Oil prices rose on Monday, lifted by Saudi oil minister Khalid al-Falih saying an end to OPEC-led supply cuts was unlikely before June and a report of falling US drilling activity.

Despite this, markets were somewhat held back after US employment data raised concerns that an economic slowdown in Asia and Europe was spilling into the United States, where growth has so far still been healthy.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures were at $56.29 per barrel at 0156 GMT, up 22 cents, or 0.4 per cent from their last close.

Brent crude futures were at $65.91 per barre, up 17 cents, or 0.3 per cent.

Oil markets have been supported this year by ongoing supply cuts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and some non-affiliated allies like Russia - known as the OPEC+ alliance. OPEC+ has pledged to cut 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) in crude supply since the start of the year to tighten markets and prop up prices.

The group will meet in Vienna on April 17-18, with another gathering scheduled for June 25-26, to discuss supply policy.

Saudi oil minister Khalid al-Falih told Reuters on Sunday it would be too early to change OPEC+ output policy at the group's meeting in April.

"We will see what happens by April, if there is any unforeseen disruption somewhere else, but barring this I think we will just be kicking the can forward," Falih said.

Prices were also supported by US energy services firm Baker Hughes' latest weekly report showing the number of rigs drilling for new oil production in the United States fell by nine to 834.

High drilling activity last year resulted in a more than 2 million bpd rise in production, to a record 12.1 million bpd reached this February.

"This is the third straight week of decline...after a number of oil producers trimmed their spending outlooks for 2019," ANZ bank said on Monday.

The slowdown in drilling points to more timid output growth going forward, but because the overall drilling level remains relatively high despite the recent decline, many analysts still expect U.S. crude output to rise above 13 million bpd soon.

Oil prices rose on Monday, lifted by Saudi oil minister Khalid al-Falih saying an end to OPEC-led supply cuts was unlikely before June and a report of falling US drilling activity.

Oil prices rose on Monday, lifted by Saudi oil minister Khalid al-Falih saying an end to OPEC-led supply cuts was unlikely before June and a report of falling US drilling activity. Despite this, markets were somewhat held back after US employment data raised concerns that an economic slowdown in Asia and Europe was spilling into the United States, where growth has so far still been healthy. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures were at $56.29 per barrel at 0156 GMT, up 22 cents, or 0.4 per cent from their last close. Brent crude futures were at $65.91 per barre, up 17 cents, or 0.3 per cent. Oil markets have been supported this year by ongoing supply cuts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and some non-affiliated allies like Russia - known as the OPEC+ alliance. OPEC+ has pledged to cut 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) in crude supply since the start of the year to tighten markets and prop up prices. The group will meet in Vienna on April 17-18, with another gathering scheduled for June 25-26, to discuss supply policy. Saudi oil minister Khalid al-Falih told Reuters on Sunday it would be too early to change OPEC+ output policy at the group's meeting in April. "We will see what happens by April, if there is any unforeseen disruption somewhere else, but barring this I think we will just be kicking the can forward," Falih said. Prices were also supported by US energy services firm Baker Hughes' latest weekly report showing the number of rigs drilling for new oil production in the United States fell by nine to 834. High drilling activity last year resulted in a more than 2 million bpd rise in production, to a record 12.1 million bpd reached this February. "This is the third straight week of decline...after a number of oil producers trimmed their spending outlooks for 2019," ANZ bank said on Monday. The slowdown in drilling points to more timid output growth going forward, but because the overall drilling level remains relatively high despite the recent decline, many analysts still expect U.S. crude output to rise above 13 million bpd soon.

Oil rises on OPEC-led supply cuts, but slowing economy restricts gains

Christian Mejia thought he had a shot at getting out of immigration detention in rural Louisiana after he'd found a lawyer to help him seek asylum.

Then he was quarantined.

In early January, a mumps outbreak at the privately-run Pine Prairie US&nbsp;Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Processing Center put Mejia and hundreds of other detainees on lockdown. "When there is just one person who is sick, everybody pays," Mejia, 19, said in a phone interview from the Pine Prairie centre describing weeks without visits and access to the library and dining hall.

His attorney wasn't allowed in, but his immigration court case continued anyway - over a video conference line. On February 12, the judge ordered Mejia deported back to Honduras.

The number of people amassed in immigration detention under the Trump administration has reached record highs, raising concerns among migrant advocates about disease outbreaks and resulting quarantines that limit access to legal services.

As of March 6, more than 50,000 migrants were in detention, according to ICE data.

Internal emails reviewed by Reuters reveal the complications of managing outbreaks like the one at Pine Prairie, since immigrant detainees often are transferred around the country and infected people don't necessarily show symptoms of viral diseases even when they are contagious.

ICE health officials have been notified of 236 confirmed or probable cases of mumps among detainees in 51 facilities in the past 12 months, compared to no cases detected between January 2016 and February 2018. Last year, 423 detainees were determined to have influenza and 461 to have chicken pox. All three diseases are largely preventable by vaccine.

As of March 7, a total of 2,287 detainees were quarantined around the country, an ICE official who spoke on condition of anonymity told Reuters.

Ten Democratic members of Congress sent a letter on February 28 to ICE acting director Ronald Vitiello seeking more information about viral diseases at immigration detention centres in Colorado, Arizona and Texas. Lawmakers did not mention the Pine Prairie outbreak.

Pablo Paez, a spokesman for The GEO Group, the private prison operator that runs Pine Prairie under government contract, said its medical professionals follow standards set by ICE and health authorities. He said medical care provided to detainees allows the company "to detect, treat and follow appropriate medical protocols to manage an infectious outbreak."

Unprecedented numbers

The first cases at Pine Prairie were detected in January in four migrants who had been recently transferred from the Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility in Mississippi, according to internal emails.

Tallahatchie, run by private detention company CoreCivic, has had five confirmed cases of mumps and 18 cases of chicken pox since January, according to company spokeswoman Amanda Gilchrist. She said no one who was diagnosed was transferred out of the facility while the disease was active.

Tallahatchie houses hundreds of migrants recently apprehended along the US- Mexico border, ICE officials said.

On Tuesday, US&nbsp;Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan told reporters that changing demographics on the southwest border, with more immigrants from Central America travelling long distances, overwhelmed border officials and raised health concerns.

"We are seeing migrants arrive with illnesses and medical conditions in unprecedented numbers," McAleenan said at a press conference.

However, vaccination rates in the countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras are above 90 per cent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ICE detainees come from countries all over the world, with varying degrees of vaccination coverage.

'High profile removal'

At Pine Prairie, staff members were at times at odds with the warden about how to manage the mumps outbreak, internal emails show. The warden decided not to quarantine 40 new arrivals from Tallahatchie in February despite concerns raised by the medical staff, one email showed.

The warden, Indalecio Ramos, who referred questions about the outbreak to ICE and The GEO Group, argued that quarantining the transfers would keep them from attending their court hearings, the facility's health service administrator wrote in a February 7 email.

In a Feb&nbsp;21 email, ICE requested that medical staff members at Pine Prairie clear a detainee quarantined for chicken pox and mumps for travel, calling him a "high profile removal scheduled for deporting." In an email to staff later that day, warden Ramos wrote that medical staff had wanted to exclude the detainee from transfer but "ICE wants him to travel out of the country anyway ... Please ensure he leaves."

The ICE spokesman said that travel is restricted for people who are known to be contagious but those exposed to diseases who are asymptomatic can travel.

Since January, the 1,094-bed Pine Prairie facility has had 18 detainees with confirmed or probable cases of mumps compared to no cases in 2018, according to ICE. As of mid-February, 288 people were under quarantine at Pine Prairie. Mejia said his quarantine ended on February 25.

Detention centres in other states also have seen a rise in outbreaks.

There have been 186 mumps cases in immigration detention facilities in Texas since October, the largest outbreak in centres there in recent years, said Lara Anton, the press officer for the Texas Department of State Health Services.

In Colorado, at the Aurora Contract Detention Facility near Denver, run by The GEO Group, 357 people have been quarantined following eight confirmed and five suspected cases of mumps detected since February, as well as six cases of chickenpox diagnosed since the beginning of January, said Dr Bernadette Albanese from the Tri-County Health Department in Colorado.

Civil rights attorney Danielle Jefferis said court hearings for quarantined immigrants at Aurora were largely cancelled.

At Pine Prairie on February 12, Mejia said he felt confused and hopeless during his video hearing, with no attorney by his side.

After Mejia's lawyers complained, attorneys were allowed to visit quarantined detainees on February 13 - one day too late for Mejia.

While he is appealing his case, his lawyers say he could be deported at any time.

Christian Mejia thought he had a shot at getting out of immigration detention in rural Louisiana after he'd found a lawyer to help him seek asylum. Then he was quarantined.

Christian Mejia thought he had a shot at getting out of immigration detention in rural Louisiana after he'd found a lawyer to help him seek asylum. Then he was quarantined. In early January, a mumps outbreak at the privately-run Pine Prairie US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Processing Center put Mejia and hundreds of other detainees on lockdown. "When there is just one person who is sick, everybody pays," Mejia, 19, said in a phone interview from the Pine Prairie centre describing weeks without visits and access to the library and dining hall. His attorney wasn't allowed in, but his immigration court case continued anyway - over a video conference line. On February 12, the judge ordered Mejia deported back to Honduras. The number of people amassed in immigration detention under the Trump administration has reached record highs, raising concerns among migrant advocates about disease outbreaks and resulting quarantines that limit access to legal services. As of March 6, more than 50,000 migrants were in detention, according to ICE data. Internal emails reviewed by Reuters reveal the complications of managing outbreaks like the one at Pine Prairie, since immigrant detainees often are transferred around the country and infected people don't necessarily show symptoms of viral diseases even when they are contagious. ICE health officials have been notified of 236 confirmed or probable cases of mumps among detainees in 51 facilities in the past 12 months, compared to no cases detected between January 2016 and February 2018. Last year, 423 detainees were determined to have influenza and 461 to have chicken pox. All three diseases are largely preventable by vaccine. As of March 7, a total of 2,287 detainees were quarantined around the country, an ICE official who spoke on condition of anonymity told Reuters. Ten Democratic members of Congress sent a letter on February 28 to ICE acting director Ronald Vitiello seeking more information about viral diseases at immigration detention centres in Colorado, Arizona and Texas. Lawmakers did not mention the Pine Prairie outbreak. Pablo Paez, a spokesman for The GEO Group, the private prison operator that runs Pine Prairie under government contract, said its medical professionals follow standards set by ICE and health authorities. He said medical care provided to detainees allows the company "to detect, treat and follow appropriate medical protocols to manage an infectious outbreak." Unprecedented numbers The first cases at Pine Prairie were detected in January in four migrants who had been recently transferred from the Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility in Mississippi, according to internal emails. Tallahatchie, run by private detention company CoreCivic, has had five confirmed cases of mumps and 18 cases of chicken pox since January, according to company spokeswoman Amanda Gilchrist. She said no one who was diagnosed was transferred out of the facility while the disease was active. Tallahatchie houses hundreds of migrants recently apprehended along the US- Mexico border, ICE officials said. On Tuesday, US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan told reporters that changing demographics on the southwest border, with more immigrants from Central America travelling long distances, overwhelmed border officials and raised health concerns. "We are seeing migrants arrive with illnesses and medical conditions in unprecedented numbers," McAleenan said at a press conference. However, vaccination rates in the countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras are above 90 per cent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ICE detainees come from countries all over the world, with varying degrees of vaccination coverage. 'High profile removal' At Pine Prairie, staff members were at times at odds with the warden about how to manage the mumps outbreak, internal emails show. The warden decided not to quarantine 40 new arrivals from Tallahatchie in February despite concerns raised by the medical staff, one email showed. The warden, Indalecio Ramos, who referred questions about the outbreak to ICE and The GEO Group, argued that quarantining the transfers would keep them from attending their court hearings, the facility's health service administrator wrote in a February 7 email. In a Feb 21 email, ICE requested that medical staff members at Pine Prairie clear a detainee quarantined for chicken pox and mumps for travel, calling him a "high profile removal scheduled for deporting." In an email to staff later that day, warden Ramos wrote that medical staff had wanted to exclude the detainee from transfer but "ICE wants him to travel out of the country anyway ... Please ensure he leaves." The ICE spokesman said that travel is restricted for people who are known to be contagious but those exposed to diseases who are asymptomatic can travel. Since January, the 1,094-bed Pine Prairie facility has had 18 detainees with confirmed or probable cases of mumps compared to no cases in 2018, according to ICE. As of mid-February, 288 people were under quarantine at Pine Prairie. Mejia said his quarantine ended on February 25. Detention centres in other states also have seen a rise in outbreaks. There have been 186 mumps cases in immigration detention facilities in Texas since October, the largest outbreak in centres there in recent years, said Lara Anton, the press officer for the Texas Department of State Health Services. In Colorado, at the Aurora Contract Detention Facility near Denver, run by The GEO Group, 357 people have been quarantined following eight confirmed and five suspected cases of mumps detected since February, as well as six cases of chickenpox diagnosed since the beginning of January, said Dr Bernadette Albanese from the Tri-County Health Department in Colorado. Civil rights attorney Danielle Jefferis said court hearings for quarantined immigrants at Aurora were largely cancelled. At Pine Prairie on February 12, Mejia said he felt confused and hopeless during his video hearing, with no attorney by his side. After Mejia's lawyers complained, attorneys were allowed to visit quarantined detainees on February 13 - one day too late for Mejia. While he is appealing his case, his lawyers say he could be deported at any time.

More than 2,000 migrants quarantined in US detention centers due to disease outbreaks

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/pakistan/pakistan-seeks-indias-removal-from-terror-financing-watchdogs-review-body-to-ensure-fair-process-202277">Pakistan seeks India's removal from terror financing watchdog's review body to ensure 'fair process'</a>

Pakistan has asked the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international terror financing watchdog, to remove India as co-chair of its Asia-Pacific Joint Group, its Finance Ministry said on Saturday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelas-maduro-blames-us-weapons-for-massive-blackout-202264">Venezuela's Maduro blames US weapons for </a><a class="gr-progress" href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelas-maduro-blames-us-weapons-for-massive-blackout-202264">massive</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelas-maduro-blames-us-weapons-for-massive-blackout-202264"> blackout</a>

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro told a crowd of government supporters at a Caracas rally on Saturday that a massive blackout that has affected the country since Thursday was caused by "high-level technology that only the United States government has."

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/twelve-dead-in-colombia-plane-crash-202261">Fourteen dead in Colombia plane crash</a>

Fourteen people were killed in a plane crash in the Colombian plains province of Meta on Saturday, the country’s civil aviation agency said.

The Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics said there were no survivors of the crash, which occurred after the DC-3 aircraft made a distress call at 10:40 am local time.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistani-drone-shot-down-in-sri-ganganagar-sector-near-indo-pak-border-202262">Pakistani drone shot down in Sri Ganganagar sector near Indo-Pak border</a>

The Indian Army on Saturday shot down a drone which intruded in Sri Ganganagar sector of Rajasthan.

The Army said that one Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) intruded in Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar sector around 7.30 pm on Saturday."The drone was engaged and brought down," the Army added.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-15-dialysis-patients-die-in-venezuelas-blackout-ngo-202260">At least 15 dialysis patients die in Venezuela's blackout: NGO</a>

Fifteen Venezuelans with advanced kidney disease have died after being unable to get dialysis during the country's extended power outage, an NGO reported Saturday.

Pakistan seeks India's removal from terror financing watchdog's review body to ensure 'fair process' Pakistan has asked the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international terror financing watchdog, to remove India as co-chair of its Asia-Pacific Joint Group, its Finance Ministry said on Saturday.

