The US has said it is looking forward to continue to engage with the reinstated Sri Lankan <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/ranil-wickremesinghe-sri-lankas-reformist-premiere-184790">Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe</a>, now that the nearly two-month-long political crisis in the South Asian country has been resolved peacefully and democratically.

Sri Lankan <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/rajapaksa-bribed-parliamentarians-to-prove-majority-president-sirisena-182684">President Maithripala Sirisena</a> had controversially sacked Wickremesinghe as prime minister on October 26 and appointed Sinhala strongman <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/former-pm-mahinda-rajapaksa-becomes-sri-lankas-main-opposition-leader-185083">Mahinda Rajapaksa</a> in his place. The shock move had plunged Sri Lanka into an unprecedented constitutional crisis.

Sirisena had to reinstate Wickremesinghe on Sunday after the Supreme Court ruled that his action violated the constitution and the legislature voted confidence in Wickremesinghe.

"We are pleased to have seen the democratic, constitutional processes play out through the courts in Sri Lanka, ultimately addressing the political crisis in keeping with democratic and constitutional norms," Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia David Ranz told a group of Indian reporters on Wednesday.

"We look forward to continuing to engage with Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and his cabinet as well as President Sirisena to advance cooperation on bilateral and regional issues of common interest," said Ranz, who just returned from a trip to Sri Lanka.

The US, he said, anticipates the Sri Lankan government will focus on taking steps to bolster the economy and restore the country's international standing.

"During my visit, I conveyed that, as a friend and partner of Sri Lanka for 70 years, the United States wished to see the political crisis resolved in a manner befitting Sri Lanka's democratic traditions and in keeping with its status as South Asia's oldest democracy," he said.

The US has said it is looking forward to continue to engage with the reinstated Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, now that the nearly two-month-long political crisis in the South Asian country has been resolved peacefully and democratically.

The US has said it is looking forward to continue to engage with the reinstated Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, now that the nearly two-month-long political crisis in the South Asian country has been resolved peacefully and democratically. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena had controversially sacked Wickremesinghe as prime minister on October 26 and appointed Sinhala strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place. The shock move had plunged Sri Lanka into an unprecedented constitutional crisis. Sirisena had to reinstate Wickremesinghe on Sunday after the Supreme Court ruled that his action violated the constitution and the legislature voted confidence in Wickremesinghe. "We are pleased to have seen the democratic, constitutional processes play out through the courts in Sri Lanka, ultimately addressing the political crisis in keeping with democratic and constitutional norms," Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia David Ranz told a group of Indian reporters on Wednesday. "We look forward to continuing to engage with Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and his cabinet as well as President Sirisena to advance cooperation on bilateral and regional issues of common interest," said Ranz, who just returned from a trip to Sri Lanka. The US, he said, anticipates the Sri Lankan government will focus on taking steps to bolster the economy and restore the country's international standing. "During my visit, I conveyed that, as a friend and partner of Sri Lanka for 70 years, the United States wished to see the political crisis resolved in a manner befitting Sri Lanka's democratic traditions and in keeping with its status as South Asia's oldest democracy," he said.

Looking forward to continuing to engage with PM Wickremesinghe: US

The United States military will continue its air campaign in Syria at least in the short term, the Pentagon said Thursday, after President Donald Trump declared victory over the Islamic State group.

Trump shocked the US establishment and international allies Wednesday when he announced that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-defends-pullout-from-syria-says-time-for-others-to-finally-fight-185539">all US troops would be withdrawn from Syria</a>.

He did not address the air campaign, in which the United States and partner nations including France and Britain have spent years pounding IS targets across the country.

Pentagon spokeswoman Commander Rebecca Rebarich said the US would continue its air war while American soldiers were in Syria — but she would not say if the campaign would continue afterward.

"As long are there are troops on the ground, the US will conduct air strikes in support of our forces," Rebarich told AFP.

"As for anything post-US troops on the ground, we will not speculate on future operations."

A US defense official told AFP that "there's not a lot of clarity on the future situation."&nbsp;

"What we do in the air campaign will depend on the situation on the ground, and what partners and allies who are continuing the fight against ISIS do," the official said.

France and Britain have already indicated they will continue counter-IS operations.

The air war has been the keystone of US operations in Syria, with warplanes and drones hammering IS targets since 2014.&nbsp;

According to the most recent official strike summary, published on Wednesday, the US-led coalition conducted 208 air and artillery strikes in Syria last week.

The United States military will continue its air campaign in Syria at least in the short term, the Pentagon said Thursday, after President Donald Trump declared victory over the Islamic State group.

The United States military will continue its air campaign in Syria at least in the short term, the Pentagon said Thursday, after President Donald Trump declared victory over the Islamic State group. Trump shocked the US establishment and international allies Wednesday when he announced that all US troops would be withdrawn from Syria. He did not address the air campaign, in which the United States and partner nations including France and Britain have spent years pounding IS targets across the country. Pentagon spokeswoman Commander Rebecca Rebarich said the US would continue its air war while American soldiers were in Syria — but she would not say if the campaign would continue afterward. "As long are there are troops on the ground, the US will conduct air strikes in support of our forces," Rebarich told AFP. "As for anything post-US troops on the ground, we will not speculate on future operations." A US defense official told AFP that "there's not a lot of clarity on the future situation." "What we do in the air campaign will depend on the situation on the ground, and what partners and allies who are continuing the fight against ISIS do," the official said. France and Britain have already indicated they will continue counter-IS operations. The air war has been the keystone of US operations in Syria, with warplanes and drones hammering IS targets since 2014. According to the most recent official strike summary, published on Wednesday, the US-led coalition conducted 208 air and artillery strikes in Syria last week.

Pentagon says US will continue Syria air war for now, future unclear

US Central Bank hikes key lending interest rates for the fourth time this year

The arrival of the USS John C Stennis aircraft carrier group in the Gulf to deter Iran from further testing ballistic missiles is likely to dampen Indian hopes that the Trump administration’s exemption of the port of Chabahar from sanctions against the Islamic republic would help it tighten economic relations with Central Asia and further regional integration.

The group’s presence in the Gulf, the first by a US aircraft carrier in eight months, came amid mounting tension between the United States and Iran following the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the 2015 international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear programme and the imposition of harsh sanctions against the Islamic republic. It raised the spectre of a potential military conflagration.

The deployment for a period of two months coincided with a suicide attack on a Revolutionary Guards headquarters in Chabahar that killed two people and wounded 40 others.

Saudi and Iranian media reported that Ansar al-Furqan, a shadowy Iranian Sunni jihadi group that Iran claims is supported by the kingdom as well as the United States and Israel, had claimed responsibility for the attack.

Saudi pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat asserted that the attack “reflects the anger harboured by the (city’s Baloch) minority against the government.” The paper said the Iranian government had expelled thousands of Baloch families from Chabahar and replaced them with Persians in a bid to change its demography. It asserted that Iran was granting nationality to Afghan Shiites who had fought in Syria and Iraq and was moving them to Chabahar.

The paper went on to say that “anti-regime Baloch movements have recently intensified their operations against Tehran in an attempt to deter it from carrying out its plan to expel and marginalise the Baloch from their ancestral regions.”

Saudi Arabia, a staunch supporter of the US’s confrontational approach towards Iran, has pumped large amounts of money into militant, ultraconservative Sunni Muslim anti-Shiite and anti-Iranian religious seminaries along the border between the Pakistani province of Balochistan and the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchistan that is home to Chabahar, according to militants.

The funding was designed to create the building blocks for a potential covert effort to destabilise Iran by stirring unrest among its ethnic minorities.

The deployment was, according to US officials in response to Iran’s test-firing of a ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple warheads. The US sanctions are in part designed to force Iran to drop its development of ballistic missiles. Iranian officials insist the missiles program is defensive in nature.

&nbsp;“We are accumulating risk of escalation in the region if we fail to restore deterrence,” said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The spectre of increased military tension in the Gulf with the arrival of the aircraft carrier group and of potentially Saudi and US-backed political violence in Iran and a troubling security situation in Afghanistan threatened to diminish the impact of Washington’s granting Indian investment in Chabahar an exemption from its economic sanctions against Iran.

Indian and Iranian officials fear that the United States’ stepped up military posture and heightened tensions could undermine their efforts to turn Chabahar, which sits at the top of the Arabian Sea, into a hub for trade between India and Central Asia rendering the US waiver worthless.

The officials have their hopes pinned on efforts to engineer a peace process in Afghanistan. US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad alongside representatives of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan met this week with the Taliban. The talks are intended to negotiate an end to Afghanistan’s 17-year old war.

An Afghan government delegation, in what diplomats saw as a sign of progress, hovered in the corridors but did not take part in the meeting because of the Taliban’s insistence that it will only talk to the United States. Talks with the Taliban have so far stalled because of the group’s insistence on a timetable for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan.

US officials said the aircraft carrier group, beyond seeking to deter Iran, would also support the US war effort in Afghanistan where the United States has ramped up airstrikes in an effort to press the Taliban into peace talks.

The talks were an opportunity, particularly for Saudi Arabia, whose utility as an ally is being questioned by the US Congress in the wake of the October 2 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, and Pakistan, which the United States accuses of supporting the Taliban, to demonstrate their utility.

US President Donald Trump asked Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan in a letter earlier this month to help bring the Taliban to the negotiating table.

While Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have an interest in using their close ties to the Taliban to help forge an end to the Afghan war, it's not immediately clear that they want to see reduced tensions facilitate the emergence of Chabahar as an Indian-backed hub.

A Saudi think tank, the Arabian Gulf Centre for Iranian Studies (AGCIS) renamed the International Institute of Iranian Studies that is believed to be backed by Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, argued in a study last year that Chabahar posed “a direct threat to the Arab Gulf states” that called for “immediate countermeasures.”

Written by Mohammed Hassan Husseinbor, identified as an Iranian political researcher, the study warned that Chabahar posed a threat because it would enable Iran to increase greater market share in India for its oil exports at the expense of Saudi Arabia, raise foreign investment in the Islamic republic, increase government revenues, and allow Iran to project power in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean.

Noting the vast expanses of Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan province, Husseinbor went on to say that “It would be a formidable challenge, if not impossible, for the Iranian government to protect such long distances and secure Chabahar in the face of widespread Baluch opposition, particularly if this opposition is supported by Iran’s regional adversaries and world powers.”

Similarly, Pakistan is heavily invested in Gwadar, the Chinese-backed port in Balochistan that is a crown jewel of the $45 billion-plus China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a pillar of the People’s Republic’s Belt and Road initiative. Gwadar is a mere 70 kilometres up the coast from Chabahar.

"Pakistan sees India as an existential threat and the idea of India being in any way present on Pakistan's western flank in Afghanistan will always raise alarm bells in Islamabad," said South Asia scholar Michael Kugelman.

If the arrival of the USS John C Stennis aircraft carrier group in the Gulf heralds heightened tension, Pakistan may have less reason to worry. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The arrival of the USS John C Stennis aircraft carrier group in the Gulf to deter Iran from further testing ballistic missiles is likely to dampen Indian hopes that the Trump administration’s exemption of the port of Chabahar from sanctions against the Islamic republic would help it tighten economic relations with Central Asia and further regional integration.

