President Trump said he had ‘very productive conversations’ with the leaders of India and Pakistan on the margins of the UN General Assembly.

NEW YORK: US President Donald Trump said he discussed Kashmir with the top leadership of India and Pakistan during his meetings with them and offered to help with “arbitration or mediation” on the issue to the two nuclear-armed neighbours, who have to “work it out”.

Trump’s comments came a day after he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session here where the two leaders mainly focused on issues related to terrorism emanating from Pakistan and the Indo-US bilateral trade.

India maintains that Kashmir is a bilateral issue and no third party has any role in it.

Pakistan has been trying to internationalise the Kashmir issue after India withdrew the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, but New Delhi has asserted the abrogation of Article 370 was its “internal matter”.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, President Trump said he had “very productive conversations” with the leaders of India and Pakistan on the margins of the UN General Assembly.

“With respect to Pakistan and India, we talked about Kashmir. Whatever help I can be, I said, I offered, whether it’s arbitration or mediation or whatever it has to be,” Trump said in his opening remarks, offering to mediate for the fourth time.

Trump said he will “do whatever he can, because, they are at very serious odds right now and hopefully that will get better”. “You look at the two gentlemen heading those two countries, two good friends of mine. I said, fellows work it out, just work it out. Those are two nuclear countries, gotta work it out.”

When asked to comment on Trump’s remarks, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said India position is “very clear”.

“I think it has been articulated by the prime minister earlier. It was articulated yesterday (Tuesday) by the foreign secretary so that position remains,” Kumar told reporters at a briefing.

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale had told reporters after the Modi-Trump meeting that the prime minister “made it clear that we are not shying away from talks with Pakistan”.

“But for that to happen, we expect some concrete steps to be taken by Pakistan. And we do not find any effort by Pakistan taking those steps,” Gokhale had said.

Trump’s meeting with Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday — their fourth meeting since Modi came to power for a second term in May this year — came a day after the US president met Pakistani premier Imran Khan on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session.

A White House readout on Wednesday said Trump “encouraged” Modi to improve relations with Pakistan and fulfil his promise to better the lives of the Kashmiri people.

Gokhale had said during the meeting, Modi explained in detail to Trump the challenges faced by India because of terrorism, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, where 42,000 lives have been lost in the last 30 years due to terrorism.

Tensions between the two countries have spiked since the abrogation of Article 370.

It evoked strong reactions from Islamabad, which downgraded ties and expelled the Indian ambassador.

Meanwhile, both Modi and Khan are scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Friday.

The technology-driven U.S. drilling boom that started more than a decade ago has made the United States a massive producer, but imports of crude oil and petroleum products from the Gulf region last year still flowed in abundantly.

WASHINGTON [USA]

Donald Trump said become such a big producer it no longer needed oil from the Middle East.
 

Amid a flurry of Twitter posts on Monday morning, U.S. President Donald Trump turned to the weekend attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities and assured his audience the United States had become such a big producer it no longer needed oil from the Middle East.

U.S. government data tells a different story: The technology-driven U.S. drilling boom that started more than a decade ago has made the United States a massive producer, but imports of crude oil and petroleum products from the Gulf region last year still flowed in abundantly.

“By and large, we are still importing quite a bit and not totally immune to the world market,” Jean-Francois Seznec, a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center, said during a call with reporters on Monday.

Iran has rejected U.S. charges it was to blame for the attacks, which damaged the world’s biggest crude-processing plant in Saudi Arabia and triggered the largest jump in crude prices in decades.

Saudi Arabia is the world’s biggest oil exporter, shipping about 7 million barrels of crude daily around the globe. The United States, produces roughly 12 million barrels per day, but consumes 20 million bpd, meaning it must import the rest.

U.S. ‘locked and loaded’ after Saudi attack

U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. is “locked and loaded” after the attack on Saudi oil, and has “reason to believe that we know the culprit.” Meanwhile, analysts are warning that if the price of oil stays at record highs it could further risk a global recession.

Much of the U.S. shortfall comes from Canada, but some still comes from Saudi Arabia, Iraq and other Gulf nations because several U.S. refineries prefer their oil. As an example, the biggest U.S. refinery – Motiva Enterprises LLC in Port Arthur, Texas – is half-owned by Saudi Arabia’s state energy company, Saudi Aramco, and is set up for Saudi grades.

