The Kremlin said on Tuesday that public opposition by a group of US&nbsp;senators to a Russian candidate to head the international police organisation Interpol amounted to election meddling.

Interpol's general assembly is due to elect a new head at a meeting on Wednesday. On Monday, four US&nbsp;senators issued a statement urging US&nbsp;President Donald Trump to oppose the candidacy of Russia's Alexander Prokopchuk.

The senators accuse Russia of abusing Interpol to settle scores and harass dissidents by issuing warrants, known as red notices, for their arrest. The senators said the election of Prokopchuk would allow Moscow to step up such abuse.

"This is probably a certain kind of interference in the electoral process of an international organisation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call.

Prokopchuk, a former major general in Russia's Interior Ministry and current vice president of Interpol, is generally considered the leading candidate for the presidency.

Bill Browder, a British fund manager critical of the Kremlin who has been detained repeatedly at Russia's behest before being released again, said it would be "outrageous" if Prokopchuk was named to head the global police agency.

"This particular individual has been responsible for trying to chase me down and have Interpol arrest me seven times," he said in comments to BBC radio.

"All of a sudden, this guy is now put in charge of the institution he's been trying to abuse for the last six years," he said.

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that public opposition by a group of US senators to a Russian candidate to head the international police organisation Interpol amounted to election meddling.

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that public opposition by a group of US senators to a Russian candidate to head the international police organisation Interpol amounted to election meddling. Interpol's general assembly is due to elect a new head at a meeting on Wednesday. On Monday, four US senators issued a statement urging US President Donald Trump to oppose the candidacy of Russia's Alexander Prokopchuk. The senators accuse Russia of abusing Interpol to settle scores and harass dissidents by issuing warrants, known as red notices, for their arrest. The senators said the election of Prokopchuk would allow Moscow to step up such abuse. "This is probably a certain kind of interference in the electoral process of an international organisation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call. Prokopchuk, a former major general in Russia's Interior Ministry and current vice president of Interpol, is generally considered the leading candidate for the presidency. Bill Browder, a British fund manager critical of the Kremlin who has been detained repeatedly at Russia's behest before being released again, said it would be "outrageous" if Prokopchuk was named to head the global police agency. "This particular individual has been responsible for trying to chase me down and have Interpol arrest me seven times," he said in comments to BBC radio. "All of a sudden, this guy is now put in charge of the institution he's been trying to abuse for the last six years," he said.

Kremlin says US is meddling in selection of Interpol head

Russia, Iran and Turkey will hold the next round of talks on Syria's conflict on November 28-29 in the Kazakh capital Astana, Kazakhstan's foreign minister said on Monday. &nbsp;

"The participants plan to discuss the current situation in Syria, in particular in Idlib, creating conditions for the return of refugees and internally displaced people, and post-conflict reconstruction," Kairat Abdrakhmanov said in Astana.

The meeting will be the 11th in the Astana peace process -- set up in early 2017 by Russia and Iran, who support President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, and opposition backer Turkey.&nbsp;

Abdrakhmanov said representatives of Damascus and armed opposition groups would take part, but did not specify what level of officials from Russia, Iran and Turkey would attend. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The Astana process was launched after Russia's military intervention in Syria tipped the balance in the regime's favour. It has gradually eclipsed an earlier UN-sponsored negotiations framework known as the Geneva process.&nbsp;

This month's meeting comes with continued violence threatening plans for a buffer zone around Idlib, the last major opposition stronghold in Syria.

Russia and Turkey agreed in September to set up the buffer zone to avert a Syrian regime offensive, but jihadists who hold around 70 percent of the area have refused to withdraw.

Fighting in the area has continued, with jihadists on Friday killing 22 regime fighters in an attack on government forces in the northwest of Hama province near the planned zone.

Russia, Iran and Turkey will hold the next round of talks on Syria's conflict on November 28-29 in the Kazakh capital Astana, Kazakhstan's foreign minister said on Monday.

Russia, Iran and Turkey will hold the next round of talks on Syria's conflict on November 28-29 in the Kazakh capital Astana, Kazakhstan's foreign minister said on Monday. "The participants plan to discuss the current situation in Syria, in particular in Idlib, creating conditions for the return of refugees and internally displaced people, and post-conflict reconstruction," Kairat Abdrakhmanov said in Astana. The meeting will be the 11th in the Astana peace process -- set up in early 2017 by Russia and Iran, who support President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, and opposition backer Turkey. Abdrakhmanov said representatives of Damascus and armed opposition groups would take part, but did not specify what level of officials from Russia, Iran and Turkey would attend. The Astana process was launched after Russia's military intervention in Syria tipped the balance in the regime's favour. It has gradually eclipsed an earlier UN-sponsored negotiations framework known as the Geneva process. This month's meeting comes with continued violence threatening plans for a buffer zone around Idlib, the last major opposition stronghold in Syria. Russia and Turkey agreed in September to set up the buffer zone to avert a Syrian regime offensive, but jihadists who hold around 70 percent of the area have refused to withdraw. Fighting in the area has continued, with jihadists on Friday killing 22 regime fighters in an attack on government forces in the northwest of Hama province near the planned zone.

Russia, Iran, Turkey to hold Syria talks next week: Kazakh foreign minister

A Russian Soyuz rocket with a cargo vessel blasted off Friday in the first launch to the International Space Station (ISS) since a manned accident last month.

The Soyuz-FG rocket took off at the scheduled time of 1814 GMT from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, images from Russian space agency Roskosmos showed.

The launch is seen as a rehearsal for the next manned voyage, planned for December 3.

That flight will carry Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques, and NASA's Anne McClain to the ISS.

Russia, the only country able to ferry astronauts to the space station, suspended all launches after a Soyuz rocket failed on October 11 just minutes after blast-off.

During the aborted launch, Russian cosmonaut Aleksey Ovchinin and US astronaut Nick Hague made an emergency landing and escaped unharmed.

It was the first such incident in the history of post-Soviet space travel.

The Progress MS-10 will take around 48 hours to reach the ISS, bringing with it fuel, oxygen, water and scientific materials.

A commission to probe the October 11 accident reported that the flight was aborted because a sensor part had been damaged during assembly.&nbsp;

A Russian Soyuz rocket with a cargo vessel blasted off Friday in the first launch to the International Space Station (ISS) since a manned accident last month. The Soyuz-FG rocket took off at the scheduled time of 1814 GMT from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, images from Russian space agency Roskosmos showed.

A Russian Soyuz rocket with a cargo vessel blasted off Friday in the first launch to the International Space Station (ISS) since a manned accident last month. The Soyuz-FG rocket took off at the scheduled time of 1814 GMT from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, images from Russian space agency Roskosmos showed. The launch is seen as a rehearsal for the next manned voyage, planned for December 3. That flight will carry Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques, and NASA's Anne McClain to the ISS. Russia, the only country able to ferry astronauts to the space station, suspended all launches after a Soyuz rocket failed on October 11 just minutes after blast-off. During the aborted launch, Russian cosmonaut Aleksey Ovchinin and US astronaut Nick Hague made an emergency landing and escaped unharmed. It was the first such incident in the history of post-Soviet space travel. The Progress MS-10 will take around 48 hours to reach the ISS, bringing with it fuel, oxygen, water and scientific materials. A commission to probe the October 11 accident reported that the flight was aborted because a sensor part had been damaged during assembly.

Russia stages first Soyuz launch since accident

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-legislation-to-urge-possible-china-sanctions-over-xinjiang-crackdown-177217">United States</a> is facing a national security and military crisis and could lose in a war against Russia or China, a bipartisan congressional panel warned in a report Wednesday.

Congress had tasked the National Defense Strategy Commission to look at President Donald Trump's sweeping National Defense Strategy (NDS), which highlights a new era of "Great Power competition" with Moscow and Beijing.

The panel, run by a dozen former top Democratic and Republican officials, found that just as the US military faced budget cuts and diminishing military advantages, authoritarian nations like China and Russia are pursuing buildups aimed "at neutralizing US strengths."

"America's military superiority -- the hard-power backbone of its global influence and national security -- has eroded to a dangerous degree," the commission said.

In their report, the panel found America's focus on counter-insurgency operations this century resulted in it slipping in other warfighting areas such as missile defence, cyber and space operations, and anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare.

"Many of the skills necessary to plan for and conduct military operations against capable adversaries -- especially China and Russia -- have atrophied," the report states.

It lambasts "political dysfunction and decisions made by both major political parties," especially budget control measures implemented in 2011.

"The convergence of these trends has created a crisis of national security for the United States," the report notes.

While the NDS points the Pentagon in the right direction, it "too often rests on questionable assumptions and weak analysis." "It leaves unanswered critical questions regarding how the United States will meet the challenges of a more dangerous world," the report found.

The commission also said that across Asia and Europe, American influence is being steadily eroded and military balances have shifted in "decidedly adverse" ways that have raised the risk of conflict.

"The US military could suffer unacceptably high casualties and loss of major capital assets in its next conflict," the commission found.

"It might struggle to win, or perhaps lose, a war against China or Russia.&nbsp;

The United States is particularly at risk of being overwhelmed should its military be forced to fight on two or more fronts simultaneously."&nbsp;

Though the Pentagon this year has a budget of more than $700 billion, far more than Russia and China combined, the commission said the sum is still "clearly insufficient" to meet the goals laid out in the NDS.

Commissioners made a series of recommendations including a 3-5 per cent annual increase in the defence budget.&nbsp;

The United States is facing a national security and military crisis and could lose in a war against Russia or China, a bipartisan congressional panel warned in a report Wednesday.

The United States is facing a national security and military crisis and could lose in a war against Russia or China, a bipartisan congressional panel warned in a report Wednesday. Congress had tasked the National Defense Strategy Commission to look at President Donald Trump's sweeping National Defense Strategy (NDS), which highlights a new era of "Great Power competition" with Moscow and Beijing. The panel, run by a dozen former top Democratic and Republican officials, found that just as the US military faced budget cuts and diminishing military advantages, authoritarian nations like China and Russia are pursuing buildups aimed "at neutralizing US strengths." "America's military superiority -- the hard-power backbone of its global influence and national security -- has eroded to a dangerous degree," the commission said. In their report, the panel found America's focus on counter-insurgency operations this century resulted in it slipping in other warfighting areas such as missile defence, cyber and space operations, and anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare. "Many of the skills necessary to plan for and conduct military operations against capable adversaries -- especially China and Russia -- have atrophied," the report states. It lambasts "political dysfunction and decisions made by both major political parties," especially budget control measures implemented in 2011. "The convergence of these trends has created a crisis of national security for the United States," the report notes. While the NDS points the Pentagon in the right direction, it "too often rests on questionable assumptions and weak analysis." "It leaves unanswered critical questions regarding how the United States will meet the challenges of a more dangerous world," the report found. The commission also said that across Asia and Europe, American influence is being steadily eroded and military balances have shifted in "decidedly adverse" ways that have raised the risk of conflict. "The US military could suffer unacceptably high casualties and loss of major capital assets in its next conflict," the commission found. "It might struggle to win, or perhaps lose, a war against China or Russia. The United States is particularly at risk of being overwhelmed should its military be forced to fight on two or more fronts simultaneously." Though the Pentagon this year has a budget of more than $700 billion, far more than Russia and China combined, the commission said the sum is still "clearly insufficient" to meet the goals laid out in the NDS. Commissioners made a series of recommendations including a 3-5 per cent annual increase in the defence budget.

US could lose in war with China or Russia, bipartisan congressional panel warns

Russia's top opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Wednesday was allowed to leave Russia, a day after border guards prevented him from flying out of Moscow for a European court ruling.

"He has flown out," Navalny's lawyer Ivan Zhdanov told AFP.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's top critic posted a photo of himself and a border guard on social media at passport control, saying "this time everything was OK."&nbsp;

On Tuesday the 42-year-old anti-corruption campaigner was barred from leaving Russia as he planned to travel to Strasbourg for a hearing at the European court of human rights on whether his recent detentions were politically motivated.&nbsp;

The Russian Federal Bailiff service said at the time he was being prevented from leaving over a 2.1 million ruble ($31,000) fine connected to a 2013 conviction.

But the opposition politician wrote that he had "no unpaid fines" and that "the last time I left the country two weeks ago, everything was ok".&nbsp;

On Wednesday, he said he had incurred financial losses and would sue the bailiff service.

Under Russian law, those who have unpaid debts can be blocked from leaving the country.

Lawyers for the anti-corruption campaigner on Tuesday called the bailiffs who told them that they did not order the ban.

Authorities have in recent months turned up the heat on the top Kremlin critic, after Putin's approval ratings took a beating over an unpopular pension reform and the ruling United Russia party suffered setbacks in regional polls.

Navalny had just finished a month-long sentence in September for organising anti-Kremlin protests when he was immediately re-arrested and charged over a separate rally.&nbsp;

The Yale-educated lawyer was sentenced to a further 20 days and finally released last month.

Navalny was barred from leaving the country between 2013 and 2017, when authorities refused to issue a passport because of legal cases against him.

He was eventually given a travel document and allowed to leave the country in May last year to seek treatment in Spain for damage to his eye after an assailant threw green dye in his face in Moscow.

He was barred from running against Putin in a presidential election in March.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Russia's top opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Wednesday was allowed to leave Russia, a day after border guards prevented him from flying out of Moscow for a European court ruling.

