The man representing Venezuelan self-proclaimed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelas-guaido-says-intelligence-agents-seize-his-chief-of-staff-204685">acting president Juan Guaido</a> in the United States is urging Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to convince his European Union partners to impose tougher sanctions on incumbent <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/maduro-creates-military-unit-to-protect-public-service-installations-203677">Nicolas Maduro</a>.

"It seems to me, (that) what Maduro's government has to understand is that the pressure is just beginning and it is the moment to increase it," Carlos Vecchio said in an interview with EFE.

The EU should take steps to ensure that Maduro's allies cannot use European financial institutions to hide the money they are "stealing" from oil-rich Venezuela, Vecchio said.

Spain, he said, should lead that effort because the Iberian nation has traditionally served as a link between Latin America and Europe, which gives Madrid moral authority to argue for a more punitive stance toward Maduro by the EU, 24 of whose 28 member-states have recognized Guaido.

"My appeal is to Pedro Sanchez for him, as the head of government in Spain ... to push inside the framework of the EU for the sanctions that cut off the Maduro regime and which will force him to find a way out of the crisis," Vecchio said.

Sanchez formally recognized Guaido as Venezuela's acting president on Feb. 4 and advocated the scheduling of "competitive free and fair elections" as soon as possible.

At the same time, Spain has taken part in the International Contact Group for Venezuela, an EU-led initiative comprising Latin American and European countries with a mission "to help create the conditions for a political process that would lead to free and fair presidential elections."

Asked about that EU bid to resolve the crisis, Vecchio was dismissive.

"My message to the contact group is that there is not much to discuss, only when Maduro leaves power," Guaido's envoy said.

Even so, Vecchio thinks that Spain can play an "important role" by providing a haven for Venezuelan officials who want to abandon the Maduro administration, a possibility discussed by the Spanish and US governments.

"I believe that the regime is collapsing, everyone knows that Maduro is the past. Maduro is not going anywhere and many people are negotiating secretly because they know he is going to fall at any moment and everyone is trying to save himself," Vecchio said.

A top official of Guaido's Popular Will party, Vecchio has been living in self-imposed exile in Florida for more than four years. He fled Venezuela to avoid arrest on charges of fomenting violent protests in 2014.

The US government has accredited Vecchio as Venezuela's diplomatic representative.

The man representing Venezuelan self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido in the United States is urging Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to convince his European Union partners to impose tougher sanctions on incumbent Nicolas Maduro.

The man representing Venezuelan self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido in the United States is urging Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to convince his European Union partners to impose tougher sanctions on incumbent Nicolas Maduro. "It seems to me, (that) what Maduro's government has to understand is that the pressure is just beginning and it is the moment to increase it," Carlos Vecchio said in an interview with EFE. The EU should take steps to ensure that Maduro's allies cannot use European financial institutions to hide the money they are "stealing" from oil-rich Venezuela, Vecchio said. Spain, he said, should lead that effort because the Iberian nation has traditionally served as a link between Latin America and Europe, which gives Madrid moral authority to argue for a more punitive stance toward Maduro by the EU, 24 of whose 28 member-states have recognized Guaido. "My appeal is to Pedro Sanchez for him, as the head of government in Spain ... to push inside the framework of the EU for the sanctions that cut off the Maduro regime and which will force him to find a way out of the crisis," Vecchio said. Sanchez formally recognized Guaido as Venezuela's acting president on Feb. 4 and advocated the scheduling of "competitive free and fair elections" as soon as possible. At the same time, Spain has taken part in the International Contact Group for Venezuela, an EU-led initiative comprising Latin American and European countries with a mission "to help create the conditions for a political process that would lead to free and fair presidential elections." Asked about that EU bid to resolve the crisis, Vecchio was dismissive. "My message to the contact group is that there is not much to discuss, only when Maduro leaves power," Guaido's envoy said. Even so, Vecchio thinks that Spain can play an "important role" by providing a haven for Venezuelan officials who want to abandon the Maduro administration, a possibility discussed by the Spanish and US governments. "I believe that the regime is collapsing, everyone knows that Maduro is the past. Maduro is not going anywhere and many people are negotiating secretly because they know he is going to fall at any moment and everyone is trying to save himself," Vecchio said. A top official of Guaido's Popular Will party, Vecchio has been living in self-imposed exile in Florida for more than four years. He fled Venezuela to avoid arrest on charges of fomenting violent protests in 2014. The US government has accredited Vecchio as Venezuela's diplomatic representative.

Venezuela: Guaido envoy asks Spain to press for tougher EU sanctions on Maduro

The United States said Thursday it had sent a team to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-1000-feared-dead-in-mozambique-storm-204202">cyclone-hit Mozambique</a> to provide safe drinking water and other necessities after the region's biggest storm in decades.

Aimee Lauer, who is heading the response for the US Agency for International Development, said that an initially light 15-member team was en route to Mozambique with a potential expansion planned once the scope of the disaster becomes clear.

The group will provide chlorine tabs for safe water and hygiene kits to help stem the spread of water-borne diseases after Cyclone Idai smashed into the coast of Mozambique, she said.

"Obviously when you have that much water, access to drinking water for families is a significant necessity," she told reporters.

"That is not something that will be resolved overnight but in the coming weeks, hopefully, and months, as the water recedes and the infrastructure -- water sanitation capacity -- comes back online, we should see that shift," she said.

USAID said it was providing $700,000 in assistance -- $200,000 to respond to Cyclone Idai and the rest to cope with flooding earlier this month in Mozambique as well Malawi and Zimbabwe.

World Vision, a US-based Christian charity, said it has provided aid across all three countries including mosquito nets and chlorine to 80,000 people in Malawi.

The scope of the tragedy is massive with officials estimating that 1.7 million people have been affected, with the confirmed death toll nearing 400.

The United Nations has launched an appeal for assistance but said it did not yet have enough information to give an accurate estimate of the need.

The United States said Thursday it had sent a team to cyclone-hit Mozambique to provide safe drinking water and other necessities after the region's biggest storm in decades.

The United States said Thursday it had sent a team to cyclone-hit Mozambique to provide safe drinking water and other necessities after the region's biggest storm in decades. Aimee Lauer, who is heading the response for the US Agency for International Development, said that an initially light 15-member team was en route to Mozambique with a potential expansion planned once the scope of the disaster becomes clear. The group will provide chlorine tabs for safe water and hygiene kits to help stem the spread of water-borne diseases after Cyclone Idai smashed into the coast of Mozambique, she said. "Obviously when you have that much water, access to drinking water for families is a significant necessity," she told reporters. "That is not something that will be resolved overnight but in the coming weeks, hopefully, and months, as the water recedes and the infrastructure -- water sanitation capacity -- comes back online, we should see that shift," she said. USAID said it was providing $700,000 in assistance -- $200,000 to respond to Cyclone Idai and the rest to cope with flooding earlier this month in Mozambique as well Malawi and Zimbabwe. World Vision, a US-based Christian charity, said it has provided aid across all three countries including mosquito nets and chlorine to 80,000 people in Malawi. The scope of the tragedy is massive with officials estimating that 1.7 million people have been affected, with the confirmed death toll nearing 400. The United Nations has launched an appeal for assistance but said it did not yet have enough information to give an accurate estimate of the need.

US team seeks to provide water, hygiene in cyclone-hit Mozambique

The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on two Chinese shipping companies it says helped <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-considering-to-suspend-nuclear-talks-with-us-report-203425">North Korea evade US</a> and international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, the first such steps since <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-time-for-us-to-recognize-israeli-sovereignty-over-golan-heights-204736">US President Donald Trump</a> and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/some-time-may-pass-before-a-third-north-korea-summit-bolton-202420">summit collapsed last month</a>.

The US Treasury Department also issued an updated advisory that listed 67 vessels that it said had engaged in illicit transfers of refined petroleum with North Korean tankers or were believed to have exported North Korean coal.

The department identified the newly sanctioned firms as Dalian Haibo International Freight Co Ltd and Liaoning Danxing International Forwarding Co Ltd, both based in China.

The move prohibits US dealings with the designated companies and freezes any assets they have in the United States.

Washington announced the measures three weeks after a second meeting between Trump and Kim broke down over conflicting demands by North Korea for relief from sanctions and from the US side for North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.

The United States has led international efforts to press North Korea through sanctions to give up its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

"The United States and our like-minded partners remain committed to achieving the final, fully verified denuclearisation of North Korea and believe that the full implementation of North Korea-related UN Security Council resolutions is crucial to a successful outcome," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

"Treasury will continue to enforce our sanctions, and we are making it explicitly clear that shipping companies employing deceptive tactics to mask illicit trade with North Korea expose themselves to great risk.”

The latest sanctions showed there was some “leakage” in North Korea sanctions enforcement by China, but Beijing was mostly abiding by UN resolutions, a senior US official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official said that financial as well as shipping companies risked US action if they were found to be in violation of sanctions.

The official insisted, however, that Thursday's announcement was meant to maintain sanctions enforcement on North Korea rather than intensify the pressure.

While declining to say whether Washington was trying to send a post-summit message to Pyongyang, the official said Trump "has made clear that the door is wide open to continuing the dialogue with North Korea."

LIMBO

US-North Korean engagement has appeared to be in limbo since the February 27-28 summit in Hanoi, despite US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying on March 4 he was hopeful he could send a team to North Korea "in the next couple of weeks."

Washington has said it aims to re-engage with Kim, but North Korea has warned it is considering suspending talks and may rethink a freeze on missile and nuclear tests in place since 2017 unless Washington makes concessions.

On Monday, two senior US senators called for the Trump administration to correct a slowing pace of American sanctions designations on North Korea, saying there had been a marked decline in such actions during the past year of US diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang.

They pointed to a 2019 UN report that found that North Korea continued to defy UN sanctions with an increase in smuggling of petroleum products and coal and violation of bans on arms sales.

The Treasury statement said Dalian Haibo was targeted for dealings with Paeksol Trading Corp, a company previously designated by US sanctions on North Korea.

It said Dalian Haibo shipped cargo from Dalian, China, to Paeksol in Nampo, North Korea, in early 2018 aboard North Korean-flagged vessels.

The statement said Liaoning Danxing had "routinely used deceptive practices" to enable the work of North Korean procurement officials based in the European Union.

The Treasury statement said evasion tactics employed by North Korea included disabling or manipulating automated identification systems, physically altering vessels, transferring cargoes between ships and falsifying cargo documentation.

It said ports visited by vessels involved in ship-to-ship transfers included those in Taiwan, China, Russia and South Korea.

The Treasury Department said that in 2018, North Korean ports received at least 263 tanker deliveries of refined petroleum via UN-prohibited ship-to-ship transfers.

It said that if the tankers were fully laden, North Korea would have imported 3.78 million barrels - more than 7-1/2 times the 500,000 barrels a year allowed under a UN resolution.

The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on two Chinese shipping companies it says helped North Korea evade US and international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, the first such steps since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's summit collapsed last month.

The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on two Chinese shipping companies it says helped North Korea evade US and international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, the first such steps since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's summit collapsed last month. The US Treasury Department also issued an updated advisory that listed 67 vessels that it said had engaged in illicit transfers of refined petroleum with North Korean tankers or were believed to have exported North Korean coal. The department identified the newly sanctioned firms as Dalian Haibo International Freight Co Ltd and Liaoning Danxing International Forwarding Co Ltd, both based in China. The move prohibits US dealings with the designated companies and freezes any assets they have in the United States. Washington announced the measures three weeks after a second meeting between Trump and Kim broke down over conflicting demands by North Korea for relief from sanctions and from the US side for North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. The United States has led international efforts to press North Korea through sanctions to give up its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. "The United States and our like-minded partners remain committed to achieving the final, fully verified denuclearisation of North Korea and believe that the full implementation of North Korea-related UN Security Council resolutions is crucial to a successful outcome," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. "Treasury will continue to enforce our sanctions, and we are making it explicitly clear that shipping companies employing deceptive tactics to mask illicit trade with North Korea expose themselves to great risk.” The latest sanctions showed there was some “leakage” in North Korea sanctions enforcement by China, but Beijing was mostly abiding by UN resolutions, a senior US official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official said that financial as well as shipping companies risked US action if they were found to be in violation of sanctions. The official insisted, however, that Thursday's announcement was meant to maintain sanctions enforcement on North Korea rather than intensify the pressure. While declining to say whether Washington was trying to send a post-summit message to Pyongyang, the official said Trump "has made clear that the door is wide open to continuing the dialogue with North Korea." LIMBO US-North Korean engagement has appeared to be in limbo since the February 27-28 summit in Hanoi, despite US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying on March 4 he was hopeful he could send a team to North Korea "in the next couple of weeks." Washington has said it aims to re-engage with Kim, but North Korea has warned it is considering suspending talks and may rethink a freeze on missile and nuclear tests in place since 2017 unless Washington makes concessions. On Monday, two senior US senators called for the Trump administration to correct a slowing pace of American sanctions designations on North Korea, saying there had been a marked decline in such actions during the past year of US diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang. They pointed to a 2019 UN report that found that North Korea continued to defy UN sanctions with an increase in smuggling of petroleum products and coal and violation of bans on arms sales. The Treasury statement said Dalian Haibo was targeted for dealings with Paeksol Trading Corp, a company previously designated by US sanctions on North Korea. It said Dalian Haibo shipped cargo from Dalian, China, to Paeksol in Nampo, North Korea, in early 2018 aboard North Korean-flagged vessels. The statement said Liaoning Danxing had "routinely used deceptive practices" to enable the work of North Korean procurement officials based in the European Union. The Treasury statement said evasion tactics employed by North Korea included disabling or manipulating automated identification systems, physically altering vessels, transferring cargoes between ships and falsifying cargo documentation. It said ports visited by vessels involved in ship-to-ship transfers included those in Taiwan, China, Russia and South Korea. The Treasury Department said that in 2018, North Korean ports received at least 263 tanker deliveries of refined petroleum via UN-prohibited ship-to-ship transfers. It said that if the tankers were fully laden, North Korea would have imported 3.78 million barrels - more than 7-1/2 times the 500,000 barrels a year allowed under a UN resolution.

US announces first new North Korea sanctions since failed summit

Damascus condemned on Friday US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's statement that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-time-for-us-to-recognize-israeli-sovereignty-over-golan-heights-204736">it was time to recognise Israeli sovereignty</a> over the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-is-the-significance-of-golan-heights-204773">Golan Heights</a>, vowing Syria would recover the area using "all available means".

Syria's allies Russia and Iran also upbraided Trump for the comment he made on Thursday, which marks a dramatic shift in US&nbsp;policy over the status of a disputed area that was captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed in 1981 - a move not recognized internationally.

Syrian state news agency cited a foreign ministry source on Friday as saying Trump's statement showed "the blind bias of the United States" towards Israel.

It did not change "the reality that the Golan was and will remain Syrian, Arab," the source said.

"The Syrian nation is more determined to liberate this precious piece of Syrian national land through all available means," the source said, adding that Trump's statement was "irresponsible" and showed "contempt" for international law.

Iran said the statement was illegal and unacceptable, and Russia said a change in the status of the Golan Heights would be a direct violation of UN&nbsp;resolutions.

"After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel's Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability!" Trump wrote on Twitter on Thursday.

Both Iran and Russia have deployed forces into Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian conflict, with Iran sending both its own forces and also backing regional Shi'ite militias such as Lebanon's Hezbollah that have helped Damascus.

"This illegal and unacceptable recognition does not change the fact that it belongs to Syria," an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman was cited as saying by state TV.

Netanyahu has pressed the United States to recognize its claim and raised that possibility in his first White House meeting with Trump in February 2017. Trump's statement has given a boost to Netanyahu in the middle of his re-election campaign.

Damascus condemned on Friday US President Donald Trump's statement that it was time to recognise Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, vowing Syria would recover the area using "all available means".

Damascus condemned on Friday US President Donald Trump's statement that it was time to recognise Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, vowing Syria would recover the area using "all available means". Syria's allies Russia and Iran also upbraided Trump for the comment he made on Thursday, which marks a dramatic shift in US policy over the status of a disputed area that was captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed in 1981 - a move not recognized internationally. Syrian state news agency cited a foreign ministry source on Friday as saying Trump's statement showed "the blind bias of the United States" towards Israel. It did not change "the reality that the Golan was and will remain Syrian, Arab," the source said. "The Syrian nation is more determined to liberate this precious piece of Syrian national land through all available means," the source said, adding that Trump's statement was "irresponsible" and showed "contempt" for international law. Iran said the statement was illegal and unacceptable, and Russia said a change in the status of the Golan Heights would be a direct violation of UN resolutions. "After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel's Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability!" Trump wrote on Twitter on Thursday. Both Iran and Russia have deployed forces into Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian conflict, with Iran sending both its own forces and also backing regional Shi'ite militias such as Lebanon's Hezbollah that have helped Damascus. "This illegal and unacceptable recognition does not change the fact that it belongs to Syria," an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman was cited as saying by state TV. Netanyahu has pressed the United States to recognize its claim and raised that possibility in his first White House meeting with Trump in February 2017. Trump's statement has given a boost to Netanyahu in the middle of his re-election campaign.

Syria slams Trump, vows to recover Israeli-occupied Golan

Investment of $1 Million in US required for EB-5 program

US: Need sustained action from Pakistan against the perpetrators of terrorism

In the fallout from a feud over US-Taliban peace talks, a senior US&nbsp;diplomat has told Afghan President Ashraf Ghani that US&nbsp;officials will no longer deal with his national security adviser, four knowledgeable sources said on Monday.

