At least four Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in a United States&#39; airstrike in Kunar province in Afghanistan on Thursday, according to the Afghan military forces.

In a statement, the 201st Silab Corps of the Afghan National Army (ANA) said that the US military carried out an airstrike on an IS hideout in the last 24 hours by using an unmanned aerial vehicle, Khaama Press reported.

It added that the airstrike was carried out in Lechalam area in Manogi district of Kunar province and four IS militants were confirmed dead by the ANA. One militant was also injured in the airstrike.

Also, at least seven Islamic State militants have been killed during airstrikes conducted by Afghan air force in Afghanistan&#39;s Achin district on Friday, reports said.&nbsp;

Afghan air forces targeted a Daesh hideout in Pekhi Baghdara area of Achin district on Thursday night.

Reports further said that Afghanistan forces or civilians remained unharmed in the incident.

IS has not commented on the issue so far.

The latest round of airstrike comes after 15 Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants were killed in an airstrike in Kunar province last week.

The airstrike also killed the chief of TTP Mullah Fazullah&#39;s son, according to the Afghan military forces.

At least four Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in a United States' airstrike in Kunar province in Afghanistan on Thursday, according to the Afghan military forces. In a statement, the 201st Silab Corps of the Afghan National Army (ANA) said that the US military carried out an airstrike on an IS hideout in the last 24 hours by using an unmanned aerial vehicle, Khaama Press reported. It added that the airstrike was carried out in Lechalam area in Manogi district of Kunar province and four IS militants were confirmed dead by the ANA. One militant was also injured in the airstrike. Also, at least seven Islamic State militants have been killed during airstrikes conducted by Afghan air force in Afghanistan's Achin district on Friday, reports said. Afghan air forces targeted a Daesh hideout in Pekhi Baghdara area of Achin district on Thursday night. Reports further said that Afghanistan forces or civilians remained unharmed in the incident. IS has not commented on the issue so far. The latest round of airstrike comes after 15 Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants were killed in an airstrike in Kunar province last week. The airstrike also killed the chief of TTP Mullah Fazullah's son, according to the Afghan military forces.

At least 13 IS militants killed in airstrikes in Afghanistan

IT major Infosys has announced that it will establish $ 20.6 million-technology and innovation hub in the US state of Connecticut which is expected to create some 1,000 good paying, high tech jobs.

In May 2017, Infosys had announced that it planned to establish multiple technology and innovation hubs across the US with a focus on artificial intelligence, machine learning, user experience, emerging digital technologies, cloud, and big data.

The Hartford hub in Connecticut is the latest such centre announced by the company, following the selection of Indianapolis, Indiana; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Providence, Rhode Island as other locations.

&quot;We are excited to announce the expansion of our presence in Connecticut and create 1,000 technology jobs in the state,&quot; Infosys president Ravi Kumar said.

&quot;This investment will further strengthen our ability to serve clients&#39; needs throughout the New England region and expand the local workforce to help our clients compete in the rapidly digitising insurance, healthcare and manufacturing sectors,&quot; he said.

Kumar said the hub would place Infosys in proximity to its &quot;valued clients&quot; and accelerate the recruitment of &quot;highly-skilled&quot; local talent.

As part of the company&#39;s establishment of the hub in Hartford, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) will provide up to&nbsp; $12 million in grants after certain job creation milestones are met through &#39;Malloy&#39;s First Five Plus Program&#39;.

In addition, the company is eligible to receive up to USD 2 million in training grants to support partnerships the company creates with local education organisations.

Infosys is also eligible for additional assistance if they significantly exceed 1,000 jobs, and the incentives in place can support up to 2,000 jobs, an official media release said.

Connecticut Governor Dannel P Malloy described it as a landmark day in the state&#39;s economic development efforts.

&quot;I am thrilled to welcome Infosys to Connecticut and congratulate them on their decision to establish a technology and innovation hub in Hartford. Connecticut&#39;s tremendous assets and talent pipeline continue to attract high caliber companies to the state, and I look forward to the value that Infosys will bring to our business community,&quot; Malloy said.

Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin also seemed enthused by the announcement.

&quot;I am thrilled that Infosys, a global information technology company, is making Hartford one of four innovation hubs in the United States,&quot; Bronin said.

In May 2017, Infosys had announced that it planned to establish multiple technology and innovation hubs across the US with a focus on artificial intelligence, machine learning, user experience, emerging digital technologies, cloud, and big data

IT major Infosys has announced that it will establish $ 20.6 million-technology and innovation hub in the US state of Connecticut which is expected to create some 1,000 good paying, high tech jobs. In May 2017, Infosys had announced that it planned to establish multiple technology and innovation hubs across the US with a focus on artificial intelligence, machine learning, user experience, emerging digital technologies, cloud, and big data. The Hartford hub in Connecticut is the latest such centre announced by the company, following the selection of Indianapolis, Indiana; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Providence, Rhode Island as other locations. "We are excited to announce the expansion of our presence in Connecticut and create 1,000 technology jobs in the state," Infosys president Ravi Kumar said. "This investment will further strengthen our ability to serve clients' needs throughout the New England region and expand the local workforce to help our clients compete in the rapidly digitising insurance, healthcare and manufacturing sectors," he said. Kumar said the hub would place Infosys in proximity to its "valued clients" and accelerate the recruitment of "highly-skilled" local talent. As part of the company's establishment of the hub in Hartford, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) will provide up to $12 million in grants after certain job creation milestones are met through 'Malloy's First Five Plus Program'. In addition, the company is eligible to receive up to USD 2 million in training grants to support partnerships the company creates with local education organisations. Infosys is also eligible for additional assistance if they significantly exceed 1,000 jobs, and the incentives in place can support up to 2,000 jobs, an official media release said. Connecticut Governor Dannel P Malloy described it as a landmark day in the state's economic development efforts. "I am thrilled to welcome Infosys to Connecticut and congratulate them on their decision to establish a technology and innovation hub in Hartford. Connecticut's tremendous assets and talent pipeline continue to attract high caliber companies to the state, and I look forward to the value that Infosys will bring to our business community," Malloy said. Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin also seemed enthused by the announcement. "I am thrilled that Infosys, a global information technology company, is making Hartford one of four innovation hubs in the United States," Bronin said.

Infosys to open $ 20.6 million technology, innovation hub in US

Seven US troops were killed when the helicopter carrying them crashed in western Iraq, a US defense official said today.

&quot;There were seven people aboard, they are all believed to be dead,&quot; the official said, adding they were US service members.

&quot;It was a routine troop transport operation going from Iraq to Syria, nothing out of the ordinary.&quot;

'There were seven people aboard, they are all believed to be dead,' the official said, adding they were US service members

Seven US troops were killed when the helicopter carrying them crashed in western Iraq, a US defense official said today. "There were seven people aboard, they are all believed to be dead," the official said, adding they were US service members. "It was a routine troop transport operation going from Iraq to Syria, nothing out of the ordinary."

Seven US troops killed in Iraq helicopter crash: US official

US President Donald Trump has bashed international efforts to combat climate change and questioned the scientific consensus that global warming is dangerous and driven by human consumption of fossil fuels.

But there is a disconnect between what Trump says at home and what his government does abroad. While attention has been focused on Trump&#39;s rhetoric, State Department envoys, federal agencies, and government scientists remain active participants in international efforts to both research and fight climate change, according to the US and foreign representatives involved in those efforts.

&quot;We really don&#39;t detect any change with the Americans,&quot; said one of the officials, Aleksi H&auml;rk&ouml;nen of Finland, who chairs the eight-nation Arctic Council&#39;s key group of senior officials, who are charged with protecting a region warming faster than any other on Earth.

Over the past year, the United States has helped draft the rulebook for implementing the Paris climate accord, signed international memoranda calling for global action to fight climate change, boosted funding for overseas clean energy projects, and contributed to global research on the dangers and causes of the Earth&#39;s warming.

While the United States&rsquo; participation in international forums - including the Paris accord and the Arctic Council - has been reported, its continued, broad and constructive support for climate change efforts in these gatherings has not.

This business-as-usual approach has surprised some of America&rsquo;s foreign partners, along with some of Trump&rsquo;s allies, who had expected the new administration to match its rhetoric with an obstructionist approach to combating climate change.

&quot;I am concerned that much of our climate policy remains on autopilot,&quot; complained Trump&rsquo;s former energy adviser Myron Ebell, now a research director at the right-leaning Competitive Enterprise Institute, who said it reflects a failure by the administration to fill key positions and replace staffers who oppose the president&#39;s agenda.

The US efforts abroad to tackle climate change have been counter-balanced by Trump&#39;s aggressive push at home to increase production of the fossil fuels scientists blame for global warming. He has also ordered a wide-ranging rollback of Obama-era climate regulations and appointed a self-described climate sceptic, Scott Pruitt, as the nation&rsquo;s chief environmental regulator.

And to be sure, none of the US dealings in international climate efforts since last year have committed the United States to any emissions cuts that would undermine Trump&rsquo;s domestic energy agenda.

The State Department - which handles the bulk of US climate policy abroad - told Reuters it was still developing its global warming policy under Trump.

&quot;The State Department is working with the White House and the interagency to further develop our approach to international climate change diplomacy,&quot; State Department spokesman Ambrose Sayles said in a statement before Trump sacked Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday.

&quot;In the meantime, we will continue to participate ... to ensure a level playing field that benefits and protects US interests, and to keep all options open for the President,&quot; Sayles said.

Tillerson&#39;s departure leaves a question mark over the future of US climate policy abroad. Tillerson was in favour of the Paris accord, while his successor, Mike Pompeo, has expressed doubts about the science of climate change. Climate advocates say they hope Pompeo will be too distracted by tensions with Iran and North Korea to change the State Department&rsquo;s approach to climate change.

White House spokeswoman Kelly Love declined to comment.

Trump announced last year that he was withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement to fight global warming, raising concerns among other parties to the deal that Washington might attempt to torpedo the accord or disengage from it completely.

That hasn&#39;t happened. Washington sent a 40-strong delegation to talks in Bonn in November to help draft a new rulebook that will provide rules of the road for the 200 participating nations. It was a smaller delegation than Washington had sent to past meetings, but it still won praise from fellow delegates for its work.

For example, Andrew Rakestraw - a climate negotiator for the State Department since 2013 - co-chaired discussions on how to ensure that the pledges by signatories are comparable and use the same accounting standards - a point seen as critical to the success of the accord.

Nazhat Shameem Khan, chief negotiator for Fiji, which presided over the talks, said the United States delegation was &quot;constructive and helpful.&quot; &nbsp;The UN&rsquo;s climate chief, Patricia Espinosa, also called the US role constructive.&nbsp;

Thomas Shannon, the State Department&#39;s chief climate negotiator in Bonn, did not respond to requests for comment. Rakestraw also did not respond to calls and emails requesting comment.

A US source familiar with the US position at the talks, who asked not to be named, said that US delegates in Bonn were pushing an agenda that resembled those of past administrations - stressing that emerging economies like China follow the same rules as developed nations and meet international standards for monitoring and reporting emissions.

There was one jarring note: Washington sponsored a side event to promote &ldquo;clean coal.&rdquo; Some other delegates said they were unhappy with this, as they wanted the talks to focus on renewable energies.

Under the details of the accord, the United States cannot formally withdraw until 2020.

The State Department&rsquo;s delegations to the Arctic Council are also continuing their work in much the same way they did under President Barack Obama - acknowledging that warming is real and should be countered in planning everything from new shipping routes to the protection of indigenous peoples.

Some US agencies are also still bolstering international efforts to fight climate change.

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation, which seeks to advance US policy by financing foreign business ventures, doubled its support for solar projects in 2017 under a climate-friendly policy last updated by the Obama administration.

And NASA, the US space agency, continues to research climate change, publish climate change data, and contribute to international reports, spokesman Stephen Cole said.

Both OPIC and NASA are independent of the State Department, so would not be under Pompeo&#39;s sway.

Scientists representing the United States in the international research say they have also been unfettered by the Trump administration, despite concerns early in the Trump presidency that the White House would seek to silence them or restrict their work.

&ldquo;There has been no pressure on US authors,&rdquo; said one US scientist, who is now helping to write a United Nations report that will call for coal to be &ldquo;phased out rapidly&rdquo; to limit global warming - &nbsp;a direct clash with Trump&#39;s pro-coal agenda.

The scientist asked not to be named because the draft report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), due to be released in October, is confidential.

&quot;Our US colleagues know that climate change is not a hoax,&quot; said one of the non-US authors of the same report, who also spoke on condition of anonymity.

Christopher Field, a professor of environmental studies at Stanford University who co-chaired a 2014 IPCC report on the impacts of climate change, agreed: &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve not seen any indication that the climate denialism from Trump and other members of the administration has had any influence ... on the alignment of the US scientific community with the scientific consensus around the world.&quot;

Still, scientists worry that while the Trump administration is not interfering with their research it is ignoring it.

The Trump administration made no move to block an assessment by 300 experts last year that outlined the threats and causes of warming in the United States and concluded there is &ldquo;no convincing alternative explanation&rdquo; for climate change than human activity.

&quot;But then they haven&#39;t acknowledged the findings, nor changed their climate science denying stance,&rdquo; said the US scientist involved in drafting the UN coal report.

Trump has bashed international efforts to combat climate change and questioned the scientific consensus that global warming is dangerous and driven by human consumption of fossil fuels

US President Donald Trump has bashed international efforts to combat climate change and questioned the scientific consensus that global warming is dangerous and driven by human consumption of fossil fuels. But there is a disconnect between what Trump says at home and what his government does abroad. While attention has been focused on Trump's rhetoric, State Department envoys, federal agencies, and government scientists remain active participants in international efforts to both research and fight climate change, according to the US and foreign representatives involved in those efforts. "We really don't detect any change with the Americans," said one of the officials, Aleksi Härkönen of Finland, who chairs the eight-nation Arctic Council's key group of senior officials, who are charged with protecting a region warming faster than any other on Earth. Over the past year, the United States has helped draft the rulebook for implementing the Paris climate accord, signed international memoranda calling for global action to fight climate change, boosted funding for overseas clean energy projects, and contributed to global research on the dangers and causes of the Earth's warming. While the United States’ participation in international forums - including the Paris accord and the Arctic Council - has been reported, its continued, broad and constructive support for climate change efforts in these gatherings has not. This business-as-usual approach has surprised some of America’s foreign partners, along with some of Trump’s allies, who had expected the new administration to match its rhetoric with an obstructionist approach to combating climate change. "I am concerned that much of our climate policy remains on autopilot," complained Trump’s former energy adviser Myron Ebell, now a research director at the right-leaning Competitive Enterprise Institute, who said it reflects a failure by the administration to fill key positions and replace staffers who oppose the president's agenda. The US efforts abroad to tackle climate change have been counter-balanced by Trump's aggressive push at home to increase production of the fossil fuels scientists blame for global warming. He has also ordered a wide-ranging rollback of Obama-era climate regulations and appointed a self-described climate sceptic, Scott Pruitt, as the nation’s chief environmental regulator. And to be sure, none of the US dealings in international climate efforts since last year have committed the United States to any emissions cuts that would undermine Trump’s domestic energy agenda. The State Department - which handles the bulk of US climate policy abroad - told Reuters it was still developing its global warming policy under Trump. "The State Department is working with the White House and the interagency to further develop our approach to international climate change diplomacy," State Department spokesman Ambrose Sayles said in a statement before Trump sacked Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday. "In the meantime, we will continue to participate ... to ensure a level playing field that benefits and protects US interests, and to keep all options open for the President," Sayles said. Tillerson's departure leaves a question mark over the future of US climate policy abroad. Tillerson was in favour of the Paris accord, while his successor, Mike Pompeo, has expressed doubts about the science of climate change. Climate advocates say they hope Pompeo will be too distracted by tensions with Iran and North Korea to change the State Department’s approach to climate change. White House spokeswoman Kelly Love declined to comment. Trump announced last year that he was withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement to fight global warming, raising concerns among other parties to the deal that Washington might attempt to torpedo the accord or disengage from it completely. That hasn't happened. Washington sent a 40-strong delegation to talks in Bonn in November to help draft a new rulebook that will provide rules of the road for the 200 participating nations. It was a smaller delegation than Washington had sent to past meetings, but it still won praise from fellow delegates for its work. For example, Andrew Rakestraw - a climate negotiator for the State Department since 2013 - co-chaired discussions on how to ensure that the pledges by signatories are comparable and use the same accounting standards - a point seen as critical to the success of the accord. Nazhat Shameem Khan, chief negotiator for Fiji, which presided over the talks, said the United States delegation was "constructive and helpful." The UN’s climate chief, Patricia Espinosa, also called the US role constructive. Thomas Shannon, the State Department's chief climate negotiator in Bonn, did not respond to requests for comment. Rakestraw also did not respond to calls and emails requesting comment. A US source familiar with the US position at the talks, who asked not to be named, said that US delegates in Bonn were pushing an agenda that resembled those of past administrations - stressing that emerging economies like China follow the same rules as developed nations and meet international standards for monitoring and reporting emissions. There was one jarring note: Washington sponsored a side event to promote “clean coal.” Some other delegates said they were unhappy with this, as they wanted the talks to focus on renewable energies. Under the details of the accord, the United States cannot formally withdraw until 2020. The State Department’s delegations to the Arctic Council are also continuing their work in much the same way they did under President Barack Obama - acknowledging that warming is real and should be countered in planning everything from new shipping routes to the protection of indigenous peoples. Some US agencies are also still bolstering international efforts to fight climate change. The Overseas Private Investment Corporation, which seeks to advance US policy by financing foreign business ventures, doubled its support for solar projects in 2017 under a climate-friendly policy last updated by the Obama administration. And NASA, the US space agency, continues to research climate change, publish climate change data, and contribute to international reports, spokesman Stephen Cole said. Both OPIC and NASA are independent of the State Department, so would not be under Pompeo's sway. Scientists representing the United States in the international research say they have also been unfettered by the Trump administration, despite concerns early in the Trump presidency that the White House would seek to silence them or restrict their work. “There has been no pressure on US authors,” said one US scientist, who is now helping to write a United Nations report that will call for coal to be “phased out rapidly” to limit global warming - a direct clash with Trump's pro-coal agenda. The scientist asked not to be named because the draft report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), due to be released in October, is confidential. "Our US colleagues know that climate change is not a hoax," said one of the non-US authors of the same report, who also spoke on condition of anonymity. Christopher Field, a professor of environmental studies at Stanford University who co-chaired a 2014 IPCC report on the impacts of climate change, agreed: “I’ve not seen any indication that the climate denialism from Trump and other members of the administration has had any influence ... on the alignment of the US scientific community with the scientific consensus around the world." Still, scientists worry that while the Trump administration is not interfering with their research it is ignoring it. The Trump administration made no move to block an assessment by 300 experts last year that outlined the threats and causes of warming in the United States and concluded there is “no convincing alternative explanation” for climate change than human activity. "But then they haven't acknowledged the findings, nor changed their climate science denying stance,” said the US scientist involved in drafting the UN coal report.

