By Tony Walker&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump’s precipitate announcement he was withdrawing American forces from northeast Syria to enable Turkey to assert its authority along the border risks wider regional bloodshed – and further destabilisation of one of the world’s most volatile corners.

If implemented against a furious pushback from his own side of politics, the Trump decision threatens a region-wide conflagration. These are the stakes.

Trump has given contradictory signals before on the same issue. It remains to be seen whether he gives ground again after what appears to have been a hasty, certainly ill-considered, decision following a phone conversation with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Now under enormous stress from his own side, Trump is resorting to bombast. Leading the charge against the Trump decision is his close ally, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham. He has threatened to introduce a Senate resolution opposing the administration’s decision, describing the move as a “stain on America’s honour”.

Like plucking a thread from a finely woven Turkish rug, the administration’s announcement effectively to abandon a Kurdish militia could lead to a complete unravelling of that part of the Middle East in which various forces have collided since the Syrian civil war broke out in March 2011.

America’s Kurdish allies, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militia arm (known as the YPG), would be at the mercy of a Turkish thrust across the Syrian border into territory the Kurds now control.

Turkey has made no secret of its intention to create what it is calling “safe zones” up to 30 kilometres inside the border in northeast Syria. This would enable it to relocate tens of thousands of Syrian refugees among the 3.6 million on Turkish soil.

In the face of such a Turkish move, the YPG would be hard put to hold sway against both Turkey’s military and Islamic State fighters seeking to take advantage of militia weakness in the absence of US support on the ground and in the air.

The ABC reports that something like 70,000 members of Islamic State or their supporters are being held in camps in SDF-controlled territory. Around 60 people of Australian origin, including children, are in this situation.

Thousands of IS militants are being held in prison camps in SDF-controlled territory. These fighters have already sought to stage mass breakouts from prison facilities.

Turkey views the YPG militia as cross-border allies of Kurdish separatists – and it regards the Kurdish separatists as terrorists.

The situation along the Turkish-Syria border is, by any standards, an explosive mix.

At the same time, Syrian forces of Bashar al-Assad, backed by Iran and Russia, would inevitably be poised to take advantage of chaos and regain territory lost in the civil war. This is a highly destabilising scenario.

In other words, Trump’s announcement could hardly portend a more worrisome outcome in a part of the world riven by years of conflict.

The US announcement also sends a disturbing signal to the wider Middle East that the Trump administration is intent on pulling back from its commitments in an unstable region.

Confidence in American steadfastness is already precarious due to Trump’s repeated statement that America wants to remove itself from “endless” wars in the Middle East.

In a Twitter message early this week that amplified a White House announcement, Trump said it was time for the US to withdraw from “these ridiculous Endless Wars”.

Trump also attacked European allies over their failure to take back their nationals among IS fighters held in SDF-run detention centres in northeast Syria. Some 10,000 prisoners are being detained.

This is a situation ripe for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Vladimir Putin’s Russia. The latter is seeking to reassert itself in a region it regards as its own sphere of influence. Moscow’s support for Damascus is part of this regional power play.

These are telling moments. Signs of an apparent American lack of commitment might well encourage Iran and Russia, as well as Islamic militants such as IS and al-Qaeda. These groups have been biding their time.

None of America’s regional friends, including Gulf states and Israel, will draw any comfort at all from the Trump decision – if implemented – to head for the exit.

By any standards, this is a mess of Trump’s own making.

 
(Tony Walker is Adjunct Professor, School of Communications, La Trobe University) 
 
(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the<a href="https://theconversation.com/trump-decision-to-withdraw-troops-from-syria-opens-way-for-dangerous-middle-east-power-play-124784"> original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp;

By Tony Walker US President Donald Trump’s precipitate announcement he was withdrawing American forces from northeast Syria to enable Turkey to assert its authority along the border risks wider regional bloodshed – and further destabilisation of one of the world’s most volatile corners.

By Tony Walker US President Donald Trump’s precipitate announcement he was withdrawing American forces from northeast Syria to enable Turkey to assert its authority along the border risks wider regional bloodshed – and further destabilisation of one of the world’s most volatile corners. If implemented against a furious pushback from his own side of politics, the Trump decision threatens a region-wide conflagration. These are the stakes. Trump has given contradictory signals before on the same issue. It remains to be seen whether he gives ground again after what appears to have been a hasty, certainly ill-considered, decision following a phone conversation with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Now under enormous stress from his own side, Trump is resorting to bombast. Leading the charge against the Trump decision is his close ally, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham. He has threatened to introduce a Senate resolution opposing the administration’s decision, describing the move as a “stain on America’s honour”. Like plucking a thread from a finely woven Turkish rug, the administration’s announcement effectively to abandon a Kurdish militia could lead to a complete unravelling of that part of the Middle East in which various forces have collided since the Syrian civil war broke out in March 2011. America’s Kurdish allies, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militia arm (known as the YPG), would be at the mercy of a Turkish thrust across the Syrian border into territory the Kurds now control. Turkey has made no secret of its intention to create what it is calling “safe zones” up to 30 kilometres inside the border in northeast Syria. This would enable it to relocate tens of thousands of Syrian refugees among the 3.6 million on Turkish soil. In the face of such a Turkish move, the YPG would be hard put to hold sway against both Turkey’s military and Islamic State fighters seeking to take advantage of militia weakness in the absence of US support on the ground and in the air. The ABC reports that something like 70,000 members of Islamic State or their supporters are being held in camps in SDF-controlled territory. Around 60 people of Australian origin, including children, are in this situation. Thousands of IS militants are being held in prison camps in SDF-controlled territory. These fighters have already sought to stage mass breakouts from prison facilities. Turkey views the YPG militia as cross-border allies of Kurdish separatists – and it regards the Kurdish separatists as terrorists. The situation along the Turkish-Syria border is, by any standards, an explosive mix. At the same time, Syrian forces of Bashar al-Assad, backed by Iran and Russia, would inevitably be poised to take advantage of chaos and regain territory lost in the civil war. This is a highly destabilising scenario. In other words, Trump’s announcement could hardly portend a more worrisome outcome in a part of the world riven by years of conflict. The US announcement also sends a disturbing signal to the wider Middle East that the Trump administration is intent on pulling back from its commitments in an unstable region. Confidence in American steadfastness is already precarious due to Trump’s repeated statement that America wants to remove itself from “endless” wars in the Middle East. In a Twitter message early this week that amplified a White House announcement, Trump said it was time for the US to withdraw from “these ridiculous Endless Wars”. Trump also attacked European allies over their failure to take back their nationals among IS fighters held in SDF-run detention centres in northeast Syria. Some 10,000 prisoners are being detained. This is a situation ripe for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Vladimir Putin’s Russia. The latter is seeking to reassert itself in a region it regards as its own sphere of influence. Moscow’s support for Damascus is part of this regional power play. These are telling moments. Signs of an apparent American lack of commitment might well encourage Iran and Russia, as well as Islamic militants such as IS and al-Qaeda. These groups have been biding their time. None of America’s regional friends, including Gulf states and Israel, will draw any comfort at all from the Trump decision – if implemented – to head for the exit. By any standards, this is a mess of Trump’s own making. (Tony Walker is Adjunct Professor, School of Communications, La Trobe University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Donald Trump decision to withdraw troops from Syria opens way for dangerous Middle East power play

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/gold-prices-steady-as-market-awaits-united-states-employment-report-253433">Gold prices on Wednesday</a> held on to the previous session's gains, as fading hopes for progress in US-China trade talks hit risk appetite, while markets also awaited clues on monetary easing by the US&nbsp;Federal Reserve.

Spot gold rose 0.4 per cent&nbsp;to $1,510.50 per ounce as of 0723 GMT, and stood its ground above $1,500 after jumping as much as 1 per cent&nbsp;in the previous session. US&nbsp;gold futures gained 0.8 per cent&nbsp;to $1,516.20 per ounce.

"The market is holding back, and looking at what's going to happen in the US-China trade talks on Thursday... If the trade dispute turns worse, we are going to expect some strong risk-off trade," said Phillip Futures analyst Benjamin Lu.

"The players who were short, rolled back on their positions. We are also seeing some weakness on the equity side."

The United States on Tuesday imposed visa restrictions on Chinese officials for the detention or abuse of Muslim minorities, angering Beijing ahead of high-level trade talks on Thursday and Friday, and sending Asian stocks lower.

The dollar was a shade lower against a basket of major currencies.

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump has said tariffs on Chinese imports will rise on October&nbsp;15 if no progress is made in the negotiations.

The US&nbsp;Treasury yield curve steepened in Asia after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signalled further interest rate cuts and the resumption of bond purchases to address a recent spike in money market rates.

Lower interest rates generally reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding gold and weigh on the dollar.

"With the latest QE-lite measures, we expect in flow of funds into gold-backed ETFs to continue, which is likely to push gold prices higher. We maintain that gold prices may test as high as $1,600/oz in this period of uncertainty," OCBC Bank said in a research note.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/gold-prices-dip-as-fears-of-widening-trade-war-ease-252730">Signals are mixed for spot gold, as it failed to break a support at $1,488 per ounce</a>, said Reuters market analyst, Wang Tao.

"The psychological $1,500 pivot looms as the first key support for gold, however expect to see interest extend as far as $1,485," MKS PAMP said in a note.

Meanwhile, silver gained 1.2 per cent&nbsp;to $17.91 an ounce, while platinum rose 0.4 per cent&nbsp;to $892.99. Palladium declined 0.2 per cent&nbsp;to $1,673.17 an ounce.

Gold prices on Wednesday held on to the previous session's gains, as fading hopes for progress in US-China trade talks hit risk appetite, while markets also awaited clues on monetary easing by the US Federal Reserve.

Gold prices on Wednesday held on to the previous session's gains, as fading hopes for progress in US-China trade talks hit risk appetite, while markets also awaited clues on monetary easing by the US Federal Reserve. Spot gold rose 0.4 per cent to $1,510.50 per ounce as of 0723 GMT, and stood its ground above $1,500 after jumping as much as 1 per cent in the previous session. US gold futures gained 0.8 per cent to $1,516.20 per ounce. "The market is holding back, and looking at what's going to happen in the US-China trade talks on Thursday... If the trade dispute turns worse, we are going to expect some strong risk-off trade," said Phillip Futures analyst Benjamin Lu. "The players who were short, rolled back on their positions. We are also seeing some weakness on the equity side." The United States on Tuesday imposed visa restrictions on Chinese officials for the detention or abuse of Muslim minorities, angering Beijing ahead of high-level trade talks on Thursday and Friday, and sending Asian stocks lower. The dollar was a shade lower against a basket of major currencies. US President Donald Trump has said tariffs on Chinese imports will rise on October 15 if no progress is made in the negotiations. The US Treasury yield curve steepened in Asia after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signalled further interest rate cuts and the resumption of bond purchases to address a recent spike in money market rates. Lower interest rates generally reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding gold and weigh on the dollar. "With the latest QE-lite measures, we expect in flow of funds into gold-backed ETFs to continue, which is likely to push gold prices higher. We maintain that gold prices may test as high as $1,600/oz in this period of uncertainty," OCBC Bank said in a research note. Signals are mixed for spot gold, as it failed to break a support at $1,488 per ounce, said Reuters market analyst, Wang Tao. "The psychological $1,500 pivot looms as the first key support for gold, however expect to see interest extend as far as $1,485," MKS PAMP said in a note. Meanwhile, silver gained 1.2 per cent to $17.91 an ounce, while platinum rose 0.4 per cent to $892.99. Palladium declined 0.2 per cent to $1,673.17 an ounce.

Gold holds firm as optimism fades for US-China trade talks

Montgomery, the capital of the southern US&nbsp;state of Alabama, known as the birthplace of the civil rights movement for its 1950s bus boycotts over segregated seating, has elected the first black mayor in its 200-year history.

Steven Reed, a county probate judge who is black, defeated David Woods, a white businessman who owns a regional television station, unofficial results posted online by the city show, by winning 67 per cent of the vote in a nonpartisan runoff.

Media photographs online showed Reed supporters holding up campaign T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan, "We made history," in the city of about 200,000, about 60 per cent of whom are African American, according to the US&nbsp;Census Bureau.

"This election has never been about me," Mayor-elect Reed said in his victory speech late on Tuesday, according to the Montgomery Advertiser newspaper.

"This election has never been about just my ideas. It's been about all the hopes and dreams we have as individuals and collectively in this city."

Reed's victory came in a city still getting to terms with its past. It was the first capital of the Confederate States of America in 1861.

Last year, the Equal Justice Initiative opened the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum in downtown Montgomery to honour victims of lynching in the racially segregated era after the US&nbsp;Civil War.

The city is the site of the Montgomery bus boycott, a year-long civil rights protest that started in 1955, led by black seamstress Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat to a white patron, as the law then required, and was famously jailed.

The US&nbsp;Supreme Court ultimately ordered Montgomery to integrate its bus system, and one of the boycott leaders was the Rev&nbsp;Martin Luther King, Jr, who would emerge as the most prominent leader of the American civil rights movement.

Reed was also the first African-American elected the county's probate judge in 2012, the Advertiser said. In 2015, he was the first probate judge in Alabama to issue same-sex marriage licenses.

Reed is scheduled to be sworn into office on November&nbsp;12 at city hall.

Montgomery, the capital of the southern US state of Alabama, known as the birthplace of the civil rights movement for its 1950s bus boycotts over segregated seating, has elected the first black mayor in its 200-year history.

Montgomery, the capital of the southern US state of Alabama, known as the birthplace of the civil rights movement for its 1950s bus boycotts over segregated seating, has elected the first black mayor in its 200-year history. Steven Reed, a county probate judge who is black, defeated David Woods, a white businessman who owns a regional television station, unofficial results posted online by the city show, by winning 67 per cent of the vote in a nonpartisan runoff. Media photographs online showed Reed supporters holding up campaign T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan, "We made history," in the city of about 200,000, about 60 per cent of whom are African American, according to the US Census Bureau. "This election has never been about me," Mayor-elect Reed said in his victory speech late on Tuesday, according to the Montgomery Advertiser newspaper. "This election has never been about just my ideas. It's been about all the hopes and dreams we have as individuals and collectively in this city." Reed's victory came in a city still getting to terms with its past. It was the first capital of the Confederate States of America in 1861. Last year, the Equal Justice Initiative opened the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum in downtown Montgomery to honour victims of lynching in the racially segregated era after the US Civil War. The city is the site of the Montgomery bus boycott, a year-long civil rights protest that started in 1955, led by black seamstress Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat to a white patron, as the law then required, and was famously jailed. The US Supreme Court ultimately ordered Montgomery to integrate its bus system, and one of the boycott leaders was the Rev Martin Luther King, Jr, who would emerge as the most prominent leader of the American civil rights movement. Reed was also the first African-American elected the county's probate judge in 2012, the Advertiser said. In 2015, he was the first probate judge in Alabama to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Reed is scheduled to be sworn into office on November 12 at city hall.

