New satellite images indicate North Korea has restarted a reactor at a site used to produce plutonium for its nuclear weapons programme, a think tank has said.
US-based 38 North, which monitors the secretive communist state, said images taken on 22 January suggested operations at the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Centre had resumed and could be running at a "considerable" level.
Last week, 38 North said satellite images taken on 18 January showed signs that Pyongyang was preparing to restart the reactor with the unloading of spent fuel rods.
It added the implications of activity at the site "remain unclear except to reaffirm that the Yongbyon facility remains the centre of North Korea's nuclear programme".
:: North Korea developing nuclear capabilities at 'unprecedented' pace - South
The think tank's latest report comes days after China banned the export of plutonium to North Korea.
In a statement, the Chinese commerce ministry said other prohibited exports included technologies which could aid Pyongyang's programmes to develop nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, as well as the missiles to deliver them.
Just hours after his inauguration, Donald Trump announced plans to develop a "state-of-the-art" missile defence system to protect the US against attacks from Iran and North Korea.
The President did not provide details on whether the system would differ from those already under development, its cost or how it would be paid for.
:: Dissent towards North Korea is rising, says former London deputy ambassador
The policy announcement followed reports Pyongyang was preparing to test an upgraded intercontinental ballistic missile prototype.
According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, news of the test appeared to have been intentionally leaked by North Korea to send a "strategic message" to Mr Trump.
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Iraqis say US President Donald Trump 'has gone to war with Islam'
The sickening sound of mortars and rockets whine over our heads before exploding streets away from our position with Iraqi forces on the eastern banks of the Tigris in Mosul.
The elite Counter Terrorism Service soldiers, Iraq's SAS, don't blink an eye as they gather around us as we ask them about President Donald Trump's travel ban to the United States.
They are trained by the Americans; they fight alongside their special forces colleagues and in the battle against Islamic State they are expected to live and maybe die with the Americans.
But now, likely virtually everyone else in Iraq, they are not welcome in the USA.
They were not exactly clamouring to leave their country.
In fact as professional soldiers they would probably be the last to leave. But it is the principle; that principle feels like betrayal.
"Trump is a guy we consider to be like the leader of North Korea, he is obsessed with himself" a Lieutenant told me.
"The Iraqi people are intelligent but every time they deal with the Americans, the British or any other country they think that we are naive. But it is they who were weak," he said.
After two years of oppressive IS rule and a horrendous battle to free eastern Mosul, the west still is not.
A lot of the residents drinking coffee and eating in small cafes would probably like to just get out of town, which is not that easy.
Again, they see the President's travel ban as mean and unnecessary.
"Of course I'm upset. Why would he say these things? There's no need for it. We're simple people who want to live a decent life," a man told me shaking his head.
"I swear to God because of IS Islam and religion have got a bad reputation. There are now lots of problems between Muslims and Christians. It is all because of Islamic State," said another.
A third added, "I think Trump has gone to war with Islam. He's not good with the Islam. Islamic people. And he has an aim to destroy the Islamic people."
The complex relationship between Iraq and the USA is exacerbated by the travel ban, especially in Mosul, where the streets are filled with rubble and enormous craters mark out virtually every major interchange.
They point out that the biggest offensive against IS is being carried out by Iraqi soldiers and even more they say that the majority of terrorists attacking in the US and in Europe come from countries that are not included in the travel ban.
Haider Kata is the Sky News producer in Baghdad.
We depend on him for everything including our safety; he is also our trusted friend.
Haider has worked for news organisations and household name journalists from all over the world and in doing so has put himself and his family in danger.
His brother was killed in a car bomb attack and that coupled with years of threats convinced him he needed to take his young family to safety and a new life in the United States.
He has filled out the forms and been interviewed, he was waiting for an answer. Now his dreams are shattered.
"I haven't even told my wife," he told me on a pavement surrounded by rubble and shrapnel in eastern Mosul.
"She said we need to go, you want to stay, but I do not. I am in danger and now I am stuck. We thought we could change our lives but our dreams are gone. I don't know what to do," he said.
