figure with the phrase “The Point” flying over its head and also linked to a statement on the hospital’s website by a fellow trauma surgeon, Karim Brohi.

“There is more we can all do to combat this violence, but to suggest guns are part of the solution is ridiculous. Gunshot wounds are at least twice as lethal as knife injuries and more difficult to repair,” Brohi said in the statement on Saturday.

Britain’s government effectively banned handgun ownership in England, Scotland and Wales after a school shooting in 1996.

Trump mimicked gunmen summoning and shooting victims one by one, saying "Boom! Come over here!" and using his hand to imitate a gun being fired.

US President Donald Trump sparked anger in France and Britain by suggesting looser gun laws could have helped prevent deadly attacks in Paris in 2015, and linking a wave of knife crime in London to a handgun ban. In a speech to the National Rifle Association (NRA) on Friday, Trump mimicked the shooting of victims in the Paris rampage, and said if civilians had been armed “it would have been a whole different story.” The French government issued its strongest criticism of Trump since he took office, at a time when President Emmanuel Macron has been reinforcing bilateral ties following a state visit. “France expresses its firm disapproval of President Trump’s comments about the Paris attacks on November 13, 2015, and demands that the memory of the victims is respected,” the foreign office said in a statement. “Every country freely decides on its own laws on carrying firearms, as in other areas. France is proud to be a country where acquiring and carrying firearms is strictly regulated.” Other French politicians including the mayor of Paris took issue with Trump’s comments after he acted out the scene of the massacre by Islamist assailants at Paris’ Bataclan concert hall, where 90 of the 130 victims of the attacks died. “They took their time and gunned them down one by one. Boom! Come over here. Boom! Come over here. Boom!,” Trump said, using his hands in a gun gesture. Former French president Francois Hollande, who was head of state at the time, said on Twitter that Trump’s comments and antics were “shameful” and “obscene”. ‘KNIVES, KNIVES, KNIVES, KNIVES’ Trauma surgeons in London, meanwhile, said Trump had missed the point after, in the same speech, he linked to knife crime there to an absence of guns. Comments by Trump have caused upset before in Britain. Relations with Prime Minister Theresa May cooled last year after she criticized him for retweeting anti-Islam videos by a British far-right group. Trump, who is due to visit Britain on July 13, told NRA members that a “once very prestigious” London hospital, which he did not name, had become overwhelmed with victims of knife attacks. “They don’t have guns. They have knives and instead there’s blood all over the floors of this hospital,” he said. “They say it’s as bad as a military war zone hospital. Knives, knives, knives, knives,” he added, making stabbing gestures. London suffered a spike in knife crime early this year and saw more murders during February and March than New York. Last month, trauma surgeon Martin Griffiths told the BBC that some of his colleagues had likened the Royal London Hospital in east London where he works to the former British military base Camp Bastion in Afghanistan. But on Saturday he indicated Trump had drawn the wrong conclusion from his remarks. Griffiths posted his comment next to an animation of a stick figure with the phrase “The Point” flying over its head and also linked to a statement on the hospital’s website by a fellow trauma surgeon, Karim Brohi. “There is more we can all do to combat this violence, but to suggest guns are part of the solution is ridiculous. Gunshot wounds are at least twice as lethal as knife injuries and more difficult to repair,” Brohi said in the statement on Saturday. Britain’s government effectively banned handgun ownership in England, Scotland and Wales after a school shooting in 1996.

Anger in France, Britain over US president Donald Trump's gun law speech

The European Commission on Wednesday announced plans to increase their post-Brexit budget to 1.279-trillion-euro that will trigger battles among member states over how to fill the funding gap left by Britain’s exit next year.

Bureaucrats have published the first draft Multiannual Financial Framework, which will run from 2021 to 2027 - the first directly affected by Brexit - and it is thought the loss of the UK’s contribution will have a major impact on the scope of the EU’s spending power from 2021.

During the 2021-27 period it would trim the biggest single item, farm subsidies, by 5 per cent and wants a new plastics tax. It would spend more on research and technology, foreign aid, euro zone stability, compensation for job losses from open trade and on joint defense and frontier guards.

It also introduces a new mechanism to penalize countries — notably in the ex-communist east — where governments breach EU rules on ensuring judicial freedom and the rule of law. These could find some of their important EU funding being withheld.

“With today’s proposal we have put forward a pragmatic plan for how to do more with less,” said European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

“A budget for a Europe that protects, empowers and defends,” declared the Commission, urging the remaining 27 member states to make up the shortfall of at least 10 billion euros ($12 billion) a year to be caused by Brexit after 2020.

That language reflects a campaign from Brussels to persuade voters the bloc remains relevant after a decade of crisis that has seen ferocious austerity in countries hit by the euro zone debt crisis and uproar over the arrival of more than a million irregular migrants across the Mediterranean in 2015 alone.

“A Europe that protects,” has also become a familiar demand from French President Emmanuel Macron, as he tries to work with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to tighten integration after the ever-skeptical British have left, while easing fears among voters that the EU means open borders and jobs exported abroad.

The German government reacted cautiously but the priorities it set out echoed many of those from the EU executive — tougher border control, more EU defense cooperation, tech innovation and a stronger defense of democratic values in Europe.

While, the EU’s largest budget contributor, Germany, has said it stands ready to pump in more cash to the Brussels machine, the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria and Sweden have raised concerns over stumping up any more cash to prop up the bloc in the wake of the UK’s departure.

For the first time, the Commission will create a “rule of law” mechanism that ties budget payments to a country’s respect for EU values. Brussels insists the rules will not be used to target the likes of Hungary and Poland with whom it has tussled over independent judiciaries.

It repeated its readiness, like France, to pick up a bigger bill if the budget strengthens the Union: “But that,” it added, “includes fair burden-sharing among all member states.”

The proposed budget of 1.28 trillion euros in inflation-adjusted future prices — or 1.14 trillion euros at 2018 prices — would be greater in real terms than the 1.09 trillion euros in the 2014-20 Multiannual Financial Framework.

It will be around 1.11 percent of the bloc’s economic output, the Commission said, up from the current 1.03 per cent. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from Reuters)

The proposed budget of 1.28 trillion euros in inflation-adjusted future prices — or 1.14 trillion euros at 2018 prices — would be greater in real terms than the 1.09 trillion euros in the 2014-20 Multiannual Financial Framework

The European Commission on Wednesday announced plans to increase their post-Brexit budget to 1.279-trillion-euro that will trigger battles among member states over how to fill the funding gap left by Britain’s exit next year. Bureaucrats have published the first draft Multiannual Financial Framework, which will run from 2021 to 2027 - the first directly affected by Brexit - and it is thought the loss of the UK’s contribution will have a major impact on the scope of the EU’s spending power from 2021. During the 2021-27 period it would trim the biggest single item, farm subsidies, by 5 per cent and wants a new plastics tax. It would spend more on research and technology, foreign aid, euro zone stability, compensation for job losses from open trade and on joint defense and frontier guards. It also introduces a new mechanism to penalize countries — notably in the ex-communist east — where governments breach EU rules on ensuring judicial freedom and the rule of law. These could find some of their important EU funding being withheld. “With today’s proposal we have put forward a pragmatic plan for how to do more with less,” said European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. “A budget for a Europe that protects, empowers and defends,” declared the Commission, urging the remaining 27 member states to make up the shortfall of at least 10 billion euros ($12 billion) a year to be caused by Brexit after 2020. That language reflects a campaign from Brussels to persuade voters the bloc remains relevant after a decade of crisis that has seen ferocious austerity in countries hit by the euro zone debt crisis and uproar over the arrival of more than a million irregular migrants across the Mediterranean in 2015 alone. “A Europe that protects,” has also become a familiar demand from French President Emmanuel Macron, as he tries to work with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to tighten integration after the ever-skeptical British have left, while easing fears among voters that the EU means open borders and jobs exported abroad. The German government reacted cautiously but the priorities it set out echoed many of those from the EU executive — tougher border control, more EU defense cooperation, tech innovation and a stronger defense of democratic values in Europe. While, the EU’s largest budget contributor, Germany, has said it stands ready to pump in more cash to the Brussels machine, the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria and Sweden have raised concerns over stumping up any more cash to prop up the bloc in the wake of the UK’s departure. For the first time, the Commission will create a “rule of law” mechanism that ties budget payments to a country’s respect for EU values. Brussels insists the rules will not be used to target the likes of Hungary and Poland with whom it has tussled over independent judiciaries. It repeated its readiness, like France, to pick up a bigger bill if the budget strengthens the Union: “But that,” it added, “includes fair burden-sharing among all member states.” The proposed budget of 1.28 trillion euros in inflation-adjusted future prices — or 1.14 trillion euros at 2018 prices — would be greater in real terms than the 1.09 trillion euros in the 2014-20 Multiannual Financial Framework. It will be around 1.11 percent of the bloc’s economic output, the Commission said, up from the current 1.03 per cent. (With inputs from Reuters)

EU announces plans to boost post-Brexit budget to Euro 1.25 trillion

Iran's foreign minister said on Thursday US&nbspdemands to change its 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers were unacceptable as a deadline set by President Donald Trump for Europeans to "fix" the deal loomed.

Trump has warned that unless European allies rectify the "terrible flaws" in the international accord by May 12, he will refuse to extend US&nbspsanctions relief for the oil-producing Islamic Republic.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-has-all-but-decided-to-withdraw-from-iran-nuclear-deal-sources-134344">Trump has all but decided to withdraw from Iran nuclear deal, say sources</a>

"Iran will not renegotiate what was agreed years ago and has been implemented," Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a video message posted on YouTube.

Britain, France and Germany remain committed to the accord as is, but now, in efforts to keep Washington in it, want to open talks on Iran's ballistic missile programme, its nuclear activities beyond 2025 - when key provisions of the deal expire - and its role in Middle East crises such as Syria and Yemen.

A senior adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also warned Europeans on Thursday over "revising" the nuclear deal, under which Iran strictly limited its enrichment of uranium to help allay fears this could be put to producing atomic bomb material, and won major sanctions relief in return.

"Even if US&nbspallies, especially the Europeans, try to revise the deal..., one of our options will be withdrawing from it," state television quoted Ali Akbar Velayati as saying.

The European signatories to the deal have been trying to persuade Trump to save the pact, reached under his predecessor Barack Obama. They argue it is crucial to forestalling a destabilising Middle East arms race and that Iran has been abiding by its terms, a position also taken by US&nbspintelligence assessments and the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency.

Zarif said: "Let me make it absolutely clear and once and for all: we will neither outsource our security nor will we renegotiate or add onto a deal we have already implemented in good faith."

Referring to Trump's past as a property magnate, Zarif added, "To put it in real estate terms, when you buy a house and move your family in, or demolish it to build a skyscraper, you cannot come back two years later and renegotiate the price."

Defying Western demands, Iran has repeatedly said it has no intention of reducing its imprint in Middle East affairs and its missile capabilities, which it has said are defensive in nature and have nothing to with nuclear activity covered by the deal.

"It now appears that ... some Europeans have been offering more concessions from our pocket," Zarif said. "This appeasement (of Trump) entails a new deal that would include matters we all decided to exclude at the outset of our negotiations."

Zarif, speaking in English in the YouTube video, said the United States had "consistently violated the nuclear deal, particularly by bullying others to prevent businesses from returning to Iran".

Major European banks and businesses continue to shun the Islamic Republic for fear of falling foul of remaining U.S. sanctions, hampering Iran's efforts to rebuild foreign trade and lure much-needed foreign investment to its economy.

