President Trump triggered a Twitter firestorm within his own party on Sunday attacking&nbsp;Republican senator Bob Corker labelling him as a man &quot;lacking guts&quot;.

The Tennessee senator shot back at the President saying, &quot;White House is being run as an adult daycare center.&quot;

The Twitter war began&nbsp;after President Trump in a tweet said: &quot;Senator Bob Corker &quot;begged&quot; me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said &quot;NO&quot; and he dropped out (said he could not win without my endorsement). He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said &quot;NO THANKS.&quot; He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal!.&quot;

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Senator Bob Corker &quot;begged&quot; me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said &quot;NO&quot; and he dropped out (said he could not win without...
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/917026789188399105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&quot;Hence, I would fully expect Corker to be a negative voice and stand in the way of our great agenda. Didn&#39;t have the guts to run!,&quot; the president added on Twitter.

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..my endorsement). He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said &quot;NO THANKS.&quot; He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/917029060471152640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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...Hence, I would fully expect Corker to be a negative voice and stand in the way of our great agenda. Didn&#39;t have the guts to run!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/917030148867682304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Bob Corker who chairs the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee slammed the US president saying, &quot;It&#39;s a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning.&quot;

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It&#39;s a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning.
&mdash; Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenBobCorker/status/917045348820049920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2017</a></blockquote>
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In an interview with the New York Times later, Corker said,&quot; President Donald Trump risks setting the nation on the path to World War III.&quot;

&quot;He concerns me,&quot; Corker told The New York Times, adding: &quot;He would have to concern anyone who cares about our nation.&quot;

President Trump in a tweet had said senator Bob Corker "begged" me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee

President Trump triggered a Twitter firestorm within his own party on Sunday attacking Republican senator Bob Corker labelling him as a man "lacking guts". The Tennessee senator shot back at the President saying, "White House is being run as an adult daycare center." The Twitter war began after President Trump in a tweet said: "Senator Bob Corker "begged" me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said "NO" and he dropped out (said he could not win without my endorsement). He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said "NO THANKS." He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal!." Senator Bob Corker "begged" me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said "NO" and he dropped out (said he could not win without... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2017 × "Hence, I would fully expect Corker to be a negative voice and stand in the way of our great agenda. Didn't have the guts to run!," the president added on Twitter. ..my endorsement). He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said "NO THANKS." He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2017 × ...Hence, I would fully expect Corker to be a negative voice and stand in the way of our great agenda. Didn't have the guts to run! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2017 × Bob Corker who chairs the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee slammed the US president saying, "It's a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning." It's a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning. — Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) October 8, 2017 × In an interview with the New York Times later, Corker said," President Donald Trump risks setting the nation on the path to World War III." "He concerns me," Corker told The New York Times, adding: "He would have to concern anyone who cares about our nation."

President Trump risks the nation on the path to World War III: Republican senator Bob Corker

US President Donald Trump and Republican senator Bob Corker engaged in an extraordinarily pointed back-and-forth on Sunday, with Trump saying the senator lacked &quot;guts&quot; and Corker replying that the White House had become &quot;an adult daycare center.&quot;

The highly unusual exchange seemed to come out of nowhere on a rainy Sunday morning that Trump began in the White House before skies cleared and he headed to a nearby golf course.&nbsp;

Corker, a respected moderate who once supported Trump, has emerged in recent months as one of the president&#39;s most outspoken Republican critics. He recently said that only the presence of the generals in Trump&#39;s inner circle had kept the White House from descending into &quot;chaos.&quot;

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<h5>The highly unusual exchange seemed to come out of nowhere on a rainy Sunday morning that Trump began in the White House before skies cleared and he headed to a nearby golf course</h5>
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Trump made no mention of that remark in his tweets Sunday, instead attacking Corker for his recent decision not to seek re-election and saying that as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee the Tennessee senator bore heavy responsibility for what Trump considers the deeply flawed nuclear deal with Iran.

In a series of tweets, Trump wrote: &quot;Senator Bob Corker &#39;begged&#39; me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said &#39;NO&#39; and he dropped out (said he could not win without...

&quot;..my endorsement). He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said &#39;NO THANKS.&#39; He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal!&quot;

Trump added he expected Corker to be a &quot;negative voice,&quot; and that he &quot;didn&#39;t have the guts to run.&quot;

The generals and &#39;chaos&#39; 
Trump&#39;s tweetstorm was not particularly unusual -- he has rarely been one to calmly endure criticism -- but Corker&#39;s blunt rebuttal was strikingly rare, coming from a fellow Republican in such a prominent position.

The senator, perhaps feeling liberated by his decision not to seek re-election, tweeted: &quot;It&#39;s a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning,&quot; hinting that presidential caretakers were not doing their job.

A few hours later, Trump was online once again -- hitting back to suggest Corker&#39;s achievements in office have been limited.

&quot;Bob Corker gave us the Iran Deal, &amp; that&#39;s about it. We need HealthCare, we need Tax Cuts/Reform, we need people that can get the job done!&quot; he wrote.

The Trump-Corker feud, long in the making, flared up last week after Trump seemed to pull the rug out from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as the Texan attempted to open lines of dialogue with North Korea. Trump tweeted that Tillerson was &quot;wasting his time trying to negotiate.&quot; &nbsp;

A clearly frustrated Corker told reporters on Wednesday that Tillerson was not getting the support he needed from above.&nbsp;

He then added, &quot;I think Secretary Tillerson, Secretary (of Defense James) Mattis and Chief of Staff (John) Kelly are those people that help separate our country from chaos, and I support them very much.&quot;

While he did not mention Trump specifically, his meaning seemed clear.

Corker had supported Trump&#39;s presidential campaign. He reportedly was considered as a possible vice presidential running mate to Trump, and later as a potential secretary of state.

But the relationship took a turn for the worse in August. After Trump&#39;s much-criticized remarks about the violent protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, Corker said that Trump had &quot;not yet been able to demonstrate the stability, nor some of the competence, that he needs to demonstrate.&quot;

Without such qualities and a better understanding by Trump of &quot;what made this nation great,&quot; Corker told reporters, &quot;our nation is going to go through great peril.&quot;

Senator Bob Corker, a respected moderate who once supported Trump, has emerged in recent months as one of the president's most outspoken Republican critics

US President Donald Trump and Republican senator Bob Corker engaged in an extraordinarily pointed back-and-forth on Sunday, with Trump saying the senator lacked "guts" and Corker replying that the White House had become "an adult daycare center." The highly unusual exchange seemed to come out of nowhere on a rainy Sunday morning that Trump began in the White House before skies cleared and he headed to a nearby golf course. Corker, a respected moderate who once supported Trump, has emerged in recent months as one of the president's most outspoken Republican critics. He recently said that only the presence of the generals in Trump's inner circle had kept the White House from descending into "chaos." The highly unusual exchange seemed to come out of nowhere on a rainy Sunday morning that Trump began in the White House before skies cleared and he headed to a nearby golf course × Trump made no mention of that remark in his tweets Sunday, instead attacking Corker for his recent decision not to seek re-election and saying that as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee the Tennessee senator bore heavy responsibility for what Trump considers the deeply flawed nuclear deal with Iran. In a series of tweets, Trump wrote: "Senator Bob Corker 'begged' me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said 'NO' and he dropped out (said he could not win without... "..my endorsement). He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said 'NO THANKS.' He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal!" Trump added he expected Corker to be a "negative voice," and that he "didn't have the guts to run." The generals and 'chaos' Trump's tweetstorm was not particularly unusual -- he has rarely been one to calmly endure criticism -- but Corker's blunt rebuttal was strikingly rare, coming from a fellow Republican in such a prominent position. The senator, perhaps feeling liberated by his decision not to seek re-election, tweeted: "It's a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning," hinting that presidential caretakers were not doing their job. A few hours later, Trump was online once again -- hitting back to suggest Corker's achievements in office have been limited. "Bob Corker gave us the Iran Deal, & that's about it. We need HealthCare, we need Tax Cuts/Reform, we need people that can get the job done!" he wrote. The Trump-Corker feud, long in the making, flared up last week after Trump seemed to pull the rug out from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as the Texan attempted to open lines of dialogue with North Korea. Trump tweeted that Tillerson was "wasting his time trying to negotiate." A clearly frustrated Corker told reporters on Wednesday that Tillerson was not getting the support he needed from above. He then added, "I think Secretary Tillerson, Secretary (of Defense James) Mattis and Chief of Staff (John) Kelly are those people that help separate our country from chaos, and I support them very much." While he did not mention Trump specifically, his meaning seemed clear. Corker had supported Trump's presidential campaign. He reportedly was considered as a possible vice presidential running mate to Trump, and later as a potential secretary of state. But the relationship took a turn for the worse in August. After Trump's much-criticized remarks about the violent protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, Corker said that Trump had "not yet been able to demonstrate the stability, nor some of the competence, that he needs to demonstrate." Without such qualities and a better understanding by Trump of "what made this nation great," Corker told reporters, "our nation is going to go through great peril."

Trump says senator lacks 'guts', who replies White House has become 'adult daycare centre'

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said &quot;only one thing will work&quot; in dealing with North Korea after previous administrations had talked to Pyongyang without results.

&quot;Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid,&quot; Trump said in a tweet. &quot;...Hasn&#39;t worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, making fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!&quot;

Trump did not make clear to what he was referring, but his comments seemed to be a further suggestion that military action was on his mind.

The president has previously said the United States would &quot;totally destroy&quot; North Korea if necessary to protect itself and its allies from Pyongyang&#39;s nuclear threats.

Earlier this week, during a meeting with top U.S. military leaders and their spouses, Trump told reporters it was the &quot;calm before the storm.&quot; Asked for clarification then on what he meant, Trump said: &quot;You&#39;ll find out.&quot;

Speaking to reporters on Saturday ahead of a trip to North Carolina, Trump said he had nothing more to clarify.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders referred to Iran and North Korea the following day when asked about Trump&#39;s &quot;calm before the storm&quot; comments.

Asked on Saturday about Trump&#39;s tweet, Sanders said she had nothing to add to the president&#39;s comments.

The Pentagon referred a question for clarification to the White House and said the Defense Department&#39;s job was to &quot;present the president military options and carry out orders.&quot;

Trump repeatedly has made clear his distaste for dialogue with North Korea. On Sunday he dismissed the idea of talks as a waste of time, a day after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Washington was maintaining open lines of communication with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un&#39;s government.

Trump said on Saturday that he had a good relationship with his secretary of state despite some disagreements.

&quot;We have a very good relationship. We disagree on a couple of things. Sometimes I&rsquo;d like him to be a little bit tougher, but other than that we have a very good relationship,&rdquo; he said.

A Russian lawmaker on Friday was quoted saying North Korea was preparing to test a long-range missile that it believes can reach the west coast of the United States. Anton Morozov, a member of the Russian lower house of parliament&#39;s international affairs committee, was part of a Russian delegation that visited Pyongyang from Oct. 2-6, according to Russian RIA news agency.

North Korea&#39;s nuclear weapons and missile programs have driven up tensions in the region and around the world in recent months, particularly after it conducted a test explosion of what it said was a hydrogen bomb.

Trump did not make clear to what he was referring, but his comments seemed to be a further suggestion that military action was on his mind

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said "only one thing will work" in dealing with North Korea after previous administrations had talked to Pyongyang without results. "Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid," Trump said in a tweet. "...Hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, making fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!" Trump did not make clear to what he was referring, but his comments seemed to be a further suggestion that military action was on his mind. The president has previously said the United States would "totally destroy" North Korea if necessary to protect itself and its allies from Pyongyang's nuclear threats. Earlier this week, during a meeting with top U.S. military leaders and their spouses, Trump told reporters it was the "calm before the storm." Asked for clarification then on what he meant, Trump said: "You'll find out." Speaking to reporters on Saturday ahead of a trip to North Carolina, Trump said he had nothing more to clarify. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders referred to Iran and North Korea the following day when asked about Trump's "calm before the storm" comments. Asked on Saturday about Trump's tweet, Sanders said she had nothing to add to the president's comments. The Pentagon referred a question for clarification to the White House and said the Defense Department's job was to "present the president military options and carry out orders." Trump repeatedly has made clear his distaste for dialogue with North Korea. On Sunday he dismissed the idea of talks as a waste of time, a day after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Washington was maintaining open lines of communication with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's government. Trump said on Saturday that he had a good relationship with his secretary of state despite some disagreements. "We have a very good relationship. We disagree on a couple of things. Sometimes I’d like him to be a little bit tougher, but other than that we have a very good relationship,” he said. A Russian lawmaker on Friday was quoted saying North Korea was preparing to test a long-range missile that it believes can reach the west coast of the United States. Anton Morozov, a member of the Russian lower house of parliament's international affairs committee, was part of a Russian delegation that visited Pyongyang from Oct. 2-6, according to Russian RIA news agency. North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs have driven up tensions in the region and around the world in recent months, particularly after it conducted a test explosion of what it said was a hydrogen bomb.

Trump says 'only one thing will work' with North Korea

President Donald Trump on Sunday defended US efforts to bring relief to storm-battered Puerto Rico, even as one island official said Trump was trying to gloss over &quot;things that are not going well.&quot;

A day after Trump launched a Twitter attack against San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz following her desperate pleas for more help, he tweeted that &quot;we have done a great job with the almost impossible situation in Puerto Rico.&quot;&nbsp;

Trump said US military teams and the Federal Emergency Management Agency were doing &quot;amazing work&quot; and credited the island&#39;s governor and others with a &quot;fantastic job.&quot;&nbsp;

But two weeks after devastating Hurricane Maria left much of the island without electricity, fresh water or sufficient food, many Puerto Ricans seemed to have a far gloomier outlook.&nbsp;

Hilda Lopez, in her 80s, broke into tears when approached as she left Mass at San Juan&#39;s Cathedral.

&quot;It pains me that the president of the United States has expressed himself the way he has in recent days. I don&#39;t know if it&#39;s because he doesn&#39;t appreciate the pain&quot; that Puerto Ricans are suffering.

&#39;Looking for an excuse&#39;

Trump, in one tweet Sunday, said that those who continued to criticize the relief effort were either &quot;Fake News or politically motivated ingrates.&quot;

Mayor Cruz, in an interview with CNN, shrugged off the criticism. She told CNN that millions were still in dire circumstances and that Trump seemed to be &quot;looking for an excuse for things that are not going well.&quot;

Trump&#39;s criticism has drawn sharp retorts even from within his Republican Party.

&quot;When people are in the middle of a disaster, you don&#39;t start trying to criticize them,&quot; Ohio Governor John Kasich, a presidential hopeful in 2016, said on CNN. &quot;You got to be bigger than the nonsense.&quot;

And Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, told CNN: &quot;Speaking from his fancy golf club, playing golf with his billionaire friends, attacking the mayor of San Juan, who is struggling to bring electricity to the island, food to the island, water to the island, gas to the island, that is just -- it is unspeakable.

&quot;And I don&#39;t know what world Trump is living in.&quot;

Trump spent Sunday morning at his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, before traveling to another golf course in nearby Jersey City to present the trophy to the winner of the Presidents Cup tournament. He dedicated the tournament trophy to all recent US hurricane victims.&nbsp;

&quot;On behalf of all of the people of Texas, and... if you look today and you see what&#39;s happening, how horrible it is but we have it under really great control, Puerto Rico,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

&quot;And the people of Florida who have really suffered over this last period of time with the hurricanes,&quot; Trump said before presenting the trophy to US captain Steve Stricker.

&quot;I want to just remember them, and we&#39;re going to dedicate this trophy to all those people who went through so much, that we love, that are part of our great state, really a part of our great nation,&quot; Trump said.

&nbsp;&#39;A long way to go&#39;&nbsp;

The Trump administration sent several top officials onto Sunday talk shows with the message that the relief effort is going well, despite complaints that the federal effort in Puerto Rico has fallen short of the work done after hurricanes ravaged Texas, Florida, and Louisiana.

&quot;The administration&#39;s done an extraordinary job of delivering goods and services to people,&quot; said White House economics adviser Gary Cohn, appearing on Fox News Sunday. &quot;We&#39;re working full-speed ahead.&quot;

FEMA administrator Brock Long offered a slightly more cautious assessment, telling ABC&#39;s &quot;This Week&quot; that &quot;we&#39;ve got a long way to go.&quot;

Long said the storms that struck Puerto Rico -- Irma and Maria -- greatly magnified the challenge for relief workers by damaging or wiping out some 3,200 roads or bridges.

Still, he said, &quot;We (have) pushed everything into that island that we can.&quot;

The US Defense Department meanwhile reported that it was continuing efforts to bring relief even to the most isolated communities, while repairing roads, ports, and electrical networks, and reinforcing the badly eroded Guajataca dam. Only one-tenth of the island has cell service.&nbsp;

The Pentagon said 59 of 69 hospitals surveyed were partly or fully operational. The Navy hospital ship Comfort is scheduled to arrive in San Juan on Wednesday.

Outside San Juan Cathedral on Sunday, 57-year-old retiree Aida Rosario said she, too, would welcome a Trump visit.

