Iranian President Hassan Rouhani demanded on Wednesday that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-says-trump-rouhani-know-conditions-for-talks-but-up-to-them-to-deliver-251896">United States</a> "pay more" for any agreement that goes beyond the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that Washington abandoned.

Rouhani also rejected meeting US President Donald Trump while the two are in New York this week for the annual United Nations General Assembly, but both US and Iranian officials suggested they have some interest in a negotiation.

It remains unclear how one might happen given Tehran's demand that Washington first ease sanctions that have blighted its economy and the US imposition of fresh penalties as part of its "maximum pressure" campaign.

"Our response to talks under pressure is 'No,'" Rouhani said in a speech to the General Assembly even as the United States tightened the vise by blacklisting Chinese firms for dealing in Iranian oil despite <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rouhani-says-iran-resists-sanctions-drives-us-desperate-251461">US sanctions</a>.

The US-Iranian confrontation has ratcheted up since last year, when Trump withdrew from Iran's nuclear deal with major powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled the Islamic republic's economy.

Trump wants to go beyond that deal to further curb Iran's nuclear programme, halt its ballistic missile work and end its support for proxy forces in the Middle East.

"If you wish more, if you require more, you should give and pay more," Rouhani said in his General Assembly address, without giving details.

In his own speech on Tuesday, Trump accused Iranian leaders of "bloodlust" and called on other nations to put pressure on Iran after Sept. 14 attacks on Saudi oil facilities that Washington blames on Tehran despite its denials.

The United States plans to increase its military presence in Saudi Arabia following the attacks.

Rouhani, however, said the Gulf region is "on the edge of collapse, as a single blunder can fuel a big fire," and vowed to respond "decisively and strongly" to any foreign violation of its security or territorial integrity.

Trump had said there was still a path to peace and Rouhani has left the door open to diplomacy, saying that if sanctions were lifted, Washington could join nuclear talks between Tehran and other powers.

"We want a peaceful resolution with the Islamic Republic of Iran," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters, saying it was up to Iran. "We hope we get the opportunity to negotiate with them."

The United States has also been reaching out to Iranian officials to discuss the fate of American nationals held in Iran, a US State Department official said on Wednesday.

No Trump-Rouhani meeting

Despite French and British leaders urging <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-says-rouhani-meeting-not-scheduled-as-speculation-swirls-251685">Rouhani to sit down with Trump</a>, an Iranian official told Reuters there was no chance the US and Iranian presidents would meet this week.

"The chances of a meeting are zero. They know what to do," the official said. The official said the United States should return to the 2015 deal, lift sanctions and end the maximum pressure campaign.

Under that deal, Iran limited its nuclear programme in return for relief from economic sanctions that constricted its ability to trade with the world.

After abandoning the deal, Trump in May tightened sanctions on Iran in an effort to reduce its oil exports - its main source of foreign exchange and government revenues - to zero.

On Wednesday, the United States sanctioned five Chinese people and six entities it accused of knowingly transferring oil from Iran in violation of Washington's curbs on Tehran. The entities include two Cosco Shipping subsidiaries but not the parent company itself.

“This is one of the largest sanctions actions the United States has taken against entities and individuals identified as transporting Iranian oil since our sanctions were re-imposed in November 2018,” Pompeo said in a statement on the move.

While it at first fully adhered to the deal despite Trump's withdrawal, Iran has gradually reduced its compliance and has threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf, through which an estimated one-fifth of the world’s oil passes.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-says-rouhani-meeting-not-scheduled-as-speculation-swirls-251685">United States has blamed Iran</a> for a series of actions since May - some of which Iran has denied - that have roiled oil markets, including attacks on half a dozen tankers, shooting down a US drone and the September 14 attacks on Aramco facilities.

The air strikes on the heartland of Saudi Arabia's oil industry damaged the world’s biggest petroleum-processing facility and knocked out more than 5 per cent of global oil supply.

"This cannot go unanswered, there has to be consequences for Iran for what they did," Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir said. He said Riyadh was consulting others and that its options included diplomatic and economic steps.

The United States, European powers and Saudi Arabia have blamed the attack on Iran, instead of the Yemeni Iran-aligned Houthi group, which claimed responsibility. Iran distanced itself from the attacks but said it was ready for "full-fledged" war.

In the penultimate sentence of his UN speech, Rouhani raised the possibility of talks.

"This is the message of the Iranian nation: Let's invest on hope towards a better future rather than in war and violence," he said. "Let’s return to justice; to peace; to law, commitment and promise and finally to the negotiating table."

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani demanded on Wednesday that the United States "pay more" for any agreement that goes beyond the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that Washington abandoned.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani demanded on Wednesday that the United States "pay more" for any agreement that goes beyond the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that Washington abandoned. Rouhani also rejected meeting US President Donald Trump while the two are in New York this week for the annual United Nations General Assembly, but both US and Iranian officials suggested they have some interest in a negotiation. It remains unclear how one might happen given Tehran's demand that Washington first ease sanctions that have blighted its economy and the US imposition of fresh penalties as part of its "maximum pressure" campaign. "Our response to talks under pressure is 'No,'" Rouhani said in a speech to the General Assembly even as the United States tightened the vise by blacklisting Chinese firms for dealing in Iranian oil despite US sanctions. The US-Iranian confrontation has ratcheted up since last year, when Trump withdrew from Iran's nuclear deal with major powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled the Islamic republic's economy. Trump wants to go beyond that deal to further curb Iran's nuclear programme, halt its ballistic missile work and end its support for proxy forces in the Middle East. "If you wish more, if you require more, you should give and pay more," Rouhani said in his General Assembly address, without giving details. In his own speech on Tuesday, Trump accused Iranian leaders of "bloodlust" and called on other nations to put pressure on Iran after Sept. 14 attacks on Saudi oil facilities that Washington blames on Tehran despite its denials. The United States plans to increase its military presence in Saudi Arabia following the attacks. Rouhani, however, said the Gulf region is "on the edge of collapse, as a single blunder can fuel a big fire," and vowed to respond "decisively and strongly" to any foreign violation of its security or territorial integrity. Trump had said there was still a path to peace and Rouhani has left the door open to diplomacy, saying that if sanctions were lifted, Washington could join nuclear talks between Tehran and other powers. "We want a peaceful resolution with the Islamic Republic of Iran," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters, saying it was up to Iran. "We hope we get the opportunity to negotiate with them." The United States has also been reaching out to Iranian officials to discuss the fate of American nationals held in Iran, a US State Department official said on Wednesday. No Trump-Rouhani meeting Despite French and British leaders urging Rouhani to sit down with Trump, an Iranian official told Reuters there was no chance the US and Iranian presidents would meet this week. "The chances of a meeting are zero. They know what to do," the official said. The official said the United States should return to the 2015 deal, lift sanctions and end the maximum pressure campaign. Under that deal, Iran limited its nuclear programme in return for relief from economic sanctions that constricted its ability to trade with the world. After abandoning the deal, Trump in May tightened sanctions on Iran in an effort to reduce its oil exports - its main source of foreign exchange and government revenues - to zero. On Wednesday, the United States sanctioned five Chinese people and six entities it accused of knowingly transferring oil from Iran in violation of Washington's curbs on Tehran. The entities include two Cosco Shipping subsidiaries but not the parent company itself. “This is one of the largest sanctions actions the United States has taken against entities and individuals identified as transporting Iranian oil since our sanctions were re-imposed in November 2018,” Pompeo said in a statement on the move. While it at first fully adhered to the deal despite Trump's withdrawal, Iran has gradually reduced its compliance and has threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf, through which an estimated one-fifth of the world’s oil passes. The United States has blamed Iran for a series of actions since May - some of which Iran has denied - that have roiled oil markets, including attacks on half a dozen tankers, shooting down a US drone and the September 14 attacks on Aramco facilities. The air strikes on the heartland of Saudi Arabia's oil industry damaged the world’s biggest petroleum-processing facility and knocked out more than 5 per cent of global oil supply. "This cannot go unanswered, there has to be consequences for Iran for what they did," Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir said. He said Riyadh was consulting others and that its options included diplomatic and economic steps. The United States, European powers and Saudi Arabia have blamed the attack on Iran, instead of the Yemeni Iran-aligned Houthi group, which claimed responsibility. Iran distanced itself from the attacks but said it was ready for "full-fledged" war. In the penultimate sentence of his UN speech, Rouhani raised the possibility of talks. "This is the message of the Iranian nation: Let's invest on hope towards a better future rather than in war and violence," he said. "Let’s return to justice; to peace; to law, commitment and promise and finally to the negotiating table."

