North Korea has expressed increasing frustration with the American side since Trump walked out of their last formal summit in February.

WION Dispatch: Kim Jong threatens Washington, calls for military countermeasures

Protesters attacked the US Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday, scaling the walls and forcing the gates of the compound, as hundreds demonstrated against American airstrikes on an Iran-backed militia group in Iraq.

WION Dispatch: Pro-Iran protesters attack US embassy over deadly Iraq strikes

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi on Monday condemned U.S. air strikes on bases of Iranian-backed Iraqi militia, a move that could plunge Iraq further into the heart of a proxy conflict between the United States and Iran.

Iraq condemns U.S. air strikes as 'unacceptable and dangerous'

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi has condemned the US air strikes which killed at least 25 members of an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia. The prime minister appeared to suggest that Iraq would now have to review its relationship with the US. #Iraq #IraqiPrimeMinister #IraqPM #US #USAirStrikes

Iraq PM Kataib Hezbollah condemns US airstrikes

At least two people were killed and one person was critically wounded in the US state of Texas on Sunday after a gunman opened fire inside a church near the city of Fort Worth.

Texas church shooting leaves two people dead and one injured

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for “positive and offensive measures” to ensure security at a ruling party meeting ahead of a year-end deadline. #KimJongUn #US #WIONFineprint #WION

Fineprint: U.S. vows action if North Korea provokes

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for “positive and offensive measures” to ensure security at a ruling party meeting ahead of a year-end deadline.

Kim Jong-un calls for 'offensive measures' as nuclear deadline looms

Chinese-Russian military and geopolitical cooperation is flourishing – for now.

If, however, the weapons industry is anything to go by, fraying at the edges of close ties between the two Asian powers may be on the horizon.

To be sure, Russia remains by far China’s foremost arms supplier even if China has no scruples about stealing Russian military technology, much like it allegedly does in the West.

So far, Russia, with a weak economy desperately in need of the revenues of weapons sales that undergird Moscow’s geopolitical heft, has been willing to look the other way.

The question is for how long.

By the same token, it’s a question that also applies to various other opportunistic alliances such as relationships between Russia, Turkey and Iran that are driven by short-term interests, first and foremost a desire to institutionalise a multi-polar world in which US power would be counterbalanced by others.

These alliances, adopting pragmatic approaches, have so far worked by focussing on immediate interests while carefully managing significant differences.

Those differences, nonetheless, surface regularly. Recently, alleged Chinese intellectual property theft as well as diametrically opposed Turkish, Russian and Iranian policies towards conflicts in Syria and Libya that have figured prominently in media reports.

Russian state defence conglomerate Rostec this month, in a rare public display of friction that echoed long-standing US allegations of Chinese technology theft, accused China of illegally copying Russian military hardware and weapons.

&nbsp;“Unauthorised copying of our equipment abroad is a huge problem. There have been 500 such cases over the past 17 years. China alone has copied aircraft engines, Sukhoi planes, deck jets, air defence systems, portable air defence missiles, and analogues of the Pantsir medium-range surface-to-air systems,” said Yevgeny Livadny, Rostec’s chief of intellectual property projects.

Livadny appeared to be referring among other things to alleged Chinese intellectual property theft after Russia sold to China in 2015 - six S-400 anti-aircraft systems and 24 Su-35 fighter jets for $5 billion.

China is thought to have benefitted from Russian technology when it in 2017 rolled out its fifth-generation Chengdu J-20 fighter that is believed to be technologically superior to Russia’s SU-57E.

Similarly, China is suspected of having based its J-11 fighter jet and HQ-9 surface-to-air missiles on Russia’s Su-27 fighter jets and S-300 missile systems purchased in the 1990s.

Chinese technology theft is unlikely to persuade Russia any time soon to forego the strategic advantages of its geopolitical cooperation with China.

But with China’s defence industry significantly improving its technological capabilities, Russia needs to ensure that it remains crucial to the People’s Republic’s military development for economic reasons as well as in a bid to maintain a balance in an alliance that is based on pursuing short-term common interests while kicking potential friction points down the road.

When it comes to arms, Russia is pressuring China to engage in joint weapons development while seeking to maintain a technological edge.