Russia's top opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Wednesday was allowed to leave Russia, a day after border guards prevented him from flying out of Moscow for a European court ruling. "He has flown out," Navalny's lawyer Ivan Zhdanov told AFP. Russian President Vladimir Putin's top critic posted a photo of himself and a border guard on social media at passport control, saying "this time everything was OK." On Tuesday the 42-year-old anti-corruption campaigner was barred from leaving Russia as he planned to travel to Strasbourg for a hearing at the European court of human rights on whether his recent detentions were politically motivated. The Russian Federal Bailiff service said at the time he was being prevented from leaving over a 2.1 million ruble ($31,000) fine connected to a 2013 conviction. But the opposition politician wrote that he had "no unpaid fines" and that "the last time I left the country two weeks ago, everything was ok". On Wednesday, he said he had incurred financial losses and would sue the bailiff service. Under Russian law, those who have unpaid debts can be blocked from leaving the country. Lawyers for the anti-corruption campaigner on Tuesday called the bailiffs who told them that they did not order the ban. Authorities have in recent months turned up the heat on the top Kremlin critic, after Putin's approval ratings took a beating over an unpopular pension reform and the ruling United Russia party suffered setbacks in regional polls. Navalny had just finished a month-long sentence in September for organising anti-Kremlin protests when he was immediately re-arrested and charged over a separate rally. The Yale-educated lawyer was sentenced to a further 20 days and finally released last month. Navalny was barred from leaving the country between 2013 and 2017, when authorities refused to issue a passport because of legal cases against him. He was eventually given a travel document and allowed to leave the country in May last year to seek treatment in Spain for damage to his eye after an assailant threw green dye in his face in Moscow. He was barred from running against Putin in a presidential election in March.

Russian opposition chief Navalny goes to EU after ban

Russian Ambassador on Modi-Putin relationship

The Kremlin hit out Wednesday at the "unpredictability" of the United States under the Trump administration, saying it was causing "deep global concern".

"The fact that America has become unpredictable lately is no secret to anyone," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Dozhd TV during a visit by President Vladimir Putin to a regional summit in Singapore.

"Such unpredictability from the largest country, the most powerful economy in the world, is the subject of deep global concern," he added.

Peskov's comments come two weeks ahead of a slated face-to-face between President Donald Trump and Putin at a G20 summit in Argentina.

Relations between the two countries have hit new lows with American officials planning to roll out fresh sanctions against Moscow in response to the botched poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Britain.

Western governments have accused Russia of being behind the plot which saw Skripal and his daughter poisoned with a nerve agent. Two British citizens were also poisoned, one of whom died.

Moscow has denied being behind the brazen hit and has condemned efforts to sanction it over the incident.

"We do not recognise these unilateral restrictions... and we consider them illegitimate," Peskov said of the threatened sanctions, adding they would only "further complicate" Russia-US relations.

World leaders are currently meeting in Singapore, which is hosting the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.

Trump is not at the gathering and has sent Vice President Mike Pence instead.

Peskov said "no separate meeting" was currently planned between Putin and Pence. But he added that there was no need for a face-to-face given Trump and Putin will soon meet in Buenos Aires.

The Kremlin hit out Wednesday at the "unpredictability" of the United States under the Trump administration, saying it was causing "deep global concern". "The fact that America has become unpredictable lately is no secret to anyone," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Dozhd TV during a visit by President Vladimir Putin to a regional summit in Singapore.

The Kremlin hit out Wednesday at the "unpredictability" of the United States under the Trump administration, saying it was causing "deep global concern". "The fact that America has become unpredictable lately is no secret to anyone," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Dozhd TV during a visit by President Vladimir Putin to a regional summit in Singapore. "Such unpredictability from the largest country, the most powerful economy in the world, is the subject of deep global concern," he added. Peskov's comments come two weeks ahead of a slated face-to-face between President Donald Trump and Putin at a G20 summit in Argentina. Relations between the two countries have hit new lows with American officials planning to roll out fresh sanctions against Moscow in response to the botched poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Britain. Western governments have accused Russia of being behind the plot which saw Skripal and his daughter poisoned with a nerve agent. Two British citizens were also poisoned, one of whom died. Moscow has denied being behind the brazen hit and has condemned efforts to sanction it over the incident. "We do not recognise these unilateral restrictions... and we consider them illegitimate," Peskov said of the threatened sanctions, adding they would only "further complicate" Russia-US relations. World leaders are currently meeting in Singapore, which is hosting the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. Trump is not at the gathering and has sent Vice President Mike Pence instead. Peskov said "no separate meeting" was currently planned between Putin and Pence. But he added that there was no need for a face-to-face given Trump and Putin will soon meet in Buenos Aires.

Russia's Kremlin laments US 'unpredictability' under Trump

Russian President Vladimir Putin held his first official meeting with ASEAN leaders in Singapore on Wednesday.

This is Putin's first visit to Singapore since former president Dmitry Medvedev made a trip in 2009. The visit also comes as both countries celebrate the 50th year anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Asia-Pacific leaders are meeting heads of Southeast Asian states in Singapore to renew calls for multilateralism and fresh pledges to resolve regional conflicts ranging from the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar to tensions in the South China Sea.

US&nbsp;Vice President Mike Pence, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are among those set to join leaders from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for talks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held his first official meeting with ASEAN leaders in Singapore on Wednesday. This is Putin's first visit to Singapore since former president Dmitry Medvedev made a trip in 2009.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held his first official meeting with ASEAN leaders in Singapore on Wednesday. This is Putin's first visit to Singapore since former president Dmitry Medvedev made a trip in 2009. The visit also comes as both countries celebrate the 50th year anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Asia-Pacific leaders are meeting heads of Southeast Asian states in Singapore to renew calls for multilateralism and fresh pledges to resolve regional conflicts ranging from the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar to tensions in the South China Sea. US Vice President Mike Pence, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are among those set to join leaders from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for talks.

Putin stresses cooperation against terrorism in first official meeting with ASEAN leaders

President Donald Trump on Wednesday fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions a day after a heated midterm vote, naming a loyalist to replace him in a move that raises questions over the future of the Russia investigation.

The axing capped more than a year of bitter criticism by the president over his legal advisor's decision to recuse himself from the probe into Moscow's interference in the 2016 election, paving the way for the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

In announcing the resignation in a tweet that thanked the former Alabama senator "for his service" -- Trump right away named as acting attorney general Sessions' chief of staff, Matthew Whitaker.

The announcement set off immediate alarm bells: Whitaker has been overtly critical of the broad scope granted to Mueller's team to probe beyond allegations that Trump's campaign colluded with Russia in 2016, into other ties between Trump, his family and aides, and Russia -- an investigation the president calls a "witch hunt."

In an op-ed in August last year he publicly urged Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein -- who oversees the probe -- to "limit the scope of his investigation to the four corners of the order appointing him special counsel."

As acting attorney general, Whitaker now has the power to wrest oversight away from Rosenstein and take charge himself.

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer immediately called on Whitaker to recuse himself from the probe as his predecessor had, "given his previous comments advocating defunding and imposing limitations" on it.

Senator Bernie Sanders, a former presidential hopeful, went further, tweeting that "any attempt by the president or the Justice Department to interfere with Mueller's probe would be an obstruction of justice and impeachable offense."

First casualty after midterms

They were joined in their demands by Republican Mitt Romney, a former presidential candidate and frequent Trump critic who won a US Senate seat in Tuesday's midterm.

Thanking Sessions for his service, Romney said that it was "imperative that the important work of the Justice Department continues, and that the Mueller investigation proceeds to its conclusion unimpeded."

Whitaker himself meanwhile offered little clue about his intentions in a bland statement to reporters that praised his former boss as a "dedicated public servant" and said he would work to leading a department that conformed to the "highest ethical standards."&nbsp;

Sessions was the first casualty of a cabinet shakeup that had been expected from Trump following the midterm elections where his Republican party lost control of the House of Representatives but retained the Senate.

But his departure was anticipated since early this year, after he endured withering and repeated criticism from the president over the legally troubled ban on Muslim travelers Trump sought when he came into office, and over the Mueller probe.

"At your request, I am submitting my resignation," Sessions said in the first line of a letter addressed to Trump, released by the Department of Justice. 
&nbsp;Trump's first backer -

Sessions was the first US senator to back Trump's presidential run in 2016, giving the New York real estate billionaire credibility against a broad field of Republican stalwarts.

The two were reportedly brought together by a shared wish to crack down on immigration.&nbsp;

After taking office in January 2017, the former prosecutor launched tough law-and-order policies and a broad ban on Muslim travelers promised by Trump during the campaign.

He was in the vanguard of administration pushes to expand the ranks of federal law enforcement, fill courts with conservative judges, and crack down on Central American gangs such as MS-13.

But the president was infuriated when in March 2017 Sessions recused himself from the nascent Russia investigation, because of his own Russian contacts during the 2016 campaign. Instead, he gave Rosenstein that authority.&nbsp;

When Trump weeks later fired FBI director James Comey in anger at the Russia investigation, Rosenstein stunned the administration by naming Mueller, a former FBI chief, to lead the probe as an independent prosecutor.

That structure, with Sessions recused and Rosenstein supervising Mueller, has insulated the investigation from outside interference. 
Still, Trump has repeatedly accused Mueller of running an illegal investigation staffed by Democrats and threatened to shut it down.

Indictments looming

Matters though were clearly coming to a head after Mueller racked up indictments against 34 people and three companies, in direct and spinoff cases. Eight guilty pleas have resulted, and one jury trial conviction.

Most notably, several top Trump aides have agreed to cooperate: former national security advisor Michael Flynn; former campaign chair Paul Manafort; former vice chair Richard Gates; and former Trump Organization vice president Michael Cohen, a lawyer who used to work as Trump's personal fixer.

Mueller was expected to unveil in the coming weeks new indictments, possibly against 2016 campaign consultant Roger Stone and Trump's son Donald Jr.

Moreover, Mueller's team and the White House have been haggling for months over whether the president himself would answer questions. Mueller is known to be examining whether Trump obstructed justice in firing Comey -- and other acts.

In addition, the White House has shown concern that Mueller is investigating the finances of the Trump Organization, and links to Russia.&nbsp;

President Donald Trump on Wednesday fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions a day after a heated midterm vote, naming a loyalist to replace him in a move that raises questions over the future of the Russia investigation.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions a day after a heated midterm vote, naming a loyalist to replace him in a move that raises questions over the future of the Russia investigation. The axing capped more than a year of bitter criticism by the president over his legal advisor's decision to recuse himself from the probe into Moscow's interference in the 2016 election, paving the way for the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. In announcing the resignation in a tweet that thanked the former Alabama senator "for his service" -- Trump right away named as acting attorney general Sessions' chief of staff, Matthew Whitaker. The announcement set off immediate alarm bells: Whitaker has been overtly critical of the broad scope granted to Mueller's team to probe beyond allegations that Trump's campaign colluded with Russia in 2016, into other ties between Trump, his family and aides, and Russia -- an investigation the president calls a "witch hunt." In an op-ed in August last year he publicly urged Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein -- who oversees the probe -- to "limit the scope of his investigation to the four corners of the order appointing him special counsel." As acting attorney general, Whitaker now has the power to wrest oversight away from Rosenstein and take charge himself. Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer immediately called on Whitaker to recuse himself from the probe as his predecessor had, "given his previous comments advocating defunding and imposing limitations" on it. Senator Bernie Sanders, a former presidential hopeful, went further, tweeting that "any attempt by the president or the Justice Department to interfere with Mueller's probe would be an obstruction of justice and impeachable offense." First casualty after midterms They were joined in their demands by Republican Mitt Romney, a former presidential candidate and frequent Trump critic who won a US Senate seat in Tuesday's midterm. Thanking Sessions for his service, Romney said that it was "imperative that the important work of the Justice Department continues, and that the Mueller investigation proceeds to its conclusion unimpeded." Whitaker himself meanwhile offered little clue about his intentions in a bland statement to reporters that praised his former boss as a "dedicated public servant" and said he would work to leading a department that conformed to the "highest ethical standards." Sessions was the first casualty of a cabinet shakeup that had been expected from Trump following the midterm elections where his Republican party lost control of the House of Representatives but retained the Senate. But his departure was anticipated since early this year, after he endured withering and repeated criticism from the president over the legally troubled ban on Muslim travelers Trump sought when he came into office, and over the Mueller probe. "At your request, I am submitting my resignation," Sessions said in the first line of a letter addressed to Trump, released by the Department of Justice. Trump's first backer - Sessions was the first US senator to back Trump's presidential run in 2016, giving the New York real estate billionaire credibility against a broad field of Republican stalwarts. The two were reportedly brought together by a shared wish to crack down on immigration. After taking office in January 2017, the former prosecutor launched tough law-and-order policies and a broad ban on Muslim travelers promised by Trump during the campaign. He was in the vanguard of administration pushes to expand the ranks of federal law enforcement, fill courts with conservative judges, and crack down on Central American gangs such as MS-13. But the president was infuriated when in March 2017 Sessions recused himself from the nascent Russia investigation, because of his own Russian contacts during the 2016 campaign. Instead, he gave Rosenstein that authority. When Trump weeks later fired FBI director James Comey in anger at the Russia investigation, Rosenstein stunned the administration by naming Mueller, a former FBI chief, to lead the probe as an independent prosecutor. That structure, with Sessions recused and Rosenstein supervising Mueller, has insulated the investigation from outside interference. Still, Trump has repeatedly accused Mueller of running an illegal investigation staffed by Democrats and threatened to shut it down. Indictments looming Matters though were clearly coming to a head after Mueller racked up indictments against 34 people and three companies, in direct and spinoff cases. Eight guilty pleas have resulted, and one jury trial conviction. Most notably, several top Trump aides have agreed to cooperate: former national security advisor Michael Flynn; former campaign chair Paul Manafort; former vice chair Richard Gates; and former Trump Organization vice president Michael Cohen, a lawyer who used to work as Trump's personal fixer. Mueller was expected to unveil in the coming weeks new indictments, possibly against 2016 campaign consultant Roger Stone and Trump's son Donald Jr. Moreover, Mueller's team and the White House have been haggling for months over whether the president himself would answer questions. Mueller is known to be examining whether Trump obstructed justice in firing Comey -- and other acts. In addition, the White House has shown concern that Mueller is investigating the finances of the Trump Organization, and links to Russia.