Iran demands United States pay more for a 'wider deal'

India on Wednesday reiterated that its stance on Pakistan's efforts to combat terrorism has not changed and urged Islamabad to take concrete steps to tackle the menace.

"Our position on how the matter has to be addressed has been answered in the past and there is no change in that position." MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told reporters at a special media briefing.

Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/narendra-modi-holds-meetings-with-business-leaders-in-new-york-252095">Narendra Modi</a> said on Tuesday that India is not shying away from talks with Pakistan. He said that for India to initiate dialogue with Pakistan the latter country has to make efforts to combat terrorism.

Modi made the statement during the bilateral meeting with US President <a href="v">Donald Trump</a>."The Prime Minister made it clear (to Trump) that we are not shying away from talks with Pakistan, but we expect certain concrete steps to be taken by Pakistan before that, and we don't find any efforts by them," Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale had told reporters at a briefing after the bilateral meeting between the two leaders.

India raised the challenges it has been facing with regard to terror especially in Jammu and Kashmir for the last 30 years, Gokhale said.

New Delhi has repeatedly maintained that dialogue with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-approaches-unsc-to-allow-release-of-monthly-expenses-for-terrorist-hafiz-saeed-committee-allows-request-252107">Pakistan </a>will not be initiated until it takes concrete action against terror emanating from its soil.

Kumar also reiterated India's stand on Kashmir issue that it is a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan and there is no scope for third-party mediation.

"Even yesterday, he (Trump) said that India and Pakistan should both agree for any kind of mediation. Our position is very clear, it has been articulated by the Prime Minister (Modi) earlier. That position remains," he said.

Tensions between India and Pakistan soared following New Delhi`s decisions to abrogate Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan has downgraded its diplomatic ties and suspended bilateral trade with India in the aftermath of the move.

India has maintained that its constitutional decisions on Kashmir are its internal matter a stance that has been supported by many countries around the world.

India on Wednesday reiterated that its stance on Pakistan's efforts to combat terrorism has not changed and urged Islamabad to take concrete steps to tackle the menace.

India on Wednesday reiterated that its stance on Pakistan's efforts to combat terrorism has not changed and urged Islamabad to take concrete steps to tackle the menace. "Our position on how the matter has to be addressed has been answered in the past and there is no change in that position." MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told reporters at a special media briefing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that India is not shying away from talks with Pakistan. He said that for India to initiate dialogue with Pakistan the latter country has to make efforts to combat terrorism. Modi made the statement during the bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump."The Prime Minister made it clear (to Trump) that we are not shying away from talks with Pakistan, but we expect certain concrete steps to be taken by Pakistan before that, and we don't find any efforts by them," Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale had told reporters at a briefing after the bilateral meeting between the two leaders. India raised the challenges it has been facing with regard to terror especially in Jammu and Kashmir for the last 30 years, Gokhale said. New Delhi has repeatedly maintained that dialogue with Pakistan will not be initiated until it takes concrete action against terror emanating from its soil. Kumar also reiterated India's stand on Kashmir issue that it is a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan and there is no scope for third-party mediation. "Even yesterday, he (Trump) said that India and Pakistan should both agree for any kind of mediation. Our position is very clear, it has been articulated by the Prime Minister (Modi) earlier. That position remains," he said. Tensions between India and Pakistan soared following New Delhi`s decisions to abrogate Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan has downgraded its diplomatic ties and suspended bilateral trade with India in the aftermath of the move. India has maintained that its constitutional decisions on Kashmir are its internal matter a stance that has been supported by many countries around the world.

No change in our position, Pakistan needs to combat terror: India

Chinese&nbsp;State Councillor and&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Wang Yi on Wednesday called on&nbsp;all&nbsp;the relevant parties to enhance their sense of urgency and make&nbsp;all-out&nbsp;efforts&nbsp;to push for a political and diplomatic settlement of the&nbsp;Iranian&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;issue.

Wang made the statement at a meeting with&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;affairs officials from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/europe-to-step-up-diplomatic-efforts-on-iran-crisis-germany-246644">European Union (EU)</a>,&nbsp;Iran, Russia, France, Germany and Britain during the United Nations (UN) General Assembly high-level week.

He said that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-addresses-united-nations-in-shadow-of-iran-crisis-domestic-scandal-251626">United States exertion of extreme pressure</a> on&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;has led to the&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;crisis, and leaving the situation unchecked will trigger even a bigger crisis.

In order to properly&nbsp;solve&nbsp;the crisis, Wang said the relevant parties should uphold the fundamental principle of multilateralism.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), endorsed by the UN&nbsp;Security Council, is an important&nbsp;outcome of multilateral diplomacy, said Wang.

He pointed&nbsp;out&nbsp;that safeguarding the JCPOA, commonly known as the&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;deal, is to uphold multilateralism, the authority of the UN&nbsp;Security Council, and the international order based on international law.

All&nbsp;parties should never waver in their determination in face of challenges and difficulties, he added.

Wang said&nbsp;all&nbsp;parties should continue to honour the commitments of the JCPOA.

Ensuring a balance between rights and obligations prescribed in the JCPOA concerns fairness and justice at the very least.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-us-iran-crisis-brewing-for-a-while-227215">Iran</a>&nbsp;should resume implementing the deal, while other parties should make every effort to safeguard&nbsp;Iran's legitimate economic benefits, Wang pointed&nbsp;out.

China will continue its legitimate economic, trade and energy cooperation with&nbsp;Iran, push ahead with the Arak heavy water reactor renovation project, and support the EU-initiated payment system to facilitate trade with&nbsp;Iran, said Wang.

He called on the relevant parties to stick to the right approach of resolving differences through consultation.

China stands for a solution based on the principle of gradual progress, equality and mutual benefit, said Wang.

Problems related to the implementation of the deal should be&nbsp;solved via the mechanism of the JCPOA Joint Commission, Wang said, adding that China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States on&nbsp;Iran.

Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday called on all the relevant parties to enhance their sense of urgency and make all-out efforts to push for a political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.

Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday called on all the relevant parties to enhance their sense of urgency and make all-out efforts to push for a political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue. Wang made the statement at a meeting with foreign affairs officials from the European Union (EU), Iran, Russia, France, Germany and Britain during the United Nations (UN) General Assembly high-level week. He said that the United States exertion of extreme pressure on Iran has led to the Iran nuclear crisis, and leaving the situation unchecked will trigger even a bigger crisis. In order to properly solve the crisis, Wang said the relevant parties should uphold the fundamental principle of multilateralism. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), endorsed by the UN Security Council, is an important outcome of multilateral diplomacy, said Wang. He pointed out that safeguarding the JCPOA, commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, is to uphold multilateralism, the authority of the UN Security Council, and the international order based on international law. All parties should never waver in their determination in face of challenges and difficulties, he added. Wang said all parties should continue to honour the commitments of the JCPOA. Ensuring a balance between rights and obligations prescribed in the JCPOA concerns fairness and justice at the very least. Iran should resume implementing the deal, while other parties should make every effort to safeguard Iran's legitimate economic benefits, Wang pointed out. China will continue its legitimate economic, trade and energy cooperation with Iran, push ahead with the Arak heavy water reactor renovation project, and support the EU-initiated payment system to facilitate trade with Iran, said Wang. He called on the relevant parties to stick to the right approach of resolving differences through consultation. China stands for a solution based on the principle of gradual progress, equality and mutual benefit, said Wang. Problems related to the implementation of the deal should be solved via the mechanism of the JCPOA Joint Commission, Wang said, adding that China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran.

Chinese foreign minister calls for international efforts to solve Iran nuclear issue

After years of soggy&nbsp;inflation&nbsp;and the long reign of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-delhi-tokyo-will-be-working-on-third-country-projects-in-indias-vicinity-says-indian-envoy-to-japan-230663">Japan's</a>&nbsp;tight-fisted shoppers, businesses in the world's third-largest economy are adopting new methods to lift prices, from artificial intelligence to simple packaging tweaks.

Despite many rounds of stimulus,&nbsp;Japan's&nbsp;policymakers have failed to jolt households out of the deflationary mindset that followed the 1990s property crash, which meant businesses refused to raise prices for fear of losing customers.

Demand-based dynamic pricing,&nbsp;however, has allowed some Japanese&nbsp;retailers to discretely bump up prices without triggering the kind of customer backlash seen in more blatant attempts at repricing in the past.

Yokohama Marinos, for example, a club in&nbsp;Japan's&nbsp;top football league, introduced artificial intelligence last year to more closely align ticket prices with demand.

"Previously, it was difficult to find the best prices between demand and value of each match," said Hiroshi Nagai, General Manager for fan relationships at the club.

"The most fascinating thing about dynamic pricing is that it can offer more choices to customers", Nagai added.

Dynamic pricing, or surge pricing, is common among data-driven businesses such as ride-hailing services but is a relatively new concept for most traditional Japanese&nbsp;firms.

Using the technology, the Marinos sold tickets for a popular seating area for a March 2 match at 7,400 Yen, two weeks before the game, but cut prices to as low as 4,000 yen to fill empty seats as the match approached.

Koji Kawashimo, a 34-year old who has been a Marinos fan for more than a decade, said he had no problem with his team adopting dynamic pricing.

"I would pay for what I like. I want to pay if it's worth it," he said.

Hotels are also introducing dynamic pricing in their room rates including Centurion International, which operates over 20 hotels in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-the-us-reaches-trade-deals-with-japan-no-word-on-cars-250133">Japan</a>.

Centurion began using AI to collect information to charge higher prices when demand is strong and offer discounts when demand falls to reduce vacancies.

"The system provides us [with] information on competitors such as the pace of reservation, which is great. It's a big advantage," said Hironobu Bun, revenue manager at Centurion International.

Changing Mindsets

Economists believe that it will take more meaningful structural changes to&nbsp;Japan's&nbsp;economy to revive stagnant prices, which will, in turn, help businesses deal with sticky overheads and restore profits.

However, developments like the adoption of dynamic pricing lay the groundwork for more radical changes in&nbsp;how&nbsp;companies set prices for their goods and services.

"If dynamic pricing can change people's mindset so that they believe price can fluctuate more, there's a chance&nbsp;firms&nbsp;may be able to raise prices more easily where demand is strong," said Izuru Kato, chief economist at Totan Research.

At the same time, other businesses are looking at more cosmetic ways to drive the consumer to accept higher prices.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-helping-india-to-become-5-trillion-economy-pm-modi-to-indian-diaspora-230864">Japan's</a>&nbsp;"gyudon" beef rice bowls have become a symbol of the country's deflation due to their aggressively low prices. But some outlets are turning that trope around by offering "premium bowls" with better-quality meat for more than double the standard price.

The 500,000 "sukiyaki" beef rice bowls offered by fast-food chain Yoshinoya Holdings Co in August were sold out in about two weeks - much faster than the company had expected - despite a price tag of 860 yen per bowl, double that of a standard dish.

"The customer response has been good. If they see value in it, they would pay even if price is a little higher," said Yuji Terasawa, a spokesman of the company.

While such tactics seem to work, they take careful planning and preparation. Fast&nbsp;Retailing Co Ltd, whose budget clothing chain Uniqlo boomed during the country's deflation era, learned the hard way when sales slumped after it raised prices in 2014.&nbsp;

In contrast, discount barber chain QB House earlier this year raised prices for a 10-minute haircut to 1,200 yen from 1,080 Yen, explaining it was needed to increase salaries to secure better-trained barbers.

That move followed eight years of checking the customer mood through regular marketing surveys.

While the hike triggered a 2 per cent&nbsp;decline in customers from the previous year, the drop was much smaller than the company's projection of a 6 per cent&nbsp;fall.

"The price of a haircut is still lower than other places," said Kazuaki Mimura, a 34-year-old employee of a service-sector firm.

"I'm willing to accept a hike of a few hundred yen because the service here is quick and my haircut is done properly."

After years of soggy inflation and the long reign of Japan's tight-fisted shoppers, businesses in the world's third-largest economy are adopting new methods to lift prices, from artificial intelligence to simple packaging tweaks.