Birthplace of US civil rights movement elects first black mayor

Beijing on Wednesday decried a United States decision to restrict visas for Chinese officials linked to the repression of Xinjiang Muslims and called on Washington to withdraw the measure.

The visa curbs followed the blacklisting this week of 28 Chinese entities involved in rights violations against minorities in Xinjiang, which China has said was based on "groundless" claims.

Rights groups say China is holding more than one million Uighurs and other minorities in re-education camps in the western region.

The US is "disregarding the facts, slandering and smearing China on Xinjiang-related issues," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press conference Wednesday, where he said the US actions were guided by "sinister intentions."

Geng called the US move "completely futile" and warned China would take "firm" action against violations of its sovereignty.

He also said China's commerce ministry would "soon" release its own entity list, which has been in the works for months.

Beijing on Wednesday decried a United States decision to restrict visas for Chinese officials linked to the repression of Xinjiang Muslims and called on Washington to withdraw the measure.

Beijing on Wednesday decried a United States decision to restrict visas for Chinese officials linked to the repression of Xinjiang Muslims and called on Washington to withdraw the measure. The visa curbs followed the blacklisting this week of 28 Chinese entities involved in rights violations against minorities in Xinjiang, which China has said was based on "groundless" claims. Rights groups say China is holding more than one million Uighurs and other minorities in re-education camps in the western region. The US is "disregarding the facts, slandering and smearing China on Xinjiang-related issues," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press conference Wednesday, where he said the US actions were guided by "sinister intentions." Geng called the US move "completely futile" and warned China would take "firm" action against violations of its sovereignty. He also said China's commerce ministry would "soon" release its own entity list, which has been in the works for months.

China slams 'sinister intentions' of US visa curbs on Xinjiang

Turkish&nbsp;forces, together with the&nbsp;rebel&nbsp;Free&nbsp;Syrian&nbsp;Army, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/all-preparations-for-syria-operations-completed-says-turkey-254414">will&nbsp;cross&nbsp;the&nbsp;Syrian&nbsp;border "shortly",</a> President Tayyip Erdogan’s communications director said early on Wednesday, as a surprise withdrawal of US&nbsp;troops made way for the&nbsp;Turkish&nbsp;incursion.

Turkey has been poised to advance into northeast&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;since the US&nbsp;troops began vacating the area in an abrupt policy shift by US&nbsp;President Donald Trump widely criticised in Washington as a betrayal of America's allies, the Kurds.

On Tuesday,&nbsp;Turkish&nbsp;officials told Reuters that the&nbsp;military&nbsp;had <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-strikes-in-syrian-iraqi-border-ahead-of-planned-offensive-254608">struck the&nbsp;Syrian-Iraqi border</a> to prevent Kurdish&nbsp;forces&nbsp;using the route to reinforce the region, though details of the strikes were hazy.

President&nbsp;Erdogan's&nbsp;aide&nbsp;Fahrettin Altun said that fighters from the Kurdish YPG militia in&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;could either defect or Ankara would have to "stop them from disrupting" Turkey's struggle against the Islamic State militants.

"The&nbsp;Turkish&nbsp;military, together with the Free&nbsp;Syrian&nbsp;Army, will&nbsp;cross&nbsp;the&nbsp;Turkish-Syrian&nbsp;border shortly," Altun said in a tweet extracted from a column written by him which was published in the Washington Post.

"Turkey has no ambition in northeastern&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;except to neutralize a long-standing threat against&nbsp;Turkish&nbsp;citizens and to liberate the local population from the yoke of armed thugs," the column said.Turkey has said it intends to create a "safe zone" in order to return millions of refugees to&nbsp;Syrian&nbsp;soil, but the scheme has alarmed some Western allies as much as the risks posed by the&nbsp;military&nbsp;operation itself.

For Turkey, which views Kurdish YPG fighters in northeast&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;as terrorists because of their ties to militants waging an insurgency inside Turkey, an influx of non-Kurdish&nbsp;Syrians would help it secure a buffer against its main security threat.

The US withdrawal from the area will leave Kurdish-led&nbsp;forces&nbsp;long allied to Washington vulnerable to attack by the&nbsp;Turkish&nbsp;Armed&nbsp;Forces&nbsp;(TSK).

Erdogan will visit the United States on Nov. 13 at Trump's invitation, a White House spokesman said. On Monday, Erdogan said <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/what-donald-trumps-decision-to-abandon-kurdish-fighters-in-syria-means-for-the-kurds-assad-and-russia-254574">US&nbsp;troops had started to withdraw </a>after a phone call he had with Trump, adding that talks between&nbsp;Turkish&nbsp;and US&nbsp;officials on the matter would continue.

"Unfortunately, Turkey has chosen to act unilaterally. As a result we have moved the US&nbsp;forces&nbsp;in northern&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;out of the path of potential&nbsp;Turkish&nbsp;incursion to ensure their safety," US&nbsp;Defense Department spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement.

Trump's decision to withdraw troops from northeast&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;has rattled allies, including France, one of Washington's main partners in the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State.

Russia,&nbsp;Syrian&nbsp;President Bashar al-Assad's strongest foreign ally, said it was not told in advance by Washington or Turkey about any agreements to pull US&nbsp;troops.

Amid deepening humanitarian concerns, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all parties in northeast&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;to exercise maximum restraint and protect civilians.

Kurdish-led&nbsp;forces&nbsp;have denounced the US&nbsp;policy shift as a "stab in the back".

Signalling a further potential shift in the region's power balance, the Kurdish-led&nbsp;forces&nbsp;said they might start talks with the&nbsp;Syrian&nbsp;government and Russia to fill a security vacuum in the event of a full US&nbsp;withdrawal.

Trump denied he had abandoned the Kurdish&nbsp;forces, the most effective US&nbsp;partners in fighting Islamic State in&nbsp;Syria. But he praised Turkey as a trade partner, in a softening of tone hours after threatening to "totally destroy" Turkey's economy if it acted "off limits" in&nbsp;Syria.

Near the&nbsp;Turkish&nbsp;border town of Akcakale, across&nbsp;from&nbsp;Syria's Tel Abyad, a Reuters witness saw howitzers placed behind earth embankments on Turkey's side of the border, pointed towards&nbsp;Syria.

Some 60 km (40 miles) to the west, multiple launch rocket systems mounted on two trucks were deployed behind earth embankments near Suruc, opposite the&nbsp;Syrian&nbsp;border town of Kobani. Artillery was also stationed in the area, and soldiers wandered around a nearby&nbsp;military&nbsp;camp.

Mustafa Bali of the Kurdish-led&nbsp;Syrian&nbsp;Democratic&nbsp;Forces&nbsp;(SDF) said the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/turkey-deploys-tank-convoy-heavy-machinery-buses-carrying-soldiers-to-syrian-border-254628">Turkish&nbsp;military&nbsp;buildup</a>, together with information about further mobilisation of Turkey-backed&nbsp;Syrian&nbsp;rebels, indicated that "an attack is imminent".

Turkish forces, together with the rebel Free Syrian Army, will cross the Syrian border "shortly", President Tayyip Erdogan’s communications director said early on Wednesday, as a surprise withdrawal of US troops made way for the Turkish incursion.

Turkish forces, together with the rebel Free Syrian Army, will cross the Syrian border "shortly", President Tayyip Erdogan’s communications director said early on Wednesday, as a surprise withdrawal of US troops made way for the Turkish incursion. Turkey has been poised to advance into northeast Syria since the US troops began vacating the area in an abrupt policy shift by US President Donald Trump widely criticised in Washington as a betrayal of America's allies, the Kurds. On Tuesday, Turkish officials told Reuters that the military had struck the Syrian-Iraqi border to prevent Kurdish forces using the route to reinforce the region, though details of the strikes were hazy. President Erdogan's aide Fahrettin Altun said that fighters from the Kurdish YPG militia in Syria could either defect or Ankara would have to "stop them from disrupting" Turkey's struggle against the Islamic State militants. "The Turkish military, together with the Free Syrian Army, will cross the Turkish-Syrian border shortly," Altun said in a tweet extracted from a column written by him which was published in the Washington Post. "Turkey has no ambition in northeastern Syria except to neutralize a long-standing threat against Turkish citizens and to liberate the local population from the yoke of armed thugs," the column said.Turkey has said it intends to create a "safe zone" in order to return millions of refugees to Syrian soil, but the scheme has alarmed some Western allies as much as the risks posed by the military operation itself. For Turkey, which views Kurdish YPG fighters in northeast Syria as terrorists because of their ties to militants waging an insurgency inside Turkey, an influx of non-Kurdish Syrians would help it secure a buffer against its main security threat. The US withdrawal from the area will leave Kurdish-led forces long allied to Washington vulnerable to attack by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). Erdogan will visit the United States on Nov. 13 at Trump's invitation, a White House spokesman said. On Monday, Erdogan said US troops had started to withdraw after a phone call he had with Trump, adding that talks between Turkish and US officials on the matter would continue. "Unfortunately, Turkey has chosen to act unilaterally. As a result we have moved the US forces in northern Syria out of the path of potential Turkish incursion to ensure their safety," US Defense Department spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement. Trump's decision to withdraw troops from northeast Syria has rattled allies, including France, one of Washington's main partners in the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State. Russia, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's strongest foreign ally, said it was not told in advance by Washington or Turkey about any agreements to pull US troops. Amid deepening humanitarian concerns, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all parties in northeast Syria to exercise maximum restraint and protect civilians. Kurdish-led forces have denounced the US policy shift as a "stab in the back". Signalling a further potential shift in the region's power balance, the Kurdish-led forces said they might start talks with the Syrian government and Russia to fill a security vacuum in the event of a full US withdrawal. Trump denied he had abandoned the Kurdish forces, the most effective US partners in fighting Islamic State in Syria. But he praised Turkey as a trade partner, in a softening of tone hours after threatening to "totally destroy" Turkey's economy if it acted "off limits" in Syria. Near the Turkish border town of Akcakale, across from Syria's Tel Abyad, a Reuters witness saw howitzers placed behind earth embankments on Turkey's side of the border, pointed towards Syria. Some 60 km (40 miles) to the west, multiple launch rocket systems mounted on two trucks were deployed behind earth embankments near Suruc, opposite the Syrian border town of Kobani. Artillery was also stationed in the area, and soldiers wandered around a nearby military camp. Mustafa Bali of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said the Turkish military buildup, together with information about further mobilisation of Turkey-backed Syrian rebels, indicated that "an attack is imminent".

Turkish military, Syrian rebel forces to cross into Syria 'shortly': Erdogan's aide

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Tuesday he would send a letter to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asking for her support to ratify the new US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA).

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-supreme-court-justice-resigns-over-suspicious-bank-deposits-253619">Mexico, which sends 80 per cent of its exports to the United States</a>, has watched nervously as the process of ratifying the deal has slowed to a seeming near-halt in the US amid election-year politics and President Donald Trump's impeachment battle.

Pelosi, the Democratic opposition leader who holds the keys to the deal's future in the House, has voiced reservations about certain aspects of the trade deal, which Trump is pushing hard to ratify.

She and other Democrats have notably voiced scepticism about measures to protect American workers by requiring better labour conditions in Mexico, a low-cost competitor.

"I'm going to send her (Pelosi) a letter today explaining our position, asking for her support to ratify the agreement in the US House of Representatives," Lopez Obrador told a news conference.

The leaders of the three countries signed the USMCA in November to replace the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which Trump regularly trashed as the worst trade deal his country ever signed.

The new deal must now be ratified in all three countries' legislatures. Mexico, whose economy has suffered from the uncertainty surrounding relations with its key trading partner, is the only one to do that so far.

Pelosi said last week the House is "on a path to yes" regarding the deal.

"We're trying to find common ground with the president. He always wanted this.&nbsp;We do too," she said.

Lopez Obrador was due to meet Tuesday with a delegation of US House Democrats visiting Mexico City.

He said he would urge Pelosi to seek a "speedy ratification" so that "this important issue, which will benefit all three countries' economies, does not get mixed up with and contaminated by the campaign" for the November 2020 elections in the United States.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Tuesday he would send a letter to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asking for her support to ratify the new US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA).

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Tuesday he would send a letter to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asking for her support to ratify the new US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA). Mexico, which sends 80 per cent of its exports to the United States, has watched nervously as the process of ratifying the deal has slowed to a seeming near-halt in the US amid election-year politics and President Donald Trump's impeachment battle. Pelosi, the Democratic opposition leader who holds the keys to the deal's future in the House, has voiced reservations about certain aspects of the trade deal, which Trump is pushing hard to ratify. She and other Democrats have notably voiced scepticism about measures to protect American workers by requiring better labour conditions in Mexico, a low-cost competitor. "I'm going to send her (Pelosi) a letter today explaining our position, asking for her support to ratify the agreement in the US House of Representatives," Lopez Obrador told a news conference. The leaders of the three countries signed the USMCA in November to replace the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which Trump regularly trashed as the worst trade deal his country ever signed. The new deal must now be ratified in all three countries' legislatures. Mexico, whose economy has suffered from the uncertainty surrounding relations with its key trading partner, is the only one to do that so far. Pelosi said last week the House is "on a path to yes" regarding the deal. "We're trying to find common ground with the president. He always wanted this. We do too," she said. Lopez Obrador was due to meet Tuesday with a delegation of US House Democrats visiting Mexico City. He said he would urge Pelosi to seek a "speedy ratification" so that "this important issue, which will benefit all three countries' economies, does not get mixed up with and contaminated by the campaign" for the November 2020 elections in the United States.