Pakistan seeks India's removal from terror financing watchdog's review body to ensure 'fair process' Pakistan has asked the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international terror financing watchdog, to remove India as co-chair of its Asia-Pacific Joint Group, its Finance Ministry said on Saturday. Venezuela's Maduro blames US weapons for massive blackout Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro told a crowd of government supporters at a Caracas rally on Saturday that a massive blackout that has affected the country since Thursday was caused by "high-level technology that only the United States government has." Fourteen dead in Colombia plane crash Fourteen people were killed in a plane crash in the Colombian plains province of Meta on Saturday, the country’s civil aviation agency said. The Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics said there were no survivors of the crash, which occurred after the DC-3 aircraft made a distress call at 10:40 am local time. Pakistani drone shot down in Sri Ganganagar sector near Indo-Pak border The Indian Army on Saturday shot down a drone which intruded in Sri Ganganagar sector of Rajasthan. The Army said that one Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) intruded in Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar sector around 7.30 pm on Saturday."The drone was engaged and brought down," the Army added. At least 15 dialysis patients die in Venezuela's blackout: NGO Fifteen Venezuelans with advanced kidney disease have died after being unable to get dialysis during the country's extended power outage, an NGO reported Saturday.

News brief: Big stories of the day

The United States on Saturday urged Italy not to "lend legitimacy" to China's "infrastructure vanity project" while referring to the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative.

"Italy is a major global economy and great investment destination. No need for the Italian government to lend legitimacy to China’s infrastructure vanity project," Garrett Marquis, a spokesman for the United States National Security Council tweeted.

The statement comes in the wake of Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte mulling over signing an accord with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Xi is slated to visit Italy from March 22 to 24, reports Sputnik. Conte had outlined that Italy and China would seek a framework deal during the Chinese premier's impending visit.

The United States has previously warned Italy against supporting the project as well, with Marquis outlining that China's initiative was unlikely to "bring any sustained economic benefits to the Italian people".

He added that it "may end up harming Italy’s global reputation in the long run."&nbsp;

The United States on Saturday urged Italy not to "lend legitimacy" to China's "infrastructure vanity project" while referring to the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative.

The United States on Saturday urged Italy not to "lend legitimacy" to China's "infrastructure vanity project" while referring to the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative. "Italy is a major global economy and great investment destination. No need for the Italian government to lend legitimacy to China’s infrastructure vanity project," Garrett Marquis, a spokesman for the United States National Security Council tweeted. The statement comes in the wake of Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte mulling over signing an accord with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi is slated to visit Italy from March 22 to 24, reports Sputnik. Conte had outlined that Italy and China would seek a framework deal during the Chinese premier's impending visit. The United States has previously warned Italy against supporting the project as well, with Marquis outlining that China's initiative was unlikely to "bring any sustained economic benefits to the Italian people". He added that it "may end up harming Italy’s global reputation in the long run."

US urges Italy against China's OBOR initiative

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/juan-guaido-nicolas-maduro-rallies-set-as-venezuela-struggles-with-blackout-202146">Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro</a> told a crowd of government supporters at a Caracas rally on Saturday that a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-15-dialysis-patients-die-in-venezuelas-blackout-ngo-202260">massive blackout</a> that has affected the country since Thursday was caused by "high-level technology that only the United States government has."

Several hundred people gathered at the rally in central Caracas for a march to denounce the crippling US oil sanctions aimed at cutting off the Maduro government's funding sources.

Maduro blamed the country's worst blackout in decades on the political opposition and said it was caused by "electromagnetic attacks."

The power flickered on and off in parts of Caracas on Saturday, including the presidential palace of Miraflores, according to Reuters witnesses. Six of the country's 23 states still lacked power as of Saturday afternoon, Socialist Party Vice President Diosdado Cabello said on state television.

Earlier in the day, Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido called on citizens nationwide to travel to the capital Caracas for a protest against Maduro.

Venezuela, already suffering from hyperinflation and shortages of basic goods, has been mired in a major political crisis since Guaido assumed the interim presidency in January, calling Maduro a usurper following the 2018 election, which Maduro won but was widely considered fraudulent.

Maduro says Guaido is a puppet of Washington and dismisses his claim to the presidency as an effort by the administration of US President Donald Trump to control Venezuela's oil wealth.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro told a crowd of government supporters at a Caracas rally on Saturday that a massive blackout that has affected the country since Thursday was caused by "high-level technology that only the United States government has.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro told a crowd of government supporters at a Caracas rally on Saturday that a massive blackout that has affected the country since Thursday was caused by "high-level technology that only the United States government has." Several hundred people gathered at the rally in central Caracas for a march to denounce the crippling US oil sanctions aimed at cutting off the Maduro government's funding sources. Maduro blamed the country's worst blackout in decades on the political opposition and said it was caused by "electromagnetic attacks." The power flickered on and off in parts of Caracas on Saturday, including the presidential palace of Miraflores, according to Reuters witnesses. Six of the country's 23 states still lacked power as of Saturday afternoon, Socialist Party Vice President Diosdado Cabello said on state television. Earlier in the day, Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido called on citizens nationwide to travel to the capital Caracas for a protest against Maduro. Venezuela, already suffering from hyperinflation and shortages of basic goods, has been mired in a major political crisis since Guaido assumed the interim presidency in January, calling Maduro a usurper following the 2018 election, which Maduro won but was widely considered fraudulent. Maduro says Guaido is a puppet of Washington and dismisses his claim to the presidency as an effort by the administration of US President Donald Trump to control Venezuela's oil wealth.

Venezuela's Maduro blames US weapons for massive blackout

China's top central banker signalled that Beijing and Washington are getting close to reaching a currency deal as part of their continuing negotiations to settle a yearlong trade battle, according to a Dow Jones news report supplied to EFE on Sunday.&nbsp;

"Both sides have reached consensus on many crucial and important issues, " People's Bank of China Gov. Yi Gang said at a news conference Sunday, held on the sidelines of the nation's annual legislative session.&nbsp;

As part of the accord, Yi said, China won't engage in competitive devaluation to give Chinese exporters a leg up in foreign markets--a commitment Chinese officials have also made in multilateral agreements such as those among the Group of 20 industrial nations. "This is what we promised," he emphasized. "Absolutely we won't do this."&nbsp;

How China manages its currency has been a point of contention between Washington and Beijing for years. President Trump was vocal throughout his election campaign in saying China manipulates the yuan to gain an advantage in trade by making its products relatively cheaper. Trump repeated the charge last year when the yuan's plunge aroused suspicion that Beijing was pushing down its value to offset US&nbsp;tariffs on Chinese products.&nbsp;

In recent trade talks, US&nbsp;negotiators pushed their Chinese counterparts to keep the yuan stable and to improve transparency in currency-market interventions by China's central bank. During a congressional hearing late last month, US&nbsp;Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said, "we have spent a lot of time on currency and the agreement will be enforceable."&nbsp;

Still, how the currency deal, if reached, will be enforced remains unclear. Both sides are haggling over an enforcement mechanism for the broader trade agreement. A senior Chinese trade negotiator, Wang Shouwen, told reporters Saturday that any such system must be "two-way, fair and equal."&nbsp;

At Sunday's news conference, Yi said both sides have discussed how they should disclose information when they buy or sell in foreign-exchange markets according to rules set by the International Monetary Fund. Another point of discussion, he said, involves how both nations should respect the autonomy of each other's monetary policy.&nbsp;

That latter issue is of deepening concern to the PBOC because it doesn't want a pledge to keep the yuan steady to tie its hands in supporting economic growth by loosening credit policy. Letting more yuan funds flow into the economy could pressure the value of the yuan.&nbsp;

The PBOC mainly looks at domestic factors when setting monetary policy, Yi said. "The exchange rate isn't a major factor in domestic monetary policy."&nbsp;

Many analysts and investors note that China's promise not to engage in competitive devaluation isn't much of a concession to the US. For a decade, China allowed a largely undervalued yuan to appreciate. After that appreciation trajectory ended in 2015, the yuan started to come under greater pressure, and the Chinese central bank has frequently intervened to prevent the currency from falling too much.&nbsp;

Too sharp of a depreciation, Chinese officials fear, could prod businesses and investors to move money offshore, potentially destabilizing a financial system already struggling with rising debt woes.&nbsp;

At the media briefing, Yi pointed to the central bank's effort to keep the yuan stable in recent years, noting that it had burned through $1 trillion of its foreign-exchange reserves to defend the currency.&nbsp;

The Chinese central banker also sought to temper investors' expectations for more aggressive monetary easing to prop up the slowing economy. A "neutral" monetary stance, Yi said, means that China will keep its overall leverage ratio stable.&nbsp;

In the past year, the central bank cut the amount of cash banks must keep in reserve five times, in a bid to unleash more funds for lenders to make loans. There is still room for such reserve-requirement reductions this year, Yi said, though the room has narrowed.&nbsp;

He also said the central bank will continue to foster competition among banks as a way to lower lending rates, but he gave no indication that any reduction in benchmark interest rates are in the cards. At the end of last year, credit amounted to 249.4% of China's gross domestic product, he said, which was 1.5 percentage points lower than the level as of the end of 2017.&nbsp;

China's top central banker signalled that Beijing and Washington are getting close to reaching a currency deal as part of their continuing negotiations to settle a yearlong trade battle, according to a Dow Jones news report supplied to EFE on Sunday.

China's top central banker signalled that Beijing and Washington are getting close to reaching a currency deal as part of their continuing negotiations to settle a yearlong trade battle, according to a Dow Jones news report supplied to EFE on Sunday. "Both sides have reached consensus on many crucial and important issues, " People's Bank of China Gov. Yi Gang said at a news conference Sunday, held on the sidelines of the nation's annual legislative session. As part of the accord, Yi said, China won't engage in competitive devaluation to give Chinese exporters a leg up in foreign markets--a commitment Chinese officials have also made in multilateral agreements such as those among the Group of 20 industrial nations. "This is what we promised," he emphasized. "Absolutely we won't do this." How China manages its currency has been a point of contention between Washington and Beijing for years. President Trump was vocal throughout his election campaign in saying China manipulates the yuan to gain an advantage in trade by making its products relatively cheaper. Trump repeated the charge last year when the yuan's plunge aroused suspicion that Beijing was pushing down its value to offset US tariffs on Chinese products. In recent trade talks, US negotiators pushed their Chinese counterparts to keep the yuan stable and to improve transparency in currency-market interventions by China's central bank. During a congressional hearing late last month, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said, "we have spent a lot of time on currency and the agreement will be enforceable." Still, how the currency deal, if reached, will be enforced remains unclear. Both sides are haggling over an enforcement mechanism for the broader trade agreement. A senior Chinese trade negotiator, Wang Shouwen, told reporters Saturday that any such system must be "two-way, fair and equal." At Sunday's news conference, Yi said both sides have discussed how they should disclose information when they buy or sell in foreign-exchange markets according to rules set by the International Monetary Fund. Another point of discussion, he said, involves how both nations should respect the autonomy of each other's monetary policy. That latter issue is of deepening concern to the PBOC because it doesn't want a pledge to keep the yuan steady to tie its hands in supporting economic growth by loosening credit policy. Letting more yuan funds flow into the economy could pressure the value of the yuan. The PBOC mainly looks at domestic factors when setting monetary policy, Yi said. "The exchange rate isn't a major factor in domestic monetary policy." Many analysts and investors note that China's promise not to engage in competitive devaluation isn't much of a concession to the US. For a decade, China allowed a largely undervalued yuan to appreciate. After that appreciation trajectory ended in 2015, the yuan started to come under greater pressure, and the Chinese central bank has frequently intervened to prevent the currency from falling too much. Too sharp of a depreciation, Chinese officials fear, could prod businesses and investors to move money offshore, potentially destabilizing a financial system already struggling with rising debt woes. At the media briefing, Yi pointed to the central bank's effort to keep the yuan stable in recent years, noting that it had burned through $1 trillion of its foreign-exchange reserves to defend the currency. The Chinese central banker also sought to temper investors' expectations for more aggressive monetary easing to prop up the slowing economy. A "neutral" monetary stance, Yi said, means that China will keep its overall leverage ratio stable. In the past year, the central bank cut the amount of cash banks must keep in reserve five times, in a bid to unleash more funds for lenders to make loans. There is still room for such reserve-requirement reductions this year, Yi said, though the room has narrowed. He also said the central bank will continue to foster competition among banks as a way to lower lending rates, but he gave no indication that any reduction in benchmark interest rates are in the cards. At the end of last year, credit amounted to 249.4% of China's gross domestic product, he said, which was 1.5 percentage points lower than the level as of the end of 2017.

US, China near deal; Beijing vows not to devalue Yuan to help exports

Security staff at Moscow's main airport confiscated a "mortar shell" from a US embassy staffer on Saturday, in what the foreign ministry described as a "provocation," local media reported.

Security staff at Sheremetyevo airport, the biggest in Russia, found an object resembling a mortar shell while checking the man's luggage, the Ria Rovosti agency reported, citing a foreign ministry source.

"Bomb disposal experts confirmed that it was a shell with a detonator but no explosives," the source said, adding that it amounted to a "provocation".

The United States appeared to be testing Russia's security not just abroad but inside the country's borders, the foreign ministry source told Ria Novosti.

The US embassy staffer told staff the object was for his personal collection and he was allowed to take a later plane to New York, having missed his original flight. The individual concerned had links with the US army, the ministry source said.

Moscow said it had contacted the US embassy and was waiting for an explanation.

Security staff at Moscow's main airport confiscated a "mortar shell" from a US embassy staffer on Saturday, in what the foreign ministry described as a "provocation," local media reported.

Security staff at Moscow's main airport confiscated a "mortar shell" from a US embassy staffer on Saturday, in what the foreign ministry described as a "provocation," local media reported. Security staff at Sheremetyevo airport, the biggest in Russia, found an object resembling a mortar shell while checking the man's luggage, the Ria Rovosti agency reported, citing a foreign ministry source. "Bomb disposal experts confirmed that it was a shell with a detonator but no explosives," the source said, adding that it amounted to a "provocation". The United States appeared to be testing Russia's security not just abroad but inside the country's borders, the foreign ministry source told Ria Novosti. The US embassy staffer told staff the object was for his personal collection and he was allowed to take a later plane to New York, having missed his original flight. The individual concerned had links with the US army, the ministry source said. Moscow said it had contacted the US embassy and was waiting for an explanation.

Moscow airport staff find 'mortar shell' on US embassy staffer

The owners of the Chrysler Building have reached a deal to sell the iconic New York City building for "a little more than $150 million," The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

The sale price of the tower in midtown Manhattan considered an Art Deco masterpiece, marks a significant loss for Emirati investment firm Mubadala, which paid $800 million for a 90 per cent stake in 2008.

Real estate group Tishman Speyer, which had bought the building outright for a reported $210-250 million in 1997, retained a 10 per cent stake.

The Journal reported that the building's owners do not own the ground beneath it and pay annual rent that went up from $7.75 million to $32 million in 2018 and was set to increase again to $41 million in 2028.

Citing brokers, the newspaper said those fees "have eaten away at much if not all of the building's revenue."

The building also has some 400,000 square feet (37,160 square meters) of space that is either vacant or will become so in the coming years, the Journal said.

The Chrysler Building, which opened in 1930, stands 1,046 feet (319 meters) tall. It was the world's tallest building, but only for 11 months, after which it was dethroned by the Empire State Building, also in Manhattan.

The building was a personal project for Walter Chrysler, the founder of the car manufacturer that bears his name, but remained separate from the auto business.