The arrival of the USS John C Stennis aircraft carrier group in the Gulf to deter Iran from further testing ballistic missiles is likely to dampen Indian hopes that the Trump administration’s exemption of the port of Chabahar from sanctions against the Islamic republic would help it tighten economic relations with Central Asia and further regional integration. The group’s presence in the Gulf, the first by a US aircraft carrier in eight months, came amid mounting tension between the United States and Iran following the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the 2015 international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear programme and the imposition of harsh sanctions against the Islamic republic. It raised the spectre of a potential military conflagration. The deployment for a period of two months coincided with a suicide attack on a Revolutionary Guards headquarters in Chabahar that killed two people and wounded 40 others. Saudi and Iranian media reported that Ansar al-Furqan, a shadowy Iranian Sunni jihadi group that Iran claims is supported by the kingdom as well as the United States and Israel, had claimed responsibility for the attack. Saudi pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat asserted that the attack “reflects the anger harboured by the (city’s Baloch) minority against the government.” The paper said the Iranian government had expelled thousands of Baloch families from Chabahar and replaced them with Persians in a bid to change its demography. It asserted that Iran was granting nationality to Afghan Shiites who had fought in Syria and Iraq and was moving them to Chabahar. The paper went on to say that “anti-regime Baloch movements have recently intensified their operations against Tehran in an attempt to deter it from carrying out its plan to expel and marginalise the Baloch from their ancestral regions.” Saudi Arabia, a staunch supporter of the US’s confrontational approach towards Iran, has pumped large amounts of money into militant, ultraconservative Sunni Muslim anti-Shiite and anti-Iranian religious seminaries along the border between the Pakistani province of Balochistan and the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchistan that is home to Chabahar, according to militants. The funding was designed to create the building blocks for a potential covert effort to destabilise Iran by stirring unrest among its ethnic minorities. The deployment was, according to US officials in response to Iran’s test-firing of a ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple warheads. The US sanctions are in part designed to force Iran to drop its development of ballistic missiles. Iranian officials insist the missiles program is defensive in nature. “We are accumulating risk of escalation in the region if we fail to restore deterrence,” said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The spectre of increased military tension in the Gulf with the arrival of the aircraft carrier group and of potentially Saudi and US-backed political violence in Iran and a troubling security situation in Afghanistan threatened to diminish the impact of Washington’s granting Indian investment in Chabahar an exemption from its economic sanctions against Iran. Indian and Iranian officials fear that the United States’ stepped up military posture and heightened tensions could undermine their efforts to turn Chabahar, which sits at the top of the Arabian Sea, into a hub for trade between India and Central Asia rendering the US waiver worthless. The officials have their hopes pinned on efforts to engineer a peace process in Afghanistan. US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad alongside representatives of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan met this week with the Taliban. The talks are intended to negotiate an end to Afghanistan’s 17-year old war. An Afghan government delegation, in what diplomats saw as a sign of progress, hovered in the corridors but did not take part in the meeting because of the Taliban’s insistence that it will only talk to the United States. Talks with the Taliban have so far stalled because of the group’s insistence on a timetable for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan. US officials said the aircraft carrier group, beyond seeking to deter Iran, would also support the US war effort in Afghanistan where the United States has ramped up airstrikes in an effort to press the Taliban into peace talks. The talks were an opportunity, particularly for Saudi Arabia, whose utility as an ally is being questioned by the US Congress in the wake of the October 2 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, and Pakistan, which the United States accuses of supporting the Taliban, to demonstrate their utility. US President Donald Trump asked Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan in a letter earlier this month to help bring the Taliban to the negotiating table. While Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have an interest in using their close ties to the Taliban to help forge an end to the Afghan war, it's not immediately clear that they want to see reduced tensions facilitate the emergence of Chabahar as an Indian-backed hub. A Saudi think tank, the Arabian Gulf Centre for Iranian Studies (AGCIS) renamed the International Institute of Iranian Studies that is believed to be backed by Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, argued in a study last year that Chabahar posed “a direct threat to the Arab Gulf states” that called for “immediate countermeasures.” Written by Mohammed Hassan Husseinbor, identified as an Iranian political researcher, the study warned that Chabahar posed a threat because it would enable Iran to increase greater market share in India for its oil exports at the expense of Saudi Arabia, raise foreign investment in the Islamic republic, increase government revenues, and allow Iran to project power in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean. Noting the vast expanses of Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan province, Husseinbor went on to say that “It would be a formidable challenge, if not impossible, for the Iranian government to protect such long distances and secure Chabahar in the face of widespread Baluch opposition, particularly if this opposition is supported by Iran’s regional adversaries and world powers.” Similarly, Pakistan is heavily invested in Gwadar, the Chinese-backed port in Balochistan that is a crown jewel of the $45 billion-plus China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a pillar of the People’s Republic’s Belt and Road initiative. Gwadar is a mere 70 kilometres up the coast from Chabahar. "Pakistan sees India as an existential threat and the idea of India being in any way present on Pakistan's western flank in Afghanistan will always raise alarm bells in Islamabad," said South Asia scholar Michael Kugelman. If the arrival of the USS John C Stennis aircraft carrier group in the Gulf heralds heightened tension, Pakistan may have less reason to worry. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Chabahar port: Stepped up US military posture in Gulf threatens India's interests

US' special peace envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad Wednesday met Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to discuss regional security and peace process in the war-torn country, days after his crucial meeting with Taliban representatives in the UAE.

The talks between the US and Taliban representatives were held in Abu Dhabi this week. Officials from Pakistan, the UAE and Saudi Arabia also participated in the talks.

Khalilzad reportedly held two rounds of negotiations with Taliban leaders in Qatar before the new round of talks.

Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said in a tweet that "regional security and Afghan peace process were discussed" in the meeting.

"Visiting dignitary appreciated Pakistan's efforts for Afghanistan peace process. COAS (Chief of Army Staff) reiterated that peace in Afghanistan is important for Pakistan and assured continuous efforts for bringing peace and stability in the region," Ghafoor said.

It was Khalilzad's third trip to Pakistan in recent months.

According to diplomatic sources, Pakistan helped in arranging the direct talks between the US and Taliban, creating a ray of hope for ending more than 17-year-old Afghan conflict.

It was the second time Pakistan arranged direct talks between the US and Taliban representatives after a similar initiative fell apart in 2015 at the hill resort of Murree, near Islamabad.

The US administration has appreciated Pakistan's role in arranging the meeting with Taliban leaders.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, after taking office in August, made it clear that Pakistan wanted to establish peaceful ties with all its neighbours.

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump wrote a letter to Prime Minister Khan, asking for help to arrange talks with the rebels.

Trump, however, earlier this year accused Pakistan of doing nothing despite take billions of dollars from the US. Washington also suspended millions of dollars in military aid to Islamabad.

In one of America's longest war, the US has spent over US $1 trillion in Afghanistan since the coalition forces ousted the Taliban in 2001.&nbsp;

US' special peace envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad Wednesday met Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to discuss regional security and peace process in the war-torn country, days after his crucial meeting with Taliban representatives in the UAE.

US' special peace envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad Wednesday met Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to discuss regional security and peace process in the war-torn country, days after his crucial meeting with Taliban representatives in the UAE. The talks between the US and Taliban representatives were held in Abu Dhabi this week. Officials from Pakistan, the UAE and Saudi Arabia also participated in the talks. Khalilzad reportedly held two rounds of negotiations with Taliban leaders in Qatar before the new round of talks. Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said in a tweet that "regional security and Afghan peace process were discussed" in the meeting. "Visiting dignitary appreciated Pakistan's efforts for Afghanistan peace process. COAS (Chief of Army Staff) reiterated that peace in Afghanistan is important for Pakistan and assured continuous efforts for bringing peace and stability in the region," Ghafoor said. It was Khalilzad's third trip to Pakistan in recent months. According to diplomatic sources, Pakistan helped in arranging the direct talks between the US and Taliban, creating a ray of hope for ending more than 17-year-old Afghan conflict. It was the second time Pakistan arranged direct talks between the US and Taliban representatives after a similar initiative fell apart in 2015 at the hill resort of Murree, near Islamabad. The US administration has appreciated Pakistan's role in arranging the meeting with Taliban leaders. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, after taking office in August, made it clear that Pakistan wanted to establish peaceful ties with all its neighbours. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump wrote a letter to Prime Minister Khan, asking for help to arrange talks with the rebels. Trump, however, earlier this year accused Pakistan of doing nothing despite take billions of dollars from the US. Washington also suspended millions of dollars in military aid to Islamabad. In one of America's longest war, the US has spent over US $1 trillion in Afghanistan since the coalition forces ousted the Taliban in 2001.

US' special peace envoy to Afghanistan meets Pakistan Army chief General Bajwa

The United States has defeated the Islamic State in Syria, US&nbsp;President Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday, adding that it was the only reason he had kept troops in the country.

"We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency," Trump wrote on Twitter.

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We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1075397797929775105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Earlier on Wednesday, US&nbsp;officials told Reuters that they were considering a total withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Middle Eastern country.

Meanwhile, a US official told AFP that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-tells-advisers-he-wants-us-out-of-syria-senior-officials-127432">the United States is to fully withdraw its troops from all of </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-tells-advisers-he-wants-us-out-of-syria-senior-officials-127432">Syria</a>, after President Donald Trump said the Islamic State group had been "defeated."

"Full withdrawal," the official said on condition of anonymity.

"We will ensure force protection is adequately maintained, but as quickly as possible," the official added when asked for a timeline.

 
&nbsp;

The United States has defeated the Islamic State in Syria, US President Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday, adding that it was the only reason he had kept troops in the country.

The United States has defeated the Islamic State in Syria, US President Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday, adding that it was the only reason he had kept troops in the country. "We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency," Trump wrote on Twitter. We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2018 × Earlier on Wednesday, US officials told Reuters that they were considering a total withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Middle Eastern country. Meanwhile, a US official told AFP that the United States is to fully withdraw its troops from all of Syria, after President Donald Trump said the Islamic State group had been "defeated." "Full withdrawal," the official said on condition of anonymity. "We will ensure force protection is adequately maintained, but as quickly as possible," the official added when asked for a timeline.

Trump says the US has defeated Islamic State in Syria

China said Wednesday <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/after-space-force-trump-tells-pentagon-to-create-space-command-185172">it opposed the "weaponisation" of space as it criticised US President Donald Trump's orders</a> to create a new command centre for controlling military space operations.

"China has consistently proposed the peaceful usage of space, and opposes the weaponisation of space and a space arms race," said Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying at a press briefing.

"We oppose even further turning space into the new battleground," she added.

On Tuesday, Trump ordered the creation of "Space Command", a new organisational structure within the Pentagon that will have overall control of military space operations.

SpaceCom, as it will inevitably come to be known, will be on equal footing with other US military commands, such as Central Command in the Middle East or Indo-Pacific Command in Asia, and will require a new headquarters as well as a commander and deputy commander who will need Senate approval.