Weathering Trump's scepticism, US officials still fighting global warming

Toys &#39;R&#39; Us Inc, the iconic toy retailer, will shutter or sell its stores in the United States after failing to find a buyer or reach a deal to restructure billions in debt, putting at risk about 30,000 jobs.

The closure is a blow to generations of consumers and hundreds of toy makers that sold their products at the chain&#39;s US stores, including Barbie maker Mattel Inc, board game company Hasbro Inc and other vendors like Lego.

&quot;This is a profoundly sad day for us as well as the millions of kids and families who we have served for the past 70 years,&quot; Chief Executive Officer Dave Brandon said.

With shoppers flocking to Amazon.com Inc and children choosing electronic gadgets over toys, Toys &#39;R&#39; Us has struggled to boost sales and service debt following a $6.6 billion leveraged buyout by private equity firms in 2005.

Toys &#39;R&#39; Us said on Thursday it is seeking approval to liquidate inventory in its 735 US stores, which debtors anticipate will close by the end of this year.

It is in talks to sell 200 of those stores as part of a deal to sell its 80-odd stores in Canada.

For its operations in Asia and Central Europe, including Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the company will pursue a reorganization and sale process. The already announced administration of its UK business will continue, the company said.

The wind-down follows a bruising holiday season when the company failed to stay competitive and sales came in well below projections. The quarter accounts for 40 per cent of its annual net sales.

Toys &#39;R&#39; Us&#39; creditors said in a court filing that Target Corp, Walmart Inc and Amazon pricing toys at low-margins and a greater-than-expected decline in toy and gift card sales following its bankruptcy filing in September led to the weak performance in the quarter.

&quot;Even during recent store closeouts, Toys R Us failed to create any sense of excitement,&quot; said Neil Saunders, managing director of retail research firm GlobalData Retail. &quot;Its so-called heavy discounts remained well above the standard prices of many rivals.&quot;

Wayne, New Jersey-based Toys &#39;R&#39; Us was already in the process of closing one-fifth of its stores as part of an attempt to emerge from one of the largest ever bankruptcies by a speciality retailer.

In September, when the company operated more than 1,600 stores globally, with roughly 800 stores outside the United States, it got court permission to borrow more than $2 billion to start paying suppliers.

But efforts to keep the business going collapsed after lenders decided that in the absence of a clear reorganization plan, they could recover more in a liquidation by closing stores and raising money from merchandise sales.

The company&#39;s troubles mirror those of other mall-based retailers in the United States that have shut stores and fired employees in a bid to stay relevant.

More than 8,000 US retail stores closed in 2017, roughly double the average annual store closures in the previous decade, according to data from the International Council of Shopping Centers.

The disappearance of Toys &#39;R&#39; Us leaves a void for hundreds of toy makers that relied on the chain as a top customer alongside Walmart and Target.

Shares of Mattel and Hasbro tumbled last week on Toys &#39;R&#39; Us&#39; liquidation reports. Both rely on Toys &#39;R&#39; Us for roughly 10 per cent of their revenues, according to their 2016 annual reports.

Toys 'R' Us Inc will shutter or sell its stores in the US after failing to find a buyer or reach a deal to restructure billions in debt, putting at risk about 30,000 jobs

Toys 'R' Us Inc, the iconic toy retailer, will shutter or sell its stores in the United States after failing to find a buyer or reach a deal to restructure billions in debt, putting at risk about 30,000 jobs. The closure is a blow to generations of consumers and hundreds of toy makers that sold their products at the chain's US stores, including Barbie maker Mattel Inc, board game company Hasbro Inc and other vendors like Lego. "This is a profoundly sad day for us as well as the millions of kids and families who we have served for the past 70 years," Chief Executive Officer Dave Brandon said. With shoppers flocking to Amazon.com Inc and children choosing electronic gadgets over toys, Toys 'R' Us has struggled to boost sales and service debt following a $6.6 billion leveraged buyout by private equity firms in 2005. Toys 'R' Us said on Thursday it is seeking approval to liquidate inventory in its 735 US stores, which debtors anticipate will close by the end of this year. It is in talks to sell 200 of those stores as part of a deal to sell its 80-odd stores in Canada. For its operations in Asia and Central Europe, including Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the company will pursue a reorganization and sale process. The already announced administration of its UK business will continue, the company said. The wind-down follows a bruising holiday season when the company failed to stay competitive and sales came in well below projections. The quarter accounts for 40 per cent of its annual net sales. Toys 'R' Us' creditors said in a court filing that Target Corp, Walmart Inc and Amazon pricing toys at low-margins and a greater-than-expected decline in toy and gift card sales following its bankruptcy filing in September led to the weak performance in the quarter. "Even during recent store closeouts, Toys R Us failed to create any sense of excitement," said Neil Saunders, managing director of retail research firm GlobalData Retail. "Its so-called heavy discounts remained well above the standard prices of many rivals." Wayne, New Jersey-based Toys 'R' Us was already in the process of closing one-fifth of its stores as part of an attempt to emerge from one of the largest ever bankruptcies by a speciality retailer. In September, when the company operated more than 1,600 stores globally, with roughly 800 stores outside the United States, it got court permission to borrow more than $2 billion to start paying suppliers. But efforts to keep the business going collapsed after lenders decided that in the absence of a clear reorganization plan, they could recover more in a liquidation by closing stores and raising money from merchandise sales. The company's troubles mirror those of other mall-based retailers in the United States that have shut stores and fired employees in a bid to stay relevant. More than 8,000 US retail stores closed in 2017, roughly double the average annual store closures in the previous decade, according to data from the International Council of Shopping Centers. The disappearance of Toys 'R' Us leaves a void for hundreds of toy makers that relied on the chain as a top customer alongside Walmart and Target. Shares of Mattel and Hasbro tumbled last week on Toys 'R' Us' liquidation reports. Both rely on Toys 'R' Us for roughly 10 per cent of their revenues, according to their 2016 annual reports.

Toys 'R' Us goes out of business, leaving void for toy lovers

The United States on Thursday took its most notable action against Russia since Donald Trump became president, slapping sanctions on a group of Russian individuals and entities, including Moscow&#39;s intelligence services, for meddling in the 2016 US election and malicious cyber attacks.

Under pressure to act, the administration still deferred making a move targeting Russian government officials and oligarchs, those closest to Russian President Vladimir Putin.&nbsp;

Thursday&#39;s announcement marked the first time that the US government stated publicly that Russia had attempted to break into the American energy grid, which US security officials have longed warned may be vulnerable to debilitating cyber attacks from hostile adversaries.

Trump has faced fierce criticism in the United States for doing too little to punish Russia for the election meddling and other actions, and a special counsel is looking into whether Trump&#39;s campaign colluded with the Russians, an allegation the president denies.

Combined with the United States joining Britain in blaming Moscow for poisoning a former Russian spy in southern England, the actions represented another plunge in U.S.-Russian relations despite Trump&#39;s stated desire for improved ties.&nbsp;

&quot;The administration is confronting and countering malign Russian cyber activity, including their attempted interference in U.S. elections, destructive cyber-attacks, and intrusions targeting critical infrastructure,&quot; Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in announcing the new sanctions.

Trump has frequently questioned a January 2017 finding by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the 2016 campaign using hacking and propaganda in an effort eventually aimed at tilting the race in Trump&#39;s favor. Russia denies interfering in the election.

But Mnuchin was unequivocal in saying that Thursday&#39;s Treasury action &quot;counters Russia&#39;s continuing destabilizing activities, ranging from interference in the 2016 election to conducting destructive cyber-attacks.&quot;

A senior administration official told Reuters that Trump, who campaigned on warmer ties with Putin, has grown exasperated with Russian activity.

The Treasury Department aimed the sanctions at 19 Russian individuals and five groups. Sixteen of the Russian individuals and entities sanctioned were indicted on Feb. 16 as part of Mueller&#39;s criminal investigation. While Trump has frequently called the Russia probe a &quot;witch hunt,&quot; the new sanctions appear to affirm Mueller&#39;s investigative strategy.

Trump told reporters during a White House event with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar that &quot;it certainly looks like the Russians were behind&quot; the use of a nerve agent to attack Sergei Skripal, a former Russian double agent in England. Trump called it &quot;something that should never, ever happen, and we&#39;re taking it very seriously, as I think are many others.&quot;&nbsp;

Russian government hackers since at least March 2016 &quot;have also targeted U.S. government entities and multiple U.S. critical infrastructure sectors, including the energy, nuclear, commercial facilities, water, aviation, and critical manufacturing sectors,&quot; a Treasury Department statement said.

A senior administration told reporters on a conference call that Russian actors infiltrated parts of the U.S. energy sector.

&quot;We were able to identify where they were located within those business systems and remove them from those business systems,&quot; the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

&#39;DESTABILIZING ACTIVITIES&#39;

Mnuchin said there would be additional sanctions against Russian government officials and oligarchs &quot;for their destabilizing activities.&quot; Mnuchin did not give a time frame for those sanctions, which he said would sever the individuals&#39; access to the U.S. financial system.

The new sanctions also include Russian intelligence services, the Federal Security Service (FSB) and Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), and six individuals working on behalf of the GRU.

Thursday&#39;s action blocks all property of those targeted that is subject to U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits American citizens from engaging in transactions with them.&nbsp;

The Treasury Department said the sanctions were also meant to counter destructive cyber attacks including the NotPetya attack that cost billions of dollars in damage across Europe, Asia and the United States. The United States and Britain last month attributed that attack to the Russian military.&nbsp;

Mueller&#39;s indictment stated that Russians adopted false online personas to push divisive messages, traveled to the United States to collect intelligence and staged political rallies while posing as Americans.

 
Both Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Congress, which nearly unanimously passed a new sanctions bill against Russia last summer, had criticized Trump for not punishing Moscow. The Trump administration in January did not announce sanctions against Russia, for now, under the new law.&nbsp;

Republican Ed Royce, chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, welcomed the new sanctions as an important step. &quot;But more must be done,&quot; Royce said in a statement, promising that his committee would &quot;keep pushing to counter Russian aggression.&quot;

The Treasury Department said it would keep pressure on Russia for its ongoing efforts to destabilize Ukraine and occupy the Crimea region, as well as corruption and human rights abuses.

Under pressure to act, the Trump administration still deferred making a move targeting Russian govt officials and oligarchs, those closest to Putin.

The United States on Thursday took its most notable action against Russia since Donald Trump became president, slapping sanctions on a group of Russian individuals and entities, including Moscow's intelligence services, for meddling in the 2016 US election and malicious cyber attacks. Under pressure to act, the administration still deferred making a move targeting Russian government officials and oligarchs, those closest to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Thursday's announcement marked the first time that the US government stated publicly that Russia had attempted to break into the American energy grid, which US security officials have longed warned may be vulnerable to debilitating cyber attacks from hostile adversaries. Trump has faced fierce criticism in the United States for doing too little to punish Russia for the election meddling and other actions, and a special counsel is looking into whether Trump's campaign colluded with the Russians, an allegation the president denies. Combined with the United States joining Britain in blaming Moscow for poisoning a former Russian spy in southern England, the actions represented another plunge in U.S.-Russian relations despite Trump's stated desire for improved ties. "The administration is confronting and countering malign Russian cyber activity, including their attempted interference in U.S. elections, destructive cyber-attacks, and intrusions targeting critical infrastructure," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in announcing the new sanctions. Trump has frequently questioned a January 2017 finding by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the 2016 campaign using hacking and propaganda in an effort eventually aimed at tilting the race in Trump's favor. Russia denies interfering in the election. But Mnuchin was unequivocal in saying that Thursday's Treasury action "counters Russia's continuing destabilizing activities, ranging from interference in the 2016 election to conducting destructive cyber-attacks." A senior administration official told Reuters that Trump, who campaigned on warmer ties with Putin, has grown exasperated with Russian activity. The Treasury Department aimed the sanctions at 19 Russian individuals and five groups. Sixteen of the Russian individuals and entities sanctioned were indicted on Feb. 16 as part of Mueller's criminal investigation. While Trump has frequently called the Russia probe a "witch hunt," the new sanctions appear to affirm Mueller's investigative strategy. Trump told reporters during a White House event with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar that "it certainly looks like the Russians were behind" the use of a nerve agent to attack Sergei Skripal, a former Russian double agent in England. Trump called it "something that should never, ever happen, and we're taking it very seriously, as I think are many others." Russian government hackers since at least March 2016 "have also targeted U.S. government entities and multiple U.S. critical infrastructure sectors, including the energy, nuclear, commercial facilities, water, aviation, and critical manufacturing sectors," a Treasury Department statement said. A senior administration told reporters on a conference call that Russian actors infiltrated parts of the U.S. energy sector. "We were able to identify where they were located within those business systems and remove them from those business systems," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. 'DESTABILIZING ACTIVITIES' Mnuchin said there would be additional sanctions against Russian government officials and oligarchs "for their destabilizing activities." Mnuchin did not give a time frame for those sanctions, which he said would sever the individuals' access to the U.S. financial system. The new sanctions also include Russian intelligence services, the Federal Security Service (FSB) and Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), and six individuals working on behalf of the GRU. Thursday's action blocks all property of those targeted that is subject to U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits American citizens from engaging in transactions with them. The Treasury Department said the sanctions were also meant to counter destructive cyber attacks including the NotPetya attack that cost billions of dollars in damage across Europe, Asia and the United States. The United States and Britain last month attributed that attack to the Russian military. Mueller's indictment stated that Russians adopted false online personas to push divisive messages, traveled to the United States to collect intelligence and staged political rallies while posing as Americans. Both Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Congress, which nearly unanimously passed a new sanctions bill against Russia last summer, had criticized Trump for not punishing Moscow. The Trump administration in January did not announce sanctions against Russia, for now, under the new law. Republican Ed Royce, chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, welcomed the new sanctions as an important step. "But more must be done," Royce said in a statement, promising that his committee would "keep pushing to counter Russian aggression." The Treasury Department said it would keep pressure on Russia for its ongoing efforts to destabilize Ukraine and occupy the Crimea region, as well as corruption and human rights abuses.

US hits Russians with sanctions for election meddling, cyber attacks

Britain braced for a showdown with Russia on Wednesday after a midnight deadline set by Prime Minister Theresa May expired without an explanation from Moscow about how a Soviet-era nerve toxin was used to strike down a former Russian double agent.

The United States, European Union and NATO supported Britain after May said it was &quot;highly likely&quot; that Russia was behind the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter with Novichok, a nerve agent developed by the Soviet military.

Russia, which denied any involvement, said it was not responding to May&#39;s ultimatum until it received samples of the nerve agent, effectively challenging Britain to show what sanctions it would impose against Russian interests.

&quot;Moscow will not respond to London&rsquo;s ultimatum until it receives samples of the chemical substance,&quot; Russia&#39;s embassy in London said. &quot;Any threat to take punitive measures against Russia will meet with a response.&quot;

Britain could call on Western allies for a coordinated response, freeze the assets of Russian business leaders and officials, limit their access to London&#39;s financial centre, expel diplomats and even launch targeted cyber attacks.

It may also cut back participation in the soccer World Cup, which Russia is hosting in June and July.

Russia is due to hold a presidential election on Sunday in which Vladimir Putin, himself a former KGB spy, is expected to coast to a fourth term in the Kremlin. He was first installed as Kremlin chief by Boris Yeltsin on the last day of 1999.

US President Donald Trump told May by telephone that Russia &quot;must provide unambiguous answers regarding how this chemical weapon, developed in Russia, came to be used in the United Kingdom,&quot; the White House said.

The White House said Trump and May &quot;agreed on the need for consequences for those who use these heinous weapons in flagrant violation of international norms.&quot;

A British readout of the conversation said, &quot;President Trump said the US was with the UK all the way.&quot;

May is expected to outline Britain&#39;s response in the British parliament on Wednesday after a meeting of Britain&#39;s National Security Council.

Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were found slumped unconscious on a bench outside a shopping centre in the genteel southern English city of Salisbury on March 4. They have been in a critical condition in hospital ever since.

Scientists at Britain&#39;s military research laboratory at Porton Down identified the poison as a military-grade nerve agent from a group of chemicals known as Novichok, which was first developed in the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s.

May said that either the Russian state had poisoned Skripal, a former officer with Russia&#39;s GRU military intelligence, or that Russia had somehow lost control of its chemical weapons. Putin said last year that it had destroyed its last stockpiles of such weapons.

A Russian chemist who helped develop the nerve agent said only the Russian government could have carried out the attack with such a deadly and advanced toxin.

Vil Mirzayanov, 83, said he had no doubt that Putin was responsible, given that Russia maintains tight control over its Novichok stockpile and that the agent is too complicated for a non-state actor to have weaponised.