After years of soggy inflation and the long reign of Japan's tight-fisted shoppers, businesses in the world's third-largest economy are adopting new methods to lift prices, from artificial intelligence to simple packaging tweaks. Despite many rounds of stimulus, Japan's policymakers have failed to jolt households out of the deflationary mindset that followed the 1990s property crash, which meant businesses refused to raise prices for fear of losing customers. Demand-based dynamic pricing, however, has allowed some Japanese retailers to discretely bump up prices without triggering the kind of customer backlash seen in more blatant attempts at repricing in the past. Yokohama Marinos, for example, a club in Japan's top football league, introduced artificial intelligence last year to more closely align ticket prices with demand. "Previously, it was difficult to find the best prices between demand and value of each match," said Hiroshi Nagai, General Manager for fan relationships at the club. "The most fascinating thing about dynamic pricing is that it can offer more choices to customers", Nagai added. Dynamic pricing, or surge pricing, is common among data-driven businesses such as ride-hailing services but is a relatively new concept for most traditional Japanese firms. Using the technology, the Marinos sold tickets for a popular seating area for a March 2 match at 7,400 Yen, two weeks before the game, but cut prices to as low as 4,000 yen to fill empty seats as the match approached. Koji Kawashimo, a 34-year old who has been a Marinos fan for more than a decade, said he had no problem with his team adopting dynamic pricing. "I would pay for what I like. I want to pay if it's worth it," he said. Hotels are also introducing dynamic pricing in their room rates including Centurion International, which operates over 20 hotels in Japan. Centurion began using AI to collect information to charge higher prices when demand is strong and offer discounts when demand falls to reduce vacancies. "The system provides us [with] information on competitors such as the pace of reservation, which is great. It's a big advantage," said Hironobu Bun, revenue manager at Centurion International. Changing Mindsets Economists believe that it will take more meaningful structural changes to Japan's economy to revive stagnant prices, which will, in turn, help businesses deal with sticky overheads and restore profits. However, developments like the adoption of dynamic pricing lay the groundwork for more radical changes in how companies set prices for their goods and services. "If dynamic pricing can change people's mindset so that they believe price can fluctuate more, there's a chance firms may be able to raise prices more easily where demand is strong," said Izuru Kato, chief economist at Totan Research. At the same time, other businesses are looking at more cosmetic ways to drive the consumer to accept higher prices. Japan's "gyudon" beef rice bowls have become a symbol of the country's deflation due to their aggressively low prices. But some outlets are turning that trope around by offering "premium bowls" with better-quality meat for more than double the standard price. The 500,000 "sukiyaki" beef rice bowls offered by fast-food chain Yoshinoya Holdings Co in August were sold out in about two weeks - much faster than the company had expected - despite a price tag of 860 yen per bowl, double that of a standard dish. "The customer response has been good. If they see value in it, they would pay even if price is a little higher," said Yuji Terasawa, a spokesman of the company. While such tactics seem to work, they take careful planning and preparation. Fast Retailing Co Ltd, whose budget clothing chain Uniqlo boomed during the country's deflation era, learned the hard way when sales slumped after it raised prices in 2014. In contrast, discount barber chain QB House earlier this year raised prices for a 10-minute haircut to 1,200 yen from 1,080 Yen, explaining it was needed to increase salaries to secure better-trained barbers. That move followed eight years of checking the customer mood through regular marketing surveys. While the hike triggered a 2 per cent decline in customers from the previous year, the drop was much smaller than the company's projection of a 6 per cent fall. "The price of a haircut is still lower than other places," said Kazuaki Mimura, a 34-year-old employee of a service-sector firm. "I'm willing to accept a hike of a few hundred yen because the service here is quick and my haircut is done properly."

Inflation by stealth: How Japan's firms fight the frugal retail psyche

Facing the tough task of&nbsp;selling&nbsp;voters on an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-asked-ukraine-leader-to-investigate-biden-cal-transcript-confirms-252046">impeachment&nbsp;inquiry against</a> President Donald Trump, Democrats struggled on Wednesday to craft a unified message explaining why he might deserve to be removed from office.

In the halls of the Congress, on the campaign trail and on social media, many Democrats said Trump's pressure on Ukraine's president to investigate Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden was a clear-cut argument for an&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;inquiry.

"This is about the future. This is about protecting America's election and America's national security. It is a matter I think that is not difficult to understand," House of Representatives Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters.

Democrats with military and intelligence backgrounds described the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-democratic-impeachment-enquiry-a-joke-252097">impeachment&nbsp;investigation</a> as a duty, not a political fight they relished.

"In a district like mine, everything's risky," said US representative&nbsp;Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer who flipped a Republican district in Virginia last year that had voted for Trump in 2016.

The allegations against Trump are "a significant threat to our national security," she told constituents in a letter. "We should want to know definitively if they are true, or if they are false."

Others Democrats from Trump-voting districts were concerned that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's decision to launch an&nbsp;impeachment enquiry was not fully explained and could backfire, hurting Democrats in the 2020 elections.

U SRepresentative Jeff Van Drew, a New Jersey Democrat, said he did not mind an investigation but was not ready to back&nbsp;impeachment. Drew said he had faced some pressure from colleagues to change his mind and get on board.

"It's not pressure like someone putting you in a headlock, but it is pressure like 'Gee, we are all doing this together, we all have the same message.' And that's not true," he told reporters.

A House Democratic lawmaker who requested anonymity to discuss the handling of the inquiry said there was nervousness among more moderate members about whether Pelosi would hold a floor vote on&nbsp;impeachment, forcing them to go on the record.

"The party's really operating on different tracks right now, and that can be confusing for the public," said Colin Strother, a spokesman for Representative Henry Cuellar's re-election campaign in Texas.

"There's definitely a gulf between the people that are 'Impeach, no matter what,' and the people that are 'Follow the evidence.'"

Pelosi, who had resisted demands for an&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;inquiry for months out of fear of the political repercussions, changed her mind after reports that Trump pressured <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-president-zelensky-calls-controversial-donald-trump-call-normal-252078">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy</a> in a July 25 telephone call to investigate Biden and his son Hunter, who had worked for a company drilling for gas in Ukraine.

A defiant Trump, whose administration released on Wednesday a summary of the call, denied any impropriety and said Democrats launched the&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;inquiry "because they can't beat us at the ballot."

Public opinion polls indicate voters might not be ready for the&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;of Trump.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday, before Pelosi made the case for&nbsp;impeachment, found 37 per cent of Americans thought Trump should be impeached, down from 41 per cent&nbsp;in September.

In public, Democrats largely brushed off concerns about the risks and said the issue was bigger than everyday politics.

"History will remember those who put politics aside at this time of crisis and treated it like the moral moment that it is," said Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker.

Most Democratic presidential contenders for the nomination to take on Trump in next year's election support an&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;inquiry, including Biden and US&nbsp;Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar.

"It is the constitutional responsibility of Congress to hold this man accountable," Warren told reporters in Keene, New Hampshire.

Even some congressional Democrats facing tough re-election battles weighed in. In a tweet on Tuesday night, US&nbsp;Senator Doug Jones, who faces a difficult path to re-election in conservative Alabama, backed a congressional investigation of Trump and Ukraine.

'Winning on messaging?'

"I'm not certain that the Democrats are winning yet in terms of the messaging game. In the presidential Democratic primary, there's a lack of a clear message – obviously anti-Trump, but not much more," said Scot Schraufnagel, a political scientist at Northern Illinois University.

Pelosi's change of heart followed announcements of support for an&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;inquiry from several more moderate Democratic lawmakers, including a Washington Post column earlier this week by seven first-term House Democrats with military and national security backgrounds, including Spanberger.

US&nbsp;Representative Elissa Slotkin, one of the seven, said she had been urging Democrats to communicate clearly what they are investigating. She did not deny earlier reports she told a closed-door meeting of Democrats on Tuesday that "if you are asking us to stay on message, give us a goddamn message to stay on."

"I am doing everything I can to explain to people how I came to the decision. Because my hope is, even if they disagree with the decision, they give me the benefit of the doubt," Slotkin said.

Absent any other unified message, Dan Kildee, the Democrats’ chief deputy whip in the House, described the Post column as "sort of our manifesto at this point."

Democrats were heartened by what they saw as possible cracks in the usually monolithic Republican ranks of Trump supporters.

On Tuesday, not a single Senate Republican spoke out against a resolution urging the White House to hand over the whistleblower complaint on Ukraine to the intelligence committees in Congress.

Some Democrats said the more straightforward details of the Ukraine call made the issues easier for voters to understand than previous controversies that engulfed Trump, including the lengthy investigation into possible Russian interference and collusion in the 2016 election.