The owners of the Chrysler Building have reached a deal to sell the iconic New York City building for "a little more than $150 million," The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

The owners of the Chrysler Building have reached a deal to sell the iconic New York City building for "a little more than $150 million," The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday. The sale price of the tower in midtown Manhattan considered an Art Deco masterpiece, marks a significant loss for Emirati investment firm Mubadala, which paid $800 million for a 90 per cent stake in 2008. Real estate group Tishman Speyer, which had bought the building outright for a reported $210-250 million in 1997, retained a 10 per cent stake. The Journal reported that the building's owners do not own the ground beneath it and pay annual rent that went up from $7.75 million to $32 million in 2018 and was set to increase again to $41 million in 2028. Citing brokers, the newspaper said those fees "have eaten away at much if not all of the building's revenue." The building also has some 400,000 square feet (37,160 square meters) of space that is either vacant or will become so in the coming years, the Journal said. The Chrysler Building, which opened in 1930, stands 1,046 feet (319 meters) tall. It was the world's tallest building, but only for 11 months, after which it was dethroned by the Empire State Building, also in Manhattan. The building was a personal project for Walter Chrysler, the founder of the car manufacturer that bears his name, but remained separate from the auto business.

New York's iconic Chrysler Building to sell for $150 million: Report

The United States' headline unemployment rate edged down to 3.8 per cent in February, although only 20,000 new jobs were created last month in the world's largest economy, the Labor Department reported Friday.

Those figures were contained in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' "The Employment Situation" report for February.

The US economy remains close to full employment, but the expansion of non-farm payrolls was far below the expectations of economists, who had been forecasting 175,000 new jobs.

Despite February's new jobs figure, which was the lowest in 17 months, an average of 200,000 jobs per month have been created over the past year.

The construction sector was hit the hardest last month, suffering a net loss of 31,000 jobs.

Average hourly earnings for all non-farm employees rose in February to $27.66, up from $27.55 in January. That increase followed a gain of just two cents between December 2018 and the first month of this year.

Wages were up 3.4 per cent from February 2018.

The labour force participation rate (the share of the population 16 years and older either working or seeking work) remained unchanged from the previous month at 63.2 per cent.

US employment has now risen for 100 consecutive months, the longest jobs-expansion streak on record.

But the weak payroll growth in February came as a surprise considering that an upwardly revised 311,000 new jobs were created in January despite the partial federal government shutdown, according to the Labor Department's most recent figures.

After the report was published, President Donald Trump hailed the strides made in female employment in the US.

"Women's unemployment rate is down to 3.6 per cent - was 7.9 per cent in January 2011. Things are looking good!" the president tweeted on International Women's Day, although the figure he was referring to is really 3.8 percent.

In statements to reporters, Trump said the most important aspect of the February jobs report is wage growth.

Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, for his part, also highlighted the rise in hourly earnings.

"At 3.4 per cent year-over-year, wage gains hit their highest mark since April 2009. The year-over-year average hourly earnings growth surpassing 3.0 per cent for the seventh straight month is good news for America's workers," he added.

Acosta noted that despite the low increase in payrolls last month there was still an average jobs gain of 186,000 over the past three months.

He also said skills development was crucial to boost hiring.

"This month's jobs report highlights the importance of focusing on workforce investment that builds the skills needed to fill the record amount of open jobs," Acosta said.

The United States' headline unemployment rate edged down to 3.8 per cent in February, although only 20,000 new jobs were created last month in the world's largest economy, the Labor Department reported Friday.

The United States' headline unemployment rate edged down to 3.8 per cent in February, although only 20,000 new jobs were created last month in the world's largest economy, the Labor Department reported Friday. Those figures were contained in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' "The Employment Situation" report for February. The US economy remains close to full employment, but the expansion of non-farm payrolls was far below the expectations of economists, who had been forecasting 175,000 new jobs. Despite February's new jobs figure, which was the lowest in 17 months, an average of 200,000 jobs per month have been created over the past year. The construction sector was hit the hardest last month, suffering a net loss of 31,000 jobs. Average hourly earnings for all non-farm employees rose in February to $27.66, up from $27.55 in January. That increase followed a gain of just two cents between December 2018 and the first month of this year. Wages were up 3.4 per cent from February 2018. The labour force participation rate (the share of the population 16 years and older either working or seeking work) remained unchanged from the previous month at 63.2 per cent. US employment has now risen for 100 consecutive months, the longest jobs-expansion streak on record. But the weak payroll growth in February came as a surprise considering that an upwardly revised 311,000 new jobs were created in January despite the partial federal government shutdown, according to the Labor Department's most recent figures. After the report was published, President Donald Trump hailed the strides made in female employment in the US. "Women's unemployment rate is down to 3.6 per cent - was 7.9 per cent in January 2011. Things are looking good!" the president tweeted on International Women's Day, although the figure he was referring to is really 3.8 percent. In statements to reporters, Trump said the most important aspect of the February jobs report is wage growth. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, for his part, also highlighted the rise in hourly earnings. "At 3.4 per cent year-over-year, wage gains hit their highest mark since April 2009. The year-over-year average hourly earnings growth surpassing 3.0 per cent for the seventh straight month is good news for America's workers," he added. Acosta noted that despite the low increase in payrolls last month there was still an average jobs gain of 186,000 over the past three months. He also said skills development was crucial to boost hiring. "This month's jobs report highlights the importance of focusing on workforce investment that builds the skills needed to fill the record amount of open jobs," Acosta said.

US unemployment rate falls to 3.8% in February; job growth slows sharply

India wants to keep buying Iranian oil at its current level of about 300,000 barrels per day (bpd), as it negotiates with Washington about <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-is-major-buyer-of-iran-oil-us-says-it-may-not-waive-sanctions-after-may-189907">extending a waiver of US&nbsp;sanctions</a> past early May, two sources in India with knowledge of the matter said.

India has reduced its purchases of Iranian oil, but has been in talks on extending a sanctions waiver, known as a significant reduction exception, a senior India official said in January.

The talks come just as trade tensions rise between Washington and New Delhi. The United States is planning to end preferential trade treatment for India that allows duty-free entry for up to $5.6 billion worth of its exports to the United States.

India is the biggest beneficiary of the Generalized System of Preferences, which dates from the 1970s, and ending its participation would be the strongest punitive action that Washington has taken against the country since President Donald Trump took office.

Amid this, New Delhi is asking Washington to be allowed to still buy Iranian oil at current levels of around 1.25 million tonnes per month, equal to about 300,000 bpd, the sources said.

The United States reimposed sanctions against Iran last November in a dispute over Tehran's nuclear and missile ambitions, after President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers.

Although the United States granted Iran's biggest oil customers - China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Italy and Greece - waivers that have allowed them to continue limited imports, Washington is putting pressure on governments to eventually reduce purchases of Iranian oil to zero. The first round of waivers expires around May 4.

Vincent Campos, a spokesman at the US&nbsp;State Department's energy bureau, would not confirm that India was asking the United States to renew its waiver, but said talks are ongoing with the eight consumers of Iran's oil that received waivers in November with the aim of eventually cutting imports to zero.

"We continue to have bilateral discussions" with each of the countries, including India, Campos said.

A US&nbsp;State Department official is this week visiting South Korea, Iran's fourth largest oil customer in Asia, to talk about sanctions, Seoul said.

David Peyman, a deputy assistant secretary for counter threat finance and sanctions, met on Wednesday with Hong Jin-wook, an official specializing in African and Middle Eastern affairs at South Korea's foreign ministry.

Peyman offered "to continue to closely consult on the extension of sanctions exemption and Korean companies’ technical issues regarding trade with Iran," a statement from Seoul's foreign ministry said.

The US&nbsp;State Department did not immediately respond to questions about their talks.

Iran, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), exported almost 3 million bpd of oil at its pre-sanctions peak, but that has dwindled to around 1.25 million bpd since the start of the year, shipping data from Refinitiv showed.

Talks with Washington on extending the waiver slowed due to the US&nbsp;government shutdown that extended through January, one of the Indian sources said. Talks have now resumed and India wants to get clarity before general elections scheduled in May, the source said.

No immediate comment was available from India's oil or external affairs ministries.

Iran was India's seventh biggest oil supplier in January, as compared with its position as third-biggest a year ago before the reimposition of sanctions.

India wants to keep buying Iranian oil at its current level of about 300,000 barrels per day (bpd), as it negotiates with Washington about extending a waiver of US sanctions past early May, two sources in India with knowledge of the matter said.

India wants to keep buying Iranian oil at its current level of about 300,000 barrels per day (bpd), as it negotiates with Washington about extending a waiver of US sanctions past early May, two sources in India with knowledge of the matter said. India has reduced its purchases of Iranian oil, but has been in talks on extending a sanctions waiver, known as a significant reduction exception, a senior India official said in January. The talks come just as trade tensions rise between Washington and New Delhi. The United States is planning to end preferential trade treatment for India that allows duty-free entry for up to $5.6 billion worth of its exports to the United States. India is the biggest beneficiary of the Generalized System of Preferences, which dates from the 1970s, and ending its participation would be the strongest punitive action that Washington has taken against the country since President Donald Trump took office. Amid this, New Delhi is asking Washington to be allowed to still buy Iranian oil at current levels of around 1.25 million tonnes per month, equal to about 300,000 bpd, the sources said. The United States reimposed sanctions against Iran last November in a dispute over Tehran's nuclear and missile ambitions, after President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers. Although the United States granted Iran's biggest oil customers - China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Italy and Greece - waivers that have allowed them to continue limited imports, Washington is putting pressure on governments to eventually reduce purchases of Iranian oil to zero. The first round of waivers expires around May 4. Vincent Campos, a spokesman at the US State Department's energy bureau, would not confirm that India was asking the United States to renew its waiver, but said talks are ongoing with the eight consumers of Iran's oil that received waivers in November with the aim of eventually cutting imports to zero. "We continue to have bilateral discussions" with each of the countries, including India, Campos said. A US State Department official is this week visiting South Korea, Iran's fourth largest oil customer in Asia, to talk about sanctions, Seoul said. David Peyman, a deputy assistant secretary for counter threat finance and sanctions, met on Wednesday with Hong Jin-wook, an official specializing in African and Middle Eastern affairs at South Korea's foreign ministry. Peyman offered "to continue to closely consult on the extension of sanctions exemption and Korean companies’ technical issues regarding trade with Iran," a statement from Seoul's foreign ministry said. The US State Department did not immediately respond to questions about their talks. Iran, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), exported almost 3 million bpd of oil at its pre-sanctions peak, but that has dwindled to around 1.25 million bpd since the start of the year, shipping data from Refinitiv showed. Talks with Washington on extending the waiver slowed due to the US government shutdown that extended through January, one of the Indian sources said. Talks have now resumed and India wants to get clarity before general elections scheduled in May, the source said. No immediate comment was available from India's oil or external affairs ministries. Iran was India's seventh biggest oil supplier in January, as compared with its position as third-biggest a year ago before the reimposition of sanctions.

Amid rising trade tensions with US, India seeks to extend Iran oil sanctions waiver

The United States supports "dictators, butchers and extremists" in the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/iran-warns-us-allies-of-humiliated-citizens-uprising-200889">Middle East</a>, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a Twitter post-Wednesday in a response to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-apple-ceo-tim-apple-twitter-responds-with-funniest-memes-201755">US&nbsp;President Donald Trump</a>'s State of the Union speech.

Tensions have ramped up between <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/iran-nuclear-deal-joint-commission-meets-in-vienna-without-us-201692">Iran and the United States</a> since Trump pulled out of a multilateral nuclear deal last May and reimposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

"US hostility has led it to support dictators, butchers &amp; extremists, who've only brought ruin to our region," Zarif wrote in the Twitter post.

Trump called Iran "the world's leading state sponsor of terror" during his speech and said his administration had acted decisively to confront it, according to a video of the speech posted on the official White House website.

"It is a radical regime. They do bad, bad things," Trump said. "We will not avert our eyes from a regime that chants 'death to America' and threatens genocide against the Jewish people."

Zarif responded by saying that Iran, including its Jewish community, was commemorating progress as it prepares to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Islamic revolution on Monday.

"Iranians—including our Jewish compatriots—are commemorating 40 years of progress despite US pressure, just as @realDonaldTrump again makes accusations against us @ #SOTU2019" Zarif wrote on Twitter, referring to the State of the Union address.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Iranians—including our Jewish compatriots—are commemorating 40 yrs of progress despite US pressure, just as <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> again makes accusations against us @ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU2019</a>. US hostility has led it to support dictators, butchers &amp; extremists, who've only brought ruin to our region
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) <a href="https://twitter.com/JZarif/status/1093014273347981314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Top Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rouhani, have said that the Islamic Republic is facing its toughest economic situation in 40 years, at least partially due to the US&nbsp;sanctions.

The United States supports "dictators, butchers and extremists" in the Middle East, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a Twitter post-Wednesday in a response to US President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech.

The United States supports "dictators, butchers and extremists" in the Middle East, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a Twitter post-Wednesday in a response to US President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech. Tensions have ramped up between Iran and the United States since Trump pulled out of a multilateral nuclear deal last May and reimposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic. "US hostility has led it to support dictators, butchers & extremists, who've only brought ruin to our region," Zarif wrote in the Twitter post. Trump called Iran "the world's leading state sponsor of terror" during his speech and said his administration had acted decisively to confront it, according to a video of the speech posted on the official White House website. "It is a radical regime. They do bad, bad things," Trump said. "We will not avert our eyes from a regime that chants 'death to America' and threatens genocide against the Jewish people." Zarif responded by saying that Iran, including its Jewish community, was commemorating progress as it prepares to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Islamic revolution on Monday. "Iranians—including our Jewish compatriots—are commemorating 40 years of progress despite US pressure, just as @realDonaldTrump again makes accusations against us @ #SOTU2019" Zarif wrote on Twitter, referring to the State of the Union address. Iranians—including our Jewish compatriots—are commemorating 40 yrs of progress despite US pressure, just as @realDonaldTrump again makes accusations against us @ #SOTU2019. US hostility has led it to support dictators, butchers & extremists, who've only brought ruin to our region — Javad Zarif (@JZarif) February 6, 2019 × Top Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rouhani, have said that the Islamic Republic is facing its toughest economic situation in 40 years, at least partially due to the US sanctions.

US supports 'dictators, butchers and extremists' in Middle East: Iran

Taiwan has made a formal request to the United States for new fighter jets to defend itself against increasing Chinese threats, Deputy Defence Minister Shen Yi-ming told reporters Thursday.

"We made the request to purchase (fighter jets) because China has been increasing its military strength and we are starting to have an imbalance of power in our air defence capabilities," Shen added.

The request, if granted, could ramp up tensions between China and the United States.&nbsp;

Beijing sees Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting unification, even though the two sides have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949.

China has significantly stepped up diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan since the Beijing-sceptic President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, including staging a series of military exercises near the island.

Chinese bombers and surveillance aircraft have also begun flying much more regular sorties around the island.

Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, but has remained Taiwan's most powerful unofficial ally and biggest arms supplier.

Last year, the US irked China over its plans to sell a batch of military parts to Taiwan in a $330 million contract including standard spare parts for aircraft.

Beijing has been incensed by warming ties between Washington and Taipei, including the approval by the US State Department of a preliminary licence to sell submarine technology to the island.

But fearing a possible backlash from Beijing, the US has repeatedly denied Taiwan's requests since 2002 for new fighter jets including newer F-16s and F-35s.

In that time China has massively ramped up spending on its armed forces, including highly advanced fifth-generation jet fighters.

That has left Taiwan with an ageing airforce that analysts say is in desperate need of an upgrade.&nbsp;

The island currently has 326 fighter jets, all in service since the 1990s, including US-made F-16s, French Mirage 2000s and Taiwan's own indigenous fighters (IDF).

Defence officials would not confirm how many fighter jets they have asked for in the purchase request, or what model.&nbsp;

Local media Apple Daily reported Taiwan was seeking 66 F-16V at a cost of $13 billion including missiles, logistics and training.

"It does not matter if it is F-15, F-18, F-16 or F-35, as long as it fits our combat needs," Tang Hung-an, a major-general with Taiwan's Air Force Command Headquarters said.