&ldquo;The Kremlin all the time, like all criminals, denying - it doesn&rsquo;t mean anything,&rdquo; Mirzayanov said in an interview in his home in Princeton, New Jersey, where he has lived in exile for more than 20 years.

Skripal betrayed dozens of Russian agents to British intelligence before being arrested in Moscow and later jailed in 2006. He was released under a spy swap deal in 2010 and took refuge in Britain.

Since emerging from the John le Carre world of high espionage and betrayal, Skripal lived modestly in Salisbury and kept out of the spotlight until he was found unconscious on Sunday.

A British policeman who was also affected by the nerve agent is now conscious in a serious but stable condition.

May said Russia had shown a pattern of aggression including the annexation of Crimea and the murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, who died in 2006 after drinking green tea laced with radioactive polonium-210.

A public inquiry found the killing of Litvinenko had probably been approved by Putin and carried out by two Russians, one of them a former KGB bodyguard who became a member of the Russian parliament. Both denied responsibility, as did Moscow.

Counter-terrorism officers began investigating the death of another Russian in Britain on Tuesday, although police said it was not thought to be linked to the attack on the Skripals.

Nikolai Glushkov, 68, who was an associate of late tycoon Boris Berezovsky, was found dead on Monday. Berezovsky was found dead in March 2013 with a scarf tied around his neck in the bathroom of his luxury mansion west of London.

Berezovsky&#39;s death, which police and forensic experts concluded was suicide although a coroner said he could not rule out foul play, is one of 14 deaths in Britain linked to the Russian state in recent years, which interior minister Amber Rudd said authorities would look at again.

The United States, European Union and NATO supported Britain after May said it was "highly likely" that Russia was behind the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter with Novichok, a nerve agent developed by the Soviet military

Britain braced for a showdown with Russia on Wednesday after a midnight deadline set by Prime Minister Theresa May expired without an explanation from Moscow about how a Soviet-era nerve toxin was used to strike down a former Russian double agent. The United States, European Union and NATO supported Britain after May said it was "highly likely" that Russia was behind the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter with Novichok, a nerve agent developed by the Soviet military. Russia, which denied any involvement, said it was not responding to May's ultimatum until it received samples of the nerve agent, effectively challenging Britain to show what sanctions it would impose against Russian interests. "Moscow will not respond to London’s ultimatum until it receives samples of the chemical substance," Russia's embassy in London said. "Any threat to take punitive measures against Russia will meet with a response." Britain could call on Western allies for a coordinated response, freeze the assets of Russian business leaders and officials, limit their access to London's financial centre, expel diplomats and even launch targeted cyber attacks. It may also cut back participation in the soccer World Cup, which Russia is hosting in June and July. Russia is due to hold a presidential election on Sunday in which Vladimir Putin, himself a former KGB spy, is expected to coast to a fourth term in the Kremlin. He was first installed as Kremlin chief by Boris Yeltsin on the last day of 1999. US President Donald Trump told May by telephone that Russia "must provide unambiguous answers regarding how this chemical weapon, developed in Russia, came to be used in the United Kingdom," the White House said. The White House said Trump and May "agreed on the need for consequences for those who use these heinous weapons in flagrant violation of international norms." A British readout of the conversation said, "President Trump said the US was with the UK all the way." May is expected to outline Britain's response in the British parliament on Wednesday after a meeting of Britain's National Security Council. Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were found slumped unconscious on a bench outside a shopping centre in the genteel southern English city of Salisbury on March 4. They have been in a critical condition in hospital ever since. Scientists at Britain's military research laboratory at Porton Down identified the poison as a military-grade nerve agent from a group of chemicals known as Novichok, which was first developed in the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s. May said that either the Russian state had poisoned Skripal, a former officer with Russia's GRU military intelligence, or that Russia had somehow lost control of its chemical weapons. Putin said last year that it had destroyed its last stockpiles of such weapons. A Russian chemist who helped develop the nerve agent said only the Russian government could have carried out the attack with such a deadly and advanced toxin. Vil Mirzayanov, 83, said he had no doubt that Putin was responsible, given that Russia maintains tight control over its Novichok stockpile and that the agent is too complicated for a non-state actor to have weaponised. “The Kremlin all the time, like all criminals, denying - it doesn’t mean anything,” Mirzayanov said in an interview in his home in Princeton, New Jersey, where he has lived in exile for more than 20 years. Skripal betrayed dozens of Russian agents to British intelligence before being arrested in Moscow and later jailed in 2006. He was released under a spy swap deal in 2010 and took refuge in Britain. Since emerging from the John le Carre world of high espionage and betrayal, Skripal lived modestly in Salisbury and kept out of the spotlight until he was found unconscious on Sunday. A British policeman who was also affected by the nerve agent is now conscious in a serious but stable condition. May said Russia had shown a pattern of aggression including the annexation of Crimea and the murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, who died in 2006 after drinking green tea laced with radioactive polonium-210. A public inquiry found the killing of Litvinenko had probably been approved by Putin and carried out by two Russians, one of them a former KGB bodyguard who became a member of the Russian parliament. Both denied responsibility, as did Moscow. Counter-terrorism officers began investigating the death of another Russian in Britain on Tuesday, although police said it was not thought to be linked to the attack on the Skripals. Nikolai Glushkov, 68, who was an associate of late tycoon Boris Berezovsky, was found dead on Monday. Berezovsky was found dead in March 2013 with a scarf tied around his neck in the bathroom of his luxury mansion west of London. Berezovsky's death, which police and forensic experts concluded was suicide although a coroner said he could not rule out foul play, is one of 14 deaths in Britain linked to the Russian state in recent years, which interior minister Amber Rudd said authorities would look at again.

Britain and Russia brace for showdown as deadline expires for nerve attack explanation

Finland is the world&#39;s happiest country, according to an annual survey issued on Wednesday that put Burundi at the bottom of the happiness index and found Americans were getting less happy even as their country became richer.

The U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network&#39;s (SDSN) 2018 World Happiness Report ranked 156 countries according to their scores for things such as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, social freedom, generosity and absence of corruption.

Finland, rose from fifth place last year to oust Norway from the top spot. The 2018 top-10, as ever dominated by the Nordics, is: Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Netherlands Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and Australia.

The United States came in at 18th, down from 14th place last year. Britain was 19th and the United Arab Emirates 20th.

One chapter of the 170-page report is dedicated to emerging health problems such as obesity, depression and the opioid crisis, particularly in the United States where the prevalence of all three has grown faster than in most other countries.

While income per capita has increased markedly in the United States over the last half century, the happiness index has been hit by weakened social support networks, a rise in perception of corruption in government and business and declining confidence in public institutions.

&quot;We obviously have a social crisis in the United States: more inequality, less trust, less confidence in government,&quot; the head of the SDSN, Professor Jeffrey Sachs of New York&#39;s Columbia University, told Reuters as the report was launched at the Vatican&#39;s Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

&quot;It&#39;s pretty stark right now. The signs are not good for the U.S. It is getting richer and richer but not getting happier.&quot;

Asked how the current political situation in the United States could affect future happiness reports, Sachs said:

&quot;Time will tell, but I would say that in general that when confidence in government is low, when perceptions of corruption are high, inequality is high and health conditions are worsening ... that is not conducive to good feelings.&quot;

For the first time since it was started in 2012, the report, which uses a variety of polling organisations, official figures and research methods, ranked the happiness of foreign-born immigrants in 117 countries.

Finland took top honours in that category too, giving the country a statistical double-gold status.

The foreign-born were least happy in Syria, which has been mired in civil war for seven years.

&quot;The most striking finding of the report is the remarkable consistency between the happiness of immigrants and the locally born,&quot; said Professor John Helliwell of Canada&#39;s University of British Columbia.

&quot;Although immigrants come from countries with very different levels of happiness, their reported life evaluations converge towards those of other residents in their new countries,&quot; he said.

&quot;Those who move to happier countries gain, while those who move to less happy countries lose.&quot;

Finland is the world's happiest country. Burundi is the unhappiest. And Americans are getting less happy even as their country becomes richer

Finland is the world's happiest country, according to an annual survey issued on Wednesday that put Burundi at the bottom of the happiness index and found Americans were getting less happy even as their country became richer. The U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network's (SDSN) 2018 World Happiness Report ranked 156 countries according to their scores for things such as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, social freedom, generosity and absence of corruption. Finland, rose from fifth place last year to oust Norway from the top spot. The 2018 top-10, as ever dominated by the Nordics, is: Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Netherlands Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and Australia. The United States came in at 18th, down from 14th place last year. Britain was 19th and the United Arab Emirates 20th. One chapter of the 170-page report is dedicated to emerging health problems such as obesity, depression and the opioid crisis, particularly in the United States where the prevalence of all three has grown faster than in most other countries. While income per capita has increased markedly in the United States over the last half century, the happiness index has been hit by weakened social support networks, a rise in perception of corruption in government and business and declining confidence in public institutions. "We obviously have a social crisis in the United States: more inequality, less trust, less confidence in government," the head of the SDSN, Professor Jeffrey Sachs of New York's Columbia University, told Reuters as the report was launched at the Vatican's Pontifical Academy of Sciences. "It's pretty stark right now. The signs are not good for the U.S. It is getting richer and richer but not getting happier." Asked how the current political situation in the United States could affect future happiness reports, Sachs said: "Time will tell, but I would say that in general that when confidence in government is low, when perceptions of corruption are high, inequality is high and health conditions are worsening ... that is not conducive to good feelings." For the first time since it was started in 2012, the report, which uses a variety of polling organisations, official figures and research methods, ranked the happiness of foreign-born immigrants in 117 countries. Finland took top honours in that category too, giving the country a statistical double-gold status. The foreign-born were least happy in Syria, which has been mired in civil war for seven years. "The most striking finding of the report is the remarkable consistency between the happiness of immigrants and the locally born," said Professor John Helliwell of Canada's University of British Columbia. "Although immigrants come from countries with very different levels of happiness, their reported life evaluations converge towards those of other residents in their new countries," he said. "Those who move to happier countries gain, while those who move to less happy countries lose."

This the world's happiest country, the UN says

&nbsp; 
Once seen as relatively secure, the sprawling Afghan capital of Kabul is becoming the main focus of an intensified US-backed battle against the Taliban this year after a series of high-profile attacks exposed major gaps in security.

&quot;Kabul is our main effort. To harden Kabul, to protect the people of Kabul and the international community that are here,&quot; US. General John Nicholson, the top US&nbsp;commander in Afghanistan, told a group of reporters on Wednesday.

The remarks underscored the high degree of concern about the Taliban&#39;s intent to stage high-profile attacks in Kabul, which are aimed at undermining the Afghan government and international resolve after 16 years of war.

They are also a reminder that while US&nbsp;and Afghan officials speak with growing confidence about the prospects of peace talks with elements of the Taliban, the military is also making long-term preparations for an extended conflict, including in the capital.

Nicholson said Kabul&#39;s exponential growth from about 500,000 people in 2001 to 5 million today had created a haphazard sprawl that was hard to secure. US&nbsp;intelligence agencies were helping Afghanistan map the city so police and soldiers can better design barriers and checkpoints.

&quot;I&#39;ll just be very candid. We have a lot of work to do,&quot; Nicholson said.

&quot;This growth at that rate has meant that there&#39;s a lot of sprawl. It&#39;s easy to get in and out of the city.&quot;

In the past year, insurgents have staged massive bombings in the Afghan capital, including one in January that killed more than 100 people and another in May 2017 near the German embassy.

No group claimed the May 2017 attack but Afghan and US&nbsp;officials blamed the Haqqani network, a violent militant group affiliated to the Taliban. The Taliban claimed the second attack but many officials say it bore the hallmarks of the Haqqanis, who the United States says enjoy safe haven in neighbouring Pakistan.

US President Donald Trump has piled pressure on Pakistan to crack down on the safe havens, announcing in January a suspension in US&nbsp;financial assistance to Islamabad.

&quot;Backchannel communication&quot;

Nicholson said the Afghan Army were taking over at least some of the once &quot;porous&quot; police checkpoints inside the city, and was training specialised soldiers to stand guard.

The goal was to establish an inner-ring of security along with an outer-ring of security, and clear everything in between.

A group of newly arriving US&nbsp;Army advisers would partner with some of the Afghan troops securing Kabul. Commandos would carry out intelligence-driven raids throughout the city, something Nicholson said was already ongoing.

The goal would be to eliminate Taliban strongholds as well as Taliban facilitators, which included criminal enterprises that, for a price, gave the insurgents shelter or weapons.

&quot;The Taliban are in the city,&quot; Nicholson said. &quot;So this is a process of deliberately clearing sections of the city. That&#39;s begun.&quot;

Nicholson&#39;s comments came during a trip to Afghanistan by US&nbsp;Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, whose delegation navigated some of Kabul&#39;s checkpoints and blast walls while moving between US&nbsp;military and Afghan government compounds on Tuesday, helicopters buzzing overhead.

Trump approved a more aggressive strategy last year that included more U.S. combat advisers and air strikes, and fighting is expected to pick up in the coming weeks.

Mattis said on Tuesday that the United States had seen signs of interest from elements of the Taliban insurgency about talks with Kabul to end the conflict.

Nicholson echoed that, noting there was more outreach than publicly known - including through &quot;backchannel&quot; intermediaries.

&quot;What you don&#39;t see in the news of course is all the backchannel communication that&#39;s going on at multiple levels, through the Gulf, from the Taliban leadership through various means, and so forth,&quot; he said.

&quot;So there&#39;s definitely an increase in the dialogue and the communication between the sides about reconciliation. And more than I&#39;ve seen in any of the previous times I&#39;ve been around this.&quot;

Still, it was unclear whether the latest prospects would prove any more fruitful than previous, frustrated attempts to move toward a negotiated end to America&#39;s longest war.

Taliban fighters still control large parts of the country and any new battlefield gains by US&nbsp;and US-backed Afghan forces cannot promise to overcome Afghanistan&#39;s yawning political divisions and entrenched corruption.

"Kabul is our main effort. To harden Kabul, to protect the people of Kabul and the international community that are here," US. General John Nicholson, the top US commander in Afghanistan, told a group of reporters on Wednesday.

Once seen as relatively secure, the sprawling Afghan capital of Kabul is becoming the main focus of an intensified US-backed battle against the Taliban this year after a series of high-profile attacks exposed major gaps in security. "Kabul is our main effort. To harden Kabul, to protect the people of Kabul and the international community that are here," US. General John Nicholson, the top US commander in Afghanistan, told a group of reporters on Wednesday. The remarks underscored the high degree of concern about the Taliban's intent to stage high-profile attacks in Kabul, which are aimed at undermining the Afghan government and international resolve after 16 years of war. They are also a reminder that while US and Afghan officials speak with growing confidence about the prospects of peace talks with elements of the Taliban, the military is also making long-term preparations for an extended conflict, including in the capital. Nicholson said Kabul's exponential growth from about 500,000 people in 2001 to 5 million today had created a haphazard sprawl that was hard to secure. US intelligence agencies were helping Afghanistan map the city so police and soldiers can better design barriers and checkpoints. "I'll just be very candid. We have a lot of work to do," Nicholson said. "This growth at that rate has meant that there's a lot of sprawl. It's easy to get in and out of the city." In the past year, insurgents have staged massive bombings in the Afghan capital, including one in January that killed more than 100 people and another in May 2017 near the German embassy. No group claimed the May 2017 attack but Afghan and US officials blamed the Haqqani network, a violent militant group affiliated to the Taliban. The Taliban claimed the second attack but many officials say it bore the hallmarks of the Haqqanis, who the United States says enjoy safe haven in neighbouring Pakistan. US President Donald Trump has piled pressure on Pakistan to crack down on the safe havens, announcing in January a suspension in US financial assistance to Islamabad. "Backchannel communication" Nicholson said the Afghan Army were taking over at least some of the once "porous" police checkpoints inside the city, and was training specialised soldiers to stand guard. The goal was to establish an inner-ring of security along with an outer-ring of security, and clear everything in between. A group of newly arriving US Army advisers would partner with some of the Afghan troops securing Kabul. Commandos would carry out intelligence-driven raids throughout the city, something Nicholson said was already ongoing. The goal would be to eliminate Taliban strongholds as well as Taliban facilitators, which included criminal enterprises that, for a price, gave the insurgents shelter or weapons. "The Taliban are in the city," Nicholson said. "So this is a process of deliberately clearing sections of the city. That's begun." Nicholson's comments came during a trip to Afghanistan by US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, whose delegation navigated some of Kabul's checkpoints and blast walls while moving between US military and Afghan government compounds on Tuesday, helicopters buzzing overhead. Trump approved a more aggressive strategy last year that included more U.S. combat advisers and air strikes, and fighting is expected to pick up in the coming weeks. Mattis said on Tuesday that the United States had seen signs of interest from elements of the Taliban insurgency about talks with Kabul to end the conflict. Nicholson echoed that, noting there was more outreach than publicly known - including through "backchannel" intermediaries. "What you don't see in the news of course is all the backchannel communication that's going on at multiple levels, through the Gulf, from the Taliban leadership through various means, and so forth," he said. "So there's definitely an increase in the dialogue and the communication between the sides about reconciliation. And more than I've seen in any of the previous times I've been around this." Still, it was unclear whether the latest prospects would prove any more fruitful than previous, frustrated attempts to move toward a negotiated end to America's longest war. Taliban fighters still control large parts of the country and any new battlefield gains by US and US-backed Afghan forces cannot promise to overcome Afghanistan's yawning political divisions and entrenched corruption.

US looks to protect Afghan capital against Taliban bombings

A two-pronged US push for action on Syria at the UN Security Council could prompt Russia to again use its veto, a move some diplomats see as a possible trigger for American strikes in Syria.

Russia has used its veto power 11 times to block action against its Syrian ally, shielding President Bashar al-Assad&#39;s government from sanctions, war crimes investigations and an inquiry into chemical weapons attacks.&nbsp;

Speculation about a 12th Russian veto on Syria is again rife after the United States on Monday put forward a draft resolution on a 30-day ceasefire in Eastern Ghouta and Damascus.