&quot;Let Trump come, let him see how things are here, let him experience what we are going through,&quot; she said.&nbsp;

&quot;There are people who can hardly eat -- or maybe once a day...&nbsp;

&quot;We are in difficult times.&quot;

A day after Trump launched a Twitter attack against San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz following her desperate pleas for more help, he tweeted that 'we have done a great job with the almost impossible situation in Puerto Rico'

President Donald Trump on Sunday defended US efforts to bring relief to storm-battered Puerto Rico, even as one island official said Trump was trying to gloss over "things that are not going well." A day after Trump launched a Twitter attack against San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz following her desperate pleas for more help, he tweeted that "we have done a great job with the almost impossible situation in Puerto Rico." Trump said US military teams and the Federal Emergency Management Agency were doing "amazing work" and credited the island's governor and others with a "fantastic job." But two weeks after devastating Hurricane Maria left much of the island without electricity, fresh water or sufficient food, many Puerto Ricans seemed to have a far gloomier outlook. Hilda Lopez, in her 80s, broke into tears when approached as she left Mass at San Juan's Cathedral. "It pains me that the president of the United States has expressed himself the way he has in recent days. I don't know if it's because he doesn't appreciate the pain" that Puerto Ricans are suffering. 'Looking for an excuse' Trump, in one tweet Sunday, said that those who continued to criticize the relief effort were either "Fake News or politically motivated ingrates." Mayor Cruz, in an interview with CNN, shrugged off the criticism. She told CNN that millions were still in dire circumstances and that Trump seemed to be "looking for an excuse for things that are not going well." Trump's criticism has drawn sharp retorts even from within his Republican Party. "When people are in the middle of a disaster, you don't start trying to criticize them," Ohio Governor John Kasich, a presidential hopeful in 2016, said on CNN. "You got to be bigger than the nonsense." And Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, told CNN: "Speaking from his fancy golf club, playing golf with his billionaire friends, attacking the mayor of San Juan, who is struggling to bring electricity to the island, food to the island, water to the island, gas to the island, that is just -- it is unspeakable. "And I don't know what world Trump is living in." Trump spent Sunday morning at his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, before traveling to another golf course in nearby Jersey City to present the trophy to the winner of the Presidents Cup tournament. He dedicated the tournament trophy to all recent US hurricane victims. "On behalf of all of the people of Texas, and... if you look today and you see what's happening, how horrible it is but we have it under really great control, Puerto Rico," he said. "And the people of Florida who have really suffered over this last period of time with the hurricanes," Trump said before presenting the trophy to US captain Steve Stricker. "I want to just remember them, and we're going to dedicate this trophy to all those people who went through so much, that we love, that are part of our great state, really a part of our great nation," Trump said. 'A long way to go' The Trump administration sent several top officials onto Sunday talk shows with the message that the relief effort is going well, despite complaints that the federal effort in Puerto Rico has fallen short of the work done after hurricanes ravaged Texas, Florida, and Louisiana. "The administration's done an extraordinary job of delivering goods and services to people," said White House economics adviser Gary Cohn, appearing on Fox News Sunday. "We're working full-speed ahead." FEMA administrator Brock Long offered a slightly more cautious assessment, telling ABC's "This Week" that "we've got a long way to go." Long said the storms that struck Puerto Rico -- Irma and Maria -- greatly magnified the challenge for relief workers by damaging or wiping out some 3,200 roads or bridges. Still, he said, "We (have) pushed everything into that island that we can." The US Defense Department meanwhile reported that it was continuing efforts to bring relief even to the most isolated communities, while repairing roads, ports, and electrical networks, and reinforcing the badly eroded Guajataca dam. Only one-tenth of the island has cell service. The Pentagon said 59 of 69 hospitals surveyed were partly or fully operational. The Navy hospital ship Comfort is scheduled to arrive in San Juan on Wednesday. Outside San Juan Cathedral on Sunday, 57-year-old retiree Aida Rosario said she, too, would welcome a Trump visit. "Let Trump come, let him see how things are here, let him experience what we are going through," she said. "There are people who can hardly eat -- or maybe once a day... "We are in difficult times."

Trump defends Puerto Rico effort, but his tweets draw new criticism

A government based in eastern&nbsp;Libya&nbsp;said on Wednesday it would bar entry to US&nbsp;citizens after President Donald Trump&#39;s administration included&nbsp;Libya&nbsp;in a new travel ban.

The eastern-based government of Abdullah al-Thinni is aligned with&nbsp;Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar and is opposed to the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli.

Announcing its ban, the eastern-based government said it was responding to &quot;a dangerous escalation that targets&nbsp;Libyan citizens and puts them in the same basket as the terrorists against whom our... armed forces are fighting&quot;.

President Donald Trump's administration included?Libya?in a new travel ban

A government based in eastern Libya said on Wednesday it would bar entry to US citizens after President Donald Trump's administration included Libya in a new travel ban. The eastern-based government of Abdullah al-Thinni is aligned with Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar and is opposed to the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli. Announcing its ban, the eastern-based government said it was responding to "a dangerous escalation that targets Libyan citizens and puts them in the same basket as the terrorists against whom our... armed forces are fighting".

East Libyan government issues retaliatory entry ban against US citizens

President Donald Trump warned North Korea on Tuesday that any US&nbsp;military option would be &quot;devastating&quot; for Pyongyang, but said the use of force was not Washington&#39;s first option to deal with the country&#39;s ballistic and nuclear weapons programme. 
 
&quot;We are totally prepared for the second option, not a preferred option,&quot; Trump said at a White House news conference, referring to military force. &quot;But if we take that option, it will be devastating, I can tell you that, devastating for North Korea. That&#39;s called the military option. If we have to take it, we will.&quot; 
 
Bellicose statements by Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in recent weeks have created fears that a miscalculation could lead to action with untold ramifications, particularly since Pyongyang conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test on September 3.

Despite the increased tension, the United States has not detected any change in North Korea&#39;s military posture reflecting an increased threat, the top US&nbsp;military officer said on Tuesday.

The assessment by Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the US&nbsp;Joint Chiefs of Staff, about Pyongyang&#39;s military stance was in contrast to a South Korean lawmaker who said Pyongyang had boosted defences on its east coast.

&quot;While the political space is clearly very charged right now, we haven&#39;t seen a change in the posture of North Korean forces, and we watch that very closely,&quot; Dunford told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his reappointment to his post.

In terms of a sense of urgency, &quot;North Korea certainly poses the greatest threat today,&quot; Dunford testified.

A US&nbsp;official speaking on the condition of anonymity said satellite imagery had detected a small number of North Korean military aircraft moving to the North&#39;s east coast. However, the official said the activity did not change their assessment of Pyongyang&#39;s military posture.

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho on Monday accused Trump of declaring war on the North and threatened that Pyongyang would shoot down US&nbsp;warplanes flying near the Korean Peninsula after American bombers flew close to it last Saturday. Ri was reacting to Trump`s Twitter comments that Kim and Ri &quot;won`t be around much longer&quot; if they acted on their threats towards the United States.

North Korea has been working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles capable of hitting the US&nbsp;mainland, which Trump has said he will never allow. Dunford said Pyongyang will have a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile &quot;soon,&quot; and it was only a matter of a &quot;very short time&quot;.

&quot;We clearly have postured our forces to respond in the event of a provocation or a conflict,&quot; the general said, adding that the United States has taken &quot;all proper measures to protect our allies&quot; including South Korean and Japan.

&quot;It would be an incredibly provocative thing for them to conduct a nuclear test in the Pacific as they have suggested, and I think the North Korean people would have to realise how serious that would be, not only for the United States but for the international community,&quot; Dunford said.

South Korean lawmaker Lee Cheol-uoo, briefed by the country&#39;s spy agency, said North Korea was bolstering its defences by moving aircraft to its east coast and taking other measures after the flight by US&nbsp;bombers. Lee said the United States appeared to have disclosed the flight route intentionally because North Korea seemed to be unaware.

US Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers, escorted by fighter jets, flew east of North Korea in a show of force after the heated exchange of rhetoric between Trump and Kim.

The United States has imposed sanctions on 26 people as part of its non-proliferation designations for North Korea and nine banks, including some with ties to China, the US&nbsp;Treasury Department&#39;s Office Of Foreign Assets Control Sanctions said on Tuesday.

The US&nbsp;sanctions target people in North Korea and some North Korean nationals in China, Russia, Libya and Dubai, according to a list posted on the agency&#39;s website.

Capability to deter 
 
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will visit China from Thursday to Saturday for talks with senior officials that will include the crisis over North Korea and trade, the State Department said on Tuesday.

Evans Revere, a former senior diplomat who met with a North Korean delegation in Switzerland this month, said that Pyongyang had been reaching out to &quot;organizations and individuals&quot; to encourage talks with former U.S. officials to get a sense of the Trump administration`s thinking.

&quot;They`ve also been accepting invitations to attend dialogues hosted by others, including the Swiss and the Russians,&quot; he said.

Revere said his best guess for why the North Koreans were doing this was because they were &quot;puzzled by the unconventional way that President Trump has been handling the North Korea issue&quot; and were eager to use &quot;informal and unofficial meetings to gain a better understanding of what is motivating Trump and his administration&quot;.

During a visit to India, US&nbsp;Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said diplomatic efforts continued.

Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said war on the Korean Peninsula would have no winner.

&quot;We hope the US and North Korean politicians have sufficient political judgement to realise that resorting to military force will never be a viable way to resolve the peninsula issue and their own concerns,&quot; Lu said.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in urged Kim Jong Un to resume military talks and reunions of families split by the 1950-53 Korean War to ease tension.

&quot;Like I&#39;ve said multiple times before, if North Korea stops its reckless choices, the table for talks and negotiations always remains open,&quot; Moon said.

In Moscow, Russia`s Foreign Ministry said it was working behind the scenes to find a political solution and that it plans to hold talks with a representative of North Korea`s foreign ministry who is due to arrive in Moscow on Tuesday, the RIA news agency cited the North`s embassy to Russia as saying.

The United States and South Korea are technically still at war with North Korea after the 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce and not a peace treaty.

&nbsp;

President Trump said the use of force was not Washington's first option to deal with the country's ballistic and nuclear weapons programme

President Donald Trump warned North Korea on Tuesday that any US military option would be "devastating" for Pyongyang, but said the use of force was not Washington's first option to deal with the country's ballistic and nuclear weapons programme. "We are totally prepared for the second option, not a preferred option," Trump said at a White House news conference, referring to military force. "But if we take that option, it will be devastating, I can tell you that, devastating for North Korea. That's called the military option. If we have to take it, we will." Bellicose statements by Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in recent weeks have created fears that a miscalculation could lead to action with untold ramifications, particularly since Pyongyang conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test on September 3. Despite the increased tension, the United States has not detected any change in North Korea's military posture reflecting an increased threat, the top US military officer said on Tuesday. The assessment by Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, about Pyongyang's military stance was in contrast to a South Korean lawmaker who said Pyongyang had boosted defences on its east coast. "While the political space is clearly very charged right now, we haven't seen a change in the posture of North Korean forces, and we watch that very closely," Dunford told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his reappointment to his post. In terms of a sense of urgency, "North Korea certainly poses the greatest threat today," Dunford testified. A US official speaking on the condition of anonymity said satellite imagery had detected a small number of North Korean military aircraft moving to the North's east coast. However, the official said the activity did not change their assessment of Pyongyang's military posture. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho on Monday accused Trump of declaring war on the North and threatened that Pyongyang would shoot down US warplanes flying near the Korean Peninsula after American bombers flew close to it last Saturday. Ri was reacting to Trump`s Twitter comments that Kim and Ri "won`t be around much longer" if they acted on their threats towards the United States. North Korea has been working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles capable of hitting the US mainland, which Trump has said he will never allow. Dunford said Pyongyang will have a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile "soon," and it was only a matter of a "very short time". "We clearly have postured our forces to respond in the event of a provocation or a conflict," the general said, adding that the United States has taken "all proper measures to protect our allies" including South Korean and Japan. "It would be an incredibly provocative thing for them to conduct a nuclear test in the Pacific as they have suggested, and I think the North Korean people would have to realise how serious that would be, not only for the United States but for the international community," Dunford said. South Korean lawmaker Lee Cheol-uoo, briefed by the country's spy agency, said North Korea was bolstering its defences by moving aircraft to its east coast and taking other measures after the flight by US bombers. Lee said the United States appeared to have disclosed the flight route intentionally because North Korea seemed to be unaware. US Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers, escorted by fighter jets, flew east of North Korea in a show of force after the heated exchange of rhetoric between Trump and Kim. The United States has imposed sanctions on 26 people as part of its non-proliferation designations for North Korea and nine banks, including some with ties to China, the US Treasury Department's Office Of Foreign Assets Control Sanctions said on Tuesday. The US sanctions target people in North Korea and some North Korean nationals in China, Russia, Libya and Dubai, according to a list posted on the agency's website. Capability to deter US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will visit China from Thursday to Saturday for talks with senior officials that will include the crisis over North Korea and trade, the State Department said on Tuesday. Evans Revere, a former senior diplomat who met with a North Korean delegation in Switzerland this month, said that Pyongyang had been reaching out to "organizations and individuals" to encourage talks with former U.S. officials to get a sense of the Trump administration`s thinking. "They`ve also been accepting invitations to attend dialogues hosted by others, including the Swiss and the Russians," he said. Revere said his best guess for why the North Koreans were doing this was because they were "puzzled by the unconventional way that President Trump has been handling the North Korea issue" and were eager to use "informal and unofficial meetings to gain a better understanding of what is motivating Trump and his administration". During a visit to India, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said diplomatic efforts continued. Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said war on the Korean Peninsula would have no winner. "We hope the US and North Korean politicians have sufficient political judgement to realise that resorting to military force will never be a viable way to resolve the peninsula issue and their own concerns," Lu said. South Korean President Moon Jae-in urged Kim Jong Un to resume military talks and reunions of families split by the 1950-53 Korean War to ease tension. "Like I've said multiple times before, if North Korea stops its reckless choices, the table for talks and negotiations always remains open," Moon said. In Moscow, Russia`s Foreign Ministry said it was working behind the scenes to find a political solution and that it plans to hold talks with a representative of North Korea`s foreign ministry who is due to arrive in Moscow on Tuesday, the RIA news agency cited the North`s embassy to Russia as saying. The United States and South Korea are technically still at war with North Korea after the 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce and not a peace treaty.

Military option for North Korea not preferred, but would be 'devastating': President Trump

Venezuela accused the United States on Monday of &quot;psychological terrorism&quot; designed to bring down the government after it was included in a list of eight countries targeted by a travel ban.

&quot;As if it mattered to us to have a visa for the United States. I only go to the United States if I have to go to the UN, to the OAS,&quot; President Nicolas Maduro said, referring to the Organization of American States.

Speaking at a meeting with governors broadcast by state television VTV, Maduro said US President Donald Trump has &quot;isolated the United States&quot; with his speech at the United Nations General Assembly last week, in which he called the Venezuelan leader a &quot;dictator.&quot;

He was speaking a day after Venezuela was added to a new list of countries targeted by the US ban, due to what it called poor security and a lack of cooperation with American authorities.

The restrictions on Venezuela were limited to officials from a list of government agencies and their families, while full travel bans were placed on nationals from the other seven countries, including Chad and North Korea.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza described Trump as acting like &quot;the world&#39;s emperor.&quot;

Amid an escalating war of words, Arreaza told the UN General Assembly that Venezuela would seek dialogue with Washington to &quot;stop the madness and irrationality.&quot;

Last week, he accused Trump of being &quot;racist and supremacist&quot; after the US leader told the annual UN gathering that the US was ready to act to restore Venezuela&#39;s democracy.

&quot;As a free people, we are ready to defend our sovereignty, our independence and our democracy in any scenario and in any way,&quot; Arreaza said.

In a short statement to reporters following his speech, he added: &quot;I insist, if they attack us on the ground, we will respond forcefully in the defense of our country and of our people.&quot;

His foreign ministry said that &quot;these types of lists... are incompatible with international law and constitute in themselves a form of psychological and political terrorism.&quot;

Most of the nations affected by the US ban were part of a measure targeting Muslim countries that Trump authorized shortly after taking office.

Maduro&#39;s socialist government said Washington was using the fight against terrorism for its own political ends.

The foreign ministry statement said the ban was seeking to &quot;stigmatize&quot; Venezuela &quot;under the pretext of combating terrorism, by including it in a unilaterally drawn-up list and accusing other states of being alleged promoters of this terrible scourge.&quot;

It rejected &quot;the irrational decision of the United States government to once again catalog the noble Venezuelan people as a threat to their national security.&quot;

Venezuela has been rocked by months of economic chaos and deadly protests as Maduro tries to consolidate control, including through a new Constituent Assembly that has wrested power from the opposition-dominated legislature.

OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro called for additional sanctions against the Maduro government, denouncing what he called the &quot;consolidation of the dictatorial regime in Venezuela.&quot;

His organization&#39;s fourth report on the Venezuelan political crisis says that democracy was &quot;completely eliminated&quot; when the &quot;illegitimate&quot; Constituent Assembly was established on July 30.

Most of the nations affected by the US ban were part of a measure targeting Muslim countries that Trump authorized shortly after taking office

Venezuela accused the United States on Monday of "psychological terrorism" designed to bring down the government after it was included in a list of eight countries targeted by a travel ban. "As if it mattered to us to have a visa for the United States. I only go to the United States if I have to go to the UN, to the OAS," President Nicolas Maduro said, referring to the Organization of American States. Speaking at a meeting with governors broadcast by state television VTV, Maduro said US President Donald Trump has "isolated the United States" with his speech at the United Nations General Assembly last week, in which he called the Venezuelan leader a "dictator." He was speaking a day after Venezuela was added to a new list of countries targeted by the US ban, due to what it called poor security and a lack of cooperation with American authorities. The restrictions on Venezuela were limited to officials from a list of government agencies and their families, while full travel bans were placed on nationals from the other seven countries, including Chad and North Korea. Earlier, Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza described Trump as acting like "the world's emperor." Amid an escalating war of words, Arreaza told the UN General Assembly that Venezuela would seek dialogue with Washington to "stop the madness and irrationality." Last week, he accused Trump of being "racist and supremacist" after the US leader told the annual UN gathering that the US was ready to act to restore Venezuela's democracy. "As a free people, we are ready to defend our sovereignty, our independence and our democracy in any scenario and in any way," Arreaza said. In a short statement to reporters following his speech, he added: "I insist, if they attack us on the ground, we will respond forcefully in the defense of our country and of our people." His foreign ministry said that "these types of lists... are incompatible with international law and constitute in themselves a form of psychological and political terrorism." Most of the nations affected by the US ban were part of a measure targeting Muslim countries that Trump authorized shortly after taking office. Maduro's socialist government said Washington was using the fight against terrorism for its own political ends. The foreign ministry statement said the ban was seeking to "stigmatize" Venezuela "under the pretext of combating terrorism, by including it in a unilaterally drawn-up list and accusing other states of being alleged promoters of this terrible scourge." It rejected "the irrational decision of the United States government to once again catalog the noble Venezuelan people as a threat to their national security." Venezuela has been rocked by months of economic chaos and deadly protests as Maduro tries to consolidate control, including through a new Constituent Assembly that has wrested power from the opposition-dominated legislature. OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro called for additional sanctions against the Maduro government, denouncing what he called the "consolidation of the dictatorial regime in Venezuela." His organization's fourth report on the Venezuelan political crisis says that democracy was "completely eliminated" when the "illegitimate" Constituent Assembly was established on July 30.

