Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, during his meeting with his British counterpart Jeremy Hunt in Tehran on Monday, stated that Iran is used to pressuring and will survive the newly imposed US sanctions.&nbsp;

He added that Tehran will resist the pressure imposed by the United States and will even thrive while surviving it.&nbsp;Zarif called for a political commitment from Britain on the nuclear deal.&nbsp;

Britain's Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt was in Tehran on Monday on his first official visit in Tehran to hold talks with Iranian authorities on issues including the future of the 2015 nuclear deal.

"The Europeans should accelerate their efforts to save the deal...We are ready for all scenarios, including a return to pre-deal era," the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, told Hunt, Iranian state television reported.

Hunt said Britain was committed to the nuclear deal and discussed European efforts to maintain nuclear-related sanctions relief, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported.

"The Iran nuclear deal remains a vital component of stability in the Middle East by eliminating the threat of a nuclearised Iran. It needs 100 per cent compliance though to survive," Hunt said in a statement ahead of the visit.

The top diplomats also discussed the conflict in Yemen and other issues in meetings.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday said <a href="http://wioneews.com/world/rouhani-says-iran-to-continue-oil-exports-and-resist-us-economic-war-178271">Tehran will continue to export oil despite US sanctions</a>, news agency Reuters reported.&nbsp;

"We will not yield to this pressure, which is part of the psychological war launched against Iran," Rouhani said in a speech in the city of Khoy, broadcast live on state television.&nbsp;

"They have failed to stop our oil exports. We will keep exporting it ... Your regional policies have failed and you blame Iran for that failure from Afghanistan to Yemen and Syria," he added.

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, during his meeting with his British counterpart Jeremy Hunt in Tehran on Monday, stated that Iran is used to pressuring and will survive the newly imposed US sanctions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, during his meeting with his British counterpart Jeremy Hunt in Tehran on Monday, stated that Iran is used to pressuring and will survive the newly imposed US sanctions. He added that Tehran will resist the pressure imposed by the United States and will even thrive while surviving it. Zarif called for a political commitment from Britain on the nuclear deal. Britain's Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt was in Tehran on Monday on his first official visit in Tehran to hold talks with Iranian authorities on issues including the future of the 2015 nuclear deal. "The Europeans should accelerate their efforts to save the deal...We are ready for all scenarios, including a return to pre-deal era," the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, told Hunt, Iranian state television reported. Hunt said Britain was committed to the nuclear deal and discussed European efforts to maintain nuclear-related sanctions relief, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported. "The Iran nuclear deal remains a vital component of stability in the Middle East by eliminating the threat of a nuclearised Iran. It needs 100 per cent compliance though to survive," Hunt said in a statement ahead of the visit. The top diplomats also discussed the conflict in Yemen and other issues in meetings. Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday said Tehran will continue to export oil despite US sanctions, news agency Reuters reported. "We will not yield to this pressure, which is part of the psychological war launched against Iran," Rouhani said in a speech in the city of Khoy, broadcast live on state television. "They have failed to stop our oil exports. We will keep exporting it ... Your regional policies have failed and you blame Iran for that failure from Afghanistan to Yemen and Syria," he added. (With inputs from Reuters)

Won't yield to this pressure, will survive and thrive: Iran on newly imposed US sanctions

A three-day meeting between the Taliban and the US&nbsp;special envoy for Afghanistan to pave the way for peace talks ended with no agreement, the militant group said a day after the diplomat declared a deadline of April 2019 to end a 17-year-long war.

Afghanistan's security situation has worsened since NATO formally ended combat operations in 2014, as Taliban insurgents battle to reimpose strict Islamic law following their overthrow in 2001 at the hands of US-led troops.

Leaders of the hardline Islamist group met US&nbsp;special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad at their political headquarters in Qatar last week for the second time in the past month, said spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid.

"These were preliminary talks and no agreement was reached on any issue," he said in a statement on Monday.

Taliban leaders had not accepted any deadline set by the US&nbsp;to wrap up talks, three Taliban officials added.

The US embassy in Kabul declined to comment.

Khalilzad, an Afghan-born US diplomat authorised by US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's government to lead peace negotiations with the Taliban, on Sunday said he hoped to cut a peace deal with the group by April 20.

That deadline coincides with the date set for presidential elections in Afghanistan.

Two senior US&nbsp;officials confirmed that the second round of peace talks ended last week and the Taliban expected Khalilzad to visit Qatar for a meeting before the end of 2018.

"The second round of talks went on for three days. This clearly proves that both sides are exercising patience and caution during their diplomatic engagement," a US&nbsp;official said on condition of anonymity.

But Khalilzad's public statement that the Taliban believe they will "not win militarily" angered senior members of the group, who warned US&nbsp;officials against mixed messages that could muddle the peace process.

"We were astonished to see Khalilzad's statement in Kabul on Sunday. He wrongly quoted us, saying that the Taliban admitted that militarily we would not succeed," said a senior Taliban member in Afghanistan.

Another senior member said Khalilzad's strategy to declare a deadline showed how desperate the US&nbsp;was to withdraw foreign forces. "Taliban leaders have not agreed to any deadline because we are winning on all fronts," he added.

The Taliban "are not losing" in Afghanistan, Gen. Joseph Dunford, the top US&nbsp;military officer, said last week.

"We used the term stalemate a year ago and, relatively speaking, it has not changed much," he told a security forum.

The NATO-led Resolute Support mission involves 41 nations contributing more than 12,000 soldiers, equipment and training for Afghan forces.

The Taliban have strengthened their grip over the past three years, with the government in Kabul controlling just 56 percent of the country, down from 72 percent in 2015, a US&nbsp;government report showed this month.

Diplomats and political analysts in Kabul have labelled Khalilzad a man "in hurry" who must include Afghan politicians and officials from neighbouring countries such as Pakistan and Iran before the third round of talks.

"Khalilzad's hasty approach could lead to an epic disaster," said a senior Western diplomat in Kabul. "The Taliban would trust him only if he did not speak on their behalf."

&nbsp;

A three-day meeting between the Taliban and the US special envoy for Afghanistan to pave the way for peace talks ended with no agreement, the militant group said a day after the diplomat declared a deadline of April 2019 to end a 17-year-long war.

A three-day meeting between the Taliban and the US special envoy for Afghanistan to pave the way for peace talks ended with no agreement, the militant group said a day after the diplomat declared a deadline of April 2019 to end a 17-year-long war. Afghanistan's security situation has worsened since NATO formally ended combat operations in 2014, as Taliban insurgents battle to reimpose strict Islamic law following their overthrow in 2001 at the hands of US-led troops. Leaders of the hardline Islamist group met US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad at their political headquarters in Qatar last week for the second time in the past month, said spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid. "These were preliminary talks and no agreement was reached on any issue," he said in a statement on Monday. Taliban leaders had not accepted any deadline set by the US to wrap up talks, three Taliban officials added. The US embassy in Kabul declined to comment. Khalilzad, an Afghan-born US diplomat authorised by US President Donald Trump's government to lead peace negotiations with the Taliban, on Sunday said he hoped to cut a peace deal with the group by April 20. That deadline coincides with the date set for presidential elections in Afghanistan. Two senior US officials confirmed that the second round of peace talks ended last week and the Taliban expected Khalilzad to visit Qatar for a meeting before the end of 2018. "The second round of talks went on for three days. This clearly proves that both sides are exercising patience and caution during their diplomatic engagement," a US official said on condition of anonymity. But Khalilzad's public statement that the Taliban believe they will "not win militarily" angered senior members of the group, who warned US officials against mixed messages that could muddle the peace process. "We were astonished to see Khalilzad's statement in Kabul on Sunday. He wrongly quoted us, saying that the Taliban admitted that militarily we would not succeed," said a senior Taliban member in Afghanistan. Another senior member said Khalilzad's strategy to declare a deadline showed how desperate the US was to withdraw foreign forces. "Taliban leaders have not agreed to any deadline because we are winning on all fronts," he added. The Taliban "are not losing" in Afghanistan, Gen. Joseph Dunford, the top US military officer, said last week. "We used the term stalemate a year ago and, relatively speaking, it has not changed much," he told a security forum. The NATO-led Resolute Support mission involves 41 nations contributing more than 12,000 soldiers, equipment and training for Afghan forces. The Taliban have strengthened their grip over the past three years, with the government in Kabul controlling just 56 percent of the country, down from 72 percent in 2015, a US government report showed this month. Diplomats and political analysts in Kabul have labelled Khalilzad a man "in hurry" who must include Afghan politicians and officials from neighbouring countries such as Pakistan and Iran before the third round of talks. "Khalilzad's hasty approach could lead to an epic disaster," said a senior Western diplomat in Kabul. "The Taliban would trust him only if he did not speak on their behalf."

No pact struck with US over deadline to end Afghan war: Taliban

Fuel prices once again witnessed a decline on Sunday in New Delhi and Mumbai owing to a reduction in the rates of crude oil.

In New Delhi, petrol is being sold at Rs 76.71 per litre after a decrease of 20 paise, and diesel at Rs 71.56 per litre after a decrease of 18 paise.

Meanwhile, in Mumbai petrol is retailing 20 paise lower at Rs 82.23 per litre and diesel at Rs 74.97 after a decrease of 19 paise.

The rates of fuel across India are witnessing a continuous decline due to a fall in the prices of crude oil.

The United States recently softened its stand on Iran`s sanctions and gave its nod to eight countries to continue importing oil from Iran temporarily.&nbsp;

The list of countries includes India, China, South Korea, Japan, Turkey, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, and Taiwan.&nbsp;

Fuel prices once again witnessed a decline on Sunday in New Delhi and Mumbai owing to a reduction in the rates of crude oil. In New Delhi, petrol is being sold at Rs 76.

Fuel prices once again witnessed a decline on Sunday in New Delhi and Mumbai owing to a reduction in the rates of crude oil. In New Delhi, petrol is being sold at Rs 76.71 per litre after a decrease of 20 paise, and diesel at Rs 71.56 per litre after a decrease of 18 paise. Meanwhile, in Mumbai petrol is retailing 20 paise lower at Rs 82.23 per litre and diesel at Rs 74.97 after a decrease of 19 paise. The rates of fuel across India are witnessing a continuous decline due to a fall in the prices of crude oil. The United States recently softened its stand on Iran`s sanctions and gave its nod to eight countries to continue importing oil from Iran temporarily. The list of countries includes India, China, South Korea, Japan, Turkey, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, and Taiwan.

Fuel prices continue downward trend today

A 61-year-old Indian has been shot dead by a 16-year-old boy in the US state of New Jersey, media reports said Saturday.

Sunil Edla, who was to travel to India this month to visit his mother for her 95th birthday and celebrate Christmas with family, was killed outside his apartment in Ventnor city on Thursday night, The Press of Atlantic City reported.

Known for playing piano during church services at Chelsea Community Presbyterian Church in Atlantic City, he was a father of two and grandfather.

He was a 30-year resident of Atlantic County and worked in Atlantic City's hospitality industry.

An autopsy revealed that he died of multiple gunshot wounds, the report said.

The accused, whose name is being withheld due to his age, has been arrested from Egg Harbor City, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G Tyner said Friday.

He was charged with murder, felony murder, robbery, carjacking, unlawful possession of a handgun and possession of a handgun for unlawful purpose.

The motive behind the killing was not immediately known, police said.

Police believe the teen shot Edla and took his car. Atlantic City police found the vehicle later.

"He (Edla) was humble. He never argued. I helped him when he came to US in 1987. I was very close to him," his cousin Raj Casula was quoted as saying in the report.

On Thursday, Edla was leaving his home to work the overnight shift at the North Carolina Avenue Rodeway Inn in Atlantic City, his family said.

He started his car then went back to the house briefly. After walking back down the second-floor apartment stairs, he was shot on the sidewalk and left for dead, the report said.

Ventnor police Chief Doug Biagi said they have posted an officer in the neighbourhood "just to ease anybody's fears".

"Everyone was calling him and talking to him because he was leaving for India so soon. He had everything planned out for months... He was leaving on the 27th and he planned everything he was going to do in India for every day," Casula said.

His neighbour Fred Borsani said he did not hear the incident just two homes down, possibly due to the storm, the report added.

A 61-year-old Indian has been shot dead by a 16-year-old boy in the US state of New Jersey, media reports said Saturday. Sunil Edla, who was to travel to India this month to visit his mother for her 95th birthday and celebrate Christmas with family, was killed outside his apartment in Ventnor city on Thursday night, The Press of Atlantic City reported.

A 61-year-old Indian has been shot dead by a 16-year-old boy in the US state of New Jersey, media reports said Saturday. Sunil Edla, who was to travel to India this month to visit his mother for her 95th birthday and celebrate Christmas with family, was killed outside his apartment in Ventnor city on Thursday night, The Press of Atlantic City reported. Known for playing piano during church services at Chelsea Community Presbyterian Church in Atlantic City, he was a father of two and grandfather. He was a 30-year resident of Atlantic County and worked in Atlantic City's hospitality industry. An autopsy revealed that he died of multiple gunshot wounds, the report said. The accused, whose name is being withheld due to his age, has been arrested from Egg Harbor City, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G Tyner said Friday. He was charged with murder, felony murder, robbery, carjacking, unlawful possession of a handgun and possession of a handgun for unlawful purpose. The motive behind the killing was not immediately known, police said. Police believe the teen shot Edla and took his car. Atlantic City police found the vehicle later. "He (Edla) was humble. He never argued. I helped him when he came to US in 1987. I was very close to him," his cousin Raj Casula was quoted as saying in the report. On Thursday, Edla was leaving his home to work the overnight shift at the North Carolina Avenue Rodeway Inn in Atlantic City, his family said. He started his car then went back to the house briefly. After walking back down the second-floor apartment stairs, he was shot on the sidewalk and left for dead, the report said. Ventnor police Chief Doug Biagi said they have posted an officer in the neighbourhood "just to ease anybody's fears". "Everyone was calling him and talking to him because he was leaving for India so soon. He had everything planned out for months... He was leaving on the 27th and he planned everything he was going to do in India for every day," Casula said. His neighbour Fred Borsani said he did not hear the incident just two homes down, possibly due to the storm, the report added.

61-yr-old Indian gunned down by teenager in US

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned on Saturday that the shadow of protectionism and unilateralism was hanging over global growth, joining other Asia-Pacific leaders in urging free trade.

China and the United States have been locked in an escalating trade war since President Donald Trump won the election in 2016. Trump has skipped the annual meeting of the 21-nation grouping, but US Vice President Mike Pence will be speaking later in the day.

Fault lines were quick to emerge over the future of free trade as leaders gathered for an Asia-Pacific summit on Saturday, with some calling for radical change while others argued for a return to the status quo on globalization.

Meanwhile, President Xi made a push to expand China's influence in the Pacific on Friday, holding a forum with leaders of eight small island countries in Papua New Guinea.

But Chinese officials barred most media, including reporters from the Pacific, from the forum at which Xi met leaders from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Micronesia, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, as well as Papua New Guinea, in its capital Port Moresby ahead of an APEC summit this weekend.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned on Saturday that the shadow of protectionism and unilateralism was hanging over global growth, joining other Asia-Pacific leaders in urging free trade.

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned on Saturday that the shadow of protectionism and unilateralism was hanging over global growth, joining other Asia-Pacific leaders in urging free trade. China and the United States have been locked in an escalating trade war since President Donald Trump won the election in 2016. Trump has skipped the annual meeting of the 21-nation grouping, but US Vice President Mike Pence will be speaking later in the day. Fault lines were quick to emerge over the future of free trade as leaders gathered for an Asia-Pacific summit on Saturday, with some calling for radical change while others argued for a return to the status quo on globalization. Meanwhile, President Xi made a push to expand China's influence in the Pacific on Friday, holding a forum with leaders of eight small island countries in Papua New Guinea. But Chinese officials barred most media, including reporters from the Pacific, from the forum at which Xi met leaders from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Micronesia, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, as well as Papua New Guinea, in its capital Port Moresby ahead of an APEC summit this weekend. (With inputs from Reuters)

World growth overshadowed by protectionism: China's President Xi Jinping

US Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday warned that US sanctions and pressure on China would remain in place until Beijing reforms its trade practices.

