The US has said it will cut its aid to Afghanistan by $1bn, after President Ashraf Ghani and his main political rival, Abdullah Abdullah failed to agree to form a unity government for talks with the Taliban.

The US has said it will cut its aid to Afghanistan by $1bn, after President Ashraf Ghani and his main political rival, Abdullah Abdullah failed to agree to form a unity government for talks with the Taliban. A further $1bn could be cut in 2021, the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, said after a surprise visit to Kabul on Monday failed to persuade the two men to make a deal. Pompeo suggested the aid could be restored if they changed their minds. “The United States is disappointed in them and what their conduct means for Afghanistan and our shared interests,” Pompeo said in a sharply written statement. “Their failure has harmed US-Afghan relations and, sadly, dishonours those Afghan, Americans, and coalition partners who have sacrificed their lives and treasure in the struggle to build a new future for this country. “Because this leadership failure poses a direct threat to US national interests, effective immediately the US government will initiate a review of the scope of our cooperation with Afghanistan,” Pompeo added. “Among other steps, we are today announcing a responsible adjustment to our spending in Afghanistan and immediately reducing assistance by $1 billion this year. We are prepared to reduce by another $1 billion in 2021.” The secretary of state warned that an array of other US projects, as well as US pledges at donor conferences, would come under review.

Mike Pompeo says US will cut $1bn of Afghanistan aid over failure to agree unity government

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday he was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-lawmakers-reach-deal-on-massive-defense-bill-eye-russia-turkey-china-267336">ready to send troops</a> to Libya if requested by the internationally recognised government in Tripoli.&nbsp;

"On the issue of sending soldiers... If Libya makes such a request from us, we can send our personnel there, especially after striking the military security agreement," he said in a televised appearance.&nbsp;

Turkey signed a military agreement last month with Libya's Government of National Accord, led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj.&nbsp;

It came after media reports that Russia had sent 200 mercenaries to support Libya's military strongman Khalifa Haftar, who is seeking to unseat the Tripoli-based government.&nbsp;

Russia has denied the reports, but Erdogan said: "There is a security company from Russia (in Libya) called Wagner. This company sent its security staff there."

The Wagner Group is a shadowy private security firm and thousands of its security contractors are believed to be in foreign conflicts from Syria to Ukraine to the Central African Republic.&nbsp;

At the same time as the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-turkey-working-on-new-s-400-missile-contract-sources-266609">military deal</a>, Turkey also signed a controversial maritime jurisdiction agreement with Sarraj, giving sweeping rights for Turkey to explore for oil in the Mediterranean.&nbsp;

"With the new line drawn (by the maritime agreement), we will take steps to protect the interests of Libya, Turkey and the TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus). This is in line with international law," he said. &nbsp;

The deal has been staunchly opposed by Greece, Cyprus and their European partners which says it violates the islands' maritime rights.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday he was ready to send troops to Libya if requested by the internationally recognised government in Tripoli. "On the issue of sending soldiers.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday he was ready to send troops to Libya if requested by the internationally recognised government in Tripoli. "On the issue of sending soldiers... If Libya makes such a request from us, we can send our personnel there, especially after striking the military security agreement," he said in a televised appearance. Turkey signed a military agreement last month with Libya's Government of National Accord, led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj. It came after media reports that Russia had sent 200 mercenaries to support Libya's military strongman Khalifa Haftar, who is seeking to unseat the Tripoli-based government. Russia has denied the reports, but Erdogan said: "There is a security company from Russia (in Libya) called Wagner. This company sent its security staff there." The Wagner Group is a shadowy private security firm and thousands of its security contractors are believed to be in foreign conflicts from Syria to Ukraine to the Central African Republic. At the same time as the military deal, Turkey also signed a controversial maritime jurisdiction agreement with Sarraj, giving sweeping rights for Turkey to explore for oil in the Mediterranean. "With the new line drawn (by the maritime agreement), we will take steps to protect the interests of Libya, Turkey and the TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus). This is in line with international law," he said. The deal has been staunchly opposed by Greece, Cyprus and their European partners which says it violates the islands' maritime rights.