Other refineries – particularly in California are isolated from big U.S. oil fields and must also rely on cargoes.

The mismatch between what U.S. refiners want and what the United States produces means that in 2018, the United States imported an average of 48 million barrels per month of crude oil and petroleum products from the Gulf region, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

That is down about a third from a decade ago, as domestic oil and gas production soared, but roughly the same level as in 1995 and 1996, according to the data.

Phillip Cornell, another senior fellow with the Atlantic Council, who used to advise Saudi Aramco, called Trump’s tweet “nonsense.”

“He’s a guy who likes hyperbole,” he said.

Sarah Emerson, president of ESAI Energy LLC, said the Saudi production outage, if it is prolonged, could provide an opportunity for U.S. crude oil producers to expand their overseas markets.

Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal said an Improvised Explosive Device exploded outside the consulate in Afghanistan’s Jalalabad.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Sunday that at least three persons, including a policeman, were injured in a blast outside its Consulate General in the volatile Jalalabad city in Afghanistan.

Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal said an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded outside the consulate in Jalalabad.

“IED exploded outside holding area of our Consulate General in Jalalabad. All Pakistani staff are safe.

One policeman and two applicants are reportedly wounded,” he said in a tweet.

“We are in contact with Afghan authorities to ensure strengthened security for Consulate General’s premises and personnel,” Faisal said.

No outfit has taken responsibility of the attack.

The consulate had been shut down in August last year, before resuming operations two months later, a media report said.

The eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, also the provincial capital of Nangarhar, has seen violence erupt multiple times in the recent past.

On August 19, a series of bombings struck restaurants and public squares, wounding at least 34 people as the country marked the 100th anniversary of its independence.

In May, three explosions had ripped through the provincial capital, killing three people and wounding another 20.

Dubai, Aug 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday arrived in the UAE where he will discuss bilateral and regional issues with the top leadership. 

Modi reached UAE capital Abu Dhabi from Paris on the second leg of his three-nation tour to France, UAE and Bahrain.

During the visit, Modi will discuss bilateral, regional and international matters of mutual interest with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and also formally launch RuPay card to expand the network of cashless transactions abroad.

“Reached Abu Dhabi. Looking forward to holding talks with His Highness Crown Prince @MohamedBinZayed and discussing the full range of friendship between India and UAE. Deepening economic relations will also be on the agenda during this visit,” Modi tweeted 

He will also receive the ‘Order of Zayed’, the highest civilian decoration conferred by the UAE government. 

From Abu Dhabi, Modi will visit Bahrain where he will hold talks with King Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and also witness the formal beginning of the re-development of the temple of Shreenathji — the oldest in the Gulf region before returning to France on Sunday to attend the G7 Summit meetings. 

Modi’s visit to Bahrain is significant as it will be the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to the country.

He would also meet and interact with the Indian diaspora during the visit. 

Earlier in the day, Modi held bilateral meeting with his French counterpart Edouard Philippe and discussed issues of bilateral and mutual interests to further boost the comprehensive strategic partnership.

He also met UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay and addressed the Indian community at the UNESCO headquarters after inaugurating a memorial at the foothills of the Mont Blanc mountain in the honour of the victims of two Air India crashes in France in 1950s and 1960s in which several Indians, including Homi J Bhabha, regarded as the father of India’s nuclear programme, were killed.

New Delhi: The Asia-Pacific Group of the global watchdog for terror financing and money laundering has put Pakistan in the Enhanced Expedited Follow Up List (Blacklist) for its failure to meet its standards, officials said on Friday.

The Asia Pacific Group (APG) of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has also found that Pakistan was non-compliant on 32 of the 40 compliance parameters of terror financing and money laundering.

The FATF APG meeting was held in Canberra, Australia and the discussions lasted over seven hours over two days.

“The APG has placed Pakistan in the Enhanced Expedited Follow Up List (Black List) for failure to meet its standards,” an Indian official privy to the development said.

On 11 effectiveness parameters of terror financing and money laundering, Pakistan was adjudged as low on 10. The official said despite its efforts, Pakistan could not convince the 41-member plenary to upgrade it on any parameter.

Now, Pakistan has to focus on avoiding the blacklist in October, when the 15-month timeline ends on the FATF’s 27-point action plan, another official said.