It seems unlikely that Iraq will follow the path of others and reciprocate the travel ban.
But politics is complicated here and pressure could mount on the government.
Such a move would weaken the Iraqi military for sure and, ironically, would produce a major winner. It is called Islamic State.
The elite Counter Terrorism Service soldiers, Iraq's SAS, don't blink an eye as they gather around us as we ask them about President Donald Trump's travel ban to the United States.
They are trained by the Americans; they fight alongside their special forces colleagues and in the battle against Islamic State they are expected to live and maybe die with the Americans.
But now, likely virtually everyone else in Iraq, they are not welcome in the USA.
They were not exactly clamouring to leave their country.
In fact as professional soldiers they would probably be the last to leave. But it is the principle; that principle feels like betrayal.
"Trump is a guy we consider to be like the leader of North Korea, he is obsessed with himself" a Lieutenant told me.
"The Iraqi people are intelligent but every time they deal with the Americans, the British or any other country they think that we are naive. But it is they who were weak," he said.
After two years of oppressive IS rule and a horrendous battle to free eastern Mosul, the west still is not.
A lot of the residents drinking coffee and eating in small cafes would probably like to just get out of town, which is not that easy.
Again, they see the President's travel ban as mean and unnecessary.
"Of course I'm upset. Why would he say these things? There's no need for it. We're simple people who want to live a decent life," a man told me shaking his head.
"I swear to God because of IS Islam and religion have got a bad reputation. There are now lots of problems between Muslims and Christians. It is all because of Islamic State," said another.
A third added, "I think Trump has gone to war with Islam. He's not good with the Islam. Islamic people. And he has an aim to destroy the Islamic people."
The complex relationship between Iraq and the USA is exacerbated by the travel ban, especially in Mosul, where the streets are filled with rubble and enormous craters mark out virtually every major interchange.
They point out that the biggest offensive against IS is being carried out by Iraqi soldiers and even more they say that the majority of terrorists attacking in the US and in Europe come from countries that are not included in the travel ban.
Haider Kata is the Sky News producer in Baghdad.
We depend on him for everything including our safety; he is also our trusted friend.
Haider has worked for news organisations and household name journalists from all over the world and in doing so has put himself and his family in danger.
His brother was killed in a car bomb attack and that coupled with years of threats convinced him he needed to take his young family to safety and a new life in the United States.
He has filled out the forms and been interviewed, he was waiting for an answer. Now his dreams are shattered.
"I haven't even told my wife," he told me on a pavement surrounded by rubble and shrapnel in eastern Mosul.
"She said we need to go, you want to stay, but I do not. I am in danger and now I am stuck. We thought we could change our lives but our dreams are gone. I don't know what to do," he said.
It seems unlikely that Iraq will follow the path of others and reciprocate the travel ban.
But politics is complicated here and pressure could mount on the government.
Such a move would weaken the Iraqi military for sure and, ironically, would produce a major winner. It is called Islamic State.
Trump's immigration ban: Stranded travellers speak of fear and dismay
Travellers left stranded by Donald Trump’s immigration executive order have spoken of their fear and dismay.
The US President has imposed a travel ban on refugees and citizens from seven mainly-Muslim countries - Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
The order has also had implications for US citizens born in those countries, who were not in America at the time and now face significant difficulties returning home.
Nisrin Elamin, a Sudanese student with US legal residency, said she was handcuffed and detained for five hours at JFK Airport in New York after returning from Sudan.
Ms Elamin said she presented her US green card and permanent residence documents before being given an "uncomfortable pat down".
She added: "They touched my breast area and my groin area. Then I got handcuffed and I just started crying."
The 39-year-old was later released, but said the experience left her scared she would not be able to visit her family in Sudan.
Also detained at JFK Airport was Iranian Parisa Fasihianifard, who travelled from Tehran to visit her husband Mohamad before being told she had to turn back and go home.
The US President has imposed a travel ban on refugees and citizens from seven mainly-Muslim countries - Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
The order has also had implications for US citizens born in those countries, who were not in America at the time and now face significant difficulties returning home.