Russia last week sought to press its technological advantage by announcing that its new Avangard hypersonic intercontinental glide vehicle that can fly 27 times the speed of sound had become operational.

Positioning Russia as the first country to have hypersonic weapons, the Avangard is launched atop an intercontinental ballistic missile, but unlike a regular missile warhead that follows a predictable path after separation, it can make sharp manoeuvres in the atmosphere en route to the target, making it much harder to intercept.

In geopolitical terms, the Avangard may give Russia the first-starter advantage but at best is yet another band-aid to work around the fragility of not only the Russian Chinese alliance but also alliances like that of Turkey with Russia and with Iran.

The fragility of those alliances is evident in Turkish and Russian attempts to balance their competing interests in Syria and Libya. Turkey has criticised the ongoing Syrian-Russian assault on Idlib, the last Syrian rebel stronghold, and called for an immediate ceasefire.

Turkey and Russia are also at odds when it comes to Russian interference in Ukraine, the exploitation of natural gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict in the Caucasus over Nagorno-Karabagh and they compete for influence in the Balkans and Central Asia.

In Libya, Russia supports rebel Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar while Turkey has responded positively to a request by the United Nations-recognised government headed by prime minister Fayez al-Sarraj for military assistance.

“We believe that foreign interference will hardly help,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to reports that Turkey would deploy its navy to protect the Libyan capital of Tripoli, the seat of Al Sarraj’s government which has been under attack by Haftar’s Russian, Egyptian, United Arab Emirates and French-backed forces for the past eight months.

Peskov conveniently ignored the presence of hundreds of Russian mercenaries and snipers that are supporting Haftar’s insurgents.

To be sure, Turkey and Russia’s alliances tap into long-standing anti-Western civilisationalist ideologies adopted by men like prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Vladimir Putin who envision a Turkish and a Russian world that serve as spheres of influence.

In discussing the fragility of the Turkish Russian alliance scholars Gonul Tol and Omer Taspinar could in varying degrees have just as well as been talking about relationships between Russia and China, Russia and Iran or Turkey and Iran.

“Moscow and Ankara disagree on almost all issues of regional and strategic significance. In other words, a Eurasianist Turkey may very well be frustrated with both Washington and Brussels, but its military arrangement with Moscow does not automatically translate into harmony based on shared national interests in relations with Russia,” the two scholars wrote. 
 
(Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Chinese-Russian military and geopolitical cooperation is flourishing – for now. If, however, the weapons industry is anything to go by, fraying at the edges of close ties between the two Asian powers may be on the horizon.