Naik is alleged to have made controversial remarks against Malaysian Hindus and Malaysian Chinese during a talk in Kota Baru on August 3, prompting calls for him to be deported to India.

Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik has been banned from giving speeches in Malaysia, local media reports said on Tuesday.

Naik was summoned on Monday for a second time by Malaysian authorities after his alleged racial remarks against Hindus and Chinese, hours after Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad told the controversial Indian televangelist that he is not allowed to participate in political activities in the country.

The official Bernama news agency reported on Monday that Naik, wanted by Indian authorities since 2016 for alleged money laundering and inciting extremism through hate speeches, has been called for the second time to have his statement recorded at Bukit Aman, The Royal Malaysia Police Headquarters here.

The 53-year-old preacher, who is a permanent resident in Muslim-majority Malaysia, had his statement recorded for the first time on August 16, the report said.

Naik is alleged to have made controversial remarks against Malaysian Hindus and Malaysian Chinese during a talk in Kota Baru on August 3, prompting calls for him to be deported to India.

Responding to calls for his deportation from Malaysia by suggesting Malaysian Chinese should leave the country first as they were “old guests.”

He also said that ethnic Hindus in Malaysia enjoyed “100 times more rights” than Muslims in India and that they believed in the Indian government more than the Malaysian one, media reports said.

Reacting to Naik’s controversial comments, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir on Sunday said it was “quite clear” that Naik wanted to participate in racial politics.

“He is stirring up racial feelings. The police will have to investigate whether it is causing tension; obviously, it is,” he said.

Mahathir added that as a permanent resident, Naik was not allowed to participate in politics.

“You can preach (religiously). But he wasn’t doing that,” he said.

“He was talking about Chinese going back to China and Indians going back to India. I have never said such things. But he did. That is politics,” the annoyed Malaysian prime minister said.

Meanwhile, more Malaysian provinces have banned Naik from making public speeches.

On Monday, Melaka became the latest state to ban his speeches.

Naik has been banned from speaking in Melaka, said the Malaysian state’s Chief Minister Adly Zahari.

Adly said the state government wants to avoid any issue that could strain ties between races, the Star reported on Monday.

“We want to maintain this. So we decided not to allow Mr Naik to hold talks or gatherings here,” he was quoted as saying.

Last week, the northern state of Perlis banned him from speaking at an event, following public uproar over racially insensitive remarks which he had made.

Naik has already been banned from the Malaysian states of Johor, Selangor, Penang, Kedah and Sarawak.

Taliban in a statement rejected any involvement in the attack and said they condemn the incidents which target women and children.

KABUL: The Afghan government has postponed celebrations to commemorate the 100th Independence Day of Afghanistan which was scheduled for Monday in the historic Dar-ul-Aman Palace.

Presidential spokesperson Sediq Sediqqi said the Secretariat tasked to organise the 100th Independence Celebrations of Afghanistan has postponed the event as per President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani’s instructions in a bid to pay respect to families of deadly bombing attack victims in Kabul, reported Khaama

Sediqqi further added that that the President will deliver a speech and lay wreath in Independence Minaret to honour the 100th Independence Day of Afghanistan and pay tribute to the martyrs of the freedom.

This comes as a suicide bomber targeted a wedding ceremony in West of Kabul city late on Saturday night killing 63 or wounding 182.

Meanwhile, the victims of the deadly bombing were buried on Sunday. Most of them were laid to rest in groups.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani in a statement said: ” I strongly condemn the inhumane attack on the wedding hall. “My top priority, for now, is to reach out to the families of victims of this barbaric attack,” reported Tolo News.

Taliban in a statement rejected any involvement in the attack and said they condemn the incidents which target women and children.

But Afghan President Ghani said, “Taliban cannot absolve themselves of blame because they provide a platform for terrorists.”

The temple had been closed during partition

A 1,000-year-old Hindu temple in Pakistan Punjab’s Sialkot city, which was sealed for the last 72 years, has been reopened for people.

Shawala Teja Singh Temple in Dhaarowal was built by Sardar Teja Singh and closed during partition. The Hindus of Sialkot stopped visiting the temple after a mob damaged it in 1992 while protesting the demolition of the Babri Masjid in India, SAMAA TV reported.