Nisrin Elamin, a Sudanese student with US legal residency, said she was handcuffed and detained for five hours at JFK Airport in New York after returning from Sudan.
Ms Elamin said she presented her US green card and permanent residence documents before being given an "uncomfortable pat down".
She added: "They touched my breast area and my groin area. Then I got handcuffed and I just started crying."
The 39-year-old was later released, but said the experience left her scared she would not be able to visit her family in Sudan.
Also detained at JFK Airport was Iranian Parisa Fasihianifard, who travelled from Tehran to visit her husband Mohamad before being told she had to turn back and go home.
Donald Trump: Travel ban will prevent 'horrible mess'
Donald Trump has defended strict travel restrictions placed on people from seven Muslim-majority nations, saying they will prevent a "horrible mess" in the US.
President Trump's controversial executive order for "extreme vetting" means no visas are being issued for 90 days to migrants or visitors from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
The ban, which is also affecting legal US citizens who were born in these countries, has been denounced as "divisive" and "shameful".
But Mr Trump has defended the measure in an apparent reference to recent terror attacks across Europe.
He tweeted: "Our country needs strong borders and extreme vetting, NOW. Look what is happening all over Europe and, indeed, the world - a horrible mess!"
America's immigration system was plunged into disarray in the wake of the executive order.
Some green card holders flying home to the US were taken into custody at airports upon arrival - with dozens of immigration lawyers attempting to help the stranded.
A judge ruled that those who had already landed in the US with valid visas could be temporarily allowed to stay in the country.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which won the federal district court judgment, said the ruling proved "we are a democratic republic where the powers of government are not dictatorial".
As of Saturday night, customs and border protection officials had denied entry to more than 170 people.
Others who were about to board flights back to the US were told they could not travel - and the Department of Homeland Security contacted airlines recommending them to deny boarding to certain passengers.
White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said the implementation of the order "wasn't chaos", adding that 109 travellers were detained across the US on Saturday.
He told NBC the "couple dozen" that are still being held would likely be released later on Sunday.
Enforcement of the executive order for those landing in the States was described as patchy and disorganised, and some American airports were more lenient than others.
The ban sparked protests at airports in New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas.
It has also created uncertainty for refugees who were about to begin a new life in the States, as all resettlements have been suspended for at least 120 days while tougher vetting rules are established. Syrian refugees have been specifically barred from the US indefinitely.
One aid organisation said it knew of 2,000 refugees who had been scheduled to relocate to the US next week.
Washington governor Jay Inslee, speaking at Seattle-Tacoma Airport, condemned the "chaos and cruelty" of Mr Trump's policy.
Signing the order into force on Friday, the President said it was a necessary step to stop "radical Islamic terrorists" from coming to the US and stressed the decree was "not a Muslim ban".
Mr Trump has faced condemnation from leaders around the world, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel saying the fight against terrorism "doesn't justify putting people of a particular origin or particular faith under general suspicion".
American technology giants have also responded furiously to the immigration clampdown.
In an apparent reference to Steve Jobs, the son of a Syrian immigrant, Apple chief executive Tim Cook said the tech firm "would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do."
Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky has pledged free housing "to refugees and anyone not allowed in the US".
Meanwhile, Google has urged its employees from the seven countries affected to cancel any travel plans outside the US.
President Trump's controversial executive order for "extreme vetting" means no visas are being issued for 90 days to migrants or visitors from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
The ban, which is also affecting legal US citizens who were born in these countries, has been denounced as "divisive" and "shameful".
But Mr Trump has defended the measure in an apparent reference to recent terror attacks across Europe.
He tweeted: "Our country needs strong borders and extreme vetting, NOW. Look what is happening all over Europe and, indeed, the world - a horrible mess!"
America's immigration system was plunged into disarray in the wake of the executive order.
Some green card holders flying home to the US were taken into custody at airports upon arrival - with dozens of immigration lawyers attempting to help the stranded.
A judge ruled that those who had already landed in the US with valid visas could be temporarily allowed to stay in the country.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which won the federal district court judgment, said the ruling proved "we are a democratic republic where the powers of government are not dictatorial".