The decision to end US&nbsp;contacts with Hamdullah Mohib will almost certainly raise tensions between the allies over Kabul's exclusion from negotiations that have mainly focussed on a US&nbsp;troop pullout and how the Taliban would stop militant groups from using Afghanistan as a springboard for attacks.

Mohib had launched a blistering public attack last Thursday on the chief US&nbsp;negotiator, Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad.

The following day, US&nbsp;Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale told Ghani by phone that Mohib would no longer be received in Washington and US&nbsp;civilian and military officials would not do business with him, the sources said.

"Hale called Ghani and told him that Mohib is no longer welcome in DC&nbsp;The US&nbsp;will not deal with him in Kabul or in DC&nbsp;any more," said a former senior Afghan official, who like the other sources requested anonymity because of the issue's sensitivity.

Kabul fears that Washington is intent on finalising a US&nbsp;troop pullout to fulfil a vow by President Donald Trump, undermining its ability to reach a political pact with the

Taliban that preserves gains, such as women's education, won since the 2001 US&nbsp;invasion ended the militants'&nbsp;harsh version of Islamic rule.

The former Afghan official said he saw the move as an effort to compel Ghani to "oust" Mohib, who became the president's national security adviser after serving as his envoy to Washington.&nbsp;

A second source, a congressional aide, agreed that pressuring Ghani to end contacts with Mohib was "one way of looking at this" because the State Department provides funding for the Afghan president's national security council staff.

The State Department declined to comment. The Afghan embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Simmering tensions over the Afghan government's exclusion from the US-Taliban talks in Doha, Qatar, erupted with Mohib's attack on Khalilzad, an Afghan-born US&nbsp;diplomat, at a news conference in Washington.

He accused Khalilzad of giving the Taliban legitimacy while "delegitimising the Afghan government." He added that Khalilzad perhaps was trying to create "a caretaker government of which he would then become viceroy."

Viceroy was the title of the colonial administrator of British-ruled India.

The State Department responded with a strong statement quoting Hale as telling Mohib later Thursday that his comments "only serve to hinder the bilateral relationship and the peace process."

The latest round of peace talks ended on March 11 after 16 days. The sides reported progress, but no accord on withdrawal of US-led international forces and the Taliban's counter-extremist assurances.

US&nbsp;negotiators also are pressing the insurgents to accept a ceasefire and talks with Afghan society representatives, including government officials. The Taliban have refused to talk to Ghani's government, which they deride as a US&nbsp;puppet.

In an interview on Monday with Reuters, Afghanistan's ambassador to Qatar, Faizullah Kakar, said that another country should not be negotiating on the use of Afghan territory by militants.

"It is the government that should be deciding, whoever the government is, that the territory is used or not used against another country," he said.&nbsp;

In the fallout from a feud over US-Taliban peace talks, a senior US diplomat has told Afghan President Ashraf Ghani that US officials will no longer deal with his national security adviser, four knowledgeable sources said on Monday.

In the fallout from a feud over US-Taliban peace talks, a senior US diplomat has told Afghan President Ashraf Ghani that US officials will no longer deal with his national security adviser, four knowledgeable sources said on Monday. The decision to end US contacts with Hamdullah Mohib will almost certainly raise tensions between the allies over Kabul's exclusion from negotiations that have mainly focussed on a US troop pullout and how the Taliban would stop militant groups from using Afghanistan as a springboard for attacks. Mohib had launched a blistering public attack last Thursday on the chief US negotiator, Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad. The following day, US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale told Ghani by phone that Mohib would no longer be received in Washington and US civilian and military officials would not do business with him, the sources said. "Hale called Ghani and told him that Mohib is no longer welcome in DC The US will not deal with him in Kabul or in DC any more," said a former senior Afghan official, who like the other sources requested anonymity because of the issue's sensitivity. Kabul fears that Washington is intent on finalising a US troop pullout to fulfil a vow by President Donald Trump, undermining its ability to reach a political pact with the Taliban that preserves gains, such as women's education, won since the 2001 US invasion ended the militants' harsh version of Islamic rule. The former Afghan official said he saw the move as an effort to compel Ghani to "oust" Mohib, who became the president's national security adviser after serving as his envoy to Washington. A second source, a congressional aide, agreed that pressuring Ghani to end contacts with Mohib was "one way of looking at this" because the State Department provides funding for the Afghan president's national security council staff. The State Department declined to comment. The Afghan embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Simmering tensions over the Afghan government's exclusion from the US-Taliban talks in Doha, Qatar, erupted with Mohib's attack on Khalilzad, an Afghan-born US diplomat, at a news conference in Washington. He accused Khalilzad of giving the Taliban legitimacy while "delegitimising the Afghan government." He added that Khalilzad perhaps was trying to create "a caretaker government of which he would then become viceroy." Viceroy was the title of the colonial administrator of British-ruled India. The State Department responded with a strong statement quoting Hale as telling Mohib later Thursday that his comments "only serve to hinder the bilateral relationship and the peace process." The latest round of peace talks ended on March 11 after 16 days. The sides reported progress, but no accord on withdrawal of US-led international forces and the Taliban's counter-extremist assurances. US negotiators also are pressing the insurgents to accept a ceasefire and talks with Afghan society representatives, including government officials. The Taliban have refused to talk to Ghani's government, which they deride as a US puppet. In an interview on Monday with Reuters, Afghanistan's ambassador to Qatar, Faizullah Kakar, said that another country should not be negotiating on the use of Afghan territory by militants. "It is the government that should be deciding, whoever the government is, that the territory is used or not used against another country," he said.

US freezes out top Afghan official in peace talks feud: Report

The United States on Sunday criticised Pakistan for using discriminatory policies against Ahmadiyya community and other religious minorities including Sikhs, Christians, and Shias.

A country report on human rights practices for 2018, released by the US Department of State, last week, says, "Courts routinely failed to protect the rights of religious minorities. Courts discriminatorily used laws prohibiting blasphemy against Shia, Christians, Ahmadis, and members of other religious minority groups."

"Lower courts often did not require adequate evidence in blasphemy cases, and some convicted persons spent years in jail before higher courts eventually overturned their convictions or ordered their release," adds the report.

The report stated that Pakistan had excluded the Ahmadiyya community from participating in the 25th general elections of the country, held in July last year, by creating a separate voter list for the minority community.

"The government requires voters to indicate their religion when registering to vote and requires Ahmadis to declare themselves as non-Muslims. Ahmadis consider themselves Muslims, and many were unable to vote because they did not comply," the report says.

"Authorities generally prohibited Ahmadis, a religious minority, from holding conferences or gatherings. Ahmadis cited the closure by Sialkot authorities of an Ahmadiyya mosque on May 14 and mob attacks on two other mosques in Sialkot and Faisalabad as evidence of the ongoing severe conditions for the community," the State Department adds in its reports.

Rabwah, Pakistan's Punjab province, is one of the few places in Pakistan which has the highest concentration of Ahmadis in the country.

The Ahmadiyya or the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at is an Islamic religious movement founded in Punjab, in the then British India, near the end of the 19th century. However, Pakistan's Constitution has declared the community as "non-Muslims."

The United States on Sunday criticised Pakistan for using discriminatory policies against Ahmadiyya community and other religious minorities including Sikhs, Christians, and Shias.

The United States on Sunday criticised Pakistan for using discriminatory policies against Ahmadiyya community and other religious minorities including Sikhs, Christians, and Shias. A country report on human rights practices for 2018, released by the US Department of State, last week, says, "Courts routinely failed to protect the rights of religious minorities. Courts discriminatorily used laws prohibiting blasphemy against Shia, Christians, Ahmadis, and members of other religious minority groups." "Lower courts often did not require adequate evidence in blasphemy cases, and some convicted persons spent years in jail before higher courts eventually overturned their convictions or ordered their release," adds the report. The report stated that Pakistan had excluded the Ahmadiyya community from participating in the 25th general elections of the country, held in July last year, by creating a separate voter list for the minority community. "The government requires voters to indicate their religion when registering to vote and requires Ahmadis to declare themselves as non-Muslims. Ahmadis consider themselves Muslims, and many were unable to vote because they did not comply," the report says. "Authorities generally prohibited Ahmadis, a religious minority, from holding conferences or gatherings. Ahmadis cited the closure by Sialkot authorities of an Ahmadiyya mosque on May 14 and mob attacks on two other mosques in Sialkot and Faisalabad as evidence of the ongoing severe conditions for the community," the State Department adds in its reports. Rabwah, Pakistan's Punjab province, is one of the few places in Pakistan which has the highest concentration of Ahmadis in the country. The Ahmadiyya or the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at is an Islamic religious movement founded in Punjab, in the then British India, near the end of the 19th century. However, Pakistan's Constitution has declared the community as "non-Muslims."

US criticises Pakistan for discriminatory policies against minorities

Democrats led by an Arab-American lawmaker attacked President Donald Trump's "silence" on the rise of white supremacy Sunday as a reaction to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-mosque-attacker-to-represent-himself-in-court-reports-203964">New Zealand mosque massacre</a> spilled into a heated US debate over religious and racial bigotry.

With controversy swirling over Trump's tepid response to the massacre, White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney was forced to deny any affinity between the president's anti-immigration rhetoric and the accused Christchurch shooter's extremist views.

"The president is not a white supremacist," Mulvaney said in an interview with Fox News Sunday.

But on a separate Sunday talk show, Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat from Detroit and one of the first two Muslim women ever elected to the US Congress, charged that the president's failure to speak out forcefully against white supremacy was making the country less safe.

"Trump is the most powerful man in the world right now," she said on CNN's "State of the Union." "He, from the Oval Office, from that power position, can be able to send a signal very loud and clear."

"We've done this in the past against foreign terrorism. We need to do it on domestic terrorism, against white supremacy that's growing every single day that we stay silent."&nbsp;

After the attack on two mosques in Christchurch on Friday, which left 50 dead, Trump expressed sympathy and solidarity with the victims and people of New Zealand.

But in comments to reporters in the Oval Office, he dismissed concerns that white nationalism represented a growing danger around the world.

"I don't really. I think it's a small group of people that have very, very serious problems, I guess," Trump said.

Trump 'a symbol'

The alleged gunman -- identified as an Australian white nationalist -- live-streamed the assault on social media and published a manifesto filled with racist conspiracy theories.

He also referred to Trump as "a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose."

At the grassroots level, the New Zealand attacks triggered a surge of solidarity from America's Jewish and Christian communities, with hundreds of people taking part in interfaith vigils from Cincinnati to Philadelphia, Pasadena to New York.

But it also resounded in a US political scene already supercharged by controversy over remarks by Ilhan Omar -- the only other Muslim woman in Congress along with Tlaib -- that supporters of Israel and many fellow Democrats perceived as anti-Semitic.

The debate over bigotry quickly shifted to Trump after the atrocity in New Zealand.

"Time and time again, this president has embraced and emboldened white supremacists -- and instead of condemning racist terrorists, he covers for them. This isn't normal or acceptable," tweeted Kirsten Gillibrand, who formally entered the Democratic race for the White House Sunday.

Mulvaney scoffed at the idea that Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies had anything to do with the New Zealand attack.

"Let's take what happened in New Zealand yesterday for what it is -- a terrible evil, tragic act and figure out why those things are becoming more prevalent in the world. Is it Donald Trump? Absolutely not.

Charlottesville

At key moments of his presidency, however, Trump has soft-pedalled the danger of white nationalism, most famously when he found blame "on both sides" after a "Unite the Right" rally turned violent in Charlottesville, Virginia in August 2017.

In that case, a Neo-Nazi sympathizer drove into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing a young woman and injuring 19.

Former vice president Joe Biden, a possible Trump challenger in 2020, evoked Trump's response to Charlottesville in a campaign-style speech in Delaware Saturday.

"Our children were listening. Our silence is complicity. With these words, the president of the United States assigned a moral equivalence between those spreading hate and those with the courage to stand against it," he said.

"And in that moment, I knew the threat to this nation was unlike any I had seen in my lifetime."

Trump has avoided the subject of white nationalism on Twitter, where he instead fired off a string of messages in support of Jeanine Pirro, a Fox News host reprimanded by the network for remarks widely criticized as Islamophobic.

A former federal judge, Pirro had questioned whether the Muslim faith of Ilhan Omar, the Democrat accused of anti-Semitism, prevented her from supporting the US Constitution.

Pirro's show, "Justice with Judge Jeanine" has been off the air since then.

"Bring back @JudgeJeanine Pirro. The Radical Left Democrats, working closely with their beloved partner, the Fake News Media, is using every trick in the book to SILENCE a majority of our Country," Trump tweeted.

Democrats led by an Arab-American lawmaker attacked President Donald Trump's "silence" on the rise of white supremacy Sunday as a reaction to the New Zealand mosque massacre spilled into a heated US debate over religious and racial bigotry.

Democrats led by an Arab-American lawmaker attacked President Donald Trump's "silence" on the rise of white supremacy Sunday as a reaction to the New Zealand mosque massacre spilled into a heated US debate over religious and racial bigotry. With controversy swirling over Trump's tepid response to the massacre, White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney was forced to deny any affinity between the president's anti-immigration rhetoric and the accused Christchurch shooter's extremist views. "The president is not a white supremacist," Mulvaney said in an interview with Fox News Sunday. But on a separate Sunday talk show, Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat from Detroit and one of the first two Muslim women ever elected to the US Congress, charged that the president's failure to speak out forcefully against white supremacy was making the country less safe. "Trump is the most powerful man in the world right now," she said on CNN's "State of the Union." "He, from the Oval Office, from that power position, can be able to send a signal very loud and clear." "We've done this in the past against foreign terrorism. We need to do it on domestic terrorism, against white supremacy that's growing every single day that we stay silent." After the attack on two mosques in Christchurch on Friday, which left 50 dead, Trump expressed sympathy and solidarity with the victims and people of New Zealand. But in comments to reporters in the Oval Office, he dismissed concerns that white nationalism represented a growing danger around the world. "I don't really. I think it's a small group of people that have very, very serious problems, I guess," Trump said. Trump 'a symbol' The alleged gunman -- identified as an Australian white nationalist -- live-streamed the assault on social media and published a manifesto filled with racist conspiracy theories. He also referred to Trump as "a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose." At the grassroots level, the New Zealand attacks triggered a surge of solidarity from America's Jewish and Christian communities, with hundreds of people taking part in interfaith vigils from Cincinnati to Philadelphia, Pasadena to New York. But it also resounded in a US political scene already supercharged by controversy over remarks by Ilhan Omar -- the only other Muslim woman in Congress along with Tlaib -- that supporters of Israel and many fellow Democrats perceived as anti-Semitic. The debate over bigotry quickly shifted to Trump after the atrocity in New Zealand. "Time and time again, this president has embraced and emboldened white supremacists -- and instead of condemning racist terrorists, he covers for them. This isn't normal or acceptable," tweeted Kirsten Gillibrand, who formally entered the Democratic race for the White House Sunday. Mulvaney scoffed at the idea that Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies had anything to do with the New Zealand attack. "Let's take what happened in New Zealand yesterday for what it is -- a terrible evil, tragic act and figure out why those things are becoming more prevalent in the world. Is it Donald Trump? Absolutely not. Charlottesville At key moments of his presidency, however, Trump has soft-pedalled the danger of white nationalism, most famously when he found blame "on both sides" after a "Unite the Right" rally turned violent in Charlottesville, Virginia in August 2017. In that case, a Neo-Nazi sympathizer drove into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing a young woman and injuring 19. Former vice president Joe Biden, a possible Trump challenger in 2020, evoked Trump's response to Charlottesville in a campaign-style speech in Delaware Saturday. "Our children were listening. Our silence is complicity. With these words, the president of the United States assigned a moral equivalence between those spreading hate and those with the courage to stand against it," he said. "And in that moment, I knew the threat to this nation was unlike any I had seen in my lifetime." Trump has avoided the subject of white nationalism on Twitter, where he instead fired off a string of messages in support of Jeanine Pirro, a Fox News host reprimanded by the network for remarks widely criticized as Islamophobic. A former federal judge, Pirro had questioned whether the Muslim faith of Ilhan Omar, the Democrat accused of anti-Semitism, prevented her from supporting the US Constitution. Pirro's show, "Justice with Judge Jeanine" has been off the air since then. "Bring back @JudgeJeanine Pirro. The Radical Left Democrats, working closely with their beloved partner, the Fake News Media, is using every trick in the book to SILENCE a majority of our Country," Trump tweeted.

Trump slammed for 'silence' on white supremacist threat

The United States strongly denied Sunday a report that it intended to leave almost 1,000 troops in Syria, adding plans for a residual force of around 200 troops had not changed.

The Wall Street Journal had reported Sunday that as talks with Turkey, US-backed Kurdish forces and European allies have failed to produce a deal on a "safe zone" in northeastern Syria, the US now intended to keep working with Kurdish fighters in the country.

It quoted US officials as saying the plan could see up to 1,000 US forces spread across the country.

"A claim reported this evening by a major US&nbsp;newspaper that the US&nbsp;military is developing plans to keep nearly 1,000 US&nbsp;troops in Syria is factually incorrect," General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a statement.

"There has been no change to the plan announced in February and we continue to implement the President's direction to draw down US&nbsp;forces to a residual presence."