Chinese-Russian military and geopolitical cooperation is flourishing – for now. If, however, the weapons industry is anything to go by, fraying at the edges of close ties between the two Asian powers may be on the horizon. To be sure, Russia remains by far China’s foremost arms supplier even if China has no scruples about stealing Russian military technology, much like it allegedly does in the West. So far, Russia, with a weak economy desperately in need of the revenues of weapons sales that undergird Moscow’s geopolitical heft, has been willing to look the other way. The question is for how long. By the same token, it’s a question that also applies to various other opportunistic alliances such as relationships between Russia, Turkey and Iran that are driven by short-term interests, first and foremost a desire to institutionalise a multi-polar world in which US power would be counterbalanced by others. These alliances, adopting pragmatic approaches, have so far worked by focussing on immediate interests while carefully managing significant differences. Those differences, nonetheless, surface regularly. Recently, alleged Chinese intellectual property theft as well as diametrically opposed Turkish, Russian and Iranian policies towards conflicts in Syria and Libya that have figured prominently in media reports. Russian state defence conglomerate Rostec this month, in a rare public display of friction that echoed long-standing US allegations of Chinese technology theft, accused China of illegally copying Russian military hardware and weapons. “Unauthorised copying of our equipment abroad is a huge problem. There have been 500 such cases over the past 17 years. China alone has copied aircraft engines, Sukhoi planes, deck jets, air defence systems, portable air defence missiles, and analogues of the Pantsir medium-range surface-to-air systems,” said Yevgeny Livadny, Rostec’s chief of intellectual property projects. Livadny appeared to be referring among other things to alleged Chinese intellectual property theft after Russia sold to China in 2015 - six S-400 anti-aircraft systems and 24 Su-35 fighter jets for $5 billion. China is thought to have benefitted from Russian technology when it in 2017 rolled out its fifth-generation Chengdu J-20 fighter that is believed to be technologically superior to Russia’s SU-57E. Similarly, China is suspected of having based its J-11 fighter jet and HQ-9 surface-to-air missiles on Russia’s Su-27 fighter jets and S-300 missile systems purchased in the 1990s. Chinese technology theft is unlikely to persuade Russia any time soon to forego the strategic advantages of its geopolitical cooperation with China. But with China’s defence industry significantly improving its technological capabilities, Russia needs to ensure that it remains crucial to the People’s Republic’s military development for economic reasons as well as in a bid to maintain a balance in an alliance that is based on pursuing short-term common interests while kicking potential friction points down the road. When it comes to arms, Russia is pressuring China to engage in joint weapons development while seeking to maintain a technological edge. Russia last week sought to press its technological advantage by announcing that its new Avangard hypersonic intercontinental glide vehicle that can fly 27 times the speed of sound had become operational. Positioning Russia as the first country to have hypersonic weapons, the Avangard is launched atop an intercontinental ballistic missile, but unlike a regular missile warhead that follows a predictable path after separation, it can make sharp manoeuvres in the atmosphere en route to the target, making it much harder to intercept. In geopolitical terms, the Avangard may give Russia the first-starter advantage but at best is yet another band-aid to work around the fragility of not only the Russian Chinese alliance but also alliances like that of Turkey with Russia and with Iran. The fragility of those alliances is evident in Turkish and Russian attempts to balance their competing interests in Syria and Libya. Turkey has criticised the ongoing Syrian-Russian assault on Idlib, the last Syrian rebel stronghold, and called for an immediate ceasefire. Turkey and Russia are also at odds when it comes to Russian interference in Ukraine, the exploitation of natural gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict in the Caucasus over Nagorno-Karabagh and they compete for influence in the Balkans and Central Asia. In Libya, Russia supports rebel Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar while Turkey has responded positively to a request by the United Nations-recognised government headed by prime minister Fayez al-Sarraj for military assistance. “We believe that foreign interference will hardly help,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to reports that Turkey would deploy its navy to protect the Libyan capital of Tripoli, the seat of Al Sarraj’s government which has been under attack by Haftar’s Russian, Egyptian, United Arab Emirates and French-backed forces for the past eight months. Peskov conveniently ignored the presence of hundreds of Russian mercenaries and snipers that are supporting Haftar’s insurgents. To be sure, Turkey and Russia’s alliances tap into long-standing anti-Western civilisationalist ideologies adopted by men like prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Vladimir Putin who envision a Turkish and a Russian world that serve as spheres of influence. In discussing the fragility of the Turkish Russian alliance scholars Gonul Tol and Omer Taspinar could in varying degrees have just as well as been talking about relationships between Russia and China, Russia and Iran or Turkey and Iran. “Moscow and Ankara disagree on almost all issues of regional and strategic significance. In other words, a Eurasianist Turkey may very well be frustrated with both Washington and Brussels, but its military arrangement with Moscow does not automatically translate into harmony based on shared national interests in relations with Russia,” the two scholars wrote. (Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

China-Russia partnership is driven by short-term interests

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has thanked US counterpart Donald Trump for intelligence that helped foil "acts of terrorism" on Russian soil #WION #Putin #DonaldTrump

Putin thanks Trump for foiling New Year attacks

The United States carried out airstrikes against five locations in Iraq and Syria on Sunday, targeting multiple weapons and munitions depots linked to Iran.

US launches attacks on Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria

The United States would be very disappointed if <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-kim-holds-top-party-meeting-ahead-of-us-deadline-270787">North Korea</a> tested a long-range or nuclear missile and would take appropriate action as a leading military and economic power, White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien said on Sunday.

Washington has many "tools in its tool kit" to respond to any such test, O'Brien said in an interview with ABC's "This Week."

"We'll reserve judgment but the United States will take action as we do in these situations," he said. "If Kim Jong Un takes that approach we'll be extraordinarily disappointed and we'll demonstrate that disappointment."