Fears for Russia probe as Trump fires Jeff Sessions

The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday stated that it is aware of the meeting that the Russian Federation will hold on November 9 to discuss Afghanistan, adding that "India supports all efforts at peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan."

The MEA further added that India's participation at the meeting will be at the non-official level.

"We are aware of the Russian Federation hosting a meeting in Moscow on 9 November on Afghanistan. India supports all efforts at peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. Our participation at the meeting will be at the non-official level: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)," news agency ANI quoted the MEA.&nbsp;

According to an AFP report, Russia on Saturday said it will <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/russia-to-host-international-talks-on-afghanistan-175271">host international talks on Afghanistan on November 9</a>, with representatives of both the Afghan government and the Taliban, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

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We are aware of the Russian Federation hosting a meeting in Moscow on 9 November on Afghanistan. India supports all efforts at peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. Our participation at the meeting will be at the non-official level: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1060503993082875904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Moscow said Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and the Taliban have agreed to send delegations to the conference.

"It will be the first time that a delegation of the Political Office of the Taliban Movement in Doha will take part in international talks (at) such a level," the foreign ministry's statement said.&nbsp;

"We are still negotiating and talking with Russian officials (about the conference). We have not reached an agreement yet," Sebghatullah Ahmadi, an Afghan foreign ministry spokesman, told AFP.&nbsp;

Moscow said it had also invited representatives from the US as well as Iran, China, Pakistan and five former Soviet republics in Central Asia to take part.

"The Russian side reaffirms its position that there is no alternative to a political settlement in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan," the statement said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday stated that it is aware of the meeting that the Russian Federation will hold on November 9 to discuss Afghanistan, adding that "India supports all efforts at peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.

The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday stated that it is aware of the meeting that the Russian Federation will hold on November 9 to discuss Afghanistan, adding that "India supports all efforts at peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan." The MEA further added that India's participation at the meeting will be at the non-official level. "We are aware of the Russian Federation hosting a meeting in Moscow on 9 November on Afghanistan. India supports all efforts at peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. Our participation at the meeting will be at the non-official level: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)," news agency ANI quoted the MEA. According to an AFP report, Russia on Saturday said it will host international talks on Afghanistan on November 9, with representatives of both the Afghan government and the Taliban, the foreign ministry said in a statement. We are aware of the Russian Federation hosting a meeting in Moscow on 9 November on Afghanistan. India supports all efforts at peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. Our participation at the meeting will be at the non-official level: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) — ANI (@ANI) November 8, 2018 × Moscow said Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and the Taliban have agreed to send delegations to the conference. "It will be the first time that a delegation of the Political Office of the Taliban Movement in Doha will take part in international talks (at) such a level," the foreign ministry's statement said. "We are still negotiating and talking with Russian officials (about the conference). We have not reached an agreement yet," Sebghatullah Ahmadi, an Afghan foreign ministry spokesman, told AFP. Moscow said it had also invited representatives from the US as well as Iran, China, Pakistan and five former Soviet republics in Central Asia to take part. "The Russian side reaffirms its position that there is no alternative to a political settlement in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan," the statement said. (With inputs from agencies)

Aware of Russia hosting meeting on Afghanistan in Moscow, India will participate at non-official level: MEA 

India's star shuttler PV Sindhu on Tuesday Russia's Evgeniya Kosetskaya to advanced to the next round of China Open.&nbsp;

The World No. 3 Sindhu defeated her Russian opponent in straight games 21-13, 21-19 in less than 30 minutes of play.

In the first game, Sindhu dominated most parts of the game with quality shots and smashes, while in second, the Russian opponent bounced back but failed to match the pace of the Indian shuttler. &nbsp;

The second game saw Sindhu wrap up the clash 21-19 to advance.

The Rio Olympic silver medallist will now take on Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the next round.

India's star shuttler PV Sindhu on Tuesday Russia's Evgeniya Kosetskaya to advanced to the next round of China Open. The World No. 3 Sindhu defeated her Russian opponent in straight games 21-13, 21-19 in less than 30 minutes of play.

India's star shuttler PV Sindhu on Tuesday Russia's Evgeniya Kosetskaya to advanced to the next round of China Open. The World No. 3 Sindhu defeated her Russian opponent in straight games 21-13, 21-19 in less than 30 minutes of play. In the first game, Sindhu dominated most parts of the game with quality shots and smashes, while in second, the Russian opponent bounced back but failed to match the pace of the Indian shuttler. The second game saw Sindhu wrap up the clash 21-19 to advance. The Rio Olympic silver medallist will now take on Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the next round.

China Open: Shuttler PV Sindhu advances to second round

Soldiers in Norway's armoured <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russia-to-test-missiles-near-military-exercise-area-in-norway-nato-chief-174475">battalion have been carrying out a series</a> of rigorous training regimes in the mountains north of the Norwegian capital of Oslo as part of Exercise Trident Juncture 2018, NATO's largest military exercise since the end of the Cold War.

Many in Norway's second battalion have spent a lot of time far from home since the 9/11 terrorist attack in warm places like Afghanistan. But their real expertise is in Arctic warfare, with their skillset becoming particularly relevant now that NATO is shifting its focus.

In the mountains east of Tynset in recent days, the patrols have been fighting many mock battles against real British troops, often in the remotest locations.

"We loaded onto a helicopter, flew out to a landing zone, and then from there we went to an observation point. And we lay in the post for a few days," said Alistair Skajaa, a soldier from Norway's second battalion.

One unit still awaits orders in snow-covered forests where temperatures can dip below minus 40 degrees Celsius. The fire gives them warmth and water from melting snow. The risk of detection must be balanced against the need to survive. Experienced soldiers say conditions do not get much tougher than this.

"I think you get more aware actually in the Arctic than you will in the desert because it's easier to notice that you're dehydrated in the desert, because it's hot," said Sgt. Thomas Schlotvik.

When orders come through, the soldiers strip down as they prepare to move out to avoid overheating. They are masters of this freezing wilderness, but there's far more weight on their shoulders to carry through this brutally cold climate, with their backpacks weighing up to 50 kilos.

Back at the command station, resting troops say they are sharing their expertise in this environment with NATO allies.

"For many of soldiers from other countries, it might be challenging, especially how the weather has been the last week because it's changing below zero from freezing temperature to melting temperature. But I think that is why it's important to conduct this exercise so that other NATO forces are able to adapt," said Lt. George Detsis.

Suddenly, the troops are ordered into action as an enemy patrol has been spotted. By exploiting their numbers, they aim to deter the enemy rather than engage. The soldiers said this drill, which is as close to actual warfare as it gets, can teach them how to be prepared if any serious situation unfolds.

The Trident Juncture 2018 exercise is being held from October 25 to November 7 and involves around 50,000 participants from all 29 NATO member nations, with partners Sweden and Finland also taking part.

Soldiers in Norway's armoured battalion have been carrying out a series of rigorous training regimes in the mountains north of the Norwegian capital of Oslo as part of Exercise Trident Juncture 2018, NATO's largest military exercise since the end of the Cold War.

Soldiers in Norway's armoured battalion have been carrying out a series of rigorous training regimes in the mountains north of the Norwegian capital of Oslo as part of Exercise Trident Juncture 2018, NATO's largest military exercise since the end of the Cold War. Many in Norway's second battalion have spent a lot of time far from home since the 9/11 terrorist attack in warm places like Afghanistan. But their real expertise is in Arctic warfare, with their skillset becoming particularly relevant now that NATO is shifting its focus. In the mountains east of Tynset in recent days, the patrols have been fighting many mock battles against real British troops, often in the remotest locations. "We loaded onto a helicopter, flew out to a landing zone, and then from there we went to an observation point. And we lay in the post for a few days," said Alistair Skajaa, a soldier from Norway's second battalion. One unit still awaits orders in snow-covered forests where temperatures can dip below minus 40 degrees Celsius. The fire gives them warmth and water from melting snow. The risk of detection must be balanced against the need to survive. Experienced soldiers say conditions do not get much tougher than this. "I think you get more aware actually in the Arctic than you will in the desert because it's easier to notice that you're dehydrated in the desert, because it's hot," said Sgt. Thomas Schlotvik. When orders come through, the soldiers strip down as they prepare to move out to avoid overheating. They are masters of this freezing wilderness, but there's far more weight on their shoulders to carry through this brutally cold climate, with their backpacks weighing up to 50 kilos. Back at the command station, resting troops say they are sharing their expertise in this environment with NATO allies. "For many of soldiers from other countries, it might be challenging, especially how the weather has been the last week because it's changing below zero from freezing temperature to melting temperature. But I think that is why it's important to conduct this exercise so that other NATO forces are able to adapt," said Lt. George Detsis. Suddenly, the troops are ordered into action as an enemy patrol has been spotted. By exploiting their numbers, they aim to deter the enemy rather than engage. The soldiers said this drill, which is as close to actual warfare as it gets, can teach them how to be prepared if any serious situation unfolds. The Trident Juncture 2018 exercise is being held from October 25 to November 7 and involves around 50,000 participants from all 29 NATO member nations, with partners Sweden and Finland also taking part.

Watch: NATO undertakes drill in Arctic warfare

Russia has quietly invited a group of senior Afghan politicians to talks with the Taliban in Moscow, bypassing President Ashraf Ghani's government in a move that has angered officials in Kabul who say it could muddle the US-backed peace process.

The invitations, extended over the past two months by Russian diplomats in Kabul, were confirmed to Reuters by six of the eight leaders, who include former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, or their aides, and by other leading politicians with ties to the Afghan government.

The Russian Embassy in Kabul declined to comment.

Russia in August proposed holding multilateral peace talks in Moscow and invited 12 countries and the Taliban to attend a summit the following month. But the meeting was postponed after Ghani rejected the invitation on the grounds that talks with the Taliban should be led by the Afghan government.

The United States had also declined to attend. The US&nbsp;Embassy in Kabul declined to comment further.

Three senior Afghan officials said the government was unhappy that Moscow was pressing ahead with plans for talks.

"We requested Russia to cancel the summit because talking to the Taliban at multiple forums will further complicate the peace process backed by the US, but they rejected the request," said a senior Afghan official who has been holding discussions with Russia.

Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that she hoped to be able to announce details of the conference "in the coming days".

Zakharova told reporters at a briefing that the date and participant list were being finalised, but that Russia wanted to be absolutely sure before announcing anything publicly.

New players

Diplomatic engagement between the Taliban and the United States gained momentum in October, after US&nbsp;special envoy for peace in Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad met Taliban leaders in Qatar.

But many Afghan politicians say they have been left out of the process.

Karzai, who ran the country for 13 years following the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001 but has become a vocal critic of US&nbsp;policy, is among those planning to travel to Moscow.

"Karzai will travel to Moscow because any opportunity for peace talks with the Taliban must not be ignored," said Mohammad Yusof Saha, a spokesman for the former president.

Atta Mohammad Noor, a leader in the Jamiat-i Islami party and former governor of the strategic Balkh province, said he too would attend.

Noor, a powerful figure among Afghanistan's ethnic Tajiks who was once a commander in the anti-Soviet Mujahiddin, said he had no problem with the United States and Ghani holding private talks with the Taliban, "but they cannot decide whether we should talk to the Taliban or not".

He said many Afghans were realising that "a single fixed formula prescribed by one foreign power will not help Afghans attain peace".

Senior Taliban members in Afghanistan said they would send a delegation to Moscow, as it would give them an opportunity to engage with neighbouring countries including China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, who have previously said they would send representatives.

"Most countries have acknowledged our status and invited us as a separate political force. This is, in fact, our victory," said a senior member of the Afghan Taliban.

Greater leverage

Moscow's strategy of going around Ghani directly to opposition politicians is a concern for the Afghan government and its US&nbsp;sponsors, who see it as unwelcome meddling, according to government officials and diplomats in Kabul.

"Russia is trying to create its own regional table to hold peace talks, they are clearly attempting to limit the US&nbsp;role in Afghanistan," said a western diplomat in the Afghan capital.

The Moscow talks underline the increasingly active role Russia is playing in Afghanistan, decades after Soviet forces withdrew from the country, with business investment plans, diplomatic and cultural outreach and small military support for the central government.

In 2014, it reopened a cultural centre in Kabul. Since 2016, it has provided thousands of Kalashnikov rifles to the Afghan government, said a senior foreign ministry official in Kabul.

The talks come also at a time when the Afghan government is struggling to recover control of districts lost to Taliban insurgents while casualties among security forces have reached record levels, a US&nbsp;watchdog agency said.

"It's obvious that the situation in Afghanistan is not improving, that the threat is growing and that the ground is ripe for radical Islamists or followers and participants of the Islamic State project," said Fyodor Lukyanov, a foreign policy expert close to the Kremlin who edits Russia in Global Affairs journal.

"The dynamic is negative. I think that's why political and diplomatic efforts are being activated."

Russia has quietly invited a group of senior Afghan politicians to talks with the Taliban in Moscow, bypassing President Ashraf Ghani's government in a move that has angered officials in Kabul who say it could muddle the US-backed peace process.