But he added the US was continuing to "conduct detailed military planning with the Turkish General Staff to address Turkish security concerns along the Turkey-Syria border."&nbsp;

"Planning to date has been productive and we have an initial concept that will be refined in the coming days," he said.

"We are also conducting planning with other members of the Coalition who have indicated an intent to support the transition phase of operations into Syria."

President Donald Trump had abruptly announced in December the immediate and complete withdrawal of the 2,000 US troops deployed in northeastern Syria, declaring victory against the Islamic State group. The decision prompted his defence secretary Jim Mattis to quit.

Then, under pressure from Congress and the Pentagon, he agreed to leave a residual force of some 200 US troops, which he wants to be reinforced by allies in the anti-IS coalition.

An objective of the international force is to guarantee the security of its Syrian Kurd allies. Turkey, a NATO member, views the Kurdish combatants as terrorists, and the Europeans fear they would be vulnerable if Ankara launched an offensive.&nbsp;

The United States strongly denied Sunday a report that it intended to leave almost 1,000 troops in Syria, adding plans for a residual force of around 200 troops had not changed.

The United States strongly denied Sunday a report that it intended to leave almost 1,000 troops in Syria, adding plans for a residual force of around 200 troops had not changed. The Wall Street Journal had reported Sunday that as talks with Turkey, US-backed Kurdish forces and European allies have failed to produce a deal on a "safe zone" in northeastern Syria, the US now intended to keep working with Kurdish fighters in the country. It quoted US officials as saying the plan could see up to 1,000 US forces spread across the country. "A claim reported this evening by a major US newspaper that the US military is developing plans to keep nearly 1,000 US troops in Syria is factually incorrect," General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a statement. "There has been no change to the plan announced in February and we continue to implement the President's direction to draw down US forces to a residual presence." But he added the US was continuing to "conduct detailed military planning with the Turkish General Staff to address Turkish security concerns along the Turkey-Syria border." "Planning to date has been productive and we have an initial concept that will be refined in the coming days," he said. "We are also conducting planning with other members of the Coalition who have indicated an intent to support the transition phase of operations into Syria." President Donald Trump had abruptly announced in December the immediate and complete withdrawal of the 2,000 US troops deployed in northeastern Syria, declaring victory against the Islamic State group. The decision prompted his defence secretary Jim Mattis to quit. Then, under pressure from Congress and the Pentagon, he agreed to leave a residual force of some 200 US troops, which he wants to be reinforced by allies in the anti-IS coalition. An objective of the international force is to guarantee the security of its Syrian Kurd allies. Turkey, a NATO member, views the Kurdish combatants as terrorists, and the Europeans fear they would be vulnerable if Ankara launched an offensive.

US denies report it is leaving up to 1,000 troops in Syria

Brazilian President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-jair-bolsonaro-shocks-brazil-with-golden-shower-tweet-201630">Jair Bolsonaro</a> left for Washington on Sunday to meet with his US counterpart Donald Trump and cement a budding conservative-populist alliance that, in part, aims to ramp up pressure on Venezuela.

The far-right leader flew out of Brasilia early Sunday with six ministers, among them Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo, Economy Minister Paulo Guedes and Justice Minister Sergio Moro, Brazilian media reported.

It was Bolsonaro's first trip abroad for a bilateral meeting since taking office on January 1. He attended the Davos summit in Switzerland in January.

Bolsonaro, who will also meet in Washington with the head of the Organization of American States (OAS), is scheduled to return to Brazil on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Admirer of Trump

A Trump-Bolsonaro bond could see the leaders of the Americas' two largest democracies working in concert on a range of regional issues.

Most pressing is the crisis in Venezuela, where the US and Brazil — and dozens of other countries — have recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president with the goal of forcing President Nicolas Maduro from power.

The tough-talking Bolsonaro has long expressed his admiration for Trump. He echoes the US leader in spurning multilateral organizations and leftist politics, while promoting businesses over environmental concerns at home.

Their shared nationalist sentiment can be seen in another relationship: that of Bolsonaro's son Eduardo, who is a federal lawmaker, with Trump's former strategist Steve Bannon.

Eduardo Bolsonaro announced in early February that he was part of the Brussels-based group known as The Movement, which Bannon set up to promote far-right nationalistic values and tactics.

The older Bolsonaro announced on Saturday that one key result of his current trip would be the signing of an agreement under which the US might gain access to a satellite-launching base in Brazil near the Equator.

Eyes on Venezuela

But most eyes will be on developments surrounding Venezuela, which shares a border with Brazil.

Previous Brazilian administrations took a friends-to-all approach to neighbouring countries. But not Bolsonaro.&nbsp;

The 63-year-old former paratrooper is vehemently opposed to leftist currents, at home and abroad, and he shares Trump's hostility to the "dictator" Maduro, who took over after the death of socialist leader Hugo Chavez in 2013.

Trump has repeatedly insisted that "all options are on the table" with regards to Venezuela, a phrase understood to include military action.

But Bolsonaro, like other members of the mostly Latin American Lima Group, has ruled out military action in favour of a policy of tightening the economic and diplomatic noose around Maduro.

As well as a "private meeting" with Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Bolsonaro will sit down with OAS &nbsp;Secretary-General Luis Almagro, and participate in various forums to promote economic opportunities in Brazil.

The US is Brazil's second biggest trade partner after China.

After his arrival Sunday, Bolsonaro will dine at the residence of Brazilian ambassador Sergio Amaral with "opinion makers" including, according to press reports, Bannon and US-based Brazilian writer Olavo de Carvalho, considered Bolsonaro's ideological guru.

Bolsonaro will be staying in Blair House, the official US state residence opposite the White House used for visiting dignitaries.

After his return to Brazil, Bolsonaro is planning a trip to Chile and then, in late March, to Israel. He forged close ties with Israel's conservative leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when the latter attended Bolsonaro's inauguration.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro left for Washington on Sunday to meet with his US counterpart Donald Trump and cement a budding conservative-populist alliance that, in part, aims to ramp up pressure on Venezuela.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro left for Washington on Sunday to meet with his US counterpart Donald Trump and cement a budding conservative-populist alliance that, in part, aims to ramp up pressure on Venezuela. The far-right leader flew out of Brasilia early Sunday with six ministers, among them Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo, Economy Minister Paulo Guedes and Justice Minister Sergio Moro, Brazilian media reported. It was Bolsonaro's first trip abroad for a bilateral meeting since taking office on January 1. He attended the Davos summit in Switzerland in January. Bolsonaro, who will also meet in Washington with the head of the Organization of American States (OAS), is scheduled to return to Brazil on Tuesday. Admirer of Trump A Trump-Bolsonaro bond could see the leaders of the Americas' two largest democracies working in concert on a range of regional issues. Most pressing is the crisis in Venezuela, where the US and Brazil — and dozens of other countries — have recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president with the goal of forcing President Nicolas Maduro from power. The tough-talking Bolsonaro has long expressed his admiration for Trump. He echoes the US leader in spurning multilateral organizations and leftist politics, while promoting businesses over environmental concerns at home. Their shared nationalist sentiment can be seen in another relationship: that of Bolsonaro's son Eduardo, who is a federal lawmaker, with Trump's former strategist Steve Bannon. Eduardo Bolsonaro announced in early February that he was part of the Brussels-based group known as The Movement, which Bannon set up to promote far-right nationalistic values and tactics. The older Bolsonaro announced on Saturday that one key result of his current trip would be the signing of an agreement under which the US might gain access to a satellite-launching base in Brazil near the Equator. Eyes on Venezuela But most eyes will be on developments surrounding Venezuela, which shares a border with Brazil. Previous Brazilian administrations took a friends-to-all approach to neighbouring countries. But not Bolsonaro. The 63-year-old former paratrooper is vehemently opposed to leftist currents, at home and abroad, and he shares Trump's hostility to the "dictator" Maduro, who took over after the death of socialist leader Hugo Chavez in 2013. Trump has repeatedly insisted that "all options are on the table" with regards to Venezuela, a phrase understood to include military action. But Bolsonaro, like other members of the mostly Latin American Lima Group, has ruled out military action in favour of a policy of tightening the economic and diplomatic noose around Maduro. As well as a "private meeting" with Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Bolsonaro will sit down with OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro, and participate in various forums to promote economic opportunities in Brazil. The US is Brazil's second biggest trade partner after China. After his arrival Sunday, Bolsonaro will dine at the residence of Brazilian ambassador Sergio Amaral with "opinion makers" including, according to press reports, Bannon and US-based Brazilian writer Olavo de Carvalho, considered Bolsonaro's ideological guru. Bolsonaro will be staying in Blair House, the official US state residence opposite the White House used for visiting dignitaries. After his return to Brazil, Bolsonaro is planning a trip to Chile and then, in late March, to Israel. He forged close ties with Israel's conservative leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when the latter attended Bolsonaro's inauguration.

Brazil's Bolsonaro heads to US to cement alliance with Trump

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that the government would file a legal case in Iran against US officials who imposed sanctions on the country as a precursor to action in international courts.

Rouhani said in a speech broadcast live on state television that US sanctions had created difficulties including a weaker rial currency that has fed into higher inflation.

The United States reimposed sanctions on Tehran after US President Donald Trump chose last May to abandon Iran's 2015 nuclear accord, negotiated with five other world powers.

Rouhani said he had ordered the ministries of foreign affairs and justice "to file a legal case in Iranian courts against those in America who designed and imposed sanctions on Iran". "These sanctions are crime against humanity," he added.

If the Iranian court finds against the US officials, Iran will pursue the case in international courts of justice, the president said.

Iranian complaints about sanctions in the international courts have occasionally succeeded. In October, judges at the International Court Of Justice (ICJ) ordered the United States to ensure sanctions do not affect humanitarian aid or civil aviation safety, a small victory for Tehran.

"The Americans have only one goal: they want to come back to Iran and rule the nation again," Rouhani said, reiterating Tehran's view that US sanctions are aimed at overthrowing the government and ushering in one more aligned with US policies.

Rouhani said the government had managed to "put a brake on the fall of rial" but that balance has not yet returned to the foreign currency market.

The rial was trading at 131,500 per US dollar on Monday on the unofficial market, almost three times weaker than a year ago, but off record lows around 190,000 hit in late September.

Iranian central bank governor Abdolnaser Hemmati also accused Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other US officials on Monday of waging a "psychological war" to stir panic in the currency market.

Hemmati was quoted as saying by state media that "the central bank is in full control of the market".

The US sanctions permit trade in humanitarian goods such as food and pharmaceuticals but measures imposed on banks, and trade restrictions, could make such items more expensive as well as more difficult to pay for.

Trump said when he pulled out of the landmark 2015 deal that lifted international sanctions against Iran in exchange for restrictions on its atomic activities that it failed to rein in Iran's missile programme or curb its regional meddling.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that the government would file a legal case in Iran against US officials who imposed sanctions on the country as a precursor to action in international courts.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that the government would file a legal case in Iran against US officials who imposed sanctions on the country as a precursor to action in international courts. Rouhani said in a speech broadcast live on state television that US sanctions had created difficulties including a weaker rial currency that has fed into higher inflation. The United States reimposed sanctions on Tehran after US President Donald Trump chose last May to abandon Iran's 2015 nuclear accord, negotiated with five other world powers. Rouhani said he had ordered the ministries of foreign affairs and justice "to file a legal case in Iranian courts against those in America who designed and imposed sanctions on Iran". "These sanctions are crime against humanity," he added. If the Iranian court finds against the US officials, Iran will pursue the case in international courts of justice, the president said. Iranian complaints about sanctions in the international courts have occasionally succeeded. In October, judges at the International Court Of Justice (ICJ) ordered the United States to ensure sanctions do not affect humanitarian aid or civil aviation safety, a small victory for Tehran. "The Americans have only one goal: they want to come back to Iran and rule the nation again," Rouhani said, reiterating Tehran's view that US sanctions are aimed at overthrowing the government and ushering in one more aligned with US policies. Rouhani said the government had managed to "put a brake on the fall of rial" but that balance has not yet returned to the foreign currency market. The rial was trading at 131,500 per US dollar on Monday on the unofficial market, almost three times weaker than a year ago, but off record lows around 190,000 hit in late September. Iranian central bank governor Abdolnaser Hemmati also accused Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other US officials on Monday of waging a "psychological war" to stir panic in the currency market. Hemmati was quoted as saying by state media that "the central bank is in full control of the market". The US sanctions permit trade in humanitarian goods such as food and pharmaceuticals but measures imposed on banks, and trade restrictions, could make such items more expensive as well as more difficult to pay for. Trump said when he pulled out of the landmark 2015 deal that lifted international sanctions against Iran in exchange for restrictions on its atomic activities that it failed to rein in Iran's missile programme or curb its regional meddling.

Iran will file legal case against US for sanctions: Hassan Rouhani

Taxpayers in the US state of Louisiana got an unexpected windfall when a computer error issued their tax refunds a second time, local media reported on Saturday.

The state's Department of Revenue cautioned recipients of the wrongly-paid windfall: "Do not spend it." If they have, they must pay the money back in 30 days.

"An error in an electronic payment system caused 66,780 state individual income tax refunds issued on Tuesday, March 12 to be issued a second time on Wednesday, March 13," the department said on its website.

The duplicate refunds totalled more than $26 million, it said, adding that the state is working with financial institutions to recover the overpayments directly from recipients' bank accounts.

New procedures were put in place to prevent the error from happening again, the department said.

Taxpayers in the US state of Louisiana got an unexpected windfall when a computer error issued their tax refunds a second time, local media reported on Saturday.

Taxpayers in the US state of Louisiana got an unexpected windfall when a computer error issued their tax refunds a second time, local media reported on Saturday. The state's Department of Revenue cautioned recipients of the wrongly-paid windfall: "Do not spend it." If they have, they must pay the money back in 30 days. "An error in an electronic payment system caused 66,780 state individual income tax refunds issued on Tuesday, March 12 to be issued a second time on Wednesday, March 13," the department said on its website. The duplicate refunds totalled more than $26 million, it said, adding that the state is working with financial institutions to recover the overpayments directly from recipients' bank accounts. New procedures were put in place to prevent the error from happening again, the department said.

US taxpayers must return millions after mistaken refunds

A mall in Los Angeles in the United States was evacuated on Friday after the police responded to unconfirmed reports of a man seen with a gun at or near the shopping centre.

The shopping centre was evacuated shortly after 1 pm, but there was no evidence of any shooting, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

"If you are at the Century City Mall we ask that you remain calm and shelter in place until you receive instructions from the officers on scene," LAPD wrote on Twitter.

According to investigators, no injuries or casualties have been reported so far. Some people are locked inside stores inside the mall awaiting further orders from the police, local media reported.

Police are also investigating reports of a suspicious package inside the mall.

"Police responded to a radio call about a man with a gun at an unknown location inside the mall at 12:42 pm (local time)", LAPD Officer Jeff Lee said.

Police said that no evidence of shots fired have been found and are still searching for the suspect.

Other areas surrounding the mall have been placed on lockdown due to the incident as a precautionary measure.

"If you’re sheltering in place within the Century City Mall you can begin to calmly exit the location. We ask that you remain calm and follow instructions of the officers at scene. We have NO evidence of a shooting or any victims at this time," read another tweet by the LAPD.

The incident comes hours after mass shootings at two mosques took place in Christchurch, New Zealand, which killed 49 people and wounded 48 others.

A mall in Los Angeles in the United States was evacuated on Friday after the police responded to unconfirmed reports of a man seen with a gun at or near the shopping centre.

A mall in Los Angeles in the United States was evacuated on Friday after the police responded to unconfirmed reports of a man seen with a gun at or near the shopping centre. The shopping centre was evacuated shortly after 1 pm, but there was no evidence of any shooting, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). "If you are at the Century City Mall we ask that you remain calm and shelter in place until you receive instructions from the officers on scene," LAPD wrote on Twitter. According to investigators, no injuries or casualties have been reported so far. Some people are locked inside stores inside the mall awaiting further orders from the police, local media reported. Police are also investigating reports of a suspicious package inside the mall. "Police responded to a radio call about a man with a gun at an unknown location inside the mall at 12:42 pm (local time)", LAPD Officer Jeff Lee said. Police said that no evidence of shots fired have been found and are still searching for the suspect. Other areas surrounding the mall have been placed on lockdown due to the incident as a precautionary measure. "If you’re sheltering in place within the Century City Mall you can begin to calmly exit the location. We ask that you remain calm and follow instructions of the officers at scene. We have NO evidence of a shooting or any victims at this time," read another tweet by the LAPD. The incident comes hours after mass shootings at two mosques took place in Christchurch, New Zealand, which killed 49 people and wounded 48 others.

Los Angeles mall evacuated after police respond to reports of man with gun

The 2020 presidential election is still 20 months away, but one campaign battle is already raging: the fight for America's small-dollar contributions.

With all 12 major Democratic White House candidates shunning donations from corporations and political action committees, or PACs, they have turned their collective eye toward individual voters, who are showing increasing willingness to open their pocketbooks and play a larger role in the political process.

All signs point to an avalanche of personal contributions in the 2020 election cycle as individuals invest more of their own cash in candidates, as polls show voters are overwhelmingly fed up with dark money and corporate influence in politics.

Candidates are required to report their first-quarter donations to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) within the coming weeks, and the results are likely to show that while big money will still be at play in the election process, it just might be coming more from everyday voters.

'Eager to give'

'There was a lot of energy on the Democratic side (in the 2018 midterm elections) and I see no reason why Democratic giving would slow down in a cycle when President Trump is actually on the ballot,'&nbsp;Patrick Burgwinkle, communications director for campaign finance reform group End Citizens United, told AFP.