New US travel ban 'psychological terrorism': Venezuela

Russia urged &quot;hot heads&quot; to calm down on Friday as the United States admitted it felt &quot;challenged&quot; by <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/may-test-hydrogen-bomb-over-pacific-north-korea-20504">North Korea&#39;s warning that it could test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific</a> and President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un traded more insults.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-kim-calls-trump-deranged-as-korean-peninsula-simmers-20538">Trump called the North Korean leader a &quot;madman&quot; on Friday</a>, a day after Kim dubbed him a &quot;mentally deranged US&nbsp;dotard&quot; who would face the &quot;highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history&quot; in retaliation for Trump saying the US&nbsp;would &quot;totally destroy&quot; North Korea if it threatened the US&nbsp;or its allies.

&quot;We have to calm down the hot heads,&quot; Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters at the United Nations, where world leaders gathered this week for the annual U.N. General Assembly. &quot;We continue to strive for the reasonable and not the emotional approach...of the kindergarten fight between children.&quot;

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson expressed hope in an interview with ABC that sanctions and &quot;voices from every corner of the world&quot; could lead North Korea back to talks, but admitted intensifying rhetoric had left Washington &quot;quite challenged.&quot;

North Korea&#39;s Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, warned on Thursday that Kim could consider a hydrogen bomb test of an unprecedented scale over the Pacific. Ri, who is due to speak to the United Nations on Saturday, added that he did not know Kim&#39;s exact thoughts.

In response, Tillerson said US diplomatic efforts would continue but all military options were still on the table.

North Korea&#39;s six nuclear tests to date have all been underground, and experts say an atmospheric test, which would be the first since one by China in 1980, would be proof of the success of its weapons program.

A senior US&nbsp;official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington was taking Kim&#39;s threat seriously and added that any atmospheric test would be a &quot;game-changer.&quot;

But he said there were questions about North Korea&#39;s technical capabilities and Washington did not give &quot;too much credence&quot; to Pyongyang taking such action. &quot;There&#39;s a certain amount of bluster that&#39;s taken for granted when you&#39;re dealing with North Korea,&quot; the official told Reuters.

Pyongyang conducted its sixth and largest nuclear test on Sept. 3 and has launched dozens of missiles this year as it accelerates a program aimed at enabling it to target the United States with a nuclear-tipped missile.

Lavrov on Friday again pushed a proposal by Moscow and Beijing for a dual suspension of North Korean weapons tests and the U.S.-South Korean military drills to kick-start talks. Lavrov suggested that a neutral European country could mediate.

He described the exchange of insults between the US&nbsp;and North Korean leaders was &quot;quite bad, unacceptable.&quot;

US Treasury and gold prices rose while the Japanese yen strengthened on Friday as the exchange of barbs fuelled geopolitical jitters and drove investors into assets considered safer during times of turmoil.

The latest round of rhetoric began on Tuesday when Trump, in his first address to the United Nations, made the threat to destroy North Korea, a country of 26 million people. He also called Kim a &quot;rocket man&quot; on a suicide mission.

Trump will pay dearly for his speech: Kim Jong

&quot;His remarks ... have convinced me, rather than frightening or stopping me, that the path I chose is correct and that it is the one I have to follow to the last,&quot; Kim said in the statement carried by the North&#39;s official KCNA news agency on Friday, promising to make Trump &quot;pay dearly for his speech.&quot;

South Korea said it was the first direct statement of its kind by a North Korean leader. Japan, the only country to suffer an atomic attack, called the North Korean threat to conduct an atmospheric test &quot;totally unacceptable&quot;.

Kim Jong a madman: Trump

Trump on Friday tweeted: &quot;Kim Jong Un of North Korea, who is obviously a madman who doesn&#39;t mind starving or killing his people, will be tested like never before.&quot;

The White House said on Friday that Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in had agreed to Seoul&#39;s &quot;acquisition and development of highly advanced military assets&quot; and to increased deployment of US&nbsp;strategic assets in and around South Korea on a rotational basis.&quot; It did not name specific weapons systems.

On Thursday Trump announced new US&nbsp;sanctions that he said allows the targeting of companies and institutions that finance and facilitate trade with North Korea. Then when asked if diplomacy was still&nbsp;possible, he said: &quot;Why not?&quot;

The additional sanctions on Pyongyang, including on its shipping and trade networks, showed Trump was giving more time for economic pressure to weigh on North Korea. US&nbsp;Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said banks doing business in North Korea would not be allowed to operate in the United States.

KCNA also published rare criticism of official Chinese media, saying comments on North Korea&#39;s nuclear program had damaged ties and suggested Beijing, its neighbour and only major ally, had sided with Washington.

KCNA said Chinese media was &quot;openly resorting to interference in the internal affairs of another country&quot; and driving a wedge between the two countries.

China&#39;s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said: &quot;All relevant sides should exercise restraint and dedicate themselves to easing the situation rather than irritating each other.&quot;

The rhetoric has started to rattle some in other countries. French Sports Minister Laura Flessel said France&#39;s team would not travel to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in South Korea if its security could not be guaranteed.

The 2018 Games are to be staged in Pyeongchang, just 80 km (50 miles) from the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, the world&#39;s most heavily armed border.

 
&nbsp;

Trump called the Kim Jong a 'madman' on Friday, a day after Kim dubbed him a 'mentally deranged US?dotard' who would face the 'highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history'

Russia urged "hot heads" to calm down on Friday as the United States admitted it felt "challenged" by North Korea's warning that it could test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific and President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un traded more insults. Trump called the North Korean leader a "madman" on Friday, a day after Kim dubbed him a "mentally deranged US dotard" who would face the "highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history" in retaliation for Trump saying the US would "totally destroy" North Korea if it threatened the US or its allies. "We have to calm down the hot heads," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters at the United Nations, where world leaders gathered this week for the annual U.N. General Assembly. "We continue to strive for the reasonable and not the emotional approach...of the kindergarten fight between children." US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson expressed hope in an interview with ABC that sanctions and "voices from every corner of the world" could lead North Korea back to talks, but admitted intensifying rhetoric had left Washington "quite challenged." North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, warned on Thursday that Kim could consider a hydrogen bomb test of an unprecedented scale over the Pacific. Ri, who is due to speak to the United Nations on Saturday, added that he did not know Kim's exact thoughts. In response, Tillerson said US diplomatic efforts would continue but all military options were still on the table. North Korea's six nuclear tests to date have all been underground, and experts say an atmospheric test, which would be the first since one by China in 1980, would be proof of the success of its weapons program. A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington was taking Kim's threat seriously and added that any atmospheric test would be a "game-changer." But he said there were questions about North Korea's technical capabilities and Washington did not give "too much credence" to Pyongyang taking such action. "There's a certain amount of bluster that's taken for granted when you're dealing with North Korea," the official told Reuters. Pyongyang conducted its sixth and largest nuclear test on Sept. 3 and has launched dozens of missiles this year as it accelerates a program aimed at enabling it to target the United States with a nuclear-tipped missile. Lavrov on Friday again pushed a proposal by Moscow and Beijing for a dual suspension of North Korean weapons tests and the U.S.-South Korean military drills to kick-start talks. Lavrov suggested that a neutral European country could mediate. He described the exchange of insults between the US and North Korean leaders was "quite bad, unacceptable." US Treasury and gold prices rose while the Japanese yen strengthened on Friday as the exchange of barbs fuelled geopolitical jitters and drove investors into assets considered safer during times of turmoil. The latest round of rhetoric began on Tuesday when Trump, in his first address to the United Nations, made the threat to destroy North Korea, a country of 26 million people. He also called Kim a "rocket man" on a suicide mission. Trump will pay dearly for his speech: Kim Jong "His remarks ... have convinced me, rather than frightening or stopping me, that the path I chose is correct and that it is the one I have to follow to the last," Kim said in the statement carried by the North's official KCNA news agency on Friday, promising to make Trump "pay dearly for his speech." South Korea said it was the first direct statement of its kind by a North Korean leader. Japan, the only country to suffer an atomic attack, called the North Korean threat to conduct an atmospheric test "totally unacceptable". Kim Jong a madman: Trump Trump on Friday tweeted: "Kim Jong Un of North Korea, who is obviously a madman who doesn't mind starving or killing his people, will be tested like never before." The White House said on Friday that Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in had agreed to Seoul's "acquisition and development of highly advanced military assets" and to increased deployment of US strategic assets in and around South Korea on a rotational basis." It did not name specific weapons systems. On Thursday Trump announced new US sanctions that he said allows the targeting of companies and institutions that finance and facilitate trade with North Korea. Then when asked if diplomacy was still possible, he said: "Why not?" The additional sanctions on Pyongyang, including on its shipping and trade networks, showed Trump was giving more time for economic pressure to weigh on North Korea. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said banks doing business in North Korea would not be allowed to operate in the United States. KCNA also published rare criticism of official Chinese media, saying comments on North Korea's nuclear program had damaged ties and suggested Beijing, its neighbour and only major ally, had sided with Washington. KCNA said Chinese media was "openly resorting to interference in the internal affairs of another country" and driving a wedge between the two countries. China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said: "All relevant sides should exercise restraint and dedicate themselves to easing the situation rather than irritating each other." The rhetoric has started to rattle some in other countries. French Sports Minister Laura Flessel said France's team would not travel to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in South Korea if its security could not be guaranteed. The 2018 Games are to be staged in Pyeongchang, just 80 km (50 miles) from the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, the world's most heavily armed border.

Have to calm down the hotheads: Russia on Trump, Kim Jong trading threats

North Korea today hit out against US President Donald Trump as Kim Jong Un threatened to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/may-test-hydrogen-bomb-over-pacific-north-korea-20504">test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean</a>.

President Donald Trump speaking on <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-slaps-new-sanctions-on-north-korea-kim-calls-him-deranged-20503">the sidelines of the United Nations meeting</a> had said he would be imposing new sanctions against North Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un enraged at Trump called the US President &quot;mentally deranged US dotard&quot;.

Trump during his maiden address to the United Nations on Tuesday had said he would &quot;totally destroy&quot; North Korea and called Kim a &quot;rocket man&quot; on a suicide mission. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Japan described North Korea&#39;s threat to test a Hydrogen bomb as &quot;totally unacceptable&quot;.&nbsp;

The Korean peninsula is on a knife&#39;s edge with North Korea testing missiles last week and threatening to destabilize the region with more tests.

The United States and South Korea jointly conducted military exercise in Pocheon in the north-eastern region of Gyeonggi province in South Korea as the Korean peninsula continued to simmer over Kim&#39;s military manoeuvres.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kv6GtqePd2M" width="560"></iframe> 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Trump during his maiden address to the United Nations on Tuesday had said he would "totally destroy" North Korea and called Kim a "rocket man" on a suicide mission

North Korea today hit out against US President Donald Trump as Kim Jong Un threatened to test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean. President Donald Trump speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations meeting had said he would be imposing new sanctions against North Korea. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un enraged at Trump called the US President "mentally deranged US dotard". Trump during his maiden address to the United Nations on Tuesday had said he would "totally destroy" North Korea and called Kim a "rocket man" on a suicide mission. Japan described North Korea's threat to test a Hydrogen bomb as "totally unacceptable". The Korean peninsula is on a knife's edge with North Korea testing missiles last week and threatening to destabilize the region with more tests. The United States and South Korea jointly conducted military exercise in Pocheon in the north-eastern region of Gyeonggi province in South Korea as the Korean peninsula continued to simmer over Kim's military manoeuvres.

North Korea's Kim calls Trump 'deranged' as Korean peninsula simmers

US President said today more sanctions will be imposed on North Korea even as<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/watch-us-south-korea-joint-military-drill-aims-to-fight-tonight-against-north-korea-20480"> South Korea and </a>the United States continued military drills in the Korean peninsula.

&quot;We will be putting more sanctions on North Korea,&quot; Trump told Reuters on the sidelines of the United Nations meeting. The official announcement of the sanctions on North Korea will be made on Thursday.

A senior Trump administration official told Reuters the sanctions are not expected to target oil.

In his maiden address to the UN General Assembly, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-fiery-un-address-redefines-us-role-in-the-world-20426">President Donald Trump had emphatically declared</a> &quot;United States will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea&quot;, adding &quot;Rocket Man is on a suicide mission&quot;.

South Korean President Moon speaking at the United Nations said he wanted to prevent war from breaking out, adding tensions should not overly intensify leading to &quot;accidental military clashes&quot; which would destroy peace in the region.

Moon quoted former US President Ronald Reagan saying: &quot;Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.&quot;

A senior Trump administration official told Reuters the sanctions are not expected to target oil.

US President said today more sanctions will be imposed on North Korea even as South Korea and the United States continued military drills in the Korean peninsula. "We will be putting more sanctions on North Korea," Trump told Reuters on the sidelines of the United Nations meeting. The official announcement of the sanctions on North Korea will be made on Thursday. A senior Trump administration official told Reuters the sanctions are not expected to target oil. In his maiden address to the UN General Assembly, President Donald Trump had emphatically declared "United States will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea", adding "Rocket Man is on a suicide mission". South Korean President Moon speaking at the United Nations said he wanted to prevent war from breaking out, adding tensions should not overly intensify leading to "accidental military clashes" which would destroy peace in the region. Moon quoted former US President Ronald Reagan saying: "Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means."

Will be putting more sanctions on North Korea, says Trump

U.S. President Donald&nbsp;Trump&#39;s&nbsp;speech to the United Nations, where he warned he would &quot;totally destroy&quot;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-wants-greater-missile-power-in-face-of-north-korean-threats-19799">&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;if threatened</a>, reinforced the need for Pyongyang to realise it must give up its nuclear weapons,&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;said on Wednesday.

In a hard-edged speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump mockedNorth&nbsp;Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a &quot;rocket man&quot; for his repeated ballistic missile tests.

&quot;We view the speech as portraying a&nbsp;firm&nbsp;and specific stance on the key issues regarding keeping peace and safety that the international community and the United Nations are faced with,&quot; the office of&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean President Moon Jae-in said in a statement on Wednesday.

&quot;It clearly showed how seriously the United States government views&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&#39;s nuclear programme as the president spent an unusual amount of time discussing the issue,&quot; the presidential Blue House&#39;s statement said.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/read-full-text-of-donald-trumps-un-speech-20420">Trump&#39;s&nbsp;speech </a>&quot;reaffirmed that&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;should be made to realize denuclearisation is the only way to the future through utmost sanctions and pressure&quot;, it said.

Moon came to power in May on a platform of more engagement with&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea. Since Pyongyang&#39;s sixth and largest nuclear test earlier on September&nbsp;3, however, Moon has said the time is not right for dialogue.

He and Trump plan to meet in New York early on Wednesday US&nbsp;time, Moon&#39;s office said.

&quot;GREAT STRENGTH&quot;

Trump&#39;s&nbsp;most direct military threat to attack&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;was his latest expression of concern about Pyongyang&#39;s repeated weapons tests.

&quot;The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea,&quot; Trump told the 193-member world body. &quot;Rocketman is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime.&quot;

U.S. ally Japan, which Pyongyang often threatens to destroy, has taken a consistently hard line on&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea, pushing for increased sanctions and pressure.

&quot;We greatly appreciate President Trump&rsquo;s approach to changing&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&rsquo;s policy stance, denuclearising the country and calling on the international community, including China and Russia, for their cooperation toward strengthening pressure on&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea,&quot; Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters.

Suga also welcomed&nbsp;Trump&#39;s&nbsp;reference to a Japanese girl who was kidnapped by&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korean agents in 1977.

The plight of abductees is a key issue for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has pledged to rescue them while in office, and an emotive one for the Japanese public.

North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;admitted in 2002 it had kidnapped 13 Japanese in the 1970s and 1980s to train spies. Five of them returned to Japan but Tokyo suspects that hundreds more may have been taken.

STRICT SANCTIONS

North&nbsp;Korea, which has conducted more than 80 missile tests under third-generation leader Kim, says it needs its weapons to protect itself from U.S. aggression.&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;and the United States are technically still at war with&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;after the 1950-53&nbsp;Korean conflict ended with a truce, not a peace treaty.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, interviewed by Fox News on Tuesday, highlighted Washington&#39;s policy of pressuring&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;through sanctions.

&quot;We have the strictest sanctions ever put in place. We do believe there are early signs of those having an effect,&quot; he said. &quot;Ultimately, though, we&#39;re going to need the assistance of the neighbours in the region.&quot;

The UN&nbsp;Security Council has unanimously imposed nine rounds of sanctions on&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea since 2006, the latest earlier this month aimed at restricting fuel supplies and cutting off textile exports, a key foreign exchange earner.

The United States has urged China,&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&#39;s main ally and trading partner, and Russia to do more to rein in Kim, something Trump appeared to allude to in his speech.

&quot;It is an outrage that some nations would not only trade with such a regime but would arm, supply and financially support a country that imperils the world with nuclear conflict,&quot; Trump told the General Assembly.

China&#39;s Foreign Ministry asked to respond to&nbsp;Trump&#39;s&nbsp;comments about destroying&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;if it had to, said U.N. resolutions were clear the&nbsp;Korean peninsula issue should be resolved peacefully through political and diplomatic means.