Mexico president writes to Pelosi to lobby for trade deal

United States&nbsp;border agents arrested or stopped nearly one million undocumented migrants at the southern border with Mexico in the last 12 months, the most in more than a decade, a top official said Tuesday.

The surge came amid President Donald Trump's tough efforts to halt illegal immigration, which began to show results only in the last three months when border arrests plummeted.

Acting Director of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Mark Morgan said migrants arrested at the border fell to just over 52,000 in September, the final month of the 2019 fiscal year, down from over 144,000 in May and the lowest monthly figure in one year.

The surge came mainly from Central American migrants fleeing poverty and violence, crossing in large groups and family units into the US from Mexico and turning themselves in to ask for asylum.

For most that meant being processed by immigration officials and then released to await a hearing on their asylum claim, but they usually disappeared into the US interior hoping to settle.

The Trump administration has stepped up efforts to discourage an exodus from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador by asking Mexico to impede their transit and requiring them to apply for asylum in the first country they enter -- meaning either Guatemala or Mexico.

"CBP is continuing to collaborate with our foreign partners -- particularly, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras -- to address this as a regional crisis," Morgan said in a White House briefing.

The administration has ordered the expulsion of any asylum seekers back to Mexico and is fighting a court injunction blocking the implementation of that order.

Besides restricting the ability of migrants to claim asylum, the White House has pressed forward on erecting more wall along the 3,200-kilometre&nbsp;border, diverting Defense Department funds committed to other programs for wall construction after Congress declined to provide the budget.

Morgan said 71 miles of new barrier had been built and predicted that a total of 450 miles would be completed by the end of 2020.

"It's a tough process," he said. "You have to obtain the land and land acquisition is a tough thing."

United States border agents arrested or stopped nearly one million undocumented migrants at the southern border with Mexico in the last 12 months, the most in more than a decade, a top official said Tuesday.

United States border agents arrested or stopped nearly one million undocumented migrants at the southern border with Mexico in the last 12 months, the most in more than a decade, a top official said Tuesday. The surge came amid President Donald Trump's tough efforts to halt illegal immigration, which began to show results only in the last three months when border arrests plummeted. Acting Director of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Mark Morgan said migrants arrested at the border fell to just over 52,000 in September, the final month of the 2019 fiscal year, down from over 144,000 in May and the lowest monthly figure in one year. The surge came mainly from Central American migrants fleeing poverty and violence, crossing in large groups and family units into the US from Mexico and turning themselves in to ask for asylum. For most that meant being processed by immigration officials and then released to await a hearing on their asylum claim, but they usually disappeared into the US interior hoping to settle. The Trump administration has stepped up efforts to discourage an exodus from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador by asking Mexico to impede their transit and requiring them to apply for asylum in the first country they enter -- meaning either Guatemala or Mexico. "CBP is continuing to collaborate with our foreign partners -- particularly, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras -- to address this as a regional crisis," Morgan said in a White House briefing. The administration has ordered the expulsion of any asylum seekers back to Mexico and is fighting a court injunction blocking the implementation of that order. Besides restricting the ability of migrants to claim asylum, the White House has pressed forward on erecting more wall along the 3,200-kilometre border, diverting Defense Department funds committed to other programs for wall construction after Congress declined to provide the budget. Morgan said 71 miles of new barrier had been built and predicted that a total of 450 miles would be completed by the end of 2020. "It's a tough process," he said. "You have to obtain the land and land acquisition is a tough thing."

US detained nearly one million migrants in 12 months

The Republican chairman of the United States&nbsp;Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday opened the door to a Senate investigation into unproven allegations regarding Ukraine raised by President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, inviting the attorney to testify.

"It is time for the Senate to inquire about corruption and other improprieties involving Ukraine," Senator Lindsey Graham said in a series of tweets, mentioning specifically the firing of Ukraine's former prosecutor Viktor Shokin.

Graham did not give any specific dates for a potential Giuliani appearance or any other public hearings on the matter.

A federal judge on Monday dismissed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-judge-orders-trump-to-produce-tax-returns-president-appeals-254340">US President Donald Trump's</a> bid to block access to years of his personal and corporate tax returns, saying sitting presidents are not immune from criminal investigations.

In a 75-page ruling, US District Judge Victor Marrero rejected Trump's argument, saying such vast immunity would "operate to frustrate the administration of justice" by putting the president's personal and professional affairs off-limits.

The Republican chairman of the United States Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday opened the door to a Senate investigation into unproven allegations regarding Ukraine raised by President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, inviting the attorney to testify.

The Republican chairman of the United States Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday opened the door to a Senate investigation into unproven allegations regarding Ukraine raised by President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, inviting the attorney to testify. "It is time for the Senate to inquire about corruption and other improprieties involving Ukraine," Senator Lindsey Graham said in a series of tweets, mentioning specifically the firing of Ukraine's former prosecutor Viktor Shokin. Graham did not give any specific dates for a potential Giuliani appearance or any other public hearings on the matter. A federal judge on Monday dismissed US President Donald Trump's bid to block access to years of his personal and corporate tax returns, saying sitting presidents are not immune from criminal investigations. In a 75-page ruling, US District Judge Victor Marrero rejected Trump's argument, saying such vast immunity would "operate to frustrate the administration of justice" by putting the president's personal and professional affairs off-limits.

US Senate panel chairman says will probe Ukraine, invites Giuliani

The United States&nbsp;Supreme Court on Tuesday began hearing arguments in a major LGBT rights dispute over whether a landmark decades-old federal anti-discrimination law that prohibits workplace discrimination on the basis of sex covers gay and transgender employees.

The justices, on the second day of their new nine-month term, kicked off a scheduled two hours of arguments in three related cases as LGBT rights activists held a demonstration near the courthouse.

The Supreme Court delivered an important gay rights decision in 2015 legalising same-sex marriage nationwide. Its dynamics on LGBT issues, however, changed following the 2018 retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, a conservative who backed gay rights in major cases and wrote the same-sex marriage ruling.

At issue is whether gay and transgender people are protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which forbids employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex as well as race, colour, national origin and religion.

The legal fight focuses on the definition of "sex" in Title VII. The plaintiffs, along with civil rights groups and many large companies, have argued that discriminating against gay and transgender workers is inherently based on their sex and consequently is illegal.

A couple of hundred demonstrators advocating for LGBT rights gathered a short distance from the white marble courthouse on an overcast day in the U.S. capital. They chanted for equal rights and held signs including ones that read, "Do fire Trump. Don't fire LGBTQ workers," "Discrimination is bad for business" and "LGBT Americans power our economy."

Police moved demonstrators away from the plaza in front of the courthouse due to concern over "suspicious" packages.

"I am here because I'm a queer person and right now my right to live my life as everyone else is being determined by nine people, none of whom are queer, all of whom are cisgender," said Washington resident Raegan Davis, 21. "I feel like it's important for our voices to be part of this conversation because if we aren't here there's no guarantee that they will."

'This has to stop'

A small group of demonstrators opposing gay and transgender rights also was present holding signs including two that read, "Fear God" and "Sin and shame, not pride."

"This has to stop. The more and more we give to the homosexual community, the more and more this nation is going to be destroyed," said Jacob Phelps, 36, from Topeka, Kansas, who held a sign that read, "Jesus will return in wrath." "It's very easy in the workplace, shut your mouth, do what you’re supposed to do."

The court's 5-4 conservative majority includes two justices appointed by President Donald Trump, whose administration has argued that Title VII does not cover sexual orientation or gender identity.

The arguments present the court with its first major test on gay and transgender rights since Trump appointed conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh to replace Kennedy, with the four liberal justices sympathetic to LGBT rights. Kavanaugh, whose approach to gay rights is unclear, could provide a pivotal vote.

A ruling in favour of the plaintiffs would give gay and transgender workers greater protections, especially in the 28 US&nbsp;states that do not already have comprehensive measures against employment discrimination. A ruling against the plaintiffs would mean gay and transgender people in those states would have few options to challenge workplace discrimination.

The court will hear two cases about gay people who have said they were fired due to their sexual orientation. One involves a former county child welfare services coordinator from Georgia named Gerald Bostock. The other involves a New York skydiving instructor named Donald Zarda. He died after the case began and the matter is being pursued by his estate.

The third case involves a Detroit funeral home's bid to reverse a lower court ruling that it violated Title VII by firing a transgender funeral director named Aimee Stephens after Stephens revealed plans to transition from male to female.

Rulings in the cases are due by the end of June.

Trump, a Republican with vigorous support among evangelical Christian voters, has pursued policies taking aim at gay and transgender rights. His administration has supported the right of certain businesses to refuse to serve gay people on the basis of religious objections to gay marriage, restricted transgender service members in the military and rescinded protections on bathroom access for transgender students in public schools.

Trump's Justice Department and the employers in the cases have argued that Congress did not intend for Title VII to cover gay and transgender people when it passed the law. Conservative religious groups and various Republican-led states back the administration.

Big business, typically eager to avoid liability in employment disputes, is backing the LGBT plaintiffs. More than 200 companies, including Amazon, Alphabet Inc's Google and Bank of America Corp, joined a friend-of-the-court brief asking the justices to rule in favour of the plaintiffs.

The United States Supreme Court on Tuesday began hearing arguments in a major LGBT rights dispute over whether a landmark decades-old federal anti-discrimination law that prohibits workplace discrimination on the basis of sex covers gay and transgender employees.

The United States Supreme Court on Tuesday began hearing arguments in a major LGBT rights dispute over whether a landmark decades-old federal anti-discrimination law that prohibits workplace discrimination on the basis of sex covers gay and transgender employees. The justices, on the second day of their new nine-month term, kicked off a scheduled two hours of arguments in three related cases as LGBT rights activists held a demonstration near the courthouse. The Supreme Court delivered an important gay rights decision in 2015 legalising same-sex marriage nationwide. Its dynamics on LGBT issues, however, changed following the 2018 retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, a conservative who backed gay rights in major cases and wrote the same-sex marriage ruling. At issue is whether gay and transgender people are protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which forbids employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex as well as race, colour, national origin and religion. The legal fight focuses on the definition of "sex" in Title VII. The plaintiffs, along with civil rights groups and many large companies, have argued that discriminating against gay and transgender workers is inherently based on their sex and consequently is illegal. A couple of hundred demonstrators advocating for LGBT rights gathered a short distance from the white marble courthouse on an overcast day in the U.S. capital. They chanted for equal rights and held signs including ones that read, "Do fire Trump. Don't fire LGBTQ workers," "Discrimination is bad for business" and "LGBT Americans power our economy." Police moved demonstrators away from the plaza in front of the courthouse due to concern over "suspicious" packages. "I am here because I'm a queer person and right now my right to live my life as everyone else is being determined by nine people, none of whom are queer, all of whom are cisgender," said Washington resident Raegan Davis, 21. "I feel like it's important for our voices to be part of this conversation because if we aren't here there's no guarantee that they will." 'This has to stop' A small group of demonstrators opposing gay and transgender rights also was present holding signs including two that read, "Fear God" and "Sin and shame, not pride." "This has to stop. The more and more we give to the homosexual community, the more and more this nation is going to be destroyed," said Jacob Phelps, 36, from Topeka, Kansas, who held a sign that read, "Jesus will return in wrath." "It's very easy in the workplace, shut your mouth, do what you’re supposed to do." The court's 5-4 conservative majority includes two justices appointed by President Donald Trump, whose administration has argued that Title VII does not cover sexual orientation or gender identity. The arguments present the court with its first major test on gay and transgender rights since Trump appointed conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh to replace Kennedy, with the four liberal justices sympathetic to LGBT rights. Kavanaugh, whose approach to gay rights is unclear, could provide a pivotal vote. A ruling in favour of the plaintiffs would give gay and transgender workers greater protections, especially in the 28 US states that do not already have comprehensive measures against employment discrimination. A ruling against the plaintiffs would mean gay and transgender people in those states would have few options to challenge workplace discrimination. The court will hear two cases about gay people who have said they were fired due to their sexual orientation. One involves a former county child welfare services coordinator from Georgia named Gerald Bostock. The other involves a New York skydiving instructor named Donald Zarda. He died after the case began and the matter is being pursued by his estate. The third case involves a Detroit funeral home's bid to reverse a lower court ruling that it violated Title VII by firing a transgender funeral director named Aimee Stephens after Stephens revealed plans to transition from male to female. Rulings in the cases are due by the end of June. Trump, a Republican with vigorous support among evangelical Christian voters, has pursued policies taking aim at gay and transgender rights. His administration has supported the right of certain businesses to refuse to serve gay people on the basis of religious objections to gay marriage, restricted transgender service members in the military and rescinded protections on bathroom access for transgender students in public schools. Trump's Justice Department and the employers in the cases have argued that Congress did not intend for Title VII to cover gay and transgender people when it passed the law. Conservative religious groups and various Republican-led states back the administration. Big business, typically eager to avoid liability in employment disputes, is backing the LGBT plaintiffs. More than 200 companies, including Amazon, Alphabet Inc's Google and Bank of America Corp, joined a friend-of-the-court brief asking the justices to rule in favour of the plaintiffs.

United States Supreme Court takes on workplace gay and transgender rights

United States&nbsp;stocks finished lower on Monday, ahead of a new round of trade negotiations between the world's two largest economies.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average erased 95.70 points, or 0.36 per cent, to 26,478.02. The Standard and Poor's 500 decreased 13.22 points, or 0.45 per cent, to 2,938.79. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 26.18 points, or 0.33 per cent, to 7,956.29.

Ten of the 11 primary Standard and Poor's 500 sectors closed lower, with energy down 0.92 per cent, becoming the worst-performing group. Communication services rose a modest 0.04 per cent, the only gainer.

Investors are awaiting the US-China trade talks which are set to begin later this week.

"The effects of the existing trade taxes are seen in investment spending. Companies are less likely to invest when the supply chains that have been built up over thirty years are being threatened," analysts at Swiss investment bank UBS said in a note on Monday.

Wall Street is also expecting Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's upcoming speech at the US&nbsp;National Association for Business Economics annual meeting.

Last week, a flurry of weak US&nbsp;data raised hope for easier monetary policy from the Federal Reserve.