Individual Democratic donors are 'eager to give,'&nbsp;he added, 'provided that these candidates are walking the walk on reforming our broken campaign finance system.'

Many of them seek to claim the moral high ground and prove they will be accountable to the American people and not to corporate donors or special interests.

'The money in politics is corrupting. It controls everything,'&nbsp;Senator Kirsten Gillibrand told voters in Des Moines, Iowa, last month after announcing her presidential bid.

'You have to get money out of politics. And that's why, as a very small first step, I'm not taking corporate PAC money."

Instead, she and others, armed with massive voter databases culled from social media and other contacts thanks to improving technology, are sending out millions of fundraising emails seeking contributions to fund their exhausting ground operations -- "even just a dollar," pleaded one such message from Democrat Cory Booker.

Bernie Sanders, the liberal senator who made campaign finance reform a central pillar of his rebellious 2016 presidential campaign, entered the 2020 race in February with a bang, raising $5.9 million in the first 24 hours from more than 220,000 individuals across all 50 states. The average donation was $27.

'Powerful special interests may have the money," he tweeted, "but we have the people.'

Donald Trump, of course, is not sitting idle. The president filed his candidacy for 2020 the day after his inauguration, and his campaign has been fundraising ever since, reportedly raising some $106 million by last October.

Unlimited political spending

Many Democrats have raised the reform alarm since 2010 when the controversial Supreme Court decision in Citizens United vs FEC lifted restrictions on campaign spending by corporations and unions.

It also paved the way for unlimited political spending by independent groups known as super PACs, political entities that can accept unlimited contributions -- sometimes millions of dollars by a single entity or individual -- and then spend that money advocating for a candidate.

Burgwinkle, of End Citizens United, said some Democrats have benefited from super PACS, but that the lion's share of post-Citizens United PAC money went towards helping elect Republicans.

But today, Trump's challenges are receiving major financial boosts from energized grassroots supporters.

'The race for money in the Democratic Party is really going to be a race for small dollars," said Colby College's Anthony Corrado, a government professor and leading expert on political finance.

'What Bernie Sanders proved in 2016 was that you can finance a campaign largely depending on small-dollar contributions - if you can generate the excitement amongst the grassroots faithful.'

But just because candidates swear off corporate or PAC money and focus on grassroots voters, nothing is preventing a mega-donor like a billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer from contributing millions of dollars to PACs and outside money groups that will independently help candidates.

Meanwhile, the online donation process is becoming increasingly efficient for small-dollar donors.&nbsp;

When Beto O'Rourke announced his presidential campaign Thursday, he went up with a website that led supporters to a user-friendly donation page powered by ActBlue, a non-profit group whose platform has become a small-dollar juggernaut.

ActBlue says millions of Americans contributed a staggering $1.6 billion through the platform, at an average $39 per donation, during the 2018 election cycle.

'They're not looking for political access, they're supporting a cause or a political platform,'&nbsp;Corrado said of the donors.

'And if you've got 100,000 people giving you $10 a month, you've suddenly got real money.'

The 2020 presidential election is still 20 months away, but one campaign battle is already raging: the fight for America's small-dollar contributions. With all 12 major Democratic White House candidates shunning donations from corporations and political action committees, or PACs, they have turned their collective eye toward individual voters, who are showing increasing willingness to open their pocketbooks and play a larger role in the political process.

The 2020 presidential election is still 20 months away, but one campaign battle is already raging: the fight for America's small-dollar contributions. With all 12 major Democratic White House candidates shunning donations from corporations and political action committees, or PACs, they have turned their collective eye toward individual voters, who are showing increasing willingness to open their pocketbooks and play a larger role in the political process. All signs point to an avalanche of personal contributions in the 2020 election cycle as individuals invest more of their own cash in candidates, as polls show voters are overwhelmingly fed up with dark money and corporate influence in politics. Candidates are required to report their first-quarter donations to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) within the coming weeks, and the results are likely to show that while big money will still be at play in the election process, it just might be coming more from everyday voters. 'Eager to give' 'There was a lot of energy on the Democratic side (in the 2018 midterm elections) and I see no reason why Democratic giving would slow down in a cycle when President Trump is actually on the ballot,' Patrick Burgwinkle, communications director for campaign finance reform group End Citizens United, told AFP. Individual Democratic donors are 'eager to give,' he added, 'provided that these candidates are walking the walk on reforming our broken campaign finance system.' Many of them seek to claim the moral high ground and prove they will be accountable to the American people and not to corporate donors or special interests. 'The money in politics is corrupting. It controls everything,' Senator Kirsten Gillibrand told voters in Des Moines, Iowa, last month after announcing her presidential bid. 'You have to get money out of politics. And that's why, as a very small first step, I'm not taking corporate PAC money." Instead, she and others, armed with massive voter databases culled from social media and other contacts thanks to improving technology, are sending out millions of fundraising emails seeking contributions to fund their exhausting ground operations -- "even just a dollar," pleaded one such message from Democrat Cory Booker. Bernie Sanders, the liberal senator who made campaign finance reform a central pillar of his rebellious 2016 presidential campaign, entered the 2020 race in February with a bang, raising $5.9 million in the first 24 hours from more than 220,000 individuals across all 50 states. The average donation was $27. 'Powerful special interests may have the money," he tweeted, "but we have the people.' Donald Trump, of course, is not sitting idle. The president filed his candidacy for 2020 the day after his inauguration, and his campaign has been fundraising ever since, reportedly raising some $106 million by last October. Unlimited political spending Many Democrats have raised the reform alarm since 2010 when the controversial Supreme Court decision in Citizens United vs FEC lifted restrictions on campaign spending by corporations and unions. It also paved the way for unlimited political spending by independent groups known as super PACs, political entities that can accept unlimited contributions -- sometimes millions of dollars by a single entity or individual -- and then spend that money advocating for a candidate. Burgwinkle, of End Citizens United, said some Democrats have benefited from super PACS, but that the lion's share of post-Citizens United PAC money went towards helping elect Republicans. But today, Trump's challenges are receiving major financial boosts from energized grassroots supporters. 'The race for money in the Democratic Party is really going to be a race for small dollars," said Colby College's Anthony Corrado, a government professor and leading expert on political finance. 'What Bernie Sanders proved in 2016 was that you can finance a campaign largely depending on small-dollar contributions - if you can generate the excitement amongst the grassroots faithful.' But just because candidates swear off corporate or PAC money and focus on grassroots voters, nothing is preventing a mega-donor like a billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer from contributing millions of dollars to PACs and outside money groups that will independently help candidates. Meanwhile, the online donation process is becoming increasingly efficient for small-dollar donors. When Beto O'Rourke announced his presidential campaign Thursday, he went up with a website that led supporters to a user-friendly donation page powered by ActBlue, a non-profit group whose platform has become a small-dollar juggernaut. ActBlue says millions of Americans contributed a staggering $1.6 billion through the platform, at an average $39 per donation, during the 2018 election cycle. 'They're not looking for political access, they're supporting a cause or a political platform,' Corrado said of the donors. 'And if you've got 100,000 people giving you $10 a month, you've suddenly got real money.'

2020 Democrats build campaign war chests, $1 at a time

The United States is hopeful that it can continue to hold <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-considering-to-suspend-nuclear-talks-with-us-report-203425">denuclearization talks</a> with North Korea, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday (March 15) following reports that a top Pyongyang official had said the country may suspend negotiations.

Pompeo, speaking at a news conference, also said he had every expectation that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would live up to his commitment not to resume nuclear and missile testing.

"We're hopeful that we can continue to have conversations, negotiations," the top US diplomat told reporters, adding that North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui had left open the possibility of continued talks in the reported remarks.

"It's the administration's desire that we continue to have conversations around this," Pompeo added.

US officials have said they remain open to talks after the second summit between Kim and President Donald Trump collapsed last month with no deal, but have given no specifics.

The United States is hopeful that it can continue to hold denuclearization talks with North Korea, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday (March 15) following reports that a top Pyongyang official had said the country may suspend negotiations.

The United States is hopeful that it can continue to hold denuclearization talks with North Korea, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday (March 15) following reports that a top Pyongyang official had said the country may suspend negotiations. Pompeo, speaking at a news conference, also said he had every expectation that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would live up to his commitment not to resume nuclear and missile testing. "We're hopeful that we can continue to have conversations, negotiations," the top US diplomat told reporters, adding that North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui had left open the possibility of continued talks in the reported remarks. "It's the administration's desire that we continue to have conversations around this," Pompeo added. US officials have said they remain open to talks after the second summit between Kim and President Donald Trump collapsed last month with no deal, but have given no specifics.

US Secretary of State Pompeo says US hopes to continue talks with North Korea

At a dinner party in Kabul's high-security 'green zone'&nbsp;in March, a senior European diplomat poured himself a glass of red wine and pulled up a photograph on his iPhone.

Released by Qatar's foreign ministry on February 25, it showed seven Qatari officials alongside US&nbsp;and Taliban negotiators as talks on ending the 17-year-old war in Afghanistan had restarted in the Gulf state the previous day.

'If Qatari officials can be at the negotiating table, then how did the US&nbsp;forget to invite its key allies who have fought the Afghan war since 2001 ?'&nbsp;said the diplomat, whose nation has contributed hundreds of troops to NATO's mission in the country.

'We continue to pour millions of dollars as an act of solidarity, but when it comes to peace talks, the US decided to go solo.'

Reuters spoke with 10 diplomats from countries spanning three continents that are among the 39 that provide military personnel to the NATO training operation, known as Resolute Support, in Afghanistan, and those that provide development aid.

Many of those countries are significant, consistent donors. Most of the diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the situation.

The diplomats interviewed said their governments were broadly rethinking their commitments to rebuilding the country. That process had been hastened by feeling excluded from peace talks, and also by a weariness for supporting the Afghan campaign among voters and lawmakers in their respective countries, they said.

Asked about those comments, a US&nbsp;State Department spokesperson said regular reviews of foreign assistance was 'good practice'&nbsp;and Afghanistan's development remained in the interest of the international community.

'We see no signs that interest and investment are wavering,'&nbsp;said the spokesperson, adding that US&nbsp;Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad has briefed NATO allies and other partners three times since December, and effective coordination remained a priority.

Nick Kay, NATO's newly appointed senior civilian representative in Afghanistan, said NATO allies 'fully support'&nbsp;Khalilzad's efforts to negotiate a settlement.

But even the Afghan government has complained of being left out. President Ashraf Ghani's national security adviser on Thursday accused Khalilzad of "delegitimizing" the Kabul government by excluding it from deliberations.

Qatari officials did not respond to a request for comment.

In 2017, US development aid for Afghanistan totalled about $1.2 billion, well ahead of the next biggest donors Germany, European Union institutions, Britain and Japan, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) data. But the United States' junior aid partners collectively contributed nearly two-thirds of all development assistance, highlighting their critical if less visible importance to the country's future.

CHANGING PRIORITIES

US and Taliban negotiators wrapped up their longest round of peace talks on Tuesday with the progress made but no agreement on when foreign troops might withdraw.&nbsp;

Whether funding countries keep investing in Afghanistan could prove pivotal to sustaining any peace. Diplomats say that, after troops leave, it may be the only leverage they have to retain influence over future Afghan governments.

Since the 2001 US-led invasion, Afghanistan has been among the top recipients of foreign government aid to promote economic and social development. In 2016, international donors pledged $15.2 billion in aid for Afghanistan until 2020.

With those pledges due to expire, many countries are re-evaluating their military and funding commitments.

"Priorities have changed for every EU nation," a European diplomat said, adding that countries besides Afghanistan needed support.

"The donor fatigue is intense and no one is in the mood to overlook it after 2020," another diplomat said.

A third diplomat said their country was re-evaluating its future aid with different scenarios in mind, including whether to continue development if the Taliban joins Afghanistan's government and what to do if peace talks fail.

Any drop-off in international aid would be disastrous for Afghanistan since much of it funds basic health and education services, said Adele Khodr, country representative for Unicef.

'It is definitely something we are concerned about. Imagine what would happen - (Afghanistan) would be Yemen,'&nbsp;Khodr said. '(By) pulling out, the international community will pay a much higher price in insecurity across the world.'

Ninety per cent of the money spent on the health sector in Afghanistan comes from the international community, said Toby Lanzer, deputy special representative in Afghanistan for the UN.

An official in Ghani's office in Kabul declined to comment on potential risks to future aid.

He said the government was making every effort to hold peace talks with the Taliban. The militant group said on Tuesday that such talks would have to wait until after a troop withdrawal plan is set.

'CRUCIAL TO STICK TOGETHER'

Some diplomats caution against a quick retreat.

'If we leave the country hastily, all these (advances) will go down the drain, 'Ambassador Markus Potzel, Germany's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and one of the 10 diplomats interviewed, told Reuters in Kabul.

Potzel was referring to gains such as Afghan girls' attendance in school and new employment opportunities.

Maintaining aid was also critical to holding influence in Afghanistan, he said.

"That's our leverage. We can attach strings," Potzel said. "It is crucial to stick together."

A spokesperson at the British Embassy in Kabul said any changes to Britain's troop contribution would be made in consultation with coalition partners.

As of March 2019, 39 countries contributed 17,034 foreign forces in Afghanistan for Resolute Support, of which the US&nbsp;provided 50 percent, according to NATO. US&nbsp;troops are also deployed in a separate mission directed against groups such as al Qaeda and Islamic State.

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's questioning of NATO's value to Washington, along with the absence of allies at the negotiating table, has deepened the unease within the military alliance created in 1949 by the United States, Canada, and Western European nations.

'The concern is that we need to be appraised of the progress of the discussions and to be involved. We have invested a lot,'said a European diplomat. 'This commitment should be reflected in influence or at least information on the peace talks.'

The diplomat said it was understandable that access to the negotiating table was narrow right now, but "what I would find abnormal is that we would be served a deal in which we had nothing to say and then be asked to foot the bill".

SHRINKING FOOTPRINT?

The senior diplomats interviewed by Reuters, who is based in Kabul and Islamabad, said their governments were finding it harder to justify the continuing presence of their troops and the steady drain of aid funding to Afghanistan.

'It is increasingly difficult to tell our people why we are still here especially when they read reports about more than half of country being under the Taliban control,'&nbsp;said a Western diplomat. 'Almost all NATO countries are now struggling to justify their presence in Afghanistan to voters back home.'

The war's long duration has also weakened commitment.

'If we had known that the war could go on as it has been for 18 years, we would have had a rethink in 2001,'&nbsp;the Western diplomat said.

The withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan has always been the Taliban's main demand, and Trump's interest in drawing down US&nbsp;troops has stimulated efforts to end the war.

'The prime concern is that we may wake up one day to a tweet by Trump about a unilateral withdrawal of US&nbsp;troops before a peace agreement has been negotiated,'&nbsp;said a diplomat whose country supports Afghan healthcare projects.

Neighbouring Pakistan sees a similar danger, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said.

'An immediate vacuum can also be detrimental for peace and security and an indefinite presence is also not acceptable, so this is the detail that has to be worked out,' he said.

NATO members and partners said they also expect regional powers to share costs and step up their roles in Afghanistan to prevent civil war after foreign forces depart.

"China has been sitting on the bleachers for a long time now," a diplomat said.

The Chinese embassy in Kabul did not respond to requests for comment.

Michael Kugelman, a South Asia expert at the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson Center, said the US&nbsp;continues to count on friends to share the burden in Afghanistan.

'But so long as the war continues with no peace deal, that supply of states willing to assist will shrink,'&nbsp;said Kugelman.

At a dinner party in Kabul's high-security 'green zone' in March, a senior European diplomat poured himself a glass of red wine and pulled up a photograph on his iPhone.