As of Saturday night, customs and border protection officials had denied entry to more than 170 people.
Others who were about to board flights back to the US were told they could not travel - and the Department of Homeland Security contacted airlines recommending them to deny boarding to certain passengers.
White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said the implementation of the order "wasn't chaos", adding that 109 travellers were detained across the US on Saturday.
He told NBC the "couple dozen" that are still being held would likely be released later on Sunday.
Enforcement of the executive order for those landing in the States was described as patchy and disorganised, and some American airports were more lenient than others.
The ban sparked protests at airports in New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas.
It has also created uncertainty for refugees who were about to begin a new life in the States, as all resettlements have been suspended for at least 120 days while tougher vetting rules are established. Syrian refugees have been specifically barred from the US indefinitely.
One aid organisation said it knew of 2,000 refugees who had been scheduled to relocate to the US next week.
Washington governor Jay Inslee, speaking at Seattle-Tacoma Airport, condemned the "chaos and cruelty" of Mr Trump's policy.
Signing the order into force on Friday, the President said it was a necessary step to stop "radical Islamic terrorists" from coming to the US and stressed the decree was "not a Muslim ban".
Mr Trump has faced condemnation from leaders around the world, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel saying the fight against terrorism "doesn't justify putting people of a particular origin or particular faith under general suspicion".
American technology giants have also responded furiously to the immigration clampdown.
In an apparent reference to Steve Jobs, the son of a Syrian immigrant, Apple chief executive Tim Cook said the tech firm "would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do."
Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky has pledged free housing "to refugees and anyone not allowed in the US".
Meanwhile, Google has urged its employees from the seven countries affected to cancel any travel plans outside the US.
Trump's immigration ban sparks 'chaos and cruelty' worldwide
America's immigration system has been plunged into chaos and confusion in the wake of strict travel restrictions on people from seven Muslim-majority nations.
President Trump's sweeping executive order for "extreme vetting" means no visas are being issued for 90 days to migrants or visitors from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
But the ban is also affecting permanent, legal US citizens who were born in these countries. Those who were not on American soil when the decree came into effect are not able to re-enter for three months - separating them from their families and putting their jobs at risk.
Some green card holders who were flying home to the US when the executive order was signed have been taken into custody at airports upon arrival - with dozens of immigration lawyers attempting to help the stranded.
A judge has ruled those who have already landed in the US with valid visas can be temporarily allowed to stay in the country.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which won the federal district court judgment, said the ruling proved "we are a democratic republic where the powers of government are not dictatorial".
As of Saturday night, customs and border protection officials had denied entry to more than 170 people.
Others who were about to board flights back to America have been told they cannot travel - and the Homeland Security Department has been contacting airlines and recommending them to deny boarding to certain passengers.
Enforcement of the executive order for those landing in the States has been described as patchy and disorganised, and some American airports have been more lenient than others.
According to the executive order, exceptions can be made when it is in the "national interest", but one federal law enforcement official said: "It's unclear at this point what the threshold of the national interest is."
The International Air Transport Association has been told that the ban also applies to flight crew who are from one of the listed countries.
Protests are taking place across the US - including airports in New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas.
The decree has also created uncertainty for refugees who were about to begin a new life in the States, as all resettlements have been suspended for at least 120 days while tougher vetting rules are established. Syrian refugees have been specifically barred from the US indefinitely.
One aid organisation said it knew of 2,000 refugees who had been scheduled to relocate to the US next week.
No refugees were on planes heading to America when the order came into force, but 350 people who had already begun their journeys are now stuck in Kenya.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee, speaking at Sea-Tac Airport, condemned the "chaos and cruelty" of Mr Trump's policy - and warned it was provocative, incompetent, ineffective and damaging to the economy.
British citizens who carry passports for one of the seven affected countries have also been caught up in the disruption.
Hamaseh Tayari, a Scottish vet who holds an Iranian passport, told the Guardian she has been left stranded in Costa Rica as her flight back to Glasgow was scheduled to go via New York.