It is not the first military space entity proposed by the US president this year.

In June, Trump said he wanted to create "Space Force", an entirely new branch of the military, alongside the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard.

He insists such a move is necessary to tackle vulnerabilities in space and assert US dominance in orbit.&nbsp;

But its creation is not a done deal, as it needs to be approved by Congress, and the concept has met with some scepticism from lawmakers and defence officials wary of the cost and added bureaucracy.

China has also bolstered its space capabilities in recent years.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, the country launched a rover heading to the far side of the moon, a global first that could boost Beijing's ambitions to become a space superpower.

In 2013, China landed its first probe on the moon, Yutu or "Jade Rabbit".

China said Wednesday it opposed the "weaponisation" of space as it criticised US President Donald Trump's orders to create a new command centre for controlling military space operations.

China said Wednesday it opposed the "weaponisation" of space as it criticised US President Donald Trump's orders to create a new command centre for controlling military space operations. "China has consistently proposed the peaceful usage of space, and opposes the weaponisation of space and a space arms race," said Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying at a press briefing. "We oppose even further turning space into the new battleground," she added. On Tuesday, Trump ordered the creation of "Space Command", a new organisational structure within the Pentagon that will have overall control of military space operations. SpaceCom, as it will inevitably come to be known, will be on equal footing with other US military commands, such as Central Command in the Middle East or Indo-Pacific Command in Asia, and will require a new headquarters as well as a commander and deputy commander who will need Senate approval. It is not the first military space entity proposed by the US president this year. In June, Trump said he wanted to create "Space Force", an entirely new branch of the military, alongside the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard. He insists such a move is necessary to tackle vulnerabilities in space and assert US dominance in orbit. But its creation is not a done deal, as it needs to be approved by Congress, and the concept has met with some scepticism from lawmakers and defence officials wary of the cost and added bureaucracy. China has also bolstered its space capabilities in recent years. Earlier this month, the country launched a rover heading to the far side of the moon, a global first that could boost Beijing's ambitions to become a space superpower. In 2013, China landed its first probe on the moon, Yutu or "Jade Rabbit".

China warns US President Donald Trump against 'weaponising' space

A safety panel set up by US President Donald Trump in the wake of numerous school shootings recommended Tuesday that schools consider arming staff, using veterans as guards and reversing Obama-era guidelines.

The Federal Commission on School Safety panel, led by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, was set up after the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/enough-us-students-stage-walkout-against-gun-violence-35864"> February massacre</a> in Parkland, Florida, when a former student shot dead 17 people, sparking mass gun control protests.

The commission rejected calls to increase the minimum age required for gun purchases, arguing in its 180-page report that most school shooters obtain their weapons from family members or friends.

Instead, it suggested arming staff — even teachers in some circumstances — "for the sake of effectively and immediately responding to violence."&nbsp;

School districts where police responses could be slower, such as rural districts, may benefit in particular, the commission said.

It also recommended education authorities hiring military veterans and former police officers who "can also serve as highly effective educators."

The report pushes for a review of disciplinary guidelines introduced in 2014 under former president Barack Obama, which suggested alternatives to suspension and expulsion to tackle discrimination against black and Latino students.

The commission's report said the measure has had "a strong negative impact on school discipline and safety."

The American Civil Liberties Union condemned that proposition.

"The Trump administration is exploiting tragedies to justify rolling back school children's civil rights protections, despite the lack of any evidence linking school discipline reform to school shootings," it said in a statement.

Democratic Representative Nancy Pelosi, who will be US House speaker when her party take over the chamber in January, criticized the report saying Trump and DeVos "have reached a new low."

"Their 'report' on school safety puts special interests and the NRA ahead of protecting America’s school children. Students &amp; parents have had #Enough," Pelosi wrote on Twitter.

She drew a backlash from Ryan Petty, a gun enthusiast and school safety advocate whose 14-year-old daughter was killed in the Parkland massacre.

"Hi @NancyPelosi, it's easy to be a critic. Harder to create. Would you sit down with Parkland families to discuss the report?," Petty wrote on Twitter.

"We worked hard to ensure this report addresses top school safety priorities. It's painful for us when you dismiss it without basis in fact," he added.

Over 219,000 US students have been involved in a school shooting since the April 1999 Columbine High School massacre, according to figures collated by the Washington Post.

A safety panel set up by US President Donald Trump in the wake of numerous school shootings recommended Tuesday that schools consider arming staff, using veterans as guards and reversing Obama-era guidelines.

A safety panel set up by US President Donald Trump in the wake of numerous school shootings recommended Tuesday that schools consider arming staff, using veterans as guards and reversing Obama-era guidelines. The Federal Commission on School Safety panel, led by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, was set up after the February massacre in Parkland, Florida, when a former student shot dead 17 people, sparking mass gun control protests. The commission rejected calls to increase the minimum age required for gun purchases, arguing in its 180-page report that most school shooters obtain their weapons from family members or friends. Instead, it suggested arming staff — even teachers in some circumstances — "for the sake of effectively and immediately responding to violence." School districts where police responses could be slower, such as rural districts, may benefit in particular, the commission said. It also recommended education authorities hiring military veterans and former police officers who "can also serve as highly effective educators." The report pushes for a review of disciplinary guidelines introduced in 2014 under former president Barack Obama, which suggested alternatives to suspension and expulsion to tackle discrimination against black and Latino students. The commission's report said the measure has had "a strong negative impact on school discipline and safety." The American Civil Liberties Union condemned that proposition. "The Trump administration is exploiting tragedies to justify rolling back school children's civil rights protections, despite the lack of any evidence linking school discipline reform to school shootings," it said in a statement. Democratic Representative Nancy Pelosi, who will be US House speaker when her party take over the chamber in January, criticized the report saying Trump and DeVos "have reached a new low." "Their 'report' on school safety puts special interests and the NRA ahead of protecting America’s school children. Students & parents have had #Enough," Pelosi wrote on Twitter. She drew a backlash from Ryan Petty, a gun enthusiast and school safety advocate whose 14-year-old daughter was killed in the Parkland massacre. "Hi @NancyPelosi, it's easy to be a critic. Harder to create. Would you sit down with Parkland families to discuss the report?," Petty wrote on Twitter. "We worked hard to ensure this report addresses top school safety priorities. It's painful for us when you dismiss it without basis in fact," he added. Over 219,000 US students have been involved in a school shooting since the April 1999 Columbine High School massacre, according to figures collated by the Washington Post.

US federal panel suggests guns in schools, veterans as guards to keep US students safe

The US Senate on Tuesday night overwhelmingly passed a sweeping federal criminal justice reform bill, paving the way for the most significant change to America's justice system in decades.

The "First Step Act," a hard-won bipartisan effort, includes provisions to ease heavy sentences for certain offenders, give judges more discretion in sentencing low-level criminals, and improve prison conditions for women, among others.&nbsp;

"America is the greatest Country in the world and my job is to fight for all citizens, even those who have made mistakes," US President Donald Trump tweeted after the bill was passed.

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America is the greatest Country in the world and my job is to fight for ALL citizens, even those who have made mistakes. Congratulations to the Senate on the bi-partisan passing of a historic Criminal Justice Reform Bill....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1075210867678109697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"Congratulations to the Senate on the bi-partisan passing of a historic Criminal Justice Reform Bill," he said.

The bill passed by a vote of 87-12, and will now go to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to pass swiftly.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said the House "looks forward" to send the bill to Trump's desk.

One element of the bill would make retroactive the 2010 Fair Sentencing Act, which altered sentencing guidelines to treat crack and powder cocaine offences equally. According to government figures, that alone would impact over 2,600 inmates.

But the bill will only affect America's federal inmates, of which there are 180,789, according to the latest figures from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the total US incarcerated population was over 2.1 million at the end of 2016.

The US Senate on Tuesday night overwhelmingly passed a sweeping federal criminal justice reform bill, paving the way for the most significant change to America's justice system in decades.

The US Senate on Tuesday night overwhelmingly passed a sweeping federal criminal justice reform bill, paving the way for the most significant change to America's justice system in decades. The "First Step Act," a hard-won bipartisan effort, includes provisions to ease heavy sentences for certain offenders, give judges more discretion in sentencing low-level criminals, and improve prison conditions for women, among others. "America is the greatest Country in the world and my job is to fight for all citizens, even those who have made mistakes," US President Donald Trump tweeted after the bill was passed. America is the greatest Country in the world and my job is to fight for ALL citizens, even those who have made mistakes. Congratulations to the Senate on the bi-partisan passing of a historic Criminal Justice Reform Bill.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2018 × "Congratulations to the Senate on the bi-partisan passing of a historic Criminal Justice Reform Bill," he said. The bill passed by a vote of 87-12, and will now go to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to pass swiftly. House Speaker Paul Ryan said the House "looks forward" to send the bill to Trump's desk. One element of the bill would make retroactive the 2010 Fair Sentencing Act, which altered sentencing guidelines to treat crack and powder cocaine offences equally. According to government figures, that alone would impact over 2,600 inmates. But the bill will only affect America's federal inmates, of which there are 180,789, according to the latest figures from the Federal Bureau of Prisons. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the total US incarcerated population was over 2.1 million at the end of 2016.

Bipartisan criminal justice reform bill clears US Senate

The US regulator FAA has retained the highest aviation safety ranking for India, a senior official said Tuesday.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) carried out an audit of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in July this year.

The official said that the FAA on Tuesday formally confirmed that India's International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) rating remains 'Category 1'.

Category 1 means the carriers from the assessed state may initiate or continue service to the US in a normal manner and take part in reciprocal code-share arrangements with American carriers.

The FAA carried out an audit to confirm India's adherence to the standards laid down by the ICAO and oversight of Indian airlines.

"During consultations held with the FAA in early November, the DGCA presented the actions taken to address the findings of the July 2018 audit," the DGCA official said.

According to him, the FAA has formally communicated that India is adhering to the safety standards of the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization).

The regulator has also "confirmed that India's IASA rating remains Category 1," he noted.

The American regulator conducts IASA programme to assess the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of each country that has carriers operating to the US.

An IASA assessment determines if the foreign CAA provides oversight to its carriers that operate to the US as per the international standards.

Under the International Convention on Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), each country is responsible for the safety oversight of its own air carriers.

Other countries can only conduct specific surveillance activities, principally involving the inspection of required documents and the physical condition of aircraft. 
&nbsp;

The US regulator FAA has retained the highest aviation safety ranking for India, a senior official said Tuesday. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) carried out an audit of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in July this year.