The step was taken on the direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan, said the report.

“We are thankful to the government for opening our temple,” said a Hindu man while speaking to SAMAA TV. “We can come here whenever we want now.”

“People are free to visit anytime,” said deputy commissioner Bilal Haider.

The government said that the work to preserve and restore the temple will start soon.

At least 18 people were killed and several injured when a small military plane crashed into a residential area near the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi.

Five crew members and 13 civilians were among the dead, rescue services said.

The aircraft was on a training flight when it crashed and set off a fire across several homes. One witness said the plane was ablaze before the crash.

The King Air 350 turboprop reportedly took a steep turn near its destination airport before coming down.Image captionThe city of Rawalpindi is the site of the army’s headquarters

Rawalpindi, near the capital Islamabad, is the site of the Pakistani army’s headquarters, and the plane belonged to the Pakistani Army’s aviation unit.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan offered his condolences and wished a “quick recovery for the injured”, according to a tweet sent by the Pakistani government.

How did the plane come down?

Witnesses at the scene said the aircraft crashed into a family home in a residential area around 02:00 local time (07:00 GMT).

“I was awake when the plane flew over my room and it was already on fire in the air,” said resident Ghulam Khan. “The sound was so scary, it was only a small plane. It then fell on a house where a family used to live.”

Another witness, Yasir Baloch, said: “The tail of the plane was on fire and it took barely two to three seconds and it crashed four houses away from my house and burnt to ashes.”

A resident near the site of the crash who gave his name as Yamin said he had escaped his burning house with his wife, daughter and parents, but his brother, sister-in-law and nephew died.

“The window and door to their room was locked. We tried our best to get them out but couldn’t,” he said.Image captionMourners gathered at the site of the plane crash

Pictures from the scene showed blackened buildings that had been reduced to rubble. A reporter from the AFP news agency said smoke was still rising from the wreckage and pieces of the plane were visible on a nearby roof.

Several injured were rushed to hospital, Pakistan’s emergency rescue services said. The bodies of the dead were taken away to be identified.

“All the bodies are badly burned, so DNA tests are required for identification,” said Farooq Butt, a spokesman for the rescue services.

What is Pakistan’s safety record like?

Pakistan has a chequered aviation safety record, including a number of airliner crashes.

In 2010, an aircraft operated by private airline Airblue crashed near Islamabad, killing all 152 people on board – the deadliest air disaster in Pakistani history.

In 2012, a Boeing 737-200 operated by Pakistan’s Bhoja Air crashed in bad weather on its approach to land in Rawalpindi, killing all 121 passengers and six crew.

And in 2016, a Pakistan International Airlines plane burst into flames while travelling from northern Pakistan to Islamabad, killing 47 people.

China’s reaction came after US President Donald Trump on Monday offered to be the “mediator” between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue during his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at the White House.

BEIJING: 

China on Friday said India and Pakistan should peacefully settle the Kashmir issue and other disputes through dialogue and expressed its support to the international community, including the US, in playing a “constructive role” to improve Indo-Pak ties.

China’s reaction came after US President Donald Trump on Monday offered to be the “mediator” between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue during his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at the White House.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said “as a neighbour to both Pakistan and India, China sincerely hopes that Pakistan and India can live in harmony”.

“We hope the two countries can peacefully settle the Kashmir issue and other bilateral disputes through dialogue, and make concerted efforts to safeguard peace and stability in South Asia,” Hua said in a guarded reaction.

“We support the international community, the US included, in playing a constructive role in improving Pakistan-India relations through dialogue,” Hua was quoted as saying by the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), the official news agency of Pakistan.

President Trump, who is known to make inaccurate statements, claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked him to mediate on the Kashmir issue during the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan.

India has denied Donald Trump’s claim and said PM Modi made no such request and Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has refuted that PM Modi ever made the request to President Trump.

“I would like to categorically assure the House that no such request has been made by the Prime Minister to the US President. I repeat, no such request was made by the Prime Minister to the US President,” he said in a statement to Parliament.

After Donald Trump’s remarks, the US State Department, in a damage control effort, later said it considered Kashmir a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and was ready to help only if the two countries wanted.

Over the years, China’s official stand on Kashmir has been that it is an issue left over by history and should be properly addressed by India and Pakistan through consultation and negotiations.