Russia has quietly invited a group of senior Afghan politicians to talks with the Taliban in Moscow, bypassing President Ashraf Ghani's government in a move that has angered officials in Kabul who say it could muddle the US-backed peace process. The invitations, extended over the past two months by Russian diplomats in Kabul, were confirmed to Reuters by six of the eight leaders, who include former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, or their aides, and by other leading politicians with ties to the Afghan government. The Russian Embassy in Kabul declined to comment. Russia in August proposed holding multilateral peace talks in Moscow and invited 12 countries and the Taliban to attend a summit the following month. But the meeting was postponed after Ghani rejected the invitation on the grounds that talks with the Taliban should be led by the Afghan government. The United States had also declined to attend. The US Embassy in Kabul declined to comment further. Three senior Afghan officials said the government was unhappy that Moscow was pressing ahead with plans for talks. "We requested Russia to cancel the summit because talking to the Taliban at multiple forums will further complicate the peace process backed by the US, but they rejected the request," said a senior Afghan official who has been holding discussions with Russia. Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that she hoped to be able to announce details of the conference "in the coming days". Zakharova told reporters at a briefing that the date and participant list were being finalised, but that Russia wanted to be absolutely sure before announcing anything publicly. New players Diplomatic engagement between the Taliban and the United States gained momentum in October, after US special envoy for peace in Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad met Taliban leaders in Qatar. But many Afghan politicians say they have been left out of the process. Karzai, who ran the country for 13 years following the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001 but has become a vocal critic of US policy, is among those planning to travel to Moscow. "Karzai will travel to Moscow because any opportunity for peace talks with the Taliban must not be ignored," said Mohammad Yusof Saha, a spokesman for the former president. Atta Mohammad Noor, a leader in the Jamiat-i Islami party and former governor of the strategic Balkh province, said he too would attend. Noor, a powerful figure among Afghanistan's ethnic Tajiks who was once a commander in the anti-Soviet Mujahiddin, said he had no problem with the United States and Ghani holding private talks with the Taliban, "but they cannot decide whether we should talk to the Taliban or not". He said many Afghans were realising that "a single fixed formula prescribed by one foreign power will not help Afghans attain peace". Senior Taliban members in Afghanistan said they would send a delegation to Moscow, as it would give them an opportunity to engage with neighbouring countries including China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, who have previously said they would send representatives. "Most countries have acknowledged our status and invited us as a separate political force. This is, in fact, our victory," said a senior member of the Afghan Taliban. Greater leverage Moscow's strategy of going around Ghani directly to opposition politicians is a concern for the Afghan government and its US sponsors, who see it as unwelcome meddling, according to government officials and diplomats in Kabul. "Russia is trying to create its own regional table to hold peace talks, they are clearly attempting to limit the US role in Afghanistan," said a western diplomat in the Afghan capital. The Moscow talks underline the increasingly active role Russia is playing in Afghanistan, decades after Soviet forces withdrew from the country, with business investment plans, diplomatic and cultural outreach and small military support for the central government. In 2014, it reopened a cultural centre in Kabul. Since 2016, it has provided thousands of Kalashnikov rifles to the Afghan government, said a senior foreign ministry official in Kabul. The talks come also at a time when the Afghan government is struggling to recover control of districts lost to Taliban insurgents while casualties among security forces have reached record levels, a US watchdog agency said. "It's obvious that the situation in Afghanistan is not improving, that the threat is growing and that the ground is ripe for radical Islamists or followers and participants of the Islamic State project," said Fyodor Lukyanov, a foreign policy expert close to the Kremlin who edits Russia in Global Affairs journal. "The dynamic is negative. I think that's why political and diplomatic efforts are being activated."

Russia reaches out to Afghan leaders for Taliban talks, angering Kabul

The leaders of Russia, Germany, France and Turkey gathered in Istanbul on Saturday for a summit on Syria, where violence this week in the last remaining major rebel stronghold highlighted the fragility of a deal to avert a massive government offensive.

Ankara, which has long backed rebels seeking to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad, and Moscow, Assad's principal foreign ally, brokered the deal last month to create a demilitarised zone in the northwest Idlib region.

Idlib and adjacent areas are the last stronghold of the rebels, who rose up against Assad in 2011. The area is home to an estimated 3 million people, more than half of whom have already fled other areas as government forces advanced.

Shelling in Idlib killed at least seven civilians on Friday, the largest one-day loss of life there since Russian air strikes stopped in mid-August, a war monitor said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Erdogan are due to have four-way talks in Istanbul on Saturday. Putin spoke ahead of the summit by phone to Macron and Erdogan.

UN&nbsp;Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura, who is stepping down at the end of next month for family reasons, is also taking part.

Under their deal last month, Turkey and Russia agreed to set up a buffer zone running 15-20 km (9-13 miles) into rebel territory that had to be evacuated of all heavy weapons and all jihadist fighters.

The leaders of Russia, Germany, France and Turkey gathered in Istanbul on Saturday for a summit on Syria, where violence this week in the last remaining major rebel stronghold highlighted the fragility of a deal to avert a massive government offensive.

The leaders of Russia, Germany, France and Turkey gathered in Istanbul on Saturday for a summit on Syria, where violence this week in the last remaining major rebel stronghold highlighted the fragility of a deal to avert a massive government offensive. Ankara, which has long backed rebels seeking to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad, and Moscow, Assad's principal foreign ally, brokered the deal last month to create a demilitarised zone in the northwest Idlib region. Idlib and adjacent areas are the last stronghold of the rebels, who rose up against Assad in 2011. The area is home to an estimated 3 million people, more than half of whom have already fled other areas as government forces advanced. Shelling in Idlib killed at least seven civilians on Friday, the largest one-day loss of life there since Russian air strikes stopped in mid-August, a war monitor said. Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Erdogan are due to have four-way talks in Istanbul on Saturday. Putin spoke ahead of the summit by phone to Macron and Erdogan. UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura, who is stepping down at the end of next month for family reasons, is also taking part. Under their deal last month, Turkey and Russia agreed to set up a buffer zone running 15-20 km (9-13 miles) into rebel territory that had to be evacuated of all heavy weapons and all jihadist fighters.

Russia, Germany, France and Turkey meet for four-way Syria summit

&nbsp;The White House has formally invited President Vladimir Putin to Washington, U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton said on Friday, returning to an idea that was put on hold in July amid anger in the US&nbsp;over the prospect of such a summit.

President Donald Trump held a summit with Putin in Helsinki, the Finnish capital, and then issued Putin an invitation to visit Washington in the autumn. But that was postponed after Trump was accused of cozying up to the Kremlin.

"We have invited President Putin to Washington," Bolton said at a news conference during a visit to ex-Soviet Georgia, days after meeting Putin and senior security officials in Moscow.

It was not immediately clear if Putin had accepted the invitation, which is for next year.

Bolton, in a separate interview with Reuters, strongly criticised Russian foreign policy, saying Moscow's behaviour on the world stage was one of the reasons Washington had imposed sanctions on Russia and was now considering imposing more.

"It will be helpful if they (the Russians) stop interfering in our election ... get out of Crimea and the Donbass in Ukraine ... stop using illegal chemical weapons to conduct assassination attempts against Russian exiles in the West, and if they would be less intrusive in the Middle East," he said.

Russia denies meddling in the 2016 US&nbsp;presidential election, sending soldiers and equipment to eastern Ukraine, and has rejected Western allegations it was behind the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Britain.

Putin last held a meeting with a US&nbsp;president on American soil in 2015 when he met Barack Obama on the sidelines of a UN&nbsp;General Assembly.

Trump's earlier invitation to Putin sparked an outcry in Washington, including from lawmakers in Trump's Republican party, who argued that Putin was an adversary not worthy of a White House visit.

Trump has said it is in US&nbsp;interests to establish a solid working relationship with Putin however.

Trump and Putin plan to hold a bilateral meeting in Paris on Nov. 11 on the sidelines of events to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War One.

Bolton said that the Paris meeting would be brief and more of "a base-touching exercise."

"One of the most important subjects they will discuss is whether President Putin will accept President Trump's invitation to come to Washington or will President Putin once again extend his invitation to President Trump to go to Moscow," said Bolton.

"I think what President Trump would like would be more of an opportunity to discuss the issues at length and we'll have to see when it gets on the schedule."

The White House has formally invited President Vladimir Putin to Washington, U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton said on Friday, returning to an idea that was put on hold in July amid anger in the US over the prospect of such a summit.

The White House has formally invited President Vladimir Putin to Washington, U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton said on Friday, returning to an idea that was put on hold in July amid anger in the US over the prospect of such a summit. President Donald Trump held a summit with Putin in Helsinki, the Finnish capital, and then issued Putin an invitation to visit Washington in the autumn. But that was postponed after Trump was accused of cozying up to the Kremlin. "We have invited President Putin to Washington," Bolton said at a news conference during a visit to ex-Soviet Georgia, days after meeting Putin and senior security officials in Moscow. It was not immediately clear if Putin had accepted the invitation, which is for next year. Bolton, in a separate interview with Reuters, strongly criticised Russian foreign policy, saying Moscow's behaviour on the world stage was one of the reasons Washington had imposed sanctions on Russia and was now considering imposing more. "It will be helpful if they (the Russians) stop interfering in our election ... get out of Crimea and the Donbass in Ukraine ... stop using illegal chemical weapons to conduct assassination attempts against Russian exiles in the West, and if they would be less intrusive in the Middle East," he said. Russia denies meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, sending soldiers and equipment to eastern Ukraine, and has rejected Western allegations it was behind the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Britain. Putin last held a meeting with a US president on American soil in 2015 when he met Barack Obama on the sidelines of a UN General Assembly. Trump's earlier invitation to Putin sparked an outcry in Washington, including from lawmakers in Trump's Republican party, who argued that Putin was an adversary not worthy of a White House visit. Trump has said it is in US interests to establish a solid working relationship with Putin however. Trump and Putin plan to hold a bilateral meeting in Paris on Nov. 11 on the sidelines of events to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War One. Bolton said that the Paris meeting would be brief and more of "a base-touching exercise." "One of the most important subjects they will discuss is whether President Putin will accept President Trump's invitation to come to Washington or will President Putin once again extend his invitation to President Trump to go to Moscow," said Bolton. "I think what President Trump would like would be more of an opportunity to discuss the issues at length and we'll have to see when it gets on the schedule."

US invites Putin to Washington, but says get out of Ukraine

NATO countries began its <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-military-exercise-in-norway-nato-chief-says-hope-russia-will-avoid-dangerous-behavior-173367">military exercise, Trident Juncture 18</a>, in Norway close to the Russian border amid tensions between the US and Russia over President Trump's decision to pull out of the NFT.

As many as 31 countries including Finland and Sweden are taking part in the largest military exercise since the end of the Cold War involving over 50,000 troops. The US has committed the highest number of troops numbering 9,000 and has deployed the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman.

Russia termed the latest exercise an activity which "comes across as provocative, even if you try to justify it as being of a purely defensive nature." &nbsp;

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had said earlier that Europe's security environment had significantly deteriorated in recent years, while asserting that, "Trident Juncture sends a clear message to our nations and to any potential adversary."&nbsp;

"NATO does not seek confrontation but we stand ready to defend all allies against any threat," the NATO chief added.

The mega military drill is reportedly taking place 198 kilometres away from Norway's border to Russia in the far north.

Meanwhile, head of NATO's Allied Joint Force Command said "any fears on the part of the Russian Federation are unfounded," adding,"we defend, we deter, we don't take somebody else's territory. That's not our intent and they are not the focal point of this exercise."

Last month, Russia had conducted a military exercise, Vostok-2018, along with Chinese and Mongolian troops along China's border which involved over 300,000 troops.

Russian foreign ministry had said last month that NATO countries were increasing their military presence in the region, "near Russia's borders". "Such irresponsible actions are bound to lead to a destabilisation of the political situation in the North, to heighten tensions," the foreign ministry spokesman had said.

The military drill in Norway will continue from October 25th to November 7th.

NATO countries began its military exercise, Trident Juncture 18, in Norway close to the Russian border amid tensions between the US and Russia over President Trump's decision to pull out of the NFT.

NATO countries began its military exercise, Trident Juncture 18, in Norway close to the Russian border amid tensions between the US and Russia over President Trump's decision to pull out of the NFT. As many as 31 countries including Finland and Sweden are taking part in the largest military exercise since the end of the Cold War involving over 50,000 troops. The US has committed the highest number of troops numbering 9,000 and has deployed the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. Russia termed the latest exercise an activity which "comes across as provocative, even if you try to justify it as being of a purely defensive nature." NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had said earlier that Europe's security environment had significantly deteriorated in recent years, while asserting that, "Trident Juncture sends a clear message to our nations and to any potential adversary." "NATO does not seek confrontation but we stand ready to defend all allies against any threat," the NATO chief added. The mega military drill is reportedly taking place 198 kilometres away from Norway's border to Russia in the far north. Meanwhile, head of NATO's Allied Joint Force Command said "any fears on the part of the Russian Federation are unfounded," adding,"we defend, we deter, we don't take somebody else's territory. That's not our intent and they are not the focal point of this exercise." Last month, Russia had conducted a military exercise, Vostok-2018, along with Chinese and Mongolian troops along China's border which involved over 300,000 troops. Russian foreign ministry had said last month that NATO countries were increasing their military presence in the region, "near Russia's borders". "Such irresponsible actions are bound to lead to a destabilisation of the political situation in the North, to heighten tensions," the foreign ministry spokesman had said. The military drill in Norway will continue from October 25th to November 7th.

NATO begins military excercise in Norway amid US-Russia row over Nuclear Forces Treaty

WION Dispatch: Putin, Trump plan to meet in Paris next month

WION Dispatch: Is Europe heading towards an arm race?

United States President Donald Trump on Saturday confirmed that the US will be pulling out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), a nuclear deal signed between Washington and Moscow during the Cold War.

"We're going to terminate the agreement and we're going to pull out. We'll have to develop those weapons," The Hill quoted Trump, as saying.

Trump further claimed that Russia has been violating the treaty and has not adhered to the agreement.