'Iran will not renegotiate what was agreed years ago and has been implemented,' Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a video message posted on YouTube

Iran's foreign minister said on Thursday US&nbspdemands to change its 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers were unacceptable as a deadline set by President Donald Trump for Europeans to "fix" the deal loomed. Trump has warned that unless European allies rectify the "terrible flaws" in the international accord by May 12, he will refuse to extend US&nbspsanctions relief for the oil-producing Islamic Republic. Also read: Trump has all but decided to withdraw from Iran nuclear deal, say sources "Iran will not renegotiate what was agreed years ago and has been implemented," Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a video message posted on YouTube. Britain, France and Germany remain committed to the accord as is, but now, in efforts to keep Washington in it, want to open talks on Iran's ballistic missile programme, its nuclear activities beyond 2025 - when key provisions of the deal expire - and its role in Middle East crises such as Syria and Yemen. A senior adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also warned Europeans on Thursday over "revising" the nuclear deal, under which Iran strictly limited its enrichment of uranium to help allay fears this could be put to producing atomic bomb material, and won major sanctions relief in return. "Even if US&nbspallies, especially the Europeans, try to revise the deal..., one of our options will be withdrawing from it," state television quoted Ali Akbar Velayati as saying. The European signatories to the deal have been trying to persuade Trump to save the pact, reached under his predecessor Barack Obama. They argue it is crucial to forestalling a destabilising Middle East arms race and that Iran has been abiding by its terms, a position also taken by US&nbspintelligence assessments and the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency. Zarif said: "Let me make it absolutely clear and once and for all: we will neither outsource our security nor will we renegotiate or add onto a deal we have already implemented in good faith." Referring to Trump's past as a property magnate, Zarif added, "To put it in real estate terms, when you buy a house and move your family in, or demolish it to build a skyscraper, you cannot come back two years later and renegotiate the price." Defying Western demands, Iran has repeatedly said it has no intention of reducing its imprint in Middle East affairs and its missile capabilities, which it has said are defensive in nature and have nothing to with nuclear activity covered by the deal. "It now appears that ... some Europeans have been offering more concessions from our pocket," Zarif said. "This appeasement (of Trump) entails a new deal that would include matters we all decided to exclude at the outset of our negotiations." Zarif, speaking in English in the YouTube video, said the United States had "consistently violated the nuclear deal, particularly by bullying others to prevent businesses from returning to Iran". Major European banks and businesses continue to shun the Islamic Republic for fear of falling foul of remaining U.S. sanctions, hampering Iran's efforts to rebuild foreign trade and lure much-needed foreign investment to its economy.

Iran says will not renegotiate nuclear deal, warns against changes

Britain's foreign intelligence service MI6 could create history by selecting the first ever woman chief. Reports are rife suggesting MI6 head Alex Younger's ongoing hunt for his successor who could be a female.&nbsp;

According to reports, Younger has already shortlisted a list of candidates and one of them is a woman.&nbsp;

Lately, MI6 has been trying to diversify its workforce and attract more women and applicants from minority groups.&nbsp;Younger had previously voiced his concern over talented applicants opting not to&nbsp;apply for the intelligence service owing to stereotypes attached to secret agents.

The MI6 chief is selected by Britain's foreign secretary and is required to be approved by the prime minister.

MI5, Britain's domestic counterintelligence agency, has previously had women chiefs. Stella Rimington was the first female Director General of the agency who assumed office in 1992. &nbsp;Eliza Manningham-Buller assumed office as MI5's Director General in October 2002.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the United States may also get its first female CIA Director. US President Donald Trump nominated intelligence officer Gina Haspel for the office in March. Haspel assumed office as Acting Director of the intelligence agency after former CIA chief Mike Pompeo took over as the US Secretary of State.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

According to reports, Younger has already shortlisted a list of candidates and one of them is a woman

Britain's foreign intelligence service MI6 could create history by selecting the first ever woman chief. Reports are rife suggesting MI6 head Alex Younger's ongoing hunt for his successor who could be a female. According to reports, Younger has already shortlisted a list of candidates and one of them is a woman. Lately, MI6 has been trying to diversify its workforce and attract more women and applicants from minority groups. Younger had previously voiced his concern over talented applicants opting not to apply for the intelligence service owing to stereotypes attached to secret agents. The MI6 chief is selected by Britain's foreign secretary and is required to be approved by the prime minister. MI5, Britain's domestic counterintelligence agency, has previously had women chiefs. Stella Rimington was the first female Director General of the agency who assumed office in 1992. Eliza Manningham-Buller assumed office as MI5's Director General in October 2002. Meanwhile, the United States may also get its first female CIA Director. US President Donald Trump nominated intelligence officer Gina Haspel for the office in March. Haspel assumed office as Acting Director of the intelligence agency after former CIA chief Mike Pompeo took over as the US Secretary of State.

Britain's intelligence agency MI6 could get its first woman chief

The leaders of Britain, France and Germany have agreed the Iran nuclear deal is the best way of stopping Tehran from gaining nuclear weapons, British Prime Minister Theresa May's office said in a statement on Sunday.

May had phone calls with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel where they agreed the deal may need to be broadened to cover other areas such as ballistic missiles, what happens when the deal expires, and Iran's destabilising regional activity, the statement said.

"They committed to continue working closely together and with the US&nbspon how to tackle the range of challenges that Iran poses – including those issues that a new deal might cover," the statement said.&nbsp

This comes as a deadline looms next month for President Donald Trump to decide on whether to restore US&nbspeconomic sanctions on Tehran.&nbsp

Trump has criticised a 2015 agreement which effectively lifted some Western sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme.

The leaders of Britain, France and Germany have agreed the Iran nuclear deal is the best way of stopping Tehran from gaining nuclear weapons, British Prime Minister Theresa Ma's office said in a statement on Sundays

The leaders of Britain, France and Germany have agreed the Iran nuclear deal is the best way of stopping Tehran from gaining nuclear weapons, British Prime Minister Theresa May's office said in a statement on Sunday. May had phone calls with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel where they agreed the deal may need to be broadened to cover other areas such as ballistic missiles, what happens when the deal expires, and Iran's destabilising regional activity, the statement said. "They committed to continue working closely together and with the US&nbspon how to tackle the range of challenges that Iran poses – including those issues that a new deal might cover," the statement said. This comes as a deadline looms next month for President Donald Trump to decide on whether to restore US&nbspeconomic sanctions on Tehran. Trump has criticised a 2015 agreement which effectively lifted some Western sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme.

Britain, France and Germany agree support for Iran nuclear deal

Britain's health minister Jeremy Hunt threatened to impose new regulations on social media firms unless they did more to protect young people using their services.

Hunt said the groups were "turning a blind eye" to the effect social media had on children's well-being - an accusation that comes as Facebook and others face heightened scrutiny worldwide over their impact and influence.

Google's UK operation said it was committed to protecting children and had introduced features to help parents set screen time limits. There was no immediate comment from Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and other firms.

Hunt did not say what kind of regulations the government could impose, but gave the companies an April deadline to come up with measures to tackle cyber bullying and control the amount of time youngsters spent online.

"I am concerned that your companies seem content with a situation where thousands of users breach your own terms and conditions on the minimum user age," Hunt said in a letter sent to tech firms and reported in the Sunday Times.

"I fear that you are collectively turning a blind eye to a whole generation of children being exposed to the harmful emotional side effects of social media prematurely."

In an article in the same newspaper, Hunt said there had been a few welcome moves to improve children's online protection, but that the overall response had been "extremely limited" and that a voluntary approach might not be enough.&nbsp

"An industry that boasts some of the brightest minds and biggest budgets should have been able to rise to the challenge," he added.

Hunt's comments came alongside the announcement of a government review of the impact that sites like Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat have on children's mental health.

Britain has clashed with internet companies on several fronts in recent years over payment of taxes, action against the spread of fake news and extremist material, and their use of personal data.

Google UK's Public Policy Manager, Katie O’Donovan, said the company had also introduced an online safety course for children.

“Along with all parents, we understand the challenge of helping children make the most of the internet in a safe and responsible way," she added.

Google UK's Public Policy Manager, Katie O’Donovan, said the company had also introduced an online safety course for children

Britain's health minister Jeremy Hunt threatened to impose new regulations on social media firms unless they did more to protect young people using their services. Hunt said the groups were "turning a blind eye" to the effect social media had on children's well-being - an accusation that comes as Facebook and others face heightened scrutiny worldwide over their impact and influence. Google's UK operation said it was committed to protecting children and had introduced features to help parents set screen time limits. There was no immediate comment from Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and other firms. Hunt did not say what kind of regulations the government could impose, but gave the companies an April deadline to come up with measures to tackle cyber bullying and control the amount of time youngsters spent online. "I am concerned that your companies seem content with a situation where thousands of users breach your own terms and conditions on the minimum user age," Hunt said in a letter sent to tech firms and reported in the Sunday Times. "I fear that you are collectively turning a blind eye to a whole generation of children being exposed to the harmful emotional side effects of social media prematurely." In an article in the same newspaper, Hunt said there had been a few welcome moves to improve children's online protection, but that the overall response had been "extremely limited" and that a voluntary approach might not be enough. "An industry that boasts some of the brightest minds and biggest budgets should have been able to rise to the challenge," he added. Hunt's comments came alongside the announcement of a government review of the impact that sites like Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat have on children's mental health. Britain has clashed with internet companies on several fronts in recent years over payment of taxes, action against the spread of fake news and extremist material, and their use of personal data. Google UK's Public Policy Manager, Katie O’Donovan, said the company had also introduced an online safety course for children. “Along with all parents, we understand the challenge of helping children make the most of the internet in a safe and responsible way," she added.

Britain may regulate young people's use of social media: Minister

Days after the US-led air strikes in Syria, the retaliation possibly seems to be coming from Russia in cyberspace. Moscow may actually opt for cyber attacks over nuclear war.&nbsp;

Cyberspace is proving to be a battleground for Russia and the West. Russia has already been accused of carrying out cyber attacks on Washington, London and other cities.

In a fresh series of allegations, the United States and Britain have accused the Kremlin of launching attacks on firewalls and other networking equipment used by government agencies, businesses and critical infrastructure operators across the globe.

American and British officials say that the new cyber attacks have affected a wide range of organisations including internet service providers, private businesses, among others around the world.&nbsp;

Washington and London issued a joint statement that says, "The operation is to support espionage, extract intellectual property, maintain persistent access to victim networks and potentially lay a foundation for future offensive operations".&nbsp;

Britain and US have issued an alert to understand the threat and protect potential targets. This comes amid tensions between Russia and the West over a suspected chemical attack in Syria.&nbsp;

White House's cybersecurity coordinator, Rob Joyce, recently noted, "The alert is not related to the suspected chemical attack in a town in Syria that prompted a US-led military strike over the weekend targetting facilities of the Russian-backed Syrian government".&nbsp;

The Kremlin has outrightly denied the allegations. The Russian embassy issued a statement saying that "British accusations of cyber threats from Moscow are striking examples of a reckless, provocative and unfounded policy against Russia".