Market expectations for a rate cut later this month were more than 70 per cent, according to the CME Group's FedWatch tool.

United States stocks finished lower on Monday, ahead of a new round of trade negotiations between the world's two largest economies. The Dow Jones Industrial Average erased 95.

United States stocks finished lower on Monday, ahead of a new round of trade negotiations between the world's two largest economies. The Dow Jones Industrial Average erased 95.70 points, or 0.36 per cent, to 26,478.02. The Standard and Poor's 500 decreased 13.22 points, or 0.45 per cent, to 2,938.79. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 26.18 points, or 0.33 per cent, to 7,956.29. Ten of the 11 primary Standard and Poor's 500 sectors closed lower, with energy down 0.92 per cent, becoming the worst-performing group. Communication services rose a modest 0.04 per cent, the only gainer. Investors are awaiting the US-China trade talks which are set to begin later this week. "The effects of the existing trade taxes are seen in investment spending. Companies are less likely to invest when the supply chains that have been built up over thirty years are being threatened," analysts at Swiss investment bank UBS said in a note on Monday. Wall Street is also expecting Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's upcoming speech at the US National Association for Business Economics annual meeting. Last week, a flurry of weak US data raised hope for easier monetary policy from the Federal Reserve. Market expectations for a rate cut later this month were more than 70 per cent, according to the CME Group's FedWatch tool.

US stocks decline as Wall Street awaits trade talks with China

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-china-trade-war-to-knock-05-points-off-global-growth-french-finance-minister-247859">High-level US-China trade negotiations</a> will resume this week in Washington, the White House announced Monday, a hopeful sign after a summer of deteriorating relations.

With eight days to go before the next round of punitive tariffs is due to hit, Beijing's top trade envoy Liu He will meet with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin beginning Thursday, the White House said in a statement.

Lower-level talks have been underway since last month.

The discussions will focus on areas where Washington has made far-reaching demands since last year: intellectual property rights, the forced transfer of proprietary technologies, agriculture and enforcement, the statement said.

US President Donald Trump said Friday there was a "very good chance" the two sides will strike a deal.

"We have had good moments with China and bad moments with China," he said. "What we're doing is we're negotiating a very tough deal. If the deal is not going to be 100 per cent for us we aren't going to make it."

However, Washington and Beijing are continuing to raise tariffs, with the next round of increases set to take effect October 15, as US tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods rise to 30 per cent.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trade-talks-seen-as-unlikely-to-mend-us-china-divide-250119">Trump has claimed China's weakening economy puts Beijing under pressure to make a deal</a>.&nbsp;

But he also has said Chinese officials are dragging their feet in hopes of continuing negotiations with another administration should Trump fail to win reelection in 2020.

White House economic aide Larry Kudlow Monday denied that recent economic data showed the lingering trade war has damaged the US economy, saying the effect had been "minimum," a position most economists dispute.

Unemployment in September fell to its lowest level in 50 years but US manufacturing has fallen into recession, and GDP growth is forecast to slow considerably.

Trump is now the subject of an impeachment inquiry by congressional Democrats after pressuring Ukrainian authorities earlier this year to investigate his Democratic rival Joe Biden and son Hunter, whom Trump accuses of financial wrongdoing.

Trump last week raised the stakes openly calling on Beijing to do likewise.

But Kudlow&nbsp;told reporters there was no connection between the trade talks and Trump's call for China to investigate Biden.

"There'll be no linkage," he said. "I guarantee it."

High-level US-China trade negotiations will resume this week in Washington, the White House announced Monday, a hopeful sign after a summer of deteriorating relations.

High-level US-China trade negotiations will resume this week in Washington, the White House announced Monday, a hopeful sign after a summer of deteriorating relations. With eight days to go before the next round of punitive tariffs is due to hit, Beijing's top trade envoy Liu He will meet with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin beginning Thursday, the White House said in a statement. Lower-level talks have been underway since last month. The discussions will focus on areas where Washington has made far-reaching demands since last year: intellectual property rights, the forced transfer of proprietary technologies, agriculture and enforcement, the statement said. US President Donald Trump said Friday there was a "very good chance" the two sides will strike a deal. "We have had good moments with China and bad moments with China," he said. "What we're doing is we're negotiating a very tough deal. If the deal is not going to be 100 per cent for us we aren't going to make it." However, Washington and Beijing are continuing to raise tariffs, with the next round of increases set to take effect October 15, as US tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods rise to 30 per cent. Trump has claimed China's weakening economy puts Beijing under pressure to make a deal. But he also has said Chinese officials are dragging their feet in hopes of continuing negotiations with another administration should Trump fail to win reelection in 2020. White House economic aide Larry Kudlow Monday denied that recent economic data showed the lingering trade war has damaged the US economy, saying the effect had been "minimum," a position most economists dispute. Unemployment in September fell to its lowest level in 50 years but US manufacturing has fallen into recession, and GDP growth is forecast to slow considerably. Trump is now the subject of an impeachment inquiry by congressional Democrats after pressuring Ukrainian authorities earlier this year to investigate his Democratic rival Joe Biden and son Hunter, whom Trump accuses of financial wrongdoing. Trump last week raised the stakes openly calling on Beijing to do likewise. But Kudlow told reporters there was no connection between the trade talks and Trump's call for China to investigate Biden. "There'll be no linkage," he said. "I guarantee it."

US-China trade talks to resume Thursday: White House

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-judge-orders-trump-to-produce-tax-returns-president-appeals-254340">United States&nbsp;President Donald Trump</a> on Monday threatened to "totally destroy and obliterate" Turkey's economy if it took any action he considered "off-limits" following his decision to withdraw American forces from northeastern Syria.

The withdrawal, announced by the White House late on Sunday, was swiftly condemned by a bipartisan group of lawmakers over concerns that it could open the way for a Turkish strike on Kurdish-led forces long allied with Washington.

"As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off-limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I've done before!)" Trump tweeted.

The United States began pulling troops back from the northeast Syrian border on Monday.

The major policy shift was denounced as a "stab in the back" by Kurdish-led forces who have been Washington's most capable partners in fighting Islamic State in Syria.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-erdogan-discuss-proposed-safe-zone-in-northeastern-syria-over-phone-call-254137">The Kurdish forces, known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), accused Washington of reneging on an ally</a>, warning it would have a "great negative" impact on the war against the militants.

The White House statement on Sunday appeared to hand Turkey responsibility for Islamic State captives who are held in SDF facilities south of Turkey's initially proposed safe zone

United States President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to "totally destroy and obliterate" Turkey's economy if it took any action he considered "off-limits" following his decision to withdraw American forces from northeastern Syria.

United States President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to "totally destroy and obliterate" Turkey's economy if it took any action he considered "off-limits" following his decision to withdraw American forces from northeastern Syria. The withdrawal, announced by the White House late on Sunday, was swiftly condemned by a bipartisan group of lawmakers over concerns that it could open the way for a Turkish strike on Kurdish-led forces long allied with Washington. "As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off-limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I've done before!)" Trump tweeted. The United States began pulling troops back from the northeast Syrian border on Monday. The major policy shift was denounced as a "stab in the back" by Kurdish-led forces who have been Washington's most capable partners in fighting Islamic State in Syria. The Kurdish forces, known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), accused Washington of reneging on an ally, warning it would have a "great negative" impact on the war against the militants. The White House statement on Sunday appeared to hand Turkey responsibility for Islamic State captives who are held in SDF facilities south of Turkey's initially proposed safe zone

US President Trump threatens to 'obliterate' Turkey's economy over Syria

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-diplomats-to-testify-about-trump-ukraine-efforts-as-democrats-build-impeachment-case-254216">A federal judge on Monday dismissed US President Donald Trump's bid to block access to years of his personal and corporate tax returns</a>, saying sitting presidents are not immune from criminal investigations.

In a 75-page ruling, US District Judge Victor Marrero rejected Trump's argument, saying such vast immunity would "operate to frustrate the administration of justice" by putting the president's personal and professional affairs off-limits.

"This court cannot endorse such a categorical and limitless assertion of presidential immunity from judicial process," Marrero wrote.

"The Court cannot square a vision of presidential immunity that would place the President above the law," added the US District Court judge for the Southern District of New York.

The decision opened a new front in&nbsp;a years-long effort to obtain copies of the president's tax returns, which he promised during the campaign to make public after an audit -&nbsp;but has since refused to share.

Lawyers for Trump immediately appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which issued a temporary stay of the judge's order, Jay Sekulow, a lawyer for the president, said in a statement.

Trump had filed suit against Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr, who had subpoenaed the accounting firm Mazars USA, seeking access to the president's returns dating back to 2011.

Vance is investigating payments made by Michael Cohen, Trump's former personal attorney, to Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress who claimed to have had a sexual liaison with Trump before he ran for president in 2016.

Cohen is currently serving three years in prison after admitting paying hush money - in violation of campaign finance laws -&nbsp;to Daniels and another woman, tax fraud, and lying to Congress.

Trump has declined to release his tax returns, claiming they were under audit by the Internal Revenue Service, and there have been various attempts to obtain them, including by the Democratic-led House of Representatives.

Trump pushes back

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-amps-up-complaints-says-pelosi-may-be-guilty-of-treason-254144">Trump lashed out on Twitter at the move by Manhattan prosecutors following Judge Marrero's ruling</a>.

"The Radical Left Democrats have failed on all fronts, so now they are pushing local New York City and State Democrat prosecutors to go get President Trump," he tweeted.&nbsp;

"A thing like this has never happened to any President before. Not even close!"

Trump broke with a long-established norm during the 2016 presidential election by refusing to release his tax returns as most presidents have done since the 1970s even though it is not required by law.

California's governor signed a law in July that would prevent Trump from appearing on the state's primary ballot unless he discloses his income tax returns.&nbsp;

"These are extraordinary times and states have a legal and moral duty to do everything in their power to ensure leaders seeking the highest offices meet minimal standards," California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom said at the time.

"The disclosure required by this bill will shed light on conflicts of interest, self-dealing, or influence from domestic and foreign business interest," Newsom said.&nbsp;

The California law means any candidate for president must file five years' worth of returns in order to contest primary elections in the country's most populous state.

The bill was passed by California's heavily Democratic legislature.

The law is being challenged in court by Trump's lawyers and is not expected to seriously impact his bid for the 2020 Republican nomination.

A federal judge on Monday dismissed US President Donald Trump's bid to block access to years of his personal and corporate tax returns, saying sitting presidents are not immune from criminal investigations.

A federal judge on Monday dismissed US President Donald Trump's bid to block access to years of his personal and corporate tax returns, saying sitting presidents are not immune from criminal investigations. In a 75-page ruling, US District Judge Victor Marrero rejected Trump's argument, saying such vast immunity would "operate to frustrate the administration of justice" by putting the president's personal and professional affairs off-limits. "This court cannot endorse such a categorical and limitless assertion of presidential immunity from judicial process," Marrero wrote. "The Court cannot square a vision of presidential immunity that would place the President above the law," added the US District Court judge for the Southern District of New York. The decision opened a new front in a years-long effort to obtain copies of the president's tax returns, which he promised during the campaign to make public after an audit - but has since refused to share. Lawyers for Trump immediately appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which issued a temporary stay of the judge's order, Jay Sekulow, a lawyer for the president, said in a statement. Trump had filed suit against Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr, who had subpoenaed the accounting firm Mazars USA, seeking access to the president's returns dating back to 2011. Vance is investigating payments made by Michael Cohen, Trump's former personal attorney, to Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress who claimed to have had a sexual liaison with Trump before he ran for president in 2016. Cohen is currently serving three years in prison after admitting paying hush money - in violation of campaign finance laws - to Daniels and another woman, tax fraud, and lying to Congress. Trump has declined to release his tax returns, claiming they were under audit by the Internal Revenue Service, and there have been various attempts to obtain them, including by the Democratic-led House of Representatives. Trump pushes back Trump lashed out on Twitter at the move by Manhattan prosecutors following Judge Marrero's ruling. "The Radical Left Democrats have failed on all fronts, so now they are pushing local New York City and State Democrat prosecutors to go get President Trump," he tweeted. "A thing like this has never happened to any President before. Not even close!" Trump broke with a long-established norm during the 2016 presidential election by refusing to release his tax returns as most presidents have done since the 1970s even though it is not required by law. California's governor signed a law in July that would prevent Trump from appearing on the state's primary ballot unless he discloses his income tax returns. "These are extraordinary times and states have a legal and moral duty to do everything in their power to ensure leaders seeking the highest offices meet minimal standards," California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom said at the time. "The disclosure required by this bill will shed light on conflicts of interest, self-dealing, or influence from domestic and foreign business interest," Newsom said. The California law means any candidate for president must file five years' worth of returns in order to contest primary elections in the country's most populous state. The bill was passed by California's heavily Democratic legislature. The law is being challenged in court by Trump's lawyers and is not expected to seriously impact his bid for the 2020 Republican nomination.

US judge orders Trump to produce tax returns, president appeals

US-Afghan war: Pregnant wife mourns killed US soldier. Watch video to know more.

US-Afghan war: Pregnant wife mourns killed US soldier

Explainer: Impeaching US President - how it works

A second whistleblower, with first-hand knowledge of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/et-tu-mitt-trump-blasts-republican-senator-as-impeachment-battle-heats-up-254009">President Donald Trump's dealings with Ukraine</a>, has spoken with the intelligence community's internal watchdog, the lawyer representing the official said on Sunday.

Mark Zaid confirmed in an interview with ABC's "This Week" that the second official, also from the United States&nbsp;intelligence community, has been interviewed by the inspector general. Zaid represents the first whistleblower who filed a complaint involving a July 25 phone call Trump held with Ukraine's president in which he asked him to investigate a Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the Ukraine inquiry a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/house-democrats-subpoena-white-house-for-documents-in-trump-impeachment-probe-253826">'silly gotcha game'</a> on Saturday&nbsp;during a visit to Athens.

"This is what's wrong, when the world doesn't focus on the things that are right, the things that matter, the things that impact real people's lives, and instead you get caught up in some silly 'gotcha' game. You see, that's not healthy, that doesn't help democracies flourish," Pompeo said during a question and answer session following a speech in the Greek capital.