"We've put tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods and that number could more than double," he told CEOs from around the region.

"We hope for better, but the United States will not change course until China changes its ways.''

Meanwhile, Pence also said the United States will join forces with Australia in the development of a new naval base to be built in Papua New Guinea.

"The United States will partner with Papua New Guinea and Australia on their joint initiative at Lombrum Naval Base," Pence said ahead of a regional summit. "We will work with these two nations to protect the sovereignty and maritime rights in the Pacific Islands. "

Pence's remark comes a day after President Donald Trump on Friday said that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-opens-door-to-trade-deal-with-china-soon-177793">he might not punish China with more import tariffs</a> as the country has shown willingness to make a deal to defuse trade tensions.&nbsp;

"China wants to make a deal," Trump told reporters. "They sent a list of things that they are willing to do," news agency AFP quoted the president.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

US Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday warned that US sanctions and pressure on China would remain in place until Beijing reforms its trade practices. "We've put tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods and that number could more than double," he told CEOs from around the region.

US Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday warned that US sanctions and pressure on China would remain in place until Beijing reforms its trade practices. "We've put tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods and that number could more than double," he told CEOs from around the region. "We hope for better, but the United States will not change course until China changes its ways.'' Meanwhile, Pence also said the United States will join forces with Australia in the development of a new naval base to be built in Papua New Guinea. "The United States will partner with Papua New Guinea and Australia on their joint initiative at Lombrum Naval Base," Pence said ahead of a regional summit. "We will work with these two nations to protect the sovereignty and maritime rights in the Pacific Islands. " Pence's remark comes a day after President Donald Trump on Friday said that he might not punish China with more import tariffs as the country has shown willingness to make a deal to defuse trade tensions. "China wants to make a deal," Trump told reporters. "They sent a list of things that they are willing to do," news agency AFP quoted the president. (With inputs from agencies)

US sanctions to remain until China reforms its trade practices: Pence

The United States will join forces with Australia in the development of a new naval base to be built in Papua New Guinea, US Vice President Mike Pence said Saturday.

Australia has announced plans to redevelop PNG's Lombrum Naval Base on Manus island, in what is seen as a move to curb China's influence in the Pacific.

"The United States will partner with Papua New Guinea and Australia on their joint initiative at Lombrum Naval Base," Pence said ahead of a regional summit. "We will work with these two nations to protect sovereignty and maritime rights in the Pacific Islands. "

Menawhile, Pence said on Friday the South China Sea does not belong to any one nation and the United States will continue to sail and fly wherever international law allows, comments sure to rile China which claims the strategic sea route.

The United States has conducted a series of "freedom of navigation" exercises in the contested South China Sea, angering Beijing, which says the moves threaten its sovereignty.

The United States will join forces with Australia in the development of a new naval base to be built in Papua New Guinea, US Vice President Mike Pence said Saturday.

The United States will join forces with Australia in the development of a new naval base to be built in Papua New Guinea, US Vice President Mike Pence said Saturday. Australia has announced plans to redevelop PNG's Lombrum Naval Base on Manus island, in what is seen as a move to curb China's influence in the Pacific. "The United States will partner with Papua New Guinea and Australia on their joint initiative at Lombrum Naval Base," Pence said ahead of a regional summit. "We will work with these two nations to protect sovereignty and maritime rights in the Pacific Islands. " Menawhile, Pence said on Friday the South China Sea does not belong to any one nation and the United States will continue to sail and fly wherever international law allows, comments sure to rile China which claims the strategic sea route. The United States has conducted a series of "freedom of navigation" exercises in the contested South China Sea, angering Beijing, which says the moves threaten its sovereignty.

US to partner in Papua New Guinea military base: Pence

The death toll among Afghanistan's security forces is nearing 30,000 since the start of 2015, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has said, a figure far higher than anything previously acknowledged.

Ghani appeared via video link this week at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, part of a university he once taught at as a professor of anthropology.

Since the start of 2015, when local police and army units succeeded NATO as bearing responsibility for Afghanistan's security, "28,529 of our security forces have lost their lives and become martyrs for our freedom," Ghani said.

In the same timeframe, 58 Americans have been killed, he said.

"I would like to salute the patriotism of the Afghan security forces, every single one of whom is a volunteer," Ghani said.&nbsp;

"We have no conscription, nobody is forced, and if there was not a patriotic impulse I don't think that people would sacrifice their lives for a pay of $200."

The rate at which Afghan forces are dying has long underscored the fragility of the country's security situation, the Taliban's continued strength and raised questions about US claims that the Afghan troops are becoming an increasingly effective fighting force.

In 2015, an estimated 5,000 Afghan security forces were killed and another 15,000 wounded.&nbsp;

The toll increased in 2016 and appears to have accelerated again in 2017 and 2018, contradicting a claim by general John Nicholson, who recently retired as head of NATO and US forces in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

In November 2017, he said casualty rates among Afghan security forces had started to drop as the US increased the tempo of air strikes against the Taliban and as reforms kicked in.

In a recent report, the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) cited the NATO mission in Kabul as saying this summer's toll has been worse than ever for Afghan forces.

"From the period of May 1 to the most current data as of October 1, 2018, the average number of casualties the (Afghan forces) suffered is the greatest it has ever been during like periods," SIGAR said.

Mattis this month said more than 1,000 "Afghan lads" were killed or wounded just in August and September.

More than 17 years since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan, the conflict grinds on and America is trying to find a way out of the war.

US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad hopes to start a peace process with the Taliban, and on Saturday he met with Ghani.&nbsp;

A Taliban delegation met with Khalilzad in Doha in October to discuss ending the Afghan conflict.

The death toll among Afghanistan's security forces is nearing 30,000 since the start of 2015, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has said, a figure far higher than anything previously acknowledged.

The death toll among Afghanistan's security forces is nearing 30,000 since the start of 2015, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has said, a figure far higher than anything previously acknowledged. Ghani appeared via video link this week at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, part of a university he once taught at as a professor of anthropology. Since the start of 2015, when local police and army units succeeded NATO as bearing responsibility for Afghanistan's security, "28,529 of our security forces have lost their lives and become martyrs for our freedom," Ghani said. In the same timeframe, 58 Americans have been killed, he said. "I would like to salute the patriotism of the Afghan security forces, every single one of whom is a volunteer," Ghani said. "We have no conscription, nobody is forced, and if there was not a patriotic impulse I don't think that people would sacrifice their lives for a pay of $200." The rate at which Afghan forces are dying has long underscored the fragility of the country's security situation, the Taliban's continued strength and raised questions about US claims that the Afghan troops are becoming an increasingly effective fighting force. In 2015, an estimated 5,000 Afghan security forces were killed and another 15,000 wounded. The toll increased in 2016 and appears to have accelerated again in 2017 and 2018, contradicting a claim by general John Nicholson, who recently retired as head of NATO and US forces in Afghanistan. In November 2017, he said casualty rates among Afghan security forces had started to drop as the US increased the tempo of air strikes against the Taliban and as reforms kicked in. In a recent report, the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) cited the NATO mission in Kabul as saying this summer's toll has been worse than ever for Afghan forces. "From the period of May 1 to the most current data as of October 1, 2018, the average number of casualties the (Afghan forces) suffered is the greatest it has ever been during like periods," SIGAR said. Mattis this month said more than 1,000 "Afghan lads" were killed or wounded just in August and September. More than 17 years since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan, the conflict grinds on and America is trying to find a way out of the war. US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad hopes to start a peace process with the Taliban, and on Saturday he met with Ghani. A Taliban delegation met with Khalilzad in Doha in October to discuss ending the Afghan conflict.

Almost 30,000 Afghan troops killed since 2015: Ashraf Ghani

President Donald Trump said Friday that China was ready to make a deal to defuse trade tensions, so he might not have to punish the country with more import tariffs.

A deal to resolve the dispute would be a huge breakthrough on the issue that has dominated much of Trump's two years in office, blowback from which threatens to take the steam out of the US economy.

"China wants to make a deal," Trump told reporters. "They sent a list of things that they are willing to do."

While the offer is not acceptable yet, he said he was optimistic for an agreement to get "reciprocal" trade.

Trump this year has imposed steep tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods and has threatened to hit the remaining $267 billion in products the US imports from the world's number two economy each year.

US companies and farmers have complained of lost business and rising prices for key components as a result of the trade friction and that was a factor in some of the contests in the midterm congressional elections early this month.

"I think a deal will be made and we will find out very soon," Trump said, noting Beijing's list included 142 items and includes "a lot of the things we asked for."

"Some things were left off. We will probably get them, too," he said.

Tariff increase

But the statements seemed to contradict comments from Trump's Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who just hours earlier had said a deal with Beijing before January was "impossible."

Trump is due to meet with China's President Xi Jinping late this month in Buenos Aires on the sidelines of the Group of 20 leaders summit.

However, Ross said those talks would serve as a framework to resolving the dispute. "We certainly won't have a full formal deal by January. Impossible," he said, according to Bloomberg.

The January date is key since the 10 per cent tariffs in place on $200 billion in annual imports from China is due to increase to 25 per cent.

Trump indicated he will continue to continue to take a hard line with China until the country changes.

US officials have highlighted high Chinese tariffs but also the country's trade and investment rules that allows rampant theft of American technology.

"We have to have reciprocal trade," he said. "We can't have trade meant for stupid people. That's the way they took advantage of our country."

US stocks jumped following Trump's remarks, but quickly retreated although the benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the day with a slight increase.

Investors are hoping for a deal soon to end the uncertainty which hurts the bottom line for many companies as well as increasing prices for consumers.

Some firms have even warned that they might have to postpone investment plans if they cannot insure a steady supply of material.

Economists say the tariffs' full bite has yet to hit the American economy but the trade conflict comes at a bad time for China, which is seeing slower growth.

In addition, Chad Bown of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, who has been studying the impact of the trade tariffs closely, said in a report on Thursday that Trump's tariffs on steel, which largely targeted China and other big producers, were inflicting collateral damage on poorer nations that are small producers and pose no threat to the US economy.

President Donald Trump said Friday that China was ready to make a deal to defuse trade tensions, so he might not have to punish the country with more import tariffs.

President Donald Trump said Friday that China was ready to make a deal to defuse trade tensions, so he might not have to punish the country with more import tariffs. A deal to resolve the dispute would be a huge breakthrough on the issue that has dominated much of Trump's two years in office, blowback from which threatens to take the steam out of the US economy. "China wants to make a deal," Trump told reporters. "They sent a list of things that they are willing to do." While the offer is not acceptable yet, he said he was optimistic for an agreement to get "reciprocal" trade. Trump this year has imposed steep tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods and has threatened to hit the remaining $267 billion in products the US imports from the world's number two economy each year. US companies and farmers have complained of lost business and rising prices for key components as a result of the trade friction and that was a factor in some of the contests in the midterm congressional elections early this month. "I think a deal will be made and we will find out very soon," Trump said, noting Beijing's list included 142 items and includes "a lot of the things we asked for." "Some things were left off. We will probably get them, too," he said. Tariff increase But the statements seemed to contradict comments from Trump's Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who just hours earlier had said a deal with Beijing before January was "impossible." Trump is due to meet with China's President Xi Jinping late this month in Buenos Aires on the sidelines of the Group of 20 leaders summit. However, Ross said those talks would serve as a framework to resolving the dispute. "We certainly won't have a full formal deal by January. Impossible," he said, according to Bloomberg. The January date is key since the 10 per cent tariffs in place on $200 billion in annual imports from China is due to increase to 25 per cent. Trump indicated he will continue to continue to take a hard line with China until the country changes. US officials have highlighted high Chinese tariffs but also the country's trade and investment rules that allows rampant theft of American technology. "We have to have reciprocal trade," he said. "We can't have trade meant for stupid people. That's the way they took advantage of our country." US stocks jumped following Trump's remarks, but quickly retreated although the benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the day with a slight increase. Investors are hoping for a deal soon to end the uncertainty which hurts the bottom line for many companies as well as increasing prices for consumers. Some firms have even warned that they might have to postpone investment plans if they cannot insure a steady supply of material. Economists say the tariffs' full bite has yet to hit the American economy but the trade conflict comes at a bad time for China, which is seeing slower growth. In addition, Chad Bown of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, who has been studying the impact of the trade tariffs closely, said in a report on Thursday that Trump's tariffs on steel, which largely targeted China and other big producers, were inflicting collateral damage on poorer nations that are small producers and pose no threat to the US economy.

Trump opens door to trade deal with China soon

A US&nbsp;judge on Friday ordered the White House to temporarily restore CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's press pass, which was revoked after a contentious news conference last week with President Donald Trump.

The White House withdrew Acosta's credentials on November&nbsp;7 in an escalation of the Republican president's attacks on news organizations, who he has called enemies of the people.

US&nbsp;District Judge Timothy Kelly, who is hearing CNN's lawsuit challenging the revocation, said Acosta's credentials must be restored while the network's case is pending.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement that Acosta's credentials would be temporarily restored.

"Let's go back to work," Acosta said to reporters after the hearing.

But Trump said that "people have to behave" and warned of future court action against reporters who do not.

"If they don't listen to the rules and regulations, we'll end up back in court and we'll win," Trump said on Friday. "But more importantly, we'll just leave. And then you won't be very happy, because we do get good ratings."

CNN said in a statement on Friday that it "looked forward to a full resolution in the coming days."

The Justice Department was "disappointed" with the court decision, spokeswoman Kelly Laco said in a statement.

"The president has broad authority to regulate access to the White House ... We look forward to continuing to defend the White House's lawful actions," Laco said.

In its lawsuit filed on Tuesday in US&nbsp;District Court in Washington, CNN said the White House violated the First Amendment right to free speech, as well as the due process clause of the Constitution providing fair treatment through judicial process. The network asked for a temporary restraining order.

Judge Kelly, a Trump appointee, did not address the First Amendment's protections for freedom of speech and the press, focusing instead on the due process provision.

"Whatever process occurred within the government is still so shrouded in mystery that the government at oral argument could not tell me who made the initial decision to revoke Mr. Acosta's press pass," Kelly said in his verbal ruling.

In court, US&nbsp;government lawyers said there was no First Amendment right of access to the White House and that Acosta was penalized for acting rudely at the conference and not for his criticisms of the president.

The judge said Sanders' initial statement that Acosta was penalized for touching a White House staffer attempting to remove his microphone was "likely untrue and at least partly based on evidence that was of questionable accuracy."

The day after the November&nbsp;6 congressional elections, Trump erupted into anger during the news conference when Acosta questioned him about the Russia probe and a migrant caravan travelling through Mexico.

"That's enough, that's enough," Trump told Acosta, as a White House staffer attempted to take the microphone away from the correspondent. "You are a rude, terrible person."

Sanders had accused Acosta of "placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern" and of preventing other reporters from asking questions. She called his behaviour "absolutely unacceptable."

Videos of the encounter show Acosta pulling back as the staffer moved to take the microphone.

On Friday, Sanders said the White House "will also further develop rules and processes to ensure fair and orderly press conferences in the future. There must be decorum at the White House."

A US judge on Friday ordered the White House to temporarily restore CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's press pass, which was revoked after a contentious news conference last week with President Donald Trump.