Australia has also joined the US and the UK in blaming Russia for the cyber attacks.&nbsp;

This is not the first time when such allegations are levelled against Putin-led Russia. While Moscow continues to rubbish all accusations, the blame-game continues to intensify between Russia and the West.&nbsp;

Australia has also joined the US and the UK in blaming Russia for the cyber attacks

Days after the US-led air strikes in Syria, the retaliation possibly seems to be coming from Russia in cyberspace. Moscow may actually opt for cyber attacks over nuclear war. Cyberspace is proving to be a battleground for Russia and the West. Russia has already been accused of carrying out cyber attacks on Washington, London and other cities. In a fresh series of allegations, the United States and Britain have accused the Kremlin of launching attacks on firewalls and other networking equipment used by government agencies, businesses and critical infrastructure operators across the globe. American and British officials say that the new cyber attacks have affected a wide range of organisations including internet service providers, private businesses, among others around the world. Washington and London issued a joint statement that says, "The operation is to support espionage, extract intellectual property, maintain persistent access to victim networks and potentially lay a foundation for future offensive operations". Britain and US have issued an alert to understand the threat and protect potential targets. This comes amid tensions between Russia and the West over a suspected chemical attack in Syria. White House's cybersecurity coordinator, Rob Joyce, recently noted, "The alert is not related to the suspected chemical attack in a town in Syria that prompted a US-led military strike over the weekend targetting facilities of the Russian-backed Syrian government". The Kremlin has outrightly denied the allegations. The Russian embassy issued a statement saying that "British accusations of cyber threats from Moscow are striking examples of a reckless, provocative and unfounded policy against Russia". Australia has also joined the US and the UK in blaming Russia for the cyber attacks. This is not the first time when such allegations are levelled against Putin-led Russia. While Moscow continues to rubbish all accusations, the blame-game continues to intensify between Russia and the West.

Watch: US, Britain blame Russia for global cyber attack

Britain has welcomed North Korea's decision to cease nuclear tests calling it a positive step. The British government hoped that the move will translate into a sign of good faith.&nbsp;

"A long-term commitment from Kim Jung Un to halt all nuclear tests and ICBM launches would be a positive step. We hope this indicates an effort to negotiate in good faith," the British government said in a statement. &nbsp; &nbsp;

"We remain committed to working with our international partners to bring about our goal of a complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, and to do so through peaceful means," the statement read.&nbsp;

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un said his country no longer needed to conduct nuclear tests or intercontinental ballistic missile tests because it has completed its goal of developing nuclear weapons, state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

“To guarantee suspension of nuclear tests in a transparent manner, the republic’s northern nuclear test site will be abolished," the KCNA said after Kim convened this year`s first plenary session of the Central Committee of the ruling Worker`s Party on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government also welcomed its ally's move and hoped that the decision will ease tensions in the Korean peninsula.&nbsp;

"We hope that the DPRK will continue to achieve results in its economic development and improvement of people's living standards," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said.

(With inputs from Reuters)

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un said his country no longer needed to conduct nuclear tests or intercontinental ballistic missile tests

Britain has welcomed North Korea's decision to cease nuclear tests calling it a positive step. The British government hoped that the move will translate into a sign of good faith. "A long-term commitment from Kim Jung Un to halt all nuclear tests and ICBM launches would be a positive step. We hope this indicates an effort to negotiate in good faith," the British government said in a statement. "We remain committed to working with our international partners to bring about our goal of a complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, and to do so through peaceful means," the statement read. North Korea leader Kim Jong Un said his country no longer needed to conduct nuclear tests or intercontinental ballistic missile tests because it has completed its goal of developing nuclear weapons, state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. “To guarantee suspension of nuclear tests in a transparent manner, the republic’s northern nuclear test site will be abolished," the KCNA said after Kim convened this year`s first plenary session of the Central Committee of the ruling Worker`s Party on Friday. Meanwhile, the Chinese government also welcomed its ally's move and hoped that the decision will ease tensions in the Korean peninsula. "We hope that the DPRK will continue to achieve results in its economic development and improvement of people's living standards," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said. (With inputs from Reuters)

We hope this indicates an effort to negotiate in good faith: Britain on North Korea's nuclear move

*by&nbsp;Mehmet Ozalp

A head-spinning series of events in the past few weeks have taken us from the United States pulling out of Syria, to analysts predicting the beginning of a third world war.

What has really happened in Syria, what are the ramifications of the joint strike from the US, France and Britain, and what can we expect from the key players?

Certainly, the mess in Syria and heightened tensions in the Middle East make us all fear an impending world war, especially when both the Russian and US presidents engage in a round of chest-thumping. Despite this, there is no certainty that a world war will be triggered from the Syrian conflict.

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So proud of our great Military which will soon be, after the spending of billions of fully approved dollars, the finest that our Country has ever had. There won’t be anything, or anyone, even close!
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The latest chemical attack, allegedly perpetrated by the Syrian government, followed by the US, British, French retaliation, is really about aligning an unpredictable Trump with the Syria policy of the state and military establishment in Washington.

Why the strikes?

A world power like the US is seldom reactive. It often uses events as key moments to implement new policies or shift policies. An apparent correlation of events with policy implementation justifies the policy in the eyes of internal constituents and the wider international community.

Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Russia has followed an open and consistent policy: declare Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime the legitimate government of Syria, always support his regime to ensure it doesn’t collapse, and morally justify its involvement as a struggle against terrorism. The unspoken policy is to build up a challenge to Western dominance over not only the Middle East but geopolitical world order.

Yet, the US, and by extension, Western policy on Syria, was tentative, unclear and seemed to change course over the seven-year conflict.

Under Barack Obama’s administration, the US consistently stayed out of direct involvement in the Syrian conflict. Busy with the Iraq exit, Obama missed the window of diplomatic opportunity in the crucial early months of the Syrian uprising in 2011. When violence started, Obama elected to provide limited military support to opposition groups, hoping they could muster enough power to dismantle Assad.

The Obama administration shifted its policy after a chemical attack in Eastern Ghouta in 2013 prompted it to push for a United Nations resolution demanding the destruction of chemical stockpiles. This, in turn, gave impetus to peace talks in Geneva. Apparently, the stockpiles were not destroyed, as we have seen more chemical attacks.

Obama admitted his strategy failed, as the "US was muscled out of Syria” by an increasingly bold Russian President Vladimir Putin. His support allowed Assad to gain the upper hand in Syria with the fall of Aleppo in December 2016. Efforts to make progress in the Geneva talks were continually stalled. The parties failed to make any meaningful progress even as late as 2017.

In the early months of his presidency, the expectation was that Trump would change the US policy on Syria. It was uncertain what trajectory it would take, and when it would come to pass.

Not much happened until yet another chemical-gas attack by Assad in April 2017. The US responded with a massive missile attack, taking out 20% of Assad’s air force. The result was that the Trump administration committed to a more active involvement in Syria and the complete dismantling of the Islamic State presence in the country, but not necessarily the removal of Assad.

It is now apparent there was a fundamental difference between Trump and the key people in his administration in their understanding of the US’ Syria policy.

For Trump, it was always about eliminating IS. On April 3, he announced that the US’ primary mission in Syria was “getting rid of ISIS”. Since this had now been completed, he could bring the troops home.

Yet, in December 2017, Defence Secretary James Mattis said the US would continue its presence in Syria as a “stabilising force” beyond IS.

In January 2018, former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson confirmed the US would stay in Syria beyond IS, adding that the continued US presence aimed to prevent Iranian and Assad forces regaining territory “liberated with help from the United States”.

So, Trump’s withdrawal intentions, or rather the public announcement, came as a surprise to his own administration as well as the international community. In response, the US special envoy for the global coalition against IS, Brett McGurk, said: "We are in Syria to fight ISIS. That is our mission, and our mission isn’t over, and we are going to complete that mission."

Other officials from the US administration and military made conflicting statements.

Trump’s withdrawal announcement opened the ground for other players to assert their plans. On April 4, Russia, Iran and Turkey held a summit in Turkey, at which Putin announced: "We have agreed to expand the entire range of our trilateral cooperation in Syria."

The trio’s plan included an intensified Turkish operation in northern Syria. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed “to clear all terror groups from the Syrian border, including the YPG,” the Kurdish military force that was backed by the US in its bid to eradicate IS from Syria.

It seemed Syria would be left to Russia, Iran, Turkey and Assad. Until, of course, the most recent chemical attack in Douma, a suburb near Damascus, on April 7. The attack was blamed on the Assad government even though it vehemently denied it, and there were allegations of rebel involvement.

Importantly, the chemical attack conveniently served the faction in the US administration advocating for a greater involvement in Syria. Their arguments pushed Trump towards retaliation. In a matter of days, Trump went from vowing withdrawal from Syria to saying they have a “big price to pay”.

A military response in the form of a missile attack was inevitable, and so it took place on April 13, when the US and its allies, Britain and France, made “precision missile strikes against the Syrian government”. The six-day delay was really to gain international support for the attack so that it did not appear to be a showdown between Russia and the US.

Where to from here?

The most recent events in Syria were really about aligning Trump’s understanding of Syrian policy with that of the state and military establishment. The policy is to stay in Syria beyond IS, preventing its revival and preventing Iranian and Assad forces from regaining territory.

It is unlikely there will be any other military strikes by the US and its allies anytime soon. There are two possible wild cards though – Trump’s unpredictability and a possible Russian retaliation.

Elements within the US administration in favour of continued US involvement in Syria will have to keep Trump calm – give him reasons why he should continue committing to Syria while preventing a direct Russian-US confrontation. Building a coalition with France and Britain prior to the missile retaliation served this purpose. It gave Russia the impression that the matter was a concern with the international community, rather than just the US.

Trump’s exaggerating nature and bombastic language in his tweets run the risk of escalating the situation. But they also help contain Russia, which is always unsure what Trump may say and do next.

A Russian response beyond condemnation is unlikely. Putin recently won a landslide victory in the March presidential elections. He is in no hurry to thump his chest into an all-out brawl with the US due to internal politics.

Furthermore, Russia is already in a diplomatic crisis over the assassination attempt of a former spy and his daughter with a nerve agent in London.

The US, Britain and more than a dozen European countries expelled Russian diplomats in retaliation. Putin is already quite vulnerable in the international scene. He will not enter a fight he is not certain to win.

While the US and its allies may feel morally justified in attacking the Assad government targets, any such intervention is unlikely to help the people of Syria. They will continue to be collateral damage caught in the crossfire of geopolitics.