The move was in response to the failure of a UN-approved humanitarian ceasefire to take hold despite backing from Russia, which is helping Syria&#39;s offensive in Eastern Ghouta, a rebel enclave on the outskirts of the capital.

The operation has reportedly killed more than 1,100 civilians since it was launched in mid-February.

A separate US-drafted measure to set up an inquiry into chemical weapons attacks is under negotiation, but diplomats said talks with Russia had hit a wall.

With two measures on the table, US Ambassador Nikki Haley has warned that the United States is ready to act in Syria &quot;if we must&quot; to address the use of chemical weapons and &quot;inhuman suffering.&quot;

&quot;When the international community consistently fails to act, there are times when states are compelled to take their own action,&quot; Haley said on Monday.

&quot;We also warn any nation that is determined to impose its will through chemical attacks and inhuman suffering, most especially the outlaw Syrian regime: the United States remains prepared to act if we must.&quot;

It remains unclear when the United States will put its draft resolutions up for a vote at the council, which is increasingly frustrated by its inability to change the course of the war in Syria.

- Deja vu - 
Haley&#39;s threat was a repeat of the warning delivered to the council in April last year, just before President Donald Trump ordered missile strikes on a Syrian air base over the sarin gas attack on the opposition-held village of Khan Sheikhun.

UN diplomats are openly talking about &quot;deja vu&quot; as the United States again signals that it is considering military action in Syria.

The threats are ratcheting up pressure on Russia.

&quot;The Russians are feeling the heat. They are afraid that the Americans might re-engage in Syria in a more robust way,&quot; a council diplomat said on condition of anonymity.

Another council diplomat pointed to the anniversary of the Khan Sheikhun attack on April 4 as a possible timeframe for US action.

&quot;The Trump administration is resorting to a naming-and-shaming strategy on Russia at the Security Council,&quot; said Nicholas Heras, Syria expert at the Washington-based Center for a New American Security.

&quot;This is the beginning of a larger discussion with Russia about what will happen with other areas in the country,&quot; in particular the southwest where a de-escalation zone has been set up by the United States, Jordan and Russia, said Heras.

&quot;What the Trump team is doing now is initial posturing: It&#39;s saying: &#39;What you are doing in Ghouta, don&#39;t do it anywhere else. If you try to do it anywhere else, there will be consequences.&#39;&quot;

Haley&#39;s warning drew a strong response from Moscow on Tuesday.

After last year&#39;s US strike on the Shayrat air base, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that &quot;if a new strike of this kind takes place, the consequences will be very serious.&quot;

Russia&#39;s head of the general staff Valery Gerasimov warned of &quot;retaliatory measures&quot; if any Russian serviceman is hit in a US strike.

Russia has military staff on the ground helping the Syrian offensive in Eastern Ghouta, which lies near the capital of Damascus.

Russia has used its veto power 11 times to block action against its Syrian ally, shielding President Bashar al-Assad's government from sanctions

A two-pronged US push for action on Syria at the UN Security Council could prompt Russia to again use its veto, a move some diplomats see as a possible trigger for American strikes in Syria. Russia has used its veto power 11 times to block action against its Syrian ally, shielding President Bashar al-Assad's government from sanctions, war crimes investigations and an inquiry into chemical weapons attacks. Speculation about a 12th Russian veto on Syria is again rife after the United States on Monday put forward a draft resolution on a 30-day ceasefire in Eastern Ghouta and Damascus. The move was in response to the failure of a UN-approved humanitarian ceasefire to take hold despite backing from Russia, which is helping Syria's offensive in Eastern Ghouta, a rebel enclave on the outskirts of the capital. The operation has reportedly killed more than 1,100 civilians since it was launched in mid-February. A separate US-drafted measure to set up an inquiry into chemical weapons attacks is under negotiation, but diplomats said talks with Russia had hit a wall. With two measures on the table, US Ambassador Nikki Haley has warned that the United States is ready to act in Syria "if we must" to address the use of chemical weapons and "inhuman suffering." "When the international community consistently fails to act, there are times when states are compelled to take their own action," Haley said on Monday. "We also warn any nation that is determined to impose its will through chemical attacks and inhuman suffering, most especially the outlaw Syrian regime: the United States remains prepared to act if we must." It remains unclear when the United States will put its draft resolutions up for a vote at the council, which is increasingly frustrated by its inability to change the course of the war in Syria. - Deja vu - Haley's threat was a repeat of the warning delivered to the council in April last year, just before President Donald Trump ordered missile strikes on a Syrian air base over the sarin gas attack on the opposition-held village of Khan Sheikhun. UN diplomats are openly talking about "deja vu" as the United States again signals that it is considering military action in Syria. The threats are ratcheting up pressure on Russia. "The Russians are feeling the heat. They are afraid that the Americans might re-engage in Syria in a more robust way," a council diplomat said on condition of anonymity. Another council diplomat pointed to the anniversary of the Khan Sheikhun attack on April 4 as a possible timeframe for US action. "The Trump administration is resorting to a naming-and-shaming strategy on Russia at the Security Council," said Nicholas Heras, Syria expert at the Washington-based Center for a New American Security. "This is the beginning of a larger discussion with Russia about what will happen with other areas in the country," in particular the southwest where a de-escalation zone has been set up by the United States, Jordan and Russia, said Heras. "What the Trump team is doing now is initial posturing: It's saying: 'What you are doing in Ghouta, don't do it anywhere else. If you try to do it anywhere else, there will be consequences.'" Haley's warning drew a strong response from Moscow on Tuesday. After last year's US strike on the Shayrat air base, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that "if a new strike of this kind takes place, the consequences will be very serious." Russia's head of the general staff Valery Gerasimov warned of "retaliatory measures" if any Russian serviceman is hit in a US strike. Russia has military staff on the ground helping the Syrian offensive in Eastern Ghouta, which lies near the capital of Damascus.

Would a Russian veto at the UN trigger US strikes on Syria?

The United States on Monday warned it was ready to act in Syria if needed to end chemical attacks and &quot;inhuman suffering&quot; as it pushed for a new 30-day ceasefire in Eastern Ghouta.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley told the UN Security Council that a ceasefire approved two weeks ago &quot;has failed&quot; and circulated a new draft resolution calling for a 30-day truce in the rebel enclave and Damascus.

&quot;This is no ceasefire. This is the Assad regime, Iran, and Russia continuing to wage war against their political opponents,&quot; Haley said.

The US ambassador recalled that President Donald Trump had ordered missile strikes on a Syrian air base in April last year in retaliation for a sarin gas attack blamed on President Bashar al-Assad&#39;s forces.

&quot;We also warn any nation that is determined to impose its will through chemical attacks and inhuman suffering, most especially the outlaw Syrian regime: the United States remains prepared to act if we must,&quot; Haley said.

&quot;It is not the path we prefer, but it is a path we have demonstrated we will take, and we are prepared to take again,&quot; Haley said.

&quot;When the international community consistently fails to act, there are times when states are compelled to take their own action.&quot;

The US-drafted text seen by AFP would decide on a 30-day cessation of hostilities throughout Eastern Ghouta and Damascus City to begin immediately upon adoption.

The draft resolution would allow &quot;safe, unimpeded and sustained access&quot; for humanitarian aid convoys and &quot;safe, unconditional, medical evacuations in Eastern Ghouta.&quot;

A Syrian opposition representative told the council at a separate meeting that military action was a feasible option to stop the violence and force the Syrian government to the negotiating table.

Hadi al-Bahra, of the Syrian negotiation commission, said &quot;the threat, and if necessary use of limited military action&quot; was necessary to deter violations of the ceasefire. On Monday, Syrian forces pounded two rebel towns in Eastern Ghouta, pressing on with a Russia-backed offensive that has so far allowed government fighters to retake nearly 60 percent of the enclave.

At least 1,162 civilians have been killed, including 241 children in the nearly month-long offensive, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

More than 1,000 people, including many children, are in urgent need of evacuation, according to the United Nations.

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia hit back at the United States and its allies for &quot;doing nothing but constantly blaming the Syrian regime and putting demands on Russia.&quot;

&quot;The government of Syria has every right to try to remove the threat to the safety of its citizens,&quot; the Russian ambassador said.

&quot;The suburbs of Damascus cannot remain a hotbed of terrorism.&quot;

The ceasefire resolution was never intended to put in place an immediate truce, he said.

&quot;What we are talking about is a preliminary agreement among the parties as a preconditon for sustained de-escalation in all difficult areas of Syria, not only Eastern Ghouta,&quot; he said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the council that air strikes, shelling and ground offensives had intensified in Eastern Ghouta since the ceasefire resolution was adopted on February 24.

French Ambassador Francois Delattre piled pressure on Russia to halt operations and push the Syrian government to end its offensive, saying &quot;Russia can stop the bloodbath.&quot;

&quot;We all know that Russia has not been able or willing to stop this military offensive yet,&quot; he told reporters ahead of the meeting.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley told the UN Security Council that a ceasefire approved two weeks ago 'has failed'

The United States on Monday warned it was ready to act in Syria if needed to end chemical attacks and "inhuman suffering" as it pushed for a new 30-day ceasefire in Eastern Ghouta. US Ambassador Nikki Haley told the UN Security Council that a ceasefire approved two weeks ago "has failed" and circulated a new draft resolution calling for a 30-day truce in the rebel enclave and Damascus. "This is no ceasefire. This is the Assad regime, Iran, and Russia continuing to wage war against their political opponents," Haley said. The US ambassador recalled that President Donald Trump had ordered missile strikes on a Syrian air base in April last year in retaliation for a sarin gas attack blamed on President Bashar al-Assad's forces. "We also warn any nation that is determined to impose its will through chemical attacks and inhuman suffering, most especially the outlaw Syrian regime: the United States remains prepared to act if we must," Haley said. "It is not the path we prefer, but it is a path we have demonstrated we will take, and we are prepared to take again," Haley said. "When the international community consistently fails to act, there are times when states are compelled to take their own action." The US-drafted text seen by AFP would decide on a 30-day cessation of hostilities throughout Eastern Ghouta and Damascus City to begin immediately upon adoption. The draft resolution would allow "safe, unimpeded and sustained access" for humanitarian aid convoys and "safe, unconditional, medical evacuations in Eastern Ghouta." A Syrian opposition representative told the council at a separate meeting that military action was a feasible option to stop the violence and force the Syrian government to the negotiating table. Hadi al-Bahra, of the Syrian negotiation commission, said "the threat, and if necessary use of limited military action" was necessary to deter violations of the ceasefire. On Monday, Syrian forces pounded two rebel towns in Eastern Ghouta, pressing on with a Russia-backed offensive that has so far allowed government fighters to retake nearly 60 percent of the enclave. At least 1,162 civilians have been killed, including 241 children in the nearly month-long offensive, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. More than 1,000 people, including many children, are in urgent need of evacuation, according to the United Nations. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia hit back at the United States and its allies for "doing nothing but constantly blaming the Syrian regime and putting demands on Russia." "The government of Syria has every right to try to remove the threat to the safety of its citizens," the Russian ambassador said. "The suburbs of Damascus cannot remain a hotbed of terrorism." The ceasefire resolution was never intended to put in place an immediate truce, he said. "What we are talking about is a preliminary agreement among the parties as a preconditon for sustained de-escalation in all difficult areas of Syria, not only Eastern Ghouta," he said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the council that air strikes, shelling and ground offensives had intensified in Eastern Ghouta since the ceasefire resolution was adopted on February 24. French Ambassador Francois Delattre piled pressure on Russia to halt operations and push the Syrian government to end its offensive, saying "Russia can stop the bloodbath." "We all know that Russia has not been able or willing to stop this military offensive yet," he told reporters ahead of the meeting.

US threatens to act in Syria as it pushes new UN ceasefire

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/hillary-clinton-arrives-on-three-day-private-visit-to-india-35487" target="_blank">Hillary Clinton who visited India for a&nbsp;three-day private visit</a> to Madhya Pradesh said that&nbsp; United States did not &ldquo;deserve&rdquo; Donald Trump&rsquo;s presidency and these are &ldquo;perilous times.&rdquo;

Clinton said this while addressing an audience during the weekend in Mumbai.

She said that the Republican president has &ldquo;quite an affinity for dictators&rdquo; and Trump &ldquo;really likes their authoritarian posturing and behavior.&rdquo;&nbsp;

She also added that she thinks it&rsquo;s &ldquo;more than that&rdquo; with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia.

Clinton also targetted people who supported Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential elections.

While speaking at a media event in Mumbai she had said those who supported Trump did so because they did not like black people getting rights, women getting jobs or Indian-American succeeding more than them.

Clinton was recently in India on a business tour.

&nbsp;

While speaking at a media event in Mumbai she had said those who supported Trump did so because they did not like black people getting rights, women getting jobs or Indian-American succeeding more than them

Hillary Clinton who visited India for a three-day private visit to Madhya Pradesh said that United States did not “deserve” Donald Trump’s presidency and these are “perilous times.” Clinton said this while addressing an audience during the weekend in Mumbai. She said that the Republican president has “quite an affinity for dictators” and Trump “really likes their authoritarian posturing and behavior.” She also added that she thinks it’s “more than that” with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia. Clinton also targetted people who supported Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential elections. While speaking at a media event in Mumbai she had said those who supported Trump did so because they did not like black people getting rights, women getting jobs or Indian-American succeeding more than them. Clinton was recently in India on a business tour.

United States did not 'deserve' Donald Trump's presidency: Hillary Clinton

Elements of the Taliban are open to talks with the Afghan government, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Tuesday as he arrived in Kabul on an unannounced visit.

Mattis flew into the war-torn city two weeks after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani unveiled a plan to open peace talks with the Taliban, Afghanistan`s biggest militant group.

The insurgents have so far given no formal response to Kabul`s offer for negotiations, but Mattis said some Taliban leaders have expressed an interest in the discussions.

&quot;It may not be that the whole Taliban comes over in one fell swoop, that would be a bridge too far, but there are elements of the Taliban clearly interested in talking to the Afghan government,&quot; &nbsp;he told reporters aboard a military jet.

Ghani`s peace plan includes eventually recognising the Taliban as a political party.

The group has said it is prepared to negotiate, but only with the United States and not with the Kabul government.

The Taliban last week described the Afghan government as &quot;illegitimate&quot; and its peace process efforts as &quot;deceptive&quot;, in a statement calling for a boycott of an Islamic scholars` conference in Jakarta.&nbsp;

&quot;Right now we want the Afghans to lead and to provide the substance of the reconciliation effort,&quot; Mattis said. Thanks to the political process, Mattis said America is now looking towards a victory in Afghanistan after more than 16 years of conflict.

&quot;What does that victory look like? It`s a country whose own people and their own security forces handle law enforcement and any threats... certainly with international support for some years to come,&quot; he said.

The US has renewed its focus on Afghanistan after years of drawdowns under former president Barack Obama and talk by top US generals of &quot;not winning&quot; and of a &quot;stalemate&quot; in the seemingly intractable conflict.

&quot;It`s all working to achieve a political reconciliation, not a military victory,&quot; Mattis said.&nbsp;

&quot;The victory will be a political reconciliation.&quot;

As part of the so-called South Asia Strategy, President Donald Trump last year ordered the increased bombing of Taliban targets - including drug-making labs and training camps.

More than 3,000 additional US forces have also arrived in Afghanistan to boost the training and advising of local troops.

Approximately 14,000 American forces are currently in Afghanistan, up from a low of about 8,500 when Obama left office.

Trump`s strategy has been a &quot;game changer&quot; for Afghanistan, Ghani told Mattis in a meeting at the presidential palace that also involved Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and Defence Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami.

&quot;It has forced every actor to re-examine their assumptions. Some of that re-examination is likely to lead to the intensification of conflict in the short term but the re-examination is what the people of Afghanistan have been waiting for 40 years,&quot; he said.

Ghani`s offer of peace talks comes as civilian casualties have soared in recent months, with the Taliban increasingly targeting towns and cities in response to Trump`s more aggressive military policy.

The Taliban claimed 472 attacks in January alone, the Washington-based terrorism research group TRAC said - an astonishing number given that the traditional fighting season does not usually start until freezing temperatures have subsided in the spring.

Mattis said the jump in attacks on civilians was an indication that a pressured Taliban is unable to conduct broader, ground-taking operations.

The Afghan security forces were able to stop some attacks, Mattis said, though he noted he wanted to see them shift to a more &quot;offensive mindset&quot; in the coming months.

Mattis`s surprise Afghan visit, his third as Pentagon chief, was kept under tight wraps after a security incident during his last trip in September when insurgents shelled Kabul`s airport hours after he arrived.

Mattis also said he had seen some changes in Pakistan`s behaviour since Trump blasted the country last year for harbouring the Taliban.

&quot;There are operations by the Pakistan military that are helping right now, ongoing as we speak,&quot; he said.