Tang added that the letter of request to the US did not specify which type of aircraft Taiwan wants.&nbsp;

Taiwan has made a formal request to the United States for new fighter jets to defend itself against increasing Chinese threats, Deputy Defence Minister Shen Yi-ming told reporters Thursday.

Taiwan has made a formal request to the United States for new fighter jets to defend itself against increasing Chinese threats, Deputy Defence Minister Shen Yi-ming told reporters Thursday. "We made the request to purchase (fighter jets) because China has been increasing its military strength and we are starting to have an imbalance of power in our air defence capabilities," Shen added. The request, if granted, could ramp up tensions between China and the United States. Beijing sees Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting unification, even though the two sides have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949. China has significantly stepped up diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan since the Beijing-sceptic President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, including staging a series of military exercises near the island. Chinese bombers and surveillance aircraft have also begun flying much more regular sorties around the island. Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, but has remained Taiwan's most powerful unofficial ally and biggest arms supplier. Last year, the US irked China over its plans to sell a batch of military parts to Taiwan in a $330 million contract including standard spare parts for aircraft. Beijing has been incensed by warming ties between Washington and Taipei, including the approval by the US State Department of a preliminary licence to sell submarine technology to the island. But fearing a possible backlash from Beijing, the US has repeatedly denied Taiwan's requests since 2002 for new fighter jets including newer F-16s and F-35s. In that time China has massively ramped up spending on its armed forces, including highly advanced fifth-generation jet fighters. That has left Taiwan with an ageing airforce that analysts say is in desperate need of an upgrade. The island currently has 326 fighter jets, all in service since the 1990s, including US-made F-16s, French Mirage 2000s and Taiwan's own indigenous fighters (IDF). Defence officials would not confirm how many fighter jets they have asked for in the purchase request, or what model. Local media Apple Daily reported Taiwan was seeking 66 F-16V at a cost of $13 billion including missiles, logistics and training. "It does not matter if it is F-15, F-18, F-16 or F-35, as long as it fits our combat needs," Tang Hung-an, a major-general with Taiwan's Air Force Command Headquarters said. Tang added that the letter of request to the US did not specify which type of aircraft Taiwan wants.

Taiwan asks US for new fighter jets to defend against China

The United States posted its widest monthly trade gap since 2008 in December and a record annual deficit in goods as sturdy economic growth underpinned higher spending by American consumers and businesses, according to a Dow Jones Newswires report made available to EFE on Wednesday. 
 
The international trade deficit in goods and services widened 19 per cent in December from the prior month to a seasonally adjusted $59.8 billion, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.&nbsp;

Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had expected a $57.3 billion gap.&nbsp; 
 
The shortfall grew last year despite President Trump's aim to reduce it. 
 
Over the course of 2018, Donald Trump imposed tariffs on a range of goods that the US imports from other countries, particularly China, in hopes of giving American producers a competitive edge.&nbsp; 
 
He publicly lambasted companies that outsourced jobs, renegotiated pacts with major US trade partners like Mexico, Canada, and South Korea, and rankled longtime European allies by deeming their steel and aluminum exports a threat to national security. 
 
Still, the trade gap swelled 12 per cent from 2017 to $621 billion.&nbsp;

Excluding services that the US sells to foreigners, such as tourism, intellectual property and banking, the deficit grew 10 per cent to $891.3 billion, the largest level on record.&nbsp; 
 
Economists say the shortfall was fueled, ironically, by another Trump administration policy: tax cuts and spending increases that juiced demand from US consumers and businesses at a time when growth in the rest of the world was slowing.&nbsp; 
 
Concern that the US economy could overheat prompted the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates four times in 2018, contributing to a strong dollar in the second half of the year that made foreign goods relatively cheap for Americans. 
 
As a result, US imports grew 7.5 per cent, while exports increased by just 6.3 per cent. 
&nbsp; 
"Higher take-home incomes for households have definitely proven to be very conducive to imports," said Pooja Sriram, an economist at Barclays. "The outcome has been in almost the opposite direction of what the administration has wanted."&nbsp; 
 
US imports of consumer goods last year jumped 7.7 per cent to $647.9 billion, fueled in part by a 22 per cent rise in inbound shipments of drugs.&nbsp; 
 
Industrial supplies like fuel and crude oil were another driver of the trade gap, with imports rising 13 per cent from 2017 to $575.7 billion.&nbsp; 
 
Highlighting the limitations of Trump's trade policies, the goods deficit widened most with China, the US's largest commercial partner and the main focus of White House efforts.&nbsp; 
 
That is partly because Chinese authorities responded to tariffs by drastically scaling back their country's purchases of key US exports like soybeans, cars and metals, production of which is concentrated in states that Trump won in the 2016 election.&nbsp; 
 
US goods exports to China fell 7.4 percent in 2018 to $120.3 billion, while imports from China grew 6.7 per cent to $539.5 billion as Americans increased their purchases of electronics, furniture, toys, and other products.&nbsp;

But the deficit in goods also widened in other countries where Trump aimed his trade war, including the European Union and Mexico.

The United States posted its widest monthly trade gap since 2008 in December and a record annual deficit in goods as sturdy economic growth underpinned higher spending by American consumers and businesses, according to a Dow Jones Newswires report made available to EFE on Wednesday.

The United States posted its widest monthly trade gap since 2008 in December and a record annual deficit in goods as sturdy economic growth underpinned higher spending by American consumers and businesses, according to a Dow Jones Newswires report made available to EFE on Wednesday. The international trade deficit in goods and services widened 19 per cent in December from the prior month to a seasonally adjusted $59.8 billion, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had expected a $57.3 billion gap. The shortfall grew last year despite President Trump's aim to reduce it. Over the course of 2018, Donald Trump imposed tariffs on a range of goods that the US imports from other countries, particularly China, in hopes of giving American producers a competitive edge. He publicly lambasted companies that outsourced jobs, renegotiated pacts with major US trade partners like Mexico, Canada, and South Korea, and rankled longtime European allies by deeming their steel and aluminum exports a threat to national security. Still, the trade gap swelled 12 per cent from 2017 to $621 billion. Excluding services that the US sells to foreigners, such as tourism, intellectual property and banking, the deficit grew 10 per cent to $891.3 billion, the largest level on record. Economists say the shortfall was fueled, ironically, by another Trump administration policy: tax cuts and spending increases that juiced demand from US consumers and businesses at a time when growth in the rest of the world was slowing. Concern that the US economy could overheat prompted the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates four times in 2018, contributing to a strong dollar in the second half of the year that made foreign goods relatively cheap for Americans. As a result, US imports grew 7.5 per cent, while exports increased by just 6.3 per cent. "Higher take-home incomes for households have definitely proven to be very conducive to imports," said Pooja Sriram, an economist at Barclays. "The outcome has been in almost the opposite direction of what the administration has wanted." US imports of consumer goods last year jumped 7.7 per cent to $647.9 billion, fueled in part by a 22 per cent rise in inbound shipments of drugs. Industrial supplies like fuel and crude oil were another driver of the trade gap, with imports rising 13 per cent from 2017 to $575.7 billion. Highlighting the limitations of Trump's trade policies, the goods deficit widened most with China, the US's largest commercial partner and the main focus of White House efforts. That is partly because Chinese authorities responded to tariffs by drastically scaling back their country's purchases of key US exports like soybeans, cars and metals, production of which is concentrated in states that Trump won in the 2016 election. US goods exports to China fell 7.4 percent in 2018 to $120.3 billion, while imports from China grew 6.7 per cent to $539.5 billion as Americans increased their purchases of electronics, furniture, toys, and other products. But the deficit in goods also widened in other countries where Trump aimed his trade war, including the European Union and Mexico.

United States posts record annual trade deficit

US state dept pulls up Pakistan govt, says Pakistan should block access funds for terrorists

By Abdulkader Sinno

The United States and the Taliban may be nearing an agreement to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan after more than 17 years of conflict.

In return, the Taliban would commit to refusing access to anti-American organisations such as Al-Qaida on its territory.

How did we get to this point – and what will be the consequences of such an agreement?

How did we get here?

As a longtime scholar of Afghanistan’s wars and conflict dynamics, I suggest beginning with a bit of history.

The current conflict began when the Bush administration invaded Afghanistan a few weeks after 9/11.

It was on Afghan soil that Osama bin Laden hatched the plot to attack the US. The Taliban, the de facto rulers of much of Afghanistan in the wake of a bloody civil war, had given bin Laden and his supporters'&nbsp;shelter.

Two months into the US invasion, Taliban state institutions and defensive positions crumbled and the United States formed new state institutions led by Afghans who had fought the Taliban. The US maintained a limited force to fight and capture Al-Qaida and Taliban leaders but otherwise invested little in the Afghan economy or society.

It took the Taliban four years to reconstitute itself as an effective force of insurgents to fight the US and the Afghan government, and they became stronger every year after 2004. As I explain in my research, the United States and the coalition of 42 countries it formed to defeat the resurgent Taliban was poorly organised, abusive and mismanaged.

Since 2001, the US-led coalition has spent $1 trillion dollars and committed a peak of 140,000 troops and 100,000 contractors to an unsuccessful attempt to defeat the Taliban. More than 5,000 American soldiers and contractors were killed.

Today, a US force of 14,000 troops and massive US Airforce assets are helping maintain the defensive positions of an Afghan government that is widely considered as one of the most corrupt in the world.

The Taliban are making territorial gains and killing hundreds of regime troops each month, and feel that they are on the cusp of victory.

Militias that recruit from the Hazara, Tajik and Uzbek minorities have rearmed in anticipation of the collapse of the regime in Kabul and fear of a coming civil war with the mostly Pushtun Taliban. Afghanistan is nearing an endgame.

What it means for the Taliban

An agreement between the Taliban and the US would be an impressive accomplishment for the Taliban. From their perspective, it would be their reward for fighting the world’s strongest military power to a stalemate.

They already were rewarded by getting to negotiate directly with the United States, as they have always requested, instead of the Afghan regime which they despise. If the negotiations are successful, they would also be getting precisely what they asked for: an American withdrawal.

In return, they are making a commitment to do something they would likely have done anyway. Al-Qaida’s attack on the US caused the Taliban to lose control of Afghanistan for years. They are not likely to risk having to pay that cost again once they regain control of Kabul, even if they don’t sign an agreement.

What it means for the US 
 
There is little hope for an outright US victory over the Taliban at this point.

The remaining force of 14,000 US troops is mostly meant to shore up Afghan state defences. It is too small to reverse momentum on the battlefield. An agreement and withdrawal would, therefore, be attractive for those who value less military spending and stress on the military, including General John Nicholson, the previous commander of the American and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

The agreement, however, could undermine US reputation in ways big and small. The Obama and Trump administrations never reversed a 2002 Bush executive order that added the Taliban to the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists, but they have simultaneously pleaded with them to negotiate in spite of claims that Washington does not negotiate with terrorists.

It also signals US weakness and inability to fight a dedicated force of insurgents. Militants elsewhere, including Islamic State leaders, could find this lesson instructive. I believe such an agreement may well be remembered as a turning point in America’s ability to successfully project its military power around the Muslim world.

An agreement could also signal that the US is an unreliable ally that abandons those who side with it. The United States is involved in numerous conflicts worldwide in places as diverse as Syria and Somalia, and many of its local allies would logically recalculate their own commitments after witnessing a US disengagement from Afghanistan.

What happens to the state

As I describe in my book “Organisations at War in Afghanistan,” governments tend to unravel quickly in Afghanistan when foreign support, both military and financial, ceases.

This is precisely what happened after the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan and stopped their support to the Najib regime in the early 1990s. As I report in greater detail in my book, different regime militias and military units either disintegrated, joined their erstwhile Mujahideen opponents or became independent militias.

Similarly, today’s Afghan state officials at all levels have long hedged their bets by maintaining ties with the Taliban, their nominal opponents and minority militias. If history is any indication, we can expect that entire agencies and units will either fragment or collectively join any of several strongman-led ethnic militias when the rewards of working for the regime stop outweighing the risks of facing the Taliban. Some may even defect to the Taliban. This is expected behaviour in dangerous environments such as Afghanistan, where everyone is expected to have a hedging strategy for survival.

Once the state gets pulled in all directions, Afghanistan will likely degenerate into a civil war very similar to the one that the United States interrupted when it invaded in late 2001. Other countries, including Russia, Iran and India will choose sides to back. I estimate that the Taliban, with their dedicated Pakistani and Arab Gulf backers, will win that conflict, just like they almost did in 2001. We may very well reach a point where we see the 17-year American occupation as merely a futile, bloody and costly interruption of the Afghan civil war.

I consider a US-Taliban agreement to be no more than a face-saving measure to conclude a failed and costly American military intervention. If there is a useful lesson to be learned from this misadventure, it is that leaders of even the world’s mightiest military power need to reconsider the merits of a militarised foreign policy in the Muslim world. US military interventions are stoking resentment and inflaming a perpetual transnational insurgency across Muslim countries. If it doesn’t change its course, the US may very well suffer more defeats such as the one in Afghanistan and will cause even more hurt and damage in other countries along the way.

(Abdulkader Sinno is Associate Professor of Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies, Indiana University)

(This article was originally published on the Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-will-come-after-a-us-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-111036">original article)</a>

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

By Abdulkader Sinno The United States and the Taliban may be nearing an agreement to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan after more than 17 years of conflict. In return, the Taliban would commit to refusing access to anti-American organisations such as Al-Qaida on its territory.