A US judge on Friday ordered the White House to temporarily restore CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's press pass, which was revoked after a contentious news conference last week with President Donald Trump. The White House withdrew Acosta's credentials on November 7 in an escalation of the Republican president's attacks on news organizations, who he has called enemies of the people. US District Judge Timothy Kelly, who is hearing CNN's lawsuit challenging the revocation, said Acosta's credentials must be restored while the network's case is pending. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement that Acosta's credentials would be temporarily restored. "Let's go back to work," Acosta said to reporters after the hearing. But Trump said that "people have to behave" and warned of future court action against reporters who do not. "If they don't listen to the rules and regulations, we'll end up back in court and we'll win," Trump said on Friday. "But more importantly, we'll just leave. And then you won't be very happy, because we do get good ratings." CNN said in a statement on Friday that it "looked forward to a full resolution in the coming days." The Justice Department was "disappointed" with the court decision, spokeswoman Kelly Laco said in a statement. "The president has broad authority to regulate access to the White House ... We look forward to continuing to defend the White House's lawful actions," Laco said. In its lawsuit filed on Tuesday in US District Court in Washington, CNN said the White House violated the First Amendment right to free speech, as well as the due process clause of the Constitution providing fair treatment through judicial process. The network asked for a temporary restraining order. Judge Kelly, a Trump appointee, did not address the First Amendment's protections for freedom of speech and the press, focusing instead on the due process provision. "Whatever process occurred within the government is still so shrouded in mystery that the government at oral argument could not tell me who made the initial decision to revoke Mr. Acosta's press pass," Kelly said in his verbal ruling. In court, US government lawyers said there was no First Amendment right of access to the White House and that Acosta was penalized for acting rudely at the conference and not for his criticisms of the president. The judge said Sanders' initial statement that Acosta was penalized for touching a White House staffer attempting to remove his microphone was "likely untrue and at least partly based on evidence that was of questionable accuracy." The day after the November 6 congressional elections, Trump erupted into anger during the news conference when Acosta questioned him about the Russia probe and a migrant caravan travelling through Mexico. "That's enough, that's enough," Trump told Acosta, as a White House staffer attempted to take the microphone away from the correspondent. "You are a rude, terrible person." Sanders had accused Acosta of "placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern" and of preventing other reporters from asking questions. She called his behaviour "absolutely unacceptable." Videos of the encounter show Acosta pulling back as the staffer moved to take the microphone. On Friday, Sanders said the White House "will also further develop rules and processes to ensure fair and orderly press conferences in the future. There must be decorum at the White House."

US judge orders White House to restore press pass to CNN's Acosta

Vice-president Mike Pence vowed Saturday the US would hold the murderers of Jamal Khashoggi to account, following media reports that the CIA had concluded the Saudi Crown Prince was behind the journalist's killing.

"The United States is determined to hold all of those accountable who are responsible for that murder," Pence said on the sidelines of an APEC summit in Papua New Guinea.

Pence described the Saudi journalist's killing as an "atrocity" and an "affront to a free and independent press" but declined to comment on classified information.<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bbZgPDsXG0w" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The vice-president's comments come after reports that the CIA believed the powerful Mohammed bin Salman was involved in the plot to murder the journalist.

If confirmed, the US assessment would directly contradict the conclusions of a Saudi prosecutor a day earlier, which exonerated the prince of involvement in the brutal murder.

And it would threaten to further fray relations between Washington and key ally Riyadh, which has sought to end discussion of the murder and rejected calls for an international investigation.

"We are going to follow the facts," said Pence.

But he also added the US wanted to find a way of preserving a "strong and historic partnership" with Saudi Arabia.

&nbsp;

Vice-president Mike Pence vowed Saturday the US would hold the murderers of Jamal Khashoggi to account, following media reports that the CIA had concluded the Saudi Crown Prince was behind the journalist's killing.

Vice-president Mike Pence vowed Saturday the US would hold the murderers of Jamal Khashoggi to account, following media reports that the CIA had concluded the Saudi Crown Prince was behind the journalist's killing. "The United States is determined to hold all of those accountable who are responsible for that murder," Pence said on the sidelines of an APEC summit in Papua New Guinea. Pence described the Saudi journalist's killing as an "atrocity" and an "affront to a free and independent press" but declined to comment on classified information. The vice-president's comments come after reports that the CIA believed the powerful Mohammed bin Salman was involved in the plot to murder the journalist. If confirmed, the US assessment would directly contradict the conclusions of a Saudi prosecutor a day earlier, which exonerated the prince of involvement in the brutal murder. And it would threaten to further fray relations between Washington and key ally Riyadh, which has sought to end discussion of the murder and rejected calls for an international investigation. "We are going to follow the facts," said Pence. But he also added the US wanted to find a way of preserving a "strong and historic partnership" with Saudi Arabia.

US will hold Jamal Khashoggi's murderers to account: Mike Pence

The United States and China swapped barbs over trade, investment and regional security at an Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit on Saturday, as growing fault lines among members suggested little prospect of consensus at the weekend meeting.

Speaking in the Papua New Guinean capital, US&nbsp;Vice President Mike Pence said there would be no end to American tariffs until China changed its ways, after its president, Xi Jinping, warned that the shadow of protectionism and unilateralism was hanging over global growth.

Illustrating the impasse between the world's two largest economies, a diplomat involved in negotiating an APEC leaders' declaration told Reuters trade was a sticking point, and the host nation was having trouble finding language acceptable to all.

Pence took direct aim at Xi's flagship Belt and Road programme, which China has been promoting to Pacific nations at APEC, saying countries should not accept debt that compromised their sovereignty.

"We do not offer constricting belt or a one-way road," Pence told the APEC CEO summit, a precursor to the official leaders' meeting, held on a cruise liner tethered in Port Moresby's Fairfax Harbour.

China's efforts to win friends in the resource-rich Pacific have been watched warily by the traditionally influential powers in the region - Australia and the United States.

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump is not attending the APEC meeting, nor is his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

Xi, who is staying in Port Moresby, has been feted by PNG officials and stoked Western concern on Friday when he held a meeting with Pacific island leaders, in which he pitched the Belt and Road initiative.

Speaking before Pence, Xi said there was no geopolitical agenda behind the project, which was unveiled in 2013 and aims to bolster a network of land and sea links with Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa.

"It does not exclude anyone. It is not an exclusive club closed to non-members, nor is it a trap as some people have labelled it."

There have been concerns that small countries that sign up for infrastructure projects will be left with debt burdens they cannot service, something Pence highlighted.

"Do not accept foreign debt that could compromise your sovereignty. Protect your interest. Preserve your independence. And just like America, always put your country first," he said.

Sri Lanka formally handed over commercial activities in its main southern port of Hambantota to a Chinese company last December as part of a plan to convert $6 billion of loans that Sri Lanka owed China into equity.

Soon after Pence spoke, Australia said it was joining the United States and Japan in a partnership that would help countries in the region develop infrastructure priorities, a possible alternative to China's Belt and Road.

Regional security

Pence also said the United States would join Australia to help Papua New Guinea build a navy base on its Manus Island, which was a US&nbsp;base in World War Two.

The plan comes after China emerged as a possible developer of the deep-water port, which analysts say could impact the West's ability to navigate in the Pacific while offering China a site close to US&nbsp;bases in Guam.

"The United States of America will continue to uphold the freedom of the seas and the skies, which are so essential to our prosperity," Pence said.

In a meeting that could irritate Beijing, Pence had talks with Taiwan's envoy to APEC, Morris Chang.

Beijing considers Taiwan a wayward province of "one China", ineligible for state-to-state relations, and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

Despite Taiwan's lack of diplomatic recognition by the majority of countries, APEC allows it to participate as an economic, rather than political, entity.

Pence later told reporters travelling with him he would "carry back" a Taiwan proposal for a free trade agreement.

Double tariffs?&nbsp;

There were differences between other APEC members, with some calling for radical change to trade systems while others argued for a return to the status quo on globalisation.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad warned globalisation was leaving some people behind and fuelling inequality.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison mounted a defence of free trade, saying a billion people had been lifted out of extreme poverty since 1991 because of the jobs and cheaper goods that free trade brought.

Xi told delegates that the shadow of "protectionism and unilateralism" hung over global growth and erecting barriers and cutting ties was short-sighted and doomed to fail.

But Pence made it clear that the United States would not back down, saying it could more than double the $250 billion of Chinese goods subject to tariffs.

"The United States though will not change course until China changes its ways," Pence said.

Trump and Xi are due to meet at a G20 meeting in Argentina late this month, raising some hope that trade tension could ease.

Trump is pressing China to reduce its huge bilateral trade surplus and make sweeping changes to its policies on trade, technology transfers and high-tech industrial subsidies.

China has denied that US&nbsp;companies are forced to transfer technology and sees US&nbsp;demands on rolling back its industrial policies as an attempt to contain China’s economic rise.

Sebastián Piñera, the president of Chile, which will host next year's APEC, called on the two powers to find a resolution.

"This is a very good opportunity to ask the US&nbsp;and China to find ways to end their tariff and trade war which benefits no one," he told the forum.

"Both countries will have to change course."

The United States and China swapped barbs over trade, investment and regional security at an Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit on Saturday, as growing fault lines among members suggested little prospect of consensus at the weekend meeting.

The United States and China swapped barbs over trade, investment and regional security at an Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit on Saturday, as growing fault lines among members suggested little prospect of consensus at the weekend meeting. Speaking in the Papua New Guinean capital, US Vice President Mike Pence said there would be no end to American tariffs until China changed its ways, after its president, Xi Jinping, warned that the shadow of protectionism and unilateralism was hanging over global growth. Illustrating the impasse between the world's two largest economies, a diplomat involved in negotiating an APEC leaders' declaration told Reuters trade was a sticking point, and the host nation was having trouble finding language acceptable to all. Pence took direct aim at Xi's flagship Belt and Road programme, which China has been promoting to Pacific nations at APEC, saying countries should not accept debt that compromised their sovereignty. "We do not offer constricting belt or a one-way road," Pence told the APEC CEO summit, a precursor to the official leaders' meeting, held on a cruise liner tethered in Port Moresby's Fairfax Harbour. China's efforts to win friends in the resource-rich Pacific have been watched warily by the traditionally influential powers in the region - Australia and the United States. US President Donald Trump is not attending the APEC meeting, nor is his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Xi, who is staying in Port Moresby, has been feted by PNG officials and stoked Western concern on Friday when he held a meeting with Pacific island leaders, in which he pitched the Belt and Road initiative. Speaking before Pence, Xi said there was no geopolitical agenda behind the project, which was unveiled in 2013 and aims to bolster a network of land and sea links with Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. "It does not exclude anyone. It is not an exclusive club closed to non-members, nor is it a trap as some people have labelled it." There have been concerns that small countries that sign up for infrastructure projects will be left with debt burdens they cannot service, something Pence highlighted. "Do not accept foreign debt that could compromise your sovereignty. Protect your interest. Preserve your independence. And just like America, always put your country first," he said. Sri Lanka formally handed over commercial activities in its main southern port of Hambantota to a Chinese company last December as part of a plan to convert $6 billion of loans that Sri Lanka owed China into equity. Soon after Pence spoke, Australia said it was joining the United States and Japan in a partnership that would help countries in the region develop infrastructure priorities, a possible alternative to China's Belt and Road. Regional security Pence also said the United States would join Australia to help Papua New Guinea build a navy base on its Manus Island, which was a US base in World War Two. The plan comes after China emerged as a possible developer of the deep-water port, which analysts say could impact the West's ability to navigate in the Pacific while offering China a site close to US bases in Guam. "The United States of America will continue to uphold the freedom of the seas and the skies, which are so essential to our prosperity," Pence said. In a meeting that could irritate Beijing, Pence had talks with Taiwan's envoy to APEC, Morris Chang. Beijing considers Taiwan a wayward province of "one China", ineligible for state-to-state relations, and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. Despite Taiwan's lack of diplomatic recognition by the majority of countries, APEC allows it to participate as an economic, rather than political, entity. Pence later told reporters travelling with him he would "carry back" a Taiwan proposal for a free trade agreement. Double tariffs? There were differences between other APEC members, with some calling for radical change to trade systems while others argued for a return to the status quo on globalisation. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad warned globalisation was leaving some people behind and fuelling inequality. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison mounted a defence of free trade, saying a billion people had been lifted out of extreme poverty since 1991 because of the jobs and cheaper goods that free trade brought. Xi told delegates that the shadow of "protectionism and unilateralism" hung over global growth and erecting barriers and cutting ties was short-sighted and doomed to fail. But Pence made it clear that the United States would not back down, saying it could more than double the $250 billion of Chinese goods subject to tariffs. "The United States though will not change course until China changes its ways," Pence said. Trump and Xi are due to meet at a G20 meeting in Argentina late this month, raising some hope that trade tension could ease. Trump is pressing China to reduce its huge bilateral trade surplus and make sweeping changes to its policies on trade, technology transfers and high-tech industrial subsidies. China has denied that US companies are forced to transfer technology and sees US demands on rolling back its industrial policies as an attempt to contain China’s economic rise. Sebastián Piñera, the president of Chile, which will host next year's APEC, called on the two powers to find a resolution. "This is a very good opportunity to ask the US and China to find ways to end their tariff and trade war which benefits no one," he told the forum. "Both countries will have to change course."

US-China discord dominates APEC summit in Papua New Guinea

By Tom Harper

As the US begins to enforce what are possibly the strongest sanctions on Iran to date, headlines have been dominated by the bellicose rhetoric of the Trump administration and Tehran. This comes on the heels of Washington’s withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) negotiated by Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, alongside Britain, France, Russia and China.

The marked difference between the latest sanctions and previous rounds has been the criticism of them voiced by European states, who previously had accepted what had been imposed by Washington. So has US unlateralism gone too far?

While the most recent round of sanctions aims to put further pressure on Tehran for regime change and to support American regional allies, such as Israel and Saudi Arabia, they also have an indirect beneficiary in the form of the US’s biggest global rival, China. And this has wider implications for the region.

The Middle Kingdom meets the Middle East

While European firms have explored ways to circumvent American sanctions or seek waivers, the threat of sanctions is likely to scare away many firms from doing business in the country. This will leave a void that China is likely to fill. As a result, Chinese firms will gain a near monopoly on Iranian oil and trade.

While Chinese imports of Iranian oil have initially experienced a slight decline, it is possible that this is one of Beijing’s ploys to see whether deals serving China’s interests are offered by an increasingly isolated Iran. For while Iran has been receptive to Chinese investment in the past, it has equally sought European investment to balance this out and to prevent China from playing too dominant a role in the country. The sanctions have now made China’s dominance all the more likely.

China increasingly is building its influence in a region that has traditionally been dominated by the US. This may see Tehran become more amenable to Chinese global initiatives, such as the Belt and the Road Initiative (BRI) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

The former is likely to see further Eurasian integration under China’s watch, while the latter, as a loose military alliance, is likely to be attractive to Iran as a deterrent to regime change.

But while these moves follow the common pattern of Chinese foreign policy, most notably Beijing’s willingness to take greater risks and conduct business in shunned nations, they have wider implications for the region and the wider world.

The way of Mao

Beijing has long been adept at exploiting developments in the international system for its own benefit – and Iran is the latest example of this. In this case, it is filling the void left by European firms that have been scared off by the threat of sanctions.

This raises questions about the utility of sanctions at a time when they have become a cornerstone of the Trump administration’s diplomatic arsenal. While there have been cases of sanctions being successful, most notably in ending apartheid rule in South Africa, they have rarely succeeded in changing state behaviour in recent years.

But possibly the most significant implication is how sanctions have led to widespread de-dollarisation, whereby the dominant global status of the dollar has been challenged. Since sanctioned states are no longer attached to the established system, it is easier for them to adopt an alternative way of operating. An example is the Petro Yuan – whereby China’s oil imports have been priced in yuan rather than in dollars – which has been adopted by oil-rich states targeted by sanctions, most notably Russia and Venezuela. The sanctions on Iran will only exacerbate this process.

The Petro Yuan is evidence that China is challenging the established US-centric system and seeks to provide an alternative. This is reminiscent of Mao Zedong’s strategies for guerrilla warfare, where an insurgent seeks to make the government irrelevant over a long period of time before overthrowing it. By building ties with sanctioned nations and creating alternative international institutions, China is deploying a similar strategy on a global scale in an effort to bypass the&nbsp;US.