North Korea has asked Washington to offer a new initiative to iron out differences over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program. It warned Washington this month that failure to meet its expectations could result in an unwanted "Christmas gift."

US&nbsp;military commanders have said the North Korean move could involve the testing of a long-range missile - something North Korea has suspended, along with nuclear bomb tests, since 2017.

O'Brien said the United States and North Korea had open channels of communication but did not elaborate. He said Washington hoped North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would live up to his commitments to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

The United States was still the leading military power in the world and had tremendous economic power, said O'Brien. "There's a lot of pressure that we can bring to bear," he said.

North Korea threatened a Christmas surprise, despite the fact that Trump and Kim have engaged in personal diplomacy over the years and have a good personal relationship, O'Brien said.

"So perhaps he's reconsidered that," O'Brien added. "But we will have to wait and see. We're going to monitor it closely. It's a situation that concerns us, of course."

Kim convened a meeting of top ruling party officials on Saturday to discuss important policy matters ahead of the year-end deadline set by Kim for the United States, the state news agency said on Sunday.

Senator Ben Cardin, a Democrat on the US&nbsp;Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said meetings between the two leaders have produced "very little" on denuclearization.

"So what I want to see, I want to see is the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, make a full declaration of his nuclear weapons program and make a real commitment to start to dismantle that," he said. "We haven’t seen any of that during the Trump administration."

The United States would be very disappointed if North Korea tested a long-range or nuclear missile and would take appropriate action as a leading military and economic power, White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien said on Sunday.

The United States would be very disappointed if North Korea tested a long-range or nuclear missile and would take appropriate action as a leading military and economic power, White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien said on Sunday. Washington has many "tools in its tool kit" to respond to any such test, O'Brien said in an interview with ABC's "This Week." "We'll reserve judgment but the United States will take action as we do in these situations," he said. "If Kim Jong Un takes that approach we'll be extraordinarily disappointed and we'll demonstrate that disappointment." North Korea has asked Washington to offer a new initiative to iron out differences over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program. It warned Washington this month that failure to meet its expectations could result in an unwanted "Christmas gift." US military commanders have said the North Korean move could involve the testing of a long-range missile - something North Korea has suspended, along with nuclear bomb tests, since 2017. O'Brien said the United States and North Korea had open channels of communication but did not elaborate. He said Washington hoped North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would live up to his commitments to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. The United States was still the leading military power in the world and had tremendous economic power, said O'Brien. "There's a lot of pressure that we can bring to bear," he said. North Korea threatened a Christmas surprise, despite the fact that Trump and Kim have engaged in personal diplomacy over the years and have a good personal relationship, O'Brien said. "So perhaps he's reconsidered that," O'Brien added. "But we will have to wait and see. We're going to monitor it closely. It's a situation that concerns us, of course." Kim convened a meeting of top ruling party officials on Saturday to discuss important policy matters ahead of the year-end deadline set by Kim for the United States, the state news agency said on Sunday. Senator Ben Cardin, a Democrat on the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said meetings between the two leaders have produced "very little" on denuclearization. "So what I want to see, I want to see is the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, make a full declaration of his nuclear weapons program and make a real commitment to start to dismantle that," he said. "We haven’t seen any of that during the Trump administration."

United States promises action on any North Korea missile test: White House

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday warned Russia, Syria and Iran against killing civilians in Syria’s Idlib province. #WION #DonaldTrump #Trump

Trump warns Russia, Syria, Iran against killing civilians in Idlib

China’s official spokesperson of the commerce ministry said on Thursday that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/deal-is-done-will-have-signing-ceremony-soon-trump-on-china-trade-deal-270074">United States and China </a>are going through necessary procedures before the signing the Phase 1 of the trade deal.

Gao Feng, the commerce ministry spokesman, made the comments to reporters at a regular briefing.

He also said that China is in close touch with the United States on signing a Phase 1 trade deal.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he and Chinese President Xi Jinping will have a signing ceremony to sign the first phase of the US-China trade deal agreed to this month.

"We will be having a signing ceremony, yes," Trump told reporters. "We will ultimately, yes, when we get together. And we'll be having a quicker signing because we want to get it done. The deal is done, it's just being translated right now."