The US regulator FAA has retained the highest aviation safety ranking for India, a senior official said Tuesday. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) carried out an audit of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in July this year. The official said that the FAA on Tuesday formally confirmed that India's International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) rating remains 'Category 1'. Category 1 means the carriers from the assessed state may initiate or continue service to the US in a normal manner and take part in reciprocal code-share arrangements with American carriers. The FAA carried out an audit to confirm India's adherence to the standards laid down by the ICAO and oversight of Indian airlines. "During consultations held with the FAA in early November, the DGCA presented the actions taken to address the findings of the July 2018 audit," the DGCA official said. According to him, the FAA has formally communicated that India is adhering to the safety standards of the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization). The regulator has also "confirmed that India's IASA rating remains Category 1," he noted. The American regulator conducts IASA programme to assess the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of each country that has carriers operating to the US. An IASA assessment determines if the foreign CAA provides oversight to its carriers that operate to the US as per the international standards. Under the International Convention on Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), each country is responsible for the safety oversight of its own air carriers. Other countries can only conduct specific surveillance activities, principally involving the inspection of required documents and the physical condition of aircraft.

US watchdog FAA retains highest aviation safety ranking for India

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/firm-dollar-weighs-on-gold-amid-global-growth-risks-184712">Gold prices rose </a>slightly on Tuesday ahead of a key US Federal Reserve meeting, as speculation that signs of economic turbulence may prompt the central bank to put brakes soon on its monetary tightening cycle kept the dollar under pressure.

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is widely expected to raise interest rates at its two-day meeting starting later in the day, but the focus will be on its outlook for 2019.

"Investors are hoping gold prices will go up further after the meeting," said Brian Lan, managing director at dealer GoldSilver Central in Singapore, adding that $1,251 would be the next level that gold will likely test with support at $1,245.

Spot gold was up 0.2 per cent at $1,248.14 per ounce at 0436 GMT, while US gold futures inched 0.1 per cent higher to $1,252.2 per ounce.

Meanwhile, the dollar index inched lower after losing 0.4 per cent on Monday, amid speculation the Fed will soon hit the pause button to its monetary tightening cycle in the face of rising risks to global growth.

Lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion and weigh on the dollar.

"The US dollar remains the prime mover for gold prices in the current term," Benjamin Lu, a commodities analyst with Phillip Futures in Singapore, said in a note.

"Though upside potential for gold prices faces impediment from a vigorous dollar, looming economic uncertainties will present optimistic conditions for safe-haven assets beyond 2018."

Also supporting the bullion, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/asia-stocks-slide-as-global-growth-worries-deepen-184957">Asian share markets slumped </a>on Tuesday, while Wall Street stocks skidded to their lowest levels in more than a year in the previous session.

Spot gold may rise into a range of $1,253-$1,258 per ounce, according to Wang Tao, a Reuters market analyst for commodities and energy technicals.

Among other precious metals, silver was up 0.1 per cent at $14.67 per ounce, while platinum fell 0.3 per cent, to $791.10 per ounce

Spot palladium slipped 0.2 per cent to $1,255.95 per ounce after touching a record high of $1,269.5 in the previous session.

Gold prices rose slightly on Tuesday ahead of a key US Federal Reserve meeting, as speculation that signs of economic turbulence may prompt the central bank to put brakes soon on its monetary tightening cycle kept the dollar under pressure.

Gold prices rose slightly on Tuesday ahead of a key US Federal Reserve meeting, as speculation that signs of economic turbulence may prompt the central bank to put brakes soon on its monetary tightening cycle kept the dollar under pressure. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is widely expected to raise interest rates at its two-day meeting starting later in the day, but the focus will be on its outlook for 2019. "Investors are hoping gold prices will go up further after the meeting," said Brian Lan, managing director at dealer GoldSilver Central in Singapore, adding that $1,251 would be the next level that gold will likely test with support at $1,245. Spot gold was up 0.2 per cent at $1,248.14 per ounce at 0436 GMT, while US gold futures inched 0.1 per cent higher to $1,252.2 per ounce. Meanwhile, the dollar index inched lower after losing 0.4 per cent on Monday, amid speculation the Fed will soon hit the pause button to its monetary tightening cycle in the face of rising risks to global growth. Lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion and weigh on the dollar. "The US dollar remains the prime mover for gold prices in the current term," Benjamin Lu, a commodities analyst with Phillip Futures in Singapore, said in a note. "Though upside potential for gold prices faces impediment from a vigorous dollar, looming economic uncertainties will present optimistic conditions for safe-haven assets beyond 2018." Also supporting the bullion, Asian share markets slumped on Tuesday, while Wall Street stocks skidded to their lowest levels in more than a year in the previous session. Spot gold may rise into a range of $1,253-$1,258 per ounce, according to Wang Tao, a Reuters market analyst for commodities and energy technicals. Among other precious metals, silver was up 0.1 per cent at $14.67 per ounce, while platinum fell 0.3 per cent, to $791.10 per ounce Spot palladium slipped 0.2 per cent to $1,255.95 per ounce after touching a record high of $1,269.5 in the previous session.

Gold ticks up as dollar stays under pressure ahead of Fed meeting

Prime Minister Imran Khan said Tuesday that Pakistan will do everything within its power to further the peace process in Afghanistan as talks sponsored by the country between the US and the Taliban were being held in the UAE to end the 17-year bloody conflict.

The US and the Taliban have previously met on at least two occasions in Qatar but it is the first time that they are holding talks outside Doha, where the insurgent group has a political office, according to officials.

Khan highlighted the role being played by Pakistan in holding the talks between the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-ceasefire-push-in-focus-in-us-taliban-talks-185000">US and the Taliban </a>in Abu Dhabi.

He expressed his desire for peace to end the sufferings of the people of Afghanistan.

"Pakistan has helped in the dialogue between the Taliban and the US in Abu Dhabi. Let us pray that this leads to peace and ends almost three decades of suffering of the brave Afghan people," Khan said on Twitter

Khan also said, "Pakistan will be doing everything within its power to further the peace process".

Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Pakistan were the only three nations to recognise the Taliban government during its five-year rule from 1996-2001.

The Taliban are fighting to flush out international forces and re-establish their regime in Afghanistan after their ouster in 2001.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said Tuesday that Pakistan will do everything within its power to further the peace process in Afghanistan as talks sponsored by the country between the US and the Taliban were being held in the UAE to end the 17-year bloody conflict.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said Tuesday that Pakistan will do everything within its power to further the peace process in Afghanistan as talks sponsored by the country between the US and the Taliban were being held in the UAE to end the 17-year bloody conflict. The US and the Taliban have previously met on at least two occasions in Qatar but it is the first time that they are holding talks outside Doha, where the insurgent group has a political office, according to officials. Khan highlighted the role being played by Pakistan in holding the talks between the US and the Taliban in Abu Dhabi. He expressed his desire for peace to end the sufferings of the people of Afghanistan. "Pakistan has helped in the dialogue between the Taliban and the US in Abu Dhabi. Let us pray that this leads to peace and ends almost three decades of suffering of the brave Afghan people," Khan said on Twitter Khan also said, "Pakistan will be doing everything within its power to further the peace process". Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Pakistan were the only three nations to recognise the Taliban government during its five-year rule from 1996-2001. The Taliban are fighting to flush out international forces and re-establish their regime in Afghanistan after their ouster in 2001.

Pak will do everything within its power for Afghan peace: Imran Khan

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said Tuesday a purported statement by a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/police-claim-to-bust-isi-backed-terror-module-in-punjab-174957">pro-Khalistan outfit,</a> seeking support from Pakistan to "liberate" Punjab from India, has exposed its "nefarious designs" and nexus with the Pakistani Army and the ISI.

The chief minister made the remarks after a section of media reported that US-based Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a separatist outfit, had allegedly sought support from the Pakistan government for 'Referendum 2020', a campaign to "separate Punjab from India".

Attacking SFJ's legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief minister said, "The cat is now well and truly out of the bag, and the truth of the deep-rooted connection between the SJF and the Pakistani Army is out in the open."&nbsp;

Amarinder Singh has also taken strong exception to SFJ's reported plans to hold a 'Kartarpur Sahib Convention 2019', coinciding with the auspicious occasion of the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism.

The whole affair is a "bigger conspiracy" by the Pakistan Army, which is persistently trying to revive militancy in Punjab, the CM said, reiterating his stand on the issue.&nbsp;

Amarinder Singh also said that Punjab and the Indian Army were well prepared to counter any such plans of the neighbouring country. 
"Punjab is today much better equipped than it was in the 80s and 90s when Pak-backed terrorism had swept the state," he said, warning Islamabad against extending any further support to SFJ or other such outfits that are bent on disturbing the state's hard-earned peace.

The Pakistan Army would do well to remember the ignominious defeats it had suffered at the hands of the Indian Army on every occasion it had tried to take on the might of the latter, right from the 1965 and 1971 wars to the more recent Kargil battle, warned Amarinder Singh.

Asserting that he was all in favour of the Kartarpur Corridor to fulfil the long-pending aspirations of the Sikh community in India, the chief minister said it was the "misuse" of the initiative that he was opposed to.&nbsp;

'If Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was truly in favour of opening the doors for long-lasting peace with India through this corridor, he should not only unequivocally condemn the SFJ statement but should also ensure that Pakistan soil is not used by the anti-India outfit to further its campaign,' he said, urging the Pak leader to put a stop to the plan of 'Kartarpur Sahib Convention 2019'.

'Let the two countries build a corridor of peace in the true sense of the word, without the auspicious occasion of the 550th 'Prakash Purb' being allowed by Islamabad to be abused by anti-Indian forces,' the CM said.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said Tuesday a purported statement by a pro-Khalistan outfit, seeking support from Pakistan to "liberate" Punjab from India, has exposed its "nefarious designs" and nexus with the Pakistani Army and the ISI.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said Tuesday a purported statement by a pro-Khalistan outfit, seeking support from Pakistan to "liberate" Punjab from India, has exposed its "nefarious designs" and nexus with the Pakistani Army and the ISI. The chief minister made the remarks after a section of media reported that US-based Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a separatist outfit, had allegedly sought support from the Pakistan government for 'Referendum 2020', a campaign to "separate Punjab from India". Attacking SFJ's legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief minister said, "The cat is now well and truly out of the bag, and the truth of the deep-rooted connection between the SJF and the Pakistani Army is out in the open." Amarinder Singh has also taken strong exception to SFJ's reported plans to hold a 'Kartarpur Sahib Convention 2019', coinciding with the auspicious occasion of the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism. The whole affair is a "bigger conspiracy" by the Pakistan Army, which is persistently trying to revive militancy in Punjab, the CM said, reiterating his stand on the issue. Amarinder Singh also said that Punjab and the Indian Army were well prepared to counter any such plans of the neighbouring country. "Punjab is today much better equipped than it was in the 80s and 90s when Pak-backed terrorism had swept the state," he said, warning Islamabad against extending any further support to SFJ or other such outfits that are bent on disturbing the state's hard-earned peace. The Pakistan Army would do well to remember the ignominious defeats it had suffered at the hands of the Indian Army on every occasion it had tried to take on the might of the latter, right from the 1965 and 1971 wars to the more recent Kargil battle, warned Amarinder Singh. Asserting that he was all in favour of the Kartarpur Corridor to fulfil the long-pending aspirations of the Sikh community in India, the chief minister said it was the "misuse" of the initiative that he was opposed to. 'If Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was truly in favour of opening the doors for long-lasting peace with India through this corridor, he should not only unequivocally condemn the SFJ statement but should also ensure that Pakistan soil is not used by the anti-India outfit to further its campaign,' he said, urging the Pak leader to put a stop to the plan of 'Kartarpur Sahib Convention 2019'. 'Let the two countries build a corridor of peace in the true sense of the word, without the auspicious occasion of the 550th 'Prakash Purb' being allowed by Islamabad to be abused by anti-Indian forces,' the CM said.