*Mehmet Ozalp, Associate Professor in Islamic Studies, Director of The Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation and Executive Member of Public and Contextual Theology, Charles Sturt University

(This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/further-strikes-on-syria-unlikely-but-trump-is-always-the-wild-card-94814">original article</a>.)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the authors and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

A head-spinning series of events in the past few weeks have taken us from the United States pulling out of Syria, to analysts predicting the beginning of a third world war

*by Mehmet Ozalp A head-spinning series of events in the past few weeks have taken us from the United States pulling out of Syria, to analysts predicting the beginning of a third world war. What has really happened in Syria, what are the ramifications of the joint strike from the US, France and Britain, and what can we expect from the key players? Certainly, the mess in Syria and heightened tensions in the Middle East make us all fear an impending world war, especially when both the Russian and US presidents engage in a round of chest-thumping. Despite this, there is no certainty that a world war will be triggered from the Syrian conflict. So proud of our great Military which will soon be, after the spending of billions of fully approved dollars, the finest that our Country has ever had. There won’t be anything, or anyone, even close! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 14, 2018 × The latest chemical attack, allegedly perpetrated by the Syrian government, followed by the US, British, French retaliation, is really about aligning an unpredictable Trump with the Syria policy of the state and military establishment in Washington. Why the strikes? A world power like the US is seldom reactive. It often uses events as key moments to implement new policies or shift policies. An apparent correlation of events with policy implementation justifies the policy in the eyes of internal constituents and the wider international community. Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Russia has followed an open and consistent policy: declare Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime the legitimate government of Syria, always support his regime to ensure it doesn’t collapse, and morally justify its involvement as a struggle against terrorism. The unspoken policy is to build up a challenge to Western dominance over not only the Middle East but geopolitical world order. Yet, the US, and by extension, Western policy on Syria, was tentative, unclear and seemed to change course over the seven-year conflict. Under Barack Obama’s administration, the US consistently stayed out of direct involvement in the Syrian conflict. Busy with the Iraq exit, Obama missed the window of diplomatic opportunity in the crucial early months of the Syrian uprising in 2011. When violence started, Obama elected to provide limited military support to opposition groups, hoping they could muster enough power to dismantle Assad. The Obama administration shifted its policy after a chemical attack in Eastern Ghouta in 2013 prompted it to push for a United Nations resolution demanding the destruction of chemical stockpiles. This, in turn, gave impetus to peace talks in Geneva. Apparently, the stockpiles were not destroyed, as we have seen more chemical attacks. Obama admitted his strategy failed, as the "US was muscled out of Syria” by an increasingly bold Russian President Vladimir Putin. His support allowed Assad to gain the upper hand in Syria with the fall of Aleppo in December 2016. Efforts to make progress in the Geneva talks were continually stalled. The parties failed to make any meaningful progress even as late as 2017. In the early months of his presidency, the expectation was that Trump would change the US policy on Syria. It was uncertain what trajectory it would take, and when it would come to pass. Not much happened until yet another chemical-gas attack by Assad in April 2017. The US responded with a massive missile attack, taking out 20% of Assad’s air force. The result was that the Trump administration committed to a more active involvement in Syria and the complete dismantling of the Islamic State presence in the country, but not necessarily the removal of Assad. It is now apparent there was a fundamental difference between Trump and the key people in his administration in their understanding of the US’ Syria policy. For Trump, it was always about eliminating IS. On April 3, he announced that the US’ primary mission in Syria was “getting rid of ISIS”. Since this had now been completed, he could bring the troops home. Yet, in December 2017, Defence Secretary James Mattis said the US would continue its presence in Syria as a “stabilising force” beyond IS. In January 2018, former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson confirmed the US would stay in Syria beyond IS, adding that the continued US presence aimed to prevent Iranian and Assad forces regaining territory “liberated with help from the United States”. So, Trump’s withdrawal intentions, or rather the public announcement, came as a surprise to his own administration as well as the international community. In response, the US special envoy for the global coalition against IS, Brett McGurk, said: "We are in Syria to fight ISIS. That is our mission, and our mission isn’t over, and we are going to complete that mission." Other officials from the US administration and military made conflicting statements. Trump’s withdrawal announcement opened the ground for other players to assert their plans. On April 4, Russia, Iran and Turkey held a summit in Turkey, at which Putin announced: "We have agreed to expand the entire range of our trilateral cooperation in Syria." The trio’s plan included an intensified Turkish operation in northern Syria. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed “to clear all terror groups from the Syrian border, including the YPG,” the Kurdish military force that was backed by the US in its bid to eradicate IS from Syria. It seemed Syria would be left to Russia, Iran, Turkey and Assad. Until, of course, the most recent chemical attack in Douma, a suburb near Damascus, on April 7. The attack was blamed on the Assad government even though it vehemently denied it, and there were allegations of rebel involvement. Importantly, the chemical attack conveniently served the faction in the US administration advocating for a greater involvement in Syria. Their arguments pushed Trump towards retaliation. In a matter of days, Trump went from vowing withdrawal from Syria to saying they have a “big price to pay”. A military response in the form of a missile attack was inevitable, and so it took place on April 13, when the US and its allies, Britain and France, made “precision missile strikes against the Syrian government”. The six-day delay was really to gain international support for the attack so that it did not appear to be a showdown between Russia and the US. Where to from here? The most recent events in Syria were really about aligning Trump’s understanding of Syrian policy with that of the state and military establishment. The policy is to stay in Syria beyond IS, preventing its revival and preventing Iranian and Assad forces from regaining territory. It is unlikely there will be any other military strikes by the US and its allies anytime soon. There are two possible wild cards though – Trump’s unpredictability and a possible Russian retaliation. Elements within the US administration in favour of continued US involvement in Syria will have to keep Trump calm – give him reasons why he should continue committing to Syria while preventing a direct Russian-US confrontation. Building a coalition with France and Britain prior to the missile retaliation served this purpose. It gave Russia the impression that the matter was a concern with the international community, rather than just the US. Trump’s exaggerating nature and bombastic language in his tweets run the risk of escalating the situation. But they also help contain Russia, which is always unsure what Trump may say and do next. A Russian response beyond condemnation is unlikely. Putin recently won a landslide victory in the March presidential elections. He is in no hurry to thump his chest into an all-out brawl with the US due to internal politics. Furthermore, Russia is already in a diplomatic crisis over the assassination attempt of a former spy and his daughter with a nerve agent in London. The US, Britain and more than a dozen European countries expelled Russian diplomats in retaliation. Putin is already quite vulnerable in the international scene. He will not enter a fight he is not certain to win. While the US and its allies may feel morally justified in attacking the Assad government targets, any such intervention is unlikely to help the people of Syria. They will continue to be collateral damage caught in the crossfire of geopolitics. *Mehmet Ozalp, Associate Professor in Islamic Studies, Director of The Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation and Executive Member of Public and Contextual Theology, Charles Sturt University (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the authors and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Further strikes on Syria unlikely - but Trump is always the wild card

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Sweden and England from April 16 to April 20. PM Modi will participate in the first-ever India-Nordic Summit along with this year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).&nbsp;

PM Modi is expected to reach Stockholm on April 16 in what will be the first prime ministerial visit from India to Sweden in the last three decades. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was the last Indian Prime Minister to have visited the country in the year 1988.&nbsp;

PM Modi's agenda will include dialogue and discussions in the areas of innovation, technology and education.&nbsp;

Here's a quick look at the rough itinerary of PM Modi's visit to the two European countries.&nbsp;

1. The Prime minister will hold a bilateral summit with his Swedish counterpart Stefan Lofven on April 17 to discuss regional and global issues at length.&nbsp;

2. India and Sweden will also co-host the first ever India-Nordic Summit on April 17. The event is expected to see the Prime Ministers from four Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway in attendance.&nbsp;

3. An India-Sweden Innovation Partnership is also expected to be launched.&nbsp;

4. The Prime Minister will leave for Britain on April 17. PM Modi's last visit to Britain was in November 2015. The English Prime Minister Theresa May's visited India in November 2016. The two leaders are likely to hold a bilateral dialogue on April 18.&nbsp;

5.&nbsp;In what has been categorised as an "unprecedented" welcome, PM Modi will hold not just one but two meetings with his British counterpart Theresa May on Wednesday before they begin formal deliberations as part of the multilateral Commonwealth summit on Thursday, PTI reports.

6. A memorandum of understanding on the return of illegal immigrants, which had expired in 2014, will be renewed to take into account biometric and other developments in the field.

7. PM Modi's UK visit will have a particular focus on the India-UK technological partnership and the central feature of this will be his second meeting with Theresa May on Wednesday at the Francis Crick Institute in London, where a new India-UK Technical Alliance is expected to be among a series of announcements.

8. The Prime Minister will also meet Indian-origin scientists working on cancer research, malaria and other tropical diseases before going in to the India-UK CEOs Forum.

The Ministry of External Affairs has indicated that around 10-12 deliverables, including innovation-related MoUs between NASSCOM and Innovate UK and between NITI Aayog and its counterpart in the UK, are expected to be accompanied by a formal joint statement at the end of the bilateral leg of the visit on Wednesday.

9.&nbsp;Prime Minister Modi is also among only three senior world leaders attending CHOGM to be invited for an audience with Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday evening.

10. PM Modi's royal welcome will include a special event hosted by Prince Charles, during which the heir to the British throne will drive up in a Tata Motors' first-ever electric Jaguar to symbolise the India-UK technical collaboration.

"The welcome being accorded to the Indian Prime Minister is unprecedented in many ways. It reflects the importance the UK attaches to the visit and shows the mature level of India-UK ties," said an official involved with the preparations for the visit.&nbsp;

Modi's visit to Britain has been themed "Living bridge and tech partnership".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

PM Modi's UK visit will have a particular focus on the India-UK technological partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Sweden and England from April 16 to April 20. PM Modi will participate in the first-ever India-Nordic Summit along with this year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). PM Modi is expected to reach Stockholm on April 16 in what will be the first prime ministerial visit from India to Sweden in the last three decades. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was the last Indian Prime Minister to have visited the country in the year 1988. PM Modi's agenda will include dialogue and discussions in the areas of innovation, technology and education. Here's a quick look at the rough itinerary of PM Modi's visit to the two European countries. 1. The Prime minister will hold a bilateral summit with his Swedish counterpart Stefan Lofven on April 17 to discuss regional and global issues at length. 2. India and Sweden will also co-host the first ever India-Nordic Summit on April 17. The event is expected to see the Prime Ministers from four Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway in attendance. 3. An India-Sweden Innovation Partnership is also expected to be launched. 4. The Prime Minister will leave for Britain on April 17. PM Modi's last visit to Britain was in November 2015. The English Prime Minister Theresa May's visited India in November 2016. The two leaders are likely to hold a bilateral dialogue on April 18. 5. In what has been categorised as an "unprecedented" welcome, PM Modi will hold not just one but two meetings with his British counterpart Theresa May on Wednesday before they begin formal deliberations as part of the multilateral Commonwealth summit on Thursday, PTI reports. 6. A memorandum of understanding on the return of illegal immigrants, which had expired in 2014, will be renewed to take into account biometric and other developments in the field. 7. PM Modi's UK visit will have a particular focus on the India-UK technological partnership and the central feature of this will be his second meeting with Theresa May on Wednesday at the Francis Crick Institute in London, where a new India-UK Technical Alliance is expected to be among a series of announcements. 8. The Prime Minister will also meet Indian-origin scientists working on cancer research, malaria and other tropical diseases before going in to the India-UK CEOs Forum. The Ministry of External Affairs has indicated that around 10-12 deliverables, including innovation-related MoUs between NASSCOM and Innovate UK and between NITI Aayog and its counterpart in the UK, are expected to be accompanied by a formal joint statement at the end of the bilateral leg of the visit on Wednesday. 9. Prime Minister Modi is also among only three senior world leaders attending CHOGM to be invited for an audience with Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday evening. 10. PM Modi's royal welcome will include a special event hosted by Prince Charles, during which the heir to the British throne will drive up in a Tata Motors' first-ever electric Jaguar to symbolise the India-UK technical collaboration. "The welcome being accorded to the Indian Prime Minister is unprecedented in many ways. It reflects the importance the UK attaches to the visit and shows the mature level of India-UK ties," said an official involved with the preparations for the visit. Modi's visit to Britain has been themed "Living bridge and tech partnership". (With inputs from agencies)

Welcome being accorded to Modi by Britain is 'unprecedented', says official

France said on Saturday that it would not hesitate to strike Syrian government targets again if the chemical red line was crossed, but that no new strikes were planned at this stage, adding that it would renew a push for peace through dialogue with Russia.

President Emmanuel Macron ordered the military intervention in Syria alongside the United States and Britain in response to a poison gas attack that killed dozens of people last week.

"Our objectives were met," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told BFM TV.

If the red line banning the use of chemical weapons was crossed again, there would be another intervention, he said, while adding: "I think the lesson will have been learnt."