"It may not be that the whole Taliban comes over in one fell swoop, that would be a bridge too far, but there are elements of the Taliban clearly interested in talking to the Afghan government," said Mattis

Elements of the Taliban are open to talks with the Afghan government, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Tuesday as he arrived in Kabul on an unannounced visit. Mattis flew into the war-torn city two weeks after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani unveiled a plan to open peace talks with the Taliban, Afghanistan`s biggest militant group. The insurgents have so far given no formal response to Kabul`s offer for negotiations, but Mattis said some Taliban leaders have expressed an interest in the discussions. "It may not be that the whole Taliban comes over in one fell swoop, that would be a bridge too far, but there are elements of the Taliban clearly interested in talking to the Afghan government," he told reporters aboard a military jet. Ghani`s peace plan includes eventually recognising the Taliban as a political party. The group has said it is prepared to negotiate, but only with the United States and not with the Kabul government. The Taliban last week described the Afghan government as "illegitimate" and its peace process efforts as "deceptive", in a statement calling for a boycott of an Islamic scholars` conference in Jakarta. "Right now we want the Afghans to lead and to provide the substance of the reconciliation effort," Mattis said. Thanks to the political process, Mattis said America is now looking towards a victory in Afghanistan after more than 16 years of conflict. "What does that victory look like? It`s a country whose own people and their own security forces handle law enforcement and any threats... certainly with international support for some years to come," he said. The US has renewed its focus on Afghanistan after years of drawdowns under former president Barack Obama and talk by top US generals of "not winning" and of a "stalemate" in the seemingly intractable conflict. "It`s all working to achieve a political reconciliation, not a military victory," Mattis said. "The victory will be a political reconciliation." As part of the so-called South Asia Strategy, President Donald Trump last year ordered the increased bombing of Taliban targets - including drug-making labs and training camps. More than 3,000 additional US forces have also arrived in Afghanistan to boost the training and advising of local troops. Approximately 14,000 American forces are currently in Afghanistan, up from a low of about 8,500 when Obama left office. Trump`s strategy has been a "game changer" for Afghanistan, Ghani told Mattis in a meeting at the presidential palace that also involved Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and Defence Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami. "It has forced every actor to re-examine their assumptions. Some of that re-examination is likely to lead to the intensification of conflict in the short term but the re-examination is what the people of Afghanistan have been waiting for 40 years," he said. Ghani`s offer of peace talks comes as civilian casualties have soared in recent months, with the Taliban increasingly targeting towns and cities in response to Trump`s more aggressive military policy. The Taliban claimed 472 attacks in January alone, the Washington-based terrorism research group TRAC said - an astonishing number given that the traditional fighting season does not usually start until freezing temperatures have subsided in the spring. Mattis said the jump in attacks on civilians was an indication that a pressured Taliban is unable to conduct broader, ground-taking operations. The Afghan security forces were able to stop some attacks, Mattis said, though he noted he wanted to see them shift to a more "offensive mindset" in the coming months. Mattis`s surprise Afghan visit, his third as Pentagon chief, was kept under tight wraps after a security incident during his last trip in September when insurgents shelled Kabul`s airport hours after he arrived. Mattis also said he had seen some changes in Pakistan`s behaviour since Trump blasted the country last year for harbouring the Taliban. "There are operations by the Pakistan military that are helping right now, ongoing as we speak," he said.

Mattis in Kabul, says elements in Taliban open to peace talks

The Russian military will respond to a US&nbsp;strike on Syria, targeting any missiles and launchers involved in such an attack, the RIA news agency reported on Tuesday.

RIA cited Valery Gerasimov, head of the General Staff, as saying that Moscow would retaliate if the lives of Russian servicemen in Syria were threatened.

Valery Gerasimov, head of the General Staff, said that Moscow would retaliate if the lives of Russian servicemen in Syria were threatened

The Russian military will respond to a US strike on Syria, targeting any missiles and launchers involved in such an attack, the RIA news agency reported on Tuesday. RIA cited Valery Gerasimov, head of the General Staff, as saying that Moscow would retaliate if the lives of Russian servicemen in Syria were threatened.

Russian military says will respond if US strikes Syria

Britain will hold new emergency talks today into the brazen nerve agent poisoning of a Russian former double agent on its soil, after the US and NATO backed London in implicating Moscow in the assassination attempt.

As diplomatic tensions soar, Russia has denied accusations of its involvement in the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter in southwest England on March 4.

British Prime Minister Theresa May told parliament it was &quot;highly likely&quot; Moscow was behind the poisoning, giving Russia until the end of Tuesday to answer the accusations, in comments that have stoked speculation Britain could call on its allies to mount a joint response.

Both the United States and NATO issued statements in support of London, as concern mounts over the use of what May described as a military-grade nerve agent developed by Russia.

Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, remain in a critical condition in hospital after being found unconscious on a bench outside a shopping centre in Salisbury.

Emergency workers in biohazard suits have been deployed in the normally sleepy city, while some 500 people who may have come into minimal contact with the nerve agent were urged to wash clothes and belongings as a precaution.

May told British lawmakers that Moscow had previously used the group of nerve agents, known as Novichok, had a history of state-sponsored assassinations and viewed defectors such as Skripal as legitimate targets. 
&quot;The government has concluded that it is highly likely that Russia was responsible for the act against Sergei and Yulia Skripal,&quot; she said.

The prime minister added Britain had given Moscow until the end of Tuesday to disclose details of its development of the Novichok nerve agents programme to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

If there was &quot;no credible response&quot; it will conclude it was &quot;an unlawful use of force by the Russian State against the UK&quot;, she warned, and pledged to outline a &quot;full range of measures&quot; in response on Wednesday.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on Tuesday that Britain was consulting allies in NATO about possibly invoking its Article 5 principle of common defence.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the incident was &quot;of great concern&quot; to the alliance.

&quot;NATO is in touch with the UK authorities on this issue,&quot; he added in a statement issued by his office Monday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin brushed aside questions about Moscow&#39;s involvement in the attack in Britain, telling the BBC: &quot;First get to the bottom of it there and then we will discuss this.&quot;

Yesterday, Moscow rejected May&#39;s assertions, saying it was &quot;a circus show&quot; and an attempt to undermine trust ahead of its hosting of this summer&#39;s football World Cup.

The prime minister&#39;s statement was part of &quot;another information and political campaign based on provocation,&quot; said Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in comments carried by news agencies.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron &quot;offered his solidarity with the UK&quot; in a phone call with May.

&quot;They discussed the wide pattern of aggressive Russian behaviour and agreed that it would be important to continue to act in concert with allies to address it,&quot; Downing Street said.

Britain&#39;s home secretary Amber Rudd will chair a meeting of the government&#39;s emergency Cobra committee at 11:30 am (local time) today for an update on the investigation, the Home Office said.

Skripal, an ex-military intelligence officer who was jailed for selling Russian secrets to London, moved to Britain in a spy swap in 2010, settling in Salisbury.

Police are investigating the attack against him with the assistance of Britain&#39;s armed forces and its military research laboratory at Porton Down.

Pharmacology experts said Novichok, a broad category of more than 100 nerve agents developed by Russia during the late stages of the Cold War, was &quot;more dangerous and sophisticated&quot; than sarin or VX.

&quot;It causes a slowing of the heart and restriction of the airways, leading to death by asphyxiation,&quot; said Gary Stephens, a professor at Britain&#39;s University of Reading.

Britain had voiced its concerns about Russia still having such biological weapons during a 2008 meeting in Paris of countries to discuss such threats, according to WikiLeaks cables reposted on Twitter Monday.

The BBC reported that investigators now believe the nerve agent may have been deployed in powder form through the ventilation system of Skripal&#39;s car.

Other reports in the British media hinted at growing pressure on May for England to boycott this summer&#39;s World Cup in Russia.

&quot;How can we go to Putin&#39;s World Cup now&quot; read the headline of the Daily Mail.

US and NATO backed London in implicating Moscow in the assassination attempt

Britain will hold new emergency talks today into the brazen nerve agent poisoning of a Russian former double agent on its soil, after the US and NATO backed London in implicating Moscow in the assassination attempt. As diplomatic tensions soar, Russia has denied accusations of its involvement in the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter in southwest England on March 4. British Prime Minister Theresa May told parliament it was "highly likely" Moscow was behind the poisoning, giving Russia until the end of Tuesday to answer the accusations, in comments that have stoked speculation Britain could call on its allies to mount a joint response. Both the United States and NATO issued statements in support of London, as concern mounts over the use of what May described as a military-grade nerve agent developed by Russia. Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, remain in a critical condition in hospital after being found unconscious on a bench outside a shopping centre in Salisbury. Emergency workers in biohazard suits have been deployed in the normally sleepy city, while some 500 people who may have come into minimal contact with the nerve agent were urged to wash clothes and belongings as a precaution. May told British lawmakers that Moscow had previously used the group of nerve agents, known as Novichok, had a history of state-sponsored assassinations and viewed defectors such as Skripal as legitimate targets. "The government has concluded that it is highly likely that Russia was responsible for the act against Sergei and Yulia Skripal," she said. The prime minister added Britain had given Moscow until the end of Tuesday to disclose details of its development of the Novichok nerve agents programme to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. If there was "no credible response" it will conclude it was "an unlawful use of force by the Russian State against the UK", she warned, and pledged to outline a "full range of measures" in response on Wednesday. The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on Tuesday that Britain was consulting allies in NATO about possibly invoking its Article 5 principle of common defence. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the incident was "of great concern" to the alliance. "NATO is in touch with the UK authorities on this issue," he added in a statement issued by his office Monday. Russian President Vladimir Putin brushed aside questions about Moscow's involvement in the attack in Britain, telling the BBC: "First get to the bottom of it there and then we will discuss this." Yesterday, Moscow rejected May's assertions, saying it was "a circus show" and an attempt to undermine trust ahead of its hosting of this summer's football World Cup. The prime minister's statement was part of "another information and political campaign based on provocation," said Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in comments carried by news agencies. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron "offered his solidarity with the UK" in a phone call with May. "They discussed the wide pattern of aggressive Russian behaviour and agreed that it would be important to continue to act in concert with allies to address it," Downing Street said. Britain's home secretary Amber Rudd will chair a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee at 11:30 am (local time) today for an update on the investigation, the Home Office said. Skripal, an ex-military intelligence officer who was jailed for selling Russian secrets to London, moved to Britain in a spy swap in 2010, settling in Salisbury. Police are investigating the attack against him with the assistance of Britain's armed forces and its military research laboratory at Porton Down. Pharmacology experts said Novichok, a broad category of more than 100 nerve agents developed by Russia during the late stages of the Cold War, was "more dangerous and sophisticated" than sarin or VX. "It causes a slowing of the heart and restriction of the airways, leading to death by asphyxiation," said Gary Stephens, a professor at Britain's University of Reading. Britain had voiced its concerns about Russia still having such biological weapons during a 2008 meeting in Paris of countries to discuss such threats, according to WikiLeaks cables reposted on Twitter Monday. The BBC reported that investigators now believe the nerve agent may have been deployed in powder form through the ventilation system of Skripal's car. Other reports in the British media hinted at growing pressure on May for England to boycott this summer's World Cup in Russia. "How can we go to Putin's World Cup now" read the headline of the Daily Mail.

UK, allies point finger at Russia in ex-spy poisoning

Indian students suffered after there was a massive drop in the number of visas issued by the United States in 2017, dropping by 28 per cent.&nbsp;

As per reports, the total number of F-1 student visas issued to international students plummeted by 17 per cent from 417,728 in 2016 to 393,573. Indians accounted for the largest drop - from 65,257 in 2016 to 47,302 in 2017.

Other than that, the number of visas issued to students from China dropped by 24 per cent. Excluding China, the overall number fell by 13 per cent.

In China, a 2014 change in visa policy allows Chinese students to obtain an F-1 visa for a five-year period instead of one, freeing them from having to renew their visa each year. This could be the primary factor to the recent declines, reports said.&nbsp;

India and China have the maximum number of students studying in the US followed by South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Canada.

The massive decline in the number of international student visas has left some of America&#39;s top universities and schools in a bit of a toss. Some officials hold the Trump administration responsible for the move.&nbsp;

The drop&nbsp;in the&nbsp;number of visas issued&nbsp;to international students can be bad news for schools that have large international student populations. Nearly 20 per cent of the University of Tulsa&#39;s 4,400 enrolled students hail from overseas.

The decline in the number of foreign students had started before Trump became president - it came down from 644,233 in 2015 to 471,728 in 2016. The significant drop has is a result of high tuition costs and the state of the job market in the US.

Instead, they are going to countries like Canada, Germany and Australia, which are making it easier for international students to stay in the country after they graduate and become part of the workforce.

F-1 visa approvals were trending higher for nearly a decade when they peaked at more than 600,000 in 2015. But they have dropped off dramatically since.

The number of visas issued to students from China dropped by 24%.

Indian students suffered after there was a massive drop in the number of visas issued by the United States in 2017, dropping by 28 per cent. As per reports, the total number of F-1 student visas issued to international students plummeted by 17 per cent from 417,728 in 2016 to 393,573. Indians accounted for the largest drop - from 65,257 in 2016 to 47,302 in 2017. Other than that, the number of visas issued to students from China dropped by 24 per cent. Excluding China, the overall number fell by 13 per cent. In China, a 2014 change in visa policy allows Chinese students to obtain an F-1 visa for a five-year period instead of one, freeing them from having to renew their visa each year. This could be the primary factor to the recent declines, reports said. India and China have the maximum number of students studying in the US followed by South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Canada. The massive decline in the number of international student visas has left some of America's top universities and schools in a bit of a toss. Some officials hold the Trump administration responsible for the move. The drop in the number of visas issued to international students can be bad news for schools that have large international student populations. Nearly 20 per cent of the University of Tulsa's 4,400 enrolled students hail from overseas. The decline in the number of foreign students had started before Trump became president - it came down from 644,233 in 2015 to 471,728 in 2016. The significant drop has is a result of high tuition costs and the state of the job market in the US. Instead, they are going to countries like Canada, Germany and Australia, which are making it easier for international students to stay in the country after they graduate and become part of the workforce. F-1 visa approvals were trending higher for nearly a decade when they peaked at more than 600,000 in 2015. But they have dropped off dramatically since.

28 per cent drop in US student visas to Indians in 2017

US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, backed United Kingdom&#39;s assessment that suggests Russia&#39;s involvement in alleged nerve attack in the UK. Tillerson lashed out at Russia &nbsp;calling it &ldquo;an irresponsible force of instability in the world.&rdquo;

Tillerson said the United States had &quot;full confidence&quot; in Britain&#39;s assessment that Russia was likely responsible.

&quot;We agree that those responsible - both those who committed the crime and those who ordered it - must face appropriately serious consequences,&quot; he noted in a statement.&nbsp;

Tillerson also expressed solidarity with the UK over the matter.&nbsp;

British Prime Minister Theresa May condemned the incident and stated the possibility of Russia&#39;s involvement in the attack.&nbsp;

May, on Monday, said it was &quot;highly likely&quot; that Moscow was responsible for the poisoning in England of Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter using a military-grade nerve agent.

&quot;Should there be no credible response, we will conclude that this action amounts to an unlawful use of force by the Russian state against the United Kingdom,&quot; she said, calling the attack a &quot;reckless and despicable act&quot;.

The Russian government has denied the allegations.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The Russian government has denied the allegations.

US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, backed United Kingdom's assessment that suggests Russia's involvement in alleged nerve attack in the UK. Tillerson lashed out at Russia calling it “an irresponsible force of instability in the world.” Tillerson said the United States had "full confidence" in Britain's assessment that Russia was likely responsible. "We agree that those responsible - both those who committed the crime and those who ordered it - must face appropriately serious consequences," he noted in a statement. Tillerson also expressed solidarity with the UK over the matter. British Prime Minister Theresa May condemned the incident and stated the possibility of Russia's involvement in the attack. May, on Monday, said it was "highly likely" that Moscow was responsible for the poisoning in England of Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter using a military-grade nerve agent. "Should there be no credible response, we will conclude that this action amounts to an unlawful use of force by the Russian state against the United Kingdom," she said, calling the attack a "reckless and despicable act". The Russian government has denied the allegations. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia was likely responsible for UK nerve agent attack: Rex Tillerson

The United States applauded India for its efforts in initiating and inaugurating the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

The ISA is a treaty based inter-governmental alliance of 121 sunshine-rich countries that lie fully or partially between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.&nbsp;

Their adoption of solar energy is expected to help reduce the use of fossil fuels and combat climate change.

Sixty countries have signed the agreement to join the alliance which was formally launched jointly by India and France in New Delhi.

The heads of state from 23 nations took part in the first ISA Summit.

&quot;We extend our congratulations to the ISA on the occasion of its founding ceremony.?We applaud the Government of India for its efforts to initiate and inaugurate this organisation, and to bring together its founding members this weekend,&quot; a State Department Spokesperson.

During the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron announced an additional $862 million to help developing countries with their solar energy projects.

The spokesperson said the US appreciated the ISA&#39;s goal and looks to work together in future.

&quot;We appreciate the ISA&#39;s goal of expanding access to cost-effective solar power and look forward to the economic and social benefits this approach will bring to the developing world,&quot; the spokesperson said in response to a question.

At the launch event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced his ambitious goal of building 175 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2022, including 100 gigawatts of solar.

However, the MIT Technology review said that the well-intentioned target looks nearly impossible to achieve.

&quot;India would have to build on average 35 gigawatts of renewable energy per year for the next five years. That&#39;s more than twice the capacity that the US added across all energy sources in 2016, after subtracting retiring plants, and less than eight gigawatts of the total were solar,&quot; the magazine said.&nbsp;

The ISA is a treaty based inter-governmental alliance of 121 sunshine-rich countries

The United States applauded India for its efforts in initiating and inaugurating the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The ISA is a treaty based inter-governmental alliance of 121 sunshine-rich countries that lie fully or partially between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Their adoption of solar energy is expected to help reduce the use of fossil fuels and combat climate change. Sixty countries have signed the agreement to join the alliance which was formally launched jointly by India and France in New Delhi. The heads of state from 23 nations took part in the first ISA Summit. "We extend our congratulations to the ISA on the occasion of its founding ceremony.?We applaud the Government of India for its efforts to initiate and inaugurate this organisation, and to bring together its founding members this weekend," a State Department Spokesperson. During the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron announced an additional $862 million to help developing countries with their solar energy projects. The spokesperson said the US appreciated the ISA's goal and looks to work together in future. "We appreciate the ISA's goal of expanding access to cost-effective solar power and look forward to the economic and social benefits this approach will bring to the developing world," the spokesperson said in response to a question. At the launch event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced his ambitious goal of building 175 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2022, including 100 gigawatts of solar. However, the MIT Technology review said that the well-intentioned target looks nearly impossible to achieve. "India would have to build on average 35 gigawatts of renewable energy per year for the next five years. That's more than twice the capacity that the US added across all energy sources in 2016, after subtracting retiring plants, and less than eight gigawatts of the total were solar," the magazine said.