INF was signed in 1986 between former US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev and allows the US to counter Chinese efforts to accumulate arms in the Pacific. It, however, prevents Washington from deploying new weapons in response.

A nuclear strategy document from the Trump administration, which was accessed by The Hill, noted that Russia's decision to violate the INF Treaty and other commitments was a clear indication of the fact that Russia has "rebuffed repeated US efforts to reduce the salience, role, and the number of nuclear weapons."

The US' withdrawal from the treaty comes a week ahead of National Security Adviser John Bolton's trip to Moscow to meet with top Russian officials.

United States President Donald Trump on Saturday confirmed that the US will be pulling out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), a nuclear deal signed between Washington and Moscow during the Cold War.

United States President Donald Trump on Saturday confirmed that the US will be pulling out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), a nuclear deal signed between Washington and Moscow during the Cold War. "We're going to terminate the agreement and we're going to pull out. We'll have to develop those weapons," The Hill quoted Trump, as saying. Trump further claimed that Russia has been violating the treaty and has not adhered to the agreement. INF was signed in 1986 between former US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev and allows the US to counter Chinese efforts to accumulate arms in the Pacific. It, however, prevents Washington from deploying new weapons in response. A nuclear strategy document from the Trump administration, which was accessed by The Hill, noted that Russia's decision to violate the INF Treaty and other commitments was a clear indication of the fact that Russia has "rebuffed repeated US efforts to reduce the salience, role, and the number of nuclear weapons." The US' withdrawal from the treaty comes a week ahead of National Security Adviser John Bolton's trip to Moscow to meet with top Russian officials.

Donald Trump confirms US will pull out of nuclear deal with Russia

For the better part of five years, the Indian economy has had it good with international energy prices being comparatively low, the global economy in shades of recovery and the geopolitics affecting energy being mostly stable. In spite of the situation in the Middle East being somewhat turbulent, with wars raging in Syria and Yemen, major energy sources have been largely unaffected while the sea lanes facilitating shipping have remained open. 
 
The Iran Nuclear Deal of July 15, 2015, struck under the leadership of former US President Barack Obama, gave Iran a reprieve from sanctions and thus largely freed up its energy trade facilitating nations such as India, the third largest consumer of hydrocarbons in the world. Since oil prices are cyclical, they are now peaking again.

How did the price rise re-commence after the progressive fall occurring till 2014? Firstly, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, including Russia, decided to withhold output from January 2017 in order to dry up the surplus stock. There was a consensus to give an impetus to prices which had started to fall in 2014 just before the NDA government came to power. In fact, the reduction amounted to approximately 750,000 barrels per day (bpd) from the higher ceiling production. 
 
Prices have continued to rise on the back of the second major factor, the resumption of sanctions on Iran after the US pulled out of the Iran Nuclear Deal in 2018. Iran exported 2.5 million bpd after sanctions were last lifted. In 2012, this had been halved when sanctions were first imposed. India imports 83 per cent of its energy needs and is, therefore, one of the first to be affected by the price rise. As the Iran issue ratchets up further, the potential of prices of Brent crude touching 100 USD per barrel is high and there also remains the risk of a trigger sending it even higher if the US and its Middle East allies attempt to do anything offensive in military terms against Iran.

There have been two immediate effects on the Indian economy due to the oil price rise. As per a Goldman Sachs report, India’s current account deficit could be 2.4 per cent of GDP in 2018-19 as compared to an earlier forecast of 2.1 per cent. A high deficit means the country has to sell rupees and buy dollars to pay its bills. The value of the rupee then falls as it has over the last six months. The Rupee has depreciated by 14 per cent against the dollar in the last 10 months. The rupee depreciation and high oil prices adversely affect sectors such as aviation, transportation and consumables besides a host of others. Higher crude oil prices, trade deficit, and the exit of foreign investors from India pull the rupee down. US Fed’s interest rate hike combined with protectionist measures has hit currencies in emerging markets, including India.

A brief review of the trade wars between the US and China is necessary to get an idea of the havoc potential, which is being predicted by many. In a second round, there have been tariff hikes on 200 billion dollars&nbsp;worth of Chinese imports; it’s currently only 10 per cent but could go up to 25 per cent once the Chinese retaliate. India being thus far relatively free of the turbulence from tariff increases, except in the area of steel and aluminium exports to the US, senses an opportunity to step in to replace China in the supply of many of the goods slapped with increased tariffs. If India can resolve the issues connected to imports of some US goods through the generalized system of preferences (GSP), it may be able to gain much greater access. However, at the end of it all, it is President Trump’s reaction and response which will dictate the course.

China, Russia and Iran are the three countries around which the dynamics of India’s relationships will dictate the course of its foreign policy; the eco-strategic considerations being extremely high. The links with each of the above will need to be orchestrated in such a way that the relationship with the US is not adversely affected. The US badly needs India to balance the none too peaceful rise of China. It also knows that there are huge economic stakes in the Sino-Indian relationship.&nbsp;

However, it is the Iran equation which the US probably takes most seriously. In a recent meeting with major oil producers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought a review of payment terms as part of the Indian government’s strategy to help counter a depreciating rupee and provide more flexibility in the purchase of energy from Iran. However, not much is likely to change on this front as the dollar trade system is well embedded and the US has no intention of changing it despite its own stakes in Middle Eastern energy having reduced to almost nought. India’s interest clearly lies in continuing to purchase Iran’s oil so as to pursue other strategic interests such as the Chabahar port and access to Afghanistan. However, it is likely to become an early victim of Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) being invoked to coerce it into withholding all economic ties with Iran, thus placing it in a strategic quandary. However, it can balance the relationship with the US and Russia through diversion of some of the arms and technology purchases to the US arms market and hope for waivers to CAATSA.&nbsp;

The waiver for S-400 continues to be used as a coercive tool to influence India’s strategic behaviour. As India approaches its own general elections, the compulsions of domestic politics, dynamic economic factors and the geopolitics revolving around the US, Russia, China and Iran equations, are going to create an environment of thorough unpredictability. The government will need to wade through this very gingerly. 
 
(This article was originally published on DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-negotiating-the-fault-lines-2677090">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

For the better part of five years, the Indian economy has had it good with international energy prices being comparatively low, the global economy in shades of recovery and the geopolitics affecting energy being mostly stable.

For the better part of five years, the Indian economy has had it good with international energy prices being comparatively low, the global economy in shades of recovery and the geopolitics affecting energy being mostly stable. In spite of the situation in the Middle East being somewhat turbulent, with wars raging in Syria and Yemen, major energy sources have been largely unaffected while the sea lanes facilitating shipping have remained open. The Iran Nuclear Deal of July 15, 2015, struck under the leadership of former US President Barack Obama, gave Iran a reprieve from sanctions and thus largely freed up its energy trade facilitating nations such as India, the third largest consumer of hydrocarbons in the world. Since oil prices are cyclical, they are now peaking again. How did the price rise re-commence after the progressive fall occurring till 2014? Firstly, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, including Russia, decided to withhold output from January 2017 in order to dry up the surplus stock. There was a consensus to give an impetus to prices which had started to fall in 2014 just before the NDA government came to power. In fact, the reduction amounted to approximately 750,000 barrels per day (bpd) from the higher ceiling production. Prices have continued to rise on the back of the second major factor, the resumption of sanctions on Iran after the US pulled out of the Iran Nuclear Deal in 2018. Iran exported 2.5 million bpd after sanctions were last lifted. In 2012, this had been halved when sanctions were first imposed. India imports 83 per cent of its energy needs and is, therefore, one of the first to be affected by the price rise. As the Iran issue ratchets up further, the potential of prices of Brent crude touching 100 USD per barrel is high and there also remains the risk of a trigger sending it even higher if the US and its Middle East allies attempt to do anything offensive in military terms against Iran. There have been two immediate effects on the Indian economy due to the oil price rise. As per a Goldman Sachs report, India’s current account deficit could be 2.4 per cent of GDP in 2018-19 as compared to an earlier forecast of 2.1 per cent. A high deficit means the country has to sell rupees and buy dollars to pay its bills. The value of the rupee then falls as it has over the last six months. The Rupee has depreciated by 14 per cent against the dollar in the last 10 months. The rupee depreciation and high oil prices adversely affect sectors such as aviation, transportation and consumables besides a host of others. Higher crude oil prices, trade deficit, and the exit of foreign investors from India pull the rupee down. US Fed’s interest rate hike combined with protectionist measures has hit currencies in emerging markets, including India. A brief review of the trade wars between the US and China is necessary to get an idea of the havoc potential, which is being predicted by many. In a second round, there have been tariff hikes on 200 billion dollars worth of Chinese imports; it’s currently only 10 per cent but could go up to 25 per cent once the Chinese retaliate. India being thus far relatively free of the turbulence from tariff increases, except in the area of steel and aluminium exports to the US, senses an opportunity to step in to replace China in the supply of many of the goods slapped with increased tariffs. If India can resolve the issues connected to imports of some US goods through the generalized system of preferences (GSP), it may be able to gain much greater access. However, at the end of it all, it is President Trump’s reaction and response which will dictate the course. China, Russia and Iran are the three countries around which the dynamics of India’s relationships will dictate the course of its foreign policy; the eco-strategic considerations being extremely high. The links with each of the above will need to be orchestrated in such a way that the relationship with the US is not adversely affected. The US badly needs India to balance the none too peaceful rise of China. It also knows that there are huge economic stakes in the Sino-Indian relationship. However, it is the Iran equation which the US probably takes most seriously. In a recent meeting with major oil producers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought a review of payment terms as part of the Indian government’s strategy to help counter a depreciating rupee and provide more flexibility in the purchase of energy from Iran. However, not much is likely to change on this front as the dollar trade system is well embedded and the US has no intention of changing it despite its own stakes in Middle Eastern energy having reduced to almost nought. India’s interest clearly lies in continuing to purchase Iran’s oil so as to pursue other strategic interests such as the Chabahar port and access to Afghanistan. However, it is likely to become an early victim of Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) being invoked to coerce it into withholding all economic ties with Iran, thus placing it in a strategic quandary. However, it can balance the relationship with the US and Russia through diversion of some of the arms and technology purchases to the US arms market and hope for waivers to CAATSA. The waiver for S-400 continues to be used as a coercive tool to influence India’s strategic behaviour. As India approaches its own general elections, the compulsions of domestic politics, dynamic economic factors and the geopolitics revolving around the US, Russia, China and Iran equations, are going to create an environment of thorough unpredictability. The government will need to wade through this very gingerly. (This article was originally published on DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Negotiating the fault lines

When the Berlin Wall came down and the Soviet Union dissolved and the Warsaw Pact disappeared, a few of us argued that the appropriate response would be to close down NATO and develop a new all-European peace system and policy for conflict-handling to replace the predominantly military security thinking that had dominated during the First Cold War.

I had a particular reason for arguing that at the time. As part of the research I did for my PhD (1981) on Denmark’s defence and security policy in a global perspective, I had interviewed a small number of middle-level civilian and military personnel at NATO’s HQ in Brussels. They all basically told me three things — remember this was the late 1970s, or about 10 years before the Cold War ended:

— My parents belong to a generation that knows what war is, we are here at NATO to prevent a repetition.

— NATO is for the maintenance of peace, not for war, and the most important thing is Art 5 in our treaty: If one member is attacked, all shall come to its rescue — “all for one and one for all” (the defensive principle, the musketeer pledge).

— The only reason NATO exists today is the presence and nature of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact.

Western leaders — that is, until one of the worst, Bill Clinton, took over in 1994 — showed statesmanship and told Gorbachev that they would not expand NATO an inch and that divided Germany would be neutral if unified. There was no talk of closing NATO in those circles, however. Nobody took Gorbachev’s intellectually sound and visionary idea about a new European House seriously.

The Soviet Union had lost and became militarily a dwarf in comparison to what it had been. And that wasn’t that strong either: The Warsaw Pact’s military expenditures varied between 60 and 80 per cent of those of NATO and it was vastly inferior in terms of technical quality, innovation capacity and discipline, but stronger in quantities, eg. the number of tanks.

We’re in Cold War 2; of course not a repetition because of all the differences between that world and today’s. Ten of the former Warsaw Pact countries are now full NATO members, neutral states back then, like Sweden and Austria, have abolished that wise policy.

Eight per cent of NATOs military expenditures is in spite of all the propaganda about Russia and Putin representing an existential threat to Europe and the US if not the whole world. Who said disinformation was used only by Russia?

The Clinton Administration decided to not give a damn about the promises made, and started the expansion of NATO in 1994, the new (humanitarian!!) interventionism in Yugoslavia — devoid of knowledge about its complexities, of common sense and without a UN Security Council mandate and one gross violation of international law after the other, including the bombing of Serbia to carve out a forever-failed state, Kosovo state — the second Albanian state in Europe. Oh Crimea, what a crime in comparison!

And then came, one-by-one, incrementally — the new NATO members right up under the skirts of Russia in total defiance of its history psychology and legitimate near-abroad security perceptions.

The wisdom of softer borders and neutrals, of dialogue and confidence-building — like Finland that started the OSCE, like Sweden under Palme that started common security and Germany under Brandt that started rapproachment and Ostpolitik etc — are all gone today.

Imagine a Russia-led alliance with 12 times more military than the US, making Mexico and Canada new members. Sure, Washington would love it.

Facts, analyses, intellectual understanding went out of the window long ago — in Western mainstream media and politics, from Right to Left too, the latter believing in humanitarian intervention and human rights advocates flying F-16.

We’re living in dangerous times because facts, knowledge, science and common sense play virtually no role anymore. And because the peace discourse has disappeared decades ago.

Today’s Western security policy managers are anti-intellectuals, seemingly unaware of their moral responsibilities and under much less control than when Dwight D. Eisenhower in his farewell speech in 1961 warned the world and the US itself about the MIC – the Military-Industrial Complex. (Bless him for doing so and curse those who never listened but made it cancer on Western civilisation).