(With inputs from Reuters)

China’s official spokesperson of the commerce ministry said on Thursday that the United States and China are going through necessary procedures before the signing the Phase 1 of the trade deal.

China’s official spokesperson of the commerce ministry said on Thursday that the United States and China are going through necessary procedures before the signing the Phase 1 of the trade deal. Gao Feng, the commerce ministry spokesman, made the comments to reporters at a regular briefing. He also said that China is in close touch with the United States on signing a Phase 1 trade deal. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he and Chinese President Xi Jinping will have a signing ceremony to sign the first phase of the US-China trade deal agreed to this month. "We will be having a signing ceremony, yes," Trump told reporters. "We will ultimately, yes, when we get together. And we'll be having a quicker signing because we want to get it done. The deal is done, it's just being translated right now." (With inputs from Reuters)

US-China trade deal: Both countries near Phase 1 signing, says China commerce ministry

People of Indian origin held marches in several cities of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-issues-travel-advisory-for-its-citizens-in-india-amid-anti-citizenship-act-protests-269837">United States</a> on Tuesday (local time) in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which was enacted on December 12.

Watch:&nbsp;PM Modi condemns violence, urges anti-CAA protesters to introspect

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The demonstration was carried out in various cities of the US including Austin, Raleigh, and Seattle. 
 
It is important to note that Democrat Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government over the CAA, is contesting from Seattle. 
 
Demonstrators held placards along with Indian flags and were seen raising slogans in support of CAA including 'Stop the violence, Stop the hate. India is a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/why-india-is-conflicted-269552">secular state</a>'. A placard read: 'NRIs support CAA'. 
 
The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/citizenship-amendment-act-indias-domestic-policy-russia-269792">Citizenship (Amendment) Bill</a> was passed by the Indian Parliament earlier this week and became an Act with Presidential assent on November 12. 
 
The legislation provides Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, who arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014. 
 
Since the enactment of the CAA, protests have erupted in various parts of India including its national capital.

People of Indian origin held marches in several cities of the United States on Tuesday (local time) in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which was enacted on December 12.

People of Indian origin held marches in several cities of the United States on Tuesday (local time) in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which was enacted on December 12. Watch: PM Modi condemns violence, urges anti-CAA protesters to introspect × The demonstration was carried out in various cities of the US including Austin, Raleigh, and Seattle. It is important to note that Democrat Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government over the CAA, is contesting from Seattle. Demonstrators held placards along with Indian flags and were seen raising slogans in support of CAA including 'Stop the violence, Stop the hate. India is a secular state'. A placard read: 'NRIs support CAA'. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was passed by the Indian Parliament earlier this week and became an Act with Presidential assent on November 12. The legislation provides Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, who arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014. Since the enactment of the CAA, protests have erupted in various parts of India including its national capital.

'India is a secular state': Indian diaspora rally for Citizenship Act in US

The World is One News, WION examines global issues with in-depth analysis. We provide much more than the news of the day. Our aim is to empower people to explore their world. #WION #WIONSpeedNews #Boeing #BoeingCEO #Russia #Moscow #India #NPR #Donald Trump

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - December 25, 2019

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/oil-eases-but-supported-by-trade-deal-hopes-269679">Oil&nbsp;prices</a>&nbsp;edged&nbsp;higher&nbsp;on Tuesday in thin pre-Christmas trading after Russia's energy minister said cooperation with OPEC to&nbsp;support&nbsp;the market would continue and as analysts&nbsp;forecast&nbsp;a second weekly decline in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/oil-falls-as-us-inventories-rise-but-demand-hopes-stem-bigger-drop-268973">US&nbsp;crude inventories</a>.

Brent crude was up 5 cents at $66.44 a barrel by 0321 GMT. US&nbsp;West Texas Intermediate was 1 cent&nbsp;higher&nbsp;at $60.53 a barrel.

OPEC, Russia and other producers that have linked up to curtail production and&nbsp;support&nbsp;prices&nbsp;will continue their cooperation as long as it is "effective and brings results," Russian energy minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/opec-and-allies-prepare-to-deepen-oil-output-cuts-266447">Alexander Novak</a> said in an interview on Monday.