As a result of this, there has also been wider Sino-Russian cooperation, such as in Syria. There, China is poised to play a role in rebuilding the country alongside Russia’s military assistance to it, having found common ground in their concerns over Islamic militancy .

Russia and China were also signatories of the Iran deal and have been dissatisfied with Washington’s abandonment of it. Trump’s present strategies have often been described as a “reverse Nixon”, seeking further ties with Russia to counter China. But the situation in Iran is more likely to see China and Russia jointly challenge the US.

By withdrawing from the deal, Trump has also split the Western world and while it is easy to turn Iran away from the table, it will be tougher to get it back there.

What next?

As a result of these developments, China has become one of the wild cards of the Middle East, challenging and changing the established system there. This also questions the utility of sanctions in the long-term since nations under longstanding sanctions are more open to alternative systems.

By providing an alternative, China seeks to challenge the established system by making it irrelevant. While China has abandoned Mao’s ideology, his strategies continue to be influential.

While the sanctions were seen as an attempt to preserve American dominance in the region, they will have consequences that will indirectly challenge this. This is one US play that could badly misfire.

(Tom Harper is Doctoral Researcher in Politics, University of Surrey) 
 
(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/iran-how-us-sanctions-are-strengthening-chinas-global-power-106564">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 Tom Harper As the US begins to enforce what are possibly the strongest sanctions on Iran to date, headlines have been dominated by the bellicose rhetoric of the Trump administration and Tehran.

By Tom Harper As the US begins to enforce what are possibly the strongest sanctions on Iran to date, headlines have been dominated by the bellicose rhetoric of the Trump administration and Tehran. This comes on the heels of Washington’s withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) negotiated by Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, alongside Britain, France, Russia and China. The marked difference between the latest sanctions and previous rounds has been the criticism of them voiced by European states, who previously had accepted what had been imposed by Washington. So has US unlateralism gone too far? While the most recent round of sanctions aims to put further pressure on Tehran for regime change and to support American regional allies, such as Israel and Saudi Arabia, they also have an indirect beneficiary in the form of the US’s biggest global rival, China. And this has wider implications for the region. The Middle Kingdom meets the Middle East While European firms have explored ways to circumvent American sanctions or seek waivers, the threat of sanctions is likely to scare away many firms from doing business in the country. This will leave a void that China is likely to fill. As a result, Chinese firms will gain a near monopoly on Iranian oil and trade. While Chinese imports of Iranian oil have initially experienced a slight decline, it is possible that this is one of Beijing’s ploys to see whether deals serving China’s interests are offered by an increasingly isolated Iran. For while Iran has been receptive to Chinese investment in the past, it has equally sought European investment to balance this out and to prevent China from playing too dominant a role in the country. The sanctions have now made China’s dominance all the more likely. China increasingly is building its influence in a region that has traditionally been dominated by the US. This may see Tehran become more amenable to Chinese global initiatives, such as the Belt and the Road Initiative (BRI) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The former is likely to see further Eurasian integration under China’s watch, while the latter, as a loose military alliance, is likely to be attractive to Iran as a deterrent to regime change. But while these moves follow the common pattern of Chinese foreign policy, most notably Beijing’s willingness to take greater risks and conduct business in shunned nations, they have wider implications for the region and the wider world. The way of Mao Beijing has long been adept at exploiting developments in the international system for its own benefit – and Iran is the latest example of this. In this case, it is filling the void left by European firms that have been scared off by the threat of sanctions. This raises questions about the utility of sanctions at a time when they have become a cornerstone of the Trump administration’s diplomatic arsenal. While there have been cases of sanctions being successful, most notably in ending apartheid rule in South Africa, they have rarely succeeded in changing state behaviour in recent years. But possibly the most significant implication is how sanctions have led to widespread de-dollarisation, whereby the dominant global status of the dollar has been challenged. Since sanctioned states are no longer attached to the established system, it is easier for them to adopt an alternative way of operating. An example is the Petro Yuan – whereby China’s oil imports have been priced in yuan rather than in dollars – which has been adopted by oil-rich states targeted by sanctions, most notably Russia and Venezuela. The sanctions on Iran will only exacerbate this process. The Petro Yuan is evidence that China is challenging the established US-centric system and seeks to provide an alternative. This is reminiscent of Mao Zedong’s strategies for guerrilla warfare, where an insurgent seeks to make the government irrelevant over a long period of time before overthrowing it. By building ties with sanctioned nations and creating alternative international institutions, China is deploying a similar strategy on a global scale in an effort to bypass the US. As a result of this, there has also been wider Sino-Russian cooperation, such as in Syria. There, China is poised to play a role in rebuilding the country alongside Russia’s military assistance to it, having found common ground in their concerns over Islamic militancy . Russia and China were also signatories of the Iran deal and have been dissatisfied with Washington’s abandonment of it. Trump’s present strategies have often been described as a “reverse Nixon”, seeking further ties with Russia to counter China. But the situation in Iran is more likely to see China and Russia jointly challenge the US. By withdrawing from the deal, Trump has also split the Western world and while it is easy to turn Iran away from the table, it will be tougher to get it back there. What next? As a result of these developments, China has become one of the wild cards of the Middle East, challenging and changing the established system there. This also questions the utility of sanctions in the long-term since nations under longstanding sanctions are more open to alternative systems. By providing an alternative, China seeks to challenge the established system by making it irrelevant. While China has abandoned Mao’s ideology, his strategies continue to be influential. While the sanctions were seen as an attempt to preserve American dominance in the region, they will have consequences that will indirectly challenge this. This is one US play that could badly misfire. (Tom Harper is Doctoral Researcher in Politics, University of Surrey) (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)

How US sanctions are strengthening China’s global power

US Vice President Mike Pence said on Friday the South China Sea does not belong to any one nation and the United States will continue to sail and fly wherever international law allows, comments sure to rile China which claims the strategic sea route.

Pence spoke after his meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who greeted him with a welcome ceremony and had an orchid named after him and his wife Karen.

The United States has conducted a series of "freedom of navigation" exercises in the contested South China Sea, angering Beijing, which says the moves threaten its sovereignty.

China, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan, all have claims in the South China Sea, through which some $3 trillion of ship-borne trade passes each year.

Pence on Thursday told leaders of Southeast Asian nations on there was no place for "empire and aggression" in the Indo-Pacific region, a comment that could be interpreted as a reference to China's rise.

US Vice President Mike Pence said on Friday the South China Sea does not belong to any one nation and the United States will continue to sail and fly wherever international law allows, comments sure to rile China which claims the strategic sea route.

US Vice President Mike Pence said on Friday the South China Sea does not belong to any one nation and the United States will continue to sail and fly wherever international law allows, comments sure to rile China which claims the strategic sea route. Pence spoke after his meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who greeted him with a welcome ceremony and had an orchid named after him and his wife Karen. The United States has conducted a series of "freedom of navigation" exercises in the contested South China Sea, angering Beijing, which says the moves threaten its sovereignty. China, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan, all have claims in the South China Sea, through which some $3 trillion of ship-borne trade passes each year. Pence on Thursday told leaders of Southeast Asian nations on there was no place for "empire and aggression" in the Indo-Pacific region, a comment that could be interpreted as a reference to China's rise.

Watch: South China Sea doesn’t belong to any one nation, says Pence

<a href="All terror attacks finally lead back to 'single source': Modi to Mike Pence">US Vice President Mike Pence</a> said on Thursday President Donald Trump plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the new year but won't repeat past mistakes of allowing promises to be broken on pledges to end arms programmes.

The United States and North Korea have been discussing the second meeting between their leaders to follow up the Singapore summit in June and lay the groundwork for ending a nuclear stand-off between the old foes.

"The plans are ongoing. We believe that the summit will likely occur after the 1st of the year but the when and the where of that is still being worked out," Pence told reporters after meeting South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

"We don’t want to repeat the mistakes that prior administrations, frankly in both political parties, have made over the last several decades where promises are made, sanctions are lifted, economic support comes and then promises are broken."

Pence and Moon were meeting on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit hosted by Singapore.

A US think tank said on Monday it had identified at least 13 of an estimated 20 active, undeclared missile bases inside North Korea, underscoring the challenge for American negotiators hoping to persuade Kim to give up his weapons programmes.

North Korea had entered into agreements with regional powers in 1994 and in 2005 to dismantle its nuclear programme in return for economic benefits and diplomatic rewards, but those deals broke down after Pyongyang clandestinely continued to pursue building weapons of mass destruction.

With scant sign of progress on negotiations since the June summit and recent high-level meetings cancelled, Trump said last week he's now in "no rush" but still wants to meet with Kim for the second time.

US officials have said sanctions forced North Korea to the negotiating table and vowed to keep pressure until complete denuclearisation. But North Korea has credited its nuclear and missile breakthroughs for providing it the standing to meet the world's biggest powers.

Pence said Moon agreed to work closely with the United States towards the second US-North Korea summit, as Washington maintains the "maximum pressure" campaign by keeping the sanctions against Pyongyang in place.

North Korea has not tested a nuclear device or ballistic missile since last year and has said it has shuttered its main nuclear test site with plans to dismantle several more facilities.

But it has warned it could restart its nuclear programme if the United States does not drop the sanctions regime.

US Vice President Mike Pence said on Thursday President Donald Trump plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the new year but won't repeat past mistakes of allowing promises to be broken on pledges to end arms programmes.

US Vice President Mike Pence said on Thursday President Donald Trump plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the new year but won't repeat past mistakes of allowing promises to be broken on pledges to end arms programmes. The United States and North Korea have been discussing the second meeting between their leaders to follow up the Singapore summit in June and lay the groundwork for ending a nuclear stand-off between the old foes. "The plans are ongoing. We believe that the summit will likely occur after the 1st of the year but the when and the where of that is still being worked out," Pence told reporters after meeting South Korean President Moon Jae-in. "We don’t want to repeat the mistakes that prior administrations, frankly in both political parties, have made over the last several decades where promises are made, sanctions are lifted, economic support comes and then promises are broken." Pence and Moon were meeting on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit hosted by Singapore. A US think tank said on Monday it had identified at least 13 of an estimated 20 active, undeclared missile bases inside North Korea, underscoring the challenge for American negotiators hoping to persuade Kim to give up his weapons programmes. North Korea had entered into agreements with regional powers in 1994 and in 2005 to dismantle its nuclear programme in return for economic benefits and diplomatic rewards, but those deals broke down after Pyongyang clandestinely continued to pursue building weapons of mass destruction. With scant sign of progress on negotiations since the June summit and recent high-level meetings cancelled, Trump said last week he's now in "no rush" but still wants to meet with Kim for the second time. US officials have said sanctions forced North Korea to the negotiating table and vowed to keep pressure until complete denuclearisation. But North Korea has credited its nuclear and missile breakthroughs for providing it the standing to meet the world's biggest powers. Pence said Moon agreed to work closely with the United States towards the second US-North Korea summit, as Washington maintains the "maximum pressure" campaign by keeping the sanctions against Pyongyang in place. North Korea has not tested a nuclear device or ballistic missile since last year and has said it has shuttered its main nuclear test site with plans to dismantle several more facilities. But it has warned it could restart its nuclear programme if the United States does not drop the sanctions regime.

Trump to meet North Korea's Kim Jong-un next year: US vice president Pence

Pakistan certainly needs to do more in its fight against terrorism and the Trump administration expects Islamabad to act against terror groups like the Haqqani network and Lashkar-e-Taiba in same way as it did against al-Qaeda after the 9/11 attacks, a top American official has said.

State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism Nathan Alexander Sales said during a Congressional hearing that the US was "very concerned" over the support for terrorism in any region of the world.

"And I can tell you we have communicated to the Pakistani government at the highest levels that we expect them to do more just like we expected them to act with us after 9/11," Sales said on Wednesday.

"Pakistan has in the past been a very effective counterpart in taking the fight to al-Qaeda. We need them to do the same thing with respect to the Haqqanis, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the other terrorist groups that are active in the region," he said.

Sales said Pakistan "certainly needs to do more" in the fight against terrorism.

His remarks came after several Congressmen expressed concern over the continued resistance by Pakistan to take satisfactory action against terror groups operating from its soil.

The lawmakers alleged that Pakistan was not doing enough against the terror groups.

"I think they're not doing the job, despite terrorism, because the terrorists come in from Pakistan into Afghanistan, do their mischief, and run back across the border. I think they've been doing that for years," said Congressman Ted Poe, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade.

"They take our money, Million of dollars we give Pakistan every year. It befuddles me why we do that when they don't... And they allow a safe haven for terrorists in their own country that invade another country, namely Afghanistan," Poe alleged.

He, however, praised the State Department for not giving Pakistan funds for counterterrorism.

The State Department's Inspector General filed a report last year that found much of the antiterrorism assistance US had given to Pakistan was not being used, including dozens of courses not implemented.

"I am pleased to hear the Bureau has since repurposed many of the resources that had been sent to Pakistan to other more worthwhile programs. We cannot afford to throw good money after bad. Effective monitoring and evaluation programs are crucial to spotting what is not working and making changes that do," he said.

In his first tweet of the year, US President Donald Trump had expressed his dissatisfaction over Pakistan's reluctance in taking strong action against terrorists.

"The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies and deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!" Trump tweeted.

He had ordered to stop all security financial assistance to Pakistan.

Pakistan certainly needs to do more in its fight against terrorism and the Trump administration expects Islamabad to act against terror groups like the Haqqani network and Lashkar-e-Taiba in same way as it did against al-Qaeda after the 9/11 attacks, a top American official has said.

Pakistan certainly needs to do more in its fight against terrorism and the Trump administration expects Islamabad to act against terror groups like the Haqqani network and Lashkar-e-Taiba in same way as it did against al-Qaeda after the 9/11 attacks, a top American official has said. State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism Nathan Alexander Sales said during a Congressional hearing that the US was "very concerned" over the support for terrorism in any region of the world. "And I can tell you we have communicated to the Pakistani government at the highest levels that we expect them to do more just like we expected them to act with us after 9/11," Sales said on Wednesday. "Pakistan has in the past been a very effective counterpart in taking the fight to al-Qaeda. We need them to do the same thing with respect to the Haqqanis, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the other terrorist groups that are active in the region," he said. Sales said Pakistan "certainly needs to do more" in the fight against terrorism. His remarks came after several Congressmen expressed concern over the continued resistance by Pakistan to take satisfactory action against terror groups operating from its soil. The lawmakers alleged that Pakistan was not doing enough against the terror groups. "I think they're not doing the job, despite terrorism, because the terrorists come in from Pakistan into Afghanistan, do their mischief, and run back across the border. I think they've been doing that for years," said Congressman Ted Poe, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade. "They take our money, Million of dollars we give Pakistan every year. It befuddles me why we do that when they don't... And they allow a safe haven for terrorists in their own country that invade another country, namely Afghanistan," Poe alleged. He, however, praised the State Department for not giving Pakistan funds for counterterrorism. The State Department's Inspector General filed a report last year that found much of the antiterrorism assistance US had given to Pakistan was not being used, including dozens of courses not implemented. "I am pleased to hear the Bureau has since repurposed many of the resources that had been sent to Pakistan to other more worthwhile programs. We cannot afford to throw good money after bad. Effective monitoring and evaluation programs are crucial to spotting what is not working and making changes that do," he said. In his first tweet of the year, US President Donald Trump had expressed his dissatisfaction over Pakistan's reluctance in taking strong action against terrorists. "The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies and deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!" Trump tweeted. He had ordered to stop all security financial assistance to Pakistan.

Pakistan certainly needs to do more in its fight terrorism : US

The Trump administration hopes that the US-backed fight against Islamic State in its last foothold in northeastern Syria will end within months but American forces will remain to ensure the "enduring defeat" of the militant group, a top US diplomat said on Wednesday.