She and her boyfriend now face the possibility of having to pay an extra £2,000 to fly to Madrid in order to get home.
President Trump has said the executive order is a necessary step to stop "radical Islamic terrorists" from coming to the US - but stressed the decree is "not a Muslim ban".
He has faced condemnation from leaders around the world, with Iran's Foreign Minister warning Tehran is going to stop issuing new visas to US citizens in retaliation to the ban.
American technology giants have also responded furiously to the immigration clampdown.
Apple chief executive Tim Cook said his company does not support the policy. In an apparent reference to its co-founder Steve Jobs, the son of a Syrian immigrant, Mr Cook said: "Apple would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do."
Google has urged its employees from the seven countries affected to cancel any travel plans outside the US.
The impact on foreign students is also unclear. Figures from the Homeland Security Department suggest that 17,000 students from the blacklisted countries were allowed into the US in 2015/16.
President Trump's sweeping executive order for "extreme vetting" means no visas are being issued for 90 days to migrants or visitors from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
But the ban is also affecting permanent, legal US citizens who were born in these countries. Those who were not on American soil when the decree came into effect are not able to re-enter for three months - separating them from their families and putting their jobs at risk.
Some green card holders who were flying home to the US when the executive order was signed have been taken into custody at airports upon arrival - with dozens of immigration lawyers attempting to help the stranded.
A judge has ruled those who have already landed in the US with valid visas can be temporarily allowed to stay in the country.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which won the federal district court judgment, said the ruling proved "we are a democratic republic where the powers of government are not dictatorial".
As of Saturday night, customs and border protection officials had denied entry to more than 170 people.
Others who were about to board flights back to America have been told they cannot travel - and the Homeland Security Department has been contacting airlines and recommending them to deny boarding to certain passengers.
Enforcement of the executive order for those landing in the States has been described as patchy and disorganised, and some American airports have been more lenient than others.
According to the executive order, exceptions can be made when it is in the "national interest", but one federal law enforcement official said: "It's unclear at this point what the threshold of the national interest is."
The International Air Transport Association has been told that the ban also applies to flight crew who are from one of the listed countries.
Protests are taking place across the US - including airports in New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas.
The decree has also created uncertainty for refugees who were about to begin a new life in the States, as all resettlements have been suspended for at least 120 days while tougher vetting rules are established. Syrian refugees have been specifically barred from the US indefinitely.
One aid organisation said it knew of 2,000 refugees who had been scheduled to relocate to the US next week.
No refugees were on planes heading to America when the order came into force, but 350 people who had already begun their journeys are now stuck in Kenya.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee, speaking at Sea-Tac Airport, condemned the "chaos and cruelty" of Mr Trump's policy - and warned it was provocative, incompetent, ineffective and damaging to the economy.
British citizens who carry passports for one of the seven affected countries have also been caught up in the disruption.
Hamaseh Tayari, a Scottish vet who holds an Iranian passport, told the Guardian she has been left stranded in Costa Rica as her flight back to Glasgow was scheduled to go via New York.
She and her boyfriend now face the possibility of having to pay an extra £2,000 to fly to Madrid in order to get home.
President Trump has said the executive order is a necessary step to stop "radical Islamic terrorists" from coming to the US - but stressed the decree is "not a Muslim ban".
He has faced condemnation from leaders around the world, with Iran's Foreign Minister warning Tehran is going to stop issuing new visas to US citizens in retaliation to the ban.
American technology giants have also responded furiously to the immigration clampdown.
Apple chief executive Tim Cook said his company does not support the policy. In an apparent reference to its co-founder Steve Jobs, the son of a Syrian immigrant, Mr Cook said: "Apple would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do."
Google has urged its employees from the seven countries affected to cancel any travel plans outside the US.
The impact on foreign students is also unclear. Figures from the Homeland Security Department suggest that 17,000 students from the blacklisted countries were allowed into the US in 2015/16.
Theresa May 'does not agree' with Trump's refugee ban
Theresa May does "not agree" with Donald Trump's immigration restrictions and will make representations if it affects Britons, Number 10 says.
he Prime Minister clarified her position after earlier insisting it was up to the US government to devise its own policy.