Cooperation with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/oil-slips-as-opec-gears-up-to-confirm-supply-cut-266600">OPEC</a>) would continue "until the market requires it," Novak added.

OPEC and other producers agreed in November to extend and deepen output curbs in place since 2017. The reduction of output could see as much as 2.1 million barrels per day (bpd) taken off the market, or about 2 per cent&nbsp;of global demand.

Still, OPEC needs to do more to balance out the market on a sustainable basis, Bjornar Tonhaugen, head of&nbsp;oil&nbsp;market research at Rystad Energy said in a note.

"The OPEC&nbsp;cuts&nbsp;didn't fully solve the problem&nbsp;instead they offer a light bandage to get through the first quarter of 2020," said Tonhaugen, adding "after that, we believe the market will begin to realize the looming oversupply."

US&nbsp;producers have been happy to fill any gaps in the market, pumping ever greater amounts of crude to reach a record high of around 13 million bpd in November.

That has helped swell inventories, which have been stubbornly resistant to drawdowns. US&nbsp;stocks are up around 1 per cent&nbsp;this year.

Crude stocks are, however, expected to have fallen by about 1.8 million barrels last week, a second week of declines, according to a preliminary&nbsp;poll.

Still, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/oil-gains-on-us-crude-stocks-fall-opec-comments-on-slower-us-shale-growth-262061">gasoline stocks</a> are expected to have risen for a seventh week in a row and distillate inventories are&nbsp;forecast&nbsp;to have gained for a fifth consecutive week.

Oil prices edged higher on Tuesday in thin pre-Christmas trading after Russia's energy minister said cooperation with OPEC to support the market would continue and as analysts forecast a second weekly decline in US crude inventories.

Oil prices edged higher on Tuesday in thin pre-Christmas trading after Russia's energy minister said cooperation with OPEC to support the market would continue and as analysts forecast a second weekly decline in US crude inventories. Brent crude was up 5 cents at $66.44 a barrel by 0321 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate was 1 cent higher at $60.53 a barrel. OPEC, Russia and other producers that have linked up to curtail production and support prices will continue their cooperation as long as it is "effective and brings results," Russian energy minister Alexander Novak said in an interview on Monday. Cooperation with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) would continue "until the market requires it," Novak added. OPEC and other producers agreed in November to extend and deepen output curbs in place since 2017. The reduction of output could see as much as 2.1 million barrels per day (bpd) taken off the market, or about 2 per cent of global demand. Still, OPEC needs to do more to balance out the market on a sustainable basis, Bjornar Tonhaugen, head of oil market research at Rystad Energy said in a note. "The OPEC cuts didn't fully solve the problem instead they offer a light bandage to get through the first quarter of 2020," said Tonhaugen, adding "after that, we believe the market will begin to realize the looming oversupply." US producers have been happy to fill any gaps in the market, pumping ever greater amounts of crude to reach a record high of around 13 million bpd in November. That has helped swell inventories, which have been stubbornly resistant to drawdowns. US stocks are up around 1 per cent this year. Crude stocks are, however, expected to have fallen by about 1.8 million barrels last week, a second week of declines, according to a preliminary poll. Still, gasoline stocks are expected to have risen for a seventh week in a row and distillate inventories are forecast to have gained for a fifth consecutive week.

Oil prices inch higher in pre-Christmas trading

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/phase-one-trade-deal-with-china-would-be-signed-very-shortly-donald-trump-269576">United States</a> President Donald Trump responded to North Korea's warning of a ''Christmas gift''. He added that the US would "deal with it very successfully".

After the warning from North Korea, concerns in the United States that Pyongyang might be preparing a missile test rose immediately.

"We'll find out what the surprise is and we'll deal with it very successfully," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort. "We'll see what happens", he added.

Watch:&nbsp;Donald Trump -&nbsp;US&nbsp;is keeping a close watch on North Korea

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Earlier this month, North Korea had <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-xi-jinping-give-positive-signals-on-trade-deal-after-phone-call-269443">warned the US</a> of sending a ''Christmas gift'' amid the inability of both the countries to reach a trade deal.

"Maybe it's a nice present," he quipped. "Maybe it's a present where he sends me a beautiful vase as opposed to a missile test."