SFJ seeking help to ‘liberate’ Punjab exposes its nexus with Pak army: Amarinder Singh

The Kremlin on Tuesday rejected Washington's accusations that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/i-could-have-a-very-good-relationship-with-russia--putin-trump-128197">Russia tried to disrupt the 2016 presidential vote</a> and sought to demoralise African-Americans, calling the charges incomprehensible.

According to a new report for the US Senate, the primary goal of Russia's Internet Research Agency (IRA) was to deepen divisions in US society and convince Democrat-favouring liberals -- including Latinos, youths and the LGBTQ community -- not to vote.&nbsp;

The most extensive analysis yet of thousands of IRA ads and posts across social media in 2015-2017 showed an emphasis on provoking the anger of black Americans so that they would stay home on election day.

For example, the IRA-created account "Blacktivist" sent out messages on the Democratic candidate such as: "No lives matter to Hillary Clinton. Only votes matter to Hillary Clinton."

Another IRA account, "Black Matters", posted on Facebook: "Cops kill black kids. Are you sure that your son won't be the next?"

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the report by the Computational Propaganda Project at Oxford University and social media specialists Graphika caused "nothing but incomprehension."

"It voices absolutely general charges and accusations and some of them are absolutely unclear to us," Peskov told reporters on a conference call.

"We are reproached that someone critically thinks of a situation in this or that social sphere in the United States but it is not explained what Russia has to do with it," he said.

He reiterated Russia's long-standing position that any such claims were unfounded.&nbsp;

"The Russian state, the Russian government had and has nothing to do with any interference, especially one that is described in such abstract terms," Peskov added.

The IRA is believed to have been set up by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a businessman close to Putin, as a propaganda tool.&nbsp;

Russia has been accused of manipulating the 2016 US presidential vote through a vast propaganda campaign in favour of Donald Trump.&nbsp;

US investigators are probing alleged collusion between Russian agents and Trump's campaign.&nbsp;

The Kremlin on Tuesday rejected Washington's accusations that Russia tried to disrupt the 2016 presidential vote and sought to demoralise African-Americans, calling the charges incomprehensible.

The Kremlin on Tuesday rejected Washington's accusations that Russia tried to disrupt the 2016 presidential vote and sought to demoralise African-Americans, calling the charges incomprehensible. According to a new report for the US Senate, the primary goal of Russia's Internet Research Agency (IRA) was to deepen divisions in US society and convince Democrat-favouring liberals -- including Latinos, youths and the LGBTQ community -- not to vote. The most extensive analysis yet of thousands of IRA ads and posts across social media in 2015-2017 showed an emphasis on provoking the anger of black Americans so that they would stay home on election day. For example, the IRA-created account "Blacktivist" sent out messages on the Democratic candidate such as: "No lives matter to Hillary Clinton. Only votes matter to Hillary Clinton." Another IRA account, "Black Matters", posted on Facebook: "Cops kill black kids. Are you sure that your son won't be the next?" Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the report by the Computational Propaganda Project at Oxford University and social media specialists Graphika caused "nothing but incomprehension." "It voices absolutely general charges and accusations and some of them are absolutely unclear to us," Peskov told reporters on a conference call. "We are reproached that someone critically thinks of a situation in this or that social sphere in the United States but it is not explained what Russia has to do with it," he said. He reiterated Russia's long-standing position that any such claims were unfounded. "The Russian state, the Russian government had and has nothing to do with any interference, especially one that is described in such abstract terms," Peskov added. The IRA is believed to have been set up by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a businessman close to Putin, as a propaganda tool. Russia has been accused of manipulating the 2016 US presidential vote through a vast propaganda campaign in favour of Donald Trump. US investigators are probing alleged collusion between Russian agents and Trump's campaign.

Kremlin says Russia did not target black US voters

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday highlighted the part Pakistan is playing in the US-Taliban negotiations, a round of which were held in the UAE a day earlier.

Imran said he hoped that the could bring an end to "almost three decades of suffering of the brave Afghan people".

"Pakistan has helped in the dialogue between Taliban and the US in Abu Dhabi," Khan tweeted.

"Let us pray that this leads to peace and ends almost three decades of suffering of the brave Afghan people. Pakistan will be doing everything within its power to further the peace process."

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Pakistan has helped in the dialogue between Taliban and the US in Abu Dhabi. Let us pray that this leads to peace and ends almost three decades of suffering of the brave Afghan people. Pakistan will be doing everything within its power to further the peace process.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1074888807248474112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Imran Khan's remarks come a day after United States diplomats and Taliban representatives met in the United Arab Emirates for the first round of talks facilitated by Pakistan on finding a negotiated settlement of the war in Afghanistan.

(With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday highlighted the part Pakistan is playing in the US-Taliban negotiations, a round of which were held in the UAE a day earlier.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday highlighted the part Pakistan is playing in the US-Taliban negotiations, a round of which were held in the UAE a day earlier. Imran said he hoped that the could bring an end to "almost three decades of suffering of the brave Afghan people". "Pakistan has helped in the dialogue between Taliban and the US in Abu Dhabi," Khan tweeted. "Let us pray that this leads to peace and ends almost three decades of suffering of the brave Afghan people. Pakistan will be doing everything within its power to further the peace process." Pakistan has helped in the dialogue between Taliban and the US in Abu Dhabi. Let us pray that this leads to peace and ends almost three decades of suffering of the brave Afghan people. Pakistan will be doing everything within its power to further the peace process. — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 18, 2018 × Imran Khan's remarks come a day after United States diplomats and Taliban representatives met in the United Arab Emirates for the first round of talks facilitated by Pakistan on finding a negotiated settlement of the war in Afghanistan. (With inputs from agencies)

We helped in dialogue between US and Taliban, says Pakistan PM Imran Khan

Talks between US and Taliban officials aimed at arranging peace negotiations in Afghanistan were set for a second day on Tuesday after discussions around the future of foreign forces and a possible six-month ceasefire, Taliban sources said.

The three-day meeting in Abu Dhabi is at least the third time that US special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has met <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-forces-abandon-district-after-taliban-pressure-183544">Taliban </a>representatives as diplomatic efforts to end the 17-year war have intensified this year.

On Monday, a Taliban delegation met officials from Saudi Arabia,<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-army-says-it-backs-us-peace-talks-with-afghan-taliban-181980"> Pakistan</a> and the United Arab Emirates ahead of their meeting with Khalilzad, who was appointed to oversee Washington's peace effort in September.

Taliban officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the US delegation was pressing for a six-month ceasefire as well as an agreement to name Taliban representatives to a future caretaker government.

The officials said the Taliban, fighting to drive foreign forces from Afghanistan and bring in their version of strict Islamic law, were resisting a ceasefire as they felt it would damage their cause and help US and Afghan forces.

"If these three countries - Saudi Arabia, UAE and Pakistan - become guarantors and the US appoints the head of a caretaker government in Afghanistan that we nominate, then we can think about a ceasefire," one senior Taliban official said.

There was no immediate comment from the US embassy in Kabul.

The latest round of diplomacy comes about a year after the United States sent thousands of extra troops to Afghanistan and stepped up air strikes to record levels, with the aim of pushing the Taliban to accept talks.

However, despite US insistence that any peace settlement must be agreed between Afghans, the Taliban have refused to talk directly with officials from the Kabul government, which they consider an illegitimate, foreign-appointed regime.

"Talks revolved around withdrawal of occupation forces from Afghanistan, ending the oppression being carried out by the United States and her allies and views were exchanged with the said countries about peace and reconstruction of Afghanistan," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement.

An Afghan government team travelled to Abu Dhabi "to begin proximity dialogue with the Taliban delegation and to prepare for a face-to-face meeting between the two sides", government spokesman Haroon Chakansuri said in a statement.

But there was no sign from the Taliban that they were ready to accept talks with the government. On Monday, Mujahid dismissed reports of a meeting as "propaganda".

The United States says the aim of the talks is to facilitate an Afghan-led process and the inclusion of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Pakistan in the talks reflects a US desire to bring in countries with an interest in Afghanistan.

Previous meetings were held in Qatar, where the Taliban maintains a political office, but a push to include Saudi Arabia, which is hostile to the gas-rich Gulf state, prompted a change of venue to Abu Dhabi.

Talks between US and Taliban officials aimed at arranging peace negotiations in Afghanistan were set for a second day on Tuesday after discussions around the future of foreign forces and a possible six-month ceasefire, Taliban sources said.

Talks between US and Taliban officials aimed at arranging peace negotiations in Afghanistan were set for a second day on Tuesday after discussions around the future of foreign forces and a possible six-month ceasefire, Taliban sources said. The three-day meeting in Abu Dhabi is at least the third time that US special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has met Taliban representatives as diplomatic efforts to end the 17-year war have intensified this year. On Monday, a Taliban delegation met officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates ahead of their meeting with Khalilzad, who was appointed to oversee Washington's peace effort in September. Taliban officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the US delegation was pressing for a six-month ceasefire as well as an agreement to name Taliban representatives to a future caretaker government. The officials said the Taliban, fighting to drive foreign forces from Afghanistan and bring in their version of strict Islamic law, were resisting a ceasefire as they felt it would damage their cause and help US and Afghan forces. "If these three countries - Saudi Arabia, UAE and Pakistan - become guarantors and the US appoints the head of a caretaker government in Afghanistan that we nominate, then we can think about a ceasefire," one senior Taliban official said. There was no immediate comment from the US embassy in Kabul. The latest round of diplomacy comes about a year after the United States sent thousands of extra troops to Afghanistan and stepped up air strikes to record levels, with the aim of pushing the Taliban to accept talks. However, despite US insistence that any peace settlement must be agreed between Afghans, the Taliban have refused to talk directly with officials from the Kabul government, which they consider an illegitimate, foreign-appointed regime. "Talks revolved around withdrawal of occupation forces from Afghanistan, ending the oppression being carried out by the United States and her allies and views were exchanged with the said countries about peace and reconstruction of Afghanistan," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement. An Afghan government team travelled to Abu Dhabi "to begin proximity dialogue with the Taliban delegation and to prepare for a face-to-face meeting between the two sides", government spokesman Haroon Chakansuri said in a statement. But there was no sign from the Taliban that they were ready to accept talks with the government. On Monday, Mujahid dismissed reports of a meeting as "propaganda". The United States says the aim of the talks is to facilitate an Afghan-led process and the inclusion of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Pakistan in the talks reflects a US desire to bring in countries with an interest in Afghanistan. Previous meetings were held in Qatar, where the Taliban maintains a political office, but a push to include Saudi Arabia, which is hostile to the gas-rich Gulf state, prompted a change of venue to Abu Dhabi.