The French strikes, involving 12 cruise missiles, fighter jets and warships, were Macron's first major military decision since taking office a year ago and was all but inevitable after the young president repeatedly said France would strike if a fatal chemical attack took place in Syria.

"This action was proportionate and targeted, it was not aimed at (Syrian President Bashar al) Assad's allies nor at the civilian population," Le Drian said in a televised statement.

Le Drian said France, which has backed opponents of Assad throughout the civil war, would swiftly take new political initiatives to find a solution to the crisis.

He added that Paris would work with all countries and that there were no changes to Macron's planned trip to Russia next month.

While there had been general public warnings broadcast by U.S. President Donald Trump, Macron himself and other Western leaders, a French presidency source said Macron did not tell Russian President Vladimir Putin the allies would strike overnight when they talked over the phone on Friday.

However, regular "deconfliction" contacts were made with the Russian military once the operation had been kicked off to make sure that they would not be accidentally hit, the source said.

Defence Minister Florence Parly said this meant Russia had been "warned beforehand" to avoid any confrontation or escalation.

The French presidency issued a video on Twitter showing what it said were war planes taking off as part of the intervention.

Macron said in a written statement that the attack had been limited to Syria's chemical weapons facilities and said the facts and the responsibility of the Syrian regime were beyond doubt.

Backing up its reasons for the air strikes, the foreign ministry released an intelligence report based largely on open sources which concluded that there was no other plausible explanation than a chemical attacked coordinated by the Syrian military.

The report said that for now France did not have chemical samples from the attack site analysed by its own laboratories yet.

Macron, who tweeted a picture of himself in a meeting room with military and diplomatic advisers, has not made any address to the nation. He is due to be interviewed by three French media on Sunday night.

The French air force has been active in Syria since 2015 to fight Islamic State, but had not targeted government targets until now.

The British say

Britain had no alternative but to take military action to degrade Syria's chemical weapons capability, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Saturday after ordering <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-uk-and-france-hit-syria-with-airstrikes-target-military-chemical-weapons-sites-130352">air-launched cruise missile strikes</a> along with the United States and France.

Four Royal Air Force Tornado jets from the Akrotiri base in Cyprus fired Storm Shadow missiles at a military facility near Homs where it was assessed that Syria had stockpiled chemicals, Britain's Ministry of Defence said.

May cast the strike as "limited and targeted" and came after intelligence indicated Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government was responsible for an attack using chemical weapons in the Damascus suburb of Douma a week ago.&nbsp;

May said the missile strike, designed to minimise civilian casualties, was aimed at deterring further use of chemical weapons and was not an attempt to topple the Syrian government.

"This is not about intervening in a civil war. It is not about regime change," May said in statement made from her country residence at Chequers just minutes after US President Donald Trump announced the strikes from the White House.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said the mission had been highly successful and implied that no further action was imminent.

"We don't expect that we'll be a position where we're having to make further strikes," he told LBC radio. "We believe that the strikes we have taken last night had a significant impact in terms of what the Syrian regime can do in the future."

By launching strikes without prior approval from parliament, May dispensed with a non-binding constitutional convention dating back to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. She said speed was essential and that military action was in the national interest.

May, whose government is propped up by a small Northern Irish party, said Britain and the West had an obligation to deter both Assad and others from using chemical weapons after the poison gas attack in Douma near Damascus killed up to 75 people, including children, last Saturday.

However, opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, a fervent anti-war campaigner, called the strikes "legally questionable" and said May should have recalled parliament from a holiday and "not trailed after Donald Trump".

"Bombs won’t save lives or bring about peace," he said in a statement. "Britain should be playing a leadership role to bring about a ceasefire in the conflict, not taking instructions from Washington and putting British military personnel in harm's way."

Britain has accused Russia of being behind last month's nerve agent attack on former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, southern England - a charge Moscow has denied.

"While this action is specifically about deterring the Syrian regime, it will also send a clear signal to anyone else who believes they can use chemical weapons with impunity," May said.

"We cannot allow the use of chemical weapons to become normalised – within Syria, on the streets of the UK, or anywhere else in our world."

May said Britain and its allies had sought to use every diplomatic means to stop the use of chemical weapons, but had been repeatedly thwarted, citing a Russian veto of an independent investigation into the Douma attack at the U.N. Security Council this week.

"So there is no practicable alternative to the use of force to degrade and deter the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime," she said.

The Western missile strikes demonstrate the volatile nature of the Syrian civil war, which started in March 2011 as an anti-Assad uprising but is now a proxy conflict involving a number of world and regional powers and a myriad of insurgent groups.

Trump said he was prepared to sustain the response until the Assad government stopped its use of chemical weapons.

Russia, which intervened in the war in 2015 to back Assad, has denied there was a chemical attack and has accused Britain of helping to stage the Douma incident to stoke anti-Russian hysteria.

'Targeted strikes'

Britain's defence ministry said "very careful scientific analysis" had been applied to maximise the destruction of stockpiled chemicals while minimising any risk of contamination to surrounding areas.

Many politicians in Britain, including some in May's own Conservative Party, had called for parliament to be recalled to give authority to any military strike.

Former Prime Minister David Cameron lost a parliamentary vote on air strikes against Assad's forces in 2013 when 30 Conservative lawmakers voted against action, with many Britons wary of entering another conflict after intervention in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya failed to bring stability to the region.

A YouGov poll for The Times newspaper this week indicated that only a fifth of voters believed that Britain should launch attacks on Syrian military targets and more than two-fifths opposed action.

Williamson said Britain had had to act swiftly and added May would update parliament when lawmakers returned on Monday.

Prime Minister Theresa May said Britain had no alternative but to take military action to degrade Syria's chemical weapons capability

France said on Saturday that it would not hesitate to strike Syrian government targets again if the chemical red line was crossed, but that no new strikes were planned at this stage, adding that it would renew a push for peace through dialogue with Russia. President Emmanuel Macron ordered the military intervention in Syria alongside the United States and Britain in response to a poison gas attack that killed dozens of people last week. "Our objectives were met," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told BFM TV. If the red line banning the use of chemical weapons was crossed again, there would be another intervention, he said, while adding: "I think the lesson will have been learnt." The French strikes, involving 12 cruise missiles, fighter jets and warships, were Macron's first major military decision since taking office a year ago and was all but inevitable after the young president repeatedly said France would strike if a fatal chemical attack took place in Syria. "This action was proportionate and targeted, it was not aimed at (Syrian President Bashar al) Assad's allies nor at the civilian population," Le Drian said in a televised statement. Le Drian said France, which has backed opponents of Assad throughout the civil war, would swiftly take new political initiatives to find a solution to the crisis. He added that Paris would work with all countries and that there were no changes to Macron's planned trip to Russia next month. While there had been general public warnings broadcast by U.S. President Donald Trump, Macron himself and other Western leaders, a French presidency source said Macron did not tell Russian President Vladimir Putin the allies would strike overnight when they talked over the phone on Friday. However, regular "deconfliction" contacts were made with the Russian military once the operation had been kicked off to make sure that they would not be accidentally hit, the source said. Defence Minister Florence Parly said this meant Russia had been "warned beforehand" to avoid any confrontation or escalation. The French presidency issued a video on Twitter showing what it said were war planes taking off as part of the intervention. Macron said in a written statement that the attack had been limited to Syria's chemical weapons facilities and said the facts and the responsibility of the Syrian regime were beyond doubt. Backing up its reasons for the air strikes, the foreign ministry released an intelligence report based largely on open sources which concluded that there was no other plausible explanation than a chemical attacked coordinated by the Syrian military. The report said that for now France did not have chemical samples from the attack site analysed by its own laboratories yet. Macron, who tweeted a picture of himself in a meeting room with military and diplomatic advisers, has not made any address to the nation. He is due to be interviewed by three French media on Sunday night. The French air force has been active in Syria since 2015 to fight Islamic State, but had not targeted government targets until now. The British say Britain had no alternative but to take military action to degrade Syria's chemical weapons capability, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Saturday after ordering air-launched cruise missile strikes along with the United States and France. Four Royal Air Force Tornado jets from the Akrotiri base in Cyprus fired Storm Shadow missiles at a military facility near Homs where it was assessed that Syria had stockpiled chemicals, Britain's Ministry of Defence said. May cast the strike as "limited and targeted" and came after intelligence indicated Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government was responsible for an attack using chemical weapons in the Damascus suburb of Douma a week ago. May said the missile strike, designed to minimise civilian casualties, was aimed at deterring further use of chemical weapons and was not an attempt to topple the Syrian government. "This is not about intervening in a civil war. It is not about regime change," May said in statement made from her country residence at Chequers just minutes after US President Donald Trump announced the strikes from the White House. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said the mission had been highly successful and implied that no further action was imminent. "We don't expect that we'll be a position where we're having to make further strikes," he told LBC radio. "We believe that the strikes we have taken last night had a significant impact in terms of what the Syrian regime can do in the future." By launching strikes without prior approval from parliament, May dispensed with a non-binding constitutional convention dating back to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. She said speed was essential and that military action was in the national interest. May, whose government is propped up by a small Northern Irish party, said Britain and the West had an obligation to deter both Assad and others from using chemical weapons after the poison gas attack in Douma near Damascus killed up to 75 people, including children, last Saturday. However, opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, a fervent anti-war campaigner, called the strikes "legally questionable" and said May should have recalled parliament from a holiday and "not trailed after Donald Trump". "Bombs won’t save lives or bring about peace," he said in a statement. "Britain should be playing a leadership role to bring about a ceasefire in the conflict, not taking instructions from Washington and putting British military personnel in harm's way." Britain has accused Russia of being behind last month's nerve agent attack on former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, southern England - a charge Moscow has denied. "While this action is specifically about deterring the Syrian regime, it will also send a clear signal to anyone else who believes they can use chemical weapons with impunity," May said. "We cannot allow the use of chemical weapons to become normalised – within Syria, on the streets of the UK, or anywhere else in our world." May said Britain and its allies had sought to use every diplomatic means to stop the use of chemical weapons, but had been repeatedly thwarted, citing a Russian veto of an independent investigation into the Douma attack at the U.N. Security Council this week. "So there is no practicable alternative to the use of force to degrade and deter the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime," she said. The Western missile strikes demonstrate the volatile nature of the Syrian civil war, which started in March 2011 as an anti-Assad uprising but is now a proxy conflict involving a number of world and regional powers and a myriad of insurgent groups. Trump said he was prepared to sustain the response until the Assad government stopped its use of chemical weapons. Russia, which intervened in the war in 2015 to back Assad, has denied there was a chemical attack and has accused Britain of helping to stage the Douma incident to stoke anti-Russian hysteria. 'Targeted strikes' Britain's defence ministry said "very careful scientific analysis" had been applied to maximise the destruction of stockpiled chemicals while minimising any risk of contamination to surrounding areas. Many politicians in Britain, including some in May's own Conservative Party, had called for parliament to be recalled to give authority to any military strike. Former Prime Minister David Cameron lost a parliamentary vote on air strikes against Assad's forces in 2013 when 30 Conservative lawmakers voted against action, with many Britons wary of entering another conflict after intervention in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya failed to bring stability to the region. A YouGov poll for The Times newspaper this week indicated that only a fifth of voters believed that Britain should launch attacks on Syrian military targets and more than two-fifths opposed action. Williamson said Britain had had to act swiftly and added May would update parliament when lawmakers returned on Monday.

Strikes on Syria 'highly successful', says Britain; France says more possible if red line crossed

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump on Twitter praised Western air strikes against the Syrian government on Saturday as "perfectly executed", and added "Mission Accomplished".