US applauds India on International Solar Alliance

US President Donald Trump has blocked Singapore-based Broadcom&#39;s bid to acquire smartphone chipmaker Qualcomm. Trump cited national security concerns for behind move.

Trump&#39;s order banned Broadcom&#39;s proposed mega-acquisition, stating that such a deal &quot;threatens to impair the national security of the United States&quot;. Trump administration stated that there is &#39;credible evidence&#39; to suggest that the deal may turn detrimental to America&#39;s national security.

Trump ordered Broadcom and Qualcomm to &quot;immediately and permanently abandon the proposed takeover.&quot;

Broadcom had previously assured that it would complete its move to the United States by early April, ahead of a planned Qualcomm shareholder vote on the $117 billion deal -- meaning any national security concerns were moot.

&quot;Broadcom&#39;s proposal to acquire Qualcomm has always been premised on the completion of Broadcom&#39;s previously announced plan to redomicile,&quot; the company noted in a statement.

&quot;In short, US national security concerns are not a risk to closing, as Broadcom never plans to acquire Qualcomm before it completes redomiciliation.&quot;

According to a letter issued by the Treasury Department over the weekend, Broadcom had violated a Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) order on three separate occasions. The company failed to give advance notice before taking actions such as filing takeover-related securities filings in the United States.

An investigation carried out by the CFIUS on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) &quot;confirmed&quot; national security concerns earlier identified by US officials. CFIUS noted that a Broadcom-Qualcomm merger could weaken Qualcomm`s leadership in the field.&nbsp;

Ever since the proposed deal emerged in November last year, Qualcomm rejected multiple Broadcom bids. The microprocessor-making giant postponed the deal until April 5 and later sought a national security review of Broadcom&#39;s deal.

(With inputs from AFP)&nbsp;

Trump ordered Broadcom and Qualcomm to 'immediately and permanently abandon the proposed takeover'

US President Donald Trump has blocked Singapore-based Broadcom's bid to acquire smartphone chipmaker Qualcomm. Trump cited national security concerns for behind move. Trump's order banned Broadcom's proposed mega-acquisition, stating that such a deal "threatens to impair the national security of the United States". Trump administration stated that there is 'credible evidence' to suggest that the deal may turn detrimental to America's national security. Trump ordered Broadcom and Qualcomm to "immediately and permanently abandon the proposed takeover." Broadcom had previously assured that it would complete its move to the United States by early April, ahead of a planned Qualcomm shareholder vote on the $117 billion deal -- meaning any national security concerns were moot. "Broadcom's proposal to acquire Qualcomm has always been premised on the completion of Broadcom's previously announced plan to redomicile," the company noted in a statement. "In short, US national security concerns are not a risk to closing, as Broadcom never plans to acquire Qualcomm before it completes redomiciliation." According to a letter issued by the Treasury Department over the weekend, Broadcom had violated a Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) order on three separate occasions. The company failed to give advance notice before taking actions such as filing takeover-related securities filings in the United States. An investigation carried out by the CFIUS on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) "confirmed" national security concerns earlier identified by US officials. CFIUS noted that a Broadcom-Qualcomm merger could weaken Qualcomm`s leadership in the field. Ever since the proposed deal emerged in November last year, Qualcomm rejected multiple Broadcom bids. The microprocessor-making giant postponed the deal until April 5 and later sought a national security review of Broadcom's deal. (With inputs from AFP)

Donald Trump turns down Broadcom's bid to acquire Qualcomm

President Donald Trump stood accused Monday of caving in to the US gun lobby one month after the Florida school shooting, as the White House pushed ahead with plans to arm teachers but backpedaled on curbing access to assault rifles.

Under pressure to act after a teenager killed 17 people with a semi-automatic rifle in Parkland, Trump had signaled support for raising from 18 to 21 the federal minimum age for purchasing the powerful weapons.

But a new policy statement focused on Trump&#39;s idea of arming teachers, &quot;making sure our schools are safe and secure, just like our airports, stadiums and government buildings.&quot;

As for federal age limits on gun purchases, it only said the government would form a special commission on school safety, with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in charge.

It made no mention of expanding the vetting of firearms buyers to sales online and at gun shows, another idea previously floated by the White House.

However, the policy statement did endorse minor legislation in Congress to improve federal and state databases used for background checks by licensed dealers.

Those moves fell close in line with the position of the National Rifle Association, the powerful gun lobby that fights any gun ownership restrictions.

Trump himself admitted in an earlier tweet that he is not currently pushing age restrictions that could have prevented 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz from buying the powerful AR-15 assault rifle used on February 14 to kill 14 students and three adults at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

&quot;On 18 to 21 Age Limits, watching court cases and rulings before acting. States are making this decision. Things are moving rapidly on this, but not much political support (to put it mildly),&quot; the president wrote.Trump&#39;s step backwards, after two extraordinary meetings in recent weeks with NRA executives, has critics accusing him of wilting after three of the worst mass shootings in US history scarred his first year in office.&nbsp;

&quot;President Trump has completely caved to the gun lobby,&quot; said Democratic Senator Diane Feinstein.

&quot;He backed off his openness toward an assault weapons ban, support for expanded background checks, barring those who exhibit &#39;red flags&#39;&nbsp;from buying guns and raising the age to buy assault weapons to 21.&quot;

Feinstein called the notion of arming teachers an &quot;utterly ridiculous idea that teachers strongly oppose.&quot;

The tepid steps lessened the hopes of gun control advocates that Trump would take a stand in the wake of the Parkland shooting.

Robert Spitzer, an expert on the gun rights debate and chair of the political science department at the State University of New York, College at Cortland, foresaw no meaningful reform in the White House announcement.

&quot;His initiative basically amounts to a big nothing,&quot; he said of Trump.Polls since Parkland shooting show the US public has turned strongly for tougher regulations.&nbsp;

Students from the high school have taken the lead in a national campaign to advance gun control, meeting Trump and other leading politicians, and helping force through a new law on age limits for purchasers in Florida.

But the NRA, which considers the US Constitution&#39;s Second Amendment a guarantee of broad gun ownership rights, has pressed the White House and Congress to hold off.

On Friday, it filed a lawsuit contesting Florida&#39;s new age limit law.

&quot;It totally eviscerates the right of law-abiding adults between the ages of 18 and 21 to keep and bear arms,&quot; the NRA said.

The Justice Department did announce a concrete move Saturday -- a plan to ban bump stocks.

But that comes more than five months after a man killed 58 people in Las Vegas using multiple AR-15 rifles equipped with the devices, which turn semi-automatic rifles into machine guns, and they are still on sale.

Spitzer was not optimistic of any solid action on gun control, given that the Republican-controlled Congress faces a tough election battle in November.&nbsp;

&quot;The NRA did not want to see Congress enacting any legislation,&quot; he said. &quot;If there are 100 mass shootings next week, the Congress is not going to move on any significant new gun law.&quot;

Trump had signaled support for raising from 18 to 21 the federal minimum age for purchasing the powerful weapons

President Donald Trump stood accused Monday of caving in to the US gun lobby one month after the Florida school shooting, as the White House pushed ahead with plans to arm teachers but backpedaled on curbing access to assault rifles. Under pressure to act after a teenager killed 17 people with a semi-automatic rifle in Parkland, Trump had signaled support for raising from 18 to 21 the federal minimum age for purchasing the powerful weapons. But a new policy statement focused on Trump's idea of arming teachers, "making sure our schools are safe and secure, just like our airports, stadiums and government buildings." As for federal age limits on gun purchases, it only said the government would form a special commission on school safety, with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in charge. It made no mention of expanding the vetting of firearms buyers to sales online and at gun shows, another idea previously floated by the White House. However, the policy statement did endorse minor legislation in Congress to improve federal and state databases used for background checks by licensed dealers. Those moves fell close in line with the position of the National Rifle Association, the powerful gun lobby that fights any gun ownership restrictions. Trump himself admitted in an earlier tweet that he is not currently pushing age restrictions that could have prevented 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz from buying the powerful AR-15 assault rifle used on February 14 to kill 14 students and three adults at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. "On 18 to 21 Age Limits, watching court cases and rulings before acting. States are making this decision. Things are moving rapidly on this, but not much political support (to put it mildly)," the president wrote.Trump's step backwards, after two extraordinary meetings in recent weeks with NRA executives, has critics accusing him of wilting after three of the worst mass shootings in US history scarred his first year in office. "President Trump has completely caved to the gun lobby," said Democratic Senator Diane Feinstein. "He backed off his openness toward an assault weapons ban, support for expanded background checks, barring those who exhibit 'red flags' from buying guns and raising the age to buy assault weapons to 21." Feinstein called the notion of arming teachers an "utterly ridiculous idea that teachers strongly oppose." The tepid steps lessened the hopes of gun control advocates that Trump would take a stand in the wake of the Parkland shooting. Robert Spitzer, an expert on the gun rights debate and chair of the political science department at the State University of New York, College at Cortland, foresaw no meaningful reform in the White House announcement. "His initiative basically amounts to a big nothing," he said of Trump.Polls since Parkland shooting show the US public has turned strongly for tougher regulations. Students from the high school have taken the lead in a national campaign to advance gun control, meeting Trump and other leading politicians, and helping force through a new law on age limits for purchasers in Florida. But the NRA, which considers the US Constitution's Second Amendment a guarantee of broad gun ownership rights, has pressed the White House and Congress to hold off. On Friday, it filed a lawsuit contesting Florida's new age limit law. "It totally eviscerates the right of law-abiding adults between the ages of 18 and 21 to keep and bear arms," the NRA said. The Justice Department did announce a concrete move Saturday -- a plan to ban bump stocks. But that comes more than five months after a man killed 58 people in Las Vegas using multiple AR-15 rifles equipped with the devices, which turn semi-automatic rifles into machine guns, and they are still on sale. Spitzer was not optimistic of any solid action on gun control, given that the Republican-controlled Congress faces a tough election battle in November. "The NRA did not want to see Congress enacting any legislation," he said. "If there are 100 mass shootings next week, the Congress is not going to move on any significant new gun law."

Trump accused of backpedaling on gun control

Taliban fighters have captured a district centre in Afghanistan&#39;s western province of Farah bordering Iran, where they have battled government security forces fiercely in recent months, officials said on Monday.

Naser Mehri, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said a large group of fighters had captured the centre of Anar Dara district on Sunday night after hours of fighting, though police and intelligence service forces were still holding out in their headquarters.

The Taliban released pictures that appeared to show fighters in the town, where skirmishes were taking place on Monday. Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said 15 policemen had been killed and several military vehicles seized, along with a large quantity of ammunition.

The announcement came days after local officials said the Taliban had inflicted heavy losses on Afghan special forces in another district of Farah, a poor and isolated region where the government has long struggled to impose control.&nbsp;

The pressure on Farah has grown as US air strikes and Afghan army operations have inflicted heavy casualties on Taliban fighters in neighbouring Helmand province, the main opium region in Afghanistan and a heartland of the insurgency.

Afghan and US commanders have been relatively upbeat about the course of the war since US President Donald Trump announced a new and more robust military strategy last year, with more air strikes and greater support for Afghan forces.

But the fighting in Farah underlines the continuing strength of the movement, which controls or contests almost half the country and has so far rejected peace overtures from Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

In January, the Farah provincial governor resigned, blaming political interference and corruption. Residents of Farah city have complained bitterly about security in the province, where some police units are alleged to collude with Taliban fighters, selling them weapons and ammunition.&nbsp;

Although they have failed so far to take any major provincial cities, the insurgents have several times seized district centres, even if they have often been driven off soon after by government reinforcements.

With the approach of milder spring weather, security officials have said they expect to see fighting surge across the country as the Taliban, fighting to drive out international forces and reimpose their version of strict Islamic law, step up the pressure.&nbsp;

The US military`s latest estimates from December show the Afghan government controls or has influenced over 56 per cent of districts, with insurgents controlling or contesting the rest.

The Taliban released pictures that appeared to show fighters in the town

Taliban fighters have captured a district centre in Afghanistan's western province of Farah bordering Iran, where they have battled government security forces fiercely in recent months, officials said on Monday. Naser Mehri, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said a large group of fighters had captured the centre of Anar Dara district on Sunday night after hours of fighting, though police and intelligence service forces were still holding out in their headquarters. The Taliban released pictures that appeared to show fighters in the town, where skirmishes were taking place on Monday. Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said 15 policemen had been killed and several military vehicles seized, along with a large quantity of ammunition. The announcement came days after local officials said the Taliban had inflicted heavy losses on Afghan special forces in another district of Farah, a poor and isolated region where the government has long struggled to impose control. The pressure on Farah has grown as US air strikes and Afghan army operations have inflicted heavy casualties on Taliban fighters in neighbouring Helmand province, the main opium region in Afghanistan and a heartland of the insurgency. Afghan and US commanders have been relatively upbeat about the course of the war since US President Donald Trump announced a new and more robust military strategy last year, with more air strikes and greater support for Afghan forces. But the fighting in Farah underlines the continuing strength of the movement, which controls or contests almost half the country and has so far rejected peace overtures from Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. In January, the Farah provincial governor resigned, blaming political interference and corruption. Residents of Farah city have complained bitterly about security in the province, where some police units are alleged to collude with Taliban fighters, selling them weapons and ammunition. Although they have failed so far to take any major provincial cities, the insurgents have several times seized district centres, even if they have often been driven off soon after by government reinforcements. With the approach of milder spring weather, security officials have said they expect to see fighting surge across the country as the Taliban, fighting to drive out international forces and reimpose their version of strict Islamic law, step up the pressure. The US military`s latest estimates from December show the Afghan government controls or has influenced over 56 per cent of districts, with insurgents controlling or contesting the rest.

Taliban capture district centre in western Afghan province

World-renowned celebrity talk-show host Oprah Winfrey recently gave some advice to the 2020 US presidential candidates. In a television interview with CNN&#39;s, Van Jones Winfrey stated, &quot;I will say to whoever is going to run for office, do not give your energy to the other side.&quot;

&quot;Do not spend all your time talking about your opponents. Do not give your energy to that which you really don&#39;t believe in. Do not spend an ounce of your time on that,&quot; she added.

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PeIf24r5TsU" width="560"></iframe>

Winfrey had previously made clear that she will not be contesting in the US Presidential elections to be held in 2020. During the interview, she also noted that &quot;the noise about running for president moved me so humbly and deeply,&quot; adding that &quot;It means that you have somewhere in the work gained the people&#39;s trust.&quot;

Rumours of Winfrey contesting elections made headlines earlier this year, however, she was more than quick in clarifying that she does not have any such intentions.&nbsp;

Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Winfrey in response to host Kimmel&#39;s question about whether she would run had said, &quot;Where do I look into the camera? I am definitely not running for president.&quot;

(With inputs fro ANI)&nbsp;

Rumours of Winfrey contesting elections made headlines earlier this year

World-renowned celebrity talk-show host Oprah Winfrey recently gave some advice to the 2020 US presidential candidates. In a television interview with CNN's, Van Jones Winfrey stated, "I will say to whoever is going to run for office, do not give your energy to the other side." "Do not spend all your time talking about your opponents. Do not give your energy to that which you really don't believe in. Do not spend an ounce of your time on that," she added. Winfrey had previously made clear that she will not be contesting in the US Presidential elections to be held in 2020. During the interview, she also noted that "the noise about running for president moved me so humbly and deeply," adding that "It means that you have somewhere in the work gained the people's trust." Rumours of Winfrey contesting elections made headlines earlier this year, however, she was more than quick in clarifying that she does not have any such intentions. Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Winfrey in response to host Kimmel's question about whether she would run had said, "Where do I look into the camera? I am definitely not running for president." (With inputs fro ANI)

Oprah Winfrey has pearls of wisdom for 2020 US presidential candidates

Oil markets edged up on Monday on the back of a drop in the number of US rigs drilling for more production and as the US economy continued to create jobs, which industry hopes will drive higher fuel demand.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $62.10 a barrel at 0407 GMT, up 6 cents, or 0.1 per cent.

Brent crude futures were at $65.58 per barrel, up 9 cents, or 0.1 per cent, from their previous close.

&quot;A falling rig count and the strong employment data may have helped support prices,&quot; said William O&#39;Loughlin, investment analyst at Rivkin Securities.

The US economy added the biggest number of jobs in more than 1-1/2 years in February, with non-farm payrolls jumping by 313,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department said on Friday.

In oil markets, US energy companies last week cut oil rigs for the first time in almost two months, with drillers cutting back four rigs, to 796, Baker Hughes energy services firm said on Friday.

Despite the lower rig count, which is an early indicator of future output, activity remains much higher than a year ago when, when just 617 rigs were active, and most analysts expect US crude oil production, which has already risen by over a fifth since mid-2016, to 10.37 million barrels per day (bpd), to rise further.

That&#39;s more than top exporter Saudi Arabia producers and almost as much as Russia pumps out, at nearly 11 million bpd.

Singapore-based brokerage Phillip Futures said that the oil market &quot;will focus on OPEC and IEA (monthly) reports this week for a sensing on global demand/supply levels for crude oil&quot; and that &quot;items in focus will include OECD commercial stock levels, revision in global demand and supply for crude oil and OPEC&#39;s compliance on production levels&quot;.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), together with a group of other producers led by Russia, has been withholding production since the start of 2017 to prop up prices.