Ambassador James Jeffrey, the US special representative for Syria engagement, said the United States believes the way forward in Syria includes defeating Islamic State, reinvigorating the political process and winding down the long-running civil war.

Toward that end, he said, the United States hopes to see the formation of a committee before the end of the year to work on a new constitution for Syria as agreed by the leaders of Russia, Germany, France and Turkey during their meeting in Istanbul in October.

He said US forces would remain in place after the coalition forces prevail over Islamic State military units to ensure the group does not "regenerate itself."

"The enduring defeat means not simply smashing the last of ISIS’ conventional military units holding terrain, but ensuring that ISIS doesn’t immediately come back in sleeper cells, come back as an insurgent movement," Jeffrey said, using an acronym for the group.

Washington also wants the withdrawal of Iranian military forces from Syria once the underlying causes of the conflict have been resolved, he said, noting that Iran's continued military presence would represent a threat to US partners in the region.

Jeffrey said the final ground combat is along the Euphrates River and is being led by Syrian Democratic Forces assisted by US military personnel.

"The fight is continuing and we hope that it will be over in a few months and that will be the last of ISIS’ terrain that it holds in a quasi-conventional way," he said.

Jeffrey said convening a committee under UN auspices to begin work on a new Syrian constitution was a "critical step" toward advancing the political process. He said the United States would hold Russia to account to use its influence to bring the government of its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, to the negotiating table.

"Our goal, which again was supported by Russia, France, Germany and Turkey and agreed in the October 27 Istanbul communique, is to establish this constitutional committee by the end of the year," he said.

Jeffrey said getting Iranian forces out of Syria, where they back Assad's rule, was not a US military goal but should be an outcome of the process to end the civil war and the only way to achieve lasting peace.

He said newly reinstated US sanctions against Iran would encourage Tehran to scale back its presence in Syria.

The Trump administration hopes that the US-backed fight against Islamic State in its last foothold in northeastern Syria will end within months but American forces will remain to ensure the "enduring defeat" of the militant group, a top US diplomat said on Wednesday.

The Trump administration hopes that the US-backed fight against Islamic State in its last foothold in northeastern Syria will end within months but American forces will remain to ensure the "enduring defeat" of the militant group, a top US diplomat said on Wednesday. Ambassador James Jeffrey, the US special representative for Syria engagement, said the United States believes the way forward in Syria includes defeating Islamic State, reinvigorating the political process and winding down the long-running civil war. Toward that end, he said, the United States hopes to see the formation of a committee before the end of the year to work on a new constitution for Syria as agreed by the leaders of Russia, Germany, France and Turkey during their meeting in Istanbul in October. He said US forces would remain in place after the coalition forces prevail over Islamic State military units to ensure the group does not "regenerate itself." "The enduring defeat means not simply smashing the last of ISIS’ conventional military units holding terrain, but ensuring that ISIS doesn’t immediately come back in sleeper cells, come back as an insurgent movement," Jeffrey said, using an acronym for the group. Washington also wants the withdrawal of Iranian military forces from Syria once the underlying causes of the conflict have been resolved, he said, noting that Iran's continued military presence would represent a threat to US partners in the region. Jeffrey said the final ground combat is along the Euphrates River and is being led by Syrian Democratic Forces assisted by US military personnel. "The fight is continuing and we hope that it will be over in a few months and that will be the last of ISIS’ terrain that it holds in a quasi-conventional way," he said. Jeffrey said convening a committee under UN auspices to begin work on a new Syrian constitution was a "critical step" toward advancing the political process. He said the United States would hold Russia to account to use its influence to bring the government of its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, to the negotiating table. "Our goal, which again was supported by Russia, France, Germany and Turkey and agreed in the October 27 Istanbul communique, is to establish this constitutional committee by the end of the year," he said. Jeffrey said getting Iranian forces out of Syria, where they back Assad's rule, was not a US military goal but should be an outcome of the process to end the civil war and the only way to achieve lasting peace. He said newly reinstated US sanctions against Iran would encourage Tehran to scale back its presence in Syria.

Fight against Islamic State in last Syria stronghold may end soon: US envoy

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

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

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

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

Oil rose about 1 per cent on Wednesday, recouping some of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/oil-markets-struggle-to-find-footing-after-seven-per-cent-slump-177187">previous session's heavy sell-off</a>, on growing prospects that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied producers would cut output at a meeting next month to prop up prices.

After a record 12 straight days of losses and the steepest one-day loss in more than three years, the oil market reversed course after Reuters reported that OPEC and its partners were discussing a proposal to cut output by up to 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd), more than officials had mentioned previously.

Brent crude settled up 65 cents, or 1 per cent, at $66.12 a barrel, after hitting a session high of $67.63.

US crude futures rose 56 cents, or 1.01 per cent, to settle at $56.25 a barrel, after sliding for 12 straight sessions to the lowest since November 2017.

Prices pared gains in a post-settlement trade as the American Petroleum Institute said crude inventories rose by 8.8 million barrels in the week to November 9 to 440.7 million, compared with analysts' expectations for an increase of 3.2 million barrels.

Oil markets are being pressured by surging supply from OPEC, Russia, the United States and other producers and worries that a global economic slowdown could cut into energy demand.

This has pushed the price of global benchmark Brent down more than 20 per cent since early October, one of the biggest declines since a price collapse in 2014.

"The market has cratered over the last few weeks and the pop today is related to the chatter that producers could cut up to 1.4 million bpd in 2019," said Gene McGillian, vice president of market research for Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut.

"Maybe some of the fears of extra supplies and reduced demand have finally been priced into the market, but I wouldn't say that a bottom has set in yet."

As oil has crashed from its October high, natural gas futures soared as much as 56 per cent during that time to a 4-1/2 year high. Oil's latest sell-off was exacerbated as traders unwound long oil-short natural gas trades, market participants said.

The relative strength index (RSI) for both Brent and U.S. crude remained below 30, a technical level often regarded as signalling a market that has fallen too far.

Financial firms hedging the risk incurred by selling put options to oil producers generated added downward pressure when prices fell toward option strikes, Goldman Sachs said in a note.

"This market is attempting to find a price bottom following an unprecedented 12 consecutive days of decline," Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates, said in a note.

"Although the supply surplus is still relatively modest, the market is focusing on the dynamic of expansion in the overhang that will need to show signs of reversal before a price bottom can be established."

In its monthly report, the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) said the implied stock build for the first half of 2019 is 2 million bpd.

The IEA left its forecast for global demand growth for 2018 and 2019 unchanged from last month, but cut its forecast for non-OECD demand growth, the engine of expansion in world consumption.

US crude output from its seven major shale basins was expected to hit a record 7.94 million bpd in December, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Tuesday.

The surge in onshore output has helped overall US crude production hit a record 11.6 million bpd, making the United States the world's biggest oil producer ahead of Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Most analysts expect US output to climb above 12 million bpd in the first half of 2019.

The rise in US production is contributing to higher stockpiles. Storage data from the US government is due on Thursday.&nbsp;

Oil rose about 1 per cent on Wednesday, recouping some of the previous session's heavy sell-off, on growing prospects that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied producers would cut output at a meeting next month to prop up prices.

Oil rose about 1 per cent on Wednesday, recouping some of the previous session's heavy sell-off, on growing prospects that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied producers would cut output at a meeting next month to prop up prices. After a record 12 straight days of losses and the steepest one-day loss in more than three years, the oil market reversed course after Reuters reported that OPEC and its partners were discussing a proposal to cut output by up to 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd), more than officials had mentioned previously. Brent crude settled up 65 cents, or 1 per cent, at $66.12 a barrel, after hitting a session high of $67.63. US crude futures rose 56 cents, or 1.01 per cent, to settle at $56.25 a barrel, after sliding for 12 straight sessions to the lowest since November 2017. Prices pared gains in a post-settlement trade as the American Petroleum Institute said crude inventories rose by 8.8 million barrels in the week to November 9 to 440.7 million, compared with analysts' expectations for an increase of 3.2 million barrels. Oil markets are being pressured by surging supply from OPEC, Russia, the United States and other producers and worries that a global economic slowdown could cut into energy demand. This has pushed the price of global benchmark Brent down more than 20 per cent since early October, one of the biggest declines since a price collapse in 2014. "The market has cratered over the last few weeks and the pop today is related to the chatter that producers could cut up to 1.4 million bpd in 2019," said Gene McGillian, vice president of market research for Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. "Maybe some of the fears of extra supplies and reduced demand have finally been priced into the market, but I wouldn't say that a bottom has set in yet." As oil has crashed from its October high, natural gas futures soared as much as 56 per cent during that time to a 4-1/2 year high. Oil's latest sell-off was exacerbated as traders unwound long oil-short natural gas trades, market participants said. The relative strength index (RSI) for both Brent and U.S. crude remained below 30, a technical level often regarded as signalling a market that has fallen too far. Financial firms hedging the risk incurred by selling put options to oil producers generated added downward pressure when prices fell toward option strikes, Goldman Sachs said in a note. "This market is attempting to find a price bottom following an unprecedented 12 consecutive days of decline," Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates, said in a note. "Although the supply surplus is still relatively modest, the market is focusing on the dynamic of expansion in the overhang that will need to show signs of reversal before a price bottom can be established." In its monthly report, the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) said the implied stock build for the first half of 2019 is 2 million bpd. The IEA left its forecast for global demand growth for 2018 and 2019 unchanged from last month, but cut its forecast for non-OECD demand growth, the engine of expansion in world consumption. US crude output from its seven major shale basins was expected to hit a record 7.94 million bpd in December, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Tuesday. The surge in onshore output has helped overall US crude production hit a record 11.6 million bpd, making the United States the world's biggest oil producer ahead of Russia and Saudi Arabia. Most analysts expect US output to climb above 12 million bpd in the first half of 2019. The rise in US production is contributing to higher stockpiles. Storage data from the US government is due on Thursday.

Oil rebounds from steep sell-off as OPEC, partners discuss supply cut

By Gary Grappo

Washington’s latest round of sanctions on Iran’s primary hard currency earner will be felt not only by the Iranian government but also by Iranians. Previous sanctions, imposed after Washington withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in May 2018, had already begun to take a bite out of Iran’s economy, costing the Islamic Republican estimated loss of more than $2 billion in revenue. Undoubtedly, it has been a contributing factor in the recent spiral of the Iranian rial, down against the dollar by approximately 75 &nbsp;per cent since 2017.

Tehran has been down this road before. US sanctions, much of which had been endorsed by the UN Security Council in the period leading up to the negotiation and signing of the JCPOA, had been so painful for Iran that it finally agreed to come to the negotiating table with the P5+1 countries (China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and the US) and ultimately accepted restrictions on its nuclear weapons development program. The fact that Tehran has not reneged on the nuclear deal in spite of Washington’s withdrawal is a testament to the devastating impact that global sanctions can have on its economy and its desire to forestall sanctions broader than those reimposed by Washington.

Nevertheless, US sanctions are impossible to ignore by Iran or any other country. Any country, bank or enterprise risks its US-based operations — not to mention access to America’s outsized market — in doing business with Iran or an Iranian entity falling under the sanctions. Despite the unwillingness of the other P5+1 countries to follow Washington’s lead, their businesses and banks cannot afford to risk secondary sanctions. They will comply by withdrawing their business with or in Iran, cancelling contracts or shutting down financial dealings with Iranian banks.

Almighty Dollar

How does Washington get away with it? What makes the imposition of US sanctions so problematic for any country, entity or person on the receiving end of America’s financial wrath? The answer isn’t just the size of America’s economy — US GDP is nearly a quarter of global GDP. More often, it’s the “almighty” US dollar. In 2017, the dollar accounted for 85 per cent of global trade based on the value of letters of credit issued, up from 81 per cent two years earlier. The US currency is involved in nearly nine out of every 10 transactions in the daily $5.1-trillion foreign exchange market, according to 2016 data from the Bank for International Settlements. The greenback also accounts for 62 per cent of global reserves. As Iran learned prior to 2015 and will now experience again, it’s nearly impossible to do business in the world today without recourse to the dollar.

And for Tehran, it’s getting worse. SWIFT — Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications — a Belgium-based messaging network that financial institutions use to securely transmit information and instructions worldwide, announced that it too is severing its relations with Iran’s banks. The move will effectively cut those banks off from the global financial system. Since the vast majority of SWIFT’s transactions are in dollars, it had no choice.

Iran isn’t alone in the bullseye of American sanctions. The US Treasury Department currently enforces 29 active sanctions programs, targeting countries like Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Yemen, Syria, Libya and others, as well as various criminal organizations, individuals and businesses throughout the world, for an assortment of sanctionable violations of US human rights, drug trafficking, money laundering, terrorism, human trafficking, weapons sales, cyber warfare and other laws. Sanctions have become America’s go-to tool for extending territoriality of its laws, and the US economy and the dollar give it the ability to do it.

However, Washington faces increasing challenges in its resort to sanctions, not just as they apply to Iran, but also to US economic interests around the globe. First, Washington’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal was unpopular and opposed by nearly all of its allies, including the other members of the P5+1. To date, none have withdrawn, nor are they expected to do so. That means that there is little hope of achieving what the Obama administration had done — a UN Security Council resolution imposing global sanctions on Iran. So, as painful as US sanctions are likely to be for Iran, they are unlikely to approach the levels experienced in the period leading up to the signing of the JCPOA.

Washington now asserts that it expects Iran to comply with a 12-point list of demands, articulated by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in May. It’s not a bad list of Iran’s misbehaviour both in the region and around the world. But it goes far beyond anything envisioned by the US and the other P5+1 members who, in 2015, focused on limiting Iran’s nuclear program. So, with fewer countries joining Washington’s sanctions, how is the Trump administration counting on the Iranians to give up more than they did in 2015? “More with less” once was a clever slogan in American politics, but it’s been proven unsuccessful. In this case, Iran is much more likely to weather these current sanctions, however painfully, than it was those imposed through 2015.

Second, Tehran has managed to accomplish a long-sought objective — drive a wedge between the US and its closest allies in Europe. In order to keep the US in the JCPOA, the European countries had shown considerable willingness to ratchet up non-nuclear sanctions on Iran and push for extending the deadlines in the nuclear agreement beyond their current 10-15 year deadlines before they came up for review. Yet the Trump administration bowed to its campaign promises and to its base — and withdrew. Trump had effectively gotten the bargain he wanted from the Europeans and instead went for the two birds in the bush and not the one he had in his hand.

Powerful weapon

Now, the EU is seeking to set up a separate mechanism that would allow Iran and businesses and banks with which it deals, including oil customers, to work through a different financial clearing system. Known as the Special Purpose Vehicle, or SPV, it could have a much greater impact than the immediate goal of freeing Iran from Washington’s financial grip. Longer term, one could envision its use by China, Russia and other currently sanctioned states, entities and individuals to dodge US sanctions and work outside the US-led system. To be sure, setting up such a mechanism will be long and difficult, presenting all sorts of unforeseen challenges to global businesses, banks and governments. But in this age of instant financial transactions governed by algorithms and technology, the global economic and financial system has shown itself to be adaptable to the vicissitudes of international politics.

This raises the third risk to America’s use of sanctions when its allies are not on board. Such overuse and misuse will mean diminishing America’s and the world’s abilities to punish those who act outside acceptable bounds of international behaviour. Causes such as protecting human rights, combatting terrorism and drug trafficking, and stemming proliferation, among others, will all suffer as violators turn to new means to avoid constraints and pursue efforts to destabilize and disrupt.

Finally, sanctions not adequately coordinated with other major economic powers, especially the EU, Japan and South Korea, can upset financial markets, currency trading and international trade. The global economy is better at adjusting when the sanctions are clear and enforceable, meaning other major nations act in concert with the US and not in opposition. Last summer, after the US imposed sanctions on Turkey, European bank stocks took a beating. Had the trade controls and sanctions been better coordinated with America’s European allies, the sell-off might have been mitigated.