"A perfectly executed strike last night. Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military. Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished!" Trump said in a Twitter post.

Trump's message echoed the words of a banner that hung behind former President George W. Bush when he gave a speech in 2003 from the USS Abraham Lincoln, during the Iraq War.

That visual dogged Bush's presidency as the war dragged out, with worsening American casualties, for the remainder of his two terms in office.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FLYWyMHuSD8" width="560"></iframe>

'A perfectly executed strike last night. Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military. Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished!' Trump said on Twitter

US President Donald Trump on Twitter praised Western air strikes against the Syrian government on Saturday as "perfectly executed", and added "Mission Accomplished". "A perfectly executed strike last night. Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military. Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished!" Trump said in a Twitter post. Trump's message echoed the words of a banner that hung behind former President George W. Bush when he gave a speech in 2003 from the USS Abraham Lincoln, during the Iraq War. That visual dogged Bush's presidency as the war dragged out, with worsening American casualties, for the remainder of his two terms in office.

'Mission accomplished', tweets Trump. Says Syria strikes 'perfectly executed'

Russia on Saturday called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council as Moscow said it would consider supplying S-300 missile systems to Syria following U.S.-led strikes.

"Russia convenes an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss aggressive actions of the U.S. and its allies," President Vladimir Putin said in a statement published on the Kremlin website.

"The current escalation of the situation around Syria has a devastating impact on the whole system of international relations," he added.

U.S., British and French forces pounded Syria with more than 100 missiles early on Saturday in response to a poison gas attack that killed dozens of people last week, in the biggest intervention by Western powers against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Putin said the U.S. actions in Syria made the humanitarian catastrophe worse and caused pain for civilians.

"Russia in the most serious way condemns the attack on Syria where Russian military servicemen help the legitimate government to fight terrorism," Putin said.

MISSILES FOR SYRIA

Moscow may consider supplying S-300 surface to-air missile systems to Syria and "other countries", Colonel-General Sergei Rudskoi told a televised briefing on Saturday.

Russia had "refused" supplying those missiles to Syria a few years ago, he added, "taking into account the pressing request of some of our Western partners".

Following the U.S.-led strikes, however, "we consider it possible to return to examination of this issue not only in regard to Syria but to other countries as well," Rudskoi said.

Syria's air defence system, which mostly consists of systems made in the Soviet Union, has intercepted 71 of the missiles fired on Saturday by the U.S., British and French forces, he added.

"In the past year and a half Russia has fully restored Syria's air defence system and continues to further upgrade it," Rudskoi said.

'The current escalation of the situation around Syria has a devastating impact on the whole system of international relations,' Russian President Vladimir Putin said

Russia on Saturday called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council as Moscow said it would consider supplying S-300 missile systems to Syria following U.S.-led strikes. "Russia convenes an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss aggressive actions of the U.S. and its allies," President Vladimir Putin said in a statement published on the Kremlin website. "The current escalation of the situation around Syria has a devastating impact on the whole system of international relations," he added. U.S., British and French forces pounded Syria with more than 100 missiles early on Saturday in response to a poison gas attack that killed dozens of people last week, in the biggest intervention by Western powers against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Putin said the U.S. actions in Syria made the humanitarian catastrophe worse and caused pain for civilians. "Russia in the most serious way condemns the attack on Syria where Russian military servicemen help the legitimate government to fight terrorism," Putin said. MISSILES FOR SYRIA Moscow may consider supplying S-300 surface to-air missile systems to Syria and "other countries", Colonel-General Sergei Rudskoi told a televised briefing on Saturday. Russia had "refused" supplying those missiles to Syria a few years ago, he added, "taking into account the pressing request of some of our Western partners". Following the U.S.-led strikes, however, "we consider it possible to return to examination of this issue not only in regard to Syria but to other countries as well," Rudskoi said. Syria's air defence system, which mostly consists of systems made in the Soviet Union, has intercepted 71 of the missiles fired on Saturday by the U.S., British and French forces, he added. "In the past year and a half Russia has fully restored Syria's air defence system and continues to further upgrade it," Rudskoi said.

Syria strikes: Russia calls for emergency UN meeting to discuss 'aggressive actions'

President Trump on Friday announced that he has approved military strikes in Syria against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The announcement follows a suspected chemical gas attack from the Assad regime on a rebel-held town near the Syrian capital last weekend.

Trump said a combined operation with France and Britain was underway and that they were prepared to sustain the response until Syria stopped its use of chemical weapons.

“A short time ago, I ordered the United States Armed Forces to launch precision strikes on targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad,” Trump said in a televised address from the White House.

A US official said the strikes were aimed at multiple targets and involved Tomahawk cruise missiles.

“These are not the actions of a man. They are crimes of a monster instead,” Trump said referring to Assad and his suspected role in the chemical weapons attacks.

“The purpose of our actions tonight is to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread and use of chemical weapons,” Trump said.

The US president had sharply critical words for both Russia and Iran, which have backed Assad’s government.

“To Iran and to Russia, I ask, what kind of a nation wants to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men, women and children?” Trump said.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said she had authorized British armed forces “to conduct co-ordinated and targeted strikes to degrade the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons capability.”

The military action is not about intervening in Syria’s civil war or changing its government, she said.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Trump said a combined operation with France and Britain was underway.

President Trump on Friday announced that he has approved military strikes in Syria against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The announcement follows a suspected chemical gas attack from the Assad regime on a rebel-held town near the Syrian capital last weekend. Trump said a combined operation with France and Britain was underway and that they were prepared to sustain the response until Syria stopped its use of chemical weapons. “A short time ago, I ordered the United States Armed Forces to launch precision strikes on targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad,” Trump said in a televised address from the White House. A US official said the strikes were aimed at multiple targets and involved Tomahawk cruise missiles. “These are not the actions of a man. They are crimes of a monster instead,” Trump said referring to Assad and his suspected role in the chemical weapons attacks. “The purpose of our actions tonight is to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread and use of chemical weapons,” Trump said. The US president had sharply critical words for both Russia and Iran, which have backed Assad’s government. “To Iran and to Russia, I ask, what kind of a nation wants to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men, women and children?” Trump said. British Prime Minister Theresa May said she had authorized British armed forces “to conduct co-ordinated and targeted strikes to degrade the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons capability.” The military action is not about intervening in Syria’s civil war or changing its government, she said. (With inputs from Reuters)

US, UK and France launch combined strikes on Syria chemical sites

This news is for all the samosa lovers out there, Britain is organising a challenge event called Man vs Samosa on Wednesday which will kick-start the first ever National Samosa week in&nbsp;Leicester.

Six&nbsp;cities from Britain are taking part in the event in which&nbsp;people will make, sell and eat the iconic Indian snack.

The event has been&nbsp;organised to raise money for charity. The money will be split between two charities, Mental Health Project (LAMP) and Case of Police Survivors (COPS).

The Samosa week will continue from April 9 to April 13. It&nbsp;is the&nbsp;brainchild of Leicester-based media personality Romail Gulzar who wanted to create an event to celebrate Britain's South Asian culture.

''Everybody thinks samosa comes from India, Pakistan or South Asia but no it comes from the middle east and I didn’t know until I find out through this research but yes it comes from middle east but the South Asian community made massive impact in the middle east it was a meat samosa but we in South Asia made veggie samosa, cheese samosa all sorts of things. I have met people a few people in my life who never like a curry but I have never met not one person yet who doesn’t like the samosa,” Gulzar said.

Gulzar also&nbsp;plans make national samosa week an annual event.&nbsp;The various events during the week include samosa-eating contest and "tastiest samosa"&nbsp;awards.&nbsp;

Some selected winners of the week will also get tickets to the Leicester Curry Awards 2018 which will be held in Leicester on April 22.

Among the various chefs trying to make Samosa in their own unique way&nbsp;include Sophie Kolia of Chilli baba restaurant who has decided to make a new variant of the savoury snack.&nbsp;

"We have actually developed our own super indulgent dessert samosa, it is actually made with a really amazing chocolate pastry and it is actually filled with more chocolate, coconut, biscuit and fresh strawberries," the restaurant said.

The event has so far received a positive response from the contestants.

"It is really, everyone excited. My friends are coming now. They are so glad that you are at least doing some charity for samosa week," Hari Bhakta Maharajan, Everest Dine owner said. &nbsp;

Though Gulzar believes that the best samosa are in New Delhi, he hopes that Britain can offer some stiff competition.

 
&nbsp;

Six cities of Britain are taking part in the event in which, people will make, sell and eat the iconic Indian snack

This news is for all the samosa lovers out there, Britain is organising a challenge event called Man vs Samosa on Wednesday which will kick-start the first ever National Samosa week in Leicester. Six cities from Britain are taking part in the event in which people will make, sell and eat the iconic Indian snack. The event has been organised to raise money for charity. The money will be split between two charities, Mental Health Project (LAMP) and Case of Police Survivors (COPS). The Samosa week will continue from April 9 to April 13. It is the brainchild of Leicester-based media personality Romail Gulzar who wanted to create an event to celebrate Britain's South Asian culture. ''Everybody thinks samosa comes from India, Pakistan or South Asia but no it comes from the middle east and I didn’t know until I find out through this research but yes it comes from middle east but the South Asian community made massive impact in the middle east it was a meat samosa but we in South Asia made veggie samosa, cheese samosa all sorts of things. I have met people a few people in my life who never like a curry but I have never met not one person yet who doesn’t like the samosa,” Gulzar said. Gulzar also plans make national samosa week an annual event. The various events during the week include samosa-eating contest and "tastiest samosa" awards. Some selected winners of the week will also get tickets to the Leicester Curry Awards 2018 which will be held in Leicester on April 22. Among the various chefs trying to make Samosa in their own unique way include Sophie Kolia of Chilli baba restaurant who has decided to make a new variant of the savoury snack. "We have actually developed our own super indulgent dessert samosa, it is actually made with a really amazing chocolate pastry and it is actually filled with more chocolate, coconut, biscuit and fresh strawberries," the restaurant said. The event has so far received a positive response from the contestants. "It is really, everyone excited. My friends are coming now. They are so glad that you are at least doing some charity for samosa week," Hari Bhakta Maharajan, Everest Dine owner said. Though Gulzar believes that the best samosa are in New Delhi, he hopes that Britain can offer some stiff competition.

Now, British city Leicester hosts National Samosa Week

The former Russian double agent and his daughter, who are recovering in a UK hospital from a deadly nerve agent poisoning, will be offered new identities and repatriated to the US with the help of the CIA, a media report has claimed.

Sergei and Yulia Skripal are said to no longer be in a critical condition at a hospital in Salisbury, where they have been treated since being discovered slumped on a bench in the Wiltshire town in south-west England on March 4.

British intelligence officials at MI6 have had discussions with their counterparts in the CIA about resettling the father and daughter, 'The Sunday Times' reported.

"They will be offered new identities," the newspaper quoted a senior figure from the UK political establishment as saying.

Both victims are said to be conscious and ready to help investigators with their inquiries into the nerve agent attack, which the UK government believes was masterminded by the Kremlin.

For Britain to help the pair, a senior police officer is expected to issue the Skripals with a so-called "Osman warning", a formal notification that intelligence suggests there is a real and immediate "threat to life".

They could then be placed under a witness protection programme on the basis that the pair hold key evidence about a possible motive for the attack.

That could involve moving them to a "safe house" and being given round the clock armed police protection as well as new identities.