At a dinner party in Kabul's high-security 'green zone' in March, a senior European diplomat poured himself a glass of red wine and pulled up a photograph on his iPhone. Released by Qatar's foreign ministry on February 25, it showed seven Qatari officials alongside US and Taliban negotiators as talks on ending the 17-year-old war in Afghanistan had restarted in the Gulf state the previous day. 'If Qatari officials can be at the negotiating table, then how did the US forget to invite its key allies who have fought the Afghan war since 2001 ?' said the diplomat, whose nation has contributed hundreds of troops to NATO's mission in the country. 'We continue to pour millions of dollars as an act of solidarity, but when it comes to peace talks, the US decided to go solo.' Reuters spoke with 10 diplomats from countries spanning three continents that are among the 39 that provide military personnel to the NATO training operation, known as Resolute Support, in Afghanistan, and those that provide development aid. Many of those countries are significant, consistent donors. Most of the diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the situation. The diplomats interviewed said their governments were broadly rethinking their commitments to rebuilding the country. That process had been hastened by feeling excluded from peace talks, and also by a weariness for supporting the Afghan campaign among voters and lawmakers in their respective countries, they said. Asked about those comments, a US State Department spokesperson said regular reviews of foreign assistance was 'good practice' and Afghanistan's development remained in the interest of the international community. 'We see no signs that interest and investment are wavering,' said the spokesperson, adding that US Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad has briefed NATO allies and other partners three times since December, and effective coordination remained a priority. Nick Kay, NATO's newly appointed senior civilian representative in Afghanistan, said NATO allies 'fully support' Khalilzad's efforts to negotiate a settlement. But even the Afghan government has complained of being left out. President Ashraf Ghani's national security adviser on Thursday accused Khalilzad of "delegitimizing" the Kabul government by excluding it from deliberations. Qatari officials did not respond to a request for comment. In 2017, US development aid for Afghanistan totalled about $1.2 billion, well ahead of the next biggest donors Germany, European Union institutions, Britain and Japan, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) data. But the United States' junior aid partners collectively contributed nearly two-thirds of all development assistance, highlighting their critical if less visible importance to the country's future. CHANGING PRIORITIES US and Taliban negotiators wrapped up their longest round of peace talks on Tuesday with the progress made but no agreement on when foreign troops might withdraw. Whether funding countries keep investing in Afghanistan could prove pivotal to sustaining any peace. Diplomats say that, after troops leave, it may be the only leverage they have to retain influence over future Afghan governments. Since the 2001 US-led invasion, Afghanistan has been among the top recipients of foreign government aid to promote economic and social development. In 2016, international donors pledged $15.2 billion in aid for Afghanistan until 2020. With those pledges due to expire, many countries are re-evaluating their military and funding commitments. "Priorities have changed for every EU nation," a European diplomat said, adding that countries besides Afghanistan needed support. "The donor fatigue is intense and no one is in the mood to overlook it after 2020," another diplomat said. A third diplomat said their country was re-evaluating its future aid with different scenarios in mind, including whether to continue development if the Taliban joins Afghanistan's government and what to do if peace talks fail. Any drop-off in international aid would be disastrous for Afghanistan since much of it funds basic health and education services, said Adele Khodr, country representative for Unicef. 'It is definitely something we are concerned about. Imagine what would happen - (Afghanistan) would be Yemen,' Khodr said. '(By) pulling out, the international community will pay a much higher price in insecurity across the world.' Ninety per cent of the money spent on the health sector in Afghanistan comes from the international community, said Toby Lanzer, deputy special representative in Afghanistan for the UN. An official in Ghani's office in Kabul declined to comment on potential risks to future aid. He said the government was making every effort to hold peace talks with the Taliban. The militant group said on Tuesday that such talks would have to wait until after a troop withdrawal plan is set. 'CRUCIAL TO STICK TOGETHER' Some diplomats caution against a quick retreat. 'If we leave the country hastily, all these (advances) will go down the drain, 'Ambassador Markus Potzel, Germany's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and one of the 10 diplomats interviewed, told Reuters in Kabul. Potzel was referring to gains such as Afghan girls' attendance in school and new employment opportunities. Maintaining aid was also critical to holding influence in Afghanistan, he said. "That's our leverage. We can attach strings," Potzel said. "It is crucial to stick together." A spokesperson at the British Embassy in Kabul said any changes to Britain's troop contribution would be made in consultation with coalition partners. As of March 2019, 39 countries contributed 17,034 foreign forces in Afghanistan for Resolute Support, of which the US provided 50 percent, according to NATO. US troops are also deployed in a separate mission directed against groups such as al Qaeda and Islamic State. US President Donald Trump's questioning of NATO's value to Washington, along with the absence of allies at the negotiating table, has deepened the unease within the military alliance created in 1949 by the United States, Canada, and Western European nations. 'The concern is that we need to be appraised of the progress of the discussions and to be involved. We have invested a lot,'said a European diplomat. 'This commitment should be reflected in influence or at least information on the peace talks.' The diplomat said it was understandable that access to the negotiating table was narrow right now, but "what I would find abnormal is that we would be served a deal in which we had nothing to say and then be asked to foot the bill". SHRINKING FOOTPRINT? The senior diplomats interviewed by Reuters, who is based in Kabul and Islamabad, said their governments were finding it harder to justify the continuing presence of their troops and the steady drain of aid funding to Afghanistan. 'It is increasingly difficult to tell our people why we are still here especially when they read reports about more than half of country being under the Taliban control,' said a Western diplomat. 'Almost all NATO countries are now struggling to justify their presence in Afghanistan to voters back home.' The war's long duration has also weakened commitment. 'If we had known that the war could go on as it has been for 18 years, we would have had a rethink in 2001,' the Western diplomat said. The withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan has always been the Taliban's main demand, and Trump's interest in drawing down US troops has stimulated efforts to end the war. 'The prime concern is that we may wake up one day to a tweet by Trump about a unilateral withdrawal of US troops before a peace agreement has been negotiated,' said a diplomat whose country supports Afghan healthcare projects. Neighbouring Pakistan sees a similar danger, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said. 'An immediate vacuum can also be detrimental for peace and security and an indefinite presence is also not acceptable, so this is the detail that has to be worked out,' he said. NATO members and partners said they also expect regional powers to share costs and step up their roles in Afghanistan to prevent civil war after foreign forces depart. "China has been sitting on the bleachers for a long time now," a diplomat said. The Chinese embassy in Kabul did not respond to requests for comment. Michael Kugelman, a South Asia expert at the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson Center, said the US continues to count on friends to share the burden in Afghanistan. 'But so long as the war continues with no peace deal, that supply of states willing to assist will shrink,' said Kugelman.

Left out of peace talks, US allies reassess Afghan support

Only one in five US&nbsp;taxpayers expect to pay less income tax this year as a result of the tax reform law passed in 2017 by Republicans who promised big savings for everyday Americans, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Friday.

The poll suggested that the tax overhaul, mostly geared to helping businesses, may not be as strong a 2020 campaign talking point as Republicans and President Donald Trump had hoped.

Just prior to approval of the tax reform by the Republican-controlled Congress, Trump said, 'This is going to be one of the great gifts to the middle-income people of this country that they've ever gotten for Christmas'.

The tax overhaul lowered federal income tax rates for individuals as well as for corporations, but it also capped certain deductions, such as for state and local taxes, which could mean that some people will wind up paying more.

The March 6-11 survey found about 21 percent of adults who had either filed their taxes or planned to said 'the new tax plan that Congress recently passed'&nbsp;would let them pay less this year; about 29 percent said they would pay more; 27 percent said there would be no impact; 24 percent said they were not sure.

The responses differed along party lines, with Republican taxpayers more likely than others to expect a tax benefit.

According to the poll, about 33 percent of Republicans said they would pay less tax; 17 percent said they would pay more.

Among Democrats, about 8 percent said they would pay less; about 45 percent said they would pay more.

The $10,000 cap imposed on the deduction of state and local taxes, which was previously unlimited, has been seen having the greatest effect on taxpayers in high-tax states, including New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and California, which are all largely Democratic.

The Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll was conducted online in English throughout the United States. It gathered responses from 1,755 people, including 1,439 who said they either 'already filed'&nbsp;or 'will file'&nbsp;an income tax return. It has a credibility interval, a measure of precision, of about 5 percentage points.

Only one in five US taxpayers expect to pay less income tax this year as a result of the tax reform law passed in 2017 by Republicans who promised big savings for everyday Americans, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Friday.

Only one in five US taxpayers expect to pay less income tax this year as a result of the tax reform law passed in 2017 by Republicans who promised big savings for everyday Americans, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Friday. The poll suggested that the tax overhaul, mostly geared to helping businesses, may not be as strong a 2020 campaign talking point as Republicans and President Donald Trump had hoped. Just prior to approval of the tax reform by the Republican-controlled Congress, Trump said, 'This is going to be one of the great gifts to the middle-income people of this country that they've ever gotten for Christmas'. The tax overhaul lowered federal income tax rates for individuals as well as for corporations, but it also capped certain deductions, such as for state and local taxes, which could mean that some people will wind up paying more. The March 6-11 survey found about 21 percent of adults who had either filed their taxes or planned to said 'the new tax plan that Congress recently passed' would let them pay less this year; about 29 percent said they would pay more; 27 percent said there would be no impact; 24 percent said they were not sure. The responses differed along party lines, with Republican taxpayers more likely than others to expect a tax benefit. According to the poll, about 33 percent of Republicans said they would pay less tax; 17 percent said they would pay more. Among Democrats, about 8 percent said they would pay less; about 45 percent said they would pay more. The $10,000 cap imposed on the deduction of state and local taxes, which was previously unlimited, has been seen having the greatest effect on taxpayers in high-tax states, including New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and California, which are all largely Democratic. The Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll was conducted online in English throughout the United States. It gathered responses from 1,755 people, including 1,439 who said they either 'already filed' or 'will file' an income tax return. It has a credibility interval, a measure of precision, of about 5 percentage points.

Few Americans see savings from Trump's tax reform: Says poll

Indian subsidiaries of US multinational corporations have a cause for cheer with the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) providing compliance relief for those whose parents are in countries which do not have an agreement with India.

The board has extended the due date for filing of country-by-country (CbC) reports by certain MNCs till March 31. So such Indian subsidiaries now have two more weeks to furnish their reports.

"The CBDT as a one-time measure in exercise of powers conferred under section 119 of the Act has extended the period for furnishing of the CbC report (local filing) in respect of reporting accounting years ending on or before February 28, 2018 up to March 31, 2019," said an official statement issued on Friday.

The concept of CbC reports, which gets electronically transmitted between competent authorities, was introduced to assist tax administration in having a complete understanding of the way in which MNCs structure their operations, by annually providing them with key information on the global allocation of incomes and taxes paid.

The absence of an agreement between India and the United States till now entailed a possibility of local filing of CbC reports in India.

However, a bilateral competent authority arrangement, along with an underlying inter-governmental agreement, for exchange of CbC reports between India and the United States has now been finalised and will be signed on or before March 31.

"This will enable both the countries to exchange CbC reports filed by the ultimate parent entities of international groups in the respective jurisdictions, pertaining to the financial years commencing on or after January 1, 2016," said the statement.

As a result, Indian constituent entities of international groups headquartered in the United States, who have already filed CbC reports in the United States, will not be required to do local filing of the CbC reports of their international groups in India, it said.

The objective of mandating CbC is to ensure that all relevant tax authorities have access to the same information about an MNC’s value chain and the resulting tax consequences.

Indian subsidiaries of US multinational corporations have a cause for cheer with the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) providing compliance relief for those whose parents are in countries which do not have an agreement with India.

Indian subsidiaries of US multinational corporations have a cause for cheer with the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) providing compliance relief for those whose parents are in countries which do not have an agreement with India. The board has extended the due date for filing of country-by-country (CbC) reports by certain MNCs till March 31. So such Indian subsidiaries now have two more weeks to furnish their reports. "The CBDT as a one-time measure in exercise of powers conferred under section 119 of the Act has extended the period for furnishing of the CbC report (local filing) in respect of reporting accounting years ending on or before February 28, 2018 up to March 31, 2019," said an official statement issued on Friday. The concept of CbC reports, which gets electronically transmitted between competent authorities, was introduced to assist tax administration in having a complete understanding of the way in which MNCs structure their operations, by annually providing them with key information on the global allocation of incomes and taxes paid. The absence of an agreement between India and the United States till now entailed a possibility of local filing of CbC reports in India. However, a bilateral competent authority arrangement, along with an underlying inter-governmental agreement, for exchange of CbC reports between India and the United States has now been finalised and will be signed on or before March 31. "This will enable both the countries to exchange CbC reports filed by the ultimate parent entities of international groups in the respective jurisdictions, pertaining to the financial years commencing on or after January 1, 2016," said the statement. As a result, Indian constituent entities of international groups headquartered in the United States, who have already filed CbC reports in the United States, will not be required to do local filing of the CbC reports of their international groups in India, it said. The objective of mandating CbC is to ensure that all relevant tax authorities have access to the same information about an MNC’s value chain and the resulting tax consequences.

India, US to sign pact for exchange of 'Country-by-Country' reports by March-end

The United States' top general said on Thursday that the Chinese military was indirectly benefiting from the work Alphabet Inc’s Google was doing in China.

"The work that Google is doing in China is indirectly benefiting the Chinese military," Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

"We watch with great concern when industry partners work in China knowing that there is that indirect benefit," he said. "Frankly, 'indirect' maybe not a full characterization of the way it really is, it is more of a direct benefit to the Chinese military."

The United States' top general said on Thursday that the Chinese military was indirectly benefiting from the work Alphabet Inc’s Google was doing in China. "The work that Google is doing in China is indirectly benefiting the Chinese military," Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

The United States' top general said on Thursday that the Chinese military was indirectly benefiting from the work Alphabet Inc’s Google was doing in China. "The work that Google is doing in China is indirectly benefiting the Chinese military," Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. "We watch with great concern when industry partners work in China knowing that there is that indirect benefit," he said. "Frankly, 'indirect' maybe not a full characterization of the way it really is, it is more of a direct benefit to the Chinese military."

Google's work in China indirectly benefiting Chinese military: US general

The United States and India on Wednesday agreed to strengthen security and civil nuclear cooperation, including building six US&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-russia-agree-to-develop-six-nuclear-power-plant-projects-169664">nuclear power plants in India,</a> the two countries said in a joint statement.

The agreement came after two days of talks in Washington. The United States under President Donald Trump has been looking to sell more energy products to India, the world’s third-biggest buyer of oil.

The talks involved Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and Andrea Thompson, the U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control and international security.

“They committed to strengthening bilateral security and civil nuclear cooperation, including the establishment of six US&nbsp;nuclear power plants in India,” the joint statement said.

It gave no further details of the nuclear plant project.

The two countries have been discussing the supply of U.S. nuclear reactors to energy-hungry India for more than a decade, but a longstanding obstacle has been the need to bring Indian liability rules in-line with international norms, which require the costs of any accident to be channelled to the operator rather than the maker of a nuclear power station.

Pittsburgh-based Westinghouse has been negotiating to build reactors in India for years, but progress has been slow, partly because of India’s nuclear liability legislation, and the project was thrown into doubt when Westinghouse filed for bankruptcy in 2017 after cost overruns on U.S. reactors.

Canada’s Brookfield Asset Management bought Westinghouse from Toshiba in August 2018. Last April Westinghouse received strong support from U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry for its India project, which envisaged the building of six AP1000 reactors in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

The agreement to build the reactors, announced in 2016, followed on from a U.S.-India civil nuclear agreement signed in 2008.

India plans to triple its nuclear capacity by 2024 to wean Asia’s third-largest economy off polluting fossil fuels.

Last October, India and Russia signed a pact to build six more nuclear reactors at a new site in India following summit talks between their leaders in New Delhi.

The United States and India on Wednesday agreed to strengthen security and civil nuclear cooperation, including building six US nuclear power plants in India, the two countries said in a joint statement.

The United States and India on Wednesday agreed to strengthen security and civil nuclear cooperation, including building six US nuclear power plants in India, the two countries said in a joint statement. The agreement came after two days of talks in Washington. The United States under President Donald Trump has been looking to sell more energy products to India, the world’s third-biggest buyer of oil. The talks involved Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and Andrea Thompson, the U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control and international security. “They committed to strengthening bilateral security and civil nuclear cooperation, including the establishment of six US nuclear power plants in India,” the joint statement said. It gave no further details of the nuclear plant project. The two countries have been discussing the supply of U.S. nuclear reactors to energy-hungry India for more than a decade, but a longstanding obstacle has been the need to bring Indian liability rules in-line with international norms, which require the costs of any accident to be channelled to the operator rather than the maker of a nuclear power station. Pittsburgh-based Westinghouse has been negotiating to build reactors in India for years, but progress has been slow, partly because of India’s nuclear liability legislation, and the project was thrown into doubt when Westinghouse filed for bankruptcy in 2017 after cost overruns on U.S. reactors. Canada’s Brookfield Asset Management bought Westinghouse from Toshiba in August 2018. Last April Westinghouse received strong support from U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry for its India project, which envisaged the building of six AP1000 reactors in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The agreement to build the reactors, announced in 2016, followed on from a U.S.-India civil nuclear agreement signed in 2008. India plans to triple its nuclear capacity by 2024 to wean Asia’s third-largest economy off polluting fossil fuels. Last October, India and Russia signed a pact to build six more nuclear reactors at a new site in India following summit talks between their leaders in New Delhi.

India, United States agree to develop six nuclear power plants in India

A spokesman for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/palestinian-president-mahmud-abbas-plans-anti-hamas-measures-as-split-widens-189990">Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas</a> has criticized the US move to no longer refer to the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights as occupied territories in its annual human rights report.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh called it "a continuation of the hostile approach of the American administration toward our Palestinian people and... contrary to all UN resolutions."

In a statement carried by official Palestinian news agency WAFA late Wednesday, he said the change was part of US President Donald Trump's plan to 'liquidate'&nbsp;the Palestinian cause.

Trump is expected to unveil his long-awaited plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace in the coming months, even though the Palestinian leadership has frozen contact with Washington over Trump's 2017 declaration of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Palestinians believe the upcoming plan will be blatantly biased in favour of Israel.

In its latest human rights report published Wednesday, the United States referred to the Golan Heights as "Israeli-controlled" as opposed to "Israeli-occupied".

Another semantic change that appeared in last year's report showed up again this year, with a section titled "Israel, Golan Heights, West Bank, and Gaza," instead of its previous "Israel and the Occupied Territories" heading.

The US State Department insisted the different wording did not mean a change in policy.

Israel occupied the Golan Heights, West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Six-Day War.

It later annexed the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem in moves never recognized by the international community.

It has withdrawn from the Gaza Strip, but has fought three wars with Palestinian militants there and maintains a blockade of the territory.

Israel's occupation of the West Bank continues.

A spokesman for Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has criticized the US move to no longer refer to the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights as occupied territories in its annual human rights report.