The resolutions passed by the UN&nbsp;Security Council on&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;reflected the &quot;common will and consensus of the international community&quot; to denuclearisation of the&nbsp;Korean Peninsula, Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular briefing.

In a hard-edged speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump mockedNorth?Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a "rocket man" for his repeated ballistic missile tests.

U.S. President Donald Trump's speech to the United Nations, where he warned he would "totally destroy" North Korea if threatened, reinforced the need for Pyongyang to realise it must give up its nuclear weapons, South Korea said on Wednesday. In a hard-edged speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump mockedNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a "rocket man" for his repeated ballistic missile tests. "We view the speech as portraying a firm and specific stance on the key issues regarding keeping peace and safety that the international community and the United Nations are faced with," the office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in said in a statement on Wednesday. "It clearly showed how seriously the United States government views North Korea's nuclear programme as the president spent an unusual amount of time discussing the issue," the presidential Blue House's statement said. Trump's speech "reaffirmed that North Korea should be made to realize denuclearisation is the only way to the future through utmost sanctions and pressure", it said. Moon came to power in May on a platform of more engagement with North Korea. Since Pyongyang's sixth and largest nuclear test earlier on September 3, however, Moon has said the time is not right for dialogue. He and Trump plan to meet in New York early on Wednesday US time, Moon's office said. "GREAT STRENGTH" Trump's most direct military threat to attack North Korea was his latest expression of concern about Pyongyang's repeated weapons tests. "The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea," Trump told the 193-member world body. "Rocketman is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime." U.S. ally Japan, which Pyongyang often threatens to destroy, has taken a consistently hard line on North Korea, pushing for increased sanctions and pressure. "We greatly appreciate President Trump’s approach to changing North Korea’s policy stance, denuclearising the country and calling on the international community, including China and Russia, for their cooperation toward strengthening pressure on North Korea," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters. Suga also welcomed Trump's reference to a Japanese girl who was kidnapped by North Korean agents in 1977. The plight of abductees is a key issue for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has pledged to rescue them while in office, and an emotive one for the Japanese public. North Korea admitted in 2002 it had kidnapped 13 Japanese in the 1970s and 1980s to train spies. Five of them returned to Japan but Tokyo suspects that hundreds more may have been taken. STRICT SANCTIONS North Korea, which has conducted more than 80 missile tests under third-generation leader Kim, says it needs its weapons to protect itself from U.S. aggression. South Korea and the United States are technically still at war with North Korea after the 1950-53 Korean conflict ended with a truce, not a peace treaty. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, interviewed by Fox News on Tuesday, highlighted Washington's policy of pressuring North Korea through sanctions. "We have the strictest sanctions ever put in place. We do believe there are early signs of those having an effect," he said. "Ultimately, though, we're going to need the assistance of the neighbours in the region." The UN Security Council has unanimously imposed nine rounds of sanctions on North Korea since 2006, the latest earlier this month aimed at restricting fuel supplies and cutting off textile exports, a key foreign exchange earner. The United States has urged China, North Korea's main ally and trading partner, and Russia to do more to rein in Kim, something Trump appeared to allude to in his speech. "It is an outrage that some nations would not only trade with such a regime but would arm, supply and financially support a country that imperils the world with nuclear conflict," Trump told the General Assembly. China's Foreign Ministry asked to respond to Trump's comments about destroying North Korea if it had to, said U.N. resolutions were clear the Korean peninsula issue should be resolved peacefully through political and diplomatic means. The resolutions passed by the UN Security Council on North Korea reflected the "common will and consensus of the international community" to denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular briefing.

Trump's warning to North Korea is firm and specific: South Korea

In his maiden address to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-hasnt-reached-full-potential-due-to-bureaucracy-and-mismanagement-trump-20364">UN General Assembly, President Donald Trump</a> emphatically declared &quot;United States will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea&quot;, adding &quot;Rocket Man is on a suicide mission&quot;.

&quot;The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea,&quot; the US president said.

&quot;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-urges-china-russia-to-act-after-n-korea-missile-launch-20266">Rocket Man(North Korean leader Kim Jong-un) is on a suicide</a> mission for himself and for his regime,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

&quot;The United States is ready, willing and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary.&quot;

The President in a long, wide-ranging speech clearly spelled out his thoughts on various issues openly taking shots at Russia and China.

&quot;We must reject threats to sovereignty from the Ukraine to the South China Sea,&quot; Trump said.&nbsp;

&quot;We must uphold respect for law, respect for borders, and respect for culture, and the peaceful engagement these allow,&quot; he asserted.

On Iran&#39;s nuclear ambitions, the US president told the UN General Assembly: &quot;Frankly, that (nuclear)deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don&#39;t think you&#39;ve heard the last of it.&quot;

&quot;Believe me. It is time for the entire world to join us in demanding Iran&nbsp;government end its pursuit of death and destruction,&quot; he added.

The president said the Iran nuclear deal was an &quot;embarrassment&quot;.

&quot;As long as I hold this office, I will defend America&#39;s interests above all else, but in fulfilling our obligations to our nations, we also realize that it&#39;s in everyone&#39;s interests to seek the future where all nations can be sovereign, prosperous and secure,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

&quot;America does more than speak for the values expressed in the United Nations charter,&quot; he said.

&quot;Our citizens have paid the ultimate price to defend our freedom and the freedom of many nations represented in this great hall.&quot;

Trump also took potshots at the Venezuela government saying the situation in &quot;socialist dictatorship of Venezuela was unacceptable&quot;.

The President in a long, wide-ranging speech clearly spelled out his thoughts on various issues openly taking shots at Russia and China

In his maiden address to the UN General Assembly, President Donald Trump emphatically declared "United States will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea", adding "Rocket Man is on a suicide mission". "The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea," the US president said. "Rocket Man(North Korean leader Kim Jong-un) is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime," he said. "The United States is ready, willing and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary." The President in a long, wide-ranging speech clearly spelled out his thoughts on various issues openly taking shots at Russia and China. "We must reject threats to sovereignty from the Ukraine to the South China Sea," Trump said. "We must uphold respect for law, respect for borders, and respect for culture, and the peaceful engagement these allow," he asserted. On Iran's nuclear ambitions, the US president told the UN General Assembly: "Frankly, that (nuclear)deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don't think you've heard the last of it." "Believe me. It is time for the entire world to join us in demanding Iran government end its pursuit of death and destruction," he added. The president said the Iran nuclear deal was an "embarrassment". "As long as I hold this office, I will defend America's interests above all else, but in fulfilling our obligations to our nations, we also realize that it's in everyone's interests to seek the future where all nations can be sovereign, prosperous and secure," he said. "America does more than speak for the values expressed in the United Nations charter," he said. "Our citizens have paid the ultimate price to defend our freedom and the freedom of many nations represented in this great hall." Trump also took potshots at the Venezuela government saying the situation in "socialist dictatorship of Venezuela was unacceptable".

WATCH: US will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea, Trump says at UN General Assembly

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-will-have-no-choice-but-to-totally-destroy-north-korea-says-trump-at-un-general-assembly-20413">took a dig at President Trump during his speech</a> at the UN General Assembly today saying the&nbsp;multinational accord on Tehran&#39;s nuclear program could not be decided by &quot;one or two countries.&quot;

The Iran nuclear accord was hammered out between six nuclear powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.

&quot;As such it belongs to the international community in its entirety and not only to one or two countries,&quot; Rouhani said.

Rouhani warned the US would &quot;destroy its own credibility&quot; if it withdraws from the Iran nuclear deal.

&quot;The nuclear deal was overwhelmingly applauded by the international community and endorsed as part of Resolution 2231 adopted by the Security Council,&quot;&nbsp;Rouhani told the UN General Assembly.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump told reporters at the UN that he had made his decision on whether or not the United States will remain in the&nbsp;nuclear accord between Iran and world powers, but declined to reveal it.

&quot;I have decided,&quot; Trump told reporters, Reuters reported.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley talking to CBS News said: &quot;It&#39;s not a clear signal that he(Trump) plans to withdraw. What it is, is a clear signal that he&#39;s(Trump) not happy with the deal.&quot;

Russia voiced its concern over the uncertainty surrounding the Iran nuclear deal.&nbsp;

&quot;It&#39;s extremely worrying,&quot; Russia&#39;s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov told Reporters at the UN on Trump questioning the Iran nuclear deal.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

President Donald Trump told reporters at the UN that he had made his decision on whether or not the US will remain in the?nuclear accord

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani took a dig at President Trump during his speech at the UN General Assembly today saying the multinational accord on Tehran's nuclear program could not be decided by "one or two countries." The Iran nuclear accord was hammered out between six nuclear powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. "As such it belongs to the international community in its entirety and not only to one or two countries," Rouhani said. Rouhani warned the US would "destroy its own credibility" if it withdraws from the Iran nuclear deal. "The nuclear deal was overwhelmingly applauded by the international community and endorsed as part of Resolution 2231 adopted by the Security Council," Rouhani told the UN General Assembly. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump told reporters at the UN that he had made his decision on whether or not the United States will remain in the nuclear accord between Iran and world powers, but declined to reveal it. "I have decided," Trump told reporters, Reuters reported. US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley talking to CBS News said: "It's not a clear signal that he(Trump) plans to withdraw. What it is, is a clear signal that he's(Trump) not happy with the deal." Russia voiced its concern over the uncertainty surrounding the Iran nuclear deal. "It's extremely worrying," Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov told Reporters at the UN on Trump questioning the Iran nuclear deal.

US will destroy its own credibility if it withdraws from Iran nuclear deal: President Rouhani

US President Donald Trump makes his debut at the United Nations on Monday, with an address on UN reform as a week of intense diplomacy kicks off, dominated by worries about North Korea, Iran and Myanmar.

Trump, who once disparaged the world body as a &quot;club&quot; for &quot;people to get together, talk and have a good time,&quot; will lay out his views on how to improve the United Nations a day before he makes his first address to the General Assembly.

About 130 world leaders are attending this year&#39;s global gathering, but all eyes will be on Trump, whose &quot;America First&quot; agenda has alarmed both allies and foes.

The UN&#39;s number one financial backer, the United States has threatened deep cuts to UN funding that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said would create an &quot;unsolvable problem&quot; for the world body.

Guterres, who is pushing for an overhaul of the UN bureaucracy, will also address the event at which leaders will sign a pledge of support for reform.

France and Russia have reacted coolly to the US initiative, amid concerns that the US administration is focused more on cost-cutting than improving the UN&#39;s performance.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley was a driving force behind a $600-million-dollar cut to the UN peacekeeping budget this year.

Haley on Friday pointed to the more than 120 countries that back the US-drafted political declaration on UN reform as a &quot;miraculous number,&quot; showing there is support for a &quot;massive reform package&quot; led by Guterres.

Differences over Iran, North Korea&nbsp;

On Monday, Trump will hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, who will also be making his maiden address at the General Assembly on Tuesday, and with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Both Macron and Netanyahu are expected to raise the future of the Iran nuclear agreement, with the French leader making a strong case for keeping it alive and the Israeli prime minister pushing for its demise.

Trump will also have a working dinner with Latin American leaders that will touch on the crisis in Venezuela.

North Korea&#39;s nuclear and missile tests will be in the spotlight with foreign ministers set to discuss enforcing sanctions against Pyongyang during a Security Council meeting on non-proliferation on Thursday.

Also on Thursday, Trump will be holding talks with Japanese and South Korean leaders who have backed the US drive to ratchet up sanctions on North Korea.

The council last week imposed a new raft of measures such as a ban on export textiles and a cap on oil shipments to pile pressure on Pyongyang to come to the table and negotiate an end to its nuclear and missile programs.

Russia and China, however, are calling for diplomatic talks with North Korea while warning that a military option as suggested by the United States would have catastrophic consequences.

Myanmar&nbsp;

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson will host a meeting on the military campaign in Myanmar which the United Nations has described as &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; after more than 400,000 Rohingya Muslims were forced to flee.

The closed-door meeting will be attended by a representative from Myanmar and by foreign ministers from &quot;a range of countries with a strong interest in seeing an end to the violence there,&quot; a British diplomat said.

Ahead of the opening of the General Assembly, UN member-states will discuss the aftermath of Hurricane Irma that devastated parts of the United States and the Caribbean.&nbsp;

The hurricane disaster offers a reminder of the destructive force of nature as leaders set their sights on implementing the Paris agreement on climate change despite the US withdrawal from the deal.

Trump, who once disparaged the world body as a "club" for "people to get together, talk and have a good time," will lay out his views on how to improve the United Nations a day before he makes his first address to the General Assembly.

US President Donald Trump makes his debut at the United Nations on Monday, with an address on UN reform as a week of intense diplomacy kicks off, dominated by worries about North Korea, Iran and Myanmar. Trump, who once disparaged the world body as a "club" for "people to get together, talk and have a good time," will lay out his views on how to improve the United Nations a day before he makes his first address to the General Assembly. About 130 world leaders are attending this year's global gathering, but all eyes will be on Trump, whose "America First" agenda has alarmed both allies and foes. The UN's number one financial backer, the United States has threatened deep cuts to UN funding that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said would create an "unsolvable problem" for the world body. Guterres, who is pushing for an overhaul of the UN bureaucracy, will also address the event at which leaders will sign a pledge of support for reform. France and Russia have reacted coolly to the US initiative, amid concerns that the US administration is focused more on cost-cutting than improving the UN's performance. US Ambassador Nikki Haley was a driving force behind a $600-million-dollar cut to the UN peacekeeping budget this year. Haley on Friday pointed to the more than 120 countries that back the US-drafted political declaration on UN reform as a "miraculous number," showing there is support for a "massive reform package" led by Guterres. Differences over Iran, North Korea On Monday, Trump will hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, who will also be making his maiden address at the General Assembly on Tuesday, and with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Both Macron and Netanyahu are expected to raise the future of the Iran nuclear agreement, with the French leader making a strong case for keeping it alive and the Israeli prime minister pushing for its demise. Trump will also have a working dinner with Latin American leaders that will touch on the crisis in Venezuela. North Korea's nuclear and missile tests will be in the spotlight with foreign ministers set to discuss enforcing sanctions against Pyongyang during a Security Council meeting on non-proliferation on Thursday. Also on Thursday, Trump will be holding talks with Japanese and South Korean leaders who have backed the US drive to ratchet up sanctions on North Korea. The council last week imposed a new raft of measures such as a ban on export textiles and a cap on oil shipments to pile pressure on Pyongyang to come to the table and negotiate an end to its nuclear and missile programs. Russia and China, however, are calling for diplomatic talks with North Korea while warning that a military option as suggested by the United States would have catastrophic consequences. Myanmar British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson will host a meeting on the military campaign in Myanmar which the United Nations has described as "ethnic cleansing" after more than 400,000 Rohingya Muslims were forced to flee. The closed-door meeting will be attended by a representative from Myanmar and by foreign ministers from "a range of countries with a strong interest in seeing an end to the violence there," a British diplomat said. Ahead of the opening of the General Assembly, UN member-states will discuss the aftermath of Hurricane Irma that devastated parts of the United States and the Caribbean. The hurricane disaster offers a reminder of the destructive force of nature as leaders set their sights on implementing the Paris agreement on climate change despite the US withdrawal from the deal.

Trump pushes UN reform as world leaders gather for crisis talks

In his first appearance at the United Nations, US President Donald Trump said the &quot;world body had not reached its full potential because of bureaucracy and mismanagement&quot;.

&quot;The United Nations was founded on truly noble goals, in recent years the United Nations has not reached its full potential&nbsp;because of bureaucracy and mismanagement,&quot; the US president said.

Meanwhile, Trump&#39;s chief economic adviser Gary Cohn categorically denied the US had changed its mind on withdrawing from the Paris climate pact.

Cohn speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the UN meeting said: &quot;We made the president&#39;s position unambiguous, to where the president stands, where the administration stands on Paris&quot;.

In a statement issued after the meeting, Reuters quoted a White House official saying,&quot;We are withdrawing from the Paris Agreement unless we can re-engage on terms more favorable to the United States. This position was made very clear during the breakfast.&quot;

Trump's chief economic adviser Gary Cohn categorically denied the US had changed its mind on withdrawing from the Paris climate pact.

In his first appearance at the United Nations, US President Donald Trump said the "world body had not reached its full potential because of bureaucracy and mismanagement". "The United Nations was founded on truly noble goals, in recent years the United Nations has not reached its full potential because of bureaucracy and mismanagement," the US president said. Meanwhile, Trump's chief economic adviser Gary Cohn categorically denied the US had changed its mind on withdrawing from the Paris climate pact. Cohn speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the UN meeting said: "We made the president's position unambiguous, to where the president stands, where the administration stands on Paris". In a statement issued after the meeting, Reuters quoted a White House official saying,"We are withdrawing from the Paris Agreement unless we can re-engage on terms more favorable to the United States. This position was made very clear during the breakfast."

UN hasn't reached full potential due to bureaucracy and mismanagement: Trump

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today acknowledged <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-us-japan-set-for-malabar-naval-drill-in-bay-of-bengal-china-deploys-surveillance-ship-17774">India and Japan&#39;s military cooperation citing the Malabar</a> military exercise undertaken by the two countries including the US in July.

PM Abe in the joint statement said: &quot;It (joint naval exercise in Malabar) will further deepen cooperation between India, Japan, and the US.&quot;&nbsp;

He further added that &quot;India, Japan, and the US conducted joint maritime exercise Malabar for the first time, based on strong ties of trust between PM Modi and President Trump&quot;.&nbsp;

PM Modi<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-ahmedabad-to-mumbai-bullet-train-route-20170"> </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-ahmedabad-to-mumbai-bullet-train-route-20170">emphasised</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-ahmedabad-to-mumbai-bullet-train-route-20170"> on employing Japanese technology </a>to help India grow economically. &nbsp;

&quot;I urge Japanese business community to open a maximum number of Japanese restaurant chains in India,&quot; Modi said. 
 