The US economy continued to create jobs, which industry hopes will drive higher fuel demand

Oil markets edged up on Monday on the back of a drop in the number of US rigs drilling for more production and as the US economy continued to create jobs, which industry hopes will drive higher fuel demand. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $62.10 a barrel at 0407 GMT, up 6 cents, or 0.1 per cent. Brent crude futures were at $65.58 per barrel, up 9 cents, or 0.1 per cent, from their previous close. "A falling rig count and the strong employment data may have helped support prices," said William O'Loughlin, investment analyst at Rivkin Securities. The US economy added the biggest number of jobs in more than 1-1/2 years in February, with non-farm payrolls jumping by 313,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department said on Friday. In oil markets, US energy companies last week cut oil rigs for the first time in almost two months, with drillers cutting back four rigs, to 796, Baker Hughes energy services firm said on Friday. Despite the lower rig count, which is an early indicator of future output, activity remains much higher than a year ago when, when just 617 rigs were active, and most analysts expect US crude oil production, which has already risen by over a fifth since mid-2016, to 10.37 million barrels per day (bpd), to rise further. That's more than top exporter Saudi Arabia producers and almost as much as Russia pumps out, at nearly 11 million bpd. Singapore-based brokerage Phillip Futures said that the oil market "will focus on OPEC and IEA (monthly) reports this week for a sensing on global demand/supply levels for crude oil" and that "items in focus will include OECD commercial stock levels, revision in global demand and supply for crude oil and OPEC's compliance on production levels". The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), together with a group of other producers led by Russia, has been withholding production since the start of 2017 to prop up prices.

Oil prices rise up on reduced US drilling, job market

Chinese state media on Monday attacked critics of ending presidential term limits, which effectively now allows President Xi Jinping to stay in office indefinitely, saying the key to China&#39;s path was following the Communist Party.

China&#39;s largely rubber-stamp parliament on Sunday overwhelmingly voted to amend the constitution, scrapping term limits and adding clauses to further strengthen the party&#39;s already dominating role in politics.

In the run-up to the vote, critics on Chinese social media attacked the move and drew parallels to North Korea or suggested a Mao Zedong-type cult of personality was forming. The party only announced the proposals last month.

In an editorial, widely-read tabloid the Global Times said Western political theories were of no use to China.

&quot;We are increasingly confident that the key to China&#39;s path lies in upholding strong Party leadership and firmly following the leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core,&quot; it said.

&quot;In these years we have seen the rise and decline of countries and particularly the harsh reality that the Western political system doesn&#39;t apply to developing countries and produces dreadful results.&quot;

The official China Daily reiterated a point previously made by the party&#39;s People&#39;s Daily that the amendment did not &quot;imply lifetime tenure for any leader&quot;.

&quot;Yet some people in the West insist otherwise, even though it is only through specious speculation that they claim to know better,&quot; the English-language paper said.

Such people - it did not name names - have a deep-rooted ideological bias against China and have made one failed prediction after another about China, it added.

&quot;Their erroneous judgements are only a litany of short-sighted calumnies against the party and the nation.&quot;

While social media accounts of major state media outlets either disabled their comments section or only made visible comments praising the party, some words of dissent did manage to make it past the censors.

&quot;How is it that socialism which is praised has become a monarchy making law?&quot; wrote one user on the Twitter-like Weibo micro-blogging site.

&quot;Why have they not released the voting tally?&quot; wrote another.

Only two &quot;no&quot; votes were cast, with three abstentions, from almost 3,000 delegates in parliament.

The US-based group Human Rights in China said there were huge risks in allowing such a concentration of power.

&quot;Ending the two-term limit ignores the painful lesson of the Mao era and exposes the Chinese people again to the massive human suffering, abuses and national catastrophe that could result from unaccountable power concentrated in the hands of one person,&quot; Sharon Hom, the group&#39;s executive director, said in a statement.

In an editorial, widely-read tabloid the Global Times said Western political theories were of no use to China

Chinese state media on Monday attacked critics of ending presidential term limits, which effectively now allows President Xi Jinping to stay in office indefinitely, saying the key to China's path was following the Communist Party. China's largely rubber-stamp parliament on Sunday overwhelmingly voted to amend the constitution, scrapping term limits and adding clauses to further strengthen the party's already dominating role in politics. In the run-up to the vote, critics on Chinese social media attacked the move and drew parallels to North Korea or suggested a Mao Zedong-type cult of personality was forming. The party only announced the proposals last month. In an editorial, widely-read tabloid the Global Times said Western political theories were of no use to China. "We are increasingly confident that the key to China's path lies in upholding strong Party leadership and firmly following the leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core," it said. "In these years we have seen the rise and decline of countries and particularly the harsh reality that the Western political system doesn't apply to developing countries and produces dreadful results." The official China Daily reiterated a point previously made by the party's People's Daily that the amendment did not "imply lifetime tenure for any leader". "Yet some people in the West insist otherwise, even though it is only through specious speculation that they claim to know better," the English-language paper said. Such people - it did not name names - have a deep-rooted ideological bias against China and have made one failed prediction after another about China, it added. "Their erroneous judgements are only a litany of short-sighted calumnies against the party and the nation." While social media accounts of major state media outlets either disabled their comments section or only made visible comments praising the party, some words of dissent did manage to make it past the censors. "How is it that socialism which is praised has become a monarchy making law?" wrote one user on the Twitter-like Weibo micro-blogging site. "Why have they not released the voting tally?" wrote another. Only two "no" votes were cast, with three abstentions, from almost 3,000 delegates in parliament. The US-based group Human Rights in China said there were huge risks in allowing such a concentration of power. "Ending the two-term limit ignores the painful lesson of the Mao era and exposes the Chinese people again to the massive human suffering, abuses and national catastrophe that could result from unaccountable power concentrated in the hands of one person," Sharon Hom, the group's executive director, said in a statement.

Chinese state media defends removing presidential term limits

U.S. President Donald Trump&#39;s condition for meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is that there be no nuclear or missile testing, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said on Sunday.

&quot;There shouldn&#39;t be confusion,&quot; Mnuchin told NBC&#39;s &quot;Meet the Press&quot; program, when asked about White House press secretary Sarah Sanders&#39; statement on Friday that there would be no meeting without concrete and verifiable actions by North Korea.

&quot;The president has made it clear that the conditions are that there&#39;s no nuclear testing and there&#39;s no missiles and those will be a condition through the meeting.&quot;

After months of escalating tensions over North Korea&#39;s advancing nuclear and missile programs, Trump decided on Thursday to become the first sitting U.S. president to meet with North Korea&#39;s leader.

On Saturday, Trump said his meeting could fizzle without an agreement or it could result in &quot;the greatest deal for the world&quot; with a denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

Mnuchin dismissed criticism that Trump&#39;s decision to meet elevates the North Korean leader&#39;s international standing. He said the Republican president has also been criticized for not using more diplomacy to contain Pyongyang&#39;s nuclear ambitions.

&quot;Now we have a situation where the president is using diplomacy but we&#39;re not removing the maximum pressure campaign,&quot; Mnuchin said. &quot;That&#39;s the big difference here. The sanctions are staying on. The defence posture is staying the same as it is, so the president is going to sit down and see if he can cut a deal.&quot;

Mnuchin said denuclearisation of the peninsula is the objective of a meeting between the two leaders.

&quot;We&#39;ve been very clear ... that&#39;s the objective and that&#39;s what we&#39;re going to accomplish,&quot; he said.

He said he was confident the meeting would take place.

'The president has made it clear that the conditions are that there's no nuclear testing and there's no missiles and those will be a condition through the meeting,' the Treasury Secretary said

U.S. President Donald Trump's condition for meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is that there be no nuclear or missile testing, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said on Sunday. "There shouldn't be confusion," Mnuchin told NBC's "Meet the Press" program, when asked about White House press secretary Sarah Sanders' statement on Friday that there would be no meeting without concrete and verifiable actions by North Korea. "The president has made it clear that the conditions are that there's no nuclear testing and there's no missiles and those will be a condition through the meeting." After months of escalating tensions over North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile programs, Trump decided on Thursday to become the first sitting U.S. president to meet with North Korea's leader. On Saturday, Trump said his meeting could fizzle without an agreement or it could result in "the greatest deal for the world" with a denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. Mnuchin dismissed criticism that Trump's decision to meet elevates the North Korean leader's international standing. He said the Republican president has also been criticized for not using more diplomacy to contain Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. "Now we have a situation where the president is using diplomacy but we're not removing the maximum pressure campaign," Mnuchin said. "That's the big difference here. The sanctions are staying on. The defence posture is staying the same as it is, so the president is going to sit down and see if he can cut a deal." Mnuchin said denuclearisation of the peninsula is the objective of a meeting between the two leaders. "We've been very clear ... that's the objective and that's what we're going to accomplish," he said. He said he was confident the meeting would take place.

Trump's condition for Kim meeting is no nuclear, missile test: Mnuchin

US President Donald Trump said Saturday that China&#39;s President Xi Jinping is being &quot;helpful&quot; as the United States moves toward a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Trump gave few details in a tweet about his telephone conversation with Xi Friday, but the White House had said the two leaders committed to keeping the pressure on North Korea until it takes &quot;tangible steps&quot; toward denuclearisation.

Trump stunned the world this week by accepting an invitation to meet Kim before the end of May, an unexpected turnabout after months of intensifying brinksmanship that sent tensions soaring.

Trump tweeted that Xi &quot;appreciates that the US is working to solve the problem diplomatically rather than going with the ominous alternative. China continues to be helpful!&quot;

The White House said the ever-more-powerful Chinese president committed to &quot;maintain pressure and sanctions until North Korea takes tangible steps toward complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearisation.&quot;

Trump praised a possible future agreement with the communist North as &quot;very good&quot; for the international community as a whole in a Friday tweet.

&quot;The deal with North Korea is very much in the making and will be, if completed, a very good one for the World. Time and place to be determined,&quot; Trump wrote.

As aides scrambled to catch up with the president`s decision, taken before consulting key confidantes, the White House sent mixed messages about conditions.

&quot;They`ve made promises to denuclearize, they`ve made promises to stop nuclear and missile testing,&quot; White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

&quot;We`re not going to have this meeting take place until we see concrete actions that match the words and the rhetoric of North Korea,&quot; she told reporters.

Officials behind the scenes said this did not constitute a change of heart.In the Hague, former secretary of state and Trump rival Hillary Clinton questioned the administration`s readiness for the diplomatic challenge ahead.

&quot;If you want to talk to Kim Jong-un about his nuclear weapons you need experienced diplomats,&quot; Clinton told Dutch tabloid Algemeen Dagblad in an interview published Saturday.

She said the State Department was &quot;being eroded,&quot; and experienced diplomats on the North Korean issue were in short supply because many have left.

&quot;You cannot have diplomacy without diplomats,&quot; she said, adding &quot;the danger is not being recognized by the Trump government.&quot;

Clinton`s words echo those of veteran diplomat and former US ambassador to the United Nations, Bill Richardson, who warned that negotiating with North Korea was not &quot;reality television.&quot;

&quot;It`s a real opportunity... I worry about the president`s unpreparedness and lack of discipline. But I commend him for his very bold move in accepting the invitation,&quot; Richardson said on Friday.

&quot;But this is not `The Apprentice` or a reality TV event. It`s a negotiation with an unpredictable leader who has at least 20 nuclear weapons and who threatens the United States,&quot; he said.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Trump tweeted that Xi 'appreciates that the US is working to solve the problem diplomatically rather than going with the ominous alternative. China continues to be helpful!'

US President Donald Trump said Saturday that China's President Xi Jinping is being "helpful" as the United States moves toward a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Trump gave few details in a tweet about his telephone conversation with Xi Friday, but the White House had said the two leaders committed to keeping the pressure on North Korea until it takes "tangible steps" toward denuclearisation. Trump stunned the world this week by accepting an invitation to meet Kim before the end of May, an unexpected turnabout after months of intensifying brinksmanship that sent tensions soaring. Trump tweeted that Xi "appreciates that the US is working to solve the problem diplomatically rather than going with the ominous alternative. China continues to be helpful!" The White House said the ever-more-powerful Chinese president committed to "maintain pressure and sanctions until North Korea takes tangible steps toward complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearisation." Trump praised a possible future agreement with the communist North as "very good" for the international community as a whole in a Friday tweet. "The deal with North Korea is very much in the making and will be, if completed, a very good one for the World. Time and place to be determined," Trump wrote. As aides scrambled to catch up with the president`s decision, taken before consulting key confidantes, the White House sent mixed messages about conditions. "They`ve made promises to denuclearize, they`ve made promises to stop nuclear and missile testing," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. "We`re not going to have this meeting take place until we see concrete actions that match the words and the rhetoric of North Korea," she told reporters. Officials behind the scenes said this did not constitute a change of heart.In the Hague, former secretary of state and Trump rival Hillary Clinton questioned the administration`s readiness for the diplomatic challenge ahead. "If you want to talk to Kim Jong-un about his nuclear weapons you need experienced diplomats," Clinton told Dutch tabloid Algemeen Dagblad in an interview published Saturday. She said the State Department was "being eroded," and experienced diplomats on the North Korean issue were in short supply because many have left. "You cannot have diplomacy without diplomats," she said, adding "the danger is not being recognized by the Trump government." Clinton`s words echo those of veteran diplomat and former US ambassador to the United Nations, Bill Richardson, who warned that negotiating with North Korea was not "reality television." "It`s a real opportunity... I worry about the president`s unpreparedness and lack of discipline. But I commend him for his very bold move in accepting the invitation," Richardson said on Friday. "But this is not `The Apprentice` or a reality TV event. It`s a negotiation with an unpredictable leader who has at least 20 nuclear weapons and who threatens the United States," he said.

Trump says Chinese president 'helpful' on Kim Jong-un meeting

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-seeks-concrete-actions-from-north-korea-before-planned-talks-35266">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-seeks-concrete-actions-from-north-korea-before-planned-talks-35266"> seeks &#39;concrete actions&#39; from North Korea before planned talks</a>

US President Donald Trump will not meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un unless Pyongyang takes &quot;concrete actions,&quot; the White House said on Friday as it faced criticism for agreeing to talks that would give North Korea international legitimacy.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/french-president-macron-arrives-in-india-on-4-day-visit-35256">French president Macron arrives in India on </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/french-president-macron-arrives-in-india-on-4-day-visit-35256">4-day</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/french-president-macron-arrives-in-india-on-4-day-visit-35256"> visit</a>

French President France Emmanuel Macron arrived in New Delhi on Friday on a four-day state visit. He was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as soon as he touched down at the Delhi airport. The two had a brief interaction before the French president was whisked away in a waiting car.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/deal-with-north-korea-in-the-making-and-will-be-a-good-one-for-the-world-trump-35275">Deal with North Korea in the making and will be a good one for the world: Trump</a>

US President Donald Trump on Saturday a deal with North Korea is very much in the making and will be, if completed, a very good one for the world. Trump took to Twitter and said, &quot;a deal with North Korea is very much in the making and will be, if completed, a very good one for the world.&quot;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/loya-may-have-died-due-to-poisoning-ngo-to-supreme-court-35276">Justice Loya may have died due to poisoning: NGO to Supreme court</a>

An NGO, which had sought an independent probe into the alleged mysterious death of special CBI judge B H Loya Saturday claimed in the Supreme Court that he might have died due to poisoning as he had complained of chest congestion.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/gunman-holed-up-at-california-veterans-home-with-3-hostages-35269">Gunman</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/gunman-holed-up-at-california-veterans-home-with-3-hostages-35269"> holed up at California veterans home with 3 hostages&nbsp;</a>

A gunman who once served in the US military opened fire on Friday inside a California home for disabled and aging war veterans, where he took three hostages and was holding police at bay as negotiators sought to make contact with him for several hours, authorities said.

US seeks 'concrete actions' from North Korea before planned talks US President Donald Trump will not meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un unless Pyongyang takes "concrete actions," the White House said on Friday as it faced criticism for agreeing to talks that would give North Korea international legitimacy. French president Macron arrives in India on 4-day visit French President France Emmanuel Macron arrived in New Delhi on Friday on a four-day state visit. He was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as soon as he touched down at the Delhi airport. The two had a brief interaction before the French president was whisked away in a waiting car. Deal with North Korea in the making and will be a good one for the world: Trump US President Donald Trump on Saturday a deal with North Korea is very much in the making and will be, if completed, a very good one for the world. Trump took to Twitter and said, "a deal with North Korea is very much in the making and will be, if completed, a very good one for the world." Justice Loya may have died due to poisoning: NGO to Supreme court An NGO, which had sought an independent probe into the alleged mysterious death of special CBI judge B H Loya Saturday claimed in the Supreme Court that he might have died due to poisoning as he had complained of chest congestion. Gunman holed up at California veterans home with 3 hostages A gunman who once served in the US military opened fire on Friday inside a California home for disabled and aging war veterans, where he took three hostages and was holding police at bay as negotiators sought to make contact with him for several hours, authorities said.