By Abdulkader Sinno The United States and the Taliban may be nearing an agreement to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan after more than 17 years of conflict. In return, the Taliban would commit to refusing access to anti-American organisations such as Al-Qaida on its territory. How did we get to this point – and what will be the consequences of such an agreement? How did we get here? As a longtime scholar of Afghanistan’s wars and conflict dynamics, I suggest beginning with a bit of history. The current conflict began when the Bush administration invaded Afghanistan a few weeks after 9/11. It was on Afghan soil that Osama bin Laden hatched the plot to attack the US. The Taliban, the de facto rulers of much of Afghanistan in the wake of a bloody civil war, had given bin Laden and his supporters' shelter. Two months into the US invasion, Taliban state institutions and defensive positions crumbled and the United States formed new state institutions led by Afghans who had fought the Taliban. The US maintained a limited force to fight and capture Al-Qaida and Taliban leaders but otherwise invested little in the Afghan economy or society. It took the Taliban four years to reconstitute itself as an effective force of insurgents to fight the US and the Afghan government, and they became stronger every year after 2004. As I explain in my research, the United States and the coalition of 42 countries it formed to defeat the resurgent Taliban was poorly organised, abusive and mismanaged. Since 2001, the US-led coalition has spent $1 trillion dollars and committed a peak of 140,000 troops and 100,000 contractors to an unsuccessful attempt to defeat the Taliban. More than 5,000 American soldiers and contractors were killed. Today, a US force of 14,000 troops and massive US Airforce assets are helping maintain the defensive positions of an Afghan government that is widely considered as one of the most corrupt in the world. The Taliban are making territorial gains and killing hundreds of regime troops each month, and feel that they are on the cusp of victory. Militias that recruit from the Hazara, Tajik and Uzbek minorities have rearmed in anticipation of the collapse of the regime in Kabul and fear of a coming civil war with the mostly Pushtun Taliban. Afghanistan is nearing an endgame. What it means for the Taliban An agreement between the Taliban and the US would be an impressive accomplishment for the Taliban. From their perspective, it would be their reward for fighting the world’s strongest military power to a stalemate. They already were rewarded by getting to negotiate directly with the United States, as they have always requested, instead of the Afghan regime which they despise. If the negotiations are successful, they would also be getting precisely what they asked for: an American withdrawal. In return, they are making a commitment to do something they would likely have done anyway. Al-Qaida’s attack on the US caused the Taliban to lose control of Afghanistan for years. They are not likely to risk having to pay that cost again once they regain control of Kabul, even if they don’t sign an agreement. What it means for the US There is little hope for an outright US victory over the Taliban at this point. The remaining force of 14,000 US troops is mostly meant to shore up Afghan state defences. It is too small to reverse momentum on the battlefield. An agreement and withdrawal would, therefore, be attractive for those who value less military spending and stress on the military, including General John Nicholson, the previous commander of the American and NATO forces in Afghanistan. The agreement, however, could undermine US reputation in ways big and small. The Obama and Trump administrations never reversed a 2002 Bush executive order that added the Taliban to the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists, but they have simultaneously pleaded with them to negotiate in spite of claims that Washington does not negotiate with terrorists. It also signals US weakness and inability to fight a dedicated force of insurgents. Militants elsewhere, including Islamic State leaders, could find this lesson instructive. I believe such an agreement may well be remembered as a turning point in America’s ability to successfully project its military power around the Muslim world. An agreement could also signal that the US is an unreliable ally that abandons those who side with it. The United States is involved in numerous conflicts worldwide in places as diverse as Syria and Somalia, and many of its local allies would logically recalculate their own commitments after witnessing a US disengagement from Afghanistan. What happens to the state As I describe in my book “Organisations at War in Afghanistan,” governments tend to unravel quickly in Afghanistan when foreign support, both military and financial, ceases. This is precisely what happened after the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan and stopped their support to the Najib regime in the early 1990s. As I report in greater detail in my book, different regime militias and military units either disintegrated, joined their erstwhile Mujahideen opponents or became independent militias. Similarly, today’s Afghan state officials at all levels have long hedged their bets by maintaining ties with the Taliban, their nominal opponents and minority militias. If history is any indication, we can expect that entire agencies and units will either fragment or collectively join any of several strongman-led ethnic militias when the rewards of working for the regime stop outweighing the risks of facing the Taliban. Some may even defect to the Taliban. This is expected behaviour in dangerous environments such as Afghanistan, where everyone is expected to have a hedging strategy for survival. Once the state gets pulled in all directions, Afghanistan will likely degenerate into a civil war very similar to the one that the United States interrupted when it invaded in late 2001. Other countries, including Russia, Iran and India will choose sides to back. I estimate that the Taliban, with their dedicated Pakistani and Arab Gulf backers, will win that conflict, just like they almost did in 2001. We may very well reach a point where we see the 17-year American occupation as merely a futile, bloody and costly interruption of the Afghan civil war. I consider a US-Taliban agreement to be no more than a face-saving measure to conclude a failed and costly American military intervention. If there is a useful lesson to be learned from this misadventure, it is that leaders of even the world’s mightiest military power need to reconsider the merits of a militarised foreign policy in the Muslim world. US military interventions are stoking resentment and inflaming a perpetual transnational insurgency across Muslim countries. If it doesn’t change its course, the US may very well suffer more defeats such as the one in Afghanistan and will cause even more hurt and damage in other countries along the way. (Abdulkader Sinno is Associate Professor of Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies, Indiana University) (This article was originally published on the Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

US-Taliban deal is a face-saving measure to conclude a failed American military intervention

By Bill Law

One of the many challenges of covering the impact of Donald Trump’s presidency on global affairs is that in the constant churn of stories generated by his Twitter outbursts and the abrupt policy decisions he makes, really important stories get lost in the storm.&nbsp;

One of those lost stories happened the weekend before the US president’s delayed State of the Union address, which he finally delivered on February 5.

On the preceding Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he was following in Trump’s footsteps and pulling out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). In what he called a “symmetrical response,” Putin signalled that a new nuclear arms race was underway: “Our American partners announced that they are suspending their participation in the INF Treaty, and we are suspending it too. They said that they are engaged in research, development and design work, and we will do the same.”

It was a clever response, with Putin able to say that Russia was against the destruction of the treaty, but if that was what the US was going to do by walking away, then his country would mirror American actions step by step. You develop and build new nuclear weapons, we will too.

There was a time, not so long ago, when the world was striving to limit the spread of nuclear weapons. All of those Cold War decades of delicate and exquisitely challenging negotiations designed to stave off nuclear annihilation now seem somehow quaintly old-fashioned. In the macho world of the new authoritarians, led by President Trump, the bigger the weapons and the more you have, the tougher you are.

Trump’s reason for pulling out of the INF was that the Russians were non-compliant and were using the agreement as cover to get a leg up on America. That is undoubtedly the case but the treaty, even in violation, acted as a constraint. So, why would what is still the world’s greatest military superpower enable the Russians by walking away? And what are the implications for the Gulf and the wider Middle East as a new nuclear arms race emerges from Trump’s decision? 
 
Nuclear weapons in the Gulf

To the first question, one can only speculate, given the strange and troubling relationship that Trump has with what has been America’s greatest enemy: Russia. It is the second question, however, that should be of most concern. As the war rhetoric against Iran ratchets up, and as the nonproliferation environment weakens, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may push to arm Saudi Arabia with nuclear weapons.

Though he dismisses the Iranian military capacity in public, in private he must know that in any conventional war scenario, the battle-hardened Iranians would prevail on the ground. The Saudis may have sharpened their air expertise in Yemen at the expense of both the civilian population and the rebel Houthis, but it is ground forces that would ultimately decide the outcome. As the Yemen conflict has shown, Saudi Arabia’s ground troops are an incompetent and ill-prepared fighting force, hence the reliance on the air war to try subdue the Houthis.

In a conventional war, the Iranians would use Iraq as the pathway to attack Saudi Arabia along its northern border. They could be in the capital Riyadh in a matter of days. That is a sobering thought and one that could serve as a catalyst for securing the bomb. The logical place to turn to is Pakistan, which has possessed nuclear weapons since the mid-1980s. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is much beholden to the Saudis, even more so than his predecessors. Indeed, he came to the so-called “Davos in the Desert” in October 2018 with a begging bowl in hand, one the Saudis were happy to fill.

If Saudi Arabia acquired nuclear weapons, then it follows that Iran would do so as well. Indeed there are forces within Iran, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who have long advocated that to preserve and protect the revolution, their nation must have the bomb.

And here we come to the extraordinarily reckless and dangerous game that President Trump, National Security Adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are playing. Bolton, in particular, has long advocated for regime change in Iran. The harsh sanctions that America is imposing on the Iranians and demanding that the rest of the world follow are intended not so much to effect regime change in and of themselves, but rather to prevent the Iranians for a time from securing nuclear firepower.

The Saudis, in the meantime, will have picked up, off the shelve, nuclear weapons from Pakistan. Backed by a nuclear-armed Israel that shares the Saudi fear of Iran and with whom Mohammed bin Salman has forged a close relationship, the two together with other Gulf states will be the ones to force regime change backed by the nuclear muscle that Iran lacks. They and not the Americans. So the thinking goes.

That scenario is useful for Trump because the last thing his base wants is any more engagements in foreign places — and that is especially true of the Middle East. Hence, his oft-repeated and ill-thought-out vows to withdraw American troops. These are gambits, designed to shore up his support as he heads into what will undoubtedly prove for him a bruising and difficult re-election bid in 2020.

The Iranians, however, will not succumb. Indeed, such naked threats will only serve to pull the country’s often battling factions together. Iran will do whatever is necessary to acquire a nuclear counter-punch. And Vladimir Putin, burnishing his already significant power in the region, may be very happy to oblige.

A nuclear stand-off in the Gulf, with all that that implies, could be far closer than any of us realises. 
 
(Bill Law is an award-winning journalist. He has reported extensively from the Middle East since 2002)

(This article was originally published on the Fair Observer. Read the <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/middle_east_north_africa/gulf-news-headlines-saudi-arabia-iran-inf-treaty-donald-trump-world-news-39871/">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

By Bill Law One of the many challenges of covering the impact of Donald Trump’s presidency on global affairs is that in the constant churn of stories generated by his Twitter outbursts and the abrupt policy decisions he makes, really important stories get lost in the storm.

By Bill Law One of the many challenges of covering the impact of Donald Trump’s presidency on global affairs is that in the constant churn of stories generated by his Twitter outbursts and the abrupt policy decisions he makes, really important stories get lost in the storm. One of those lost stories happened the weekend before the US president’s delayed State of the Union address, which he finally delivered on February 5. On the preceding Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he was following in Trump’s footsteps and pulling out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). In what he called a “symmetrical response,” Putin signalled that a new nuclear arms race was underway: “Our American partners announced that they are suspending their participation in the INF Treaty, and we are suspending it too. They said that they are engaged in research, development and design work, and we will do the same.” It was a clever response, with Putin able to say that Russia was against the destruction of the treaty, but if that was what the US was going to do by walking away, then his country would mirror American actions step by step. You develop and build new nuclear weapons, we will too. There was a time, not so long ago, when the world was striving to limit the spread of nuclear weapons. All of those Cold War decades of delicate and exquisitely challenging negotiations designed to stave off nuclear annihilation now seem somehow quaintly old-fashioned. In the macho world of the new authoritarians, led by President Trump, the bigger the weapons and the more you have, the tougher you are. Trump’s reason for pulling out of the INF was that the Russians were non-compliant and were using the agreement as cover to get a leg up on America. That is undoubtedly the case but the treaty, even in violation, acted as a constraint. So, why would what is still the world’s greatest military superpower enable the Russians by walking away? And what are the implications for the Gulf and the wider Middle East as a new nuclear arms race emerges from Trump’s decision? Nuclear weapons in the Gulf To the first question, one can only speculate, given the strange and troubling relationship that Trump has with what has been America’s greatest enemy: Russia. It is the second question, however, that should be of most concern. As the war rhetoric against Iran ratchets up, and as the nonproliferation environment weakens, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may push to arm Saudi Arabia with nuclear weapons. Though he dismisses the Iranian military capacity in public, in private he must know that in any conventional war scenario, the battle-hardened Iranians would prevail on the ground. The Saudis may have sharpened their air expertise in Yemen at the expense of both the civilian population and the rebel Houthis, but it is ground forces that would ultimately decide the outcome. As the Yemen conflict has shown, Saudi Arabia’s ground troops are an incompetent and ill-prepared fighting force, hence the reliance on the air war to try subdue the Houthis. In a conventional war, the Iranians would use Iraq as the pathway to attack Saudi Arabia along its northern border. They could be in the capital Riyadh in a matter of days. That is a sobering thought and one that could serve as a catalyst for securing the bomb. The logical place to turn to is Pakistan, which has possessed nuclear weapons since the mid-1980s. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is much beholden to the Saudis, even more so than his predecessors. Indeed, he came to the so-called “Davos in the Desert” in October 2018 with a begging bowl in hand, one the Saudis were happy to fill. If Saudi Arabia acquired nuclear weapons, then it follows that Iran would do so as well. Indeed there are forces within Iran, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who have long advocated that to preserve and protect the revolution, their nation must have the bomb. And here we come to the extraordinarily reckless and dangerous game that President Trump, National Security Adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are playing. Bolton, in particular, has long advocated for regime change in Iran. The harsh sanctions that America is imposing on the Iranians and demanding that the rest of the world follow are intended not so much to effect regime change in and of themselves, but rather to prevent the Iranians for a time from securing nuclear firepower. The Saudis, in the meantime, will have picked up, off the shelve, nuclear weapons from Pakistan. Backed by a nuclear-armed Israel that shares the Saudi fear of Iran and with whom Mohammed bin Salman has forged a close relationship, the two together with other Gulf states will be the ones to force regime change backed by the nuclear muscle that Iran lacks. They and not the Americans. So the thinking goes. That scenario is useful for Trump because the last thing his base wants is any more engagements in foreign places — and that is especially true of the Middle East. Hence, his oft-repeated and ill-thought-out vows to withdraw American troops. These are gambits, designed to shore up his support as he heads into what will undoubtedly prove for him a bruising and difficult re-election bid in 2020. The Iranians, however, will not succumb. Indeed, such naked threats will only serve to pull the country’s often battling factions together. Iran will do whatever is necessary to acquire a nuclear counter-punch. And Vladimir Putin, burnishing his already significant power in the region, may be very happy to oblige. A nuclear stand-off in the Gulf, with all that that implies, could be far closer than any of us realises. (Bill Law is an award-winning journalist. He has reported extensively from the Middle East since 2002) (This article was originally published on the Fair Observer. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The dangerous nuclear games in the Gulf

US President Donald Trump has said he intends to end the preferential trade status granted to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/i-intend-to-end-indias-preferential-trade-treatment-under-gsp-program-trump-201179">India and Turkey,</a> asserting that New Delhi has failed to assure America of "equitable and reasonable" access to its markets, an announcement that could be seen as a major setback to bilateral trade ties.&nbsp;

President Trump, who has vowed to reduce US trade deficits, has repeatedly called out India for its high tariffs. Addressing a four-day annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland on Saturday, Trump accused India of being a "high tariff nation" and threatened to impose "a reciprocal tax" to match the heavy duties that New Delhi imposes on goods imported from the United States.&nbsp;

In a letter to Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Trump said he was determined that New Delhi had "not assured" the US that it would "provide equitable and reasonable access" to the markets of India.&nbsp;

"I am taking this step because, after the intensive engagement between the United States and the Government of India, I have determined that India has not assured the United States that it will provide equitable and reasonable access to the markets of India," Trump said in the letter to congressional leaders on Monday.

"I will continue to assess whether the Government of India is providing equitable and reasonable access to its markets, in accordance with the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) eligibility criteria," Trump said in his letter, a copy of which was released to the press. Under the United States GSP programme, certain products can enter the US duty-free if the beneficiary developing countries meet the eligibility criteria established by Congress. The GSP criteria include, among others, respecting arbitral awards in favour of US citizens or corporations, combatting child labour, respecting internationally recognised worker rights, providing adequate and effective intellectual property protection and providing the US with equitable and reasonable market access.

Countries can also be graduated from the GSP programme, depending on factors related to economic development. In a separate letter, Trump also informed the Congress of his intent to terminate the GSP beneficiary designation of Turkey. He said it was primarily because the economy of Turkey had improved a lot in the last four-and-a-half decades.&nbsp;

"In the four-and-a-half decades since Turkey's designation as a GSP beneficiary developing country, Turkey's economy has grown and diversified," he said.

"Increases in Gross National Income per capita, declining poverty rates and export diversification by trading partner and by sector are all evidence of Turkey's increased level of economic development. In addition, Turkey has graduated from other developed countries' GSP programs due to its increase in economic development or through reciprocal arrangements," he argued.&nbsp;

Trump's letter to Pelosi could be seen as a major setback to India-US bilateral relationship, in particular in the arena of trade and economy. 
In a separate statement, the US Trade Representative (USTR) said India's termination from GSP followed its failure to provide the US with assurances that it would provide equitable and reasonable access to its markets in numerous sectors.&nbsp;

Turkey's termination from GSP followed a finding that it was sufficiently economically developed and should no longer benefit from preferential market access to the US market, the statement said. "By statute, these changes may not take effect until at least 60 days after the notifications to Congress and the governments of India and Turkey, and will be enacted by a Presidential Proclamation," the USTR said. The Trump administration had launched an eligibility review of India's compliance with the GSP market access criterion in April 2018. "India has implemented a wide array of trade barriers that create serious negative effects on United States commerce. Despite intensive engagement, India has failed to take the necessary steps to meet the GSP criterion," the USTR said.

The US had designated Turkey as a GSP beneficiary developing country in 1975. An increase in the Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, declining poverty rates and export diversification by trading partner and by sector were evidence of Turkey's higher level of economic development, the USTR said.

US President Donald Trump has said he intends to end the preferential trade status granted to India and Turkey, asserting that New Delhi has failed to assure America of "equitable and reasonable" access to its markets, an announcement that could be seen as a major setback to bilateral trade ties.