"This is a much easier case to make than some of the Russia stuff," said Jim Manley, a Democratic strategist and former aide to Senators Harry Reid and Edward Kennedy.

But he said Democrats would need a point person to deliver a "clear and coherent message" on the need for&nbsp;impeachment. He suggested one of the House committee chairmen leading investigations such as Adam Schiff, who heads the House Intelligence Committee.

Schiff agreed the Ukraine flap would be easier to explain to voters, saying Trump's conversation with the Ukrainian leader read "like a classic mob shakedown."

Facing the tough task of selling voters on an impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump, Democrats struggled on Wednesday to craft a unified message explaining why he might deserve to be removed from office.

Facing the tough task of selling voters on an impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump, Democrats struggled on Wednesday to craft a unified message explaining why he might deserve to be removed from office. In the halls of the Congress, on the campaign trail and on social media, many Democrats said Trump's pressure on Ukraine's president to investigate Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden was a clear-cut argument for an impeachment inquiry. "This is about the future. This is about protecting America's election and America's national security. It is a matter I think that is not difficult to understand," House of Representatives Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters. Democrats with military and intelligence backgrounds described the impeachment investigation as a duty, not a political fight they relished. "In a district like mine, everything's risky," said US representative Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer who flipped a Republican district in Virginia last year that had voted for Trump in 2016. The allegations against Trump are "a significant threat to our national security," she told constituents in a letter. "We should want to know definitively if they are true, or if they are false." Others Democrats from Trump-voting districts were concerned that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's decision to launch an impeachment enquiry was not fully explained and could backfire, hurting Democrats in the 2020 elections. U SRepresentative Jeff Van Drew, a New Jersey Democrat, said he did not mind an investigation but was not ready to back impeachment. Drew said he had faced some pressure from colleagues to change his mind and get on board. "It's not pressure like someone putting you in a headlock, but it is pressure like 'Gee, we are all doing this together, we all have the same message.' And that's not true," he told reporters. A House Democratic lawmaker who requested anonymity to discuss the handling of the inquiry said there was nervousness among more moderate members about whether Pelosi would hold a floor vote on impeachment, forcing them to go on the record. "The party's really operating on different tracks right now, and that can be confusing for the public," said Colin Strother, a spokesman for Representative Henry Cuellar's re-election campaign in Texas. "There's definitely a gulf between the people that are 'Impeach, no matter what,' and the people that are 'Follow the evidence.'" Pelosi, who had resisted demands for an impeachment inquiry for months out of fear of the political repercussions, changed her mind after reports that Trump pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a July 25 telephone call to investigate Biden and his son Hunter, who had worked for a company drilling for gas in Ukraine. A defiant Trump, whose administration released on Wednesday a summary of the call, denied any impropriety and said Democrats launched the impeachment inquiry "because they can't beat us at the ballot." Public opinion polls indicate voters might not be ready for the impeachment of Trump. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday, before Pelosi made the case for impeachment, found 37 per cent of Americans thought Trump should be impeached, down from 41 per cent in September. In public, Democrats largely brushed off concerns about the risks and said the issue was bigger than everyday politics. "History will remember those who put politics aside at this time of crisis and treated it like the moral moment that it is," said Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker. Most Democratic presidential contenders for the nomination to take on Trump in next year's election support an impeachment inquiry, including Biden and US Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar. "It is the constitutional responsibility of Congress to hold this man accountable," Warren told reporters in Keene, New Hampshire. Even some congressional Democrats facing tough re-election battles weighed in. In a tweet on Tuesday night, US Senator Doug Jones, who faces a difficult path to re-election in conservative Alabama, backed a congressional investigation of Trump and Ukraine. 'Winning on messaging?' "I'm not certain that the Democrats are winning yet in terms of the messaging game. In the presidential Democratic primary, there's a lack of a clear message – obviously anti-Trump, but not much more," said Scot Schraufnagel, a political scientist at Northern Illinois University. Pelosi's change of heart followed announcements of support for an impeachment inquiry from several more moderate Democratic lawmakers, including a Washington Post column earlier this week by seven first-term House Democrats with military and national security backgrounds, including Spanberger. US Representative Elissa Slotkin, one of the seven, said she had been urging Democrats to communicate clearly what they are investigating. She did not deny earlier reports she told a closed-door meeting of Democrats on Tuesday that "if you are asking us to stay on message, give us a goddamn message to stay on." "I am doing everything I can to explain to people how I came to the decision. Because my hope is, even if they disagree with the decision, they give me the benefit of the doubt," Slotkin said. Absent any other unified message, Dan Kildee, the Democrats’ chief deputy whip in the House, described the Post column as "sort of our manifesto at this point." Democrats were heartened by what they saw as possible cracks in the usually monolithic Republican ranks of Trump supporters. On Tuesday, not a single Senate Republican spoke out against a resolution urging the White House to hand over the whistleblower complaint on Ukraine to the intelligence committees in Congress. Some Democrats said the more straightforward details of the Ukraine call made the issues easier for voters to understand than previous controversies that engulfed Trump, including the lengthy investigation into possible Russian interference and collusion in the 2016 election. "This is a much easier case to make than some of the Russia stuff," said Jim Manley, a Democratic strategist and former aide to Senators Harry Reid and Edward Kennedy. But he said Democrats would need a point person to deliver a "clear and coherent message" on the need for impeachment. He suggested one of the House committee chairmen leading investigations such as Adam Schiff, who heads the House Intelligence Committee. Schiff agreed the Ukraine flap would be easier to explain to voters, saying Trump's conversation with the Ukrainian leader read "like a classic mob shakedown."

Selling impeachment: Democrats search for common message against Trump

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/japan-us-target-broad-bilateral-trade-deal-by-september-nikke-240552">United States and Japanese</a> officials insist a&nbsp;bilateral trade deal will be a "win-win", but some Japanese cattle farmers fear the agreement could sound the death knell for their sector.

Cattle farmers are already struggling to adjust to the terms of two major free trade deals inked by Japan in recent years - the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and an agreement with the European Union.

But they fear the US trade deal will put much greater pressure on them.

"We were able to maintain a market for our products in competition with the TPP members, because our beef quality is good enough to compete, even if imported beef was cheaper," said Harumi Yoshikawa, an official in-charge of livestock at an agricultural cooperative in Hokkaido.

"But American beef rivals ours in terms of quality and in that sense we are worried", he added.

"Politicians are not thinking about us farmers at all", said Akio Kawai, 61, who runs a ranch of some 4,300 beef cattle in Shikaoi town in northern Hokkaido, said:

He added that&nbsp;he is determined to stay afloat "but others may think about quitting this business".

"Japanese beef may be delicious and offer a sense of safety to consumers, but US beef is absolutely cheaper, and that's attractive to some," Kawai said.

Worries for the future

Under the deal announced in New York on Wednesday, Japan will eliminate or reduce tariffs on $7.2 billion worth of US food and agricultural products.

Milk cow farmers fear that they too will struggle, despite assurances of assistance from Japanese government officials.

The deal "will be a further blow to small cow farmers like us who keep just 30 to 50 cows," said one dairy and beef cattle farmer in Kanagawa prefecture, south of Tokyo.

"Various costs -- the price of feed crops, salaries for workers -- are already weighing on us, and this deal will be another factor to worry about in terms of the future of this business," he said.

"I wonder if many cow farmers, many of whom are ageing, will decide to quit the job... And I wonder if it's right for Japan to lose these small-sized farmers... who are the majority of the Japanese farm industry," he added.