Kim Jong Un gave the United States until the end of the year to propose new concessions in talks over his country’s nuclear arsenal and to further reduce tensions between the two long-time adversaries.

The ''Christmas gift'' statement was made by North Korea on December 3, after it accused the US counterparts of dragging out denuclearisation talks before the US presidential election.

It was "entirely up to the US what Christmas gift it will select to get", North Korea had said.

North Korea has suspended the testing of long-range missiles and nuclear bombs since 2017. According to many US military commanders, North Korea could test a long-range missile.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/so-unfair-donald-trump-slams-impeachment-delay-in-senate-269522">According to Trump</a>, North Korea's suspension of tests was a testimony to their meaningful relationship.

(With inputs from agencies)

United States President Donald Trump responded to North Korea's warning of a ''Christmas gift''. He added that the US would "deal with it very successfully". After the warning from North Korea, concerns in the United States that Pyongyang might be preparing a missile test rose immediately.

United States President Donald Trump responded to North Korea's warning of a ''Christmas gift''. He added that the US would "deal with it very successfully". After the warning from North Korea, concerns in the United States that Pyongyang might be preparing a missile test rose immediately. "We'll find out what the surprise is and we'll deal with it very successfully," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort. "We'll see what happens", he added. Watch: Donald Trump - US is keeping a close watch on North Korea Earlier this month, North Korea had warned the US of sending a ''Christmas gift'' amid the inability of both the countries to reach a trade deal. "Maybe it's a nice present," he quipped. "Maybe it's a present where he sends me a beautiful vase as opposed to a missile test." Kim Jong Un gave the United States until the end of the year to propose new concessions in talks over his country’s nuclear arsenal and to further reduce tensions between the two long-time adversaries. The ''Christmas gift'' statement was made by North Korea on December 3, after it accused the US counterparts of dragging out denuclearisation talks before the US presidential election. It was "entirely up to the US what Christmas gift it will select to get", North Korea had said. North Korea has suspended the testing of long-range missiles and nuclear bombs since 2017. According to many US military commanders, North Korea could test a long-range missile. According to Trump, North Korea's suspension of tests was a testimony to their meaningful relationship. (With inputs from agencies)

'We'll deal with it successfully': Donald Trump on North Korea's 'Christmas gift' threat

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US military personnel began an operation to deliver Christmas presents to troops in Syria. Troops taking part in 'Holiday Express' transported stockings stuffed with gifts to five bases in the country's east on Monday.

Special Christmas delivery for US troops in Syria

US&nbsp;trade, economic and scientific restrictions on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-slams-pompeo-criticism-of-syria-aid-veto-269763">China and "smears"</a> against its sovereignty are impacting global stability and development, the Chinese government's top diplomat said in comments published on Monday.

Even as the world's two largest economies have taken steps to cool a bitter trade war, they remain far apart on a string of issues including anti-government protests in Hong Kong, Syria, human rights and the status of Chinese-claimed Taiwan.

China has been particularly upset by criticism from senior US&nbsp;officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, of China's ruling Communist Party and of the country's treatment of its Muslim Uighur minority.

The United States says it is determined to speak out about human rights abuses in China, re-balance what it sees as a mismatched trade relationship and stop potential national security threats with restrictions on Chinese companies such as tech giant Huawei.

In a year-end interview with state media, State Councillor Wang Yi said this year marking 40 years of ties between the People's Republic of China and the United States should have been an important anniversary for both to mark.

"Regrettably, the United States has successively imposed restrictions and put pressure on China in various fields such as economy, trade, science and technology, and on a series of issues concerning China's territorial sovereignty has interfered and smeared (us)," Wang said.

"What the United States has done has undermined <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-north-korea-talks-more-important-than-anything-south-korea-tells-china-269749">Sino-US&nbsp;mutual trust</a> accumulated over the past 40 years and has also impacted the stability and development of the entire world," he added, in excerpts of the interview carried on the Chinese Foreign Ministry's website.

Wang said China would safeguard its core interests and right to legitimate development, and no person or force can stop the 1.4 billion Chinese people from the path of modernisation.

China wants to resolve problems that arise with the United States through dialogue and on the basis of mutual respect, he added.

"We hope that the United States will rebuild its objective and correct understanding of China," Wang said.