His comment was in response to whether there were any 'red flags' which required further investigation in a call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in July.

But in a new tactic, the White House plans to argue that U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi must have the full House vote to formally approve an&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;inquiry, a source familiar with the effort said.

Without a vote, White House lawyers believe Trump can ignore lawmakers' requests, the source said, meaning the federal courts would presumably have to render a decision and potentially slow the march toward&nbsp;impeachment.

A White House letter arguing Pelosi must hold a House vote could be sent to Capitol Hill as early as Friday, the source said. It comes as the Democratic-led House Intelligence Committee plans to issue more subpoenas in the coming days as it pushes ahead with the investigation.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-trump-says-he-wont-tie-biden-concerns-to-trade-deal-with-china-253812">Trump's gambit</a> is emerging at the end of a storm-tossed week for him as the president lashed out at Democrats, reporters and anyone else standing in his way to air complaints that he was being unfairly accused and had done nothing wrong.

Democrats want to prove Trump sought personal political gain by appealing to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a July 25 phone call to investigate Biden and his son Hunter, who earned money from a Ukrainian gas company.

Joe Biden, the former vice president, leads in most opinion polls among the 19 Democrats seeking their party's nomination to take on Trump in the November 2020 election.

A second whistleblower, with first-hand knowledge of President Donald Trump's dealings with Ukraine, has spoken with the intelligence community's internal watchdog, the lawyer representing the official said on Sunday.

A second whistleblower, with first-hand knowledge of President Donald Trump's dealings with Ukraine, has spoken with the intelligence community's internal watchdog, the lawyer representing the official said on Sunday. Mark Zaid confirmed in an interview with ABC's "This Week" that the second official, also from the United States intelligence community, has been interviewed by the inspector general. Zaid represents the first whistleblower who filed a complaint involving a July 25 phone call Trump held with Ukraine's president in which he asked him to investigate a Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the Ukraine inquiry a 'silly gotcha game' on Saturday during a visit to Athens. "This is what's wrong, when the world doesn't focus on the things that are right, the things that matter, the things that impact real people's lives, and instead you get caught up in some silly 'gotcha' game. You see, that's not healthy, that doesn't help democracies flourish," Pompeo said during a question and answer session following a speech in the Greek capital. His comment was in response to whether there were any 'red flags' which required further investigation in a call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in July. But in a new tactic, the White House plans to argue that U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi must have the full House vote to formally approve an impeachment inquiry, a source familiar with the effort said. Without a vote, White House lawyers believe Trump can ignore lawmakers' requests, the source said, meaning the federal courts would presumably have to render a decision and potentially slow the march toward impeachment. A White House letter arguing Pelosi must hold a House vote could be sent to Capitol Hill as early as Friday, the source said. It comes as the Democratic-led House Intelligence Committee plans to issue more subpoenas in the coming days as it pushes ahead with the investigation. Trump's gambit is emerging at the end of a storm-tossed week for him as the president lashed out at Democrats, reporters and anyone else standing in his way to air complaints that he was being unfairly accused and had done nothing wrong. Democrats want to prove Trump sought personal political gain by appealing to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a July 25 phone call to investigate Biden and his son Hunter, who earned money from a Ukrainian gas company. Joe Biden, the former vice president, leads in most opinion polls among the 19 Democrats seeking their party's nomination to take on Trump in the November 2020 election.

Second whistleblower in Trump-Ukraine scandal comes forward: Report

A homeless&nbsp;man wielding a metal pipe beat four other&nbsp;homeless&nbsp;people to death Saturday in New York, police said.

A fifth man was hospitalised in a critical condition.

Police detained a 24-year-old male as the suspect in the attack in the Chinatown area of Lower Manhattan in the small hours of Saturday.

The victims were apparently asleep when they were set upon, said Michael Baldassano of the New York police department.

"The motive appears to be, right now, just random attacks," he told reporters. "No one was targeted by race, age, anything of that nature."

Every night more than 63,000 people sleep in the New York City shelter system, says the Bowery Mission, an advocacy group. But nearly 4,000 more sleep on the street, in the subway or in other public areas.&nbsp;

The group says factors causing homelessness include mental illness, substance abuse, lack of affordable housing and problems keeping a job.

A homeless man wielding a metal pipe beat four other homeless people to death Saturday in New York, police said. A fifth man was hospitalised in a critical condition.

A homeless man wielding a metal pipe beat four other homeless people to death Saturday in New York, police said. A fifth man was hospitalised in a critical condition. Police detained a 24-year-old male as the suspect in the attack in the Chinatown area of Lower Manhattan in the small hours of Saturday. The victims were apparently asleep when they were set upon, said Michael Baldassano of the New York police department. "The motive appears to be, right now, just random attacks," he told reporters. "No one was targeted by race, age, anything of that nature." Every night more than 63,000 people sleep in the New York City shelter system, says the Bowery Mission, an advocacy group. But nearly 4,000 more sleep on the street, in the subway or in other public areas. The group says factors causing homelessness include mental illness, substance abuse, lack of affordable housing and problems keeping a job.

Four homeless men in New York beaten to death

Protesters on Saturday&nbsp;burned the United States&nbsp;and NATO flags in Athens as the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-and-united-states-update-mutual-defence-cooperation-pact-253940"> US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held meetings with Greek government officials</a>.

Thousands marched outside the US&nbsp;Embassy in the Greek capital, holding up signs that read "Pompeo go home," and threw red paint on a statue of former US&nbsp;President Harry Truman in the city centre.

Greece and the United States have traditionally close relations even though many blame Washington for its tacit support for a military junta that ruled Greece between 1967 and 1974. Protest marches to the US&nbsp;Embassy are an annual event.

Demonstrators, which included supporters of the Greek Communist Party, held banners against<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-can-be-pillar-for-regional-stability-pompeo-253933"> Greek - US military cooperation</a>. The United States uses a base on the island of Crete for naval and sea operations in the region.

Protesters on Saturday burned the United States and NATO flags in Athens as the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held meetings with Greek government officials. Thousands marched outside the US Embassy in the Greek capital, holding up signs that read "Pompeo go home," and threw red paint on a statue of former US President Harry Truman in the city centre.

Protesters on Saturday burned the United States and NATO flags in Athens as the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held meetings with Greek government officials. Thousands marched outside the US Embassy in the Greek capital, holding up signs that read "Pompeo go home," and threw red paint on a statue of former US President Harry Truman in the city centre. Greece and the United States have traditionally close relations even though many blame Washington for its tacit support for a military junta that ruled Greece between 1967 and 1974. Protest marches to the US Embassy are an annual event. Demonstrators, which included supporters of the Greek Communist Party, held banners against Greek - US military cooperation. The United States uses a base on the island of Crete for naval and sea operations in the region.

Protesters burn US and NATO flags during Pompeo visit in Athens

United States&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with defence and foreign ministers in Greece on Saturday&nbsp;as the US seeks to enhance defence cooperation with the Mediterranean country.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-can-be-pillar-for-regional-stability-pompeo-253933">Greece and the United States signed an amendment</a> of the Mutual Defence Cooperation Agreement, which will "enhance our common military and strategic footprint in the area, always to the benefit of regional security and stability," a statement from the Greek Prime Minister's office said.

The United States uses the Souda Bay facility in Crete for naval and air support. Greece contributes to NATO operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo.

The two countries also agreed to strengthen relations on economic, trade, and cultural issues.

Greece asked the United States to use its influence to defuse tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, where Cyprus and Turkey are locked in a dispute over offshore rights.

Pompeo arrives in Greece after visiting Montenegro, North Macedonia and Italy.

Pompeo's trip to Southern Europe has been overshadowed by an impeachment enquiry at home against US President Donald Trump.

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with defence and foreign ministers in Greece on Saturday as the US seeks to enhance defence cooperation with the Mediterranean country.

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with defence and foreign ministers in Greece on Saturday as the US seeks to enhance defence cooperation with the Mediterranean country. Greece and the United States signed an amendment of the Mutual Defence Cooperation Agreement, which will "enhance our common military and strategic footprint in the area, always to the benefit of regional security and stability," a statement from the Greek Prime Minister's office said. The United States uses the Souda Bay facility in Crete for naval and air support. Greece contributes to NATO operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo. The two countries also agreed to strengthen relations on economic, trade, and cultural issues. Greece asked the United States to use its influence to defuse tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, where Cyprus and Turkey are locked in a dispute over offshore rights. Pompeo arrives in Greece after visiting Montenegro, North Macedonia and Italy. Pompeo's trip to Southern Europe has been overshadowed by an impeachment enquiry at home against US President Donald Trump.

Greece and United States update mutual defence cooperation pact

North Korean and US officials on Saturday were set to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-pm-seeks-meeting-with-north-koreas-kim-despite-missile-launch-253658">resume nuclear talks</a> in Stockholm after months of deadlock and Pyongyang's defiant test of a sea-launched ballistic missile this week.

North Korea's Kim Myong Gil and Stephen Biegun, the special envoy of US President Donald Trump, are part of the teams at an island off Stockholm.

The first cars with tinted windows started arriving just after 0700 GMT.

North Korea frequently couples diplomatic overtures with military moves as a way of maintaining pressure on negotiating partners, analysts say, and many believe this weapons system gives it added leverage.

Pyongyang tested what it called a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-north-korea-talks-going-ahead-despite-missile-test-253573">"super-large" rocket</a> on Wednesday just hours after it said it was willing to resume working-level talks with Washington.

Similar-level talks on North Korea's nuclear disarmament were held in Stockholm in March 2018 and then in January this year.

Kim Myong Gil said he was "optimistic" about the talks, speaking in Beijing on his way to the Swedish capital.

Washington has been eagerly awaiting a resumption of the dialogue, which has virtually stalled after a Hanoi meeting in late February between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

North Korea claimed to have entered a new phase in its defence capability with Wednesday's test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile -&nbsp;the most provocative since Pyongyang began a dialogue with Washington in 2018.

The Pentagon said Thursday the missile seems to have been launched from a "sea-based platform" and not a submarine.

Trump has said he sees no problem with a string of short-range rocket tests conducted previously by North Korea while insisting his personal ties with the North's leader remain good.

'Vertical mode'

Photos carried by Pyongyang's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-launches-missiles-ahead-of-nuclear-talks-253157">a black and white missile</a> emerging from the water and appearing to shoot into the sky.

The images also showed a small towing vessel next to the missile, which analysts said indicates the test was conducted from a submersible barge rather than an actual submarine, and that the system was in its early stages.

"The new-type ballistic missile was fired in vertical mode" in the waters off Wonsan Bay, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, identifying the weapon as a Pukguksong-3 and saying it "ushered in a new phase in containing the outside forces' threat."

The United Nations Security Council meanwhile is expected to hold closed-door talks early next week on the latest test, diplomats said.

The talks were requested by Britain, France and Germany, as the European powers push for the world body to keep up pressure on Pyongyang which is under heavy US and U.N. sanctions over its weapons program.

North Korea is banned from ballistic missile launches by Security Council resolutions.

North Korean and US officials on Saturday were set to resume nuclear talks in Stockholm after months of deadlock and Pyongyang's defiant test of a sea-launched ballistic missile this week.

North Korean and US officials on Saturday were set to resume nuclear talks in Stockholm after months of deadlock and Pyongyang's defiant test of a sea-launched ballistic missile this week. North Korea's Kim Myong Gil and Stephen Biegun, the special envoy of US President Donald Trump, are part of the teams at an island off Stockholm. The first cars with tinted windows started arriving just after 0700 GMT. North Korea frequently couples diplomatic overtures with military moves as a way of maintaining pressure on negotiating partners, analysts say, and many believe this weapons system gives it added leverage. Pyongyang tested what it called a "super-large" rocket on Wednesday just hours after it said it was willing to resume working-level talks with Washington. Similar-level talks on North Korea's nuclear disarmament were held in Stockholm in March 2018 and then in January this year. Kim Myong Gil said he was "optimistic" about the talks, speaking in Beijing on his way to the Swedish capital. Washington has been eagerly awaiting a resumption of the dialogue, which has virtually stalled after a Hanoi meeting in late February between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. North Korea claimed to have entered a new phase in its defence capability with Wednesday's test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile - the most provocative since Pyongyang began a dialogue with Washington in 2018. The Pentagon said Thursday the missile seems to have been launched from a "sea-based platform" and not a submarine. Trump has said he sees no problem with a string of short-range rocket tests conducted previously by North Korea while insisting his personal ties with the North's leader remain good. 'Vertical mode' Photos carried by Pyongyang's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed a black and white missile emerging from the water and appearing to shoot into the sky. The images also showed a small towing vessel next to the missile, which analysts said indicates the test was conducted from a submersible barge rather than an actual submarine, and that the system was in its early stages. "The new-type ballistic missile was fired in vertical mode" in the waters off Wonsan Bay, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, identifying the weapon as a Pukguksong-3 and saying it "ushered in a new phase in containing the outside forces' threat." The United Nations Security Council meanwhile is expected to hold closed-door talks early next week on the latest test, diplomats said. The talks were requested by Britain, France and Germany, as the European powers push for the world body to keep up pressure on Pyongyang which is under heavy US and U.N. sanctions over its weapons program. North Korea is banned from ballistic missile launches by Security Council resolutions.

North Korean, United States officials to resume nuclear talks after latest missile test

Pakistan and the Taliban agreed that the Afghanistan peace talk process halted by the United States last month should resume as soon as possible, the foreign office said in a statement. Watch this video to know more.

Is US resuming talks with Taliban?

The dollar rose on Friday after three straight days of losses, as investors took comfort in a US&nbsp;non-farm payrolls number which, while below the consensus forecast, was not as bad as the market initially feared.

The greenback hit session highs against the yen and euro following the jobs report, after trading lower for most of the session.

Data showed that US&nbsp;nonfarm payrolls increased by 136,000 jobs last month. August data was revised to show 168,000 jobs created instead of the previously reported 130,000 positions. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast payrolls would increase by 145,000 jobs in September.

The unemployment rate dropped to a near 50-year low of 3.5 per cent.

"Going into it and considering what we saw with the two ISM surveys, it could have been a lot worse. It's probably just right for the market and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/slower-us-job-growth-expected-but-enough-to-support-economy-247977">not as dire as many people expected</a>," said John Velis, global macro strategist, at BNY Mellon in New York.