US President Donald Trump has said he intends to end the preferential trade status granted to India and Turkey, asserting that New Delhi has failed to assure America of "equitable and reasonable" access to its markets, an announcement that could be seen as a major setback to bilateral trade ties. President Trump, who has vowed to reduce US trade deficits, has repeatedly called out India for its high tariffs. Addressing a four-day annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland on Saturday, Trump accused India of being a "high tariff nation" and threatened to impose "a reciprocal tax" to match the heavy duties that New Delhi imposes on goods imported from the United States. In a letter to Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Trump said he was determined that New Delhi had "not assured" the US that it would "provide equitable and reasonable access" to the markets of India. "I am taking this step because, after the intensive engagement between the United States and the Government of India, I have determined that India has not assured the United States that it will provide equitable and reasonable access to the markets of India," Trump said in the letter to congressional leaders on Monday. "I will continue to assess whether the Government of India is providing equitable and reasonable access to its markets, in accordance with the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) eligibility criteria," Trump said in his letter, a copy of which was released to the press. Under the United States GSP programme, certain products can enter the US duty-free if the beneficiary developing countries meet the eligibility criteria established by Congress. The GSP criteria include, among others, respecting arbitral awards in favour of US citizens or corporations, combatting child labour, respecting internationally recognised worker rights, providing adequate and effective intellectual property protection and providing the US with equitable and reasonable market access. Countries can also be graduated from the GSP programme, depending on factors related to economic development. In a separate letter, Trump also informed the Congress of his intent to terminate the GSP beneficiary designation of Turkey. He said it was primarily because the economy of Turkey had improved a lot in the last four-and-a-half decades. "In the four-and-a-half decades since Turkey's designation as a GSP beneficiary developing country, Turkey's economy has grown and diversified," he said. "Increases in Gross National Income per capita, declining poverty rates and export diversification by trading partner and by sector are all evidence of Turkey's increased level of economic development. In addition, Turkey has graduated from other developed countries' GSP programs due to its increase in economic development or through reciprocal arrangements," he argued. Trump's letter to Pelosi could be seen as a major setback to India-US bilateral relationship, in particular in the arena of trade and economy. In a separate statement, the US Trade Representative (USTR) said India's termination from GSP followed its failure to provide the US with assurances that it would provide equitable and reasonable access to its markets in numerous sectors. Turkey's termination from GSP followed a finding that it was sufficiently economically developed and should no longer benefit from preferential market access to the US market, the statement said. "By statute, these changes may not take effect until at least 60 days after the notifications to Congress and the governments of India and Turkey, and will be enacted by a Presidential Proclamation," the USTR said. The Trump administration had launched an eligibility review of India's compliance with the GSP market access criterion in April 2018. "India has implemented a wide array of trade barriers that create serious negative effects on United States commerce. Despite intensive engagement, India has failed to take the necessary steps to meet the GSP criterion," the USTR said. The US had designated Turkey as a GSP beneficiary developing country in 1975. An increase in the Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, declining poverty rates and export diversification by trading partner and by sector were evidence of Turkey's higher level of economic development, the USTR said.

'Actual benefit' to India under preferential trade treatment by the United States is only $250 million a year: Source

Russia suspends INF treaty with US

President Vladimir Putin on Monday officially suspended Russia's participation in a key Cold War-era arms treaty, after the US first moved to ditch the INF deal.&nbsp;

Putin "signed a decree regarding the suspension of Russia's participation in the agreement between the USSR and the US," the Kremlin said in a statement.

The move was taken following "a violation of the United States of its obligations under the treaty," it said.&nbsp;

Moscow and Washington have accused one another of breaching the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces agreement concluded between the US and the former Soviet Union in 1987.

US President Donald Trump said in February that Washington would start a process to withdraw from the deal within six months.

Putin responded soon after that Russia was planning to suspend its involvement.

He said Russia would seek to develop medium-range missiles in response to what he said were similar projects in the US, raising the spectre of a new arms race.&nbsp;

In his state of the nation address last month, Putin threatened to deploy new missiles against Western capitals.

The longtime Russian leader warned Washington against deploying any new missiles in Europe following the collapse of the treaty, saying Moscow would consider it a "serious threat".

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo dismissed the threats as "bluster" designed to divide Washington and its allies.&nbsp;

Brokered by US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, the INF treaty ended a superpower buildup of warheads that had frightened Europe.&nbsp;

It banned ground-launched missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometres.

The deal addressed Soviet nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles targeting Western capitals, but put no restrictions on other major military actors such as China.

NATO has said that US allies "fully support" its withdrawal from the pact, insisting that Russia's 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile systems violate the treaty.

European leaders have voiced fears over the consequences of the treaty's demise and called on Russia to address concerns before the US formally leaves in August.

Last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that "key components of the international arms control architecture are collapsing".

Moscow has also expressed concern that Washington's decision to withdraw from the INF could jeopardise the extension of the New START treaty.&nbsp;

That agreement, which caps the number of nuclear warheads held by Washington and Moscow, expires in 2021.&nbsp;

President Vladimir Putin on Monday officially suspended Russia's participation in a key Cold War-era arms treaty, after the US first moved to ditch the INF deal.

President Vladimir Putin on Monday officially suspended Russia's participation in a key Cold War-era arms treaty, after the US first moved to ditch the INF deal. Putin "signed a decree regarding the suspension of Russia's participation in the agreement between the USSR and the US," the Kremlin said in a statement. The move was taken following "a violation of the United States of its obligations under the treaty," it said. Moscow and Washington have accused one another of breaching the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces agreement concluded between the US and the former Soviet Union in 1987. US President Donald Trump said in February that Washington would start a process to withdraw from the deal within six months. Putin responded soon after that Russia was planning to suspend its involvement. He said Russia would seek to develop medium-range missiles in response to what he said were similar projects in the US, raising the spectre of a new arms race. In his state of the nation address last month, Putin threatened to deploy new missiles against Western capitals. The longtime Russian leader warned Washington against deploying any new missiles in Europe following the collapse of the treaty, saying Moscow would consider it a "serious threat". US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo dismissed the threats as "bluster" designed to divide Washington and its allies. Brokered by US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, the INF treaty ended a superpower buildup of warheads that had frightened Europe. It banned ground-launched missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometres. The deal addressed Soviet nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles targeting Western capitals, but put no restrictions on other major military actors such as China. NATO has said that US allies "fully support" its withdrawal from the pact, insisting that Russia's 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile systems violate the treaty. European leaders have voiced fears over the consequences of the treaty's demise and called on Russia to address concerns before the US formally leaves in August. Last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that "key components of the international arms control architecture are collapsing". Moscow has also expressed concern that Washington's decision to withdraw from the INF could jeopardise the extension of the New START treaty. That agreement, which caps the number of nuclear warheads held by Washington and Moscow, expires in 2021.

Russian President Vladimir Putin officially suspends INF arms treaty with US

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/opposition-leader-guaido-says-his-imprisonment-would-be-one-of-maduros-last-mistakes-201013">Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido</a>&nbsp;returned home on Monday after he ignored a court-imposed travel ban and toured Latin American countries to boost support for his campaign to oust President Nicolas Maduro.

The United States warned&nbsp;of a "swift response" to any threats or violence against Venezuela's Juan Guaido, as the opposition leader returned home on a renewed push to oust President Nicolas Maduro.&nbsp;

"@jguaido's safe return to Venezuela is of the highest importance to the US," Vice President Mike Pence tweeted as Guaido arrived in Caracas.

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.<a href="https://twitter.com/jguaido?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JGuaido</a>’s safe return to Venezuela is of the highest importance to the U.S. Any threats, violence, or intimidation against him will not be tolerated &amp; will be met with swift response. The world is watching - Interim President Guaido must be allowed to re-enter Venezuela safely.
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) <a href="https://twitter.com/VP/status/1102602809416052737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;"Any threats, violence, or intimidation against him will not be tolerated &amp; will be met with swift response. The world is watching - Interim President Guaido must be allowed to re-enter Venezuela safely."

Guaido's return, details of which his team have kept under wraps, could become the next flashpoint in his duel with Maduro as he seeks to keep up momentum and spur his international backers to further isolate the socialist government.

His arrest could allow the opposition to highlight how the Maduro administration represses political foes and prompt the United States to impose even harsher sanctions. But it could also strip the opposition of a public figurehead who has brought unity after years of infighting.

Guaido, who is recognized as Venezuela's legitimate head of state by most Western countries, said on Sunday he would undertake the "historic challenge" of returning in time to lead protests on Monday and Tuesday during the Carnival holiday period, an unusual time for demonstrations.

By 10.30 am local time, Guaido still had not appeared in Caracas, though in a recorded message posted on his Twitter account he said he was en route to his home and he would be with "the men and women I most admire" in a few hours.

"Upon my arrival, whatever path the dictator takes, we are going to continue," he said.

Guaido secretly left Venezuela for Colombia, in violation of a Supreme Court order, to coordinate efforts there on February 23 to send humanitarian aid into Venezuela to alleviate widespread shortages of food and medicine.

But troops loyal to Maduro blocked convoys of aid trucks sent from Colombia and Brazil, leading to clashes that killed at least six people along the Brazilian border, rights groups say.

From Colombia, he then travelled to Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and Paraguay to shore up Latin American support for a transition government that would precede free and fair elections.

On Sunday, he departed by plane from the Ecuadorean coastal town of Salinas but has not appeared publicly since, beyond a Twitter broadcast that evening from an undisclosed location.

To arrive in Caracas by Monday morning, he could take commercial flights from Bogota, Panama City or Miami. A Reuters reporter on the one morning flight from Bogota said he was not on it.

Maduro, who has called Guaido a coup-mongering US puppet and denies there is a humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, has said his arrest depends on the justice system.

"He can't just come and go. He will have to face justice, and justice prohibited him from leaving the country," he told ABC News last week.

The United States has warned Maduro of the consequences of arresting Guaido and the Treasury imposed new sanctions on Friday targeting Venezuelan military officials.

"Any threats or acts against his safe return will be met with a strong and significant response from the United States and the international community," US National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Twitter on Sunday.

After the military blocked the aid convoys, Guaido proposed that "all options are kept open" to topple Maduro, but foreign military intervention is seen as unlikely and his international backers are instead using a mix of sanctions and diplomacy.

The government has jailed dozens of opposition leaders and activists for seeking to overthrow Maduro through violent street demonstrations in 2014 and 2017, including Guaido's mentor, Leopoldo Lopez, who remains under house arrest.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido returned home on Monday after he ignored a court-imposed travel ban and toured Latin American countries to boost support for his campaign to oust President Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido returned home on Monday after he ignored a court-imposed travel ban and toured Latin American countries to boost support for his campaign to oust President Nicolas Maduro. The United States warned of a "swift response" to any threats or violence against Venezuela's Juan Guaido, as the opposition leader returned home on a renewed push to oust President Nicolas Maduro. "@jguaido's safe return to Venezuela is of the highest importance to the US," Vice President Mike Pence tweeted as Guaido arrived in Caracas. .@JGuaido’s safe return to Venezuela is of the highest importance to the U.S. Any threats, violence, or intimidation against him will not be tolerated & will be met with swift response. The world is watching - Interim President Guaido must be allowed to re-enter Venezuela safely. — Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) March 4, 2019 × "Any threats, violence, or intimidation against him will not be tolerated & will be met with swift response. The world is watching - Interim President Guaido must be allowed to re-enter Venezuela safely." Guaido's return, details of which his team have kept under wraps, could become the next flashpoint in his duel with Maduro as he seeks to keep up momentum and spur his international backers to further isolate the socialist government. His arrest could allow the opposition to highlight how the Maduro administration represses political foes and prompt the United States to impose even harsher sanctions. But it could also strip the opposition of a public figurehead who has brought unity after years of infighting. Guaido, who is recognized as Venezuela's legitimate head of state by most Western countries, said on Sunday he would undertake the "historic challenge" of returning in time to lead protests on Monday and Tuesday during the Carnival holiday period, an unusual time for demonstrations. By 10.30 am local time, Guaido still had not appeared in Caracas, though in a recorded message posted on his Twitter account he said he was en route to his home and he would be with "the men and women I most admire" in a few hours. "Upon my arrival, whatever path the dictator takes, we are going to continue," he said. Guaido secretly left Venezuela for Colombia, in violation of a Supreme Court order, to coordinate efforts there on February 23 to send humanitarian aid into Venezuela to alleviate widespread shortages of food and medicine. But troops loyal to Maduro blocked convoys of aid trucks sent from Colombia and Brazil, leading to clashes that killed at least six people along the Brazilian border, rights groups say. From Colombia, he then travelled to Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and Paraguay to shore up Latin American support for a transition government that would precede free and fair elections. On Sunday, he departed by plane from the Ecuadorean coastal town of Salinas but has not appeared publicly since, beyond a Twitter broadcast that evening from an undisclosed location. To arrive in Caracas by Monday morning, he could take commercial flights from Bogota, Panama City or Miami. A Reuters reporter on the one morning flight from Bogota said he was not on it. Maduro, who has called Guaido a coup-mongering US puppet and denies there is a humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, has said his arrest depends on the justice system. "He can't just come and go. He will have to face justice, and justice prohibited him from leaving the country," he told ABC News last week. The United States has warned Maduro of the consequences of arresting Guaido and the Treasury imposed new sanctions on Friday targeting Venezuelan military officials. "Any threats or acts against his safe return will be met with a strong and significant response from the United States and the international community," US National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Twitter on Sunday. After the military blocked the aid convoys, Guaido proposed that "all options are kept open" to topple Maduro, but foreign military intervention is seen as unlikely and his international backers are instead using a mix of sanctions and diplomacy. The government has jailed dozens of opposition leaders and activists for seeking to overthrow Maduro through violent street demonstrations in 2014 and 2017, including Guaido's mentor, Leopoldo Lopez, who remains under house arrest.

Venezuela opposition leader Juan Guaido risks arrest as he returns home to defy Maduro

The United States has deployed its advanced THAAD missile defence system temporarily to Israel for a joint military exercise, the first of its kind, officials said Monday.

The two countries confirmed the deployment, with Israel's military stressing it was "not related to any specific current event".

It is the first such exercise in Israel, although the two allies hold regular joint war games. No dates have been announced for the manoeuvres.

Israel has its own missile defence system, but the exercise aims in part to examine how to incorporate THAAD so that "we are ready for any challenges in the future", military spokesman Jonathan Conricus said.

It will also allow the US military to practice the rapid deployment of THAAD across the globe, officials said.

"We see this as an opportunity to practice the integration of advanced American air defence systems into the Israeli air force air defence array," Conricus told journalists.

"The THAAD system is considered to be one of the most advanced of its kind in the world," the Israeli spokesman said.

The exercise with THAAD, or Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, involves more than 200 US military personnel and its components include radars and launching systems, Conricus said.

Components and personnel have come from the United States and Italy, Conricus said.

The THAAD will be deployed in southern Israel, but officials declined to say specifically where and for how long.

Israel's enemies in the region include Iran and Lebanon's Tehran-backed Hezbollah, both of which are supporting President Bashar al-Assad in neighbouring Syria.

THAAD is capable of destroying short, medium and intermediate-range missiles.

In 2017, the US government approved its sale to Saudi Arabia, providing Riyadh with state-of-the-art capabilities that could thwart an Iranian rocket attack.

It had already been supplied to Saudi Arabia's neighbours Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Its deployment by the US military in South Korea as defence against North Korean drew protests from Beijing, which feared its sensors would be capable of penetrating Chinese air space and upset the balance of power.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the joint exercise, calling it "additional testimony to the commitment of the US to the security of Israel".

The United States has deployed its advanced THAAD missile defence system temporarily to Israel for a joint military exercise, the first of its kind, officials said Monday.