Here is a look at the two countries and their military and economic alliance.&nbsp; 
 
Indian and Japan: Military ties 
 
The two nations have a history of close military ties. They have a&nbsp;common motive of maintaining security in sea-lanes in the Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean region.

The two countries often hold cumulated military exercises and co-operate on technology.&nbsp;India and Japan concluded a security pact in 2008.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who is frequently termed as an &quot;Indophile&quot; is taking closer security cooperation measures with India, in response to the rising tensions in territorial disputes with Japan&#39;s neighbour North Korea.

In July 2017, the Indian Navy took part in a week-long military drill&nbsp;with the Japanese and US navies called the Malabar naval exercise, realigning their common vision on the Indo-Pacific maritime security apparatus.

The move&nbsp;came amid&nbsp;the standoff between India-China over the Doklam issue&nbsp;and Japan&#39;s growing anxiety over North Korea&#39;s missile tests.

Indo-Japan ties turned into a &quot;substantial&quot;&nbsp;friendship on July 20 last year&nbsp;with the signing&nbsp;of the India-Japan civil nuclear agreement. The pact was signed in 2016&nbsp;during PM Modi&#39;s three-day visit to Japan.

This was the first time that Japan had signed a&nbsp;deal with a non-signatory of Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Indian and Japan: Economic ties

The agreement between India and Japan to build a bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai using Japan&#39;s Shinkansen technology was signed in December 2015.

The two nations are also working on Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC), which was unveiled on May 23, 2017.&nbsp;Japan also&nbsp;provided assistance and know-how for the first phase of Delhi Metro.

The Japanese are also involved in other mega infrastructure projects, such as the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor started a decade ago.&nbsp;Over the last fifteen&nbsp;years, investments from Japan have played a symbolic part in India&rsquo;s progress.

Over a span of seventeen years, beginning 2000, Japan has invested more than $25 billion across various sectors in India.&nbsp;Japan is among the top four largest investors in India, and investment from Japan increased substantially during 2016-17.

Japan invested 4.7 billion in 2016, which is 80 per cent higher than 2015-2016.

In fact, Japan has promised to invest roughly $35 billion for the period between 2014-19 to boost India&rsquo;s manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.

 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oRe_4gOM8dk" width="560"></iframe> 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Japanese government even specially employed Mizuho Financial Group for discovering investment opportunities in India

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today acknowledged India and Japan's military cooperation citing the Malabar military exercise undertaken by the two countries including the US in July. PM Abe in the joint statement said: "It (joint naval exercise in Malabar) will further deepen cooperation between India, Japan, and the US." He further added that "India, Japan, and the US conducted joint maritime exercise Malabar for the first time, based on strong ties of trust between PM Modi and President Trump". PM Modi emphasised on employing Japanese technology to help India grow economically. "I urge Japanese business community to open a maximum number of Japanese restaurant chains in India," Modi said. Here is a look at the two countries and their military and economic alliance. Indian and Japan: Military ties The two nations have a history of close military ties. They have a common motive of maintaining security in sea-lanes in the Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean region. The two countries often hold cumulated military exercises and co-operate on technology. India and Japan concluded a security pact in 2008. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who is frequently termed as an "Indophile" is taking closer security cooperation measures with India, in response to the rising tensions in territorial disputes with Japan's neighbour North Korea. In July 2017, the Indian Navy took part in a week-long military drill with the Japanese and US navies called the Malabar naval exercise, realigning their common vision on the Indo-Pacific maritime security apparatus. The move came amid the standoff between India-China over the Doklam issue and Japan's growing anxiety over North Korea's missile tests. Indo-Japan ties turned into a "substantial" friendship on July 20 last year with the signing of the India-Japan civil nuclear agreement. The pact was signed in 2016 during PM Modi's three-day visit to Japan. This was the first time that Japan had signed a deal with a non-signatory of Non-Proliferation Treaty. Indian and Japan: Economic ties The agreement between India and Japan to build a bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai using Japan's Shinkansen technology was signed in December 2015. The two nations are also working on Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC), which was unveiled on May 23, 2017. Japan also provided assistance and know-how for the first phase of Delhi Metro. The Japanese are also involved in other mega infrastructure projects, such as the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor started a decade ago. Over the last fifteen years, investments from Japan have played a symbolic part in India’s progress. Over a span of seventeen years, beginning 2000, Japan has invested more than $25 billion across various sectors in India. Japan is among the top four largest investors in India, and investment from Japan increased substantially during 2016-17. Japan invested 4.7 billion in 2016, which is 80 per cent higher than 2015-2016. In fact, Japan has promised to invest roughly $35 billion for the period between 2014-19 to boost India’s manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.

Joint naval exercise in Malabar will further deepen cooperation between India, Japan & US: PM Abe

The US Justice Department has confirmed there is no evidence to back up President Donald Trump&#39;s claim that his predecessor Barack Obama wiretapped Trump Tower during the 2016 election campaign.

&quot;Both FBI and NSD (National Security Division) confirm that they have no records related to wiretaps as described by the March 4, 2017 tweets,&quot; the department said in a court filing dated Friday that came about in response to a freedom of information request by American Oversight, a government watchdog.&nbsp;

The NSD is a division of the Department of Justice.

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<h5>&#39;How low has President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!&#39; Trump had tweeted on March 4</h5>
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The FBI had previously shot down the claims, that were made as controversy over alleged links between Trump&#39;s campaign team and Russia intensified earlier this year.

&quot;Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my &quot;wires tapped&quot; in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!&quot; Trump tweeted on March 4.

&quot;How low has President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!&quot; he added.

He also repeated the claim during a White House press conference with Angela Merkel later that month.

Trump&#39;s former spokesman Sean Spicer also defended the claim and cited a Fox News report which alleged that Britain&#39;s GCHQ spy agency did the wiretapping for Obama.

National Security Agency Director Admiral Mike Rogers strongly rebutted the suggestion, telling a congressional hearing in March: &quot;That would be expressly against the construct of the Five Eyes agreement that&#39;s been in place for decades.&quot; He was referring to the intelligence alliance grouping Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.&nbsp;

Reacting to the findings, Austin Evers, executive director of American Oversight, said: &quot;The FBI and Department of Justice have now sided with former Director Comey and confirmed in writing that President Trump lied when he tweeted that former President Obama &#39;wiretapped&#39; him at Trump Tower.&nbsp;

&quot;This filing confirms that even Trump&#39;s own Department of Justice does not believe he has credibility on a key element of the Russia investigation.&quot;

Trump is facing multiple investigations into alleged collusion with Russia, including one led by special prosecutor Robert Mueller who was appointed following Trump&#39;s sacking of former FBI director James Comey.

Russian President Vladimir Putin&#39;s spokesman on Wednesday confirmed that the Kremlin last year received an email from a lawyer working for Donald Trump about building a Trump Tower skyscraper in Moscow, despite assertions by the then candidate that he had no current business ties to the country.

During his successful presidential campaign, Trump praised Putin as a strong leader and called for a reset in relations with Moscow, but ties have since deteriorated sharply, with the US imposing fresh sanctions on Russia and both countries ordering each other to scale back their number of diplomats.

'Both FBI and NSD (National Security Division) confirm that they have no records related to wiretaps as described by the March 4, 2017 tweets,' the department said in a court filing

The US Justice Department has confirmed there is no evidence to back up President Donald Trump's claim that his predecessor Barack Obama wiretapped Trump Tower during the 2016 election campaign. "Both FBI and NSD (National Security Division) confirm that they have no records related to wiretaps as described by the March 4, 2017 tweets," the department said in a court filing dated Friday that came about in response to a freedom of information request by American Oversight, a government watchdog. The NSD is a division of the Department of Justice. 'How low has President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!' Trump had tweeted on March 4 × The FBI had previously shot down the claims, that were made as controversy over alleged links between Trump's campaign team and Russia intensified earlier this year. "Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my "wires tapped" in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!" Trump tweeted on March 4. "How low has President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!" he added. He also repeated the claim during a White House press conference with Angela Merkel later that month. Trump's former spokesman Sean Spicer also defended the claim and cited a Fox News report which alleged that Britain's GCHQ spy agency did the wiretapping for Obama. National Security Agency Director Admiral Mike Rogers strongly rebutted the suggestion, telling a congressional hearing in March: "That would be expressly against the construct of the Five Eyes agreement that's been in place for decades." He was referring to the intelligence alliance grouping Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. Reacting to the findings, Austin Evers, executive director of American Oversight, said: "The FBI and Department of Justice have now sided with former Director Comey and confirmed in writing that President Trump lied when he tweeted that former President Obama 'wiretapped' him at Trump Tower. "This filing confirms that even Trump's own Department of Justice does not believe he has credibility on a key element of the Russia investigation." Trump is facing multiple investigations into alleged collusion with Russia, including one led by special prosecutor Robert Mueller who was appointed following Trump's sacking of former FBI director James Comey. Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman on Wednesday confirmed that the Kremlin last year received an email from a lawyer working for Donald Trump about building a Trump Tower skyscraper in Moscow, despite assertions by the then candidate that he had no current business ties to the country. During his successful presidential campaign, Trump praised Putin as a strong leader and called for a reset in relations with Moscow, but ties have since deteriorated sharply, with the US imposing fresh sanctions on Russia and both countries ordering each other to scale back their number of diplomats.

No evidence Obama wiretapped Trump Tower: US Justice Dept

Amid growing&nbsp;tensions between North Korea&nbsp;and the United states, US President Trump on Saturday spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reaffirming cooperation between US, Japan and South Korea.&nbsp;

&quot;The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of close cooperation between the United States, Japan, and South Korea in the face of the growing threat from North Korea,&quot; the White House said in a statement.

Earlier, Pyongyang said it had <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/n-korea-has-developed-h-bomb-missile-warhead-state-media-19803" target="_blank">developed a more advanced thermonuclear weapon</a> that possesses &quot;great destructive power&quot;.

North Korea said that the weapon would be loaded on a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that experts believe has the range to hit much of the US, Reuters reported.

Tensions escalated in July when North Korea carried out two tests of an ICBM, the Hwasong-14.

(With inputs from Reuters)

 
&nbsp;

US President Trump spoke to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after N Korea said about new ICBM

Amid growing tensions between North Korea and the United states, US President Trump on Saturday spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reaffirming cooperation between US, Japan and South Korea. "The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of close cooperation between the United States, Japan, and South Korea in the face of the growing threat from North Korea," the White House said in a statement. Earlier, Pyongyang said it had developed a more advanced thermonuclear weapon that possesses "great destructive power". North Korea said that the weapon would be loaded on a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that experts believe has the range to hit much of the US, Reuters reported. Tensions escalated in July when North Korea carried out two tests of an ICBM, the Hwasong-14. (With inputs from Reuters)

US President Trump discusses North Korea threat with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe

By:&nbsp;Tridivesh Singh Maini &amp; Sandeep Sachdeva*

New Delhi,&nbsp;while consistently expanding strategic and economic ties with the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) and Israel, has also sought to strengthen ties with Tehran, which has tense relations with both. The Nuclear Deal of 2015, signed between Iran and (P5+1) countries opened new vistas for India in Iran, which is strategically located and is India&rsquo;s potential gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia.&nbsp;

During his visit to Iran in 2016, PM Modi signed an agreement, not just committing financial assistance&nbsp;to the tune of 500 Million USD for phase 1 of the development of the Chabahar Project, but also a three nation agreement with Iran and Afghanistan&nbsp;for establishing a land, transit and trade corridor. India will build a <a href="http://russiancouncil.ru/en/blogs/tridivesh-en/33618/">500-km rail line</a> from Chabahar port from the southern coast of Iran to Zahedan, close to the Afghan border, at a cost of $1.6 billion as part of the transit corridor to Afghanistan. &quot;It will open new routes for India, Iran, and Afghanistan to connect among themselves,&quot; said PM Modi with regard to the corridor.

India&rsquo;s main aim was to get access to Afghanistan and Central Asia. Pakistan has continuously opposed India&rsquo;s entry into the <a href="http://russiancouncil.ru/en/blogs/tridivesh-en/33618/">APTTA</a>&nbsp;(Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement), even though Afghanistan has been in favour of India joining the agreement. APTTA is a transit trade agreement as it is quite evident from its name. Currently, Afghan goods can come into India, but trucks stop at Wagah (Pakistani side of the border). India, however, has been deprived of land access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

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<h5>Given India&rsquo;s increasingly close ties with the US, and importance of Iran in the context of connectivity with Afghanistan and Central Asia, striking a balance may be a challenge given Trump&rsquo;s unpredictability.</h5>
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There have been some hitches with regard to the Chabahar project kicking off by 2018. The <a href="https://www.google.co.in/amp/www.firstpost.com/india/chabahar-port-why-future-of-india-iran-project-hinges-on-outcome-of-narendra-modi-donald-trump-meet-3722647.html/amp">companies which are to develop customised equipment jetties and container terminals</a> were not willing to take part in the bidding process. The banks were not ready to facilitate the financial transactions involving Iran due to the uncertain policies of Trump administration towards&nbsp;Iran. Apart from this, there was a delay in <a href="http://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/iran-india-trade-charges-on-delay-of-chabahar-port/articleshow/56990454.cms">loan disbursement of $ 150 million</a>&nbsp;with India and Iran blaming each other for the delay. Transport minister, Nitin Gadkari who attended Iranian President Rouhani&rsquo;s swearing in on August 5, 2017, categorically stated:

&quot;India and Iran have been historically sharing special ties. We are keen on developing Chabahar Port and are hopeful of starting operations in 12 to 18 months.&quot;

US-Iran ties

India, however, needs to carefully observe Trump&rsquo;s warnings to Iran on the nuclear deal. Iran has categorically stated, that it will quit the Nuclear Deal if more sanctions are imposed. Rouhani&#39;s exact words were:&nbsp;&quot;Iran could quit the nuclear deal within hours if the US imposes more sanctions.&quot;

Even though Iran has followed the conditions of the deal, Trump has threatened about imposing sanctions. The Secretary of State Rex Tillerson,&nbsp;however, has made it clear on umpteen occasions, that the US will not scrap the deal. Interestingly, Tillerson has also stated, that he and the US President have differences over the deal. Whereas President Trump is in favour of calling off the deal and imposing new sanctions, secretary of state <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-tillerson-iran-idUSKBN1AH5E7">Tillerson </a>subscribes to the view, that America should not strike the deal rather engage with Iran to bring stability in the neighbourhood, especially in Iraq and Syria by holding it accountable.&nbsp;

Given India&rsquo;s increasingly close ties with the US, and importance of Iran in the context of connectivity with Afghanistan and Central Asia, striking a balance may be a challenge given Trump&rsquo;s unpredictability. 
&nbsp; 
Iran-Pakistan ties&nbsp;

New Delhi should also observe carefully Iran&rsquo;s support for Pakistan, particularly after Trump&rsquo;s speech on August 21 where he warned Pakistan to take more concrete action against terror groups operating on Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Iran came to the defence of Pakistan, with foreign ministry spokesman, Bahram Ghasemi saying:

&quot;What presently the US is highlighting to condemn other countries with is the result of years of wrong and inappropriate policies of Americans in the countries of the region, especially Afghanistan.&rdquo;

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<h5>Iran already has strong economic ties with China, moving closer to Pakistan would not be good news for India.</h5>
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Iran already has strong economic ties with China, and it moving closer to Pakistan would not be good news for India. New Delhi has been trying to jointly work with both Afghanistan and Iran much to the chagrin of the Pakistan army.&nbsp;

Significantly, in May 2017, Iran had taken a tough stance against certain terror groups operating from Pakistan, warning that it would hit the bases of Sunni militant groups operating in Pakistan. In April 2017, Ten Iranian border guards had been killed by militants and Iran blamed Sunni groups operating from Pakistan. <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-pakistan-security-idUSKBN1840SY">Major General Mohammad Baqeri</a>, head of the Iranian armed forces had said, &ldquo;If the terrorist attacks continue, we will hit their safe havens and cells, wherever they are.&rdquo;&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Middle East

New Delhi should also be watching the gradual softening of Iran towards Saudi Arabia and Turkey. On the sidelines of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Istanbul earlier this month, the <a href="#vgi=11831571547160704589&amp;amp=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.al-monitor.com%252Fpulse%252Fen%252Foriginals%252F2017%252F08%252Firan-zarif-jubeir-saudi-fm-handshake-istanbul-shamkhani-deal.amp.html&amp;ampidx=0&amp;ampct=1504066232985">foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia</a> met and exchanged greetings. Earlier this month Iranian chief of staff of the armed forces, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-iran-military-idUSKCN1AW1PT">Major-General Mohammad Baqeri</a> paid a visit to Turkey to explore possible synergies in counter-terrorism and the Syrian conflict. This is a clear indication of a significant improvement in bilateral ties. It has also been reported, that their high-level officials are likely to meet again.&nbsp;

While New Delhi has strong ties with both, and this has been a challenge in the past, the tensions were also to the benefit of India. Due to tensions between Iran and GCC countries, especially Saudi Arabia, New Delhi could also pressurise both sides to urge Pakistan to take action against terror groups. Apart from strengthening of India-US ties, Saudi Arabia has been apprehensive about India getting too close to Iran. This has resulted in Riyadh not just adopting a more nuanced stand on terrorism emanating from Pakistan and extraditing terrorists, but also strengthening security cooperation with India.&nbsp;

While currently, India is bogged down with numerous domestic challenges, and other foreign policy priorities, especially with China,&nbsp;a close watch should be kept on Iran&rsquo;s next moves not just in the context of its deal with the US, but also on&nbsp;its ties with Pakistan and GCC countries.&nbsp;

*Sandeep Sachdeva is an Independent Policy Analyst associated with The Jindal School of International Affairs, Sonipat.

Iran already has strong economic ties with China, and it moving closer to Pakistan would not be good news for India.