Nearly 99 per cent of these security managers would not be able to offer an intellectually decent definition of concepts such as deterrence, defensive/offensive, conflict-resolution, or peace. They don’t write books.

But — at least some of them have a button close to them, with which they can kill millions. 
 
(This article was originally published on DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-irrelevance-of-nato-trans-atlantic-conflict-peace-discourse-2676487">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

When the Berlin Wall came down and the Soviet Union dissolved and the Warsaw Pact disappeared, a few of us argued that the appropriate response would be to close down NATO and develop a new all-European peace system and policy for conflict-handling to replace the predominantly military security thinking that had dominated during the First Cold War.

When the Berlin Wall came down and the Soviet Union dissolved and the Warsaw Pact disappeared, a few of us argued that the appropriate response would be to close down NATO and develop a new all-European peace system and policy for conflict-handling to replace the predominantly military security thinking that had dominated during the First Cold War. I had a particular reason for arguing that at the time. As part of the research I did for my PhD (1981) on Denmark’s defence and security policy in a global perspective, I had interviewed a small number of middle-level civilian and military personnel at NATO’s HQ in Brussels. They all basically told me three things — remember this was the late 1970s, or about 10 years before the Cold War ended: — My parents belong to a generation that knows what war is, we are here at NATO to prevent a repetition. — NATO is for the maintenance of peace, not for war, and the most important thing is Art 5 in our treaty: If one member is attacked, all shall come to its rescue — “all for one and one for all” (the defensive principle, the musketeer pledge). — The only reason NATO exists today is the presence and nature of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. Western leaders — that is, until one of the worst, Bill Clinton, took over in 1994 — showed statesmanship and told Gorbachev that they would not expand NATO an inch and that divided Germany would be neutral if unified. There was no talk of closing NATO in those circles, however. Nobody took Gorbachev’s intellectually sound and visionary idea about a new European House seriously. The Soviet Union had lost and became militarily a dwarf in comparison to what it had been. And that wasn’t that strong either: The Warsaw Pact’s military expenditures varied between 60 and 80 per cent of those of NATO and it was vastly inferior in terms of technical quality, innovation capacity and discipline, but stronger in quantities, eg. the number of tanks. We’re in Cold War 2; of course not a repetition because of all the differences between that world and today’s. Ten of the former Warsaw Pact countries are now full NATO members, neutral states back then, like Sweden and Austria, have abolished that wise policy. Eight per cent of NATOs military expenditures is in spite of all the propaganda about Russia and Putin representing an existential threat to Europe and the US if not the whole world. Who said disinformation was used only by Russia? The Clinton Administration decided to not give a damn about the promises made, and started the expansion of NATO in 1994, the new (humanitarian!!) interventionism in Yugoslavia — devoid of knowledge about its complexities, of common sense and without a UN Security Council mandate and one gross violation of international law after the other, including the bombing of Serbia to carve out a forever-failed state, Kosovo state — the second Albanian state in Europe. Oh Crimea, what a crime in comparison! And then came, one-by-one, incrementally — the new NATO members right up under the skirts of Russia in total defiance of its history psychology and legitimate near-abroad security perceptions. The wisdom of softer borders and neutrals, of dialogue and confidence-building — like Finland that started the OSCE, like Sweden under Palme that started common security and Germany under Brandt that started rapproachment and Ostpolitik etc — are all gone today. Imagine a Russia-led alliance with 12 times more military than the US, making Mexico and Canada new members. Sure, Washington would love it. Facts, analyses, intellectual understanding went out of the window long ago — in Western mainstream media and politics, from Right to Left too, the latter believing in humanitarian intervention and human rights advocates flying F-16. We’re living in dangerous times because facts, knowledge, science and common sense play virtually no role anymore. And because the peace discourse has disappeared decades ago. Today’s Western security policy managers are anti-intellectuals, seemingly unaware of their moral responsibilities and under much less control than when Dwight D. Eisenhower in his farewell speech in 1961 warned the world and the US itself about the MIC – the Military-Industrial Complex. (Bless him for doing so and curse those who never listened but made it cancer on Western civilisation). Nearly 99 per cent of these security managers would not be able to offer an intellectually decent definition of concepts such as deterrence, defensive/offensive, conflict-resolution, or peace. They don’t write books. But — at least some of them have a button close to them, with which they can kill millions. (This article was originally published on DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Blog: Irrelevance of NATO, trans-Atlantic conflict and peace discourse

Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a ride to his counterpart President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi along Formula 1 circuit in Sochi on Wednesday evening after their talks.

The vehicle for the president was provided by the Russian car company Aurus, whose limousine carried Putin during his inauguration in May.

Then it was the first public outing of the new limousine, part of the "Kortezh" series of cars which is also expected to include a sedan, a minivan and an off-road vehicle.

Under development since 2012, the limousine is produced by a Russian research institute known by the acronym NAMI, and will be distributed in partnership with Russian carmaker Sollers.

The new limousine is set to become the heir to the Russian-made ZIL sedans that for decades transported Soviet leaders.

Sisi is in Russia for a three-day visit during which the leaders of the two countries are expected discuss broadening of Russian-Egyptian cooperation and exchange opinions on the issues of the international agenda.

He held a meeting with Putin in Sochi on Wednesday where the two leaders signing a strategic agreement. The deal "opens up a new chapter in our cooperation" and "will take it towards new horizons," Sisi said after signing of the agreement.

Putin said the talks "were held in a business-like and constructive atmosphere".

The leaders "discussed the whole spectrum of bilateral relations as well as key international and regional problems," he said.

Kremlin had earlier announced that the two presidents would discuss the resumption of direct charter flights from Russia to the resort towns Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada. Russian flag carrier Aeroflot restarted flights to Egypt's capital Cairo in April.

The talks were, however, overshadowed by an attack on a college in Crimea in which at least 17 were killed and more than 40 injured.

Moscow initially described as it a "terrorist attack" before investigators reclassified it as a mass shooting.

Investigators said the shooting was carried out by a teenage student who killed himself. &nbsp;

Putin called for a minute's silence for the victims.

Russia is a key trading partner for Egypt, which is a main regional US ally and the most populous country in the Arab world.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a ride to his counterpart President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi along Formula 1 circuit in Sochi on Wednesday evening after their talks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a ride to his counterpart President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi along Formula 1 circuit in Sochi on Wednesday evening after their talks. The vehicle for the president was provided by the Russian car company Aurus, whose limousine carried Putin during his inauguration in May. Then it was the first public outing of the new limousine, part of the "Kortezh" series of cars which is also expected to include a sedan, a minivan and an off-road vehicle. Under development since 2012, the limousine is produced by a Russian research institute known by the acronym NAMI, and will be distributed in partnership with Russian carmaker Sollers. The new limousine is set to become the heir to the Russian-made ZIL sedans that for decades transported Soviet leaders. Sisi is in Russia for a three-day visit during which the leaders of the two countries are expected discuss broadening of Russian-Egyptian cooperation and exchange opinions on the issues of the international agenda. He held a meeting with Putin in Sochi on Wednesday where the two leaders signing a strategic agreement. The deal "opens up a new chapter in our cooperation" and "will take it towards new horizons," Sisi said after signing of the agreement. Putin said the talks "were held in a business-like and constructive atmosphere". The leaders "discussed the whole spectrum of bilateral relations as well as key international and regional problems," he said. Kremlin had earlier announced that the two presidents would discuss the resumption of direct charter flights from Russia to the resort towns Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada. Russian flag carrier Aeroflot restarted flights to Egypt's capital Cairo in April. The talks were, however, overshadowed by an attack on a college in Crimea in which at least 17 were killed and more than 40 injured. Moscow initially described as it a "terrorist attack" before investigators reclassified it as a mass shooting. Investigators said the shooting was carried out by a teenage student who killed himself. Putin called for a minute's silence for the victims. Russia is a key trading partner for Egypt, which is a main regional US ally and the most populous country in the Arab world. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Putin gives President Sisi a ride around F-1 circuit in Sochi

Russia said Wednesday it had opened a criminal investigation into a "terrorist attack" after an unidentified explosive device went off in a technical college in the city of Kerch in Moscow-annexed Crimea, killing at least 10 and injuring around 50.

The Investigative Committee, which probes major incidents, said in a statement that it had "opened a criminal case into a terrorist attack over the explosion in a college in Kerch."

A blast at a college in the Crimean port city of Kerch killed 10 people and injured dozens on Wednesday, Russian news agencies reported, citing sources.

"Initial information is that a gas canister blew up," the TASS news agency quoted an unnamed law enforcement source as saying.

Photographs from the scene of the blast posted by local media outlet Kerch.FM showed ground floor windows of the two-storey building had been blown out, and debris from the building was lying on the floor outside.

Ambulances and firefighters were at the scene. One person could be seen on a stretcher being carried onto a bus.

Russia said Wednesday it had opened a criminal investigation into a "terrorist attack" after an unidentified explosive device went off in a technical college in the city of Kerch in Moscow-annexed Crimea, killing at least 10 and injuring around 50.

Russia said Wednesday it had opened a criminal investigation into a "terrorist attack" after an unidentified explosive device went off in a technical college in the city of Kerch in Moscow-annexed Crimea, killing at least 10 and injuring around 50. The Investigative Committee, which probes major incidents, said in a statement that it had "opened a criminal case into a terrorist attack over the explosion in a college in Kerch." A blast at a college in the Crimean port city of Kerch killed 10 people and injured dozens on Wednesday, Russian news agencies reported, citing sources. "Initial information is that a gas canister blew up," the TASS news agency quoted an unnamed law enforcement source as saying. Photographs from the scene of the blast posted by local media outlet Kerch.FM showed ground floor windows of the two-storey building had been blown out, and debris from the building was lying on the floor outside. Ambulances and firefighters were at the scene. One person could be seen on a stretcher being carried onto a bus.

Russia opens probe into 'terrorist attack' over Crimea explosion: Investigators

For the better part of a week, Indian media and strategic circles have been obsessed with the S-400 Russian air defence (AD) system; even the Rafale deal was forgotten. There was reason to be so; after all, photographs of the barrel-shaped tubes atop massive automated platforms have long dominated the glossy visuals of defence technology magazines and journals the world over. Now India is buying systems to equip five regiments equivalent for a breath-stopping sum of Rs 40,000 crore. It is considered to be one of the biggest single equipment defence deal.

The surface-to-air missile-based AD system, also called Triumf, is designed to destroy air attack and reconnaissance means, including stealth aircraft, and any other aerial targets amid intensive counter-fire and jamming. Not since the advent of the Soviet SAM 6 missile system in the 1973 Yom Kippur War has an air defence system so revolutionised the defence against aircraft, drones and missiles. Even the US Patriot, now reasonably dated, does not have the aura of the S-400. How will it be tactically deployed is for operational commanders to decide but no AD system is foolproof and the reports on the predecessor equipment, the S-300, from the battlefields of Syria are none too laudatory even within Russian circles.

Even as S-400 was under obsessive discussion, a couple of international geopolitical trends could set the foreign policy agenda for the next couple of months. It became obvious that despite the Indo-US 2+2 Dialogue on September 6, 2018, there was no assurance that a waiver to the US legislation, Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), would be forthcoming for India while it continued the process of purchasing the S-400. President Trump has given a veiled threat too. For India, a concretised entry into any strategic relationship with little scope for flexibility has never been a part of its strategic thinking. Balance and multilateral approach has been the hallmark of its foreign policy for some years now and that needs to continue. However, in a world increasingly entering into a virtual second Cold War, it isn’t easy remaining neutral and pursuing your own national interests; these may well go counter to someone else’s interests. The S-400 deal may escape CAATSA but this is not the last Indo-Russian deal; shortly more deals for mechanised warfare equipment and helicopters are likely on the cards. Will each attract a coercive US process to put these off? Much will depend upon how India balances and fine tunes policy and dealings. However, going by some imperatives in Indian strategic interests, it appears that India will be treading on US toes once too often.

The question of Iran is going to come up very soon. Although it is learnt that India has arranged to lower its energy imports from Iran, at the same time it is also considering going ahead in defiance of the US diktat. It is looking at Chabahar and the future of the north-south link along with Iran and Russia. India’s strategic interests in Afghanistan, Central Asia and Eurasia are hugely served by Chabahar and retention of Iranian goodwill is a virtual necessity. That is going to be more than just challenging.

When it comes to economics and trade, can India afford to spurn the opportunity of the contemplated increase of its current $140 billion trade with the US to a whopping $500 billion by 2025. The Indian growth story, so necessary to take a larger segment of the population out of poverty, will be well served by such high trade levels with a developed economy. Besides that India needs the US for technology for many areas to include cleaning its environment, improving transportation and enhancing levels of education. It is not as if the US would develop an animosity towards India for the latter’s acts against US interests but it would endeavour to limit India’s support and cooperation with US adversaries. India would then continue playing this awkward game which appears to be becoming a compulsive norm for the future. Multilateralism could still go askew, event to event.

An issue which could draw much focus in the near future is the deteriorating perception about China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). What was touted as an economic outreach to lesser developed regions is now being looked upon as an instrument of coercive debt diplomacy for strategic gains. The effects are already telling in the re-negotiations sought by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Even Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is slated to take up this issue in his first official visit to China; to convert the scope of CPEC to the creation of jobs and strengthening of agriculture rather than construction of motorways. Already under pressure from US initiated trade war China’s strategic confidence could be dented through more re-negotiations of the BRI projects; after all BRI is President Xi Jinping’s flagship concept for China’s strategic expansion and connect. That could bring uncertainty in the strategic environment in which actions such as the recent near clash in the South China Sea between the PLA Navy and the US Navy, during a routine ‘freedom of navigation’ sail out, could trigger something much more serious.