Sanctions remain a powerful weapon in the US arsenal, one which it wields almost unilaterally among world powers. But their effect — to ensure global order by limiting the ability of bad actors to skirt international norms, and punishing them when they do — will be diluted if the Trump administration continues to pursue a go-it-alone approach. Their impact is exponentially greater when Washington convinces other economic powers to work with it.

(Gary Grappo is a former US ambassador and a distinguished fellow at the Center for Middle East Studies at the Korbel School for International Studies)

(This article was originally published on Fair Observer. Read the <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/middle_east_north_africa/donald-trump-us-sanctions-iran-economy-oil-exports-nuclear-deal-news-65172/">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

By Gary Grappo Washington’s latest round of sanctions on Iran’s primary hard currency earner will be felt not only by the Iranian government but also by Iranians.

By Gary Grappo Washington’s latest round of sanctions on Iran’s primary hard currency earner will be felt not only by the Iranian government but also by Iranians. Previous sanctions, imposed after Washington withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in May 2018, had already begun to take a bite out of Iran’s economy, costing the Islamic Republican estimated loss of more than $2 billion in revenue. Undoubtedly, it has been a contributing factor in the recent spiral of the Iranian rial, down against the dollar by approximately 75 per cent since 2017. Tehran has been down this road before. US sanctions, much of which had been endorsed by the UN Security Council in the period leading up to the negotiation and signing of the JCPOA, had been so painful for Iran that it finally agreed to come to the negotiating table with the P5+1 countries (China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and the US) and ultimately accepted restrictions on its nuclear weapons development program. The fact that Tehran has not reneged on the nuclear deal in spite of Washington’s withdrawal is a testament to the devastating impact that global sanctions can have on its economy and its desire to forestall sanctions broader than those reimposed by Washington. Nevertheless, US sanctions are impossible to ignore by Iran or any other country. Any country, bank or enterprise risks its US-based operations — not to mention access to America’s outsized market — in doing business with Iran or an Iranian entity falling under the sanctions. Despite the unwillingness of the other P5+1 countries to follow Washington’s lead, their businesses and banks cannot afford to risk secondary sanctions. They will comply by withdrawing their business with or in Iran, cancelling contracts or shutting down financial dealings with Iranian banks. Almighty Dollar How does Washington get away with it? What makes the imposition of US sanctions so problematic for any country, entity or person on the receiving end of America’s financial wrath? The answer isn’t just the size of America’s economy — US GDP is nearly a quarter of global GDP. More often, it’s the “almighty” US dollar. In 2017, the dollar accounted for 85 per cent of global trade based on the value of letters of credit issued, up from 81 per cent two years earlier. The US currency is involved in nearly nine out of every 10 transactions in the daily $5.1-trillion foreign exchange market, according to 2016 data from the Bank for International Settlements. The greenback also accounts for 62 per cent of global reserves. As Iran learned prior to 2015 and will now experience again, it’s nearly impossible to do business in the world today without recourse to the dollar. And for Tehran, it’s getting worse. SWIFT — Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications — a Belgium-based messaging network that financial institutions use to securely transmit information and instructions worldwide, announced that it too is severing its relations with Iran’s banks. The move will effectively cut those banks off from the global financial system. Since the vast majority of SWIFT’s transactions are in dollars, it had no choice. Iran isn’t alone in the bullseye of American sanctions. The US Treasury Department currently enforces 29 active sanctions programs, targeting countries like Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Yemen, Syria, Libya and others, as well as various criminal organizations, individuals and businesses throughout the world, for an assortment of sanctionable violations of US human rights, drug trafficking, money laundering, terrorism, human trafficking, weapons sales, cyber warfare and other laws. Sanctions have become America’s go-to tool for extending territoriality of its laws, and the US economy and the dollar give it the ability to do it. However, Washington faces increasing challenges in its resort to sanctions, not just as they apply to Iran, but also to US economic interests around the globe. First, Washington’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal was unpopular and opposed by nearly all of its allies, including the other members of the P5+1. To date, none have withdrawn, nor are they expected to do so. That means that there is little hope of achieving what the Obama administration had done — a UN Security Council resolution imposing global sanctions on Iran. So, as painful as US sanctions are likely to be for Iran, they are unlikely to approach the levels experienced in the period leading up to the signing of the JCPOA. Washington now asserts that it expects Iran to comply with a 12-point list of demands, articulated by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in May. It’s not a bad list of Iran’s misbehaviour both in the region and around the world. But it goes far beyond anything envisioned by the US and the other P5+1 members who, in 2015, focused on limiting Iran’s nuclear program. So, with fewer countries joining Washington’s sanctions, how is the Trump administration counting on the Iranians to give up more than they did in 2015? “More with less” once was a clever slogan in American politics, but it’s been proven unsuccessful. In this case, Iran is much more likely to weather these current sanctions, however painfully, than it was those imposed through 2015. Second, Tehran has managed to accomplish a long-sought objective — drive a wedge between the US and its closest allies in Europe. In order to keep the US in the JCPOA, the European countries had shown considerable willingness to ratchet up non-nuclear sanctions on Iran and push for extending the deadlines in the nuclear agreement beyond their current 10-15 year deadlines before they came up for review. Yet the Trump administration bowed to its campaign promises and to its base — and withdrew. Trump had effectively gotten the bargain he wanted from the Europeans and instead went for the two birds in the bush and not the one he had in his hand. Powerful weapon Now, the EU is seeking to set up a separate mechanism that would allow Iran and businesses and banks with which it deals, including oil customers, to work through a different financial clearing system. Known as the Special Purpose Vehicle, or SPV, it could have a much greater impact than the immediate goal of freeing Iran from Washington’s financial grip. Longer term, one could envision its use by China, Russia and other currently sanctioned states, entities and individuals to dodge US sanctions and work outside the US-led system. To be sure, setting up such a mechanism will be long and difficult, presenting all sorts of unforeseen challenges to global businesses, banks and governments. But in this age of instant financial transactions governed by algorithms and technology, the global economic and financial system has shown itself to be adaptable to the vicissitudes of international politics. This raises the third risk to America’s use of sanctions when its allies are not on board. Such overuse and misuse will mean diminishing America’s and the world’s abilities to punish those who act outside acceptable bounds of international behaviour. Causes such as protecting human rights, combatting terrorism and drug trafficking, and stemming proliferation, among others, will all suffer as violators turn to new means to avoid constraints and pursue efforts to destabilize and disrupt. Finally, sanctions not adequately coordinated with other major economic powers, especially the EU, Japan and South Korea, can upset financial markets, currency trading and international trade. The global economy is better at adjusting when the sanctions are clear and enforceable, meaning other major nations act in concert with the US and not in opposition. Last summer, after the US imposed sanctions on Turkey, European bank stocks took a beating. Had the trade controls and sanctions been better coordinated with America’s European allies, the sell-off might have been mitigated. Sanctions remain a powerful weapon in the US arsenal, one which it wields almost unilaterally among world powers. But their effect — to ensure global order by limiting the ability of bad actors to skirt international norms, and punishing them when they do — will be diluted if the Trump administration continues to pursue a go-it-alone approach. Their impact is exponentially greater when Washington convinces other economic powers to work with it. (Gary Grappo is a former US ambassador and a distinguished fellow at the Center for Middle East Studies at the Korbel School for International Studies) (This article was originally published on 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)

Are US sanctions losing their clout?

In pictures: Trump celebrates Diwali at White House with Indian-Americans

A federal judge said he would hold a hearing on Wednesday on CNN's lawsuit against the Trump administration seeking the speedy reinstatement of press credentials for White House correspondent Jim Acosta, a frequent target of President Donald Trump.

In its lawsuit filed on Tuesday in US District Court in Washington, the cable news network said the White House violated the First Amendment right to free speech as well as the due process clause of the Constitution providing fair treatment through judicial process. The network asked for a temporary restraining order.

Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, dismissed the action as "just more grandstanding from CNN, and we will vigorously defend against this lawsuit."

US District Judge Timothy Kelly on Tuesday ordered the Trump administration to respond to the lawsuit by 11 am (1600 GMT) on Wednesday and he set a hearing for 3:30 pm (2030 GMT) that day on the request for a restraining order. Kelly, a former lawyer for the Senate Judiciary Committee, was nominated to the bench by Trump last year.

The White House revoked Acosta's credentials last week in an escalation of the Republican president's attacks on the news media, which he has dubbed the "enemy of the people."

Trump has intensified his criticism of the reporters who cover him, making personal jabs in response to questions he does not like, including those about Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe of whether his campaign worked with Russia to sway the 2016 presidential election. Trump denies any collusion took place.

CNN, and Acosta in particular, have been regular targets of the president.

The day after the November 6 congressional elections, Trump erupted into anger during a news conference when Acosta questioned him about the Russia probe and a migrant caravan travelling through Mexico.

"That's enough, that's enough," Trump told Acosta last Wednesday, as a White House intern attempted to take the microphone away from the correspondent. "You are a rude, terrible person."

The White House suspended his credentials later that day, with Sanders alleging that Acosta had put his hands on the intern who was trying to take the microphone from him. Videos of the encounter show Acosta pulling back as the intern moved to take the microphone.

'COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ANYONE'

"While the suit is specific to CNN and Acosta, this could have happened to anyone," CNN said in a statement. "If left unchallenged, the actions of the White House would create a dangerous chilling effect for any journalist who covers our elected officials."

The lawsuit noted that Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday there "could be others also."

Theodore Boutrous, a lawyer for CNN and Acosta, said the White House was punishing Acosta for the contents of his reporting. "The White House cannot be permitted to cast out and punish reporters with whom it disagrees," CNN said in its court filing.

The White House Correspondents Association said revoking Acosta's credentials was a disproportionate reaction to what happened at the news conference.

"The President of the United States should not be in the business of arbitrarily picking the men and women who cover him," it said.

US Representative Jerrold Nadler, who is likely to become the Democratic chairman of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee in January, supported the CNN lawsuit.

"@CNN is right to fight back against the cynical, unfair, and authoritarian treatment of @Acosta for doing his job," he said in a Twitter post.

A federal judge said he would hold a hearing on Wednesday on CNN's lawsuit against the Trump administration seeking the speedy reinstatement of press credentials for White House correspondent Jim Acosta, a frequent target of President Donald Trump.

A federal judge said he would hold a hearing on Wednesday on CNN's lawsuit against the Trump administration seeking the speedy reinstatement of press credentials for White House correspondent Jim Acosta, a frequent target of President Donald Trump. In its lawsuit filed on Tuesday in US District Court in Washington, the cable news network said the White House violated the First Amendment right to free speech as well as the due process clause of the Constitution providing fair treatment through judicial process. The network asked for a temporary restraining order. Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, dismissed the action as "just more grandstanding from CNN, and we will vigorously defend against this lawsuit." US District Judge Timothy Kelly on Tuesday ordered the Trump administration to respond to the lawsuit by 11 am (1600 GMT) on Wednesday and he set a hearing for 3:30 pm (2030 GMT) that day on the request for a restraining order. Kelly, a former lawyer for the Senate Judiciary Committee, was nominated to the bench by Trump last year. The White House revoked Acosta's credentials last week in an escalation of the Republican president's attacks on the news media, which he has dubbed the "enemy of the people." Trump has intensified his criticism of the reporters who cover him, making personal jabs in response to questions he does not like, including those about Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe of whether his campaign worked with Russia to sway the 2016 presidential election. Trump denies any collusion took place. CNN, and Acosta in particular, have been regular targets of the president. The day after the November 6 congressional elections, Trump erupted into anger during a news conference when Acosta questioned him about the Russia probe and a migrant caravan travelling through Mexico. "That's enough, that's enough," Trump told Acosta last Wednesday, as a White House intern attempted to take the microphone away from the correspondent. "You are a rude, terrible person." The White House suspended his credentials later that day, with Sanders alleging that Acosta had put his hands on the intern who was trying to take the microphone from him. Videos of the encounter show Acosta pulling back as the intern moved to take the microphone. 'COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ANYONE' "While the suit is specific to CNN and Acosta, this could have happened to anyone," CNN said in a statement. "If left unchallenged, the actions of the White House would create a dangerous chilling effect for any journalist who covers our elected officials." The lawsuit noted that Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday there "could be others also." Theodore Boutrous, a lawyer for CNN and Acosta, said the White House was punishing Acosta for the contents of his reporting. "The White House cannot be permitted to cast out and punish reporters with whom it disagrees," CNN said in its court filing. The White House Correspondents Association said revoking Acosta's credentials was a disproportionate reaction to what happened at the news conference. "The President of the United States should not be in the business of arbitrarily picking the men and women who cover him," it said. US Representative Jerrold Nadler, who is likely to become the Democratic chairman of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee in January, supported the CNN lawsuit. "@CNN is right to fight back against the cynical, unfair, and authoritarian treatment of @Acosta for doing his job," he said in a Twitter post.

US judge to hold hearing on CNN's lawsuit against Trump administration

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday launched an attack on the Trump administration over sanctions on Tehran, stating that the United States has chosen the wrong path and will be defeated, news agency Reuters reported quoting state media.&nbsp;

Last week, Washington reinstated sanctions on Iran, targetting its oil industry, a move aimed at pressuring Tehran to curb its missile program.&nbsp;

Rouhani, last week, stated that Iran "<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/iran-will-proudly-bypass-us-sanctions-rouhani-175592">will proudly bypass sanctions</a>" by the United States that took effect on November 5.

"I announce that we will proudly bypass your illegal, unjust sanctions because it's against international regulations," Rouhani said in a televised speech.

"We are in a situation of economic war, confronting a bullying power. I don't think that in the history of America, someone has entered the White House who is so against law and international conventions," news agency AFP quoted Rouhani.

Meanwhile, the latest <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/iran-sticking-to-nuclear-deal-conditions-iaea-176925">report from the UN atomic watchdog</a> stated that Iran has been abiding by the terms of its nuclear deal with global powers.&nbsp;

The International Atomic Energy Agency's latest report showed that as of early November, Iran had been complying with the restrictions to its nuclear programme laid down in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday launched an attack on the Trump administration over sanctions on Tehran, stating that the United States has chosen the wrong path and will be defeated, news agency Reuters reported quoting state media.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday launched an attack on the Trump administration over sanctions on Tehran, stating that the United States has chosen the wrong path and will be defeated, news agency Reuters reported quoting state media. Last week, Washington reinstated sanctions on Iran, targetting its oil industry, a move aimed at pressuring Tehran to curb its missile program. Rouhani, last week, stated that Iran "will proudly bypass sanctions" by the United States that took effect on November 5. "I announce that we will proudly bypass your illegal, unjust sanctions because it's against international regulations," Rouhani said in a televised speech. "We are in a situation of economic war, confronting a bullying power. I don't think that in the history of America, someone has entered the White House who is so against law and international conventions," news agency AFP quoted Rouhani. Meanwhile, the latest report from the UN atomic watchdog stated that Iran has been abiding by the terms of its nuclear deal with global powers. The International Atomic Energy Agency's latest report showed that as of early November, Iran had been complying with the restrictions to its nuclear programme laid down in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. (With inputs from agencies)

United States chose wrong path on sanctions, will be defeated: Iranian President Rouhani

India has paid out far more in cotton subsidies than the World Trade Organization allows, with payments "vastly in excess" of what it had officially declared, the United States said in a filing to the trade watchdog on Monday.

The US&nbsp;assessment of India's market price support (MPS) for cotton said New Delhi was allowed to pay out up to 10 per cent of the value of production, but the actual figure had ranged from 53 per cent to 81 per cent since 2010.

"It appears that India provides MPS for cotton vastly in excess of what it has reported to the WTO," the US&nbsp;filing said.

Indian Commerce Ministry officials declined to make an immediate comment on the US&nbsp;document, but India has previously dismissed US&nbsp;allegations that it pays higher subsidies than permitted.