By: Tridivesh Singh Maini & Sandeep Sachdeva* New Delhi, while consistently expanding strategic and economic ties with the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) and Israel, has also sought to strengthen ties with Tehran, which has tense relations with both. The Nuclear Deal of 2015, signed between Iran and (P5+1) countries opened new vistas for India in Iran, which is strategically located and is India’s potential gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia. During his visit to Iran in 2016, PM Modi signed an agreement, not just committing financial assistance to the tune of 500 Million USD for phase 1 of the development of the Chabahar Project, but also a three nation agreement with Iran and Afghanistan for establishing a land, transit and trade corridor. India will build a 500-km rail line from Chabahar port from the southern coast of Iran to Zahedan, close to the Afghan border, at a cost of $1.6 billion as part of the transit corridor to Afghanistan. "It will open new routes for India, Iran, and Afghanistan to connect among themselves," said PM Modi with regard to the corridor. India’s main aim was to get access to Afghanistan and Central Asia. Pakistan has continuously opposed India’s entry into the APTTA (Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement), even though Afghanistan has been in favour of India joining the agreement. APTTA is a transit trade agreement as it is quite evident from its name. Currently, Afghan goods can come into India, but trucks stop at Wagah (Pakistani side of the border). India, however, has been deprived of land access to Afghanistan and Central Asia. Given India’s increasingly close ties with the US, and importance of Iran in the context of connectivity with Afghanistan and Central Asia, striking a balance may be a challenge given Trump’s unpredictability. × There have been some hitches with regard to the Chabahar project kicking off by 2018. The companies which are to develop customised equipment jetties and container terminals were not willing to take part in the bidding process. The banks were not ready to facilitate the financial transactions involving Iran due to the uncertain policies of Trump administration towards Iran. Apart from this, there was a delay in loan disbursement of $ 150 million with India and Iran blaming each other for the delay. Transport minister, Nitin Gadkari who attended Iranian President Rouhani’s swearing in on August 5, 2017, categorically stated: "India and Iran have been historically sharing special ties. We are keen on developing Chabahar Port and are hopeful of starting operations in 12 to 18 months." US-Iran ties India, however, needs to carefully observe Trump’s warnings to Iran on the nuclear deal. Iran has categorically stated, that it will quit the Nuclear Deal if more sanctions are imposed. Rouhani's exact words were: "Iran could quit the nuclear deal within hours if the US imposes more sanctions." Even though Iran has followed the conditions of the deal, Trump has threatened about imposing sanctions. The Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, however, has made it clear on umpteen occasions, that the US will not scrap the deal. Interestingly, Tillerson has also stated, that he and the US President have differences over the deal. Whereas President Trump is in favour of calling off the deal and imposing new sanctions, secretary of state Tillerson subscribes to the view, that America should not strike the deal rather engage with Iran to bring stability in the neighbourhood, especially in Iraq and Syria by holding it accountable. Given India’s increasingly close ties with the US, and importance of Iran in the context of connectivity with Afghanistan and Central Asia, striking a balance may be a challenge given Trump’s unpredictability. Iran-Pakistan ties New Delhi should also observe carefully Iran’s support for Pakistan, particularly after Trump’s speech on August 21 where he warned Pakistan to take more concrete action against terror groups operating on Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Iran came to the defence of Pakistan, with foreign ministry spokesman, Bahram Ghasemi saying: "What presently the US is highlighting to condemn other countries with is the result of years of wrong and inappropriate policies of Americans in the countries of the region, especially Afghanistan.” Iran already has strong economic ties with China, moving closer to Pakistan would not be good news for India. × Iran already has strong economic ties with China, and it moving closer to Pakistan would not be good news for India. New Delhi has been trying to jointly work with both Afghanistan and Iran much to the chagrin of the Pakistan army. Significantly, in May 2017, Iran had taken a tough stance against certain terror groups operating from Pakistan, warning that it would hit the bases of Sunni militant groups operating in Pakistan. In April 2017, Ten Iranian border guards had been killed by militants and Iran blamed Sunni groups operating from Pakistan. Major General Mohammad Baqeri, head of the Iranian armed forces had said, “If the terrorist attacks continue, we will hit their safe havens and cells, wherever they are.” Middle East New Delhi should also be watching the gradual softening of Iran towards Saudi Arabia and Turkey. On the sidelines of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Istanbul earlier this month, the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia met and exchanged greetings. Earlier this month Iranian chief of staff of the armed forces, Major-General Mohammad Baqeri paid a visit to Turkey to explore possible synergies in counter-terrorism and the Syrian conflict. This is a clear indication of a significant improvement in bilateral ties. It has also been reported, that their high-level officials are likely to meet again. While New Delhi has strong ties with both, and this has been a challenge in the past, the tensions were also to the benefit of India. Due to tensions between Iran and GCC countries, especially Saudi Arabia, New Delhi could also pressurise both sides to urge Pakistan to take action against terror groups. Apart from strengthening of India-US ties, Saudi Arabia has been apprehensive about India getting too close to Iran. This has resulted in Riyadh not just adopting a more nuanced stand on terrorism emanating from Pakistan and extraditing terrorists, but also strengthening security cooperation with India. While currently, India is bogged down with numerous domestic challenges, and other foreign policy priorities, especially with China, a close watch should be kept on Iran’s next moves not just in the context of its deal with the US, but also on its ties with Pakistan and GCC countries. *Sandeep Sachdeva is an Independent Policy Analyst associated with The Jindal School of International Affairs, Sonipat.

India should be careful about Iran's softening of stance towards Pakistan and China

The Trump-led US administration has notified the US Congress that it was giving $255 million to Pakistan in military assistance on the condition that it can access the money only if it takes <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-tough-talk-unlikely-to-move-pakistan-us-experts-19341" target="_blank">action against terror groups</a>, The New York Times said in a report.

The money will be put into the equivalent of an escrow account, the report added.

Pakistan&#39;s access to the money has been made conditional based on its action&nbsp;against terror outfits.

The development comes a week after Trump put Pakistan on notice saying that &quot;we can no longer be silent about Pakistan&#39;s safe havens for terrorist organisations&quot;.&nbsp;

Pakistan has been a traditional US ally in its war against terrorism.

Pakistan has taken serious note of the statements emanating from Washington. In a rare move, Islamabad suspended bilateral talks with Washington and its <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-national-assembly-passes-resolution-rejecting-trumps-hostile-statements-19694" target="_blank">National Assembly condemned President Trump</a> for his &quot;hostile and threatening&quot; statements. 
&nbsp;

The development comes after US President Trump castigated Pakistan for its alleged support to terror outfits

The Trump-led US administration has notified the US Congress that it was giving $255 million to Pakistan in military assistance on the condition that it can access the money only if it takes action against terror groups, The New York Times said in a report. The money will be put into the equivalent of an escrow account, the report added. Pakistan's access to the money has been made conditional based on its action against terror outfits. The development comes a week after Trump put Pakistan on notice saying that "we can no longer be silent about Pakistan's safe havens for terrorist organisations". Pakistan has been a traditional US ally in its war against terrorism. Pakistan has taken serious note of the statements emanating from Washington. In a rare move, Islamabad suspended bilateral talks with Washington and its National Assembly condemned President Trump for his "hostile and threatening" statements.

Trump's condition for $255 million aid to Pak: Crack down on terror outfits

UN High Commissioner Zeid Ra&#39;ad al-Hussein on Wednesday said the freedom of the press was under attack from US President Donald Trump.

&quot;It&#39;s really quite amazing when you think that freedom of the press, not only sort of a cornerstone of the U.S. Constitution but very much something that the United States defended over the years is now itself under attack from the President,&quot; UN&#39;s rights boss told in a news conference talking about the remarks made by Trump against the journalists.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-defends-response-to-charlottesville-violence-at-arizona-rally-19347">Trump defended the violence at a rally in Arizona</a>, last week, saying that the media has given a platform to hate groups. 
 
Trump&#39;s verbal attacks were directly on the major media groups, like New York Times and CNN.

&quot;It&#39;s sort of a stunning turnaround. And ultimately the sequence is a dangerous one,&quot; Zeid Ra&#39;ad al-Hussein added.

The UN rights chief presented a report on Wednesday in Venezuela documenting extensive human rights violations committed by Venezuelan security forces saying that democracy is &#39;barely alive&#39; there.&nbsp;

UN rights chief arrives at Venezuela, Geneva, spoke about derogatory remarks made by US President Trump

UN High Commissioner Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein on Wednesday said the freedom of the press was under attack from US President Donald Trump. "It's really quite amazing when you think that freedom of the press, not only sort of a cornerstone of the U.S. Constitution but very much something that the United States defended over the years is now itself under attack from the President," UN's rights boss told in a news conference talking about the remarks made by Trump against the journalists. Trump defended the violence at a rally in Arizona, last week, saying that the media has given a platform to hate groups. Trump's verbal attacks were directly on the major media groups, like New York Times and CNN. "It's sort of a stunning turnaround. And ultimately the sequence is a dangerous one," Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein added. The UN rights chief presented a report on Wednesday in Venezuela documenting extensive human rights violations committed by Venezuelan security forces saying that democracy is 'barely alive' there.

Freedom of the press under attack from Trump: UN rights boss

Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif announced on Tuesday&nbsp;that Islamabad has suspended talks and bilateral visits with Washington.with Washington.

The talks were suspended to express disapproval of US President Trump&#39;s comments criticising&nbsp;the nation, media reports said.

Asif informed the Senate on Monday that the South Asian nation has taken President Trump&#39;s remarks in serious light.&nbsp;

Trump has announced a new South Asia policy&nbsp;which has condemned Pakistan.

Last week, during his very first speech as the commander-in-chief, Trump called for more troop deployment in Afghanistan&nbsp;and spoke about India&#39;s role in the country. 
 
On the other hand, he attacked Pakistan and accused the country of offering a safe haven to &quot;agents of chaos&quot;.

This led to a series of protests and as a consequence, Pakistan postponed the visit by a US acting assistant secretary of State. 
 
According to the previous schedule, US Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells was supposed to arrive in Pakistan on Tuesday, while Asif was to travel to the US last week.

In context to Trump&#39;s South Asia policy, Asif does not foresee a&nbsp;military role for India in Afghanistan. The minister said that it was rather a role of economic development.

The minister said that India would not be allowed to use Afghan soil to destabilise Pakistan.&nbsp;This particular remark took most committee members by surprise as they were under the impression that India was already using Afghanistan to plan subversive activities in Pakistan. The members sought information on the terror events in Pakistan that were sponsored in India, with emphasis on Indian intelligence agent Kulbhushan Jadhav case.

Members wanted to understand that what mechanism would be put in place to check if Indian presence was not being abused to instigate terrorism in Pakistan.

They were also keen on understanding why there were an unusually high number of Indian consulates in Afghanistan--more than those it had in the US.

Additionally, the members demanded the government to share a fact-sheet on US assistance received after 9/11, the reimbursed amount of coalition support fund (CSF) and the financial loss incurred by the country as a frontline state against the war on terror.

According to media reports, Foreign Secretary Teh&shy;mina Janjua told the Senate that a meeting of Pakistan`s representatives had been convened from September 5 to September 7 to draw a strategy over the new US policy on South Asia.

It was decided that the Senate will have another meeting on Tuesday to standardise the policy guidelines, keeping in mind the emerging realities and the role of the US, curated by a six-member committee of the house.&nbsp;

The policy guidelines are likely to be passed on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Pakistan&#39;s newly-appointed Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is to make a trip to the US in the second half of September.

The visit will be his first visit to the US as Prime Minister and he is expected to meet American officials on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York.

Trump accused the country of offering a safe haven to 'agents of chaos'

Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif announced on Tuesday that Islamabad has suspended talks and bilateral visits with Washington.with Washington. The talks were suspended to express disapproval of US President Trump's comments criticising the nation, media reports said. Asif informed the Senate on Monday that the South Asian nation has taken President Trump's remarks in serious light. Trump has announced a new South Asia policy which has condemned Pakistan. Last week, during his very first speech as the commander-in-chief, Trump called for more troop deployment in Afghanistan and spoke about India's role in the country. On the other hand, he attacked Pakistan and accused the country of offering a safe haven to "agents of chaos". This led to a series of protests and as a consequence, Pakistan postponed the visit by a US acting assistant secretary of State. According to the previous schedule, US Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells was supposed to arrive in Pakistan on Tuesday, while Asif was to travel to the US last week. In context to Trump's South Asia policy, Asif does not foresee a military role for India in Afghanistan. The minister said that it was rather a role of economic development. The minister said that India would not be allowed to use Afghan soil to destabilise Pakistan. This particular remark took most committee members by surprise as they were under the impression that India was already using Afghanistan to plan subversive activities in Pakistan. The members sought information on the terror events in Pakistan that were sponsored in India, with emphasis on Indian intelligence agent Kulbhushan Jadhav case. Members wanted to understand that what mechanism would be put in place to check if Indian presence was not being abused to instigate terrorism in Pakistan. They were also keen on understanding why there were an unusually high number of Indian consulates in Afghanistan--more than those it had in the US. Additionally, the members demanded the government to share a fact-sheet on US assistance received after 9/11, the reimbursed amount of coalition support fund (CSF) and the financial loss incurred by the country as a frontline state against the war on terror. According to media reports, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua told the Senate that a meeting of Pakistan`s representatives had been convened from September 5 to September 7 to draw a strategy over the new US policy on South Asia. It was decided that the Senate will have another meeting on Tuesday to standardise the policy guidelines, keeping in mind the emerging realities and the role of the US, curated by a six-member committee of the house. The policy guidelines are likely to be passed on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Pakistan's newly-appointed Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is to make a trip to the US in the second half of September. The visit will be his first visit to the US as Prime Minister and he is expected to meet American officials on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York.

Pakistan suspends talks with US in protest against Trump's fiery comment

A car bomb attack in a market in<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/car-bomb-attack-in-afghanistan-at-least-5-killed-19366"> Afghanistan&#39;s southern province of Helmand</a> killed at least 13 people late on Sunday evening.

The attack was targeted at a convoy of Afghan soldiers in the market area in Nawa district of Helmand. The suicide attack led the death of security personnel and civilians.

AFP reported at least fifteen bodies were brought to the hospital with over thirty injured in admitted in various hospitals. &nbsp;

The attack comes just days <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/gunmen-enter-mosque-in-kabul-19503">after a suicide bomber blew himself up at a mosque in Kabul</a>, just days after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/reversing-course-trump-commits-to-open-ended-afghan-war-19303">US President Donald Trump promised</a> to step up military intervention in &nbsp;Afghanistan.

&quot;A suicide bomber detonated an explosive-filled car as the Afghan National Army convoy passed a small market in Nawa District of Helmand,&quot; Omar Zwak, a spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack even though news agency AFP reported the Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a WhatsApp message sent to journalists.

AFP reported at least fifteen bodies were brought to the hospital with over thirty injured in admitted in various hospitals. ?

A car bomb attack in a market in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand killed at least 13 people late on Sunday evening. The attack was targeted at a convoy of Afghan soldiers in the market area in Nawa district of Helmand. The suicide attack led the death of security personnel and civilians. AFP reported at least fifteen bodies were brought to the hospital with over thirty injured in admitted in various hospitals. The attack comes just days after a suicide bomber blew himself up at a mosque in Kabul, just days after US President Donald Trump promised to step up military intervention in Afghanistan. "A suicide bomber detonated an explosive-filled car as the Afghan National Army convoy passed a small market in Nawa District of Helmand," Omar Zwak, a spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack even though news agency AFP reported the Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a WhatsApp message sent to journalists.

At least 13 killed, several injured in suicide attack in Afghanistan's Helmand province

US President Donald Trump has&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41008116" rel="noopener" target="_blank">drawn battle lines</a>&nbsp;in South Asia that are likely to have a ripple effect across Eurasia: a stepped-up war against the Taliban in Afghanistan; a tougher approach toward Pakistan&rsquo;s selective support of militancy; and closer cooperation with India &mdash; moves that are likely to push Islamabad closer to China and Russia.

There is little doubt that Trump had few good choices some 16 years into an Afghanistan War in which the Taliban and other militant groups are holding their ground, if not making advances, buffeted by Pakistani policies that are rooted in the fabric of the country&rsquo;s military and society. Similarly, there is little doubt that Pakistan&rsquo;s convoluted relationship to militancy poses serious challenges to US foreign policy in South Asia, as well as a global effort to contain political violence.

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<h5>Pakistan&rsquo;s convoluted relationship to militancy poses serious challenges to US foreign policy in South Asia, as well as a global effort to contain political violence.</h5>
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Nonetheless, President Trump could find that his newly announced South Asia policy will fail to achieve his goal of an &ldquo;honorable and enduring outcome worthy of the tremendous sacrifices&rdquo; made by the United States. The silver lining is that Pakistan may temporarily engineer a stay of execution but ultimately will find itself in a cul-de-sac from which there is no escape.

Despite refusing to disclose details of his strategy in Afghanistan, the US president made clear in a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.npr.org/2017/08/21/545038935/watch-live-trump-s-address-on-afghanistan-next-steps-for-u-s-engagement" rel="noopener" target="_blank">speech on August 21 outlining his South Asia policy</a>&nbsp;that he hopes an increased US military presence will force the Taliban to come to the negotiating table. Yet achieving that would require the kind of military and political engagement in Afghanistan that Trump seems unwilling to embrace.

US media reported that Trump envisioned only a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-expected-to-announce-small-troop-increase-in-afghanistan-in-prime-time-address/2017/08/21/eb3a513e-868a-11e7-a94f-3139abce39f5_story.html?utm_term=.5b49c9a86f55" rel="noopener" target="_blank">modest increase of several thousand troops</a>&nbsp;in a country wracked&nbsp;by corruption and whose military is largely incapable of standing its ground on its own.&nbsp;Political and security analysts&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/troop-surge-wont-save-afghanistan_us_59492e26e4b0f7875b83e5f8" rel="noopener" target="_blank">suggest&nbsp;</a>that it would take a far greater commitment to militarily turn the tables on the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Moreover, President Trump&rsquo;s exclusive focus on defeating insurgents militarily or bombing them into submission ignores the broader economic, social and political problems that fuel militancy in Afghanistan and drive Pakistan&rsquo;s support for the Taliban and a selection of other groups. &ldquo;We are not nation building again. We are killing terrorists,&rdquo; Trump said.