Afghanistan ceasefire push in focus in US, Taliban talks

China should lower next year's growth target to 6.0-6.5 per cent as headwinds including <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/imf-says-trade-war-already-hurting-asia-may-cut-global-growth-forecasts-184777">a trade dispute with the United States</a> increases risks for the economy, according to government advisers' recommendations to top leaders who will meet to map out the 2019 economic agenda.

This week's annual Central Economic Work Conference, a closed-door gathering of top party leaders and policymakers, is being watched by investors for any fresh policy steps to ward off a sharper slowdown in the world's second-largest economy.

The economic conference is likely to convene on Wednesday, two policy insiders said, a day after an event marking the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up, where President Xi Jinping is due to make what the official Xinhua news agency described as an "important" speech.

The meeting will not result in any public announcement of economic targets, which are usually reserved for the opening of the parliamentary session in early March.

China's trade war with the United States is spurring some Chinese entrepreneurs, government advisers and think tanks to call for faster economic reforms and the freeing up of a private sector stifled by state controls.

Government advisers and think tanks, which are influential in the decision-making process but aren't empowered to execute policies, have recommended a growth target of 6.0-6.5 per cent for 2019, versus around 6.5 per cent in 2018.

"Next year's growth target could be 6.0-6.5 per cent as the economy is likely to slow from this year," a policy insider who advises the government, said on condition of anonymity.

The Chinese Academy of Social Science, a top government think tank, has forecast growth to slow to 6.3 per cent in 2019 - which would be the weakest since 1990, from an estimated 6.6 per cent in 2018.

Some advisers suggested the government should be more tolerant of weaker growth, pushing reforms and avoiding strong policy stimulus that could worsen the country's debt problems.

Still, a growth rate of 6.0 per cent for next year is seen as the bottom line, amid concerns about employment due to pressures on the economy both domestically and on the external front.

"The economy is expected to slow next year, but the situation won't be very serious if we can manage it well, because room for expanding domestic demand is relatively big," said one adviser.

The State Council Information Office did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

POLICY SUPPORT

Last week, a meeting of the Politburo - a top decision-making body of the ruling Communist Party - pledged to keep China's economic growth within a "reasonable range" next year.

Growth in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/asian-markets-rise-ahead-of-key-meetings-in-china-and-us-184789">Asia's powerhouse economy</a> slowed to 6.5 per cent in the third quarter, the weakest pace since the global financial crisis. Indications are that momentum is likely to come off further in the current quarter and next year, with data last week showing surprising softness in November factory output and retail sales.

Although full-year growth is expected to come just above 6.5 per cent in 2018, government officials and China watchers have already warned of greater risks to the economy next year from trade frictions with the United States.

China's monetary conditions should be relatively easy to support its slowing economy but policy cannot be too loose as falls in domestic interest rates could hit the local currency, central bank chief Yi Gang said last week.

The central bank is likely to deliver more cuts in banks' reserve requirement ratios, to add to the four reductions this year, but it may not rush to cut benchmark interest rates that could hurt the yuan, policy insiders said.

The government has pledged to cut taxes more aggressively next year, spurring a debate among Chinese economists on whether Beijing should expand its fiscal deficit ratio beyond 3 per cent next year. 
&nbsp;

China should lower next year's growth target to 6.0-6.5 per cent as headwinds including a trade dispute with the United States increases risks for the economy, according to government advisers' recommendations to top leaders who will meet to map out the 2019 economic agenda.

China should lower next year's growth target to 6.0-6.5 per cent as headwinds including a trade dispute with the United States increases risks for the economy, according to government advisers' recommendations to top leaders who will meet to map out the 2019 economic agenda. This week's annual Central Economic Work Conference, a closed-door gathering of top party leaders and policymakers, is being watched by investors for any fresh policy steps to ward off a sharper slowdown in the world's second-largest economy. The economic conference is likely to convene on Wednesday, two policy insiders said, a day after an event marking the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up, where President Xi Jinping is due to make what the official Xinhua news agency described as an "important" speech. The meeting will not result in any public announcement of economic targets, which are usually reserved for the opening of the parliamentary session in early March. China's trade war with the United States is spurring some Chinese entrepreneurs, government advisers and think tanks to call for faster economic reforms and the freeing up of a private sector stifled by state controls. Government advisers and think tanks, which are influential in the decision-making process but aren't empowered to execute policies, have recommended a growth target of 6.0-6.5 per cent for 2019, versus around 6.5 per cent in 2018. "Next year's growth target could be 6.0-6.5 per cent as the economy is likely to slow from this year," a policy insider who advises the government, said on condition of anonymity. The Chinese Academy of Social Science, a top government think tank, has forecast growth to slow to 6.3 per cent in 2019 - which would be the weakest since 1990, from an estimated 6.6 per cent in 2018. Some advisers suggested the government should be more tolerant of weaker growth, pushing reforms and avoiding strong policy stimulus that could worsen the country's debt problems. Still, a growth rate of 6.0 per cent for next year is seen as the bottom line, amid concerns about employment due to pressures on the economy both domestically and on the external front. "The economy is expected to slow next year, but the situation won't be very serious if we can manage it well, because room for expanding domestic demand is relatively big," said one adviser. The State Council Information Office did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. POLICY SUPPORT Last week, a meeting of the Politburo - a top decision-making body of the ruling Communist Party - pledged to keep China's economic growth within a "reasonable range" next year. Growth in Asia's powerhouse economy slowed to 6.5 per cent in the third quarter, the weakest pace since the global financial crisis. Indications are that momentum is likely to come off further in the current quarter and next year, with data last week showing surprising softness in November factory output and retail sales. Although full-year growth is expected to come just above 6.5 per cent in 2018, government officials and China watchers have already warned of greater risks to the economy next year from trade frictions with the United States. China's monetary conditions should be relatively easy to support its slowing economy but policy cannot be too loose as falls in domestic interest rates could hit the local currency, central bank chief Yi Gang said last week. The central bank is likely to deliver more cuts in banks' reserve requirement ratios, to add to the four reductions this year, but it may not rush to cut benchmark interest rates that could hurt the yuan, policy insiders said. The government has pledged to cut taxes more aggressively next year, spurring a debate among Chinese economists on whether Beijing should expand its fiscal deficit ratio beyond 3 per cent next year.

As trade war bites, China advisers recommend lowering 2019 growth target

Exposing Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's seriousness on combating terrorism, his junior interior minister has vowed to "protect" Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed and his party in a leaked video.

The leaked video showed Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi talking to the Milli Muslim League (MML) leaders and when his attention was drawn towards non-registration of Saeed's party by the Election Commission (ECP) as a political party due to the US pressure and the ECP's plan to declare it a terrorist organisation, the minister said: "We will not let this happen."

"As long as we (the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf) are in the government all those including Hafiz Saeed who are raising voice for Pakistan and righteousness, we are with them," Afridi said, adding "this is our belief." 
"I request you to come to the National Assembly and see whether we are supporting those who on the right path or not," he told them.&nbsp;

Saeed was declared a global terrorist by the US and the UN after the 2008 Mumbai attack and was put under house arrest in November 2008 but freed by a court some months later. He carries a USD 10 million American bounty on his head for his role in terror activities.

In the leaked video, an MML leader said the high court ordered the ECP to register the MML as a political party but the top election body said that it had come to know that the US had declared MML a terrorist organisation. 
On this, the minister assured that "this will not happen in the Imran Khan's government."

Saeed launched the MML in August 2017 with a so-called mission to implement the ideology of Pakistan in accordance with the 1973 Constitution.

In April, the US placed the MML on its list of foreign terror organisations for its links with the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The interior ministry had written to the ECP recommending not to register the MML as it is an off-shoot of Saeed's Jamat-ud Dawah, which has been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014.

The JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the Lashkar-e-Taiba which is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people.

The MML contested general elections on the platform of the "dormant" political entity Allaha-u-Akbar Tehreek (AAT), which was registered with the ECP.

The Supreme Court in September last permitted the JuD and its arm Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) to continue their relief and charity work in the country.

JuD's network includes 300 seminaries and schools, hospitals, a publishing house and ambulance services. The JuD and FIF alone have about 50,000 volunteers and hundreds of other paid workers, according to two counter-terrorism officials

Earlier, the government banned companies and individuals from making donations to the JuD, the FIF, and other organisations on the UN Security Council sanctions list.&nbsp;

Exposing Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's seriousness on combating terrorism, his junior interior minister has vowed to "protect" Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed and his party in a leaked video.

Exposing Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's seriousness on combating terrorism, his junior interior minister has vowed to "protect" Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed and his party in a leaked video. The leaked video showed Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi talking to the Milli Muslim League (MML) leaders and when his attention was drawn towards non-registration of Saeed's party by the Election Commission (ECP) as a political party due to the US pressure and the ECP's plan to declare it a terrorist organisation, the minister said: "We will not let this happen." "As long as we (the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf) are in the government all those including Hafiz Saeed who are raising voice for Pakistan and righteousness, we are with them," Afridi said, adding "this is our belief." "I request you to come to the National Assembly and see whether we are supporting those who on the right path or not," he told them. Saeed was declared a global terrorist by the US and the UN after the 2008 Mumbai attack and was put under house arrest in November 2008 but freed by a court some months later. He carries a USD 10 million American bounty on his head for his role in terror activities. In the leaked video, an MML leader said the high court ordered the ECP to register the MML as a political party but the top election body said that it had come to know that the US had declared MML a terrorist organisation. On this, the minister assured that "this will not happen in the Imran Khan's government." Saeed launched the MML in August 2017 with a so-called mission to implement the ideology of Pakistan in accordance with the 1973 Constitution. In April, the US placed the MML on its list of foreign terror organisations for its links with the Lashkar-e-Taiba. The interior ministry had written to the ECP recommending not to register the MML as it is an off-shoot of Saeed's Jamat-ud Dawah, which has been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014. The JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the Lashkar-e-Taiba which is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people. The MML contested general elections on the platform of the "dormant" political entity Allaha-u-Akbar Tehreek (AAT), which was registered with the ECP. The Supreme Court in September last permitted the JuD and its arm Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) to continue their relief and charity work in the country. JuD's network includes 300 seminaries and schools, hospitals, a publishing house and ambulance services. The JuD and FIF alone have about 50,000 volunteers and hundreds of other paid workers, according to two counter-terrorism officials Earlier, the government banned companies and individuals from making donations to the JuD, the FIF, and other organisations on the UN Security Council sanctions list.

Leaked video shows Pak minister vowing to 'protect' Hafiz Saeed

Asian markets mostly rose Monday as traders look ahead to a key meeting of the Federal Reserve, and a Chinese policy-setting conference this week.

However, there is <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/imf-says-trade-war-already-hurting-asia-may-cut-global-growth-forecasts-184777">still caution on trading floors </a>after Friday's sharp sell-off fuelled by concerns over China's economy, and despite a tweet from Donald Trump suggesting a trade deal could be hammered out between Washington and Beijing.

While there are signs the world's top two economies are beginning to move towards a resolution in their bitter tariffs spat, there are increasing concerns about the global outlook following another dour set of indicators out of China.