Along with more than 45 countries, India has demanded that MPS should be calculated by using the recent reference period instead of 1986/88 prices, which was built into the equation at the creation of the WTO, said a government official, who declined to be named.

While India’s calculations are based on dollar terms, the US&nbsp;calculations are based on local currency, said the official, who has direct knowledge of the trade negotiations.

The US&nbsp;filing is the latest in a series of analyses of publicly available data that Washington has submitted to the WTO, each one setting out apparent breaches of WTO rules that are hiding in plain sight. Previous submissions have targeted China and Vietnam as well as India.

"The United States is providing this information to other (WTO) Members in the interest of promoting transparency surrounding India's MPS policies," the filing said. "This document is for the purpose of discussion by World Trade Organization Members."

India has been the second-largest cotton producer since 2006, behind China, and the second-largest exporter since 2007, the document said.

The U.S. filing said that for the 2015/16 marketing year, India had notified market price support of $18 million, which was about 1.2 billion rupees, but the United States estimated that the correct figure was 504 billion rupees.

In 2016/17, India had not notified any MPS, but the United States calculated the correct level at around 557 billion rupees.

"The United States looks forward to future discussion of the significance of India’s MPS for cotton for both India’s market and for world markets – both with India and with other Members," it said. 
&nbsp;

India has paid out far more in cotton subsidies than the World Trade Organization allows, with payments "vastly in excess" of what it had officially declared, the United States said in a filing to the trade watchdog on Monday.

India has paid out far more in cotton subsidies than the World Trade Organization allows, with payments "vastly in excess" of what it had officially declared, the United States said in a filing to the trade watchdog on Monday. The US assessment of India's market price support (MPS) for cotton said New Delhi was allowed to pay out up to 10 per cent of the value of production, but the actual figure had ranged from 53 per cent to 81 per cent since 2010. "It appears that India provides MPS for cotton vastly in excess of what it has reported to the WTO," the US filing said. Indian Commerce Ministry officials declined to make an immediate comment on the US document, but India has previously dismissed US allegations that it pays higher subsidies than permitted. Along with more than 45 countries, India has demanded that MPS should be calculated by using the recent reference period instead of 1986/88 prices, which was built into the equation at the creation of the WTO, said a government official, who declined to be named. While India’s calculations are based on dollar terms, the US calculations are based on local currency, said the official, who has direct knowledge of the trade negotiations. The US filing is the latest in a series of analyses of publicly available data that Washington has submitted to the WTO, each one setting out apparent breaches of WTO rules that are hiding in plain sight. Previous submissions have targeted China and Vietnam as well as India. "The United States is providing this information to other (WTO) Members in the interest of promoting transparency surrounding India's MPS policies," the filing said. "This document is for the purpose of discussion by World Trade Organization Members." India has been the second-largest cotton producer since 2006, behind China, and the second-largest exporter since 2007, the document said. The U.S. filing said that for the 2015/16 marketing year, India had notified market price support of $18 million, which was about 1.2 billion rupees, but the United States estimated that the correct figure was 504 billion rupees. In 2016/17, India had not notified any MPS, but the United States calculated the correct level at around 557 billion rupees. "The United States looks forward to future discussion of the significance of India’s MPS for cotton for both India’s market and for world markets – both with India and with other Members," it said.

US says India paid bigger cotton subsidies than WTO allows

Iraq's president Barham Salih on Sunday urged the United States to consider Baghdad's political and economic position as the countries negotiate on relief for Iraq from Washington's reimposed sanctions against Iran.

The United States said on Friday Iraq can continue to import natural gas and energy supplies from Iran for a period of 45 days, so long as Iraq does not pay Iran for imports in US&nbsp;dollars. Sanctions on Tehran's oil sector took effect on November 5.

"We do not want Iraq to be burdened with the US&nbsp;sanctions on Iran," Barham Salih, the newly elected President, told reporters during a visit to the Gulf Arab state of Kuwait.

Iraq wanted to maintain "balanced" relations with all its neighbours and the international community, he said.

"Iran is a neighbouring country and our interest lies in having good and stable relations with Iran," he said, adding the Iraqi people also wanted to deepen Arab and Gulf ties.

Iraq needs to rebuild its economy and infrastructure as it emerges from a ruinous conflict with Islamic State.

Iraq central bank officials said in August that the country's economy is closely linked to non-Arab Iran, which is locked in several proxy wars with Saudi Arabia in the region.

Iraq's president Barham Salih on Sunday urged the United States to consider Baghdad's political and economic position as the countries negotiate on relief for Iraq from Washington's reimposed sanctions against Iran.

Iraq's president Barham Salih on Sunday urged the United States to consider Baghdad's political and economic position as the countries negotiate on relief for Iraq from Washington's reimposed sanctions against Iran. The United States said on Friday Iraq can continue to import natural gas and energy supplies from Iran for a period of 45 days, so long as Iraq does not pay Iran for imports in US dollars. Sanctions on Tehran's oil sector took effect on November 5. "We do not want Iraq to be burdened with the US sanctions on Iran," Barham Salih, the newly elected President, told reporters during a visit to the Gulf Arab state of Kuwait. Iraq wanted to maintain "balanced" relations with all its neighbours and the international community, he said. "Iran is a neighbouring country and our interest lies in having good and stable relations with Iran," he said, adding the Iraqi people also wanted to deepen Arab and Gulf ties. Iraq needs to rebuild its economy and infrastructure as it emerges from a ruinous conflict with Islamic State. Iraq central bank officials said in August that the country's economy is closely linked to non-Arab Iran, which is locked in several proxy wars with Saudi Arabia in the region.

Iraq urges US to consider its position in talks on Iran sanctions

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday Moscow wanted to restore a full-scale dialogue with the United States about the landmark Cold War-era missile treaty, Russian news agencies reported.

President Donald Trump said last month Washington would withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty because Russia was violating the pact, bringing a warning of retaliatory measures from Moscow.

Putin, speaking to Kremlin-backed RT France television, said he could meet Trump on the sidelines of a G-20 summit in Argentina, according to the agencies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday Moscow wanted to restore a full-scale dialogue with the United States about the landmark Cold War-era missile treaty, Russian news agencies reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday Moscow wanted to restore a full-scale dialogue with the United States about the landmark Cold War-era missile treaty, Russian news agencies reported. President Donald Trump said last month Washington would withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty because Russia was violating the pact, bringing a warning of retaliatory measures from Moscow. Putin, speaking to Kremlin-backed RT France television, said he could meet Trump on the sidelines of a G-20 summit in Argentina, according to the agencies.

Russia wants dialogue with US on missile treaty: Putin

Saudi Arabia is discussing a proposal that could see OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers cut output by up to 1 million barrels per day, two sources told Reuters on Sunday, as the world's top oil exporter grapples with a drop in crude prices.

The sources said any such deal would depend on factors including the level of Iranian exports after the United States imposed sanctions on Tehran but granted Iran's top oil buyers waivers to continue buying oil.

Riyadh was surprised by the waivers granted to customers such as China and India, a move which hit oil prices, at least three industry and OPEC sources told Reuters.

Now Saudi Arabia wants to act to prevent a further slide in prices which fell below $70 a barrel on Friday, and is leading discussions on cutting oil output next year, the sources said.

Under a deal set to expire at the end of the year, OPEC and non-OPEC producers agreed to curb output by around 1.8 million bpd.

But producers ended up cutting more - partly due to unexpected outages in Venezuela, Libya and Angola - and so agreed in June to limit cuts to the agreed level, meaning restoring about 1 million bpd in output.

OPEC and its allies will meet in Vienna on December 6-7 to decide on output policy for 2019.

“There is a general discussion about this (cut). But the question is how much is needed to be reduced by the market,” one of the sources said ahead of a meeting by a monitoring committee in Abu Dhabi on Sunday attended by top producers Saudi Arabia and Russia.

"No one expected the waivers. Saudi Arabia wants to at least put a floor under oil prices. No one wants a free fall in prices," the source added.

Kazakh deputy energy minister Magzum Mirzagaliyev told reporters in Abu Dhabi that he understood Saudi Arabia was suggesting using August-October output levels as a baseline for determining cuts.

Brent crude on Friday fell 47 cents, or 0.7 per cent, to settle at $70.18 a barrel. It lost about 3.6 per cent on the week and has shed more than 15 per cent this quarter.

Washington gave 180-day waivers to eight Iranian oil buyers - China, India, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Greece, Taiwan and Turkey. This group takes as much as three-quarters of Iran's seaborne oil exports, trade data shows.

The U.S. administration has vowed to reduce Iranian oil exports to zero and U.S. President Donald Trump has put pressure on Saudi Arabia to raise output to cool the market.

Iran's crude exports could fall to little more than 1 million bpd in November, roughly a third of their mid-2018 peak. But traders and analysts say that figure could rise from December as importers use their waivers.

Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said last month the kingdom would pump 11 million bpd in November, up from 10.7 million bpd in October.

He also said there could be a need for intervention to reduce oil stockpiles after increases in recent months.

US&nbsp;sanctions on Iran are aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear and missile programs as well as its support for proxy forces in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia is discussing a proposal that could see OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers cut output by up to 1 million barrels per day, two sources told Reuters on Sunday, as the world's top oil exporter grapples with a drop in crude prices.

Saudi Arabia is discussing a proposal that could see OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers cut output by up to 1 million barrels per day, two sources told Reuters on Sunday, as the world's top oil exporter grapples with a drop in crude prices. The sources said any such deal would depend on factors including the level of Iranian exports after the United States imposed sanctions on Tehran but granted Iran's top oil buyers waivers to continue buying oil. Riyadh was surprised by the waivers granted to customers such as China and India, a move which hit oil prices, at least three industry and OPEC sources told Reuters. Now Saudi Arabia wants to act to prevent a further slide in prices which fell below $70 a barrel on Friday, and is leading discussions on cutting oil output next year, the sources said. Under a deal set to expire at the end of the year, OPEC and non-OPEC producers agreed to curb output by around 1.8 million bpd. But producers ended up cutting more - partly due to unexpected outages in Venezuela, Libya and Angola - and so agreed in June to limit cuts to the agreed level, meaning restoring about 1 million bpd in output. OPEC and its allies will meet in Vienna on December 6-7 to decide on output policy for 2019. “There is a general discussion about this (cut). But the question is how much is needed to be reduced by the market,” one of the sources said ahead of a meeting by a monitoring committee in Abu Dhabi on Sunday attended by top producers Saudi Arabia and Russia. "No one expected the waivers. Saudi Arabia wants to at least put a floor under oil prices. No one wants a free fall in prices," the source added. Kazakh deputy energy minister Magzum Mirzagaliyev told reporters in Abu Dhabi that he understood Saudi Arabia was suggesting using August-October output levels as a baseline for determining cuts. Brent crude on Friday fell 47 cents, or 0.7 per cent, to settle at $70.18 a barrel. It lost about 3.6 per cent on the week and has shed more than 15 per cent this quarter. Washington gave 180-day waivers to eight Iranian oil buyers - China, India, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Greece, Taiwan and Turkey. This group takes as much as three-quarters of Iran's seaborne oil exports, trade data shows. The U.S. administration has vowed to reduce Iranian oil exports to zero and U.S. President Donald Trump has put pressure on Saudi Arabia to raise output to cool the market. Iran's crude exports could fall to little more than 1 million bpd in November, roughly a third of their mid-2018 peak. But traders and analysts say that figure could rise from December as importers use their waivers. Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said last month the kingdom would pump 11 million bpd in November, up from 10.7 million bpd in October. He also said there could be a need for intervention to reduce oil stockpiles after increases in recent months. US sanctions on Iran are aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear and missile programs as well as its support for proxy forces in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia in talks to cut oil output after US waivers hit prices

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena's decision to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/legal-challenge-looms-as-sri-lankan-main-party-readies-to-challenge-parliament-sacking-176562">dissolve parliament</a>, worsening an already major political crisis, has drawn criticism from Western powers, including the United States and the European Union.

Sirisena dissolved parliament on Friday night, only five days before it was due to reconvene. A new cabinet he installed was in danger of losing a vote of no confidence.

He also called a general election for January 5.

The president triggered a power struggle when he sacked prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe late last month and appointed the island's former leader, Mahinda Rajapaksa, a pro-China strongman defeated by Sirisena in an election in 2015, in his place.

Sirisena's rivals are set to challenge his decision, which they describe as illegal and unconstitutional, in the Supreme Court on Monday.

The US&nbsp;Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs said in a tweet that the United States was "deeply concerned by news the Sri Lanka Parliament will be dissolved, further deepening the political crisis". It said democracy needed to be respected to ensure stability and prosperity.

A spokeswoman for the European Union's foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement that the move "risks undermining public confidence in the country’s democratic institutions and processes and further deepens the political and economic crisis in the country."

Last week, the EU's ambassador warned it could consider stripping Sri Lanka of its duty-free access if it backs off commitments on rights. The EU is worried the return of Rajapaksa could derail halting progress made toward national reconciliation following a war with ethnic minority Tamil separatists that killed tens of thousands, many during the final stages under his watch as president.

Mark Field, the British minister of State for Asia and the Pacific, tweeted his concern about the dissolution of parliament days before it was due to be reconvened.

"As a friend of Sri Lanka, the UK calls on all parties to uphold the constitution and respect democratic institutions and processes," Field said.

Canada's Foreign Policy twitter feed said that it was "deeply concerned" about the decision and referred to the risks to reconciliation work after the nation's civil war.

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne expressed both concern and disappointment in a statement, saying the move "undermines Sri Lanka's long democratic tradition and poses a risk to its stability and prosperity".

Sirisena has said he fired Wickremesinghe because the prime minister was trying to implement "a new, extreme liberal political concept by giving more priority for foreign policies and neglecting the local people's sentiment".

Parliament test

Mangala Samaraweera, an ally of Wickremesinghe, said their party expects the court to rule that the dissolution of parliament was illegal and that eventually a vote in parliament will be held to test whether there is a majority.

"We will show that we have the parliament majority and we will show that the dictator president has dissolved a government which had a majority in the parliament," he told reporters.

They were supported by the Tamil National Alliance, the main party representing ethnic Tamil groups in parliament, who said it too will petition the Supreme Court against the dissolution of the house.

"This is a clear violation of the constitution. The president can't do this," said MA&nbsp;Sumanthiran, a spokesman for the alliance.

India and the West have raised concerns over Rajapaksa's close ties with China. Beijing loaned Sri Lanka billions of dollars for infrastructure projects when Rajapaksa was president between 2005-2015, putting the country deep into debt.

Wickremesinghe has refused to vacate the official prime minister's residence saying he was the prime minister and had a parliamentary majority.

Before he signed the papers dissolving parliament and calling the election, Sirisena appointed allies of his and of Rajapaksa to cabinet positions.

One of them said Sirisena was right to order an election to end the political crisis. Dinesh Gunawardena, a newly appointed urban development minister, said the president had handed the country back to the people.

"It is the people's right to vote. We have gone before the people. No force can interfere. The people's mandate is supreme," he said.

Independent legal experts have told Reuters that parliament could be dissolved only in early 2020, which would be four-and-half-years from the first sitting of the current parliament. The only other legal way would be through a referendum, or with the consent of two-thirds of lawmakers.

Given those views, it was not immediately clear how Sirisena is on legal safe ground by dissolving parliament, though his legal experts have said there are provisions for him to do so.

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena's decision to dissolve parliament, worsening an already major political crisis, has drawn criticism from Western powers, including the United States and the European Union.