"It doesn't mean that the economy and the jobs market are falling off a cliff. On the other hand, it's not strong enough that it's going to take out this additional Fed easing that has been priced into the curve the last few days."

A drop in US&nbsp;unemployment in September pushed traders of US&nbsp;short-term interest rate futures on Friday to pare bets the Federal Reserve will cut rates at both of its two upcoming meetings.

The jobs data was a big relief to dollar bulls after two weak reports that heightened US&nbsp;recession fears.

On Thursday, a survey from the US&nbsp;Institute for Supply Management (ISM) showed its non-manufacturing activity index falling to 52.6 in September, the lowest since August 2016 and down from 56.4 in August.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/dollar-pinned-down-after-poor-us-manufacturing-data-pound-slips-253220">non-manufacturing data</a> came on the heels of ISM's survey on Tuesday on manufacturing that showed activity plunging to more than 10-year lows.

In morning trading, the dollar index &nbsp;was up 0.1 per cent&nbsp;at 98.933, rising slightly against the yen to 106.98 yen &lt;JPY=&gt;.

The euro was modestly higher though versus the dollar at $1.0973.&nbsp;

Elsewhere, the Australian dollar&nbsp;and the New Zealand dollar were off their highs after the US&nbsp;report.

The dollar rose on Friday after three straight days of losses, as investors took comfort in a US non-farm payrolls number which, while below the consensus forecast, was not as bad as the market initially feared.

The dollar rose on Friday after three straight days of losses, as investors took comfort in a US non-farm payrolls number which, while below the consensus forecast, was not as bad as the market initially feared. The greenback hit session highs against the yen and euro following the jobs report, after trading lower for most of the session. Data showed that US nonfarm payrolls increased by 136,000 jobs last month. August data was revised to show 168,000 jobs created instead of the previously reported 130,000 positions. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast payrolls would increase by 145,000 jobs in September. The unemployment rate dropped to a near 50-year low of 3.5 per cent. "Going into it and considering what we saw with the two ISM surveys, it could have been a lot worse. It's probably just right for the market and not as dire as many people expected," said John Velis, global macro strategist, at BNY Mellon in New York. "It doesn't mean that the economy and the jobs market are falling off a cliff. On the other hand, it's not strong enough that it's going to take out this additional Fed easing that has been priced into the curve the last few days." A drop in US unemployment in September pushed traders of US short-term interest rate futures on Friday to pare bets the Federal Reserve will cut rates at both of its two upcoming meetings. The jobs data was a big relief to dollar bulls after two weak reports that heightened US recession fears. On Thursday, a survey from the US Institute for Supply Management (ISM) showed its non-manufacturing activity index falling to 52.6 in September, the lowest since August 2016 and down from 56.4 in August. The non-manufacturing data came on the heels of ISM's survey on Tuesday on manufacturing that showed activity plunging to more than 10-year lows. In morning trading, the dollar index was up 0.1 per cent at 98.933, rising slightly against the yen to 106.98 yen <JPY=>. The euro was modestly higher though versus the dollar at $1.0973. Elsewhere, the Australian dollar and the New Zealand dollar were off their highs after the US report.

Dollar rises after US jobs come out better than worst expectations

The next 13 months will see American politics completely dominated by the fate of Donald Trump. As the House of Representatives moves towards impeaching him, leading to a hearing which then moves to the Senate, the Democrats will be engaged in an increasingly bitter contest for the nomination to run against Trump in the November 2020 elections.

At this stage, it appears there are the numbers in the house for impeachment, which entails formally charging the president with “high crimes and misdemeanors”. Their indictment then moves to the Senate, which can remove the president by a two-thirds majority, in a hearing chaired by the chief justice.

Because 2020 is an election year, both sides will manage proceedings with an eye to the November poll. It is possible the house will vote before the end of the year: the decision to impeach Bill Clinton for lying under oath was made in the last three months of 1998.

Clinton was cleared by the Senate by the following February, so it is also possible the Senate will hold its own proceedings before most of the presidential primaries commence. It takes two-thirds of the Senate to remove a president from office, which has never happened.

While several Republican house representatives have expressed concern about the president’s behaviour, the overwhelming majority of Republican politicians are either supporting him or remaining silent.

Rather as Boris Johnston seems to have captured the British Conservative Party, so Trump has imposed himself on the Republicans. Those who three years ago assailed his unfitness for the presidency, such as Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz, are now his loudest defenders. Meanwhile, several of his opponents are withdrawing from political office.

However, Senator Mitt Romney, Republican candidate for president in 2012, has indicated his disquiet, which is almost certainly shared by others. If the house uncovers more apparently illegal activity on Trump, and if public opinion seems to be turning against the president, there are several other senators who may follow, if only to preserve their own positions. Republican senators are facing re-election in states such as Colorado, Iowa, Maine and North Carolina, where they are increasingly vulnerable.

There is an odd historical parallel with the history of Senator Joe McCarthy, who led increasingly virulent anti-Communist crusades in the early 1950s and whose protégé, Roy Cohn, in turn influenced Trump.

Eventually, Republican senators turned on McCarthy, and censured but did not expel him. But this happened only once it was clear that public support for McCarthy was collapsing, which is so far not evident for Trump.

Faced with possible impeachment and loss of support, Richard Nixon resigned. It is difficult to see Trump doing this – it is more likely he will become even more irrational and vengeful as the process winds on. Right-wing media will echo the president’s claim that the impeachment hearings represent treason, with real danger of violent clashes between supporters and opponents of Trump.

For the Democrats, the best outcome would be a split within Republican ranks, which leaves Trump in office but weakened and vulnerable to a challenge for re-nomination. Removing Trump would place Vice President Mike Pence in office, and presumably ensured of nomination in 2020.

The dilemma for the Democrats is that the impeachment process will dominate the news cycle as they jockey for position going into next year’s long battle for the presidential nomination. Trump will use the allegations to focus attention on former Vice President Joe Biden, whose son’s business dealings in Ukraine triggered the impeachment inquiry.

Biden may hope this will allow him to emerge as the injured defender of political propriety, but he will be tarnished through guilt by association, and is likely to slip further in the polls. Biden represents some of the traditional working class and African American base of the Democratic Party, and how they react could determine the ultimate Democrat candidate.

At the moment, Elizabeth Warren challenges Biden’s lead in the polls, with Bernie Sanders the only other candidate consistently supported by more than 10 per cent&nbsp;of Democrats. None of the others in a crowded field — 12 have qualified to take part in the next televised Democratic debate — have much support, and they will start to drop out once the primary season begins in February 2020.

If Biden continues to lose support, there is room for someone to emerge as the moderate front-runner, given that both Warren and Sanders represent the more radical instincts of the party. This is presumably why so many candidates are determined to continue campaigning, even when some of them rarely muster 2 per cent&nbsp;in the polls.

Were Sanders’ current health problems to lead to his withdrawal most of his support would presumably switch to Warren. Predictions are risky, and my record is poor. But it is increasingly likely that the Democrats will nominate someone other than an old white man in 2020, betting on a figure like Barack Obama who can galvanise a bitterly divided nation and persuade people to turn out and vote.

(Dennis Altman is Professorial Fellow in Human Security, La Trobe University)

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-the-impeachment-inquiry-might-affect-trumps-2020-re-election-chances-124424">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp;

The next 13 months will see American politics completely dominated by the fate of Donald Trump. As the House of Representatives moves towards impeaching him, leading to a hearing which then moves to the Senate, the Democrats will be engaged in an increasingly bitter contest for the nomination to run against Trump in the November 2020 elections.

The next 13 months will see American politics completely dominated by the fate of Donald Trump. As the House of Representatives moves towards impeaching him, leading to a hearing which then moves to the Senate, the Democrats will be engaged in an increasingly bitter contest for the nomination to run against Trump in the November 2020 elections. At this stage, it appears there are the numbers in the house for impeachment, which entails formally charging the president with “high crimes and misdemeanors”. Their indictment then moves to the Senate, which can remove the president by a two-thirds majority, in a hearing chaired by the chief justice. Because 2020 is an election year, both sides will manage proceedings with an eye to the November poll. It is possible the house will vote before the end of the year: the decision to impeach Bill Clinton for lying under oath was made in the last three months of 1998. Clinton was cleared by the Senate by the following February, so it is also possible the Senate will hold its own proceedings before most of the presidential primaries commence. It takes two-thirds of the Senate to remove a president from office, which has never happened. While several Republican house representatives have expressed concern about the president’s behaviour, the overwhelming majority of Republican politicians are either supporting him or remaining silent. Rather as Boris Johnston seems to have captured the British Conservative Party, so Trump has imposed himself on the Republicans. Those who three years ago assailed his unfitness for the presidency, such as Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz, are now his loudest defenders. Meanwhile, several of his opponents are withdrawing from political office. However, Senator Mitt Romney, Republican candidate for president in 2012, has indicated his disquiet, which is almost certainly shared by others. If the house uncovers more apparently illegal activity on Trump, and if public opinion seems to be turning against the president, there are several other senators who may follow, if only to preserve their own positions. Republican senators are facing re-election in states such as Colorado, Iowa, Maine and North Carolina, where they are increasingly vulnerable. There is an odd historical parallel with the history of Senator Joe McCarthy, who led increasingly virulent anti-Communist crusades in the early 1950s and whose protégé, Roy Cohn, in turn influenced Trump. Eventually, Republican senators turned on McCarthy, and censured but did not expel him. But this happened only once it was clear that public support for McCarthy was collapsing, which is so far not evident for Trump. Faced with possible impeachment and loss of support, Richard Nixon resigned. It is difficult to see Trump doing this – it is more likely he will become even more irrational and vengeful as the process winds on. Right-wing media will echo the president’s claim that the impeachment hearings represent treason, with real danger of violent clashes between supporters and opponents of Trump. For the Democrats, the best outcome would be a split within Republican ranks, which leaves Trump in office but weakened and vulnerable to a challenge for re-nomination. Removing Trump would place Vice President Mike Pence in office, and presumably ensured of nomination in 2020. The dilemma for the Democrats is that the impeachment process will dominate the news cycle as they jockey for position going into next year’s long battle for the presidential nomination. Trump will use the allegations to focus attention on former Vice President Joe Biden, whose son’s business dealings in Ukraine triggered the impeachment inquiry. Biden may hope this will allow him to emerge as the injured defender of political propriety, but he will be tarnished through guilt by association, and is likely to slip further in the polls. Biden represents some of the traditional working class and African American base of the Democratic Party, and how they react could determine the ultimate Democrat candidate. At the moment, Elizabeth Warren challenges Biden’s lead in the polls, with Bernie Sanders the only other candidate consistently supported by more than 10 per cent of Democrats. None of the others in a crowded field — 12 have qualified to take part in the next televised Democratic debate — have much support, and they will start to drop out once the primary season begins in February 2020. If Biden continues to lose support, there is room for someone to emerge as the moderate front-runner, given that both Warren and Sanders represent the more radical instincts of the party. This is presumably why so many candidates are determined to continue campaigning, even when some of them rarely muster 2 per cent in the polls. Were Sanders’ current health problems to lead to his withdrawal most of his support would presumably switch to Warren. Predictions are risky, and my record is poor. But it is increasingly likely that the Democrats will nominate someone other than an old white man in 2020, betting on a figure like Barack Obama who can galvanise a bitterly divided nation and persuade people to turn out and vote. (Dennis Altman is Professorial Fellow in Human Security, La Trobe University) (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

How the impeachment inquiry might affect Donald Trump’s 2020 re-election chances

A New York court on Thursday temporarily halted a state ban on the sale of flavoured e-cigarettes, giving the embattled vaping industry a breather just a day before the state's prohibition was due to take effect.

The appellate court ruling puts a hold on the ban that was announced by New York state's Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo last month in response to widespread growing concern about the rising use of e-cigarettes among teens and a nationwide spate of lung illnesses.

The ban, which was due to start on Friday, will remain on ice until at least October&nbsp;18 when the Supreme Court in Albany is scheduled to hear the case brought by industry trade group Vapor Technology Association arguing for a preliminary injunction on the ban.

"We are very pleased with the New York State Appellate Division's decision, which acknowledges the strength of our claims about the State's executive overreach, and which preserves the ability of hundreds of small businesses to remain open and continue to serve their adult customers," Tony Abboud, executive director of the association said in an emailed statement.

New York Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said he remained confident the ban would eventually be enforced.

"Make no mistake: this is a public health emergency that demands immediate action to help ensure the wellbeing of our children, and we're confident that once the court hears our argument they will agree," Zucker said in a statement.

A handful of states have imposed or are eyeing similar bans as the crisis grows and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people stop using vaping products.

Governors in Michigan and Rhode Island have announced sales restrictions, while Massachusetts imposed an outright ban for four months while it examined potential new regulations. Ohio's state governor this week urged lawmakers to pass a ban.

US&nbsp;health officials earlier on Thursday reported <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-vaping-related-deaths-rise-to-18-illnesses-surpass-1000-cdc-253614">18 deaths due to a mysterious lung illness linked to e-cigarettes </a>and other vaping products and said the number of confirmed and probable cases of the condition now exceeds 1,000.

The US&nbsp;Federal Trade Commission also on Thursday ordered several e-cigarette companies, including Juul Labs Inc and Nu Mark, to turn over sales and advertising data, in the first sign of a likely probe of their marketing practices. Tobacco giant Altria Group Inc owns Nu-Mark and has a 35 per cent&nbsp;stake in Juul.

Abboud noted that New York state lawmakers had already raised the minimum age for the purchase of vapour products from 18 to 21 from November and imposed a tax increase.

He said the lobby group was ready to work with officials "to achieve the twin goals of restricting youth vaping, which already is illegal, and preserving flavoured alternatives for adults desperately trying to quit smoking."

The New York State Department of Health had pledged to provide retailers with a two-week grace period before conducting site visits to enforce the ban on all flavoured e-cigarettes besides tobacco and menthol.

A New York court on Thursday temporarily halted a state ban on the sale of flavoured e-cigarettes, giving the embattled vaping industry a breather just a day before the state's prohibition was due to take effect.