A string of below-par readings this year have highlighted a slowdown in the Asian giant and observers are forecasting leaders will unveil fresh measures to pep up the economy, which is on course for another year of relatively weak growth.

A speech from President Xi Jinping on Tuesday to mark 40 years since China's economy began opening up will be closely watched, and that is expected to be followed by the start of a conference setting out the country's 2019 economic plan.

"We should expect a raft of stimulus measures from China policymakers in an attempt to stabilise the domestic economy," said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA.

The Fed will conclude its rate-setting policy meeting Wednesday and while expectations are for another hike in borrowing costs, comments from chairman Jerome Powell will be closely watched for an idea of its plans for 2019.

'A lot of volatility'

In light of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/the-trump-china-trade-war-how-will-it-end-171248">China-US trade</a> row and signs of weakness in the global economy, the bank has sounded a little more dovish in recent weeks, fuelling speculation it will slow down its pace of rate hikes -- which has provided some much-needed support to equities.

"The upcoming (Fed) meeting and China's policy-setting meeting have been the most actively discussed topics around the markets," Innes added. "And both events have a smoothing effect on risk sentiment."

Shanghai climbed 0.2 per cent and Tokyo finished 0.6 per cent higher, while Sydney put on one per cent and Singapore jumped 1.2 per cent.

Seoul and Taipei each gained 0.1 per cent while Wellington added 0.3 per cent. There were also gains in Mumbai and Manila, though Hong Kong inched down marginally.

In early European trade London dipped 0.1 per cent, Paris dropped 0.3 per cent and Frankfurt eased 0.2 per cent.

Steve Goldman, fund manager at Kapstream Capital, told Bloomberg TV in Sydney that "we're going to see a lot of volatility" in the new year because of global uncertainty.

Hopes that China and the US can reach a deal to end their trade war were given a boost by Trump on Friday when he tweeted: "China wants to make a big and very comprehensive deal. It could happen, and rather soon!"&nbsp;

That came after China earlier in the day backed off fresh levies imposed this summer on US-made cars and auto parts.

While a full-blown deal is some way off, the developments have provided some hope to dealers.

On currency markets, the pound remains bogged down around 20-month lows as Prime Minister Theresa May struggles to win concessions from EU leaders over her <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/brexit-vote-postponed-what-parliament-must-do-now-to-fix-theresa-mays-mess-183154">Brexit agreement</a>, which a majority of lawmakers in Westminster oppose.

Facing growing calls for another referendum to break the deadlock, May is expected to tell MPs that such a move will do "irreparable damage" to British politics.

However, with her agreement all but dead in the water, there is a growing expectation Britain will leave the EU without a deal, which commentators warn could hammer the British economy.

Asian markets mostly rose Monday as traders look ahead to a key meeting of the Federal Reserve, and a Chinese policy-setting conference this week. However, there is still caution on trading floors after Friday's sharp sell-off fuelled by concerns over China's economy, and despite a tweet from Donald Trump suggesting a trade deal could be hammered out between Washington and Beijing.

Asian markets mostly rose Monday as traders look ahead to a key meeting of the Federal Reserve, and a Chinese policy-setting conference this week. However, there is still caution on trading floors after Friday's sharp sell-off fuelled by concerns over China's economy, and despite a tweet from Donald Trump suggesting a trade deal could be hammered out between Washington and Beijing. While there are signs the world's top two economies are beginning to move towards a resolution in their bitter tariffs spat, there are increasing concerns about the global outlook following another dour set of indicators out of China. A string of below-par readings this year have highlighted a slowdown in the Asian giant and observers are forecasting leaders will unveil fresh measures to pep up the economy, which is on course for another year of relatively weak growth. A speech from President Xi Jinping on Tuesday to mark 40 years since China's economy began opening up will be closely watched, and that is expected to be followed by the start of a conference setting out the country's 2019 economic plan. "We should expect a raft of stimulus measures from China policymakers in an attempt to stabilise the domestic economy," said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA. The Fed will conclude its rate-setting policy meeting Wednesday and while expectations are for another hike in borrowing costs, comments from chairman Jerome Powell will be closely watched for an idea of its plans for 2019. 'A lot of volatility' In light of the China-US trade row and signs of weakness in the global economy, the bank has sounded a little more dovish in recent weeks, fuelling speculation it will slow down its pace of rate hikes -- which has provided some much-needed support to equities. "The upcoming (Fed) meeting and China's policy-setting meeting have been the most actively discussed topics around the markets," Innes added. "And both events have a smoothing effect on risk sentiment." Shanghai climbed 0.2 per cent and Tokyo finished 0.6 per cent higher, while Sydney put on one per cent and Singapore jumped 1.2 per cent. Seoul and Taipei each gained 0.1 per cent while Wellington added 0.3 per cent. There were also gains in Mumbai and Manila, though Hong Kong inched down marginally. In early European trade London dipped 0.1 per cent, Paris dropped 0.3 per cent and Frankfurt eased 0.2 per cent. Steve Goldman, fund manager at Kapstream Capital, told Bloomberg TV in Sydney that "we're going to see a lot of volatility" in the new year because of global uncertainty. Hopes that China and the US can reach a deal to end their trade war were given a boost by Trump on Friday when he tweeted: "China wants to make a big and very comprehensive deal. It could happen, and rather soon!" That came after China earlier in the day backed off fresh levies imposed this summer on US-made cars and auto parts. While a full-blown deal is some way off, the developments have provided some hope to dealers. On currency markets, the pound remains bogged down around 20-month lows as Prime Minister Theresa May struggles to win concessions from EU leaders over her Brexit agreement, which a majority of lawmakers in Westminster oppose. Facing growing calls for another referendum to break the deadlock, May is expected to tell MPs that such a move will do "irreparable damage" to British politics. However, with her agreement all but dead in the water, there is a growing expectation Britain will leave the EU without a deal, which commentators warn could hammer the British economy.

Asian markets rise ahead of key meetings in China and US

Your complete digital life - including data from your social media accounts, banking and credit card details — can be sold by cybercriminals for less than US $50, scientists say.

While many of us have heard of, or even fallen victim to, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyber-crimes-rose-between-2014-and-2017-government-28660">cybercrimes</a> such as data and identity theft, it seems that relatively few know the value of the information stolen from us.&nbsp;

Scientists from the Kaspersky Lab, a cybersecurity company in Russia, found that while our identity may not be worth a lot in terms of dollars, it is a significant asset to criminals in other ways.

The research uncovered an appetite among cybercriminals for data stolen from popular services - including via social media accounts and remote access to gaming websites.

User confusion about what their data is worth could result in a haphazard approach to security, making it all too easy for thieves to steal data and commit a crime.

Data stolen due to people's lax security may have limited resale value, but can be put to many uses.

This can cause huge problems for an individual victim, who may lose money and their reputation, find themselves being chased for debt that somebody else has incurred in their name, or even suspected of a crime that somebody else has committed using their identity as a cover.

Kaspersky Lab investigated 'Dark Web' markets to find out how much personal data is worth, and how it is used by criminals.&nbsp;

The dark web also referred to as the darknet, is an encrypted portion of the internet that is not indexed by search engines. These networks use the internet but require specific software, configurations, or authorisation to access.

The researchers found that criminals can sell someone's complete digital life for less than US $50; including data from stolen social media accounts, banking details, remote access to servers or desktops, and even data from popular services like Uber, Netflix, and Spotify, as well as gaming websites, dating apps, and porn websites which might store credit card information.

Meanwhile, researchers found that the price paid for a single hacked account is lower, with most selling for about US $1 per account, and with criminals offering up discounts for bulk-buying.

The most common way criminals steal this sort of data in the first place is via spear phishing campaigns or by exploiting a web related security vulnerability in an application's software.

After a successful attack, the criminal gets password dumps which contain a combination of emails and passwords for the hacked services. With many people using the same password for several accounts, attackers might be able to use this information to access accounts on other platforms too.

Some criminals selling data even provide their buyers with a lifetime warranty, so if one account stops working, the buyer will receive a new account for free.

"It is clear that data hacking is a major threat to us all, and this applies at both an individual and societal level because stolen data funds many social evils," said David Jacoby, Senior Security Researcher at Kaspersky Lab.

"Fortunately, there are steps we can take to prevent it, including by using cybersecurity software and being aware of how much data we are giving away for free - particularly on publicly available social media profiles, or to organisations," said Jacoby.

People can avoid such risks by taking several easy security steps, which should become an integral part of any Internet user's digital life.

To stay safe from phishing, always check that the link address and the sender's email are genuine before clicking anything. A robust security solution will also warn you if you attempt to visit a phishing web page. 
To avoid one data leak harming all your digital identities, never use the same password for several websites or services, researchers said.

Your complete digital life - including data from your social media accounts, banking and credit card details — can be sold by cybercriminals for less than US $50, scientists say.

Your complete digital life - including data from your social media accounts, banking and credit card details — can be sold by cybercriminals for less than US $50, scientists say. While many of us have heard of, or even fallen victim to, cybercrimes such as data and identity theft, it seems that relatively few know the value of the information stolen from us. Scientists from the Kaspersky Lab, a cybersecurity company in Russia, found that while our identity may not be worth a lot in terms of dollars, it is a significant asset to criminals in other ways. The research uncovered an appetite among cybercriminals for data stolen from popular services - including via social media accounts and remote access to gaming websites. User confusion about what their data is worth could result in a haphazard approach to security, making it all too easy for thieves to steal data and commit a crime. Data stolen due to people's lax security may have limited resale value, but can be put to many uses. This can cause huge problems for an individual victim, who may lose money and their reputation, find themselves being chased for debt that somebody else has incurred in their name, or even suspected of a crime that somebody else has committed using their identity as a cover. Kaspersky Lab investigated 'Dark Web' markets to find out how much personal data is worth, and how it is used by criminals. The dark web also referred to as the darknet, is an encrypted portion of the internet that is not indexed by search engines. These networks use the internet but require specific software, configurations, or authorisation to access. The researchers found that criminals can sell someone's complete digital life for less than US $50; including data from stolen social media accounts, banking details, remote access to servers or desktops, and even data from popular services like Uber, Netflix, and Spotify, as well as gaming websites, dating apps, and porn websites which might store credit card information. Meanwhile, researchers found that the price paid for a single hacked account is lower, with most selling for about US $1 per account, and with criminals offering up discounts for bulk-buying. The most common way criminals steal this sort of data in the first place is via spear phishing campaigns or by exploiting a web related security vulnerability in an application's software. After a successful attack, the criminal gets password dumps which contain a combination of emails and passwords for the hacked services. With many people using the same password for several accounts, attackers might be able to use this information to access accounts on other platforms too. Some criminals selling data even provide their buyers with a lifetime warranty, so if one account stops working, the buyer will receive a new account for free. "It is clear that data hacking is a major threat to us all, and this applies at both an individual and societal level because stolen data funds many social evils," said David Jacoby, Senior Security Researcher at Kaspersky Lab. "Fortunately, there are steps we can take to prevent it, including by using cybersecurity software and being aware of how much data we are giving away for free - particularly on publicly available social media profiles, or to organisations," said Jacoby. People can avoid such risks by taking several easy security steps, which should become an integral part of any Internet user's digital life. To stay safe from phishing, always check that the link address and the sender's email are genuine before clicking anything. A robust security solution will also warn you if you attempt to visit a phishing web page. To avoid one data leak harming all your digital identities, never use the same password for several websites or services, researchers said.