Japan came to the negotiating table reluctantly, after President Donald Trump's administration withdrew from the TPP and threatened Tokyo's key auto sector with sanctions.

But <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-the-us-reaches-trade-deals-with-japan-no-word-on-cars-250133">Japanese</a> experts question whether the country's negotiators have done enough to protect local farmers.

"Japan could have drawn more concessions from the US because it is Americans who withdrew from the TPP" and wanted more access, argued Akio Shibata, head of the Natural Resource Research Institute and former researcher for trading house Marubeni.

"Even if the levels of tariff cuts are same as those of the TPP, it will discourage Japanese farmers -- who are already struggling to survive -- from continuing their businesses," he said.

'Chew on car parts'

Manufacturing, including the auto industry, is seen as the main driver of Japan's economic growth, accounting for roughly 20 per cent of nominal GDP.&nbsp;

By contrast, the country's agriculture sector accounts for just one per cent of GDP.

The deal announced Wednesday is only the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-japan-agree-trade-deal-in-principle-245579">first phase of the talks,</a> with Washington saying the second phase will include Japan's auto sector.

Washington continues to wield the threat of imposing tariffs of up to 25 per cent on Japan's auto sector, which US officials view as a key tool to keep negotiations moving.

Nobuhiro Suzuki, an expert on agricultural trade at the University of Tokyo, said Japanese negotiators were offering agricultural concessions to protect the auto sector.

The "mindset is if the US threatens them with punitive measures on the auto sector, they offer (compromise in) agriculture...The result will be a further reduction of agricultural production in this country",&nbsp;he told AFP.

Kawai agreed, saying,&nbsp;"I wonder what the government is thinking about food safety and self-sufficiency rate."

"The price of milk is already cheaper than (bottled) water. That's unfair... If the government think it's okay to import 100 percent of the milk Japan consumes, then that's fine. When a food emergency occurs, they can enjoy chewing on steel car parts",&nbsp;he added.

The United States and Japanese officials insist a bilateral trade deal will be a "win-win", but some Japanese cattle farmers fear the agreement could sound the death knell for their sector.

The United States and Japanese officials insist a bilateral trade deal will be a "win-win", but some Japanese cattle farmers fear the agreement could sound the death knell for their sector. Cattle farmers are already struggling to adjust to the terms of two major free trade deals inked by Japan in recent years - the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and an agreement with the European Union. But they fear the US trade deal will put much greater pressure on them. "We were able to maintain a market for our products in competition with the TPP members, because our beef quality is good enough to compete, even if imported beef was cheaper," said Harumi Yoshikawa, an official in-charge of livestock at an agricultural cooperative in Hokkaido. "But American beef rivals ours in terms of quality and in that sense we are worried", he added. "Politicians are not thinking about us farmers at all", said Akio Kawai, 61, who runs a ranch of some 4,300 beef cattle in Shikaoi town in northern Hokkaido, said: He added that he is determined to stay afloat "but others may think about quitting this business". "Japanese beef may be delicious and offer a sense of safety to consumers, but US beef is absolutely cheaper, and that's attractive to some," Kawai said. Worries for the future Under the deal announced in New York on Wednesday, Japan will eliminate or reduce tariffs on $7.2 billion worth of US food and agricultural products. Milk cow farmers fear that they too will struggle, despite assurances of assistance from Japanese government officials. The deal "will be a further blow to small cow farmers like us who keep just 30 to 50 cows," said one dairy and beef cattle farmer in Kanagawa prefecture, south of Tokyo. "Various costs -- the price of feed crops, salaries for workers -- are already weighing on us, and this deal will be another factor to worry about in terms of the future of this business," he said. "I wonder if many cow farmers, many of whom are ageing, will decide to quit the job... And I wonder if it's right for Japan to lose these small-sized farmers... who are the majority of the Japanese farm industry," he added. Japan came to the negotiating table reluctantly, after President Donald Trump's administration withdrew from the TPP and threatened Tokyo's key auto sector with sanctions. But Japanese experts question whether the country's negotiators have done enough to protect local farmers. "Japan could have drawn more concessions from the US because it is Americans who withdrew from the TPP" and wanted more access, argued Akio Shibata, head of the Natural Resource Research Institute and former researcher for trading house Marubeni. "Even if the levels of tariff cuts are same as those of the TPP, it will discourage Japanese farmers -- who are already struggling to survive -- from continuing their businesses," he said. 'Chew on car parts' Manufacturing, including the auto industry, is seen as the main driver of Japan's economic growth, accounting for roughly 20 per cent of nominal GDP. By contrast, the country's agriculture sector accounts for just one per cent of GDP. The deal announced Wednesday is only the first phase of the talks, with Washington saying the second phase will include Japan's auto sector. Washington continues to wield the threat of imposing tariffs of up to 25 per cent on Japan's auto sector, which US officials view as a key tool to keep negotiations moving. Nobuhiro Suzuki, an expert on agricultural trade at the University of Tokyo, said Japanese negotiators were offering agricultural concessions to protect the auto sector. The "mindset is if the US threatens them with punitive measures on the auto sector, they offer (compromise in) agriculture...The result will be a further reduction of agricultural production in this country", he told AFP. Kawai agreed, saying, "I wonder what the government is thinking about food safety and self-sufficiency rate." "The price of milk is already cheaper than (bottled) water. That's unfair... If the government think it's okay to import 100 percent of the milk Japan consumes, then that's fine. When a food emergency occurs, they can enjoy chewing on steel car parts", he added.

Japan cattle farmers fear US trade deal will be death knell

Wishes pour in on social media for former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh as he turned 87 on Thursday.

A couple of hashtags related to the senior Congress leader's birthday started making in the top India trends on Twitter as his well-wishers flooded the microblogging site with their best wishes.

Several political party leaders came forward to extend their wishes to the former prime minister. Many hailed him for his achievements.

Taking to Twitter, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi acknowledged Singh's "selfless service, dedication and incredible contribution" in developing the country and prayed for his good health.

"On his birthday, let us acknowledge Dr Manmohan Singh Ji's selfless service, dedication and incredible contribution to the cause of nation-building. My best wishes to him on his birthday. I pray for his good health and happiness in the years to come," Gandhi said.

Former JD(U) president and NDA convener Sharad Yadav wished the former prime minister on his birthday and tweeted, "Wishing a happy birthday to #ManmohanSingh. Persons like Dr. Manmohan Singh are rarely born. Pray for his good health and long life."

Janata Dal (United) president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in a press statement prayed for Singh's long life and extended warm wishes to him on the occasion.

P. Chidambaram, the former finance minister under Dr. Manmohan Singh's regime, also wished him birthday on the micro-blogging site and said, "I have asked my family to tweet on my behalf the following: Happy birthday to Dr Manmohan Singh. May he live for a 100 years and more!"

Singh, who was the Prime Minister for the two consecutive terms (from 2004-2014) has turned 87 today.

He is a renowned economist, credited for introducing sweeping reforms in the 1990s.

Singh was born on September 26, 1932, in Punjab's village of Gah before partition. He studied at the Panjab University, Cambridge and Oxford.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Wishes pour in on social media for former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh as he turned 87 on Thursday. A couple of hashtags related to the senior Congress leader's birthday started making in the top India trends on Twitter as his well-wishers flooded the microblogging site with their best wishes.