WION Morning News Brief, March 10, 2018

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/with-quote-from-hindi-film-song-supreme-court-allows-passive-euthanasia-35235" target="_blank">With </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/with-quote-from-hindi-film-song-supreme-court-allows-passive-euthanasia-35235" target="_blank">quote</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/with-quote-from-hindi-film-song-supreme-court-allows-passive-euthanasia-35235" target="_blank"> from Hindi film song, Supreme Court allows passive euthanasia</a>

The Indian Supreme Court on Friday&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-approves-passive-euthanasia-35189" target="_blank">recognised the right to passive euthanasia</a>for the terminally ill.&nbsp; The decision was taken by a five-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajasthan-passes-bill-giving-death-penalty-to-rapists-of-girls-below-12-years-35231" target="_blank">Rajasthan passes </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajasthan-passes-bill-giving-death-penalty-to-rapists-of-girls-below-12-years-35231" target="_blank">bill</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajasthan-passes-bill-giving-death-penalty-to-rapists-of-girls-below-12-years-35231" target="_blank"> providing for </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajasthan-passes-bill-giving-death-penalty-to-rapists-of-girls-below-12-years-35231" target="_blank">death</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajasthan-passes-bill-giving-death-penalty-to-rapists-of-girls-below-12-years-35231" target="_blank"> penalty to rapists of girls under 12</a>

Rajasthan home minister GC Kataria said the government had made two amendments in the case -- adding life sentence and life imprisonment for convicts in offences against girls below 12 years of age and making a provision that a convict can&#39;t leave prison for life even after completing 14 years in jail.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/parag-agrawal-iit-alumnus-is-twitters-new-cto-35224" target="_blank">Parag Agrawal, </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/parag-agrawal-iit-alumnus-is-twitters-new-cto-35224" target="_blank">IIT</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/parag-agrawal-iit-alumnus-is-twitters-new-cto-35224" target="_blank"> alumnus, is Twitter&#39;s new CTO</a>

Microblogging platform Twitter has appointed &nbsp;IIT-Bombay alumnus Parag Agrawal as its chief technology officer (CTO), an update on the company&#39;s website said.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-surprised-at-north-koreas-offer-of-talks-rex-tillerson-35238" target="_blank">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-surprised-at-north-koreas-offer-of-talks-rex-tillerson-35238" target="_blank">&nbsp;surprised at North Korea&#39;s offer of talks: Rex Tillerson</a>

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday said Washington had been surprised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un&#39;s willingness to hold direct talks with the US on the nuclear standoff in the Korean peninsula.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pak-govt-making-efforts-to-mainstream-hafiz-saeed-and-his-system-mea-raveesh-kumar-35239" target="_blank">Pak govt making efforts to mainstream Hafiz Saeed and his system: India&#39;s MEA</a>

The Ministry of External Affairs, Raveesh Kumar has said that Pakistan is trying to make efforts to mainstream Hafiz Saeed and his system as a political party.

With quote from Hindi film song, Supreme Court allows passive euthanasia The Indian Supreme Court on Friday recognised the right to passive euthanasiafor the terminally ill. The decision was taken by a five-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra. Rajasthan passes bill providing for death penalty to rapists of girls under 12 Rajasthan home minister GC Kataria said the government had made two amendments in the case -- adding life sentence and life imprisonment for convicts in offences against girls below 12 years of age and making a provision that a convict can't leave prison for life even after completing 14 years in jail. Parag Agrawal, IIT alumnus, is Twitter's new CTO Microblogging platform Twitter has appointed IIT-Bombay alumnus Parag Agrawal as its chief technology officer (CTO), an update on the company's website said. US surprised at North Korea's offer of talks: Rex Tillerson Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday said Washington had been surprised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's willingness to hold direct talks with the US on the nuclear standoff in the Korean peninsula. Pak govt making efforts to mainstream Hafiz Saeed and his system: India's MEA The Ministry of External Affairs, Raveesh Kumar has said that Pakistan is trying to make efforts to mainstream Hafiz Saeed and his system as a political party.

WION Evening News brief, March 9, 2018

The US Holocaust Memorial Museum invalidated the prestigious Elie Wiesel Award that was presented to Myanmar&#39;s Aung San Suu Kyi in 2012.

In an official statement, the museum stated that the lack of action by the National League for Democracy (NLD), a social-liberal democratic political party founded and lead by the Myanmar State Counsellor, and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, against the genocide committed by the military against the Rohingya community, was the primary reason behind them stripping her of the award.

It has been reported that over 7,00,000 Rohingyas have fled the country in an attempt to escape the atrocities committed by the country&#39;s military against the minority community.

The release stated that last November, the museum released a detailed finding based on research on the crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, termed as &quot;mounting evidence of genocide&quot; committed by the Myanmar military against Rohingya civilians since October 2016.

Instead of condemning and stopping the military&#39;s brutal campaign, the NLD refused to cooperate with United Nations investigators, propagated hate against the Rohingya community, and cracked down on journalists trying to uncover the scope of the crimes in the Rakhine State.

&quot;As a living memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, the Museum stands in solidarity with victims of genocide and atrocity crimes and attempts to do for victims today what was not done for the Jews of Europe. As Elie Wiesel said, &quot;Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented,&quot;&nbsp;said the release by the museum, who &quot;did not take this decision lightly.&quot;

Lack of action by the National League for Democracy- the primary reason behind them stripping her of the award

The US Holocaust Memorial Museum invalidated the prestigious Elie Wiesel Award that was presented to Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi in 2012. In an official statement, the museum stated that the lack of action by the National League for Democracy (NLD), a social-liberal democratic political party founded and lead by the Myanmar State Counsellor, and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, against the genocide committed by the military against the Rohingya community, was the primary reason behind them stripping her of the award. It has been reported that over 7,00,000 Rohingyas have fled the country in an attempt to escape the atrocities committed by the country's military against the minority community. The release stated that last November, the museum released a detailed finding based on research on the crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, termed as "mounting evidence of genocide" committed by the Myanmar military against Rohingya civilians since October 2016. Instead of condemning and stopping the military's brutal campaign, the NLD refused to cooperate with United Nations investigators, propagated hate against the Rohingya community, and cracked down on journalists trying to uncover the scope of the crimes in the Rakhine State. "As a living memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, the Museum stands in solidarity with victims of genocide and atrocity crimes and attempts to do for victims today what was not done for the Jews of Europe. As Elie Wiesel said, "Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented," said the release by the museum, who "did not take this decision lightly."

Aung San Suu Kyi's award rescinded by US Museum

North Korea could buy time to build up and refine its nuclear arsenal, including a warhead able to survive re-entry into the Earth&rsquo;s atmosphere if it manages to drag out any talks with Washington, US officials and experts say.

Even if North Korea freezes nuclear detonations and missile tests during such talks - as South Korea has said Pyongyang offered to do - there is plenty of other technical work it could pursue while diplomatic efforts are under way, they say.

Such work could include completing development of a re-entry vehicle that can deliver a nuclear weapon, production of rocket frames, engines and mobile launchers and increasing the output of plutonium and highly enriched uranium for bomb-making.

&ldquo;North Korea can be expected to proceed on all these things ... unless an agreement freezes or stops these activities, something unlikely in the short run,&rdquo; said David Albright, a nuclear non-proliferation expert who heads Washington&#39;s Institute for Science and International Security.

President Donald Trump has said Pyongyang seems &quot;sincere&quot; in its offer of talks, but some in Washington are wary that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may be using it as a stalling tactic for further weapons development &ndash; especially of a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the US mainland - and to seek relief from tough international sanctions.

US intelligence officials have said Kim is only months away from being able to mount such a strike, while some experts say he may already have the basic capability, even if it remains untested.

The Trump administration must weigh such risks, including North Korea&rsquo;s history of reneging on commitments, in deciding whether to go to the negotiating table, US officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Proponents of engagement, including Joel Wit, a senior fellow at Washington&#39;s US-Korea Institute, said the fact that North Korea was unlikely to agree to a complete freeze of activity should not be an obstacle.

&quot;These programs are going to continue, but if we have a suspension of nuclear tests and missile tests, that&rsquo;s a good first step here. It&rsquo;s better than not having one,&quot; he said.

US officials said Trump would be prepared to quickly pull the plug on diplomacy if it becomes obvious that Pyongyang is just trying to drag out talks.

One administration official said that while it was unclear how long Trump might keep the negotiating window open, it would likely be evident in months &ldquo;if North Korea is just playing us.&rdquo;

Either way, US officials and experts agree there is value in getting North Korea to put its testing on hold as launches and detonations are vital to developing reliable weapons.

North Korea has tested dozens of missiles of various types in the past two years, including one launch of its largest-ever intercontinental ballistic missile, which is theoretically capable of hitting anywhere in the United States, on November 29. There have since been no more tests.

South Korean envoys, who met Kim in Pyongyang this week and who are due in Washington to brief US officials on Thursday, said he offered to suspend all nuclear and missile tests while conducting talks with the United States.

They said Kim also expressed a willingness to denuclearize, something he previously declared non-negotiable if his country&rsquo;s security was guaranteed.

US and South Korean officials worry that North Korea will ultimately lay down impossible demands in talks &ndash; such as the complete withdrawal of US forces from South Korea - and once diplomacy fails, emerge as an even greater threat than before.

Perhaps North Korea&#39;s biggest challenge, experts say, is to show it can produce a re-entry vehicle robust enough to prevent a nuclear warhead burning up when it hurtles back into the Earth&#39;s atmosphere.

Some of that work can be done on the ground, although a live test will eventually be needed as North Korea has never flown a missile at a trajectory that would simulate a long-range flight, experts say.

US officials and experts believe North Korea also needs more time to create facilities capable of mass-producing missiles, engines and other components - a challenge to any country even without the constraints of stringent international sanctions.

To create a credible deterrent to the United States, North Korea would have to show it has the ability to launch multiple missiles at once to circumvent the US anti-missile defences in the event of war.

It also needs additional transporter-erector-launchers, or TELs, to enable it to fire missiles from hastily established positions less vulnerable to detection and attack than permanent launch sites.

US intelligence officials have said Kim is only months away from being able to mount such a strike

North Korea could buy time to build up and refine its nuclear arsenal, including a warhead able to survive re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere if it manages to drag out any talks with Washington, US officials and experts say. Even if North Korea freezes nuclear detonations and missile tests during such talks - as South Korea has said Pyongyang offered to do - there is plenty of other technical work it could pursue while diplomatic efforts are under way, they say. Such work could include completing development of a re-entry vehicle that can deliver a nuclear weapon, production of rocket frames, engines and mobile launchers and increasing the output of plutonium and highly enriched uranium for bomb-making. “North Korea can be expected to proceed on all these things ... unless an agreement freezes or stops these activities, something unlikely in the short run,” said David Albright, a nuclear non-proliferation expert who heads Washington's Institute for Science and International Security. President Donald Trump has said Pyongyang seems "sincere" in its offer of talks, but some in Washington are wary that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may be using it as a stalling tactic for further weapons development – especially of a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the US mainland - and to seek relief from tough international sanctions. US intelligence officials have said Kim is only months away from being able to mount such a strike, while some experts say he may already have the basic capability, even if it remains untested. The Trump administration must weigh such risks, including North Korea’s history of reneging on commitments, in deciding whether to go to the negotiating table, US officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Proponents of engagement, including Joel Wit, a senior fellow at Washington's US-Korea Institute, said the fact that North Korea was unlikely to agree to a complete freeze of activity should not be an obstacle. "These programs are going to continue, but if we have a suspension of nuclear tests and missile tests, that’s a good first step here. It’s better than not having one," he said. US officials said Trump would be prepared to quickly pull the plug on diplomacy if it becomes obvious that Pyongyang is just trying to drag out talks. One administration official said that while it was unclear how long Trump might keep the negotiating window open, it would likely be evident in months “if North Korea is just playing us.” Either way, US officials and experts agree there is value in getting North Korea to put its testing on hold as launches and detonations are vital to developing reliable weapons. North Korea has tested dozens of missiles of various types in the past two years, including one launch of its largest-ever intercontinental ballistic missile, which is theoretically capable of hitting anywhere in the United States, on November 29. There have since been no more tests. South Korean envoys, who met Kim in Pyongyang this week and who are due in Washington to brief US officials on Thursday, said he offered to suspend all nuclear and missile tests while conducting talks with the United States. They said Kim also expressed a willingness to denuclearize, something he previously declared non-negotiable if his country’s security was guaranteed. US and South Korean officials worry that North Korea will ultimately lay down impossible demands in talks – such as the complete withdrawal of US forces from South Korea - and once diplomacy fails, emerge as an even greater threat than before. Perhaps North Korea's biggest challenge, experts say, is to show it can produce a re-entry vehicle robust enough to prevent a nuclear warhead burning up when it hurtles back into the Earth's atmosphere. Some of that work can be done on the ground, although a live test will eventually be needed as North Korea has never flown a missile at a trajectory that would simulate a long-range flight, experts say. US officials and experts believe North Korea also needs more time to create facilities capable of mass-producing missiles, engines and other components - a challenge to any country even without the constraints of stringent international sanctions. To create a credible deterrent to the United States, North Korea would have to show it has the ability to launch multiple missiles at once to circumvent the US anti-missile defences in the event of war. It also needs additional transporter-erector-launchers, or TELs, to enable it to fire missiles from hastily established positions less vulnerable to detection and attack than permanent launch sites.

US wary of North Korea weapons advances while talks take place

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; 
The US state of Florida, scene of America&#39;s latest school shooting, on Wednesday passed bill that raises the minimum age to buy firearms to 21 while funding a program that allows some teachers and school employees to be armed.

The &quot;Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act,&quot; which takes its name from last month&#39;s mass shooting in which 17 people including 14 students were killed, passed the legislature&#39;s lower house a day after clearing the Senate.

It will now be sent to Governor Rick Scott to sign.

The Republican has not indicated whether he would veto the law, but he has previously expressed opposition to US President Donald Trump&#39;s call to arm teachers.

America&#39;s long moribund gun control debate was revived by survivors of the Parkland shooting, who a day after their school was attacked launched the &quot;Never Again&quot; movement demanding legislative action.

The bill raises the minimum age to purchase all firearms from 18 to 21 -- a move opposed by the powerful National Rifle Association lobby group -- bans modification devices that make a semi-automatic weapon fully automatic and increases mental health funding.

It also includes a voluntary &quot;guardian program&quot; named after Coach Aaron Feis who was slain in the Parkland attack, which is intended to &quot;aid in the prevention or abatement of active assailant incidents on school premises&quot; by allowing some school employees to be armed.

The program is mainly aimed at staff such as coaches and school personnel, with teachers eligible if they have military or law enforcement experience.

Bringing more guns into school has been a controversial idea, but lawmakers defended the bill.&quot;I understand the angst about the guardian program but I can&#39;t help but think about the coaches who literally ran in as shields to protect their students ... while guys with guns were standing outside,&quot; said Republican member Chris Latvala.

&quot;If there are school personnel that want to go to the training to help shield the students and protect them, they should have the opportunity,&quot; he continued.

Meanwhile, Democrat legislators said the guardian program was a &quot;poison pill&quot; in a law otherwise taking necessary steps towards gun control.

&quot;I&#39;m taking and swallowing that poison pill. As much as I don&#39;t want to, I can&#39;t look in the mirror and leave here and think &#39;I did nothing to help&#39;,&quot; said Representative Joseph Geller.

African-American representatives also expressed fears that arming black school employees could leave them vulnerable to being mistaken for attackers by police arriving on the scene of a mass shooting.

Florida has seen three mass shootings in under two years -- 49 were killed at an Orlando nightclub in 2016, five at Fort Lauderdale&#39;s international airport in 2017, and now 17 in Parkland.

The bill does not ban the sale of the AR-15 assault rifle -- the weapon used by Nikolas Cruz -- one of the activists&#39;&nbsp;key demands.

Meanwhile, parents of American children killed in gun violence implored Congress to seize the moment and enact far-reaching gun reform, as the momentum for taking action stalls in politically divided Washington.

With no lawmakers from the controlling Republican Party present, a group of Senate Democrats held a makeshift hearing in the US Capitol to hear testimony from grieving relatives, a survivor of the Parkland shooting, teachers and police officers demanding change to the nation&#39;s laws.

&quot;How many more children are going to need to be slaughtered?&quot; 17-year-old David Hogg asked the senators. 
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Meanwhile, Democrat legislators said the guardian program was a "poison pill" in a law otherwise taking necessary steps towards gun control

The US state of Florida, scene of America's latest school shooting, on Wednesday passed bill that raises the minimum age to buy firearms to 21 while funding a program that allows some teachers and school employees to be armed. The "Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act," which takes its name from last month's mass shooting in which 17 people including 14 students were killed, passed the legislature's lower house a day after clearing the Senate. It will now be sent to Governor Rick Scott to sign. The Republican has not indicated whether he would veto the law, but he has previously expressed opposition to US President Donald Trump's call to arm teachers. America's long moribund gun control debate was revived by survivors of the Parkland shooting, who a day after their school was attacked launched the "Never Again" movement demanding legislative action. The bill raises the minimum age to purchase all firearms from 18 to 21 -- a move opposed by the powerful National Rifle Association lobby group -- bans modification devices that make a semi-automatic weapon fully automatic and increases mental health funding. It also includes a voluntary "guardian program" named after Coach Aaron Feis who was slain in the Parkland attack, which is intended to "aid in the prevention or abatement of active assailant incidents on school premises" by allowing some school employees to be armed. The program is mainly aimed at staff such as coaches and school personnel, with teachers eligible if they have military or law enforcement experience. Bringing more guns into school has been a controversial idea, but lawmakers defended the bill."I understand the angst about the guardian program but I can't help but think about the coaches who literally ran in as shields to protect their students ... while guys with guns were standing outside," said Republican member Chris Latvala. "If there are school personnel that want to go to the training to help shield the students and protect them, they should have the opportunity," he continued. Meanwhile, Democrat legislators said the guardian program was a "poison pill" in a law otherwise taking necessary steps towards gun control. "I'm taking and swallowing that poison pill. As much as I don't want to, I can't look in the mirror and leave here and think 'I did nothing to help'," said Representative Joseph Geller. African-American representatives also expressed fears that arming black school employees could leave them vulnerable to being mistaken for attackers by police arriving on the scene of a mass shooting. Florida has seen three mass shootings in under two years -- 49 were killed at an Orlando nightclub in 2016, five at Fort Lauderdale's international airport in 2017, and now 17 in Parkland. The bill does not ban the sale of the AR-15 assault rifle -- the weapon used by Nikolas Cruz -- one of the activists' key demands. Meanwhile, parents of American children killed in gun violence implored Congress to seize the moment and enact far-reaching gun reform, as the momentum for taking action stalls in politically divided Washington. With no lawmakers from the controlling Republican Party present, a group of Senate Democrats held a makeshift hearing in the US Capitol to hear testimony from grieving relatives, a survivor of the Parkland shooting, teachers and police officers demanding change to the nation's laws. "How many more children are going to need to be slaughtered?" 17-year-old David Hogg asked the senators.

Florida passes bill to restrict guns, arm some teachers

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