Security sources told the newspaper that Britain would want to ensure their safety by relocating them with one of the "five eyes" countries, the UK's intelligence-sharing partnership which includes the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Yulia, 33, a Russian citizen, has reportedly rejected demands by the Russian embassy in London to offer her and her father with consular support, a move that has convinced British officials she might move to the West permanently, the report said.

While her 66-year-old father is also awake now, British officials have warned that life for the Skripals "would likely never be the same again" and that they could have injuries that would "require ongoing medical care".

Meanwhile, UK foreign secretary Boris Johnson accused Opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn of being "the Kremlin's useful idiot" for refusing to blame Russia for the poison plot.

Johnson said the Labour leader was playing "Putin's game" by refusing to say "unequivocally&nbspthat the Russian state was responsible".

"There is only one thing that gives the Kremlin succour and lends false credibility to its propaganda onslaught. That is when politicians from the targeted countries join in. Sadly, I am driven to the conclusion that Jeremy Corbyn has joined this effort," he wrote in 'The Sunday Times.

A Labour party spokesperson hit back, claiming that the minister had "made a fool of himself and undermined the government" by misrepresenting the findings of the Porton Down laboratory on the source of the nerve agent.

The lab had said last week it was not the scientists' responsibility to pinpoint the origin of the military-grade Novichok but only its type, contradicting Johnson's claim that scientists were "categorical" the deadly nerve agent came from Russia.

"Jeremy Corbyn has repeatedly said the evidence points to Russia being responsible, directly or indirectly, and that the Russian authorities must be held to account on the basis of evidence," the Labour spokesperson said.

The Russian government has repeatedly denied being responsible for the poisoning of the Skripals, as diplomatic relations between Moscow and the West took a turn for the worst with a number of countries expelling Russian diplomats as a show of support for the UK.

Moscow has said it wants the UK to "engage constructively" with the request for its UK ambassador Alexander Yakovenko to hold face-to-face talks with Johnson.

But the UK Foreign Office has branded the move as a "diversionary tactic".

"Now, after failing in their attempts in the UN and international chemical weapons watchdog this week and with the victims' condition improving, they seem to be pursuing a different diversionary tactic. We will, of course, consider their request and respond in due course," a Foreign Office spokersperson said.&nbsp

The former Russian double agent and his daughter, who are recovering in a UK hospital from a deadly nerve agent poisoning, will be offered new identities and repatriated to the US with the help of the CIA

The former Russian double agent and his daughter, who are recovering in a UK hospital from a deadly nerve agent poisoning, will be offered new identities and repatriated to the US with the help of the CIA, a media report has claimed. Sergei and Yulia Skripal are said to no longer be in a critical condition at a hospital in Salisbury, where they have been treated since being discovered slumped on a bench in the Wiltshire town in south-west England on March 4. British intelligence officials at MI6 have had discussions with their counterparts in the CIA about resettling the father and daughter, 'The Sunday Times' reported. "They will be offered new identities," the newspaper quoted a senior figure from the UK political establishment as saying. Both victims are said to be conscious and ready to help investigators with their inquiries into the nerve agent attack, which the UK government believes was masterminded by the Kremlin. For Britain to help the pair, a senior police officer is expected to issue the Skripals with a so-called "Osman warning", a formal notification that intelligence suggests there is a real and immediate "threat to life". They could then be placed under a witness protection programme on the basis that the pair hold key evidence about a possible motive for the attack. That could involve moving them to a "safe house" and being given round the clock armed police protection as well as new identities. Security sources told the newspaper that Britain would want to ensure their safety by relocating them with one of the "five eyes" countries, the UK's intelligence-sharing partnership which includes the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Yulia, 33, a Russian citizen, has reportedly rejected demands by the Russian embassy in London to offer her and her father with consular support, a move that has convinced British officials she might move to the West permanently, the report said. While her 66-year-old father is also awake now, British officials have warned that life for the Skripals "would likely never be the same again" and that they could have injuries that would "require ongoing medical care". Meanwhile, UK foreign secretary Boris Johnson accused Opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn of being "the Kremlin's useful idiot" for refusing to blame Russia for the poison plot. Johnson said the Labour leader was playing "Putin's game" by refusing to say "unequivocally&nbspthat the Russian state was responsible". "There is only one thing that gives the Kremlin succour and lends false credibility to its propaganda onslaught. That is when politicians from the targeted countries join in. Sadly, I am driven to the conclusion that Jeremy Corbyn has joined this effort," he wrote in 'The Sunday Times. A Labour party spokesperson hit back, claiming that the minister had "made a fool of himself and undermined the government" by misrepresenting the findings of the Porton Down laboratory on the source of the nerve agent. The lab had said last week it was not the scientists' responsibility to pinpoint the origin of the military-grade Novichok but only its type, contradicting Johnson's claim that scientists were "categorical" the deadly nerve agent came from Russia. "Jeremy Corbyn has repeatedly said the evidence points to Russia being responsible, directly or indirectly, and that the Russian authorities must be held to account on the basis of evidence," the Labour spokesperson said. The Russian government has repeatedly denied being responsible for the poisoning of the Skripals, as diplomatic relations between Moscow and the West took a turn for the worst with a number of countries expelling Russian diplomats as a show of support for the UK. Moscow has said it wants the UK to "engage constructively" with the request for its UK ambassador Alexander Yakovenko to hold face-to-face talks with Johnson. But the UK Foreign Office has branded the move as a "diversionary tactic". "Now, after failing in their attempts in the UN and international chemical weapons watchdog this week and with the victims' condition improving, they seem to be pursuing a different diversionary tactic. We will, of course, consider their request and respond in due course," a Foreign Office spokersperson said.

Poisoned Russian spy, daughter to be offered new identities: Report

Russia's ambassador to Britain said Moscow would accept the results of tests by international chemical weapons inspectors on a suspected nerve agent used to poison a former Russian spy in England but only if the process was transparent.

Alexander Yakovenko told reporters at a news conference on Thursday that Russia wanted to know which experts were involved in the tests on the toxin used in March 4 attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the city of Salisbury.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, a global chemical weapons watchdog, is investigating the case.

The tests will be conducted by international chemical weapons inspectors on a suspected nerve agent used to poison a former Russian spy in England

Russia's ambassador to Britain said Moscow would accept the results of tests by international chemical weapons inspectors on a suspected nerve agent used to poison a former Russian spy in England but only if the process was transparent. Alexander Yakovenko told reporters at a news conference on Thursday that Russia wanted to know which experts were involved in the tests on the toxin used in March 4 attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the city of Salisbury. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, a global chemical weapons watchdog, is investigating the case.

Moscow will accept results of nerve agent tests, if process is transparent: Russia's UK envoy

Queen Elizabeth II sent congratulatory wishes to Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) on the 100th anniversary of its founding.&nbsp

The Queen's message was read at a breakfast reception at a central London building that served as the RAF's first headquarters.&nbsp

Britain's Royal Air Force was formed towards the end of the First World War on April 1, 1918, through the merger of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service.&nbsp

It is the oldest independent air force in the world.&nbsp

The reputation of the force is strongly associated with the extraordinary bravery and skill of the pilots who defended Britain against Germany's Luftwaffe during World War II.&nbsp

Queen Elizabeth II in her anniversary wishes added that the RAF has defended "our freedom gallantly".

The Queen's message was read at a breakfast reception at a central London building that served as the RAF's first headquarters

Queen Elizabeth II sent congratulatory wishes to Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) on the 100th anniversary of its founding. The Queen's message was read at a breakfast reception at a central London building that served as the RAF's first headquarters. Britain's Royal Air Force was formed towards the end of the First World War on April 1, 1918, through the merger of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. It is the oldest independent air force in the world. The reputation of the force is strongly associated with the extraordinary bravery and skill of the pilots who defended Britain against Germany's Luftwaffe during World War II. Queen Elizabeth II in her anniversary wishes added that the RAF has defended "our freedom gallantly".

Queen Elizabeth II praises Royal Air Force on 100th anniversary

Moscow has told Britain it must cut just over 50 more of its diplomatic and technical staff in Russia as a standoff deepened over the poisoning of a Russian former spy and his daughter in England, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

Moscow also demanded an official explanation for the search of a Russian passenger plane in London, saying it reserved the right to act similarly against British airlines in Russia. Britain said the search was routine.&nbsp

Russia advised its citizens to think carefully before travelling to Britain, warning they could fall victim to official harassment.&nbsp

More than 100 Russian diplomats have been expelled by Western countries, including 23 from Britain, to punish the Kremlin over the March 4 attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the historic English city of Salisbury.&nbsp

London says Moscow was responsible for the first known use of a military-grade nerve agent on European soil since World War Two, and Britain's defence minister on Saturday said it was "heartening" to see the backing of international allies.&nbsp

"The world's patience with Putin's repeated pattern of malign behaviour has worn thin," Gavin Williamson wrote in a newspaper column, urging that Britain's defence capabilities needed to keep better step with Russia's broadening tactics.&nbsp

Russia denies responsibility for the attack. It has cast the allegations as a Western plot to sabotage East-West relations and isolate Moscow.

Russia had already retaliated in kind by ejecting 23 British diplomats. On Friday, the Foreign Ministry summoned British Ambassador Laurie Bristow and told him London had one month to further cut its diplomatic contingent in Russia to the same size as the Russian mission in Britain. It also expelled 59 diplomats from 23 other countries for backing Britain.&nbsp

A spokeswoman for Britain's Foreign Office called the Russian move regrettable, and said it was considering the implications of the measures. She did not say how many diplomatic staff in Russia would be affected, while the British Embassy in Moscow says it does not make staff numbers public.&nbsp

But Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the demand meant Britain would have to cut "a little over 50" more of its diplomatic and technical staff in Russia on top of the 23 diplomats who have already gone home.&nbsp

"We asked for parity. The Brits have 50 diplomats more than the Russians," Zakharova said on Saturday.

Asked if that meant London would now have to cut exactly 50 diplomatic and technical staff, she said: "A little over 50."

Russian travel warning

The Russian Foreign Ministry later published a list of 14 questions its London embassy had sent Britain's Foreign Office. It included queries about why Russia had been denied consular access to the Skripals and about France's role in the case.

In a move underlining the serious nature of the diplomatic crisis, the Russian Embassy also advised Russians to think twice before travelling to Britain, warning of rising anti-Russian sentiment and possible harassment from the authorities, including the risk of objects being planted in their luggage.

"We can't rule out increased attention by British law enforcement agencies and intelligence services to Russian passport holders," the embassy said in a statement.&nbsp

Russia's Ministry of Transport meanwhile demanded Britain explain an Aeroflot airliner was searched at Heathrow Airport on Friday, in what the Russian Embassy in London called a "blatant provocation".

Britain disagreed with that assessment.&nbsp

"It is routine for (Britain's border agency) to search aircraft to protect the UK from organised crime and from those who attempt to bring harmful substances like drugs or firearms into the country," Security Minister Ben Wallace said.

The Russian Embassy said Wallace's logic was "difficult to comprehend" and only amplified its doubts about the incident.&nbsp

Britain's Foreign Office also said on Saturday it was considering allowing visits under consular access terms to Yulia Skripal, who is recovering in hospital against all expectations and is no longer in critical condition.

Russia's embassy said that it had contacted Viktoria Skripal, Yulia's cousin. "Upon receiving confirmation that Yulia Skripal's condition is getting better and she is able to communicate, she said she would like to go to London and to visit her cousin," the embassy said.

The BBC reported on Friday that Yulia was "conscious and talking," which may help the investigation of how she and her father were poisoned.