Wishes pour in on social media for former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh as he turned 87 on Thursday. A couple of hashtags related to the senior Congress leader's birthday started making in the top India trends on Twitter as his well-wishers flooded the microblogging site with their best wishes. Several political party leaders came forward to extend their wishes to the former prime minister. Many hailed him for his achievements. Taking to Twitter, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi acknowledged Singh's "selfless service, dedication and incredible contribution" in developing the country and prayed for his good health. "On his birthday, let us acknowledge Dr Manmohan Singh Ji's selfless service, dedication and incredible contribution to the cause of nation-building. My best wishes to him on his birthday. I pray for his good health and happiness in the years to come," Gandhi said. Former JD(U) president and NDA convener Sharad Yadav wished the former prime minister on his birthday and tweeted, "Wishing a happy birthday to #ManmohanSingh. Persons like Dr. Manmohan Singh are rarely born. Pray for his good health and long life." Janata Dal (United) president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in a press statement prayed for Singh's long life and extended warm wishes to him on the occasion. P. Chidambaram, the former finance minister under Dr. Manmohan Singh's regime, also wished him birthday on the micro-blogging site and said, "I have asked my family to tweet on my behalf the following: Happy birthday to Dr Manmohan Singh. May he live for a 100 years and more!" Singh, who was the Prime Minister for the two consecutive terms (from 2004-2014) has turned 87 today. He is a renowned economist, credited for introducing sweeping reforms in the 1990s. Singh was born on September 26, 1932, in Punjab's village of Gah before partition. He studied at the Panjab University, Cambridge and Oxford.

Wishes pour in for former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as he turns 87

CBI officer Satish Dagar, who was investigating the corruption case against former special director Rakesh Asthana, has applied for voluntary retirement, CBI spokesperson said on Wednesday.

"CBI SP Satish Dagar has submitted an application for voluntary retirement from service (VRS) citing personal grounds," the CBI spokesperson said.

The agency had last year registered an FIR against Asthana for allegedly taking bribe from a person in exchange of ensuring relief in the case.

Following this, the Centre had sent the then CBI director Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana on leave as they both levelled allegations of corruption against each other.

On May 31, the Delhi High Court granted the agency four months to complete the investigation in the case.

Dagar was made the investigating officer (IO) in the case, replacing A K Bassi who was transferred to Port Blair in "public interest" by acting CBI director M Nageswar Rao, who took charge after Verma was sent on leave.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

CBI officer Satish Dagar, who was investigating the corruption case against former special director Rakesh Asthana, has applied for voluntary retirement, CBI spokesperson said on Wednesday.

CBI officer Satish Dagar, who was investigating the corruption case against former special director Rakesh Asthana, has applied for voluntary retirement, CBI spokesperson said on Wednesday. "CBI SP Satish Dagar has submitted an application for voluntary retirement from service (VRS) citing personal grounds," the CBI spokesperson said. The agency had last year registered an FIR against Asthana for allegedly taking bribe from a person in exchange of ensuring relief in the case. Following this, the Centre had sent the then CBI director Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana on leave as they both levelled allegations of corruption against each other. On May 31, the Delhi High Court granted the agency four months to complete the investigation in the case. Dagar was made the investigating officer (IO) in the case, replacing A K Bassi who was transferred to Port Blair in "public interest" by acting CBI director M Nageswar Rao, who took charge after Verma was sent on leave.

CBI officer probing Rakesh Asthana case applies for voluntary retirement

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam will hold her first talks with the public on Thursday in a bid to resolve a political crisis that has fuelled nearly four months of sometimes violent protests and plunged the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-firmly-support-carrie-lam-in-leading-hong-kong-china-247307">Chinese-run</a> city into chaos.

Beijing-backed Lam will hold a dialogue with 150 members of the community, with each participant given around three minutes to express their views, city authorities have said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/protesters-in-hong-kong-reject-carrie-lams-assertion-extradition-bill-dead-threaten-mass-rallies-234227">Tight security</a> is expected around the venue in the commercial and nightlife district of Wan Chai, where some schools and businesses planned to close early ahead of the meeting scheduled at 1100 GMT.

"Deep wounds have been opened in our society. These will take time to heal," Lam said in an opinion piece in the New York Times.

"But it remains this government's hope that conversation will triumph over conflict and that through its actions, calm can be restored and trust can be rebuilt within the community", she added.

But resident Poon Yau-Lok, 62, was sceptical of the talks making any difference.

"They wouldn't listen when 200,000 people marched on the street. Why would they listen to just 150?", she said.

What started as protests over a now-shelved extradition bill that would have allowed criminal suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial have evolved into broader calls for greater democracy, among other demands.

There has been <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-leader-says-rule-of-law-being-damaged-citys-recovery-will-take-long-time-242574">violent unrest</a> in parts of the former British colony over the last three months, but life for most people goes on as normal most of the time.

The protests have taken a heavy toll on some businesses as tourists stay away. Cathay Pacific, the city's flagship carrier, has been the biggest corporate casualty after China demanded it suspend staff involved in the protests.

Cathay CEO Rupert Hogg and Chairman John Slosar have since left the company.

Rail operator MTR Corp has also suffered, with passenger numbers on the high-speed rail link to mainland China plunging 30 per cent to 1.14 million people in August from July.

Passengers on the Airport Express, which links the city to the airport where protesters have disrupted operations, were down 10 per cent over the same period to 1.3 million people.

The MTR has at times suspended city rail services during the protests, preventing some demonstrators from gathering and making it a target of attack, with protesters vandalising stations and setting fires near some exits.

The rail operator halted services at Sha Tin station on Wednesday night after protesters vandalised facilities there for a second time since the weekend.

Train services resumed on Thursday.

The protesters are also angry about what they see as creeping Chinese interference in Hong Kong, which returned to China in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula intended to guarantee freedom that are not enjoyed on the mainland.

China says that it is committed to the arrangement and denies meddling. It has accused foreign governments including the United States and Britain of inciting the unrest.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-leader-carrie-lam-to-hold-dialogue-aimed-at-easing-tensions-250100">Hong Kong</a> is on edge ahead of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1, with authorities eager to avoid scenes that could embarrass the Central Government in Beijing.