US trade, economic and scientific restrictions on China and "smears" against its sovereignty are impacting global stability and development, the Chinese government's top diplomat said in comments published on Monday.

US trade, economic and scientific restrictions on China and "smears" against its sovereignty are impacting global stability and development, the Chinese government's top diplomat said in comments published on Monday. Even as the world's two largest economies have taken steps to cool a bitter trade war, they remain far apart on a string of issues including anti-government protests in Hong Kong, Syria, human rights and the status of Chinese-claimed Taiwan. China has been particularly upset by criticism from senior US officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, of China's ruling Communist Party and of the country's treatment of its Muslim Uighur minority. The United States says it is determined to speak out about human rights abuses in China, re-balance what it sees as a mismatched trade relationship and stop potential national security threats with restrictions on Chinese companies such as tech giant Huawei. In a year-end interview with state media, State Councillor Wang Yi said this year marking 40 years of ties between the People's Republic of China and the United States should have been an important anniversary for both to mark. "Regrettably, the United States has successively imposed restrictions and put pressure on China in various fields such as economy, trade, science and technology, and on a series of issues concerning China's territorial sovereignty has interfered and smeared (us)," Wang said. "What the United States has done has undermined Sino-US mutual trust accumulated over the past 40 years and has also impacted the stability and development of the entire world," he added, in excerpts of the interview carried on the Chinese Foreign Ministry's website. Wang said China would safeguard its core interests and right to legitimate development, and no person or force can stop the 1.4 billion Chinese people from the path of modernisation. China wants to resolve problems that arise with the United States through dialogue and on the basis of mutual respect, he added. "We hope that the United States will rebuild its objective and correct understanding of China," Wang said.

US 'smears' impacting global stability: China

United States President Donald Trump has signed the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, authorising the establishment of Space Force which would become the sixth branch of the armed forces. #US #USPresident #DonaldTrump #USSpaceforce

President Donald Trump officially launches US Space Force

Officials and security sources&nbsp;reported that "US forces conducted an operation and captured a leader of paramilitary Sunni tribal fighters over participating in a rocket attack on an airbase housing US&nbsp;troops stationed in Iraq's western province of Anbar.

"The US&nbsp;troops conducted an airdrop operation before dawn on a house in Jubba area and arrested Naseer al-Obeidi, a leader of local tribal fighters affiliated with the Hashd Shaabi forces"&nbsp;a local official said, on condition of anonymity.

Multiple rockets hit an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/rockets-hit-military-base-near-baghdad-airport-6-wounded-military-statement-267191">airbase</a> that houses US troops in western Iraq`s Anbar province on December 3 but no casualties were reported, the Iraqi military had said.

The incident came just over a week after US Vice President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/american-vice-president-avoids-baghdad-leaders-on-surprise-iraq-visit-264128">Mike Pence</a> and his wife Karen had met the American soldiers stationed at the base ahead of Thanksgiving Day.

Officials and security sources reported that "US forces conducted an operation and captured a leader of paramilitary Sunni tribal fighters over participating in a rocket attack on an airbase housing US troops stationed in Iraq's western province of Anbar.

Officials and security sources reported that "US forces conducted an operation and captured a leader of paramilitary Sunni tribal fighters over participating in a rocket attack on an airbase housing US troops stationed in Iraq's western province of Anbar. "The US troops conducted an airdrop operation before dawn on a house in Jubba area and arrested Naseer al-Obeidi, a leader of local tribal fighters affiliated with the Hashd Shaabi forces" a local official said, on condition of anonymity. Multiple rockets hit an airbase that houses US troops in western Iraq`s Anbar province on December 3 but no casualties were reported, the Iraqi military had said. The incident came just over a week after US Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen had met the American soldiers stationed at the base ahead of Thanksgiving Day.

Iraq: US Forces capture leader of paramilitary Sunni tribal fighters

Putin speaks about Donald Trump's impeachment, Ukraine, presidential term limits & arms race with the U.S.

Gravitas: Putin's annual press conference: Key takeaways

U.S. President Donald Trump impeached in the House of Representatives. #Trump #USPresident #DonaldTrump

Gravitas: President Trump impeached in the house

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