This is equally true for Sino-Indian relations which after Doklam have remained stable yet tense despite some fine balancing done by both sides through the Wuhan summit, the Qingdao meeting and subsequent flurry of high level exchanges. With India showing greater resolve towards maintaining a strong commitment to Russia, the message could only be positive for Sino-Indian relations too. However, the last few weeks have also witnessed 14 transgressions by the PLA in Ladakh’s traditional areas where these occur; four more took place at the Uttarakhand border. China’s dented strategic self-perception arising out of the perceived lack of success of the BRI could lead to such transgressions becoming triggers leading to stand offs.

Lastly, in multilateralism it’s important to keep projecting the pursuance of national interest as the central theme because there will be a seasons for each partner during which others will perceive ill-will. A meeting of the Quadrilateral of Nations or a Malabar naval exercise will always give opportunity to China to resent the equation. It is something India will have to learn to live with while enhancing its own comprehensive national power to meet its national security objectives. 
&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-a-new-world-of-multilateralism-2674743">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

 
&nbsp;

For the better part of a week, Indian media and strategic circles have been obsessed with the S-400 Russian air defence (AD) system; even the Rafale deal was forgotten.

For the better part of a week, Indian media and strategic circles have been obsessed with the S-400 Russian air defence (AD) system; even the Rafale deal was forgotten. There was reason to be so; after all, photographs of the barrel-shaped tubes atop massive automated platforms have long dominated the glossy visuals of defence technology magazines and journals the world over. Now India is buying systems to equip five regiments equivalent for a breath-stopping sum of Rs 40,000 crore. It is considered to be one of the biggest single equipment defence deal. The surface-to-air missile-based AD system, also called Triumf, is designed to destroy air attack and reconnaissance means, including stealth aircraft, and any other aerial targets amid intensive counter-fire and jamming. Not since the advent of the Soviet SAM 6 missile system in the 1973 Yom Kippur War has an air defence system so revolutionised the defence against aircraft, drones and missiles. Even the US Patriot, now reasonably dated, does not have the aura of the S-400. How will it be tactically deployed is for operational commanders to decide but no AD system is foolproof and the reports on the predecessor equipment, the S-300, from the battlefields of Syria are none too laudatory even within Russian circles. Even as S-400 was under obsessive discussion, a couple of international geopolitical trends could set the foreign policy agenda for the next couple of months. It became obvious that despite the Indo-US 2+2 Dialogue on September 6, 2018, there was no assurance that a waiver to the US legislation, Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), would be forthcoming for India while it continued the process of purchasing the S-400. President Trump has given a veiled threat too. For India, a concretised entry into any strategic relationship with little scope for flexibility has never been a part of its strategic thinking. Balance and multilateral approach has been the hallmark of its foreign policy for some years now and that needs to continue. However, in a world increasingly entering into a virtual second Cold War, it isn’t easy remaining neutral and pursuing your own national interests; these may well go counter to someone else’s interests. The S-400 deal may escape CAATSA but this is not the last Indo-Russian deal; shortly more deals for mechanised warfare equipment and helicopters are likely on the cards. Will each attract a coercive US process to put these off? Much will depend upon how India balances and fine tunes policy and dealings. However, going by some imperatives in Indian strategic interests, it appears that India will be treading on US toes once too often. The question of Iran is going to come up very soon. Although it is learnt that India has arranged to lower its energy imports from Iran, at the same time it is also considering going ahead in defiance of the US diktat. It is looking at Chabahar and the future of the north-south link along with Iran and Russia. India’s strategic interests in Afghanistan, Central Asia and Eurasia are hugely served by Chabahar and retention of Iranian goodwill is a virtual necessity. That is going to be more than just challenging. When it comes to economics and trade, can India afford to spurn the opportunity of the contemplated increase of its current $140 billion trade with the US to a whopping $500 billion by 2025. The Indian growth story, so necessary to take a larger segment of the population out of poverty, will be well served by such high trade levels with a developed economy. Besides that India needs the US for technology for many areas to include cleaning its environment, improving transportation and enhancing levels of education. It is not as if the US would develop an animosity towards India for the latter’s acts against US interests but it would endeavour to limit India’s support and cooperation with US adversaries. India would then continue playing this awkward game which appears to be becoming a compulsive norm for the future. Multilateralism could still go askew, event to event. An issue which could draw much focus in the near future is the deteriorating perception about China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). What was touted as an economic outreach to lesser developed regions is now being looked upon as an instrument of coercive debt diplomacy for strategic gains. The effects are already telling in the re-negotiations sought by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Even Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is slated to take up this issue in his first official visit to China; to convert the scope of CPEC to the creation of jobs and strengthening of agriculture rather than construction of motorways. Already under pressure from US initiated trade war China’s strategic confidence could be dented through more re-negotiations of the BRI projects; after all BRI is President Xi Jinping’s flagship concept for China’s strategic expansion and connect. That could bring uncertainty in the strategic environment in which actions such as the recent near clash in the South China Sea between the PLA Navy and the US Navy, during a routine ‘freedom of navigation’ sail out, could trigger something much more serious. This is equally true for Sino-Indian relations which after Doklam have remained stable yet tense despite some fine balancing done by both sides through the Wuhan summit, the Qingdao meeting and subsequent flurry of high level exchanges. With India showing greater resolve towards maintaining a strong commitment to Russia, the message could only be positive for Sino-Indian relations too. However, the last few weeks have also witnessed 14 transgressions by the PLA in Ladakh’s traditional areas where these occur; four more took place at the Uttarakhand border. China’s dented strategic self-perception arising out of the perceived lack of success of the BRI could lead to such transgressions becoming triggers leading to stand offs. Lastly, in multilateralism it’s important to keep projecting the pursuance of national interest as the central theme because there will be a seasons for each partner during which others will perceive ill-will. A meeting of the Quadrilateral of Nations or a Malabar naval exercise will always give opportunity to China to resent the equation. It is something India will have to learn to live with while enhancing its own comprehensive national power to meet its national security objectives. (This article was originally published on DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

A new world of multilateralism

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was released on Sunday after being jailed for 20 days, news agency Reuters reported. Navalny was held on charges of staging an illegal protest on September 24.

Navalny was in jail for a month for a protest he organised on January 28, violating Russia's strict laws which forbid any public event without city hall's authorisation.&nbsp;

He accused authorities of sending him to prison to keep him from holding a protest on September 9 against the government's retirement age hike that coincided with local elections.&nbsp;

Navalny has called some of the biggest protests in Russia in recent years. His anti-corruption rhetoric is especially popular among younger people who follow his online channels and blogs.

He was barred from taking part in Russia's presidential election in March and served a month in prison in June after organising demonstrations ahead of Putin's fourth inauguration in May.&nbsp;

He was freed from prison the same day the World Cup started in Russia.&nbsp;

The Yale-educated lawyer has faced a string of charges since he became the leading opposition figure in Russia, campaigning against Putin's rule at mass demonstrations in 2011 and 2012.&nbsp;

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was released on Sunday after being jailed for 20 days, news agency Reuters reported. Navalny was held on charges of staging an illegal protest on September 24.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was released on Sunday after being jailed for 20 days, news agency Reuters reported. Navalny was held on charges of staging an illegal protest on September 24. Navalny was in jail for a month for a protest he organised on January 28, violating Russia's strict laws which forbid any public event without city hall's authorisation. He accused authorities of sending him to prison to keep him from holding a protest on September 9 against the government's retirement age hike that coincided with local elections. Navalny has called some of the biggest protests in Russia in recent years. His anti-corruption rhetoric is especially popular among younger people who follow his online channels and blogs. He was barred from taking part in Russia's presidential election in March and served a month in prison in June after organising demonstrations ahead of Putin's fourth inauguration in May. He was freed from prison the same day the World Cup started in Russia. The Yale-educated lawyer has faced a string of charges since he became the leading opposition figure in Russia, campaigning against Putin's rule at mass demonstrations in 2011 and 2012.

Russian opposition leader Navalny freed from jail

The next manned flight of a Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station (ISS) could take place on Nov. 28, Interfax news agency quoted a Russian space industry source on Saturday as saying.

A Russian cosmonaut and a US&nbsp;astronaut survived an aborted liftoff after a Soyuz rocket bound for the ISS failed in mid-air two minutes after the launch in Kazakhstan, leading to a dramatic emergency landing.

Russia's space agency Roscosmos was not immediately available for comment on Saturday on the Interfax report.

A Russian space agency official said on Friday that Russia still planned to go ahead as planned with its next manned flight to the ISS in December despite a rocket failure this week.

The next manned flight of a Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station (ISS) could take place on Nov. 28, Interfax news agency quoted a Russian space industry source on Saturday as saying.

The next manned flight of a Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station (ISS) could take place on Nov. 28, Interfax news agency quoted a Russian space industry source on Saturday as saying. A Russian cosmonaut and a US astronaut survived an aborted liftoff after a Soyuz rocket bound for the ISS failed in mid-air two minutes after the launch in Kazakhstan, leading to a dramatic emergency landing. Russia's space agency Roscosmos was not immediately available for comment on Saturday on the Interfax report. A Russian space agency official said on Friday that Russia still planned to go ahead as planned with its next manned flight to the ISS in December despite a rocket failure this week.

Russia may resume manned space flights on November 28: Report

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday that his country was eager to work with Egypt to boost airline security, three years after a bomb attack downed a Russian plane, killing more than 200 holidaymakers.

In a column published in the Egyptian state newspaper al-Ahram ahead of a visit by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to Moscow next week, Lavrov praised what he described as a "multifaceted partnership" with Egypt.

"It is important today to continue joint efforts that target supporting the safety of both countries' citizens, including aboard airplanes," Lavrov said in a commentary, published in Arabic.

Similar remarks appeared on the Russian news agency TASS.

Russia halted civilian air traffic to Egypt in October 2015 after Islamist militants detonated a bomb on a Russian Metrojet flight departing from the tourist resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, killing all 224 people on board.

Since then Egypt has allowed Russian experts to inspect its airport security arrangements several times and the two countries have signed an agreement covering civil aviation security.

Flights between Moscow and Cairo resumed in April, but Egypt hopes to secure the return of Russian flights to its Red Sea resorts.

The bombing and the Russian suspension were blows to Egypt's tourism industry, a key source of hard currency alongside remittances from Egyptians abroad and Suez Canal revenues.

The industry has been struggling after the upheaval triggered by a 2011 uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule.

Sisi, who has met Russian President Vladimir Putin several times since he became president in 2014, is due to visit Russia on Wednesday.

Russia is a key trading partner for Egypt, which is a main regional US&nbsp;ally and the most populous country in the Arab world.

Lavrov said relations between Russia and Egypt were strong, noting a $6.5 billion annual trade between the two countries.

Russia last year signed an agreement with Egypt to build a nuclear power plant at Dabaa and another deal earlier this year to set up an industrial zone near the Suez Canal.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday that his country was eager to work with Egypt to boost airline security, three years after a bomb attack downed a Russian plane, killing more than 200 holidaymakers.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday that his country was eager to work with Egypt to boost airline security, three years after a bomb attack downed a Russian plane, killing more than 200 holidaymakers. In a column published in the Egyptian state newspaper al-Ahram ahead of a visit by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to Moscow next week, Lavrov praised what he described as a "multifaceted partnership" with Egypt. "It is important today to continue joint efforts that target supporting the safety of both countries' citizens, including aboard airplanes," Lavrov said in a commentary, published in Arabic. Similar remarks appeared on the Russian news agency TASS. Russia halted civilian air traffic to Egypt in October 2015 after Islamist militants detonated a bomb on a Russian Metrojet flight departing from the tourist resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, killing all 224 people on board. Since then Egypt has allowed Russian experts to inspect its airport security arrangements several times and the two countries have signed an agreement covering civil aviation security. Flights between Moscow and Cairo resumed in April, but Egypt hopes to secure the return of Russian flights to its Red Sea resorts. The bombing and the Russian suspension were blows to Egypt's tourism industry, a key source of hard currency alongside remittances from Egyptians abroad and Suez Canal revenues. The industry has been struggling after the upheaval triggered by a 2011 uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule. Sisi, who has met Russian President Vladimir Putin several times since he became president in 2014, is due to visit Russia on Wednesday. Russia is a key trading partner for Egypt, which is a main regional US ally and the most populous country in the Arab world. Lavrov said relations between Russia and Egypt were strong, noting a $6.5 billion annual trade between the two countries. Russia last year signed an agreement with Egypt to build a nuclear power plant at Dabaa and another deal earlier this year to set up an industrial zone near the Suez Canal.

Lavrov says Russia keen to boost airline security with Egypt

China is waging an unprecedented campaign to influence American public opinion as November congressional elections approach and presents the greatest long-term counterintelligence threat to the United States, US&nbsp;security officials said on Wednesday.

Senators on the Homeland Security Committee questioned Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and FBI Director Christopher Wray about President Donald Trump's assertion that China is interfering in US&nbsp;elections and asked if Beijing poses a larger threat to the country than Moscow.

Nielsen told the panel that there were two types of threats to American election security from other nation: hacking or disruption of election infrastructure, which includes voter registration lists or voting machines, and influence campaigns.

"China absolutely is on an unprecedented - or exerting unprecedented effort to influence American opinion," Nielsen said. "We have not seen to date any Chinese attempts to compromise election infrastructure."

Wray went farther when asked whether China posed a larger threat than Russia, whose activities during the 2016 presidential election are the subject of a wide-ranging federal investigation that includes whether Moscow cooperated with the Trump campaign to sway the vote.

"China in many ways represents the broadest, most complicated, most long-term counterintelligence threat we face," Wray said. "Russia is in many ways fighting to stay relevant after the fall of the Soviet Union. They're fighting today's fight. China's is fighting tomorrow's fight."