A spokesman for Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has criticized the US move to no longer refer to the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights as occupied territories in its annual human rights report. Nabil Abu Rudeineh called it "a continuation of the hostile approach of the American administration toward our Palestinian people and... contrary to all UN resolutions." In a statement carried by official Palestinian news agency WAFA late Wednesday, he said the change was part of US President Donald Trump's plan to 'liquidate' the Palestinian cause. Trump is expected to unveil his long-awaited plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace in the coming months, even though the Palestinian leadership has frozen contact with Washington over Trump's 2017 declaration of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Palestinians believe the upcoming plan will be blatantly biased in favour of Israel. In its latest human rights report published Wednesday, the United States referred to the Golan Heights as "Israeli-controlled" as opposed to "Israeli-occupied". Another semantic change that appeared in last year's report showed up again this year, with a section titled "Israel, Golan Heights, West Bank, and Gaza," instead of its previous "Israel and the Occupied Territories" heading. The US State Department insisted the different wording did not mean a change in policy. Israel occupied the Golan Heights, West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Six-Day War. It later annexed the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem in moves never recognized by the international community. It has withdrawn from the Gaza Strip, but has fought three wars with Palestinian militants there and maintains a blockade of the territory. Israel's occupation of the West Bank continues.

Palestinian president slams US dropping 'occupied' in report

The global grounding of Boeing's most popular model is likely to generate a host of business challenges for the aerospace giant, which is already wrestling with the reputational fallout from the crash of one of its planes and a swift reaction outside the United States, according to a Dow Jones Newswires report made available to EFE on Thursday.&nbsp;

Boeing's race with rival Airbus SE to meet surging international demand for air travel helped make Boeing the top US exporter by sales and the most valuable component of the Dow Jones Industrial Index.&nbsp;

Boeing has more than 100,000 employees around the world and a supply chain that spans the planet.&nbsp;

That corporate engine runs on cash generated by orders for its most popular plane, the 737 MAX. Boeing has amassed orders for more than 5,000 of the jetliners.&nbsp;

It isn't clear how two crashes in the past five months - among 370-plus jetliners that have entered service to date - will affect that order book and Boeing's strong recent share performance.&nbsp;

But as airlines and air-safety officials around the world ground the bulk of that fleet and ask Boeing to address the plane's potential safety problems, Boeing and Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg face the task of keeping a major engine of the US economy on track.&nbsp;

Muilenburg spent much of Wednesday at Boeing's main jetliner production facilities in the Seattle area, according to a person familiar with the matter.&nbsp;

He also walked the floor at Boeing's 737 factory in Renton, Wash., talking with employees, this person said.&nbsp;

It wasn't immediately clear if the grounding would have implications for Boeing's plan to boost 737 output, the person said. The FAA's order appeared to leave room for finished 737s to fly from the small airport by its Renton factory before eventual delivery.&nbsp;

That would ease potential bottlenecks for unfinished planes at the airport, which has little space for parking the jets.&nbsp;

But the global groundings posed at least a short-term challenge: the restrictions would likely hinder Boeing's ability to deliver planes to customers around the world.&nbsp;

Muilenburg and other executives spent a big part of the day on calls with senior transportation officials and regulators, the person said. Executives were also on calls with suppliers and customers as pressure for the grounding built.&nbsp;

Fixing the roughly 370 jetliners that have been delivered over the past two years could be costly. Software upgrades that Boeing is developing for the 737 MAX could cost $1 million to $2 million a jet, analysts estimated.&nbsp;

Boeing could also see some $2 billion of cash flow pushed into later quarters as airlines hold back on final payments for jetliners they have ordered, said Cai von Rumohr at Cowen &amp; Co.&nbsp;

Boeing has almost $7 billion in cash on hand. But the crisis could weaken Boeing's hand in future sales contests, and reduce its leverage to push suppliers for better terms or faster production schedules.&nbsp;

"This is his big test as CEO," said Richard Aboulafia, aerospace analyst at the Teal Group, referring to Muilenburg. "There's a lot at stake, and a lot of public and political pressure."&nbsp;

Muilenburg said Boeing supported the grounding as a "proactive step out of an abundance of caution." He noted the company was assisting investigators and that safety was a core value.&nbsp;

"There is no greater priority for our company and our industry," he said in a statement shortly after President Trump announced the FAA order.&nbsp;

Deposits from 737 MAX orders helped lift Boeing's revenue above $100 billion for the first time last year. That drove the Chicago-based company's market cap over $250 billion this month.&nbsp;

That was before a 737 MAX operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed minutes after takeoff on Sunday. Another nearly new model of the plane operated by Indonesia's Lion Air crashed under what safety experts view as similar circumstances less than five months ago.&nbsp;

Airlines and air-safety authorities around the world have since grounded the jets. Boeing has shed almost $40 billion of market value from its peak last month. The company's shares rose 0.5 per cent on Wednesday to $377.14.&nbsp;

Airlines in the US and elsewhere have few options for switching away from the workhorse 737. Airbus already has a five-year backlog of orders for its A320neo, the 737 MAX's main competitor.&nbsp;

Shares in American Airlines Group Inc., Southwest Airlines Co. and United Continental Holdings Inc., the three US carriers that operate 737 MAX jets, all closed higher on Wednesday after early dips, after the FAA grounded the plane.&nbsp;

The MAX represents 2 per cent of US flight capacity, according to a Dow Jones report made available to EFE.

Carriers would redirect other planes to accommodate fliers on their most profitable routes, analysts said.&nbsp;

Outside the US, Norwegian Air Shuttle A/S said it expects Boeing to compensate it for the time its 737 MAX jets remain out of service. "It is quite obvious that we will not take the cost related to the new aircraft that we had to park," Norwegian Chief Executive Bjørn Kjos said.&nbsp;

Analysts said the costs could extend well beyond those related to the grounding of the current 737 MAX fleet. "Reputational damage could also be substantial, although Boeing has weathered previous crash episodes," said Craig Fraser at rating agency Fitch.&nbsp;

Muilenburg will have to rebuild trust in the company's cash cow before deciding whether to push forward with the launch of an all-new twin-aisle jetliner, according to industry executives.&nbsp;

Boeing is expected to start marketing the plane this year and decide in 2020 whether to go ahead with production.&nbsp;

Analysts said the immediate financial impact of temporarily grounding the global 737 MAX fleet could be limited.&nbsp;

Boeing's 787 Dreamliner fleet was grounded for three months in 2013 following a series of onboard battery fires.&nbsp;

Boeing's shares emerged from that three-month period roughly unchanged, though Boeing was left with accumulated losses of around $30 billion. New 787s only recently turned a profit.&nbsp;

Boeing delivered a record 806 jetliners last year and secured many Pentagon contracts, its first competitive defence wins since 2011.&nbsp;

New labour contracts, reductions to pension obligations and more efficient production methods have helped more than triple Boeing's stock price since Muilenburg took over as CEO in 2015.&nbsp;

Boeing is boosting monthly production of the MAX by five jets to 57 this year, and Muilenburg has said buoyant global growth in passenger and freight air traffic could underpin further increases.&nbsp;

Muilenburg, a famously energetic executive who cycles more than 100 miles a week on his Boeing-blue bike, previously ran Boeing's defence arm, which is building drones and trainer jets for the Pentagon.&nbsp;

Fresh problems on a new aerial refuelling tanker and a space taxi - both late and over budget - have tested relations with the Defense Department and NASA even as Boeing vies for what would be its largest-ever contract win.&nbsp;

Boeing is competing against Northrop Grumman Corp. to refresh America's land-based nuclear missiles. The Pentagon is due to select a main supplier for the $100 billion program by early next year.&nbsp;

Now Boeing will have to focus first on fixing the 737 MAX.&nbsp;

Inside a Renton, Wash. factory where Boeing makes 737s, the grounding of the MAX fleet was weighing heavily on morale.&nbsp;

"It's very sombre in the workplace," said one person familiar with the factory's operations. "They take great pride in their work so this kind of thing hits hard."&nbsp;

The global grounding of Boeing's most popular model is likely to generate a host of business challenges for the aerospace giant, which is already wrestling with the reputational fallout from the crash of one of its planes and a swift reaction outside the United States, according to a Dow Jones Newswires report made available to EFE on Thursday.

The global grounding of Boeing's most popular model is likely to generate a host of business challenges for the aerospace giant, which is already wrestling with the reputational fallout from the crash of one of its planes and a swift reaction outside the United States, according to a Dow Jones Newswires report made available to EFE on Thursday. Boeing's race with rival Airbus SE to meet surging international demand for air travel helped make Boeing the top US exporter by sales and the most valuable component of the Dow Jones Industrial Index. Boeing has more than 100,000 employees around the world and a supply chain that spans the planet. That corporate engine runs on cash generated by orders for its most popular plane, the 737 MAX. Boeing has amassed orders for more than 5,000 of the jetliners. It isn't clear how two crashes in the past five months - among 370-plus jetliners that have entered service to date - will affect that order book and Boeing's strong recent share performance. But as airlines and air-safety officials around the world ground the bulk of that fleet and ask Boeing to address the plane's potential safety problems, Boeing and Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg face the task of keeping a major engine of the US economy on track. Muilenburg spent much of Wednesday at Boeing's main jetliner production facilities in the Seattle area, according to a person familiar with the matter. He also walked the floor at Boeing's 737 factory in Renton, Wash., talking with employees, this person said. It wasn't immediately clear if the grounding would have implications for Boeing's plan to boost 737 output, the person said. The FAA's order appeared to leave room for finished 737s to fly from the small airport by its Renton factory before eventual delivery. That would ease potential bottlenecks for unfinished planes at the airport, which has little space for parking the jets. But the global groundings posed at least a short-term challenge: the restrictions would likely hinder Boeing's ability to deliver planes to customers around the world. Muilenburg and other executives spent a big part of the day on calls with senior transportation officials and regulators, the person said. Executives were also on calls with suppliers and customers as pressure for the grounding built. Fixing the roughly 370 jetliners that have been delivered over the past two years could be costly. Software upgrades that Boeing is developing for the 737 MAX could cost $1 million to $2 million a jet, analysts estimated. Boeing could also see some $2 billion of cash flow pushed into later quarters as airlines hold back on final payments for jetliners they have ordered, said Cai von Rumohr at Cowen & Co. Boeing has almost $7 billion in cash on hand. But the crisis could weaken Boeing's hand in future sales contests, and reduce its leverage to push suppliers for better terms or faster production schedules. "This is his big test as CEO," said Richard Aboulafia, aerospace analyst at the Teal Group, referring to Muilenburg. "There's a lot at stake, and a lot of public and political pressure." Muilenburg said Boeing supported the grounding as a "proactive step out of an abundance of caution." He noted the company was assisting investigators and that safety was a core value. "There is no greater priority for our company and our industry," he said in a statement shortly after President Trump announced the FAA order. Deposits from 737 MAX orders helped lift Boeing's revenue above $100 billion for the first time last year. That drove the Chicago-based company's market cap over $250 billion this month. That was before a 737 MAX operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed minutes after takeoff on Sunday. Another nearly new model of the plane operated by Indonesia's Lion Air crashed under what safety experts view as similar circumstances less than five months ago. Airlines and air-safety authorities around the world have since grounded the jets. Boeing has shed almost $40 billion of market value from its peak last month. The company's shares rose 0.5 per cent on Wednesday to $377.14. Airlines in the US and elsewhere have few options for switching away from the workhorse 737. Airbus already has a five-year backlog of orders for its A320neo, the 737 MAX's main competitor. Shares in American Airlines Group Inc., Southwest Airlines Co. and United Continental Holdings Inc., the three US carriers that operate 737 MAX jets, all closed higher on Wednesday after early dips, after the FAA grounded the plane. The MAX represents 2 per cent of US flight capacity, according to a Dow Jones report made available to EFE. Carriers would redirect other planes to accommodate fliers on their most profitable routes, analysts said. Outside the US, Norwegian Air Shuttle A/S said it expects Boeing to compensate it for the time its 737 MAX jets remain out of service. "It is quite obvious that we will not take the cost related to the new aircraft that we had to park," Norwegian Chief Executive Bjørn Kjos said. Analysts said the costs could extend well beyond those related to the grounding of the current 737 MAX fleet. "Reputational damage could also be substantial, although Boeing has weathered previous crash episodes," said Craig Fraser at rating agency Fitch. Muilenburg will have to rebuild trust in the company's cash cow before deciding whether to push forward with the launch of an all-new twin-aisle jetliner, according to industry executives. Boeing is expected to start marketing the plane this year and decide in 2020 whether to go ahead with production. Analysts said the immediate financial impact of temporarily grounding the global 737 MAX fleet could be limited. Boeing's 787 Dreamliner fleet was grounded for three months in 2013 following a series of onboard battery fires. Boeing's shares emerged from that three-month period roughly unchanged, though Boeing was left with accumulated losses of around $30 billion. New 787s only recently turned a profit. Boeing delivered a record 806 jetliners last year and secured many Pentagon contracts, its first competitive defence wins since 2011. New labour contracts, reductions to pension obligations and more efficient production methods have helped more than triple Boeing's stock price since Muilenburg took over as CEO in 2015. Boeing is boosting monthly production of the MAX by five jets to 57 this year, and Muilenburg has said buoyant global growth in passenger and freight air traffic could underpin further increases. Muilenburg, a famously energetic executive who cycles more than 100 miles a week on his Boeing-blue bike, previously ran Boeing's defence arm, which is building drones and trainer jets for the Pentagon. Fresh problems on a new aerial refuelling tanker and a space taxi - both late and over budget - have tested relations with the Defense Department and NASA even as Boeing vies for what would be its largest-ever contract win. Boeing is competing against Northrop Grumman Corp. to refresh America's land-based nuclear missiles. The Pentagon is due to select a main supplier for the $100 billion program by early next year. Now Boeing will have to focus first on fixing the 737 MAX. Inside a Renton, Wash. factory where Boeing makes 737s, the grounding of the MAX fleet was weighing heavily on morale. "It's very sombre in the workplace," said one person familiar with the factory's operations. "They take great pride in their work so this kind of thing hits hard."

Boeing tries to limit fallout of 737 MAX plane crashes

Just when it looks like North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may restart his ballistic missile testing program, US President Donald Trump has proposed trimming the missile defense budget, as one set of deterrents is delayed by two years.&nbsp;

The US Missile Defense Agency - charged with developing, testing and fielding a ballistic missile defense system - will delay the expansion of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system by two years because of a delay in the redesign of the Raytheon Co-made "kill vehicle" the system uses.

A "kill vehicle" pops off the top of the defending missile above the Earth`s atmosphere and seeks out and destroys the attacking missile`s warhead.

The GMD is a network of radars, anti-ballistic missiles based in Alaska and California, and other equipment designed to protect the United States from intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMS.

The expansion of the field of interceptors in Alaska from 44 ground-based interceptors, or GBIs, to 64 had been slated for completion in 2023. But the delay, due to technical issues and not connected to the cut in the agency`s budget, now means that the placement of the additional 20 interceptors will not be operational until 2025, the MDA said on Tuesday.

"The important thing is to get it right, and if we`re going to build more GBI`s, we want to put the best kill vehicle on the top of it," said Tom Karako, a missile defense expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

At the same time, North Korea has been pushing ahead with its nuclear weapons program after a summit meeting between Kim and Trump in Hanoi ended abruptly on February 28 without an agreement on denuclearisation.

New activity has been detected at a North Korean ICBM plant, South Korean media said on Thursday, as Trump said he would be "very disappointed" if Pyongyang rebuilt a rocket site.

In the budget, the Missile Defense Agency, or MDA, saw its appropriation cut by $1 billion to $9.4 billion.

Michelle Atkinson, chief financial officer of the MDA, told reporters, "What you are seeing in `20 actually looks like a decrease, but it`s really just the declining funding," as the agency comes off recent financial injections.

Trump`s smaller request comes on the heels of a significant budget boost last year after several North Korean missile tests.

The MDA projected a budget of $9.2 billion in 2021, and $9.1 billion in 2022, continuing the trend of declining funding.

One Pentagon-wide effort in lasers that could be used to defeat missiles saw investment slow dramatically. After nearly doubling just the MDA`s budget for directed energy from $109 million in 2018 to $224 million in 2019, the Pentagon as a whole plans to invest only $235 million in the technology in fiscal 2020.

Among other proposals included in a recently published Missile Defense Review is one involving lasers mounted on drones - aimed at stopping missiles just after takeoff in what is called the boost phase.

During this portion of the flight the missile is most vulnerable, flying at its slowest speed, easily detected by the heat from its engines and incapable of evading interceptors as it accelerates to break out of the Earth`s atmosphere.

Just when it looks like North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may restart his ballistic missile testing program, US President Donald Trump has proposed trimming the missile defense budget, as one set of deterrents is delayed by two years.