A New York court on Thursday temporarily halted a state ban on the sale of flavoured e-cigarettes, giving the embattled vaping industry a breather just a day before the state's prohibition was due to take effect. The appellate court ruling puts a hold on the ban that was announced by New York state's Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo last month in response to widespread growing concern about the rising use of e-cigarettes among teens and a nationwide spate of lung illnesses. The ban, which was due to start on Friday, will remain on ice until at least October 18 when the Supreme Court in Albany is scheduled to hear the case brought by industry trade group Vapor Technology Association arguing for a preliminary injunction on the ban. "We are very pleased with the New York State Appellate Division's decision, which acknowledges the strength of our claims about the State's executive overreach, and which preserves the ability of hundreds of small businesses to remain open and continue to serve their adult customers," Tony Abboud, executive director of the association said in an emailed statement. New York Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said he remained confident the ban would eventually be enforced. "Make no mistake: this is a public health emergency that demands immediate action to help ensure the wellbeing of our children, and we're confident that once the court hears our argument they will agree," Zucker said in a statement. A handful of states have imposed or are eyeing similar bans as the crisis grows and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people stop using vaping products. Governors in Michigan and Rhode Island have announced sales restrictions, while Massachusetts imposed an outright ban for four months while it examined potential new regulations. Ohio's state governor this week urged lawmakers to pass a ban. US health officials earlier on Thursday reported 18 deaths due to a mysterious lung illness linked to e-cigarettes and other vaping products and said the number of confirmed and probable cases of the condition now exceeds 1,000. The US Federal Trade Commission also on Thursday ordered several e-cigarette companies, including Juul Labs Inc and Nu Mark, to turn over sales and advertising data, in the first sign of a likely probe of their marketing practices. Tobacco giant Altria Group Inc owns Nu-Mark and has a 35 per cent stake in Juul. Abboud noted that New York state lawmakers had already raised the minimum age for the purchase of vapour products from 18 to 21 from November and imposed a tax increase. He said the lobby group was ready to work with officials "to achieve the twin goals of restricting youth vaping, which already is illegal, and preserving flavoured alternatives for adults desperately trying to quit smoking." The New York State Department of Health had pledged to provide retailers with a two-week grace period before conducting site visits to enforce the ban on all flavoured e-cigarettes besides tobacco and menthol.

New York court blocks state ban on flavored e-cigarettes

Gold prices were little changed on Thursday, following an over 1 per cent jump in the previous session, as investors awaited more data to gauge the health of the US economy.

Spot gold was steady at $1,498.97 per ounce, as of 0543 GMT, while <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/sensex-nifty-slip-as-united-states-widens-trade-war-to-europe-yes-bank-recovers-253385">US </a>gold futures slipped 0.2 per cent to $1,504.90 per ounce.

The precious metal jumped 1.4 per cent on Wednesday after disappointing hiring by US private employers unnerved investors already concerned about slowing growth in the world's largest economy.

"Gold is clearly being used as a hedge against volatility in other markets," said OANDA analyst Jeffrey Halley.

"With negative investor sentiment on global growth and trade and the meltdown in equity markets overnight we saw a flight to safe havens."

The jobs data comes ahead of the more comprehensive US nonfarm payrolls report due on Friday and added to the gloom prompted by a survey that showed manufacturing activity in the United States tumbled to a more than 10-year low in September.

The disappointing readings weighed on the dollar, which hit near one-week lows against the euro and yen.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/tokyo-leads-asian-market-gains-in-holiday-trade-252929">Asian stocks</a> also slipped on Thursday, following a drop on Wall Street, after Washington opened a new trade war front by saying it would impose tariffs on $7.5 billion of goods from the European Union.

"Gold prices have rallied strongly as weak economic data and geopolitical risks have increased the likelihood of further rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve," analysts at ANZ said in a note.

"US jobless data on Friday and consumer confidence early next week will be a key driver of gold in the short term."

Indicative of investor interest, holdings at SPDR Gold Trust the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, rose 0.32 per cent to 923.76 tonnes on Wednesday.

On the technical front, spot gold may end its bounce in a range of $1,514-$1,524 per ounce, as suggested by a retracement analysis and a falling channel, according to Reuters analyst Wang Tao.

Among other precious metals, platinum was flat at $886.59 per ounce, while silver rose 0.2 per cent to $17.60 an ounce.

Palladium was up 0.1 per cent at $1,689.40 per ounce.

Gold prices were little changed on Thursday, following an over 1 per cent jump in the previous session, as investors awaited more data to gauge the health of the US economy.

Gold prices were little changed on Thursday, following an over 1 per cent jump in the previous session, as investors awaited more data to gauge the health of the US economy. Spot gold was steady at $1,498.97 per ounce, as of 0543 GMT, while US gold futures slipped 0.2 per cent to $1,504.90 per ounce. The precious metal jumped 1.4 per cent on Wednesday after disappointing hiring by US private employers unnerved investors already concerned about slowing growth in the world's largest economy. "Gold is clearly being used as a hedge against volatility in other markets," said OANDA analyst Jeffrey Halley. "With negative investor sentiment on global growth and trade and the meltdown in equity markets overnight we saw a flight to safe havens." The jobs data comes ahead of the more comprehensive US nonfarm payrolls report due on Friday and added to the gloom prompted by a survey that showed manufacturing activity in the United States tumbled to a more than 10-year low in September. The disappointing readings weighed on the dollar, which hit near one-week lows against the euro and yen. Asian stocks also slipped on Thursday, following a drop on Wall Street, after Washington opened a new trade war front by saying it would impose tariffs on $7.5 billion of goods from the European Union. "Gold prices have rallied strongly as weak economic data and geopolitical risks have increased the likelihood of further rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve," analysts at ANZ said in a note. "US jobless data on Friday and consumer confidence early next week will be a key driver of gold in the short term." Indicative of investor interest, holdings at SPDR Gold Trust the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, rose 0.32 per cent to 923.76 tonnes on Wednesday. On the technical front, spot gold may end its bounce in a range of $1,514-$1,524 per ounce, as suggested by a retracement analysis and a falling channel, according to Reuters analyst Wang Tao. Among other precious metals, platinum was flat at $886.59 per ounce, while silver rose 0.2 per cent to $17.60 an ounce. Palladium was up 0.1 per cent at $1,689.40 per ounce.

Gold prices steady as market awaits United States employment report

The United States won approval on Wednesday (October 2) to impose tariffs on $7.5 billion worth of European goods over illegal EU subsidies handed to Airbus, threatening to trigger a tit-for-tat transatlantic trade war as the global economy falters. Watch this video to know more.

US wins backing for $7.5 bln tariffs on EU in jet subsidy clash

By Peter Robertson

If you watched China’s impressive military parade marking the 70th anniversary of Communist Party rule, you may be wondering how China now compares to the United States in terms of military might.

The answer: It’s a lot closer than commonly thought.

China’s annual military budget is estimated by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute to be about 1.7 trillion yuan. This is about 1.9 per cent of China’s GDP.

Using market exchange rates, China’s annual military spending converts to about $228 billion. By comparison, the US military budget is $649 billion – or 3.2 per cent of US GDP.

Hence China’s military budget is usually thought of about 40 per cent that of the US – which is often characterised as spending more on its military than the next 10 countries combined.

Such an approach, however, dramatically overstates US military capacity – and understates China’s. In real terms, China’s spending is worth about 75 per cent that of the US.

Purchasing power parity

The problem is that a simple currency conversion doesn’t reflect actual price differences across countries. An American or Australian visiting India or China, for example, finds things like street food, nannies and domestic help are all very cheap. The same principle applies to military spending.

The salary of a US soldier might be, say, $60,000 a year. This could pay the salaries of several, if not many more, soldiers in the People’s Liberation Army.

To make a more accurate comparison of the real purchasing power of a country’s military spending, we need to factor in differences in labour and operational costs between countries.

I’ve computed the costs of defence services across countries, looking at personnel, operations and equipment costs.

For some components of military spending, such as the cost of buying a fighter plane or warship, it’s appropriate to use market exchange rates to compare across countries. For other components, particularly personnel expenditure, it’s better to compare wage costs for similarly trained personnel. These costs differences can then be used to construct “purchasing power parity” exchange rates specific to the defence sector.

Using these rates allows us to see how much the spending in each country actually buys – allowing for price differences between countries as well as how defence planners might react to these different prices given their defence priorities.

Looking at these differences, my analysis suggests China’s military spending is equivalent to the US spending about $455 billion.

This is nearly double what is suggested by the figure obtained using a straight currency conversion. It means, in real terms, China’s annual spending is about 74 per cent of the US.

Global comparisons

Similar results hold for other countries where labour and services prices are comparatively low.

For example, official exchange rate estimates suggest military spending by Russia and India is just 10 per cent of the US. But factoring in the lower prices facing their defence sectors suggests Russia’s military budget is equivalent to about 30 per cent of the US budget; and India’s about 40 per cent.

This analysis also changes the impression we have of countries like Indonesia, Ukraine and Colombia.

For example, Indonesia’s military budget in 2018 equates to a “mere” $8 billion. But in terms of the actual resources, it can purchase, a more accurate estimate is that its expenditure is worth about $36 billion – substantially more than Australia’s military budget.

Of course, just because an army costs a lot, or has a lot of personnel, doesn’t mean it is a good value. The numbers don’t tell us everything we might want to know about relative military power. But they do give a very different, and more accurate, picture of the global distribution of military muscle.

So you should have been impressed by the might of China’s military on parade. The US is still number one - but not by as much as you might think.

(Peter Robertson is Professor, University of Western Australia)

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/chinas-military-might-is-much-closer-to-the-us-than-you-probably-think-124487">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp;

By Peter Robertson If you watched China’s impressive military parade marking the 70th anniversary of Communist Party rule, you may be wondering how China now compares to the United States in terms of military might.

By Peter Robertson If you watched China’s impressive military parade marking the 70th anniversary of Communist Party rule, you may be wondering how China now compares to the United States in terms of military might. The answer: It’s a lot closer than commonly thought. China’s annual military budget is estimated by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute to be about 1.7 trillion yuan. This is about 1.9 per cent of China’s GDP. Using market exchange rates, China’s annual military spending converts to about $228 billion. By comparison, the US military budget is $649 billion – or 3.2 per cent of US GDP. Hence China’s military budget is usually thought of about 40 per cent that of the US – which is often characterised as spending more on its military than the next 10 countries combined. Such an approach, however, dramatically overstates US military capacity – and understates China’s. In real terms, China’s spending is worth about 75 per cent that of the US. Purchasing power parity The problem is that a simple currency conversion doesn’t reflect actual price differences across countries. An American or Australian visiting India or China, for example, finds things like street food, nannies and domestic help are all very cheap. The same principle applies to military spending. The salary of a US soldier might be, say, $60,000 a year. This could pay the salaries of several, if not many more, soldiers in the People’s Liberation Army. To make a more accurate comparison of the real purchasing power of a country’s military spending, we need to factor in differences in labour and operational costs between countries. I’ve computed the costs of defence services across countries, looking at personnel, operations and equipment costs. For some components of military spending, such as the cost of buying a fighter plane or warship, it’s appropriate to use market exchange rates to compare across countries. For other components, particularly personnel expenditure, it’s better to compare wage costs for similarly trained personnel. These costs differences can then be used to construct “purchasing power parity” exchange rates specific to the defence sector. Using these rates allows us to see how much the spending in each country actually buys – allowing for price differences between countries as well as how defence planners might react to these different prices given their defence priorities. Looking at these differences, my analysis suggests China’s military spending is equivalent to the US spending about $455 billion. This is nearly double what is suggested by the figure obtained using a straight currency conversion. It means, in real terms, China’s annual spending is about 74 per cent of the US. Global comparisons Similar results hold for other countries where labour and services prices are comparatively low. For example, official exchange rate estimates suggest military spending by Russia and India is just 10 per cent of the US. But factoring in the lower prices facing their defence sectors suggests Russia’s military budget is equivalent to about 30 per cent of the US budget; and India’s about 40 per cent. This analysis also changes the impression we have of countries like Indonesia, Ukraine and Colombia. For example, Indonesia’s military budget in 2018 equates to a “mere” $8 billion. But in terms of the actual resources, it can purchase, a more accurate estimate is that its expenditure is worth about $36 billion – substantially more than Australia’s military budget. Of course, just because an army costs a lot, or has a lot of personnel, doesn’t mean it is a good value. The numbers don’t tell us everything we might want to know about relative military power. But they do give a very different, and more accurate, picture of the global distribution of military muscle. So you should have been impressed by the might of China’s military on parade. The US is still number one - but not by as much as you might think. (Peter Robertson is Professor, University of Western Australia) (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

China’s military might is much closer to the US than you probably think

Hours after US&nbsp;President Donald Trump described him as "stone-cold crooked," Joe Biden, a leading Democratic contender in the 2020 race for the White House, vowed on Wednesday the Republican president is "not going to destroy me."

"Let me make something clear to Trump and his hatchet men and the special interests funding his attacks against me," Biden said in prepared remarks distributed by his campaign in advance of an appearance in Reno, Nevada, on Wednesday night.

"I’m not going anywhere. You’re not going to destroy me. And you’re not going to destroy my family. I don’t care how much money you spend or how dirty the attacks get," said Biden, who leads in most opinion polls among the 19 Democrats seeking their party's nomination to face Trump in next year's election.

The back-and-forth came as Trump, first in a series of tweets and then at a news conference, angrily <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-slams-impeachment-probe-as-hoax-as-democrats-seek-white-house-documents-253356">denounced an impeachment enquiry</a> concerning a July call in which Trump asked Ukraine's president to investigate Biden and his son Hunter, who served on the board of a Ukrainian company while his father was vice president.

Democrats have <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-impeachment-probe-gains-steam-with-briefing-depositions-253202">accused Trump</a> of pressuring a vulnerable US&nbsp;ally to meddle in the 2020 election for his own political benefit.

On Wednesday, Trump insisted that he had acted appropriately, and called Biden and his son “stone-cold crooked.” The president has repeatedly accused the pair of wrongdoing without providing any evidence.

Biden, in return, accused Trump of abuse of power in a statement sent to reporters before his speech on Wednesday.

His campaign said Biden intended at the Reno event to portray Trump as a frightened bully.