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena's decision to dissolve parliament, worsening an already major political crisis, has drawn criticism from Western powers, including the United States and the European Union. Sirisena dissolved parliament on Friday night, only five days before it was due to reconvene. A new cabinet he installed was in danger of losing a vote of no confidence. He also called a general election for January 5. The president triggered a power struggle when he sacked prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe late last month and appointed the island's former leader, Mahinda Rajapaksa, a pro-China strongman defeated by Sirisena in an election in 2015, in his place. Sirisena's rivals are set to challenge his decision, which they describe as illegal and unconstitutional, in the Supreme Court on Monday. The US Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs said in a tweet that the United States was "deeply concerned by news the Sri Lanka Parliament will be dissolved, further deepening the political crisis". It said democracy needed to be respected to ensure stability and prosperity. A spokeswoman for the European Union's foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement that the move "risks undermining public confidence in the country’s democratic institutions and processes and further deepens the political and economic crisis in the country." Last week, the EU's ambassador warned it could consider stripping Sri Lanka of its duty-free access if it backs off commitments on rights. The EU is worried the return of Rajapaksa could derail halting progress made toward national reconciliation following a war with ethnic minority Tamil separatists that killed tens of thousands, many during the final stages under his watch as president. Mark Field, the British minister of State for Asia and the Pacific, tweeted his concern about the dissolution of parliament days before it was due to be reconvened. "As a friend of Sri Lanka, the UK calls on all parties to uphold the constitution and respect democratic institutions and processes," Field said. Canada's Foreign Policy twitter feed said that it was "deeply concerned" about the decision and referred to the risks to reconciliation work after the nation's civil war. Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne expressed both concern and disappointment in a statement, saying the move "undermines Sri Lanka's long democratic tradition and poses a risk to its stability and prosperity". Sirisena has said he fired Wickremesinghe because the prime minister was trying to implement "a new, extreme liberal political concept by giving more priority for foreign policies and neglecting the local people's sentiment". Parliament test Mangala Samaraweera, an ally of Wickremesinghe, said their party expects the court to rule that the dissolution of parliament was illegal and that eventually a vote in parliament will be held to test whether there is a majority. "We will show that we have the parliament majority and we will show that the dictator president has dissolved a government which had a majority in the parliament," he told reporters. They were supported by the Tamil National Alliance, the main party representing ethnic Tamil groups in parliament, who said it too will petition the Supreme Court against the dissolution of the house. "This is a clear violation of the constitution. The president can't do this," said MA Sumanthiran, a spokesman for the alliance. India and the West have raised concerns over Rajapaksa's close ties with China. Beijing loaned Sri Lanka billions of dollars for infrastructure projects when Rajapaksa was president between 2005-2015, putting the country deep into debt. Wickremesinghe has refused to vacate the official prime minister's residence saying he was the prime minister and had a parliamentary majority. Before he signed the papers dissolving parliament and calling the election, Sirisena appointed allies of his and of Rajapaksa to cabinet positions. One of them said Sirisena was right to order an election to end the political crisis. Dinesh Gunawardena, a newly appointed urban development minister, said the president had handed the country back to the people. "It is the people's right to vote. We have gone before the people. No force can interfere. The people's mandate is supreme," he said. Independent legal experts have told Reuters that parliament could be dissolved only in early 2020, which would be four-and-half-years from the first sitting of the current parliament. The only other legal way would be through a referendum, or with the consent of two-thirds of lawmakers. Given those views, it was not immediately clear how Sirisena is on legal safe ground by dissolving parliament, though his legal experts have said there are provisions for him to do so.

United States, European Union denounce dissolution of Sri Lanka parliament

US President Donald Trump and France's Emmanuel Macron agreed on Saturday on the need for more European defence spending, papering over an earlier Trump tweet that had described Macron's call for a European army as "very insulting".

Meeting for talks at the Elysee a day before commemorations to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One, Macron welcomed Trump under rainy Parisian skies with a firm handshake. But there appeared to be less immediate warmth in the greeting between the two than in the past.

Seated on gilded chairs in the ornate presidential palace, Macron placed his hand on Trump's knee and referred to him as "my friend", while Trump kept more distance, although he also talked up common ground on an issue that had caused friction.

"We want a strong Europe, it's very important to us, and whichever way we can do it the best and more efficient would be something we both want," said Trump.

"We want to help Europe but it has to be fair. Right now the burden sharing has been largely on the United States."

Macron echoed those sentiments, saying he wanted Europe to bear a greater share of the defence costs within NATO, a point he has made repeatedly since taking office, alongside his ambitions for Europe to have its own military capability.

"That's why I do believe my proposals for European defence are totally consistent with that," Macron said in English.

Fresh off US congressional elections that saw his Republican Party's power eroded, Trump's visit is aimed at bolstering the US-European alliance at a symbolic time, with the world marking the centenary of World War One's armistice.

But in a tweet prior to landing in Paris, Trump took a dim view of comments Macron made in a Europe 1 radio interview this week in which he appeared to cast the United States as a threat.

Discussing the growing dangers from cyber-hacking, meddling in electoral processes and the US decision to withdraw from a missile treaty, Macron said Europe needed to protect itself against China, Russia "and even the United States".

Later in the interview, he spoke about the need for a European army, saying:

"Faced by Russia, which is on our borders and which has shown that it can be threatening... we need to have a Europe that can better defend itself by itself, without depending solely on the United States."

Trump, who has pushed NATO allies to pay more for common defense and not rely on the United States, complained.

"Very insulting, but perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO, which the US subsidizes greatly," Trump said on Twitter.

The Elysee said the misunderstanding, which it said had been caused by "exaggerated" US press reports, was cleared up during more than an hour of talks it described as "substantial" and "very constructive".

"We had a great discussion and we are aligned," the Elysee quoted Trump as saying during the meeting, which covered trade, defence, Syria and the fallout from the murder in Istanbul last month of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

SOLEMN COMMEMORATION

After a lunch with Macron and their wives, Melania and Brigitte, Trump was scheduled to visit an American cemetery at Belleau Wood, east of Paris. But he cancelled the trip due to the weather. White House chief of staff John Kelly, a retired four-star general, and General Joe Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will attend the ceremony instead, the White House said.

On Sunday, after a solemn commemoration at the Arc de Triomphe to honour the armistice centenary, Trump is scheduled to visit an American cemetery at Suresnes, on the western outskirts of the capital, where he will make formal remarks.

His trip comes just days after congressional elections delivered results that will complicate his next two years. While Republicans slightly expanded their majority in the US Senate, they lost control of the US House of Representatives to Democrats who may use their newfound power to launch investigations into Trump and stymie his agenda.

While the talks with Trump covered trade and foreign policy, it was not clear if they touched on European concerns about Trump's plans to withdraw the United States from the 1980s Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Agreement.

Macron told Europe 1 radio that the "main victim" of the US withdrawal from the INF accord was Europe and its security.

The French president, who tried but failed earlier this year to talk Trump out of withdrawing from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, has also voiced worries about the impact of sanctions on European companies doing business with Iran.

On Sunday, Trump may also chat briefly with Russian President Vladimir Putin when both are among the 70 world leaders set to gather at the Arc de Triomphe. Trump and Putin are expected to have formal talks later this month when both attend a G-20 summit in Buenos Aires.

US President Donald Trump and France's Emmanuel Macron agreed on Saturday on the need for more European defence spending, papering over an earlier Trump tweet that had described Macron's call for a European army as "very insulting".

US President Donald Trump and France's Emmanuel Macron agreed on Saturday on the need for more European defence spending, papering over an earlier Trump tweet that had described Macron's call for a European army as "very insulting". Meeting for talks at the Elysee a day before commemorations to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One, Macron welcomed Trump under rainy Parisian skies with a firm handshake. But there appeared to be less immediate warmth in the greeting between the two than in the past. Seated on gilded chairs in the ornate presidential palace, Macron placed his hand on Trump's knee and referred to him as "my friend", while Trump kept more distance, although he also talked up common ground on an issue that had caused friction. "We want a strong Europe, it's very important to us, and whichever way we can do it the best and more efficient would be something we both want," said Trump. "We want to help Europe but it has to be fair. Right now the burden sharing has been largely on the United States." Macron echoed those sentiments, saying he wanted Europe to bear a greater share of the defence costs within NATO, a point he has made repeatedly since taking office, alongside his ambitions for Europe to have its own military capability. "That's why I do believe my proposals for European defence are totally consistent with that," Macron said in English. Fresh off US congressional elections that saw his Republican Party's power eroded, Trump's visit is aimed at bolstering the US-European alliance at a symbolic time, with the world marking the centenary of World War One's armistice. But in a tweet prior to landing in Paris, Trump took a dim view of comments Macron made in a Europe 1 radio interview this week in which he appeared to cast the United States as a threat. Discussing the growing dangers from cyber-hacking, meddling in electoral processes and the US decision to withdraw from a missile treaty, Macron said Europe needed to protect itself against China, Russia "and even the United States". Later in the interview, he spoke about the need for a European army, saying: "Faced by Russia, which is on our borders and which has shown that it can be threatening... we need to have a Europe that can better defend itself by itself, without depending solely on the United States." Trump, who has pushed NATO allies to pay more for common defense and not rely on the United States, complained. "Very insulting, but perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO, which the US subsidizes greatly," Trump said on Twitter. The Elysee said the misunderstanding, which it said had been caused by "exaggerated" US press reports, was cleared up during more than an hour of talks it described as "substantial" and "very constructive". "We had a great discussion and we are aligned," the Elysee quoted Trump as saying during the meeting, which covered trade, defence, Syria and the fallout from the murder in Istanbul last month of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. SOLEMN COMMEMORATION After a lunch with Macron and their wives, Melania and Brigitte, Trump was scheduled to visit an American cemetery at Belleau Wood, east of Paris. But he cancelled the trip due to the weather. White House chief of staff John Kelly, a retired four-star general, and General Joe Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will attend the ceremony instead, the White House said. On Sunday, after a solemn commemoration at the Arc de Triomphe to honour the armistice centenary, Trump is scheduled to visit an American cemetery at Suresnes, on the western outskirts of the capital, where he will make formal remarks. His trip comes just days after congressional elections delivered results that will complicate his next two years. While Republicans slightly expanded their majority in the US Senate, they lost control of the US House of Representatives to Democrats who may use their newfound power to launch investigations into Trump and stymie his agenda. While the talks with Trump covered trade and foreign policy, it was not clear if they touched on European concerns about Trump's plans to withdraw the United States from the 1980s Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Agreement. Macron told Europe 1 radio that the "main victim" of the US withdrawal from the INF accord was Europe and its security. The French president, who tried but failed earlier this year to talk Trump out of withdrawing from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, has also voiced worries about the impact of sanctions on European companies doing business with Iran. On Sunday, Trump may also chat briefly with Russian President Vladimir Putin when both are among the 70 world leaders set to gather at the Arc de Triomphe. Trump and Putin are expected to have formal talks later this month when both attend a G-20 summit in Buenos Aires.

Trump, Macron agree on defence after 'insulting' European army spat

Turkey has given recordings related to the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi to Saudi Arabia, the United States, Germany, France and Britain, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday.

Turkish sources have said previously that authorities have an audio recording purportedly documenting the murder.

"We gave the tapes. We gave them to Saudi Arabia, to the United States, Germans, French and British, all of them. They have listened to all the conversations in them. They know," Erdogan said.

Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist critical of the Saudi government and its de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, disappeared at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

Saudi officials said initially that Khashoggi had left the consulate, later saying he died in an unplanned "rogue operation". The kingdom's public prosecutor, Saud al-Mojeb, has since said he was killed in a premeditated attack.

Speaking ahead of his departure for France to attend commemorations to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One, Erdogan called on Saudi Arabia to identify the killer from among a 15-man team that arrived in Turkey some days before Khashoggi's killing.

"There's no need to distort this issue, they know for certain that the killer, or the killers, is among these 15 people. Saudi Arabia's government can disclose this by making these 15 people talk," Erdogan said.

Erdogan also accused Mojeb -- who visited Istanbul to discuss the investigation with his Turkish counterpart and make inspections in the Istanbul consulate-- of refusing to cooperate, in turn delaying the inquiry.

Following a meeting on Saturday in Paris, US President Donald Trump and French leader Emmanuel Macron agreed that the Saudi authorities needed to shed full light on Khashoggi's murder, a French presidency source said.

They also agreed that the matter should not be allowed to cause further destabilisation in the Middle East and that it could create an opportunity to find a political resolution to the war in Yemen, according to the official.

Turkey has given recordings related to the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi to Saudi Arabia, the United States, Germany, France and Britain, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday.

Turkey has given recordings related to the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi to Saudi Arabia, the United States, Germany, France and Britain, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday. Turkish sources have said previously that authorities have an audio recording purportedly documenting the murder. "We gave the tapes. We gave them to Saudi Arabia, to the United States, Germans, French and British, all of them. They have listened to all the conversations in them. They know," Erdogan said. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist critical of the Saudi government and its de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, disappeared at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. Saudi officials said initially that Khashoggi had left the consulate, later saying he died in an unplanned "rogue operation". The kingdom's public prosecutor, Saud al-Mojeb, has since said he was killed in a premeditated attack. Speaking ahead of his departure for France to attend commemorations to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One, Erdogan called on Saudi Arabia to identify the killer from among a 15-man team that arrived in Turkey some days before Khashoggi's killing. "There's no need to distort this issue, they know for certain that the killer, or the killers, is among these 15 people. Saudi Arabia's government can disclose this by making these 15 people talk," Erdogan said. Erdogan also accused Mojeb -- who visited Istanbul to discuss the investigation with his Turkish counterpart and make inspections in the Istanbul consulate-- of refusing to cooperate, in turn delaying the inquiry. Following a meeting on Saturday in Paris, US President Donald Trump and French leader Emmanuel Macron agreed that the Saudi authorities needed to shed full light on Khashoggi's murder, a French presidency source said. They also agreed that the matter should not be allowed to cause further destabilisation in the Middle East and that it could create an opportunity to find a political resolution to the war in Yemen, according to the official.

Khashoggi tapes given to key foreign nations: Turkey's Erdogan

The United States wants a "strong Europe" and is willing to help its ally, but Europe must be fair when it comes to sharing the defence burden, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday.

"We want a strong Europe, it's very important to us and whichever way we can do it the best and more efficient would be something we both want," Trump said in remarks after being greeted by President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

Asked what he meant when he tweeted that he felt insulted by Macron's comments that Europe should reduce its dependence on the United States for security, Trump said: "We want to help Europe but it has to be fair. Right now the burden sharing has been largely on the United States."

Macron said he shared Trump's view that Europe needed to finance a greater share of the NATO military alliance's costs. "That's why I do believe my proposals for European defence are fully consistent with that," he said, speaking in English.

The two leaders would discuss issues including Iran, the conflicts in Syria and Yemen, climate change and trade during an hour-long meeting, Macron said.

Trump has toned down his threat of tariffs on cars manufactured in the European Union while the two sides discussed the removal of tariffs on EU aluminium and steel imports.

Trump said negotiations were making progress.

"We'll see if we can get it over the line," Trump added.

The United States wants a "strong Europe" and is willing to help its ally, but Europe must be fair when it comes to sharing the defence burden, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday.

The United States wants a "strong Europe" and is willing to help its ally, but Europe must be fair when it comes to sharing the defence burden, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday. "We want a strong Europe, it's very important to us and whichever way we can do it the best and more efficient would be something we both want," Trump said in remarks after being greeted by President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. Asked what he meant when he tweeted that he felt insulted by Macron's comments that Europe should reduce its dependence on the United States for security, Trump said: "We want to help Europe but it has to be fair. Right now the burden sharing has been largely on the United States." Macron said he shared Trump's view that Europe needed to finance a greater share of the NATO military alliance's costs. "That's why I do believe my proposals for European defence are fully consistent with that," he said, speaking in English. The two leaders would discuss issues including Iran, the conflicts in Syria and Yemen, climate change and trade during an hour-long meeting, Macron said. Trump has toned down his threat of tariffs on cars manufactured in the European Union while the two sides discussed the removal of tariffs on EU aluminium and steel imports. Trump said negotiations were making progress. "We'll see if we can get it over the line," Trump added.

Trump says wants 'strong Europe', but more defence cost-sharing

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