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<h5>Announcing a tougher approach toward Pakistan, the president insisted that the South Asian nation&rsquo;s partnership with the US would not survive if it continued to harbor and support groups that target the United States.</h5>
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Announcing a tougher approach toward Pakistan, the president insisted that the South Asian nation&rsquo;s partnership with the US would not survive if it continued to harbor and support groups that target the United States. Adding fuel to the fire, the president emphasised Washington&rsquo;s strategic partnership with India, calling on it to support the administration&rsquo;s policy with increased Indian economic assistance to Afghanistan. In doing so, Trump challenged a pillar of Pakistani policy toward Afghanistan: limiting Indian influence in the country at whatever cost.

<iframe frameborder="0" height="417" scrolling="no" src="https://embed.gettyimages.com/embed/472846416?et=pY4s7E5vRhBt7ZbGNg6ApA&amp;tld=com&amp;sig=xRhiWN37SB1iTMNo7vrZi22uHSIrEOURxL_UXpCkJWU=" width="594"></iframe>

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CHINESE AND RUSSIAN FOREIGN POLICY IN SOUTH ASIA

Trump&rsquo;s approach to South Asia puts to the test two assumptions: that Pakistan will want to preserve its partnership with the US at whatever cost and that it has few alternatives. The president could well find that at least in the short term those assumptions are incorrect.

Pakistan&rsquo;s relationship to militancy is engrained in a deeply-rooted, zero-sum-game approach toward India within the military, as well as empathy for Sunni Muslim ultra-conservatism that is woven into the fabric of the security forces, parts of the government bureaucracy and significant segments of society.

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Islamabad&rsquo;s use of militant groups to counter India in Afghanistan and Kashmir, as well as an antidote to nationalist insurgents in the restive province of Baluchistan, is tacitly endorsed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/central_south_asia/pakistani-news-china-pakistan-india-south-asian-world-news-97581/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">China&rsquo;s repeated vetoing</a>&nbsp;of the designation of Masood Azhar, an anti-Indian militant, former mujahideen fighter in the 1980s, and Islamic scholar who graduated from a Deobandi madrassa &mdash; Darul Uloom Islamia Binori Town in Karachi &mdash; that is the alma mater of numerous Pakistani militants.

With an investment of more than $60 billion in Pakistani infrastructure and energy that would turn the country into a key node &mdash; if not the crown jewel of its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/central_south_asia/one-belt-one-road-china-india-trade-news-61521/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">One Belt, One Road initiative</a>&nbsp;&mdash; China is a logical escape for a government and military that lacks the political will to confront its own demons. Similarly, Russia, long eager to gain access to warm water ports and expand its influence in Central and South Asia, is certain to see opportunity in further estrangement between Pakistan and the US.

Closer ties to China and Russia may offer Pakistan a temporary escape from dealing with structural problems. Ultimately, however, Islamabad&rsquo;s relationship to militancy is likely to also complicate its relations with Beijing and Moscow amid escalating violence in Baluchistan and no end in sight to the insurgency in Afghanistan. A series of devastating attacks in Baluchistan over the past year that has targeted Pakistani cadets, decimated the legal profession in the capital Quetta, and targeted Chinese nationals as well kidnappings and drive-by shootings&nbsp;pose a serious obstacle to China&rsquo;s strategic ambition&nbsp;to extend its maritime power across the Indian Ocean and turn the sleepy Baloch fishing port of Gwadar into a gateway to its troubled northwestern province of Xinjiang.

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Pakistan has, moreover, in the past year&nbsp;turned a&nbsp;<a href="https://mideastsoccer.blogspot.sg/search/label/Pakistan?updated-max=2017-06-05T14:37:00%2B08:00&amp;max-results=20&amp;start=10&amp;by-date=false" rel="noopener" target="_blank">blind eye to Saudi funding</a>&nbsp;of anti-Shia, anti-Iranian militants&nbsp;in Baluchistan, including Pakistani cleric Maulana Ali Muhammad Abu Turab, who remains a member of the Council of Islamic Ideology &mdash; a government advisory body tasked with ensuring that legislation does not contradict Islamic law &mdash; despite having been designated a global terrorist by the US Treasury.

China has too much at stake for Pakistan&rsquo;s selective support of militancy to ultimately get in the way of achieving its geopolitical goals vested in its One Belt, One Road initiative. As a result, Pakistan&rsquo;s refusal to confront its demons could, in the final analysis, leave it out in the cold: its relationship with the US severely damaged; India strengthened by closer cooperation with Trump administration; and China and Russia demanding that it do what Washington wanted in the first place.

Pakistan is likely to have fewer options and no escape routes once Beijing and Moscow come to the conclusion President Trump has already articulated.

&nbsp;

The views expressed in this article are the author&rsquo;s own and do not necessarily reflect Fair Observer&rsquo;s editorial policy.

Photo Credit:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/secdef/">Jim Mattis</a>

This <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/north_america/donald-trump-afghanistan-policy-speech-pakistan-india-policy-news-headlines-97120/">article</a> was originally published on&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&amp;q=http://www.fairobserver.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1503723352966000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHmFLLQ4MoeLQPQr96cx59taj9n4w" disabled="disabled" href="http://www.fairobserver.com/" target="_blank">Fair Observer</a>.&rdquo;

Trump challenged a pillar of Pakistani policy toward Afghanistan: limiting Indian influence in the country at whatever cost.

US President Donald Trump has drawn battle lines in South Asia that are likely to have a ripple effect across Eurasia: a stepped-up war against the Taliban in Afghanistan; a tougher approach toward Pakistan’s selective support of militancy; and closer cooperation with India — moves that are likely to push Islamabad closer to China and Russia. There is little doubt that Trump had few good choices some 16 years into an Afghanistan War in which the Taliban and other militant groups are holding their ground, if not making advances, buffeted by Pakistani policies that are rooted in the fabric of the country’s military and society. Similarly, there is little doubt that Pakistan’s convoluted relationship to militancy poses serious challenges to US foreign policy in South Asia, as well as a global effort to contain political violence. Pakistan’s convoluted relationship to militancy poses serious challenges to US foreign policy in South Asia, as well as a global effort to contain political violence. × Nonetheless, President Trump could find that his newly announced South Asia policy will fail to achieve his goal of an “honorable and enduring outcome worthy of the tremendous sacrifices” made by the United States. The silver lining is that Pakistan may temporarily engineer a stay of execution but ultimately will find itself in a cul-de-sac from which there is no escape. Despite refusing to disclose details of his strategy in Afghanistan, the US president made clear in a speech on August 21 outlining his South Asia policy that he hopes an increased US military presence will force the Taliban to come to the negotiating table. Yet achieving that would require the kind of military and political engagement in Afghanistan that Trump seems unwilling to embrace. US media reported that Trump envisioned only a modest increase of several thousand troops in a country wracked by corruption and whose military is largely incapable of standing its ground on its own. Political and security analysts suggest that it would take a far greater commitment to militarily turn the tables on the Taliban in Afghanistan. Moreover, President Trump’s exclusive focus on defeating insurgents militarily or bombing them into submission ignores the broader economic, social and political problems that fuel militancy in Afghanistan and drive Pakistan’s support for the Taliban and a selection of other groups. “We are not nation building again. We are killing terrorists,” Trump said. Announcing a tougher approach toward Pakistan, the president insisted that the South Asian nation’s partnership with the US would not survive if it continued to harbor and support groups that target the United States. × Announcing a tougher approach toward Pakistan, the president insisted that the South Asian nation’s partnership with the US would not survive if it continued to harbor and support groups that target the United States. Adding fuel to the fire, the president emphasised Washington’s strategic partnership with India, calling on it to support the administration’s policy with increased Indian economic assistance to Afghanistan. In doing so, Trump challenged a pillar of Pakistani policy toward Afghanistan: limiting Indian influence in the country at whatever cost. Embed from Getty Images CHINESE AND RUSSIAN FOREIGN POLICY IN SOUTH ASIA Trump’s approach to South Asia puts to the test two assumptions: that Pakistan will want to preserve its partnership with the US at whatever cost and that it has few alternatives. The president could well find that at least in the short term those assumptions are incorrect. Pakistan’s relationship to militancy is engrained in a deeply-rooted, zero-sum-game approach toward India within the military, as well as empathy for Sunni Muslim ultra-conservatism that is woven into the fabric of the security forces, parts of the government bureaucracy and significant segments of society. Pakistan’s relationship to militancy is engrained in a deeply-rooted, zero-sum-game approach toward India within the military, as well as empathy for Sunni Muslim ultra-conservatism. × Islamabad’s use of militant groups to counter India in Afghanistan and Kashmir, as well as an antidote to nationalist insurgents in the restive province of Baluchistan, is tacitly endorsed by China’s repeated vetoing of the designation of Masood Azhar, an anti-Indian militant, former mujahideen fighter in the 1980s, and Islamic scholar who graduated from a Deobandi madrassa — Darul Uloom Islamia Binori Town in Karachi — that is the alma mater of numerous Pakistani militants. With an investment of more than $60 billion in Pakistani infrastructure and energy that would turn the country into a key node — if not the crown jewel of its One Belt, One Road initiative — China is a logical escape for a government and military that lacks the political will to confront its own demons. Similarly, Russia, long eager to gain access to warm water ports and expand its influence in Central and South Asia, is certain to see opportunity in further estrangement between Pakistan and the US. Closer ties to China and Russia may offer Pakistan a temporary escape from dealing with structural problems. Ultimately, however, Islamabad’s relationship to militancy is likely to also complicate its relations with Beijing and Moscow amid escalating violence in Baluchistan and no end in sight to the insurgency in Afghanistan. A series of devastating attacks in Baluchistan over the past year that has targeted Pakistani cadets, decimated the legal profession in the capital Quetta, and targeted Chinese nationals as well kidnappings and drive-by shootings pose a serious obstacle to China’s strategic ambition to extend its maritime power across the Indian Ocean and turn the sleepy Baloch fishing port of Gwadar into a gateway to its troubled northwestern province of Xinjiang. China has too much at stake for Pakistan’s selective support of militancy to ultimately get in the way of achieving its geopolitical goals vested in its One Belt, One Road initiative. × Pakistan has, moreover, in the past year turned a blind eye to Saudi funding of anti-Shia, anti-Iranian militants in Baluchistan, including Pakistani cleric Maulana Ali Muhammad Abu Turab, who remains a member of the Council of Islamic Ideology — a government advisory body tasked with ensuring that legislation does not contradict Islamic law — despite having been designated a global terrorist by the US Treasury. China has too much at stake for Pakistan’s selective support of militancy to ultimately get in the way of achieving its geopolitical goals vested in its One Belt, One Road initiative. As a result, Pakistan’s refusal to confront its demons could, in the final analysis, leave it out in the cold: its relationship with the US severely damaged; India strengthened by closer cooperation with Trump administration; and China and Russia demanding that it do what Washington wanted in the first place. Pakistan is likely to have fewer options and no escape routes once Beijing and Moscow come to the conclusion President Trump has already articulated. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Fair Observer’s editorial policy. Photo Credit: Jim Mattis This article was originally published on Fair Observer.”

Will Trump's closeness with India push Pakistan towards China and Russia?

China will use all necessary means to defend the interests of the country and its companies against a US&nbsp;trade investigation, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

The ministry on Monday expressed &quot;strong dissatisfaction&quot; with the US&nbsp;launch of the probe into China&#39;s alleged theft of US&nbsp;intellectual property, calling it &quot;irresponsible&quot;.

The probe is the Trump administration&#39;s first direct measure against Chinese trade practices, which the White House and US&nbsp;business groups say are bruising American industry.

&quot;We will take all the necessary measures to resolutely defend the interests of China and Chinese firms&quot; in the face of the unilateral US&nbsp;actions, commerce ministry official Gao Feng told reporters at a regular news conference.

Gao also said that China&#39;s support for overseas investment by Chinese firms will not change, but that oversight of deals will increase and projects related to China&#39;s Belt and Road initiative will be given priority.

China&#39;s cabinet released guidelines to manage overseas investments, with certain sectors encouraged and others restricted or banned outright.

Mergers and acquisitions by Chinese companies in countries linked to the Belt and Road initiative have been growing at a rapid rate, even as the government takes aim at China&#39;s acquisitive conglomerates to restrict capital outflows.

&quot;We will further improve the overseas investment reporting management system,&quot; said Gao, adding China would push forward legislation to govern foreign investment.

The probe is the Trump administration's first direct measure against Chinese trade practices, which the White House and U.S. business groups say are bruising American industry

China will use all necessary means to defend the interests of the country and its companies against a US trade investigation, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday. The ministry on Monday expressed "strong dissatisfaction" with the US launch of the probe into China's alleged theft of US intellectual property, calling it "irresponsible". The probe is the Trump administration's first direct measure against Chinese trade practices, which the White House and US business groups say are bruising American industry. "We will take all the necessary measures to resolutely defend the interests of China and Chinese firms" in the face of the unilateral US actions, commerce ministry official Gao Feng told reporters at a regular news conference. Gao also said that China's support for overseas investment by Chinese firms will not change, but that oversight of deals will increase and projects related to China's Belt and Road initiative will be given priority. China's cabinet released guidelines to manage overseas investments, with certain sectors encouraged and others restricted or banned outright. Mergers and acquisitions by Chinese companies in countries linked to the Belt and Road initiative have been growing at a rapid rate, even as the government takes aim at China's acquisitive conglomerates to restrict capital outflows. "We will further improve the overseas investment reporting management system," said Gao, adding China would push forward legislation to govern foreign investment.

Beijing dissatisfied over US probe into China's alleged theft of intellectual property

The top US&nbsp;military commander in&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;said on Thursday President Donald Trump&#39;s new strategy is a sign of a long-term commitment to what is already America&#39;s longest war and called on Taliban insurgents to agree to peace talks.

&quot;The Taliban cannot win on the battlefield, it&#39;s time for them to join the peace process,&quot;&nbsp;GeneralJohn Nicholson told reporters in the Afghan capital, Kabul. &quot;We will not fail in&nbsp;Afghanistan, our national security depends on that as well.&quot;

Critics, including Trump himself during the 2016 campaign for the US&nbsp;presidency, have argued that&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;is no closer to peace despite billions of dollars spent on aid and nearly 16 years of the US&nbsp;and allied military operations.

In February, Nicholson told the US Congress he needed &quot;a few thousand&quot; more troops in Afghanistan, mostly to help advise Afghan security forces that are battling Taliban, Islamic State and other Islamist insurgents.

Trump has now approved an extended American presence in&nbsp;Afghanistan, although neither he nor his military leaders have provided any specifics about troop numbers or timelines.

The current US force for the predominantly advise-and-assist mission in&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;stands at around 8,400, well down from around 100,000 during the &quot;surge&quot; decided on by Trump&#39;s predecessor, Barack Obama.

Several thousand more troops are often in the country on &quot;temporary&quot; or other uncounted missions.

Nicholson said new advisers from the United States and NATO coalition allies would increase the training missions, including at specialized military schools and expanding the Afghan air force and special forces.

He also praised Trump&#39;s decision not to impose &quot;arbitrary&quot; deadlines on the American mission in Afghanistan.

&quot;This policy announcement ... is proof of our continued commitment,&quot; he said.

The Taliban government was overthrown by the US, backed Afghan forces in late 2001 but US&nbsp;forces have been bogged down there ever since. About 2,400 U.S. troops have been killed in Afghanistan.

US&nbsp;military and intelligence officials are concerned that a new Taliban victory would allow al Qaeda and Islamic State&rsquo;s regional affiliate to establish bases in&nbsp;Afghanistan.

That could allow them to plot attacks against the United States and its allies, they fear, just as Osama bin Laden had done with the Sept. 11, 2001, strikes that triggered the war in&nbsp;Afghanistan.

The Taliban cannot win on the battlefield, it's time for them to join the peace process," General John Nicholson

The top US military commander in Afghanistan said on Thursday President Donald Trump's new strategy is a sign of a long-term commitment to what is already America's longest war and called on Taliban insurgents to agree to peace talks. "The Taliban cannot win on the battlefield, it's time for them to join the peace process," GeneralJohn Nicholson told reporters in the Afghan capital, Kabul. "We will not fail in Afghanistan, our national security depends on that as well." Critics, including Trump himself during the 2016 campaign for the US presidency, have argued that Afghanistan is no closer to peace despite billions of dollars spent on aid and nearly 16 years of the US and allied military operations. In February, Nicholson told the US Congress he needed "a few thousand" more troops in Afghanistan, mostly to help advise Afghan security forces that are battling Taliban, Islamic State and other Islamist insurgents. Trump has now approved an extended American presence in Afghanistan, although neither he nor his military leaders have provided any specifics about troop numbers or timelines. The current US force for the predominantly advise-and-assist mission in Afghanistan stands at around 8,400, well down from around 100,000 during the "surge" decided on by Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama. Several thousand more troops are often in the country on "temporary" or other uncounted missions. Nicholson said new advisers from the United States and NATO coalition allies would increase the training missions, including at specialized military schools and expanding the Afghan air force and special forces. He also praised Trump's decision not to impose "arbitrary" deadlines on the American mission in Afghanistan. "This policy announcement ... is proof of our continued commitment," he said. The Taliban government was overthrown by the US, backed Afghan forces in late 2001 but US forces have been bogged down there ever since. About 2,400 U.S. troops have been killed in Afghanistan. US military and intelligence officials are concerned that a new Taliban victory would allow al Qaeda and Islamic State’s regional affiliate to establish bases in Afghanistan. That could allow them to plot attacks against the United States and its allies, they fear, just as Osama bin Laden had done with the Sept. 11, 2001, strikes that triggered the war in Afghanistan.