The United States has deployed its advanced THAAD missile defence system temporarily to Israel for a joint military exercise, the first of its kind, officials said Monday. The two countries confirmed the deployment, with Israel's military stressing it was "not related to any specific current event". It is the first such exercise in Israel, although the two allies hold regular joint war games. No dates have been announced for the manoeuvres. Israel has its own missile defence system, but the exercise aims in part to examine how to incorporate THAAD so that "we are ready for any challenges in the future", military spokesman Jonathan Conricus said. It will also allow the US military to practice the rapid deployment of THAAD across the globe, officials said. "We see this as an opportunity to practice the integration of advanced American air defence systems into the Israeli air force air defence array," Conricus told journalists. "The THAAD system is considered to be one of the most advanced of its kind in the world," the Israeli spokesman said. The exercise with THAAD, or Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, involves more than 200 US military personnel and its components include radars and launching systems, Conricus said. Components and personnel have come from the United States and Italy, Conricus said. The THAAD will be deployed in southern Israel, but officials declined to say specifically where and for how long. Israel's enemies in the region include Iran and Lebanon's Tehran-backed Hezbollah, both of which are supporting President Bashar al-Assad in neighbouring Syria. THAAD is capable of destroying short, medium and intermediate-range missiles. In 2017, the US government approved its sale to Saudi Arabia, providing Riyadh with state-of-the-art capabilities that could thwart an Iranian rocket attack. It had already been supplied to Saudi Arabia's neighbours Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Its deployment by the US military in South Korea as defence against North Korean drew protests from Beijing, which feared its sensors would be capable of penetrating Chinese air space and upset the balance of power. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the joint exercise, calling it "additional testimony to the commitment of the US to the security of Israel".

US deploys THAAD missile defence in Israel for exercise

The United States on Monday closed its <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/downgrade-of-palestinian-mission-in-jerusalem-to-take-effect-today-us-201015">stand-alone Jerusalem consulate</a> that had served as its diplomatic channel to the Palestinians, merging the mission with the new US Embassy to Israel in the contested city.

The Palestinians, who have boycotted the Trump administration since it shifted long-standing US policy in December 2017 by recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital, voiced anger at what they see as Washington's latest move against them.

The Jerusalem consulate general, which has acted independently as a de facto embassy to the Palestinians since the Oslo accords of the 1990s, will be replaced by a new Palestinian affairs unit within the embassy.

US ambassador to Israel David Friedman has been a supporter of Israeli settlement building in the occupied West Bank and Palestinians view him as blatantly biased in favour of Israel.

The State Department official could not confirm reports that the consul general's residence in Jerusalem would eventually become the home for the US ambassador as part of the embassy's move to the disputed city, which occurred last May.

Located near Jerusalem's Old City, it has been the home of the consul general since 1912, while the US permanent diplomatic presence in the city was established in 1857.

(With inputs from agencies)

The United States on Monday closed its stand-alone Jerusalem consulate that had served as its diplomatic channel to the Palestinians, merging the mission with the new US Embassy to Israel in the contested city.

The United States on Monday closed its stand-alone Jerusalem consulate that had served as its diplomatic channel to the Palestinians, merging the mission with the new US Embassy to Israel in the contested city. The Palestinians, who have boycotted the Trump administration since it shifted long-standing US policy in December 2017 by recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital, voiced anger at what they see as Washington's latest move against them. The Jerusalem consulate general, which has acted independently as a de facto embassy to the Palestinians since the Oslo accords of the 1990s, will be replaced by a new Palestinian affairs unit within the embassy. US ambassador to Israel David Friedman has been a supporter of Israeli settlement building in the occupied West Bank and Palestinians view him as blatantly biased in favour of Israel. The State Department official could not confirm reports that the consul general's residence in Jerusalem would eventually become the home for the US ambassador as part of the embassy's move to the disputed city, which occurred last May. Located near Jerusalem's Old City, it has been the home of the consul general since 1912, while the US permanent diplomatic presence in the city was established in 1857. (With inputs from agencies)

US shuts down Palestinian mission in Jerusalem

The United States is trying to prevent simmering tensions between India and Pakistan from impacting a third country: Afghanistan, where a fragile peace push is underway to try to end more than 17 years of war with Taliban insurgents.

US President Donald Trump's administration has been publicly focused on lowering tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals since a February 14 suicide car bomb in an Indian-controlled area of Kashmir triggered the first Indian air strikes inside of Pakistan since a 1971 war.

Senior US officials told Reuters that as the United States spoke with senior Pakistani officials, emphasizing the need to lower the risk of conflict with India, Islamabad privately offered warnings on Afghanistan.

Pakistani officials said their ability to support Afghan peace talks could be in jeopardy in the event of a full-blown crisis, US officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"They'll stop being a facilitator, they will stop the pressure they are applying" on the Taliban, one US official said, recounting Pakistani warnings conveyed to Washington.

Pakistan has publicly denied any role in the suicide bombing. But the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant group claimed responsibility for it, and India has long accused Islamabad of supporting them.

The United States has likewise accused Pakistan of ties to Taliban militants who are fighting in neighbouring Afghanistan against American and US-backed Afghan government forces.

Reuters has previously reported, however, that US officials have recently seen a positive shift in Pakistan's behaviour.

Pakistan, long at odds with the United States over the war in Afghanistan, has played a behind-the-scenes role in supporting US peace talks with the Afghan Taliban, including by facilitating travel to negotiations.

Current and former US officials caution that Islamabad could again choose to act as a spoiler.

"I don't believe that Pakistan has the capability to straight out make peace happen in Afghanistan, but they definitely have the capability to make peace not (happen)," said Laurel Miller, a former senior State Department official.

MOVEMENT OF TROOPS

In the past several days, India and Pakistan have appeared to dial down hostilities that brought the arch enemies to the brink of another war. But it's unclear whether the calm will hold.

A Pakistani official in Washington, speaking on the condition of anonymity, cautioned that unless the tensions were reduced, there was a "very strong likelihood" that Pakistani troops would be moved from the border with Afghanistan to reinforce positions near India.

Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi told Reuters that Islamabad's focus could completely shift to its eastern border with India.

"If the crisis with India continues, Pakistan will be obliged to keep our entire focus on our Eastern border. That may affect our efforts on our Western front," Lodhi said.

The Pakistani official in Washington said Pakistan had not been focused on Afghanistan since tensions with India increased last month, and it would have implications for peace talks.

Some current and former US officials say Islamabad may be over-stating the risks of fallout on Afghan peace talks, which resumed over the weekend in Doha. Speaking on condition of anonymity, they noted that Islamabad has its own self-interests in mind as it seeks to influence the peace process in neighbouring Afghanistan.

But other US officials acknowledge a major crisis involving India would be all-consuming for Islamabad and say it's another reason why lowering tensions is so important.

In Afghanistan, which fears its country is being used as a proxy for tension between India and Pakistan, the foreign ministry summoned Pakistan's envoy to Kabul after he made similar warnings.

Veteran diplomats say that if the United States pushes Pakistan too hard on combating militants, Islamabad could diminish its support for the peace process.

Dan Feldman, a former US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, said many of the Pakistani officials who dealt with India were also responsible for Afghanistan, and that tensions could impact peace talks.

He said a lack of US focus on South Asia was problematic.

"We need much more focus and strategic thinking from the Trump Administration on this region, and an effective way of implementing that strategy," Feldman said.

The United States is trying to prevent simmering tensions between India and Pakistan from impacting a third country: Afghanistan, where a fragile peace push is underway to try to end more than 17 years of war with Taliban insurgents.

The United States is trying to prevent simmering tensions between India and Pakistan from impacting a third country: Afghanistan, where a fragile peace push is underway to try to end more than 17 years of war with Taliban insurgents. US President Donald Trump's administration has been publicly focused on lowering tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals since a February 14 suicide car bomb in an Indian-controlled area of Kashmir triggered the first Indian air strikes inside of Pakistan since a 1971 war. Senior US officials told Reuters that as the United States spoke with senior Pakistani officials, emphasizing the need to lower the risk of conflict with India, Islamabad privately offered warnings on Afghanistan. Pakistani officials said their ability to support Afghan peace talks could be in jeopardy in the event of a full-blown crisis, US officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "They'll stop being a facilitator, they will stop the pressure they are applying" on the Taliban, one US official said, recounting Pakistani warnings conveyed to Washington. Pakistan has publicly denied any role in the suicide bombing. But the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant group claimed responsibility for it, and India has long accused Islamabad of supporting them. The United States has likewise accused Pakistan of ties to Taliban militants who are fighting in neighbouring Afghanistan against American and US-backed Afghan government forces. Reuters has previously reported, however, that US officials have recently seen a positive shift in Pakistan's behaviour. Pakistan, long at odds with the United States over the war in Afghanistan, has played a behind-the-scenes role in supporting US peace talks with the Afghan Taliban, including by facilitating travel to negotiations. Current and former US officials caution that Islamabad could again choose to act as a spoiler. "I don't believe that Pakistan has the capability to straight out make peace happen in Afghanistan, but they definitely have the capability to make peace not (happen)," said Laurel Miller, a former senior State Department official. MOVEMENT OF TROOPS In the past several days, India and Pakistan have appeared to dial down hostilities that brought the arch enemies to the brink of another war. But it's unclear whether the calm will hold. A Pakistani official in Washington, speaking on the condition of anonymity, cautioned that unless the tensions were reduced, there was a "very strong likelihood" that Pakistani troops would be moved from the border with Afghanistan to reinforce positions near India. Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi told Reuters that Islamabad's focus could completely shift to its eastern border with India. "If the crisis with India continues, Pakistan will be obliged to keep our entire focus on our Eastern border. That may affect our efforts on our Western front," Lodhi said. The Pakistani official in Washington said Pakistan had not been focused on Afghanistan since tensions with India increased last month, and it would have implications for peace talks. Some current and former US officials say Islamabad may be over-stating the risks of fallout on Afghan peace talks, which resumed over the weekend in Doha. Speaking on condition of anonymity, they noted that Islamabad has its own self-interests in mind as it seeks to influence the peace process in neighbouring Afghanistan. But other US officials acknowledge a major crisis involving India would be all-consuming for Islamabad and say it's another reason why lowering tensions is so important. In Afghanistan, which fears its country is being used as a proxy for tension between India and Pakistan, the foreign ministry summoned Pakistan's envoy to Kabul after he made similar warnings. Veteran diplomats say that if the United States pushes Pakistan too hard on combating militants, Islamabad could diminish its support for the peace process. Dan Feldman, a former US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, said many of the Pakistani officials who dealt with India were also responsible for Afghanistan, and that tensions could impact peace talks. He said a lack of US focus on South Asia was problematic. "We need much more focus and strategic thinking from the Trump Administration on this region, and an effective way of implementing that strategy," Feldman said.

US tries to safeguard Afghan peace push from India-Pakistan crisis

The United States said Monday it has restored the EU's mission in Washington to its former status, calling the bloc one of "its most valuable partners" as their troubled trade talks are set to resume.

The US State Department lowered the European Union mission's diplomatic status from member state to international organisation late last year, in what was seen as a further blow to transatlantic ties.&nbsp;

"The Department of State will again recognize the European Union’s representation in Washington as equivalent to that of a bilateral mission in the Diplomatic Corps Order of Precedence," according to a statement from Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU.

"The European Union is a uniquely important organisation, and one of America's most valuable partners in ensuring global security and prosperity," Sondland said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"Europe’s security and success are inextricably linked to that of the United States, and this level of engagement and cooperation should be recognized appropriately in all settings."

The EU in January confirmed it was in talks with US officials about the mission's status after German broadcaster Deutsche Welle reported the downgrade.

DW said it only came to light when the EU ambassador in Washington did not receive an invitation to the funeral of former US president George H.W. Bush in December.

Under US President Donald Trump, Europe's once-solid ties with the US have deteriorated and last year Washington put tariffs on steel and aluminium from the EU and other partners.

EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom is to meet her US counterpart Robert Lighthizer on Wednesday in Washington as the two sides seek a trade deal limited to industrial goods and avert threatened US auto tariffs.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in December used a major policy speech in Brussels to take aim at the bloc, saying Britain's Brexit vote had raised valid questions about whether the EU was putting the interests of bureaucrats ahead of those of citizens.

The United States said Monday it has restored the EU's mission in Washington to its former status, calling the bloc one of "its most valuable partners" as their troubled trade talks are set to resume.

The United States said Monday it has restored the EU's mission in Washington to its former status, calling the bloc one of "its most valuable partners" as their troubled trade talks are set to resume. The US State Department lowered the European Union mission's diplomatic status from member state to international organisation late last year, in what was seen as a further blow to transatlantic ties. "The Department of State will again recognize the European Union’s representation in Washington as equivalent to that of a bilateral mission in the Diplomatic Corps Order of Precedence," according to a statement from Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU. "The European Union is a uniquely important organisation, and one of America's most valuable partners in ensuring global security and prosperity," Sondland said. "Europe’s security and success are inextricably linked to that of the United States, and this level of engagement and cooperation should be recognized appropriately in all settings." The EU in January confirmed it was in talks with US officials about the mission's status after German broadcaster Deutsche Welle reported the downgrade. DW said it only came to light when the EU ambassador in Washington did not receive an invitation to the funeral of former US president George H.W. Bush in December. Under US President Donald Trump, Europe's once-solid ties with the US have deteriorated and last year Washington put tariffs on steel and aluminium from the EU and other partners. EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom is to meet her US counterpart Robert Lighthizer on Wednesday in Washington as the two sides seek a trade deal limited to industrial goods and avert threatened US auto tariffs. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in December used a major policy speech in Brussels to take aim at the bloc, saying Britain's Brexit vote had raised valid questions about whether the EU was putting the interests of bureaucrats ahead of those of citizens.

US restores mission status of 'valuable partner' EU

The United States is trying to prevent simmering tensions between India and Pakistan from impacting a third country: Afghanistan, where a fragile peace push is underway to try to end more than 17 years of war with Taliban insurgents.

US President Donald Trump's administration has been publicly focused on lowering tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals since a Feb. 14 suicide car bomb in an Indian-controlled area of Kashmir triggered the first Indian air strikes inside of Pakistan since a 1971 war.

Senior US officials told that as the United States spoke with senior Pakistani officials, emphasizing the need to lower the risk of conflict with India, Islamabad privately offered warnings on Afghanistan.

Pakistani officials said their ability to support Afghan peace talks could be in jeopardy in the event of a full-blown crisis, US officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"They'll stop being a facilitator, they will stop the pressure they are applying" on the Taliban, one US official said, recounting Pakistani warnings conveyed to Washington.

Pakistan has publicly denied any role in the suicide bombing. But the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant group claimed responsibility for it, and India has long accused Islamabad of supporting them.

The United States has likewise accused Pakistan of ties to Taliban militants who are fighting in neighbouring Afghanistan against American and US-backed Afghan government forces.

The United States is trying to prevent simmering tensions between India and Pakistan from impacting a third country: Afghanistan, where a fragile peace push is underway to try to end more than 17 years of war with Taliban insurgents. US President Donald Trump's administration has been publicly focused on lowering tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals since a Feb. 14 suicide car bomb in an Indian-controlled area of Kashmir triggered the first Indian air strikes inside of Pakistan since a 1971 war. Senior US officials told that as the United States spoke with senior Pakistani officials, emphasizing the need to lower the risk of conflict with India, Islamabad privately offered warnings on Afghanistan. Pakistani officials said their ability to support Afghan peace talks could be in jeopardy in the event of a full-blown crisis, US officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "They'll stop being a facilitator, they will stop the pressure they are applying" on the Taliban, one US official said, recounting Pakistani warnings conveyed to Washington. Pakistan has publicly denied any role in the suicide bombing. But the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant group claimed responsibility for it, and India has long accused Islamabad of supporting them. The United States has likewise accused Pakistan of ties to Taliban militants who are fighting in neighbouring Afghanistan against American and US-backed Afghan government forces.