The poisoning on British territory has united much of the West in taking action against what it regards as the hostile policies of President Vladimir Putin. This includes the United States under President Donald Trump, whom Putin had hoped would improve ties.

Russia advised its citizens to think carefully before travelling to Britain, warning they could fall victim to official harassment

Moscow has told Britain it must cut just over 50 more of its diplomatic and technical staff in Russia as a standoff deepened over the poisoning of a Russian former spy and his daughter in England, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. Moscow also demanded an official explanation for the search of a Russian passenger plane in London, saying it reserved the right to act similarly against British airlines in Russia. Britain said the search was routine. Russia advised its citizens to think carefully before travelling to Britain, warning they could fall victim to official harassment. More than 100 Russian diplomats have been expelled by Western countries, including 23 from Britain, to punish the Kremlin over the March 4 attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the historic English city of Salisbury. London says Moscow was responsible for the first known use of a military-grade nerve agent on European soil since World War Two, and Britain's defence minister on Saturday said it was "heartening" to see the backing of international allies. "The world's patience with Putin's repeated pattern of malign behaviour has worn thin," Gavin Williamson wrote in a newspaper column, urging that Britain's defence capabilities needed to keep better step with Russia's broadening tactics. Russia denies responsibility for the attack. It has cast the allegations as a Western plot to sabotage East-West relations and isolate Moscow. Russia had already retaliated in kind by ejecting 23 British diplomats. On Friday, the Foreign Ministry summoned British Ambassador Laurie Bristow and told him London had one month to further cut its diplomatic contingent in Russia to the same size as the Russian mission in Britain. It also expelled 59 diplomats from 23 other countries for backing Britain. A spokeswoman for Britain's Foreign Office called the Russian move regrettable, and said it was considering the implications of the measures. She did not say how many diplomatic staff in Russia would be affected, while the British Embassy in Moscow says it does not make staff numbers public. But Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the demand meant Britain would have to cut "a little over 50" more of its diplomatic and technical staff in Russia on top of the 23 diplomats who have already gone home. "We asked for parity. The Brits have 50 diplomats more than the Russians," Zakharova said on Saturday. Asked if that meant London would now have to cut exactly 50 diplomatic and technical staff, she said: "A little over 50." Russian travel warning The Russian Foreign Ministry later published a list of 14 questions its London embassy had sent Britain's Foreign Office. It included queries about why Russia had been denied consular access to the Skripals and about France's role in the case. In a move underlining the serious nature of the diplomatic crisis, the Russian Embassy also advised Russians to think twice before travelling to Britain, warning of rising anti-Russian sentiment and possible harassment from the authorities, including the risk of objects being planted in their luggage. "We can't rule out increased attention by British law enforcement agencies and intelligence services to Russian passport holders," the embassy said in a statement. Russia's Ministry of Transport meanwhile demanded Britain explain an Aeroflot airliner was searched at Heathrow Airport on Friday, in what the Russian Embassy in London called a "blatant provocation". Britain disagreed with that assessment. "It is routine for (Britain's border agency) to search aircraft to protect the UK from organised crime and from those who attempt to bring harmful substances like drugs or firearms into the country," Security Minister Ben Wallace said. The Russian Embassy said Wallace's logic was "difficult to comprehend" and only amplified its doubts about the incident. Britain's Foreign Office also said on Saturday it was considering allowing visits under consular access terms to Yulia Skripal, who is recovering in hospital against all expectations and is no longer in critical condition. Russia's embassy said that it had contacted Viktoria Skripal, Yulia's cousin. "Upon receiving confirmation that Yulia Skripal's condition is getting better and she is able to communicate, she said she would like to go to London and to visit her cousin," the embassy said. The BBC reported on Friday that Yulia was "conscious and talking," which may help the investigation of how she and her father were poisoned. The poisoning on British territory has united much of the West in taking action against what it regards as the hostile policies of President Vladimir Putin. This includes the United States under President Donald Trump, whom Putin had hoped would improve ties.

Britain and Russia lock horns as Moscow cuts UK diplomats

Europe and China must unite against protectionism, said Chinese Ambassador&nbsp;Liu Xiaoming to Britain on Thursday.

In an article published by the "Financial Times", Liu said Europe and China should stand together against protectionism, stressing that recent measures by the United States risk triggering a trade war and hampering global growth.

He also pointed out that the world is at a crossroad between cooperation and confrontation at a critical time when the international community should be upholding the global trading system.

Throughout the history of international trade, protectionism has been a spectre stalking the world, Liu remarked.

China has been the powerhouse for global growth and the main contributor to an open world economy in recent years, he said.

Liu noted that Britain and Europe have been advocates of trade liberalization and firm supporters of the multilateral trade system.

The leaders of the UK, France and Germany have expressed their concerns over US protectionism and stressed that the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules should be the basis for solving trade disputes, he said, and this clearly points to shared interests for China and Europe in safeguarding the multilateral trade regime.

Quoting a saying in Europe that "a single tree cannot block the chilly wind", the ambassador stressed that only if the UK, Europe and China stand shoulder to shoulder, will they be able to uphold openness and cooperation and safeguard the international trade regime from the dangers of protectionism.

The article was published in the hard copy, online version and the Chinese online version of the "Financial Times", one of the mainstream media in the world. 
&nbsp;

In an article published by the 'Financial Times,' Liu stressed that recent measures by the United States risk triggering a trade war and hampering global growth

Europe and China must unite against protectionism, said Chinese Ambassador Liu Xiaoming to Britain on Thursday. In an article published by the "Financial Times", Liu said Europe and China should stand together against protectionism, stressing that recent measures by the United States risk triggering a trade war and hampering global growth. He also pointed out that the world is at a crossroad between cooperation and confrontation at a critical time when the international community should be upholding the global trading system. Throughout the history of international trade, protectionism has been a spectre stalking the world, Liu remarked. China has been the powerhouse for global growth and the main contributor to an open world economy in recent years, he said. Liu noted that Britain and Europe have been advocates of trade liberalization and firm supporters of the multilateral trade system. The leaders of the UK, France and Germany have expressed their concerns over US protectionism and stressed that the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules should be the basis for solving trade disputes, he said, and this clearly points to shared interests for China and Europe in safeguarding the multilateral trade regime. Quoting a saying in Europe that "a single tree cannot block the chilly wind", the ambassador stressed that only if the UK, Europe and China stand shoulder to shoulder, will they be able to uphold openness and cooperation and safeguard the international trade regime from the dangers of protectionism. The article was published in the hard copy, online version and the Chinese online version of the "Financial Times", one of the mainstream media in the world.

Europe, China must unite against protectionism: Chinese ambassador to Britain

A Russian law enforcement committee which is running an investigation into the Yulia Skripal poisoning said it has sent a request to Britain to provide Moscow with legal assistance.

Moscow is seeking "the British colleagues to perform a number of procedural actions aiming at establishing the circumstances of the crime, as well as provide copies of the materials of the criminal investigation".

Russia is asking London to provide it "with the results of the inspection of the place where Yulia Skripal was found unconsciousness as well as with the results of her medical examination".

Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with a nerve toxin that had been left on the front door of their home in England, British counter-terrorism police said&nbsp;on Wednesday.

A Russian law enforcement committee which is running an investigation into the Yulia Skripal poisoning

A Russian law enforcement committee which is running an investigation into the Yulia Skripal poisoning said it has sent a request to Britain to provide Moscow with legal assistance. Moscow is seeking "the British colleagues to perform a number of procedural actions aiming at establishing the circumstances of the crime, as well as provide copies of the materials of the criminal investigation". Russia is asking London to provide it "with the results of the inspection of the place where Yulia Skripal was found unconsciousness as well as with the results of her medical examination". Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with a nerve toxin that had been left on the front door of their home in England, British counter-terrorism police said on Wednesday.

Russia sends request to Britain, wants to help in investigation into Yulia Skripal poisoning

Colombia, which will hold presidential elections in May, on Wednesday blocked access to a cell phone application it said might be connected with Cambridge Analytica, the political consultancy that has been accused of violating Facebook users' privacy to influence elections in Britain and the United States.

Lawmakers in the United States and Europe are demanding to know more about Facebook's privacy practices after a whistleblower said Cambridge Analytica improperly accessed data to target US&nbsp;and British voters in close-run elections.

Colombia's commerce regulator said in a statement it would block an application called Pig.gi, which gives users free top-ups in exchange for receiving ads and recommending their friends. The app has more than a million downloads in Colombia and Mexico combined, the regulator said.

The app, which users download via the Google Play store and sign into using their Facebook account, is administered by Farrow Colombia SAS and Farrow Mexico SAPI&nbsp;de CV, the statement said.

Attempts to reach Farrow for comment were unsuccessful. A number listed for Farrow in Colombia belongs to another company. There is no listed number for the Mexico branch of the company.

"As a preventative measure and taking into account the potential risk of a wrongful and massive illegal use of the personal data of thousands of Colombians collected via the download of the Pig.gi application, the application Pig.gi is temporarily blocked while appropriate investigations are undertaken and definitive decisions adopted," the regulator said.

The regulator did not specify what evidence it had of a connection between Cambridge Analytica and Farrow. The application will be blocked on the Google Play app store and on social media, as will websites where it can be downloaded.

The regulator added it has requested cooperation and information from its counterparts in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and Mexico.

Facebook announced a series of changes on Wednesday to give users more control over their data, after the scandal wiped more than $100 billion from its stock market value.

Cambridge Analytica has said it did not use Facebook data in US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's campaign, and that it had deleted all Facebook data it obtained from a third-party app in 2014 after learning the information did not adhere to data protection rules.

Colombia will hold presidential elections on May 27.

Colombia on Wednesday blocked access to a cell phone application saying might be connected with Cambridge Analytica

Colombia, which will hold presidential elections in May, on Wednesday blocked access to a cell phone application it said might be connected with Cambridge Analytica, the political consultancy that has been accused of violating Facebook users' privacy to influence elections in Britain and the United States. Lawmakers in the United States and Europe are demanding to know more about Facebook's privacy practices after a whistleblower said Cambridge Analytica improperly accessed data to target US and British voters in close-run elections. Colombia's commerce regulator said in a statement it would block an application called Pig.gi, which gives users free top-ups in exchange for receiving ads and recommending their friends. The app has more than a million downloads in Colombia and Mexico combined, the regulator said. The app, which users download via the Google Play store and sign into using their Facebook account, is administered by Farrow Colombia SAS and Farrow Mexico SAPI de CV, the statement said. Attempts to reach Farrow for comment were unsuccessful. A number listed for Farrow in Colombia belongs to another company. There is no listed number for the Mexico branch of the company. "As a preventative measure and taking into account the potential risk of a wrongful and massive illegal use of the personal data of thousands of Colombians collected via the download of the Pig.gi application, the application Pig.gi is temporarily blocked while appropriate investigations are undertaken and definitive decisions adopted," the regulator said. The regulator did not specify what evidence it had of a connection between Cambridge Analytica and Farrow. The application will be blocked on the Google Play app store and on social media, as will websites where it can be downloaded. The regulator added it has requested cooperation and information from its counterparts in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and Mexico. Facebook announced a series of changes on Wednesday to give users more control over their data, after the scandal wiped more than $100 billion from its stock market value. Cambridge Analytica has said it did not use Facebook data in US President Donald Trump's campaign, and that it had deleted all Facebook data it obtained from a third-party app in 2014 after learning the information did not adhere to data protection rules. Colombia will hold presidential elections on May 27.

Colombia blocks app it says possibly linked to Cambridge Analytica

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