Just when it looks like North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may restart his ballistic missile testing program, US President Donald Trump has proposed trimming the missile defense budget, as one set of deterrents is delayed by two years. The US Missile Defense Agency - charged with developing, testing and fielding a ballistic missile defense system - will delay the expansion of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system by two years because of a delay in the redesign of the Raytheon Co-made "kill vehicle" the system uses. A "kill vehicle" pops off the top of the defending missile above the Earth`s atmosphere and seeks out and destroys the attacking missile`s warhead. The GMD is a network of radars, anti-ballistic missiles based in Alaska and California, and other equipment designed to protect the United States from intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMS. The expansion of the field of interceptors in Alaska from 44 ground-based interceptors, or GBIs, to 64 had been slated for completion in 2023. But the delay, due to technical issues and not connected to the cut in the agency`s budget, now means that the placement of the additional 20 interceptors will not be operational until 2025, the MDA said on Tuesday. "The important thing is to get it right, and if we`re going to build more GBI`s, we want to put the best kill vehicle on the top of it," said Tom Karako, a missile defense expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. At the same time, North Korea has been pushing ahead with its nuclear weapons program after a summit meeting between Kim and Trump in Hanoi ended abruptly on February 28 without an agreement on denuclearisation. New activity has been detected at a North Korean ICBM plant, South Korean media said on Thursday, as Trump said he would be "very disappointed" if Pyongyang rebuilt a rocket site. In the budget, the Missile Defense Agency, or MDA, saw its appropriation cut by $1 billion to $9.4 billion. Michelle Atkinson, chief financial officer of the MDA, told reporters, "What you are seeing in `20 actually looks like a decrease, but it`s really just the declining funding," as the agency comes off recent financial injections. Trump`s smaller request comes on the heels of a significant budget boost last year after several North Korean missile tests. The MDA projected a budget of $9.2 billion in 2021, and $9.1 billion in 2022, continuing the trend of declining funding. One Pentagon-wide effort in lasers that could be used to defeat missiles saw investment slow dramatically. After nearly doubling just the MDA`s budget for directed energy from $109 million in 2018 to $224 million in 2019, the Pentagon as a whole plans to invest only $235 million in the technology in fiscal 2020. Among other proposals included in a recently published Missile Defense Review is one involving lasers mounted on drones - aimed at stopping missiles just after takeoff in what is called the boost phase. During this portion of the flight the missile is most vulnerable, flying at its slowest speed, easily detected by the heat from its engines and incapable of evading interceptors as it accelerates to break out of the Earth`s atmosphere.

US missile defense budget cut as North Korea pushes ahead

The US military has not been asked to assist with the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-says-to-withdraw-all-remaining-diplomatic-personnel-from-venezuela-202779">removal of American diplomatic personnel from Venezuela</a>, the top US military commander for the region told Reuters, adding they were expected to depart the country by commercial means.

"Right now, we`ve not been asked to support that evacuation," Admiral Craig Faller, head of the US military`s Southern Command, said in an interview on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Venezuela ordered US diplomats on Tuesday to leave within 72 hours. Washington said it had decided to withdraw the remaining diplomats because of deteriorating conditions in Venezuela, which has been plunged into its worst blackout on record.

US special envoy Elliott Abrams, speaking earlier on Tuesday to reporters at the State Department, said the withdrawal of diplomats was not a change in US policy or a reduction in the US commitment to the Venezuelan people.

Washington has taken the lead in recognising opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's rightful president after the 35-year-old Congress chief declared President Nicolas Maduro`s 2018 re-election a fraud and announced an interim presidency in January. Most countries in Europe and Latin America have followed suit.

The US military has not been asked to assist with the removal of American diplomatic personnel from Venezuela, the top US military commander for the region told Reuters, adding they were expected to depart the country by commercial means.

The US military has not been asked to assist with the removal of American diplomatic personnel from Venezuela, the top US military commander for the region told Reuters, adding they were expected to depart the country by commercial means. "Right now, we`ve not been asked to support that evacuation," Admiral Craig Faller, head of the US military`s Southern Command, said in an interview on Tuesday. Venezuela ordered US diplomats on Tuesday to leave within 72 hours. Washington said it had decided to withdraw the remaining diplomats because of deteriorating conditions in Venezuela, which has been plunged into its worst blackout on record. US special envoy Elliott Abrams, speaking earlier on Tuesday to reporters at the State Department, said the withdrawal of diplomats was not a change in US policy or a reduction in the US commitment to the Venezuelan people. Washington has taken the lead in recognising opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's rightful president after the 35-year-old Congress chief declared President Nicolas Maduro`s 2018 re-election a fraud and announced an interim presidency in January. Most countries in Europe and Latin America have followed suit.

US military not involved in withdrawing diplomats from Venezuela

US and Taliban negotiators <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-taliban-talks-end-for-now-with-no-afghan-peace-deal-202982">wrapped up their latest round of marathon peace talks</a> on Tuesday with "real strides" made but no agreement on a timetable for troop withdrawal, the US special envoy said.

"Just finished a marathon round of talks with the Taliban in #Doha. The conditions for #peace have improved. It's clear all sides want to end the war. Despite ups and downs, we kept things on track and made real strides," Zalmay Khalilzad tweeted.

Khalilzad said the next step would be discussions in Washington, adding that "there is no final agreement until everything is agreed".

The talks focused on the withdrawal of US troops and assurances that insurgents would not use Afghanistan's territory to stage future terrorist attacks -- one of the initial aims of American policy in the wake of the 9/11 attacks back in 2001.

"Progress was achieved regarding both these issues," said a Taliban spokesman.

"For now, both sides will deliberate over the achieved progress, share it with their respective leaderships and prepare for the upcoming meeting." The Afghan government, which was not involved in the Doha negotiations, said it was pleased with the progress made.

"We hope to witness a long term comprehensive ceasefire with the Taliban and hope that direct negotiations of (the) Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban begin soon," said Haroon Chakhansuri, the president's spokesperson, on Twitter.

On the issue of troop withdrawal, it had been previously speculated that US forces could leave Afghanistan within five years as part of a deal to end the nearly 18-year war. 
The Taliban have called for the withdrawal to be much quicker, around six months.

There are some 14,000 US troops currently based in Afghanistan.

The latest meetings follow marathon talks in January that saw the US and the Taliban walk away with a "draft framework" on the two issues.

Discussions also took place between the Taliban and Afghani opposition groups in Moscow in February.

During the current round of negotiations in Doha, violent attacks in Afghanistan continued.

On March 1, at least 23 Afghan security forces were killed in a Taliban attack on a joint US-Afghan base in southwestern Afghanistan.

Analysts have warned that the Taliban are likely to ramp up attacks in the coming months as they seek to maintain momentum on the battlefield and leverage at the negotiating table.

It is unclear as yet when the next round of talks will take place. The talks which finished on Tuesday spanned 16 days, which is thought to be the longest consecutive discussions held between both sides.

They bizarrely took place in a luxurious Doha hotel village resort, where the negotiating rooms were located only metres (yards) away from a pianist and not far from a swimming pool where Western tourists bathed and drank alcohol.

US and Taliban negotiators wrapped up their latest round of marathon peace talks on Tuesday with "real strides" made but no agreement on a timetable for troop withdrawal, the US special envoy said.

US and Taliban negotiators wrapped up their latest round of marathon peace talks on Tuesday with "real strides" made but no agreement on a timetable for troop withdrawal, the US special envoy said. "Just finished a marathon round of talks with the Taliban in #Doha. The conditions for #peace have improved. It's clear all sides want to end the war. Despite ups and downs, we kept things on track and made real strides," Zalmay Khalilzad tweeted. Khalilzad said the next step would be discussions in Washington, adding that "there is no final agreement until everything is agreed". The talks focused on the withdrawal of US troops and assurances that insurgents would not use Afghanistan's territory to stage future terrorist attacks -- one of the initial aims of American policy in the wake of the 9/11 attacks back in 2001. "Progress was achieved regarding both these issues," said a Taliban spokesman. "For now, both sides will deliberate over the achieved progress, share it with their respective leaderships and prepare for the upcoming meeting." The Afghan government, which was not involved in the Doha negotiations, said it was pleased with the progress made. "We hope to witness a long term comprehensive ceasefire with the Taliban and hope that direct negotiations of (the) Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban begin soon," said Haroon Chakhansuri, the president's spokesperson, on Twitter. On the issue of troop withdrawal, it had been previously speculated that US forces could leave Afghanistan within five years as part of a deal to end the nearly 18-year war. The Taliban have called for the withdrawal to be much quicker, around six months. There are some 14,000 US troops currently based in Afghanistan. The latest meetings follow marathon talks in January that saw the US and the Taliban walk away with a "draft framework" on the two issues. Discussions also took place between the Taliban and Afghani opposition groups in Moscow in February. During the current round of negotiations in Doha, violent attacks in Afghanistan continued. On March 1, at least 23 Afghan security forces were killed in a Taliban attack on a joint US-Afghan base in southwestern Afghanistan. Analysts have warned that the Taliban are likely to ramp up attacks in the coming months as they seek to maintain momentum on the battlefield and leverage at the negotiating table. It is unclear as yet when the next round of talks will take place. The talks which finished on Tuesday spanned 16 days, which is thought to be the longest consecutive discussions held between both sides. They bizarrely took place in a luxurious Doha hotel village resort, where the negotiating rooms were located only metres (yards) away from a pianist and not far from a swimming pool where Western tourists bathed and drank alcohol.

US envoy says 'real strides' made in longest Taliban talks

South Korea will seek to hold talks, including summits, with <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/will-be-very-very-disappointed-says-trump-over-reports-of-north-korea-rebuilding-rocket-site-201648">North Korea </a>this year to strengthen ties and revive the dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington on <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-opposes-incremental-denuclearisation-of-north-korea-envoy-202676">denuclearisation</a>, Seoul's unification ministry said Tuesday.

The plan comes after the Hanoi summit last month between <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-ready-to-meet-kim-jong-un-again-for-denuclearisation-talks-white-house-202451">United States President Donald Trump</a> and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which abruptly ended without a denuclearisation deal and no further plans for the sides to meet.

"In close coordination with the US, (we) will push for inter-Korean talks to help the US and North Korea meet again and reach an agreement on denuclearisation and corresponding measures," said the Ministry of Unification in a policy direction report for 2019 published on Tuesday.&nbsp;

The ministry, in charge of managing relations with the North, added that it will continue to work towards "close communications between the leaders of the South and the North" to strengthen ties and establish peace on the peninsula.&nbsp;

Seoul and Washington are technically at war with Pyongyang since the 1950s.

After February’s Hanoi summit ended without an agreement, Seoul has showed willingness to mediate to break the blockade in the denuclearization talks.

Last year, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim held three summits that were key for making it possible for Trump and the North Korean leader to meet.

Although Washington and Pyongyang give different versions of what happened at the Hanoi negotiating table, the disagreement revolved around the number of assets of the North Korean nuclear program to be dismantled and the volume of international sanctions on Pyongyang that would be alleviated as a "corresponding measure.”

US National Security Adviser John Bolton, who was with Trump in Hanoi, said on March 11 that Washington demanded the elimination of chemical and biological weapons and the North Korean ballistic missile program at the summit, in addition to the dismantling of atomic assets.

Seoul’s unification ministry also said it would take steps for economic cooperation between North and South Korea, particularly in relation to the Kaesong industrial park and tours of Mt Kumgang.

South Korea will seek to hold talks, including summits, with North Korea this year to strengthen ties and revive the dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington on denuclearisation, Seoul's unification ministry said Tuesday.

South Korea will seek to hold talks, including summits, with North Korea this year to strengthen ties and revive the dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington on denuclearisation, Seoul's unification ministry said Tuesday. The plan comes after the Hanoi summit last month between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which abruptly ended without a denuclearisation deal and no further plans for the sides to meet. "In close coordination with the US, (we) will push for inter-Korean talks to help the US and North Korea meet again and reach an agreement on denuclearisation and corresponding measures," said the Ministry of Unification in a policy direction report for 2019 published on Tuesday. The ministry, in charge of managing relations with the North, added that it will continue to work towards "close communications between the leaders of the South and the North" to strengthen ties and establish peace on the peninsula. Seoul and Washington are technically at war with Pyongyang since the 1950s. After February’s Hanoi summit ended without an agreement, Seoul has showed willingness to mediate to break the blockade in the denuclearization talks. Last year, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim held three summits that were key for making it possible for Trump and the North Korean leader to meet. Although Washington and Pyongyang give different versions of what happened at the Hanoi negotiating table, the disagreement revolved around the number of assets of the North Korean nuclear program to be dismantled and the volume of international sanctions on Pyongyang that would be alleviated as a "corresponding measure.” US National Security Adviser John Bolton, who was with Trump in Hanoi, said on March 11 that Washington demanded the elimination of chemical and biological weapons and the North Korean ballistic missile program at the summit, in addition to the dismantling of atomic assets. Seoul’s unification ministry also said it would take steps for economic cooperation between North and South Korea, particularly in relation to the Kaesong industrial park and tours of Mt Kumgang.

Seoul to seek meetings with Pyongyang to revive dialogue with Washington

Venezuela's opposition-run congress on Monday declared a "<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/juan-guaido-to-ask-legislature-to-declare-state-of-alarm-in-venezuela-202438">state of alarm</a>" over a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/venezuela-blackout-enters-4th-day-paralyses-communications-and-transport-202521">five-day power blackout</a> that has crippled the OPEC member <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/us-urges-india-to-stop-buying-oil-from-venezuelas-nicolas-maduro-government-top-envoy-202463">country's oil exports</a> and left millions of citizens scrambling to find food and water.&nbsp;

Much of Venezuela remained without power on Monday, although electricity had largely returned to the capital of Caracas following an outage that began on Thursday and which President Nicolas Maduro has called an act of US-backed sabotage.

The outage has added to discontent in a country already suffering from <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-government-prepares-to-sell-small-gold-bars-in-public--161775">hyperinflation</a> and a political crisis after opposition leader Juan Guaido assumed the interim presidency in January after declaring Maduro's 2018 re-election a fraud.

"Nothing is normal in Venezuela, and we will not allow this tragedy to be considered normal, which is why we need this decree of a state of alarm," said Guaido, who heads the legislature, during the session on Monday.

The constitution allows the president to declare states of alarm amid catastrophes that "seriously compromise the security of the nation," but does not explicitly say what practical impact such a declaration would have.

Guaido has been recognised as Venezuela's legitimate leader by the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelas-maduro-blames-us-weapons-for-massive-blackout-202264">United States</a> and most Western countries, but Maduro retains control of the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-military-members-in-contact-with-opposition-bolton-202380"> armed forces </a>and state institutions, and the backing of Russia and China, among others.

Oil industry sources said that exports from the primary port of Jose had been halted for lack of power, cutting off Venezuela's primary source of revenue.

During the legislative session, Guaido called for a halt in shipments of oil to Maduro's political ally Cuba, which has received discounted crude from Venezuela for nearly two decades. The deals have drawn scrutiny from the opposition and its allies abroad as Venezuela`s economic crisis worsened.

"We ask for the international community`s cooperation to make this measure effective so that the oil the Venezuelan people urgently need to attend to this national emergency is not given away," Guaido said.

US National Security Advisor John Bolton backed the measure, writing on Twitter that, "insurance companies and flag carriers that facilitate these give-away shipments to Cuba are now on notice." He did not specify any measures the US government may take.

Earlier on Monday, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on a Russian bank over its dealings with Venezuela's state-owned oil company PDVSA and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticised Russia's Rosneft for buying PDVSA oil.

RESTORATION 'COMPLEX'

The blackout has left food rotting in refrigerators, hospitals have struggled to keep equipment operating, and people have clustered on the streets of Caracas to pick up patchy telephone signals to reach relatives abroad.&nbsp;

On Monday, Venezuelans seeking water formed lines to fill containers from a sewage pipe.

"This is driving me crazy," said Naile Gonzalez in Chacaito, a commercial neighbourhood of Caracas. "The government doesn't want to accept that this is their fault because they haven`t carried out any maintenance in years."&nbsp;

Venezuela's electrical grid has suffered from years of underinvestment. Restrictions on imports have affected the provision of spare parts, while many skilled technical personnel have fled the country amid an exodus of more than 3 million Venezuelans in recent years.

Winston Cabas, the president of an electrical engineers'&nbsp;professional association, told reporters that several of the country's thermoelectric plants were operating at just 20 per cent of capacity, in part due to lack of fuel. He said the government was rationing electricity.&nbsp;

The process of restoring service was "complex" and could take between five and six days, he said.

"We once had the best electricity system in the world - the most vigorous, the most robust, the most powerful - and those who now administer the system have destroyed it," he said.&nbsp;

A source at PDVSA also said the government had decided to ration electricity, in part to supply power to the Jose oil export terminal.

The Information Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

Experts consulted by Reuters believe the nationwide blackout originated in transmission lines that transport energy from the Guri hydroelectric plant to the Venezuelan south.

The lack of electricity has aggravated a crisis in Venezuelan hospitals, already lacking investment and maintenance in addition to a shortage of medicines.

School and work activities are set to be suspended on Tuesday, the third working day in a row.

Venezuela's opposition-run congress on Monday declared a "state of alarm" over a five-day power blackout that has crippled the OPEC member country's oil exports and left millions of citizens scrambling to find food and water.