A Downing Street official said: "Immigration policy in the United States is a matter for the government of the United States, just the same as immigration policy for this country should be set by our government.
"But we do not agree with this kind of approach and it is not one we will be taking."
The crackdown means British citizens born in Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia or Yemen will not be able to travel to the States - even if they do not have dual nationality.
One of those affected is Iraqi-born Nadhim Zahawi, the Conservative MP for Stratford-on-Avon.
He tweeted: "I'm a British citizen & so proud to have been welcomed to this country. Sad to hear I'll be banned from the USA based on my country of birth.
"A sad, sad day to feel like a second-class citizen. Sad day for the USA."
Downing Street said Mrs May's team would be in touch with the White House if Britons were affected by the order.
"We are studying this new executive order to see what it means and what the legal effects are, and in particular what the consequences are for UK nationals," Number 10 said.
"If there is any impact on UK nationals then clearly we will make representations to the US government about that."
Labour and Conservative MPs had reacted with horror to Mr Trump's policy, and Mrs May's initial refusal to condemn it.
Outspoken Tory MP Heidi Allen tweeted the Prime Minister directly to say: "Strong leadership means not being afraid to tell someone powerful when they're wrong. It's an ethos this country is proud of Theresa May."
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn criticsed said: "Theresa May should have stood up for Britain and our values by condemning his actions. It should sadden our country that she chose not to.
"After Trump's hideous actions and May's weak failure to condemn them, it's more important than ever for us to say to refugees seeking a place of safety, that they will always be welcome in Britain."
But Chief Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke defended Mrs May.
"The Prime Minister is not a shoot-from-the-hip type of politician, she wants to see the evidence, she wants to understand precisely what the implications are," he said.
"She had been in a series of very lengthy meetings with President Erdogan and she is someone who wants to see the briefing and understand it and then will respond to that."
Other world leaders, including Canada's Justin Trudeau and French President Francois Hollande, were more forthright in speaking out against the ban.
he Prime Minister clarified her position after earlier insisting it was up to the US government to devise its own policy.
A Downing Street official said: "Immigration policy in the United States is a matter for the government of the United States, just the same as immigration policy for this country should be set by our government.
"But we do not agree with this kind of approach and it is not one we will be taking."
The crackdown means British citizens born in Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia or Yemen will not be able to travel to the States - even if they do not have dual nationality.
One of those affected is Iraqi-born Nadhim Zahawi, the Conservative MP for Stratford-on-Avon.
He tweeted: "I'm a British citizen & so proud to have been welcomed to this country. Sad to hear I'll be banned from the USA based on my country of birth.
"A sad, sad day to feel like a second-class citizen. Sad day for the USA."
Downing Street said Mrs May's team would be in touch with the White House if Britons were affected by the order.
"We are studying this new executive order to see what it means and what the legal effects are, and in particular what the consequences are for UK nationals," Number 10 said.
"If there is any impact on UK nationals then clearly we will make representations to the US government about that."
Labour and Conservative MPs had reacted with horror to Mr Trump's policy, and Mrs May's initial refusal to condemn it.
Outspoken Tory MP Heidi Allen tweeted the Prime Minister directly to say: "Strong leadership means not being afraid to tell someone powerful when they're wrong. It's an ethos this country is proud of Theresa May."
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn criticsed said: "Theresa May should have stood up for Britain and our values by condemning his actions. It should sadden our country that she chose not to.
"After Trump's hideous actions and May's weak failure to condemn them, it's more important than ever for us to say to refugees seeking a place of safety, that they will always be welcome in Britain."
But Chief Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke defended Mrs May.
"The Prime Minister is not a shoot-from-the-hip type of politician, she wants to see the evidence, she wants to understand precisely what the implications are," he said.
"She had been in a series of very lengthy meetings with President Erdogan and she is someone who wants to see the briefing and understand it and then will respond to that."
Other world leaders, including Canada's Justin Trudeau and French President Francois Hollande, were more forthright in speaking out against the ban.