Ready to send troops to back Libya unity government: Turkey

Israel's parliament was sworn in Thursday without a new government formed as a deadlocked general election left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scrambling to find a path to extend his long tenure in power.

Israel's parliament was sworn in Thursday without a new government formed as a deadlocked general election left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scrambling to find a path to extend his long tenure in power. Members of parliament elected in September 17 polls took their oaths of office in a ceremony that was to a large degree hollow due to deadlocked coalition talks. The stalemate has even raised the risk that the new parliament's term will be extremely short since it could cause yet another election. It would be the third in the space of a year after April polls too ended inconclusively, with Netanyahu unable to form a coalition afterwards. The prime minister faces even longer odds this time, and as a result, has been seeking to form a unity government that would include his main opponent Benny Gantz and his centrist Blue and White alliance. At the same time, Netanyahu's lawyers are seeking to fend off corruption charges against him at a four-day, closed-door hearing that began at the attorney general's office on Wednesday. His unity government efforts have failed so far, with the two sides at odds on a range of issues, including who would be prime minister first in a rotation arrangement. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, in his speech to the new parliament, again called on the rival leaders to come together. "You, elected officials and leaders of the people, face an opportunity and a chance to form a broad government," he said. "One that will allow us to put the disagreements between us to one side and to work on finding areas of agreement." 'No other choice' Blue and White finished with the most seats in the election -- 33 compared to right-wing Likud's 32. Neither has a clear path to a majority coalition, but Netanyahu received one more endorsement for prime minister than Gantz from MPs, resulting in Rivlin tasking him with forming a government last week. He has 28 days to do so, but has signalled he may inform Rivlin before that he is unable to form a government -- a political tactic, not a sign he is throwing in the towel. Rivlin would then decide whether to ask Gantz to try to form a government or demand that parliament agree on a candidate with a vote of at least 61 out of 120 members. The president has set out a unity government compromise that could see Netanyahu remain prime minister, but step aside if indicted while retaining the title. Gantz would then take over on an interim basis. Netanyahu says he wants to negotiate based on that proposal, but Gantz has rejected it, saying his Blue and White cannot serve in a government with a prime minister facing a severe indictment. He also says he should be prime minister first under any rotation arrangement since his party has the most seats. Netanyahu has shown no sign he would yield the post he has held for a total of more than 13 years, the longest in Israeli history, to allow Gantz to be premier first. "There is no other choice than to comply with the will of the people and put in place a broad national unity government," Netanyahu told Likud members before the swearing-in. Gantz told his party: "I call upon Netanyahu: Do not barricade yourself in your position." "We will take the reins from here and lead the country for the good of the citizens." Yair Lapid, Blue and White's number two and who was to rotate as prime minister with Gantz if their party won, announced he was abandoning that plan if a unity government was formed to give it the best chance to succeed. 11-hour hearing While parliament was being sworn in, Netanyahu's pre-indictment hearing continued across town. Only Netanyahu's lawyers and not the prime minister himself attended the hearing, which gives them a last chance to convince Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit not to file corruption charges. Mandelblit has said he intends to indict Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate cases. Netanyahu, who denies all the allegations, is accused of acting on behalf of wealthy supporters and businessmen in exchange for gifts or favourable news coverage. The first day of the hearing on Wednesday stretched some 11 hours. Following the hearing's conclusion on Monday, the attorney general's deliberations on whether to issue the indictments are expected to last weeks. Separately on Thursday, Arab Israeli MPs did not attend the swearing in as they took part in a general strike over violence in Arab communities and what they call the lack of a police response. The mainly Arab Joint List won 13 seats in the election, making it the third-largest bloc in parliament.

Israel's parliament sworn in without new government

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