Trump last month accused China of seeking to meddle in the November&nbsp;6 congressional elections, saying Beijing did not want his Republican Party to do well because of his pugnacious stance on trade.

"China has been attempting to interfere in our upcoming 2018 election, coming up in November. Against my administration,” Trump told a U.N. Security Council meeting.

Trump made no reference to suspected Russian meddling in the 2016 election and provided no evidence for his allegation about China, which Beijing immediately rejected during the same meeting.

China denied the allegations, as Russia has repeatedly done. Trump has denied his campaign worked with Russians to sway the election that put him in the White House.

China is waging an unprecedented campaign to influence American public opinion as November congressional elections approach and presents the greatest long-term counterintelligence threat to the United States, US security officials said on Wednesday.

China is waging an unprecedented campaign to influence American public opinion as November congressional elections approach and presents the greatest long-term counterintelligence threat to the United States, US security officials said on Wednesday. Senators on the Homeland Security Committee questioned Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and FBI Director Christopher Wray about President Donald Trump's assertion that China is interfering in US elections and asked if Beijing poses a larger threat to the country than Moscow. Nielsen told the panel that there were two types of threats to American election security from other nation: hacking or disruption of election infrastructure, which includes voter registration lists or voting machines, and influence campaigns. "China absolutely is on an unprecedented - or exerting unprecedented effort to influence American opinion," Nielsen said. "We have not seen to date any Chinese attempts to compromise election infrastructure." Wray went farther when asked whether China posed a larger threat than Russia, whose activities during the 2016 presidential election are the subject of a wide-ranging federal investigation that includes whether Moscow cooperated with the Trump campaign to sway the vote. "China in many ways represents the broadest, most complicated, most long-term counterintelligence threat we face," Wray said. "Russia is in many ways fighting to stay relevant after the fall of the Soviet Union. They're fighting today's fight. China's is fighting tomorrow's fight." Trump last month accused China of seeking to meddle in the November 6 congressional elections, saying Beijing did not want his Republican Party to do well because of his pugnacious stance on trade. "China has been attempting to interfere in our upcoming 2018 election, coming up in November. Against my administration,” Trump told a U.N. Security Council meeting. Trump made no reference to suspected Russian meddling in the 2016 election and provided no evidence for his allegation about China, which Beijing immediately rejected during the same meeting. China denied the allegations, as Russia has repeatedly done. Trump has denied his campaign worked with Russians to sway the election that put him in the White House.

China trumps Russia in counterterrorism threat to US: FBI Director Christopher Wray

The second of two Russians who Britain blames for the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal was named by investigative website Bellingcat on Monday as a military doctor for Russia's GRU intelligence service.

Bellingcat, which covers intelligence matters, named him as Alexander Yevgenyevich Mishkin, aged 39, who was charged by Britain last month under the name of Alexander Petrov.

Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper also named Mishkin in a separate report published on Monday.

British prosecutors charged Petrov and another man they named as Ruslan Boshirov in absentia with attempted murder for the Novichok nerve agent attack on Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury in March, but said they believed the suspects had used aliases to enter Britain.

Bellingcat last month identified Boshirov as a colonel in the GRU whose real name was Anatoliy Chepiga.

British police said they would not comment on speculation about the real identities of the two men facing charges, in response to a query about the latest report.

Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found slumped on a public bench in Salisbury, and the case prompted the biggest East-West diplomatic expulsions since the Cold War.

A woman later died from Novichok poisoning after her partner found a counterfeit perfume bottle which police believe had been used to smuggle the nerve agent into Britain.

Mishkin was born in July 1979 in the village of Loyga in the Archangelsk district of northern Russia, and until September 2014 his registered home address in Moscow was the same as the headquarters of the GRU, Bellingcat said.

"Bellingcat's identification process included multiple open sources, testimony from people familiar with the person, as well as copies of personally identifying documents, including a scanned copy of his passport," the website said.

Mishkin's GRU rank was unknown, it added, but based on his 15-year service was likely to be lieutenant colonel or colonel.

He was recruited by GRU during his studies at one of Russia's military medical academies, and between 2011 and 2018 he travelled repeatedly under the identity of Alexander Petrov, including to Ukraine and Moldova's breakaway territory of Transdniestria.

Russia denies any involvement in the poisoning, and the two men have said publicly they were tourists who had flown to London for fun and visited Salisbury to see its cathedral.

Russia's embassy in London did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment.

The second of two Russians who Britain blames for the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal was named by investigative website Bellingcat on Monday as a military doctor for Russia's GRU intelligence service.

The second of two Russians who Britain blames for the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal was named by investigative website Bellingcat on Monday as a military doctor for Russia's GRU intelligence service. Bellingcat, which covers intelligence matters, named him as Alexander Yevgenyevich Mishkin, aged 39, who was charged by Britain last month under the name of Alexander Petrov. Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper also named Mishkin in a separate report published on Monday. British prosecutors charged Petrov and another man they named as Ruslan Boshirov in absentia with attempted murder for the Novichok nerve agent attack on Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury in March, but said they believed the suspects had used aliases to enter Britain. Bellingcat last month identified Boshirov as a colonel in the GRU whose real name was Anatoliy Chepiga. British police said they would not comment on speculation about the real identities of the two men facing charges, in response to a query about the latest report. Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found slumped on a public bench in Salisbury, and the case prompted the biggest East-West diplomatic expulsions since the Cold War. A woman later died from Novichok poisoning after her partner found a counterfeit perfume bottle which police believe had been used to smuggle the nerve agent into Britain. Mishkin was born in July 1979 in the village of Loyga in the Archangelsk district of northern Russia, and until September 2014 his registered home address in Moscow was the same as the headquarters of the GRU, Bellingcat said. "Bellingcat's identification process included multiple open sources, testimony from people familiar with the person, as well as copies of personally identifying documents, including a scanned copy of his passport," the website said. Mishkin's GRU rank was unknown, it added, but based on his 15-year service was likely to be lieutenant colonel or colonel. He was recruited by GRU during his studies at one of Russia's military medical academies, and between 2011 and 2018 he travelled repeatedly under the identity of Alexander Petrov, including to Ukraine and Moldova's breakaway territory of Transdniestria. Russia denies any involvement in the poisoning, and the two men have said publicly they were tourists who had flown to London for fun and visited Salisbury to see its cathedral. Russia's embassy in London did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment.

Second Russian blamed for Skripal poisoning named as GRU doctor: Report 

Amid fears of US sanctions over the S-400 deal with Russia, Army Chief Bipin Rawat today asserted that India follows an independent policy and was also keen on getting the Kamov helicopters and other weapon systems from Moscow.

India and Russia on Friday signed a multi-billion-dollar deal to procure the S-400 Trimuf S-400 air defence system, which could attract sanctions under the Countering American Activities Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).&nbsp;

The act is primarily aimed at countering Russia, Iran and North Korea.

India and Russia concluded the deal notwithstanding the US warning&nbsp;that it would be a "focus area" for it to implement punitive sanctions against a nation undertaking "significant" business deals with the Russians.

General Rawat, who returned Saturday night after a six-day visit to Russia, held talks with military officials of that country to enhance cooperation between the two countries. He said the Russians were very keen in associating with the Indian Army and defence forces. &nbsp;

"Because they do understand that we are a strong Army, capable of standing up to what is right for us based on our strategic thought process," he said.

The Army Chief was speaking at the General KV Krishna Rao Memorial lecture in New Delhi.

On his Russian visit, General Rawat recalled a question posed to him by a Russian naval officer that India seemed to be looking westwards at America, which has put sanctions on Russia, and that Washington has also threatened to impose restrictions on New Delhi for dealing with Moscow. &nbsp;

To this, General Rawat responded saying, "Yes, we do appreciate that there could be sanctions on us, but we follow an independent policy," he said.

General Rawat also sought to assuage Russian concerns over its growing ties with the US.

"You (Russia) can be rest assured (that) while we may be associating with America in getting some technology, but we follow an independent policy.

"I told them while we are talking sanctions and you are questioning on sanctions, President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at this juncture, are signing the treaty on purchase of S-400 weapon system inspite of the fact that we may face challenges from America in the future," the Army Chief said. &nbsp;

General Rawat said India was looking forward to procuring Kamov helicopters and other weapon systems and technology from Russia.

He said New Delhi was looking to get space based systems and technologies from Moscow to enhance its space capabilities.

"There is no end in sight to the manner in which we can cooperate with your country. I think the way forward is to see what is best for the nation, strategically important for us," he had said.

Amid fears of US sanctions over the S-400 deal with Russia, Army Chief Bipin Rawat today asserted that India follows an independent policy and was also keen on getting the Kamov helicopters and other weapon systems from Moscow.

Amid fears of US sanctions over the S-400 deal with Russia, Army Chief Bipin Rawat today asserted that India follows an independent policy and was also keen on getting the Kamov helicopters and other weapon systems from Moscow. India and Russia on Friday signed a multi-billion-dollar deal to procure the S-400 Trimuf S-400 air defence system, which could attract sanctions under the Countering American Activities Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The act is primarily aimed at countering Russia, Iran and North Korea. India and Russia concluded the deal notwithstanding the US warning that it would be a "focus area" for it to implement punitive sanctions against a nation undertaking "significant" business deals with the Russians. General Rawat, who returned Saturday night after a six-day visit to Russia, held talks with military officials of that country to enhance cooperation between the two countries. He said the Russians were very keen in associating with the Indian Army and defence forces. "Because they do understand that we are a strong Army, capable of standing up to what is right for us based on our strategic thought process," he said. The Army Chief was speaking at the General KV Krishna Rao Memorial lecture in New Delhi. On his Russian visit, General Rawat recalled a question posed to him by a Russian naval officer that India seemed to be looking westwards at America, which has put sanctions on Russia, and that Washington has also threatened to impose restrictions on New Delhi for dealing with Moscow. To this, General Rawat responded saying, "Yes, we do appreciate that there could be sanctions on us, but we follow an independent policy," he said. General Rawat also sought to assuage Russian concerns over its growing ties with the US. "You (Russia) can be rest assured (that) while we may be associating with America in getting some technology, but we follow an independent policy. "I told them while we are talking sanctions and you are questioning on sanctions, President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at this juncture, are signing the treaty on purchase of S-400 weapon system inspite of the fact that we may face challenges from America in the future," the Army Chief said. General Rawat said India was looking forward to procuring Kamov helicopters and other weapon systems and technology from Russia. He said New Delhi was looking to get space based systems and technologies from Moscow to enhance its space capabilities. "There is no end in sight to the manner in which we can cooperate with your country. I think the way forward is to see what is best for the nation, strategically important for us," he had said.

India has independent policy: Army chief after S-400 deal with Russia

Russia Friday reaffirmed its "unwavering support" to India for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council as both nations called for reform of the powerful UN organ to better reflect the current world order and make it more effective in dealing with emerging global challenges.

The strong backing by Russia was expressed in the joint statement issued after the 19th India-Russia summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin here.

Russia and India also underlined the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear programme in order to support international peace and security, to strengthen non-proliferation regime and to develop normal economic cooperation with Iran.

The statement assumes significance amid US' warning to all purchasers of Iranian oil to bring it down to zero by November 4 or face imminent sanctions from it.&nbsp;

The two sides called for all issues related to the Iranian nuclear programme to be resolved peacefully and through dialogue.

Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump had pulled the US out of a nuclear agreement that the administration of former President Barack Obama had signed with Iran.

During the talks here, Russia and India also reaffirmed their commitment to their special and privileged strategic partnership and asserted that this relationship was an important factor for global peace and stability.

The two sides reaffirmed the need to reform the UN Security Council to better reflect the current world order and make it more effective in dealing with emerging global challenges, said the statement titled, 'India-Russia: an Enduring Partnership in a Changing World'.

"Russia reiterated its unwavering support to India for Permanent Membership in an expanded UNSC. Both sides resolved to work closely to ensure peace, security and equitable development both regionally and globally and to coordinate their efforts to address challenges to the stability of the world order," it said.

Currently, the five veto-wielding permanent members of the United Nations Security Council are China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US.&nbsp;

Russia Friday reaffirmed its "unwavering support" to India for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council as both nations called for reform of the powerful UN organ to better reflect the current world order and make it more effective in dealing with emerging global challenges.

Russia Friday reaffirmed its "unwavering support" to India for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council as both nations called for reform of the powerful UN organ to better reflect the current world order and make it more effective in dealing with emerging global challenges. The strong backing by Russia was expressed in the joint statement issued after the 19th India-Russia summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin here. Russia and India also underlined the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear programme in order to support international peace and security, to strengthen non-proliferation regime and to develop normal economic cooperation with Iran. The statement assumes significance amid US' warning to all purchasers of Iranian oil to bring it down to zero by November 4 or face imminent sanctions from it. The two sides called for all issues related to the Iranian nuclear programme to be resolved peacefully and through dialogue. Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump had pulled the US out of a nuclear agreement that the administration of former President Barack Obama had signed with Iran. During the talks here, Russia and India also reaffirmed their commitment to their special and privileged strategic partnership and asserted that this relationship was an important factor for global peace and stability. The two sides reaffirmed the need to reform the UN Security Council to better reflect the current world order and make it more effective in dealing with emerging global challenges, said the statement titled, 'India-Russia: an Enduring Partnership in a Changing World'. "Russia reiterated its unwavering support to India for Permanent Membership in an expanded UNSC. Both sides resolved to work closely to ensure peace, security and equitable development both regionally and globally and to coordinate their efforts to address challenges to the stability of the world order," it said. Currently, the five veto-wielding permanent members of the United Nations Security Council are China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US.

Russia reiterates support for India's permanent seat in UNSC

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