Trump's new strategy is long term commitment: US military commander in Afghanistan

Police fired pepper spray to disperse protesters outside a&nbsp;rally&nbsp;by US&nbsp;President Donald Trump in Phoenix, Arizona, on Tuesday after being pelted with rocks and bottles, police said.

Police have not given an estimate of the number of protesters, but Arizona media said there were several thousand. Police did not say whether the pepper spray was used on pro- or anti-Trump protesters, or both.

&quot;People in the crowd have begun throwing rocks and bottles at police,&quot; Phoenix Police Department spokesman Sergeant Jonathan Howard said.

&quot;Police have responded with pepper balls and OC (oleoresin capsicum) spray in an attempt to disperse the crowd and stop the assaults,&quot; he said.

Four people were arrested during the protest, Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams said during a news conference.

&quot;We had tens of thousands of people downtown peacefully exercising their first amendment rights,&quot; Williams said. &quot;What&rsquo;s unfortunate is that a very small number of individuals chose criminal conduct.&quot;

Police called on the crowds to disperse. Many of the protesters quit the scene, while dozens of police in riot gear and carrying shields sought to clear remaining protesters from the downtown area.

The Phoenix Fire Department said it treated 56 people for heat exhaustion and dehydration at the convention center. Twelve people were taken to the hospital.

"People in the crowd have begun throwing rocks and bottles at police," Phoenix Police Department spokesman Sergeant Jonathan Howard said

Police fired pepper spray to disperse protesters outside a rally by US President Donald Trump in Phoenix, Arizona, on Tuesday after being pelted with rocks and bottles, police said. Police have not given an estimate of the number of protesters, but Arizona media said there were several thousand. Police did not say whether the pepper spray was used on pro- or anti-Trump protesters, or both. "People in the crowd have begun throwing rocks and bottles at police," Phoenix Police Department spokesman Sergeant Jonathan Howard said. "Police have responded with pepper balls and OC (oleoresin capsicum) spray in an attempt to disperse the crowd and stop the assaults," he said. Four people were arrested during the protest, Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams said during a news conference. "We had tens of thousands of people downtown peacefully exercising their first amendment rights," Williams said. "What’s unfortunate is that a very small number of individuals chose criminal conduct." Police called on the crowds to disperse. Many of the protesters quit the scene, while dozens of police in riot gear and carrying shields sought to clear remaining protesters from the downtown area. The Phoenix Fire Department said it treated 56 people for heat exhaustion and dehydration at the convention center. Twelve people were taken to the hospital.

Trump's Phoenix rally pelted with rocks and bottles, Police used pepper spray to disperse protesters

The United States wants to know if the United Nations atomic watchdog plans to inspect&nbsp;Iranian military sites to verify Tehran&#39;s compliance with a 2015 nuclear deal, the US&nbsp;ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said on Tuesday.

Haley will meet with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) officials in Vienna on Wednesday for what she described as a fact-finding mission, which is part of President Donald Trump&#39;s review of the deal&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;made with world powers to curb its nuclear program in return for the lifting of most sanctions.

&quot;If you look ... at past&nbsp;Iranian behavior, what you&#39;ve seen is there have been covert actions at military sites, at universities, things like that,&quot; Haley, a member of Trump&#39;s cabinet, told Reuters in an interview.

&quot;There were already issues in those locations, so are they including that in what they look at to make sure that those issues no longer remain?&quot; she said. &quot;They have the authority to look at military sites now. They have the authority to look at any suspicious sites now, it&#39;s just are they doing it?&quot;

She said she was traveling to Vienna to ask questions, not to push the IAEA to do anything.

A spokesman for the IAEA said it had no immediate comment and that there were no public statements planned on the meeting.

Iran&#39;s top authorities have flatly rejected giving international inspectors access to their military sites, and&nbsp;Iranian officials have told Reuters that any such move would trigger harsh consequences.

&quot;Why would they say that if they had nothing to hide? Why wouldn&#39;t they let the IAEA go there?&quot; Haley said.

Iran&#39;s atomic chief was quoted by state media as saying on Tuesday that&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;could resume production of highly enriched uranium within five days if the nuclear deal was revoked.

In April, Trump ordered a review of whether a suspension of sanctions on&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;related to the nuclear deal - negotiated under President Barack Obama - was in the US&nbsp;national security interest. He has called it &quot;the worst deal ever negotiated.&quot;

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned last week that&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;could abandon the nuclear agreement &quot;within hours&quot; if the United States imposes any more new sanctions.

Most UN&nbsp;and Western sanctions were lifted 18 months ago under the nuclear deal.&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;is still subject to a UN&nbsp;arms embargo and other restrictions, which are not technically part of the deal.

The IAEA polices restrictions the deal placed on&nbsp;Iran&#39;s nuclear activities and reports quarterly.

Haley said some of the questions she had were: &quot;Are you looking at everything? Are you looking at those places where there has been covert activity in the past? Are you able to get access to these areas? Or are you being delayed? Are you being shut out from those things?&quot;

Under US&nbsp;law, the State Department must notify Congress every 90 days of&nbsp;Iran&#39;s compliance with the nuclear deal. The next deadline is October, and Trump has said he thinks by then the United States will declare&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;to be non-compliant.

&quot;We don&#39;t know if he&#39;s going to certify or decertify the deal,&quot; said Haley, adding that she would report back to Trump and the national security team.

The US&nbsp;review of its policy toward&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;is also looking at Tehran&#39;s behavior in the Middle East, which Washington has said undermines US&nbsp;interests in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon.

UN&nbsp;Secretary-General Antonio Guterres believes the&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;nuclear deal is &quot;one of the most important diplomatic achievements in our search for, for peace and stability,&quot; UN&nbsp;spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday

&quot;Everyone involved needs to do its utmost to protect and support that agreement,&quot; Dujarric told reporters.

Iranian military sites to verify Tehran's compliance with a 2015 nuclear deal, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said on Tuesday

The United States wants to know if the United Nations atomic watchdog plans to inspect Iranian military sites to verify Tehran's compliance with a 2015 nuclear deal, the US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said on Tuesday. Haley will meet with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) officials in Vienna on Wednesday for what she described as a fact-finding mission, which is part of President Donald Trump's review of the deal Iran made with world powers to curb its nuclear program in return for the lifting of most sanctions. "If you look ... at past Iranian behavior, what you've seen is there have been covert actions at military sites, at universities, things like that," Haley, a member of Trump's cabinet, told Reuters in an interview. "There were already issues in those locations, so are they including that in what they look at to make sure that those issues no longer remain?" she said. "They have the authority to look at military sites now. They have the authority to look at any suspicious sites now, it's just are they doing it?" She said she was traveling to Vienna to ask questions, not to push the IAEA to do anything. A spokesman for the IAEA said it had no immediate comment and that there were no public statements planned on the meeting. Iran's top authorities have flatly rejected giving international inspectors access to their military sites, and Iranian officials have told Reuters that any such move would trigger harsh consequences. "Why would they say that if they had nothing to hide? Why wouldn't they let the IAEA go there?" Haley said. Iran's atomic chief was quoted by state media as saying on Tuesday that Iran could resume production of highly enriched uranium within five days if the nuclear deal was revoked. In April, Trump ordered a review of whether a suspension of sanctions on Iran related to the nuclear deal - negotiated under President Barack Obama - was in the US national security interest. He has called it "the worst deal ever negotiated." Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned last week that Iran could abandon the nuclear agreement "within hours" if the United States imposes any more new sanctions. Most UN and Western sanctions were lifted 18 months ago under the nuclear deal. Iran is still subject to a UN arms embargo and other restrictions, which are not technically part of the deal. The IAEA polices restrictions the deal placed on Iran's nuclear activities and reports quarterly. Haley said some of the questions she had were: "Are you looking at everything? Are you looking at those places where there has been covert activity in the past? Are you able to get access to these areas? Or are you being delayed? Are you being shut out from those things?" Under US law, the State Department must notify Congress every 90 days of Iran's compliance with the nuclear deal. The next deadline is October, and Trump has said he thinks by then the United States will declare Iran to be non-compliant. "We don't know if he's going to certify or decertify the deal," said Haley, adding that she would report back to Trump and the national security team. The US review of its policy toward Iran is also looking at Tehran's behavior in the Middle East, which Washington has said undermines US interests in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres believes the Iran nuclear deal is "one of the most important diplomatic achievements in our search for, for peace and stability," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday "Everyone involved needs to do its utmost to protect and support that agreement," Dujarric told reporters.

Iranian military sites asked, to be verified under nuclear deal, by US ambassador

Large protests could greet President Donald Trump&nbsp;on Tuesday&nbsp;when he travels to Arizona for his first campaign rally since he caused an uproar with his remarks about a white nationalist demonstration in Virginia.

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, a Democrat, asked the Republican president to postpone&nbsp;Tuesday&#39;s&nbsp;event scheduled for&nbsp;7 p.m. MST&nbsp;(0200 GMT&nbsp;on Wednesday) in light of his response to the street battles that broke out earlier this month at a protest against the removal of a Confederate statue in Charlottesville.

Trump was widely criticized for blaming both white nationalists and counter-protesters for the violence at the rally organized by neo-Nazis and white supremacists.

&quot;America is hurting. And it is hurting largely because Trump has doused racial tensions with gasoline,&quot; Stanton wrote in the Washington Post. &quot;With his planned visit to Phoenix&nbsp;on Tuesday, I fear the president may be looking to light a match.&quot;

Several anti-Trump demonstrations are planned for Phoenix, according to social media postings by local activists.

Some White House officials privately expressed concern&nbsp;on Monday&nbsp;about Trump&#39;s Phoenix rally, fearing he might revisit the Charlottesville issue in the heat of the moment while cheered on by thousands of supporters.

Trump has railed against the media coverage of his remarks, saying on Twitter that news outlets &quot;totally misrepresent what I say about hate, bigotry.&quot;

It will be Trump&#39;s first trip as president to Arizona, which he won in the 2016 election. He will also visit a border protection facility in Yuma, Arizona, along the U.S.-Mexican border as he seeks congressional funding for the wall he wants built..

Republican Governor Doug Ducey told the Arizona Republic&nbsp;on Monday&nbsp;that he would welcome Trump on the tarmac when he arrived but would not attend the campaign rally. Instead, he said he would be focused on ensuring the safety of the event.

Trump has clashed with Arizona&#39;s two Republican U.S. senators, John McCain and Jeff Flake, on various issues. Both lawmakers are critics of the president.

Last week, Trump in a tweet called Flake &quot;WEAK on borders, crime and a non-factor in Senate. He&#39;s toxic!&quot; and appeared to endorse Kelli Ward, Flake&#39;s Republican challenger in his 2018 re-election race.

Trump said earlier this month that he was considering pardoning Joe Arpaio, the former Arizona sheriff found guilty of criminal contempt for violating the terms of a 2011 court order in a racial profiling case.

Trump has caused an uproar with his remarks about a white nationalist demonstration in Virginia which is expected to lead to protests by local activists in his Phoenix's rally

Large protests could greet President Donald Trump on Tuesday when he travels to Arizona for his first campaign rally since he caused an uproar with his remarks about a white nationalist demonstration in Virginia. Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, a Democrat, asked the Republican president to postpone Tuesday's event scheduled for 7 p.m. MST (0200 GMT on Wednesday) in light of his response to the street battles that broke out earlier this month at a protest against the removal of a Confederate statue in Charlottesville. Trump was widely criticized for blaming both white nationalists and counter-protesters for the violence at the rally organized by neo-Nazis and white supremacists. "America is hurting. And it is hurting largely because Trump has doused racial tensions with gasoline," Stanton wrote in the Washington Post. "With his planned visit to Phoenix on Tuesday, I fear the president may be looking to light a match." Several anti-Trump demonstrations are planned for Phoenix, according to social media postings by local activists. Some White House officials privately expressed concern on Monday about Trump's Phoenix rally, fearing he might revisit the Charlottesville issue in the heat of the moment while cheered on by thousands of supporters. Trump has railed against the media coverage of his remarks, saying on Twitter that news outlets "totally misrepresent what I say about hate, bigotry." It will be Trump's first trip as president to Arizona, which he won in the 2016 election. He will also visit a border protection facility in Yuma, Arizona, along the U.S.-Mexican border as he seeks congressional funding for the wall he wants built.. Republican Governor Doug Ducey told the Arizona Republic on Monday that he would welcome Trump on the tarmac when he arrived but would not attend the campaign rally. Instead, he said he would be focused on ensuring the safety of the event. Trump has clashed with Arizona's two Republican U.S. senators, John McCain and Jeff Flake, on various issues. Both lawmakers are critics of the president. Last week, Trump in a tweet called Flake "WEAK on borders, crime and a non-factor in Senate. He's toxic!" and appeared to endorse Kelli Ward, Flake's Republican challenger in his 2018 re-election race. Trump said earlier this month that he was considering pardoning Joe Arpaio, the former Arizona sheriff found guilty of criminal contempt for violating the terms of a 2011 court order in a racial profiling case.

Phoenix Mayor asked Trump to reschedule his rally in Phoenix.

Afghanistan&nbsp;on Tuesday&nbsp;welcomed a decision by US President Donald Trump to renew America&#39;s engagement in the war-torn country and allow for the deployment of more troops.&nbsp;

President Ashraf Ghani said in a statement that the announcement showed the &quot;enduring commitment by Afghanistan&#39;s foundational partner in this global conflict&quot;.

President Ashraf Ghani said "enduring commitment by Afghanistan's foundational partner in this global conflict", after Trump's statement.

Afghanistan on Tuesday welcomed a decision by US President Donald Trump to renew America's engagement in the war-torn country and allow for the deployment of more troops. President Ashraf Ghani said in a statement that the announcement showed the "enduring commitment by Afghanistan's foundational partner in this global conflict".

Trump's "enduring commitment" towards Afghan welcomed by the President Ashraf Ghani.

Pakistan said today it wanted &quot;peace and stability&quot; in Afghanistan after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/reversing-course-trump-commits-to-open-ended-afghan-war-19303">President Trump singled out Pakistan for </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/reversing-course-trump-commits-to-open-ended-afghan-war-19303">harbouring</a> terrorists while announcing his Afganistan strategy.

Trump unveiled his<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-clears-way-for-troop-increase-in-afghanistan-19283"> Afg</a>hanistan<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-clears-way-for-troop-increase-in-afghanistan-19283"> plan today committing more troops </a>and fight an all out war against Taliban who have been fighting&nbsp;against US-led coalition forces since 2001.

&quot;The consequences of a rapid exit are both predictable and unacceptable,&quot; he said. &quot;A hasty withdrawal would create a vacuum that terrorists, including IS and al Qaeda, would instantly fill.&quot;

On Pakistan, the president said: &quot;We can no longer be silent about Pakistan&rsquo;s safe havens,&quot; Trump said. &quot;Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with our effort in Afghanistan. It has much to lose by continuing to harbor terrorists.&quot;&nbsp;

Pakistan&#39;s foreign ministry said it wanted &quot;peace and stability in Afganistan&quot;. The ministry said Pakistan&nbsp;&nbsp;continued to desire&nbsp;to work with the International Community to eliminate the menace of terrorism.&quot;

On India, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/nato-secretary-general-welcomes-new-us-approach-to-afghanistan-19314">Trump said the world&#39;s largest democracy</a>&nbsp;is a key security and economic partner of the United States.&nbsp;

&quot;We appreciate India&#39;s important contributions to stability in Afghanistan, but India makes billions of dollars in trade with the United States, and we want them to help us more with Afghanistan, especially in the area of economic assistance and development,&quot; Trump said.&nbsp;

Pakistan had, in fact, declared it had taken action<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-has-cracked-down-on-islamist-militants-including-haqqani-network-army-19281"> against all Islamist militants including the Haqqani network</a> just hours ahead of a US announcement on Afghan policy on Monday.

&quot;There are no terrorist hideouts in Pakistan. We have operated against all terrorists, including (the) Haqqani network,&quot; spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told a media briefing in Islamabad.

He said evidence to that effect was shared with General Joseph Votel, chief of the US Central Command, who visited Pakistan over the weekend.

&nbsp;

"Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with our effort in Afghanistan. It has much to lose by continuing to harbor terrorists."?

Pakistan said today it wanted "peace and stability" in Afghanistan after President Trump singled out Pakistan for harbouring terrorists while announcing his Afganistan strategy. Trump unveiled his Afghanistan plan today committing more troops and fight an all out war against Taliban who have been fighting against US-led coalition forces since 2001. "The consequences of a rapid exit are both predictable and unacceptable," he said. "A hasty withdrawal would create a vacuum that terrorists, including IS and al Qaeda, would instantly fill." On Pakistan, the president said: "We can no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe havens," Trump said. "Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with our effort in Afghanistan. It has much to lose by continuing to harbor terrorists." Pakistan's foreign ministry said it wanted "peace and stability in Afganistan". The ministry said Pakistan continued to desire to work with the International Community to eliminate the menace of terrorism." On India, Trump said the world's largest democracy is a key security and economic partner of the United States. "We appreciate India's important contributions to stability in Afghanistan, but India makes billions of dollars in trade with the United States, and we want them to help us more with Afghanistan, especially in the area of economic assistance and development," Trump said. Pakistan had, in fact, declared it had taken action against all Islamist militants including the Haqqani network just hours ahead of a US announcement on Afghan policy on Monday. "There are no terrorist hideouts in Pakistan. We have operated against all terrorists, including (the) Haqqani network," spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told a media briefing in Islamabad. He said evidence to that effect was shared with General Joseph Votel, chief of the US Central Command, who visited Pakistan over the weekend.

Trump's 'safe haven for terrorist' remark: We want peace, stability in Afghanistan, says Pakistan

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