Your digital data could be on sale for less than US $50: Study

US-led coalition forces destroyed an Islamic State group command centre inside a mosque in the Syrian border town of Hajin on Saturday, the US military said.

The statement comes as Kurdish-led forces mop up the final remnants of IS jihadists in Hajin, the largest settlement in what is the last pocket of territory controlled by the jihadists.

More than 16 "heavily armed" IS fighters were at the "command and control node" at the mosque when it was destroyed by a "precision strike," a statement from the Combined Joint Task Force read.

The jihadists, who were all killed in the strike, were using the mosque to "command attacks against Coalition partners," it said.&nbsp;

The IS group "continues to use protected structures to launch attacks against our Coalition partners with complete disregard for the infrastructure and innocent human lives," the statement added.

Fighters with the Syrian Democratic Forces secured Hajin after weeks of heavy fighting on Friday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The town is located in eastern Syria about 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the border with Iraq.&nbsp;

The area is sometimes referred to as the "Hajin pocket," the last rump of a once-sprawling "caliphate" the group proclaimed in 2014 over swathes of Syria and Iraq.

US-led coalition forces destroyed an Islamic State group command centre inside a mosque in the Syrian border town of Hajin on Saturday, the US military said. The statement comes as Kurdish-led forces mop up the final remnants of IS jihadists in Hajin, the largest settlement in what is the last pocket of territory controlled by the jihadists.

US-led coalition forces destroyed an Islamic State group command centre inside a mosque in the Syrian border town of Hajin on Saturday, the US military said. The statement comes as Kurdish-led forces mop up the final remnants of IS jihadists in Hajin, the largest settlement in what is the last pocket of territory controlled by the jihadists. More than 16 "heavily armed" IS fighters were at the "command and control node" at the mosque when it was destroyed by a "precision strike," a statement from the Combined Joint Task Force read. The jihadists, who were all killed in the strike, were using the mosque to "command attacks against Coalition partners," it said. The IS group "continues to use protected structures to launch attacks against our Coalition partners with complete disregard for the infrastructure and innocent human lives," the statement added. Fighters with the Syrian Democratic Forces secured Hajin after weeks of heavy fighting on Friday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The town is located in eastern Syria about 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the border with Iraq. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Hajin pocket," the last rump of a once-sprawling "caliphate" the group proclaimed in 2014 over swathes of Syria and Iraq.

US-led coalition says it destroyed IS site in Syrian mosque

Mike Pompeo urges release of two Canadians

Kurdish-led forces seized the Islamic State's main hub of Hajin Friday, a milestone in a massive and costly US-backed operation to eradicate the jihadists from eastern Syria.

The Syrian Democratic Forces secured Hajin, the largest settlement in what is the last pocket of territory controlled by IS, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

"After a week of heavy fighting and air strikes, the SDF were able to kick IS out", Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based monitoring group, said.

The operation was completed at dawn, he said, a day after SDF forces fanned out across the large village in the Euphrates valley.

On Thursday, the last IS fighters were confined to a network of tunnels and the edges of Hajin, which lies in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, about 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the border with Iraq.

The area held by IS is sometimes referred to as the "Hajin pocket", the last rump of a once-sprawling "caliphate" the group proclaimed in 2014 over swathes of Syria and Iraq.

IS fighters pulled back to positions east of Hajin Friday and to Sousa and Al-Shaafa, the other two main villages in their shrinking Euphrates valley enclave.

As recently as Thursday, the group posted pictures of fighting in Hajin on its social media accounts.&nbsp;

High death toll

According to Abdel Rahman, a total of 17,000 fighters from the Kurdish-Arab SDF alliance are involved in the operation to flush IS out of its last bastion.

The operation was launched on September 10 and has taken a heavy toll, according to figures collected by the Observatory, which has a &nbsp;network of sources on the ground.

At least 900 jihadists and 500 SDF fighters were killed in the fighting, the Observatory said.

According to Abdel Rahman, more than 320 civilians were also killed, many of them in air strikes by the US-led coalition.

Thousands more civilians who had remained, voluntarily or not, in the Hajin area have fled their homes since the start of the offensive three months ago.

US President Donald Trump this week predicted the jihadist group would be fully defeated within a month.

"We've done a very, very major job on ISIS," he said on Tuesday, using another acronym for IS.

"There are very few of them left in that area of the world. &nbsp;And within another 30 days, there won't be any of them left," he vowed.

Western and other officials have repeatedly announced deadlines for a final victory over IS but the group is proving resilient.

30 days?

The push to retake Hajin was delayed by Turkish threats on the Kurdish heartland further north and deadly counter-attacks by die-hard jihadists making a bloody last stand.

The Turkish threats were renewed this week by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said the army would launch an offensive within the "next few days" to "bring peace and security to areas east of the Euphrates" controlled by the SDF.

Washington, which has set up observation posts along the border and launched joint patrols with the SDF, said any unilateral military action in northern Syria would be "unacceptable".

On Friday, 13 political parties in Kurdish territory in northern Syria issued a joint statement denouncing Erdogan's threat as a "declaration of war".

Besides what is left of the pocket near Hajin, IS has a presence in Syria's vast Badia desert, a front which is managed by Russian-backed government forces.

What is left of the jihadist group also has sleeper cells across Iraq and Syria that regularly carry out attacks.

"ISIS anticipated its battlefield defeat and the loss of the caliphate and prepared accordingly," said Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism expert at Georgetown University in Washington. 
&nbsp;

Kurdish-led forces seized the Islamic State's main hub of Hajin Friday, a milestone in a massive and costly US-backed operation to eradicate the jihadists from eastern Syria.

Kurdish-led forces seized the Islamic State's main hub of Hajin Friday, a milestone in a massive and costly US-backed operation to eradicate the jihadists from eastern Syria. The Syrian Democratic Forces secured Hajin, the largest settlement in what is the last pocket of territory controlled by IS, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "After a week of heavy fighting and air strikes, the SDF were able to kick IS out", Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based monitoring group, said. The operation was completed at dawn, he said, a day after SDF forces fanned out across the large village in the Euphrates valley. On Thursday, the last IS fighters were confined to a network of tunnels and the edges of Hajin, which lies in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, about 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the border with Iraq. The area held by IS is sometimes referred to as the "Hajin pocket", the last rump of a once-sprawling "caliphate" the group proclaimed in 2014 over swathes of Syria and Iraq. IS fighters pulled back to positions east of Hajin Friday and to Sousa and Al-Shaafa, the other two main villages in their shrinking Euphrates valley enclave. As recently as Thursday, the group posted pictures of fighting in Hajin on its social media accounts. High death toll According to Abdel Rahman, a total of 17,000 fighters from the Kurdish-Arab SDF alliance are involved in the operation to flush IS out of its last bastion. The operation was launched on September 10 and has taken a heavy toll, according to figures collected by the Observatory, which has a network of sources on the ground. At least 900 jihadists and 500 SDF fighters were killed in the fighting, the Observatory said. According to Abdel Rahman, more than 320 civilians were also killed, many of them in air strikes by the US-led coalition. Thousands more civilians who had remained, voluntarily or not, in the Hajin area have fled their homes since the start of the offensive three months ago. US President Donald Trump this week predicted the jihadist group would be fully defeated within a month. "We've done a very, very major job on ISIS," he said on Tuesday, using another acronym for IS. "There are very few of them left in that area of the world. And within another 30 days, there won't be any of them left," he vowed. Western and other officials have repeatedly announced deadlines for a final victory over IS but the group is proving resilient. 30 days? The push to retake Hajin was delayed by Turkish threats on the Kurdish heartland further north and deadly counter-attacks by die-hard jihadists making a bloody last stand. The Turkish threats were renewed this week by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said the army would launch an offensive within the "next few days" to "bring peace and security to areas east of the Euphrates" controlled by the SDF. Washington, which has set up observation posts along the border and launched joint patrols with the SDF, said any unilateral military action in northern Syria would be "unacceptable". On Friday, 13 political parties in Kurdish territory in northern Syria issued a joint statement denouncing Erdogan's threat as a "declaration of war". Besides what is left of the pocket near Hajin, IS has a presence in Syria's vast Badia desert, a front which is managed by Russian-backed government forces. What is left of the jihadist group also has sleeper cells across Iraq and Syria that regularly carry out attacks. "ISIS anticipated its battlefield defeat and the loss of the caliphate and prepared accordingly," said Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism expert at Georgetown University in Washington.

US-backed forces expel IS from east Syria hub

A family with their young baby climbed over a border fence in Tijuana on Thursday (December 13), as many grow restless in shelters south of the border to get their asylum claims to US authorities.

But these migrants do not get far after they jump the fence. There are a series of fences along the international line patrolled by US border patrol officials, with these migrants detained by officers.

Reuters video showed a US border patrol officer tackling a migrant to the ground with other officers detaining the rest of his family.

This young family spoke to Reuters before jumping the fence, saying their decision to cross was an option between life and death.

Mexican officials have said as many as 1,000 individuals from the caravan of Central American migrants have hopped or otherwise skirted fences to reach the US since they arrived to the border city of Tijuana.

US President Donald Trump has sought to make it harder to get asylum, claiming criminals are amongst the migrant group. But a federal court last month placed a temporary restraining order on his policy that only permitted asylum claims made at official ports of entry.

Under former President Barack Obama a system dubbed "metering" began, which limits how many can ask for asylum each day in Tijuana. Lawyers say Trump is using the system more aggressively to stem the flow at the port of entry.

A family with their young baby climbed over a border fence in Tijuana on Thursday (December 13), as many grow restless in shelters south of the border to get their asylum claims to US authorities.

A family with their young baby climbed over a border fence in Tijuana on Thursday (December 13), as many grow restless in shelters south of the border to get their asylum claims to US authorities. But these migrants do not get far after they jump the fence. There are a series of fences along the international line patrolled by US border patrol officials, with these migrants detained by officers. Reuters video showed a US border patrol officer tackling a migrant to the ground with other officers detaining the rest of his family. This young family spoke to Reuters before jumping the fence, saying their decision to cross was an option between life and death. Mexican officials have said as many as 1,000 individuals from the caravan of Central American migrants have hopped or otherwise skirted fences to reach the US since they arrived to the border city of Tijuana. US President Donald Trump has sought to make it harder to get asylum, claiming criminals are amongst the migrant group. But a federal court last month placed a temporary restraining order on his policy that only permitted asylum claims made at official ports of entry. Under former President Barack Obama a system dubbed "metering" began, which limits how many can ask for asylum each day in Tijuana. Lawyers say Trump is using the system more aggressively to stem the flow at the port of entry.

Father, baby detained after climbing Tijuana border fence

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