A large group of Central American migrants who US authorities separated from their children last year when they crossed the Mexican border entered the United States again on Saturday asking for refuge and to be reunited with their kids.

A Reuters witness said some 50 people entered the United States at the international border crossing from Mexicali, Mexico into Calexico, California, where they were met by agents from US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).

Visibly nervous parents crossed the pedestrian bridge, some with children and carrying luggage, a Reuters witness said. They were accompanied by lawyers from immigration advocacy group Al Otro Lado. The group said 29 parents crossed.

"This is a huge victory for these families, but this fight isn't over until they're reunited with their kids," said Erika Pinheiro, Litigation and Policy Director of Al Otro Lado.

The families, who arrived back in Mexico helped by Al Otro Lado, which means "On the Other Side," hope to present their cases to US authorities and be reunited with their children.

Customs and Border Patrol did not immediately respond to a request for comment out of normal office hours.

In a crackdown on illegal immigration by President Donald Trump's administration, US officials have separated thousands of children from migrant parents who crossed from Mexico into the United States. Many were placed in detention camps before being reunited with their parents.

Other parents were deported back to Central America without their children, some of whom were later sent to foster homes or to live with relatives in the United States.

The US Department of Health and Human Services' inspector general said in a January report that the administration began ramping up separations in 2017. They accelerated in 2018 after Trump implemented a "zero tolerance" policy to criminally prosecute and jail illegal border crossers.

Outrage over the policy led Trump to sign an executive order on June 20, 2018, reversing course.

"We are waiting here in Mexicali, we arrived early. God willing and our cases can be seen," Joe Arteaga, a Honduran man separated from his 15-year old son last year, said before the crossing.

"I know it's a big risk, but we hope for the best," he added.

Families interviewed by Reuters last week in Tijuana said their children were now among those either with relatives or foster parents in the United States. They described their confusion when their kids were taken away by US immigration officials last year.

"Every day I saw my son through a fence ... One day, as he cried, he said 'daddy they're going to deport you,'" said Arnold Flores, a Honduran who said he fled his country after he was beaten and had his house burned down.

"That same day the officers called me, a defence attorney said something to me in English that I didn't understand and I haven't seen my son since," he said.

A large group of Central American migrants who US authorities separated from their children last year when they crossed the Mexican border entered the United States again on Saturday asking for refuge and to be reunited with their kids.

A large group of Central American migrants who US authorities separated from their children last year when they crossed the Mexican border entered the United States again on Saturday asking for refuge and to be reunited with their kids. A Reuters witness said some 50 people entered the United States at the international border crossing from Mexicali, Mexico into Calexico, California, where they were met by agents from US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). Visibly nervous parents crossed the pedestrian bridge, some with children and carrying luggage, a Reuters witness said. They were accompanied by lawyers from immigration advocacy group Al Otro Lado. The group said 29 parents crossed. "This is a huge victory for these families, but this fight isn't over until they're reunited with their kids," said Erika Pinheiro, Litigation and Policy Director of Al Otro Lado. The families, who arrived back in Mexico helped by Al Otro Lado, which means "On the Other Side," hope to present their cases to US authorities and be reunited with their children. Customs and Border Patrol did not immediately respond to a request for comment out of normal office hours. In a crackdown on illegal immigration by President Donald Trump's administration, US officials have separated thousands of children from migrant parents who crossed from Mexico into the United States. Many were placed in detention camps before being reunited with their parents. Other parents were deported back to Central America without their children, some of whom were later sent to foster homes or to live with relatives in the United States. The US Department of Health and Human Services' inspector general said in a January report that the administration began ramping up separations in 2017. They accelerated in 2018 after Trump implemented a "zero tolerance" policy to criminally prosecute and jail illegal border crossers. Outrage over the policy led Trump to sign an executive order on June 20, 2018, reversing course. "We are waiting here in Mexicali, we arrived early. God willing and our cases can be seen," Joe Arteaga, a Honduran man separated from his 15-year old son last year, said before the crossing. "I know it's a big risk, but we hope for the best," he added. Families interviewed by Reuters last week in Tijuana said their children were now among those either with relatives or foster parents in the United States. They described their confusion when their kids were taken away by US immigration officials last year. "Every day I saw my son through a fence ... One day, as he cried, he said 'daddy they're going to deport you,'" said Arnold Flores, a Honduran who said he fled his country after he was beaten and had his house burned down. "That same day the officers called me, a defence attorney said something to me in English that I didn't understand and I haven't seen my son since," he said.

Migrant parents separated from children return to US, plead to be reunited

China on Saturday welcomed the US decision of suspending the tariff hike of goods imported from China, as the two countries intensified negotiations to reach a deal to end the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-urges-china-to-remove-tariffs-on-us-agricultural-products-200630">current trade war</a> between the world's two largest economies.

The Customs Tariff Commission of China said it accepted the statement from US Trade Representative Office, which stated that Chinese goods that have been subject to tariffs since September 2018 will maintain a 10-per cent tariff rate until further notice, state-run CGTN television reported.

The US earlier announced a tariff increase of Chinese goods from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, which was initially scheduled for January 1, but the Trump administration extended the deadline for 90 days due to progress in talks.

Trump is demanding China to reduce the $375 billion trade deficit and protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), technology transfer and more access to American goods to Chinese markets.

He has already increased the tariffs on over $250 billion worth of Chinese exports to US and threatened to extend tariffs on 4200 billion worth of Chinese imports to 25 per cent.

China on Saturday welcomed the US decision of suspending the tariff hike of goods imported from China, as the two countries intensified negotiations to reach a deal to end the current trade war between the world's two largest economies.

China on Saturday welcomed the US decision of suspending the tariff hike of goods imported from China, as the two countries intensified negotiations to reach a deal to end the current trade war between the world's two largest economies. The Customs Tariff Commission of China said it accepted the statement from US Trade Representative Office, which stated that Chinese goods that have been subject to tariffs since September 2018 will maintain a 10-per cent tariff rate until further notice, state-run CGTN television reported. The US earlier announced a tariff increase of Chinese goods from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, which was initially scheduled for January 1, but the Trump administration extended the deadline for 90 days due to progress in talks. Trump is demanding China to reduce the $375 billion trade deficit and protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), technology transfer and more access to American goods to Chinese markets. He has already increased the tariffs on over $250 billion worth of Chinese exports to US and threatened to extend tariffs on 4200 billion worth of Chinese imports to 25 per cent.

China welcomes US decision to suspend tariff hike

The leader of North Korea left the Vietnamese capital on Saturday for Pyongyang by train, after concluding a two-day state visit, following his failed summit with the President of the United States earlier in the week.

Before leaving for his country, he had visited the mausoleum of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-kim-pays-tribute-to-ho-chi-minh-on-vietnam-visit-200677">Vietnamese national hero Ho Chi Minh</a>, with whom his grandfather Kim Il-Sung met in Hanoi in 1964, which had marked the last official visit by a North Korean leader to Vietnam.

After the shortstop, he travelled by car the 170 kilometres (106 miles) that separate Hanoi from Dong Dang station on the border with China.

He arrived at the station after 12.30 pm and boarded a high-security train to return to his country.

A crowd waving Vietnamese and North Korean flags to the beats of the national orchestra had gathered at the gates of the railway station to bid farewell to the leader of North Korea.

Kim waved to the gathered crowd with a broad smile and boarded the train, flanked by his security personnel.

On Friday, Hanoi had hosted a grand dinner for Kim, that was attended by top officials of the country.

Earlier in the day, he had met Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong.

During the meeting, both leaders had pledged to reinforce ties between the two countries that share historical and ideological affinities owing to the communist root of their regimes.

In recent months, North Korea has shown an interest in the economic transition undertaken by Vietnam since the mid-1980s.

Vietnam had successfully moved from orthodox communism to a state-protected market economy without the Communist Party losing its political hegemony.

Kim had arrived in Hanoi on Tuesday to participate in his second summit with US President Donald Trump, which ended ahead of schedule on Thursday after the two sides failed to agree on the denuclearization of North Korea and the lifting of sanctions.

The two countries had presented different versions of the meet, after it concluded, leading to confusion over its outcome.

However, on Friday, the negotiating teams of both the countries underlined the progress achieved during the talks and made an appeal to continue with the talks and hoped to reach an agreement at a forthcoming summit.

Meanwhile, Kim will be travelling 60 hours to cover 4,500 kilometres that separate the Vietnamese border from the North Korean capital.

The leader of North Korea left the Vietnamese capital on Saturday for Pyongyang by train, after concluding a two-day state visit, following his failed summit with the President of the United States earlier in the week.

The leader of North Korea left the Vietnamese capital on Saturday for Pyongyang by train, after concluding a two-day state visit, following his failed summit with the President of the United States earlier in the week. Before leaving for his country, he had visited the mausoleum of Vietnamese national hero Ho Chi Minh, with whom his grandfather Kim Il-Sung met in Hanoi in 1964, which had marked the last official visit by a North Korean leader to Vietnam. After the shortstop, he travelled by car the 170 kilometres (106 miles) that separate Hanoi from Dong Dang station on the border with China. He arrived at the station after 12.30 pm and boarded a high-security train to return to his country. A crowd waving Vietnamese and North Korean flags to the beats of the national orchestra had gathered at the gates of the railway station to bid farewell to the leader of North Korea. Kim waved to the gathered crowd with a broad smile and boarded the train, flanked by his security personnel. On Friday, Hanoi had hosted a grand dinner for Kim, that was attended by top officials of the country. Earlier in the day, he had met Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong. During the meeting, both leaders had pledged to reinforce ties between the two countries that share historical and ideological affinities owing to the communist root of their regimes. In recent months, North Korea has shown an interest in the economic transition undertaken by Vietnam since the mid-1980s. Vietnam had successfully moved from orthodox communism to a state-protected market economy without the Communist Party losing its political hegemony. Kim had arrived in Hanoi on Tuesday to participate in his second summit with US President Donald Trump, which ended ahead of schedule on Thursday after the two sides failed to agree on the denuclearization of North Korea and the lifting of sanctions. The two countries had presented different versions of the meet, after it concluded, leading to confusion over its outcome. However, on Friday, the negotiating teams of both the countries underlined the progress achieved during the talks and made an appeal to continue with the talks and hoped to reach an agreement at a forthcoming summit. Meanwhile, Kim will be travelling 60 hours to cover 4,500 kilometres that separate the Vietnamese border from the North Korean capital.

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un leaves for Pyongyang after Vietnamese state visit

China on Saturday asked the Canadian government to stop the process of extraditing <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/canada-approves-extradition-process-of-huawei-former-cfo-meng-wanzhou-200597">Meng Wanzhou</a>, the CFO of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, to the United States.

"The US and Canada abuse of their extradition rules is a severe violation of the legitimate rights of a Chinese citizen," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lu Kang.

The Canadian Department of Justice on Friday had authorized the formal process to begin the extradition of Meng, daughter of the founder of Huawei, who was arrested on December 1 in the Canadian city of Vancouver, while she was on her way to Mexico.

"This is a serious political event. We once again urge the US to immediately withdraw the arrest warrant and extradition request for Meng Wanzhou," said Lu, adding that the two countries should immediately release Meng and allow her a safe passage to China.

In January, the US Department of Justice had accused Meng, Huawei, and two affiliated companies, of 13 counts of fraud and conspiracy to bypass the sanctions imposed by Washington on Iran.

Meng is currently out on bail but is forbidden to leave her mansion in Vancouver and will have to appear on March 6 before the Supreme Court of British Columbia for the beginning of the extradition process.

This decision threatens to aggravate a serious diplomatic crisis between Canada and China, following Meng's arrest last December.

China had retaliated by arresting two Canadians, a diplomat Michael Kovrig and a businessman Michael Spavor, over charges of endangering China's national security.

Both remain in prison, with restricted access to Canadian diplomatic representatives as well as their lawyers.

The Chinese Embassy in Canada also commented on the Canadian Justice's decision, describing the situation as political persecution of a high-tech Chinese company.

"If Canada really abides by the principle of rule of law and judiciary independence, the Canadian side should refuse the extradition request of the United States and immediately release Ms Meng Wanzhou," said an embassy spokesperson.

The way in which the Canadian court will "handle this case will be a touchstone for testing whether Canada adheres to judicial independence or not. We will wait and see," concluded the spokesperson.

China on Saturday asked the Canadian government to stop the process of extraditing Meng Wanzhou, the CFO of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, to the United States.

China on Saturday asked the Canadian government to stop the process of extraditing Meng Wanzhou, the CFO of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, to the United States. "The US and Canada abuse of their extradition rules is a severe violation of the legitimate rights of a Chinese citizen," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lu Kang. The Canadian Department of Justice on Friday had authorized the formal process to begin the extradition of Meng, daughter of the founder of Huawei, who was arrested on December 1 in the Canadian city of Vancouver, while she was on her way to Mexico. "This is a serious political event. We once again urge the US to immediately withdraw the arrest warrant and extradition request for Meng Wanzhou," said Lu, adding that the two countries should immediately release Meng and allow her a safe passage to China. In January, the US Department of Justice had accused Meng, Huawei, and two affiliated companies, of 13 counts of fraud and conspiracy to bypass the sanctions imposed by Washington on Iran. Meng is currently out on bail but is forbidden to leave her mansion in Vancouver and will have to appear on March 6 before the Supreme Court of British Columbia for the beginning of the extradition process. This decision threatens to aggravate a serious diplomatic crisis between Canada and China, following Meng's arrest last December. China had retaliated by arresting two Canadians, a diplomat Michael Kovrig and a businessman Michael Spavor, over charges of endangering China's national security. Both remain in prison, with restricted access to Canadian diplomatic representatives as well as their lawyers. The Chinese Embassy in Canada also commented on the Canadian Justice's decision, describing the situation as political persecution of a high-tech Chinese company. "If Canada really abides by the principle of rule of law and judiciary independence, the Canadian side should refuse the extradition request of the United States and immediately release Ms Meng Wanzhou," said an embassy spokesperson. The way in which the Canadian court will "handle this case will be a touchstone for testing whether Canada adheres to judicial independence or not. We will wait and see," concluded the spokesperson.

China asks Canada to stop extradition of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou to US

Russian scientist Zhores Alferov, who won the Nobel physics prize for his work in semiconductor and laser technologies, has died, agencies said on Saturday. He was 88.

When Alferov took the prize in 2000, he was the first Russian to win a Nobel since Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev was given the peace award in 1990.&nbsp;

The victory provided a boost for the post-Soviet Russian sciences.&nbsp;

"Zhores Alferov died today," his wife said in comments carried by Russian media.

The physicist was also a Communist deputy in the lower house of parliament.

Alferov was honoured for his pioneering work with technology now used in everything from satellites to mobile phones and bar-code scanners.

He shared the award with German-born Herbert Kroemer and Jack Kilby of the United States.

Russian scientist Zhores Alferov, who won the Nobel physics prize for his work in semiconductor and laser technologies, has died, agencies said on Saturday. He was 88.

Russian scientist Zhores Alferov, who won the Nobel physics prize for his work in semiconductor and laser technologies, has died, agencies said on Saturday. He was 88. When Alferov took the prize in 2000, he was the first Russian to win a Nobel since Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev was given the peace award in 1990. The victory provided a boost for the post-Soviet Russian sciences. "Zhores Alferov died today," his wife said in comments carried by Russian media. The physicist was also a Communist deputy in the lower house of parliament. Alferov was honoured for his pioneering work with technology now used in everything from satellites to mobile phones and bar-code scanners. He shared the award with German-born Herbert Kroemer and Jack Kilby of the United States.

Russian Nobel physics winner Zhores Alferov dies at 88

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