Venezuela's opposition-run congress on Monday declared a "state of alarm" over a five-day power blackout that has crippled the OPEC member country's oil exports and left millions of citizens scrambling to find food and water. Much of Venezuela remained without power on Monday, although electricity had largely returned to the capital of Caracas following an outage that began on Thursday and which President Nicolas Maduro has called an act of US-backed sabotage. The outage has added to discontent in a country already suffering from hyperinflation and a political crisis after opposition leader Juan Guaido assumed the interim presidency in January after declaring Maduro's 2018 re-election a fraud. "Nothing is normal in Venezuela, and we will not allow this tragedy to be considered normal, which is why we need this decree of a state of alarm," said Guaido, who heads the legislature, during the session on Monday. The constitution allows the president to declare states of alarm amid catastrophes that "seriously compromise the security of the nation," but does not explicitly say what practical impact such a declaration would have. Guaido has been recognised as Venezuela's legitimate leader by the United States and most Western countries, but Maduro retains control of the armed forces and state institutions, and the backing of Russia and China, among others. Oil industry sources said that exports from the primary port of Jose had been halted for lack of power, cutting off Venezuela's primary source of revenue. During the legislative session, Guaido called for a halt in shipments of oil to Maduro's political ally Cuba, which has received discounted crude from Venezuela for nearly two decades. The deals have drawn scrutiny from the opposition and its allies abroad as Venezuela`s economic crisis worsened. "We ask for the international community`s cooperation to make this measure effective so that the oil the Venezuelan people urgently need to attend to this national emergency is not given away," Guaido said. US National Security Advisor John Bolton backed the measure, writing on Twitter that, "insurance companies and flag carriers that facilitate these give-away shipments to Cuba are now on notice." He did not specify any measures the US government may take. Earlier on Monday, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on a Russian bank over its dealings with Venezuela's state-owned oil company PDVSA and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticised Russia's Rosneft for buying PDVSA oil. RESTORATION 'COMPLEX' The blackout has left food rotting in refrigerators, hospitals have struggled to keep equipment operating, and people have clustered on the streets of Caracas to pick up patchy telephone signals to reach relatives abroad. On Monday, Venezuelans seeking water formed lines to fill containers from a sewage pipe. "This is driving me crazy," said Naile Gonzalez in Chacaito, a commercial neighbourhood of Caracas. "The government doesn't want to accept that this is their fault because they haven`t carried out any maintenance in years." Venezuela's electrical grid has suffered from years of underinvestment. Restrictions on imports have affected the provision of spare parts, while many skilled technical personnel have fled the country amid an exodus of more than 3 million Venezuelans in recent years. Winston Cabas, the president of an electrical engineers' professional association, told reporters that several of the country's thermoelectric plants were operating at just 20 per cent of capacity, in part due to lack of fuel. He said the government was rationing electricity. The process of restoring service was "complex" and could take between five and six days, he said. "We once had the best electricity system in the world - the most vigorous, the most robust, the most powerful - and those who now administer the system have destroyed it," he said. A source at PDVSA also said the government had decided to ration electricity, in part to supply power to the Jose oil export terminal. The Information Ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Experts consulted by Reuters believe the nationwide blackout originated in transmission lines that transport energy from the Guri hydroelectric plant to the Venezuelan south. The lack of electricity has aggravated a crisis in Venezuelan hospitals, already lacking investment and maintenance in addition to a shortage of medicines. School and work activities are set to be suspended on Tuesday, the third working day in a row.

Venezuela congress declares 'state of alarm' over blackout

The United States told international carriers on Monday that the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/only-pilots-with-1000-hours-of-flying-experience-to-operate-boeing-737-max-dgca-202677">Boeing 737 </a>MAX 8 is airworthy as regulators scrutinize two fatal crashes of the new model of aircraft since October, but said it will mandate forthcoming "design changes" from Boeing by April.

An <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-plane-crash-investigators-recover-black-boxes-from-boeing-737-max-8-202673">Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 bound for Nairobi crashed</a> minutes after take-off on Sunday, killing all 157 aboard and raising questions about the safety of the new variant of the industry workhorse, one of which also <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-lion-air-plane-with-189-on-board-crashes-into-sea-authorities-search-for-remains-174139">crashed in Indonesia in October</a>, killing 189 people.

In a notice, the Federal Aviation Administration said it planned to require design changes by Boeing no later than April. Boeing is working to complete "flight control system enhancements, which provide reduced reliance on procedures associated with required pilot memory items," the FAA said.

The FAA also said Boeing "plans to update training requirements and flight crew manuals to go with the design change" to an automated protection system called the Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System or MCAS. The changes also include MCAS activation and angle of attack signal enhancements.

The FAA said in the notice made public that external reports are drawing similarities between the crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia. "However, this investigation has just begun and to date we have not been provided data to draw any conclusions or take any actions," according to the Continued Airworthiness Notification to the International Community for Boeing 737 MAX 8 operators.

US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao told reporters regulators would not hesitate to act if they find a safety issue.

"If the FAA identifies an issue that affects safety, the department will take immediate and appropriate action," Chao told reporters. "I want people to be assured that we take these incidents, these accidents very seriously."

Boeing Co's top executive told employees on Monday he was confident in the safety of the US manufacturer's top-selling 737 MAX aircraft.

Reuters and other media outlets have reported that Boeing has for months planned design changes after the Lion Air crash in Indonesia but the FAA notice is the first public confirmation.

Canada's transport minister also said he will not hesitate to act once the cause of the crash is known.

FAA chief Dan Elwell on Monday said the notification basically "informs the international community where we are and (gives) sort of ... one answer to the whole community."

Senator Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, and Paul Hudson, the president of FlyersRights.org and a member of the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee, on Monday both said the plane should be grounded.

"The FAA’s 'wait and see' attitude risks lives as well as the safety reputation of the US aviation industry," Hudson said in a statement.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA are both at the crash site in Ethiopia, Chao said.

Boeing's shares fell as much as 10 per cent on the prospect that two such crashes in such a short time could reveal flaws in its new plane. Boeing, whose shares closed down 5.3 per cent at $400.01 in the heaviest trading trade since July 2013, did not immediately comment Monday on the FAA notification, but said it was sending a team to Ethiopia to aid investigators.

The 737 line, which has flown for more than 50 years, is the world's best-selling modern passenger aircraft and viewed as one of the industry's most reliable.

China ordered its airlines to ground the jet, a move followed by Indonesia and Ethiopia. Other airlines, from North America to the Middle East, kept flying the 737 MAX 8 on Monday after Boeing said it was safe.

Boeing’s 737 MAX is the newest version of a jet that has been a fixture of passenger travel for decades and the cash cow of the world’s largest aircraft maker, competing against Airbus SE’s A320neo family of single-aisle jetliners. The 737 family is considered one of the industry’s most reliable aircraft.

The MAX has a bigger and more efficient engine compared to earlier 737 models.

Boeing rolled out the fuel-efficient MAX 8 in 2017 as an update to the already redesigned 50-year-old 737, and had delivered 350 MAX jets out of the total order tally of 5,011 aircraft by the end of January. 
&nbsp;

The United States told international carriers on Monday that the Boeing 737 MAX 8 is airworthy as regulators scrutinize two fatal crashes of the new model of aircraft since October, but said it will mandate forthcoming "design changes" from Boeing by April.

The United States told international carriers on Monday that the Boeing 737 MAX 8 is airworthy as regulators scrutinize two fatal crashes of the new model of aircraft since October, but said it will mandate forthcoming "design changes" from Boeing by April. An Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 bound for Nairobi crashed minutes after take-off on Sunday, killing all 157 aboard and raising questions about the safety of the new variant of the industry workhorse, one of which also crashed in Indonesia in October, killing 189 people. In a notice, the Federal Aviation Administration said it planned to require design changes by Boeing no later than April. Boeing is working to complete "flight control system enhancements, which provide reduced reliance on procedures associated with required pilot memory items," the FAA said. The FAA also said Boeing "plans to update training requirements and flight crew manuals to go with the design change" to an automated protection system called the Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System or MCAS. The changes also include MCAS activation and angle of attack signal enhancements. The FAA said in the notice made public that external reports are drawing similarities between the crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia. "However, this investigation has just begun and to date we have not been provided data to draw any conclusions or take any actions," according to the Continued Airworthiness Notification to the International Community for Boeing 737 MAX 8 operators. US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao told reporters regulators would not hesitate to act if they find a safety issue. "If the FAA identifies an issue that affects safety, the department will take immediate and appropriate action," Chao told reporters. "I want people to be assured that we take these incidents, these accidents very seriously." Boeing Co's top executive told employees on Monday he was confident in the safety of the US manufacturer's top-selling 737 MAX aircraft. Reuters and other media outlets have reported that Boeing has for months planned design changes after the Lion Air crash in Indonesia but the FAA notice is the first public confirmation. Canada's transport minister also said he will not hesitate to act once the cause of the crash is known. FAA chief Dan Elwell on Monday said the notification basically "informs the international community where we are and (gives) sort of ... one answer to the whole community." Senator Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, and Paul Hudson, the president of FlyersRights.org and a member of the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee, on Monday both said the plane should be grounded. "The FAA’s 'wait and see' attitude risks lives as well as the safety reputation of the US aviation industry," Hudson said in a statement. The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA are both at the crash site in Ethiopia, Chao said. Boeing's shares fell as much as 10 per cent on the prospect that two such crashes in such a short time could reveal flaws in its new plane. Boeing, whose shares closed down 5.3 per cent at $400.01 in the heaviest trading trade since July 2013, did not immediately comment Monday on the FAA notification, but said it was sending a team to Ethiopia to aid investigators. The 737 line, which has flown for more than 50 years, is the world's best-selling modern passenger aircraft and viewed as one of the industry's most reliable. China ordered its airlines to ground the jet, a move followed by Indonesia and Ethiopia. Other airlines, from North America to the Middle East, kept flying the 737 MAX 8 on Monday after Boeing said it was safe. Boeing’s 737 MAX is the newest version of a jet that has been a fixture of passenger travel for decades and the cash cow of the world’s largest aircraft maker, competing against Airbus SE’s A320neo family of single-aisle jetliners. The 737 family is considered one of the industry’s most reliable aircraft. The MAX has a bigger and more efficient engine compared to earlier 737 models. Boeing rolled out the fuel-efficient MAX 8 in 2017 as an update to the already redesigned 50-year-old 737, and had delivered 350 MAX jets out of the total order tally of 5,011 aircraft by the end of January.

Boeing 737 MAX 8 airworthy but it will make design changes: US

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani arrived in Iraq on Monday for his first official visit, state television said, as Baghdad is under pressure from Washington to limit ties with its neighbour.

Before leaving Tehran Rouhani hailed the "special" relations between Iran and Iraq, saying they could not be compared to Baghdad's ties "with an aggressor country like America".

His visit to Iraq is the first since he became president in 2013.

"Iran-Iraq relations are special," Rouhani said at Tehran's Mehrabad airport before flying to Baghdad, Iranian state television reported, adding that Tehran was always ready to help its neighbours.

"America is despised in the region. The bombs that the Americans dropped on Iraqis, Syrian people and other countries cannot be forgotten," he added.

Baghdad has been under pressure from Washington to limit ties with its neighbour, particularly after the United States last year withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and hit Tehran with sanctions.

Iraq was given limited waivers to continue buying electricity and natural gas from Iran, with Washington calling on Baghdad to partner with US companies to become energy independent.

After Turkey, Iran is the top supplier of imported goods to Iraq, including cars, gas, home appliances and vegetables.

Iran has close but complicated relations with Iraq, with significant influence among its Shiite political groups.

The two countries fought a bloody war from 1980 to 1988 and Tehran's influence in Baghdad grew after the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq toppled the government of Saddam Hussein.

Iran was the first country to respond to Iraqi calls for help after Islamic State group jihadists captured second city Mosul in 2014 and threatened to overrun Baghdad and Kirkuk.

Tehran dispatched "military advisors" and equipment overnight along with the famous Revolutionary Guards elite Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani to prevent IS jihadists from approaching its western borders.

Following the defeat of IS in Iraq, Iran is trying to position itself to gain a prime role in rebuilding the war-ravaged country.

During the visit, Rouhani is set to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi and President Barham Saleh, as well as the country's chief Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, according to the Iranian government's website.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif preceded Rouhani to Iraq to prepare for the visit.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani arrived in Iraq on Monday for his first official visit, state television said, as Baghdad is under pressure from Washington to limit ties with its neighbour.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani arrived in Iraq on Monday for his first official visit, state television said, as Baghdad is under pressure from Washington to limit ties with its neighbour. Before leaving Tehran Rouhani hailed the "special" relations between Iran and Iraq, saying they could not be compared to Baghdad's ties "with an aggressor country like America". His visit to Iraq is the first since he became president in 2013. "Iran-Iraq relations are special," Rouhani said at Tehran's Mehrabad airport before flying to Baghdad, Iranian state television reported, adding that Tehran was always ready to help its neighbours. "America is despised in the region. The bombs that the Americans dropped on Iraqis, Syrian people and other countries cannot be forgotten," he added. Baghdad has been under pressure from Washington to limit ties with its neighbour, particularly after the United States last year withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and hit Tehran with sanctions. Iraq was given limited waivers to continue buying electricity and natural gas from Iran, with Washington calling on Baghdad to partner with US companies to become energy independent. After Turkey, Iran is the top supplier of imported goods to Iraq, including cars, gas, home appliances and vegetables. Iran has close but complicated relations with Iraq, with significant influence among its Shiite political groups. The two countries fought a bloody war from 1980 to 1988 and Tehran's influence in Baghdad grew after the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq toppled the government of Saddam Hussein. Iran was the first country to respond to Iraqi calls for help after Islamic State group jihadists captured second city Mosul in 2014 and threatened to overrun Baghdad and Kirkuk. Tehran dispatched "military advisors" and equipment overnight along with the famous Revolutionary Guards elite Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani to prevent IS jihadists from approaching its western borders. Following the defeat of IS in Iraq, Iran is trying to position itself to gain a prime role in rebuilding the war-ravaged country. During the visit, Rouhani is set to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi and President Barham Saleh, as well as the country's chief Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, according to the Iranian government's website. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif preceded Rouhani to Iraq to prepare for the visit.

Iran President Hassan Rouhani arrives in Iraq on 3-day visit

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pulwama-attack-mastermind-mudasir-believed-to-be-killed-in-encounter-jk-police-202489">Pulwama attack mastermind Mudasir believed to be killed in encounter: J&amp;K Police</a>

Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist and one of the masterminds of Pulwama attack Mudasir Ahmed Khan, alias ‘Mohd Bhai’ is believed to be killed in an encounter in the Tral area of Jammu and Kashmir.

Based on a credible input about the presence of terrorists in Pinglish area of Tral Awantipora, a cordon and search operation was launched today jointly by Police and security forces in the area.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/us-urges-india-to-stop-buying-oil-from-venezuelas-nicolas-maduro-government-top-envoy-202463">Urge India to stop buying oil from Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro government: US top envoy</a>

The United States is pressing India to stop buying oil from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government, Washington’s top envoy for Venezuela said, as the Trump administration this week threatened more US sanctions to cut off Maduro’s financial lifelines.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-polls-2019-over-15-crore-voters-of-the-total-electorate-in-18-19-age-group-202479">Lok Sabha polls 2019: Over 1.5 crore voters of the total electorate in </a><a href="http://cms.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-polls-2019-over-15-crore-voters-of-the-total-electorate-in-18-19-age-group-202479">18-19</a><a href="http://cms.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-polls-2019-over-15-crore-voters-of-the-total-electorate-in-18-19-age-group-202479"> age group</a>

Lok Sabha elections 2019 will begin on April 11 and continue for over a month till May 19 across seven phases, followed by counting of votes on May 23, the Election Commission announced on Sunday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-orders-its-airlines-to-suspend-use-of-boeing-737-max-aircraft-202485">After Ethiopian Airlines crash, China suspends use of Boeing 737 Max aircraft</a>

China's aviation regulator said on Monday it had ordered Chinese airlines to suspend their Boeing Co 737 MAX aircraft operations by 6 pm following a deadly crash of a 737 MAX 8 operated by Ethiopian Airlines.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-ready-to-meet-kim-jong-un-again-for-denuclearisation-talks-white-house-202451">US President Donald Trump ready to meet Kim Jong Un again for denuclearisation talks: White House</a>

US President Donald Trump is ready to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un again for denuclearisation talks, the White House said, underlining that his decision to walk out of the Hanoi summit sent a signal to other countries as well that he is not desperate for a deal unless it is in America's interest.

Pulwama attack mastermind Mudasir believed to be killed in encounter: J&K Police Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist and one of the masterminds of Pulwama attack Mudasir Ahmed Khan, alias ‘Mohd Bhai’ is believed to be killed in an encounter in the Tral area of Jammu and Kashmir.

Pulwama attack mastermind Mudasir believed to be killed in encounter: J&K Police Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist and one of the masterminds of Pulwama attack Mudasir Ahmed Khan, alias ‘Mohd Bhai’ is believed to be killed in an encounter in the Tral area of Jammu and Kashmir. Based on a credible input about the presence of terrorists in Pinglish area of Tral Awantipora, a cordon and search operation was launched today jointly by Police and security forces in the area. Urge India to stop buying oil from Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro government: US top envoy The United States is pressing India to stop buying oil from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government, Washington’s top envoy for Venezuela said, as the Trump administration this week threatened more US sanctions to cut off Maduro’s financial lifelines. Lok Sabha polls 2019: Over 1.5 crore voters of the total electorate in 18-19 age group Lok Sabha elections 2019 will begin on April 11 and continue for over a month till May 19 across seven phases, followed by counting of votes on May 23, the Election Commission announced on Sunday. After Ethiopian Airlines crash, China suspends use of Boeing 737 Max aircraft China's aviation regulator said on Monday it had ordered Chinese airlines to suspend their Boeing Co 737 MAX aircraft operations by 6 pm following a deadly crash of a 737 MAX 8 operated by Ethiopian Airlines. US President Donald Trump ready to meet Kim Jong Un again for denuclearisation talks: White House US President Donald Trump is ready to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un again for denuclearisation talks, the White House said, underlining that his decision to walk out of the Hanoi summit sent a signal to other countries as well that he is not desperate for a deal unless it is in America's interest.

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