Coins discovery 'will re-write' Anglo-Saxon history
Historians say an entire chapter of the Anglo-Saxon period will have to be re-written after a metal detectorist found a huge hoard of coins in a field.
James Mather made the discovery of 200 complete silver coins, seven items of jewellery and 15 silver ingots in a field near Watlington in Oxfordshire in October 2015. Its full significance has now become apparent.
The find contained a mixture of extremely rare Anglo-Saxon coins and Viking silver, which provides a clearer understanding of the relationship between Alfred the Great, who ruled Wessex and his less well-known contemporary Ceolwulf II of Mercia.
Some of the coins were minted with a 'Two Emperors' design, borrowed from the Romans, which shows that the currency was used in both ancient kingdoms.
"This is an extraordinary find, one which re-writes Anglo-Saxon history," Xa Sturgis, director of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, which now houses the coins, told Sky News.
"The keeper of the coin room here came running up the stairs to tell me. The more they were excavated the more it became obvious how significant they are. These coins point to some sort of an alliance in the 870s between Alfred and Ceolwulf."
While Alfred is often described as the king who founded England, uniting Mercia and Wessex, very little is known of his rival Ceolwulf.
"These coins prove that there was a very real alliance between the two men at that time," added Julian Baker, coin curator at the Ashmolean.
"That alliance hasn't survived in the historical record until now. Alfred manipulated history to put himself in a better light. To date, history has overemphasised Alfred's record and almost completely neglected Ceolwulf.
"We can start re-writing that decade now, courtesy of the Watlington hoard."
The Ashmolean has until Monday, 31 January, to raise £1.35m to keep the coins and Viking silver in Oxfordshire and they are extremely close to that figure now.
More than 500 people in the local area have donated to the fund set up to raise the cash.
Mr Sturgis added: "Alfred is the only king in the history of England described as 'great'. But these coins show that in the 870s he needed Ceolwulf. It's incredible that we know so little about him and Alfred dominates everything. It's like he obliterated Ceolwulf."
The Watlington Hoard, as it is now known, is on public display at the Ashmolean as historians begin the process of re-assessing that period of Anglo-Saxon history.
James Mather made the discovery of 200 complete silver coins, seven items of jewellery and 15 silver ingots in a field near Watlington in Oxfordshire in October 2015. Its full significance has now become apparent.
The find contained a mixture of extremely rare Anglo-Saxon coins and Viking silver, which provides a clearer understanding of the relationship between Alfred the Great, who ruled Wessex and his less well-known contemporary Ceolwulf II of Mercia.
Some of the coins were minted with a 'Two Emperors' design, borrowed from the Romans, which shows that the currency was used in both ancient kingdoms.
"This is an extraordinary find, one which re-writes Anglo-Saxon history," Xa Sturgis, director of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, which now houses the coins, told Sky News.
"The keeper of the coin room here came running up the stairs to tell me. The more they were excavated the more it became obvious how significant they are. These coins point to some sort of an alliance in the 870s between Alfred and Ceolwulf."
While Alfred is often described as the king who founded England, uniting Mercia and Wessex, very little is known of his rival Ceolwulf.
"These coins prove that there was a very real alliance between the two men at that time," added Julian Baker, coin curator at the Ashmolean.
"That alliance hasn't survived in the historical record until now. Alfred manipulated history to put himself in a better light. To date, history has overemphasised Alfred's record and almost completely neglected Ceolwulf.
"We can start re-writing that decade now, courtesy of the Watlington hoard."
The Ashmolean has until Monday, 31 January, to raise £1.35m to keep the coins and Viking silver in Oxfordshire and they are extremely close to that figure now.
More than 500 people in the local area have donated to the fund set up to raise the cash.
Mr Sturgis added: "Alfred is the only king in the history of England described as 'great'. But these coins show that in the 870s he needed Ceolwulf. It's incredible that we know so little about him and Alfred dominates everything. It's like he obliterated Ceolwulf."
The Watlington Hoard, as it is now known, is on public display at the Ashmolean as historians begin the process of re-assessing that period of Anglo-Saxon history.
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