"He did it because, like every bully in history — he’s afraid," Biden planned to say of Trump's accusations against him and his son. "He’s afraid of just how badly I would beat him next November."&nbsp;

Hours after US President Donald Trump described him as "stone-cold crooked," Joe Biden, a leading Democratic contender in the 2020 race for the White House, vowed on Wednesday the Republican president is "not going to destroy me.

Hours after US President Donald Trump described him as "stone-cold crooked," Joe Biden, a leading Democratic contender in the 2020 race for the White House, vowed on Wednesday the Republican president is "not going to destroy me." "Let me make something clear to Trump and his hatchet men and the special interests funding his attacks against me," Biden said in prepared remarks distributed by his campaign in advance of an appearance in Reno, Nevada, on Wednesday night. "I’m not going anywhere. You’re not going to destroy me. And you’re not going to destroy my family. I don’t care how much money you spend or how dirty the attacks get," said Biden, who leads in most opinion polls among the 19 Democrats seeking their party's nomination to face Trump in next year's election. The back-and-forth came as Trump, first in a series of tweets and then at a news conference, angrily denounced an impeachment enquiry concerning a July call in which Trump asked Ukraine's president to investigate Biden and his son Hunter, who served on the board of a Ukrainian company while his father was vice president. Democrats have accused Trump of pressuring a vulnerable US ally to meddle in the 2020 election for his own political benefit. On Wednesday, Trump insisted that he had acted appropriately, and called Biden and his son “stone-cold crooked.” The president has repeatedly accused the pair of wrongdoing without providing any evidence. Biden, in return, accused Trump of abuse of power in a statement sent to reporters before his speech on Wednesday. His campaign said Biden intended at the Reno event to portray Trump as a frightened bully. "He did it because, like every bully in history — he’s afraid," Biden planned to say of Trump's accusations against him and his son. "He’s afraid of just how badly I would beat him next November."

Joe Biden to Trump: 'You're not going to destroy me'

Fears of a potential military conflict with Iran may have opened the door to a Saudi-Iranian dialogue against the backdrop of a rethink of US military logistics, involving at least a gradual partial relocation to the United States of command and control operations based in the Gulf for almost four decades.

The relocation does not necessarily signal a reduced US commitment to the defence of the strategic energy-rich region even if it comes amid Gulf suspicions that the United States is gradually withdrawing from the Middle East.

Nonetheless, the move, officially intended to reduce the vulnerability of US military assets to a potential Iranian strike without decreasing the United States’ operational capability, is bolstering a rethink in capitals across Eurasia, including Moscow, Beijing, Tokyo, New Delhi, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh about possible alternative, more collective and multilateral security arrangements in the Gulf.

The arrangements would involve the Gulf states, Russia, China, the US, the European Union and India as well as other stakeholders, a likely reference to Iran. By necessity, it would require a lowering of tension in the region and a degree of accommodation between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi urged Gulf states “To establish a platform for dialogue and consultation” in which countries from outside the region would play a role in maintaining security in the region."

Wang was speaking days after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani proposed a security arrangement that would be limited to countries in the region.

In a variation on the theme, Narayanappa Janardhan, a prominent Indian Gulf researcher at the United Arab Emirates’ Emirates Diplomatic Academy, suggested that a new regional security architecture should be Asian-led.

US President Donald J Trump’s transactional approach towards foreign and defence policies in which countries are expected to shoulder their fair burden and pay for US defense services coupled with the president’s long-standing assertion that China and others dependent on energy supplies from the Gulf are free-riding beneficiaries of the US defence umbrella and his withdrawal early in his presidency from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a regional trade pact, has sparked doubts across Asia about the wisdom of depending on the United States for energy security.

In a sense, the Gulf states and Asian nations are in a bind. The United States may no longer be reliable but despite the various calls for a new security arrangement few realistically see an alternative.

“Having just spent three days in Moscow, I’m convinced the Russians haven’t the faintest clue how to operate any architecture in the Gulf...let alone a security architecture,” tweeted Gulf scholar Michael Stephens.

Concern that military retaliation for last month’s attacks on two key Saudi oil facilities would spark a regional war has sparked a flurry of diplomatic activity and a search for non-military responses as the United States and Saudi Arabia point the finger of responsibility at Iran.

Iran has warned that military retaliation by the United States or the Kingdom would spark a war that would spread to the Gulf, including Iranian targeting of installations in the region.

Trump’s cautious reaction to the attacks coupled with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s stated preference for a non-military response constitutes the latest developments in recent months that have opened the door to the Chinese-backed Russian proposal for a collective security arrangement that would reduce US influence in the region.

Saudi and Iranian leaders, in a gleam of hope that the two countries may be inching towards one another, expressed an interest in resolving issues politically rather than militarily.

“The political and peaceful solution is much better than the military one,” Prince Mohammed told CBS News when asked about a possible military response to the attacks on the kingdom’s oil assets.

Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani responded saying: "The doors of Iran are open. A Saudi-Iranian dialogue can solve many of the region's security and political problems."

In a further hopeful development, Saudi Arabia was reported to be considering a partial ceasefire in Yemen. Earlier, the Houthis declared a unilateral halt to the fighting. Larijani said Iran was advising the Houthis to accept whatever ceasefire was on offer.

At the same time, Iraq suggested that it had established a backchannel between Riyadh and Tehran.

"The Saudis have conditions before the negotiations process starts and the same with Iranians. We have liaised these conditions to each side. It is not an easy task to get together two opposite sides in terms of their ideology, sect and their alliances in the region," said Abbas al-Hasnawi, an official in the office of Iraqi prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi.

"Saudi Arabia’s conditions are that Iran minimises its role in Yemen and Syria and stop supporting armed groups such as the Houthis. It also asks the Syrian regime to solve its problems with the Syrian opposition groups, and to write a constitution for Syria with all parties agreeing on it," the official said.

&nbsp;"If there will be a potential deal in the region that includes Yemen, Syria and Iraq, the Americans have no problem with that," Hasnawi added.

While there is every reason to be sceptical despite the noise that Saudi Arabia and Iran are anywhere near resolving their differences, talk of dialogue and calls for a Yemen ceasefire suggest that Iran’s strategy of strategic escalation may be producing results.

Iran moved earlier this year away from its initial strategic patience response to the US withdrawal from the 2015 international agreement curbing the Islamic republic’s nuclear program to a strategy of gradual escalation.

Escalation tactics include a step-by-step breaching of the agreement and a more aggressive asymmetric military posture involving the seizing of a British vessel that was released last week, alleged attacks on tankers off the coast of the UAE, and allegedly the attacks on the Saudi oil facilities.

 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Fears of a potential military conflict with Iran may have opened the door to a Saudi-Iranian dialogue against the backdrop of a rethink of US military logistics, involving at least a gradual partial relocation to the United States of command and control operations based in the Gulf for almost four decades.

Fears of a potential military conflict with Iran may have opened the door to a Saudi-Iranian dialogue against the backdrop of a rethink of US military logistics, involving at least a gradual partial relocation to the United States of command and control operations based in the Gulf for almost four decades. The relocation does not necessarily signal a reduced US commitment to the defence of the strategic energy-rich region even if it comes amid Gulf suspicions that the United States is gradually withdrawing from the Middle East. Nonetheless, the move, officially intended to reduce the vulnerability of US military assets to a potential Iranian strike without decreasing the United States’ operational capability, is bolstering a rethink in capitals across Eurasia, including Moscow, Beijing, Tokyo, New Delhi, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh about possible alternative, more collective and multilateral security arrangements in the Gulf. The arrangements would involve the Gulf states, Russia, China, the US, the European Union and India as well as other stakeholders, a likely reference to Iran. By necessity, it would require a lowering of tension in the region and a degree of accommodation between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi urged Gulf states “To establish a platform for dialogue and consultation” in which countries from outside the region would play a role in maintaining security in the region." Wang was speaking days after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani proposed a security arrangement that would be limited to countries in the region. In a variation on the theme, Narayanappa Janardhan, a prominent Indian Gulf researcher at the United Arab Emirates’ Emirates Diplomatic Academy, suggested that a new regional security architecture should be Asian-led. US President Donald J Trump’s transactional approach towards foreign and defence policies in which countries are expected to shoulder their fair burden and pay for US defense services coupled with the president’s long-standing assertion that China and others dependent on energy supplies from the Gulf are free-riding beneficiaries of the US defence umbrella and his withdrawal early in his presidency from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a regional trade pact, has sparked doubts across Asia about the wisdom of depending on the United States for energy security. In a sense, the Gulf states and Asian nations are in a bind. The United States may no longer be reliable but despite the various calls for a new security arrangement few realistically see an alternative. “Having just spent three days in Moscow, I’m convinced the Russians haven’t the faintest clue how to operate any architecture in the Gulf...let alone a security architecture,” tweeted Gulf scholar Michael Stephens. Concern that military retaliation for last month’s attacks on two key Saudi oil facilities would spark a regional war has sparked a flurry of diplomatic activity and a search for non-military responses as the United States and Saudi Arabia point the finger of responsibility at Iran. Iran has warned that military retaliation by the United States or the Kingdom would spark a war that would spread to the Gulf, including Iranian targeting of installations in the region. Trump’s cautious reaction to the attacks coupled with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s stated preference for a non-military response constitutes the latest developments in recent months that have opened the door to the Chinese-backed Russian proposal for a collective security arrangement that would reduce US influence in the region. Saudi and Iranian leaders, in a gleam of hope that the two countries may be inching towards one another, expressed an interest in resolving issues politically rather than militarily. “The political and peaceful solution is much better than the military one,” Prince Mohammed told CBS News when asked about a possible military response to the attacks on the kingdom’s oil assets. Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani responded saying: "The doors of Iran are open. A Saudi-Iranian dialogue can solve many of the region's security and political problems." In a further hopeful development, Saudi Arabia was reported to be considering a partial ceasefire in Yemen. Earlier, the Houthis declared a unilateral halt to the fighting. Larijani said Iran was advising the Houthis to accept whatever ceasefire was on offer. At the same time, Iraq suggested that it had established a backchannel between Riyadh and Tehran. "The Saudis have conditions before the negotiations process starts and the same with Iranians. We have liaised these conditions to each side. It is not an easy task to get together two opposite sides in terms of their ideology, sect and their alliances in the region," said Abbas al-Hasnawi, an official in the office of Iraqi prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi. "Saudi Arabia’s conditions are that Iran minimises its role in Yemen and Syria and stop supporting armed groups such as the Houthis. It also asks the Syrian regime to solve its problems with the Syrian opposition groups, and to write a constitution for Syria with all parties agreeing on it," the official said. "If there will be a potential deal in the region that includes Yemen, Syria and Iraq, the Americans have no problem with that," Hasnawi added. While there is every reason to be sceptical despite the noise that Saudi Arabia and Iran are anywhere near resolving their differences, talk of dialogue and calls for a Yemen ceasefire suggest that Iran’s strategy of strategic escalation may be producing results. Iran moved earlier this year away from its initial strategic patience response to the US withdrawal from the 2015 international agreement curbing the Islamic republic’s nuclear program to a strategy of gradual escalation. Escalation tactics include a step-by-step breaching of the agreement and a more aggressive asymmetric military posture involving the seizing of a British vessel that was released last week, alleged attacks on tankers off the coast of the UAE, and allegedly the attacks on the Saudi oil facilities. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Can Saudi Arabia and Iran get along?

US President Donald Trump&nbsp;is known to be a fan of fast food, but the fare at one of his hotels is more refined -&nbsp;the sushi restaurant at the Trump International Hotel in Washington has won a coveted Michelin Star.

The 2020 Michelin Guide to Washington, released on Tuesday, awarded Sushi Nakazawa one star, meaning editors believe the restaurant is "worth a stop."

According to the guide, "this intimate and elegant restaurant offers a laser focus on quality, seasonality and technique."

Chef Daisuke Nakazawa offers a 20-course meal and an Edomae sushi-style tasting menu, according to the restaurant's website, which says reservations must be made 30 days in advance.

Sushi Nakazawa has a controversial location as Trump has been accused of using his presidency to make money by promoting the hotel, just blocks from the White House, to visiting foreign delegations.

Jose Andres, a Spanish chef who runs a US dining empire, declined to open an outlet at the hotel after then-candidate Trump made disparaging comments about immigrants during the 2016 election.

Michelin's new Washington guide, its fourth edition in the US capital, bestowed 22 stars on 18 different restaurants, including a repeat of a prestigious three stars for the Inn at Little Washington, run by chef Patrick O'Connell.

"Our inspectors are especially impressed by the range and diversity of cuisine in Washington, DC, which reflects Washington's culture as a global crossroads for governments and travellers," Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, said in a statement.

US President Donald Trump is known to be a fan of fast food, but the fare at one of his hotels is more refined - the sushi restaurant at the Trump International Hotel in Washington has won a coveted Michelin Star.

US President Donald Trump is known to be a fan of fast food, but the fare at one of his hotels is more refined - the sushi restaurant at the Trump International Hotel in Washington has won a coveted Michelin Star. The 2020 Michelin Guide to Washington, released on Tuesday, awarded Sushi Nakazawa one star, meaning editors believe the restaurant is "worth a stop." According to the guide, "this intimate and elegant restaurant offers a laser focus on quality, seasonality and technique." Chef Daisuke Nakazawa offers a 20-course meal and an Edomae sushi-style tasting menu, according to the restaurant's website, which says reservations must be made 30 days in advance. Sushi Nakazawa has a controversial location as Trump has been accused of using his presidency to make money by promoting the hotel, just blocks from the White House, to visiting foreign delegations. Jose Andres, a Spanish chef who runs a US dining empire, declined to open an outlet at the hotel after then-candidate Trump made disparaging comments about immigrants during the 2016 election. Michelin's new Washington guide, its fourth edition in the US capital, bestowed 22 stars on 18 different restaurants, including a repeat of a prestigious three stars for the Inn at Little Washington, run by chef Patrick O'Connell. "Our inspectors are especially impressed by the range and diversity of cuisine in Washington, DC, which reflects Washington's culture as a global crossroads for governments and travellers," Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, said in a statement.

Trump Hotel's sushi restaurant wins Michelin Star

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Is US resuming talks with Taliban?

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New York court blocks state ban on flavored e-cigarettes

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