The Asian financial hub also marks the fifth anniversary this weekend of the start of the 'Umbrella' protests, a series of pro-democracy demonstrations in 2014 that failed to wrestle concessions from Beijing.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam will hold her first talks with the public on Thursday in a bid to resolve a political crisis that has fuelled nearly four months of sometimes violent protests and plunged the Chinese-run city into chaos.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam will hold her first talks with the public on Thursday in a bid to resolve a political crisis that has fuelled nearly four months of sometimes violent protests and plunged the Chinese-run city into chaos. Beijing-backed Lam will hold a dialogue with 150 members of the community, with each participant given around three minutes to express their views, city authorities have said. Tight security is expected around the venue in the commercial and nightlife district of Wan Chai, where some schools and businesses planned to close early ahead of the meeting scheduled at 1100 GMT. "Deep wounds have been opened in our society. These will take time to heal," Lam said in an opinion piece in the New York Times. "But it remains this government's hope that conversation will triumph over conflict and that through its actions, calm can be restored and trust can be rebuilt within the community", she added. But resident Poon Yau-Lok, 62, was sceptical of the talks making any difference. "They wouldn't listen when 200,000 people marched on the street. Why would they listen to just 150?", she said. What started as protests over a now-shelved extradition bill that would have allowed criminal suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial have evolved into broader calls for greater democracy, among other demands. There has been violent unrest in parts of the former British colony over the last three months, but life for most people goes on as normal most of the time. The protests have taken a heavy toll on some businesses as tourists stay away. Cathay Pacific, the city's flagship carrier, has been the biggest corporate casualty after China demanded it suspend staff involved in the protests. Cathay CEO Rupert Hogg and Chairman John Slosar have since left the company. Rail operator MTR Corp has also suffered, with passenger numbers on the high-speed rail link to mainland China plunging 30 per cent to 1.14 million people in August from July. Passengers on the Airport Express, which links the city to the airport where protesters have disrupted operations, were down 10 per cent over the same period to 1.3 million people. The MTR has at times suspended city rail services during the protests, preventing some demonstrators from gathering and making it a target of attack, with protesters vandalising stations and setting fires near some exits. The rail operator halted services at Sha Tin station on Wednesday night after protesters vandalised facilities there for a second time since the weekend. Train services resumed on Thursday. The protesters are also angry about what they see as creeping Chinese interference in Hong Kong, which returned to China in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula intended to guarantee freedom that are not enjoyed on the mainland. China says that it is committed to the arrangement and denies meddling. It has accused foreign governments including the United States and Britain of inciting the unrest. Hong Kong is on edge ahead of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1, with authorities eager to avoid scenes that could embarrass the Central Government in Beijing. The Asian financial hub also marks the fifth anniversary this weekend of the start of the 'Umbrella' protests, a series of pro-democracy demonstrations in 2014 that failed to wrestle concessions from Beijing.

Hong Kong unrest: Leader Carrie Lam to hold first talks in bid to end crisis

Impeaching US president: How the process works

The United States led more than 30 countries on Tuesday in condemning what it called&nbsp;China's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/a-day-in-the-life-of-uighurs-251734">"horrific campaign of&nbsp;repression"</a> against&nbsp;Muslims&nbsp;in the western region of Xinjiang at an event on the sidelines of the annual UN&nbsp;General Assembly that was denounced by&nbsp;China.

In highlighting abuses against ethnic Uighurs&nbsp;and other&nbsp;Muslims&nbsp;in&nbsp;China, Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan said the United Nations and its member states had "a singular responsibility to speak up when survivor after survivor recounts the horrors of state&nbsp;repression."

Sullivan said it was incumbent on UN member states to ensure the world body was able to closely monitor human rights abuses by&nbsp;China&nbsp;and added that it must seek "immediate, unhindered, and unmonitored" access to Xinjiang for the UN&nbsp;High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR).

Sullivan said Tuesday's event was co-sponsored by Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and Britain, and was joined by more than 30 UN&nbsp;states, representatives of the European Union and more than 20 nongovernmental organizations, as well as Uighur victims.

"We invite others to join the international effort to demand and compel an immediate end to&nbsp;China’s horrific campaign of&nbsp;repression," he said. "History will judge the international community for how we respond to this attack on human rights and fundamental freedoms."

Paola Pampaloni, deputy managing director for Asia of the European External Action Service, said the EU was "alarmed" by the situation and also urged "meaningful" access to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-crackdown-in-xinjiang-for-uighur-refugees-freedom-means-losing-family-251676">Xinjiang</a>.

"We are concerned about ... information about mistreatment and torture... China&nbsp;is always inviting us to the camps under their conditions, we are in negotiations right now for terms and conditions for free access", she said.

On Monday&nbsp;US&nbsp;President Donald Trump called for an end to religious persecution at another event on the sidelines of the UN&nbsp;gathering. He reiterated his comments in a speech to the General Assembly gathering of world leaders on Tuesday.

"Americans will never .. tire in our effort to promote freedom of worship and religion. We want and support religious liberty for all," he said.

Trump, who has been cautious about&nbsp;upsetting&nbsp;China&nbsp;on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/human-rights-watch-report-on-uighurs-full-of-prejudice-says-china-164872">human rights</a> issues&nbsp;while making a major trade deal with Beijing a major priority, said religious freedom was under growing threat around the world but fell short of specifically mentioning the Uighur situation.

"Volume is coming up at a pace that we hope that the Beijing government recognises not only the US&nbsp;but the global concern about this situation," David Stilwell,&nbsp;US Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs told reporters at a briefing.

"We will see how that plays out and how Beijing reacts and take it from there", he added.

A representative for the Chinese delegation to the UN&nbsp;General Assembly accused Washington of violating the UN&nbsp;Charter by criticizing&nbsp;China.

The United Nations says at least 1 million ethnic Uighurs&nbsp;and other&nbsp;Muslims&nbsp;have been detained in what&nbsp;China&nbsp;describes as "vocational training centres" to stamp out extremism and give people new skills.

Sullivan said the United States had received "credible reports of deaths, forced labour, torture, and other cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment" in the camps.

He said there were also many reports that the Chinese government forces detainees to renounce their ethnic identities as well as their culture and religion.

Though&nbsp;US&nbsp;officials have ramped up criticism of&nbsp;China's measures in Xinjiang, it has refrained from responding with sanctions, amid on-again, off-again talks to resolve a bitter, costly trade war.

At the same time, it has criticized other countries, including some Muslim states, for not doing enough or for backing&nbsp;China's approach in Xinjiang.

Rishat Abbas, the brother of Uighur physician Gulshan Abbas, who was abducted from her home in Urumchi in September 2018, told Tuesday's event that "millions of Uighurs&nbsp;are becoming collateral damage to international trade policies, enabling&nbsp;China&nbsp;to continue to threaten our freedoms around the world, enable it to continue its police state.”

UN&nbsp;human rights chief Michelle Bachelet has repeatedly pushed&nbsp;China&nbsp;to grant the United Nations access to investigate reports of disappearances and arbitrary detentions, particularly of&nbsp;Muslims&nbsp;in Xinjiang.

China's envoy in Geneva said in June that he hoped Bachelet would visit&nbsp;China, including Xinjiang. Bachelet's office said in June that it was discussing "full access" with&nbsp;China.

The United States led more than 30 countries on Tuesday in condemning what it called China's "horrific campaign of repression" against Muslims in the western region of Xinjiang at an event on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly that was denounced by China.

The United States led more than 30 countries on Tuesday in condemning what it called China's "horrific campaign of repression" against Muslims in the western region of Xinjiang at an event on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly that was denounced by China. In highlighting abuses against ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims in China, Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan said the United Nations and its member states had "a singular responsibility to speak up when survivor after survivor recounts the horrors of state repression." Sullivan said it was incumbent on UN member states to ensure the world body was able to closely monitor human rights abuses by China and added that it must seek "immediate, unhindered, and unmonitored" access to Xinjiang for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR). Sullivan said Tuesday's event was co-sponsored by Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and Britain, and was joined by more than 30 UN states, representatives of the European Union and more than 20 nongovernmental organizations, as well as Uighur victims. "We invite others to join the international effort to demand and compel an immediate end to China’s horrific campaign of repression," he said. "History will judge the international community for how we respond to this attack on human rights and fundamental freedoms." Paola Pampaloni, deputy managing director for Asia of the European External Action Service, said the EU was "alarmed" by the situation and also urged "meaningful" access to Xinjiang. "We are concerned about ... information about mistreatment and torture... China is always inviting us to the camps under their conditions, we are in negotiations right now for terms and conditions for free access", she said. On Monday US President Donald Trump called for an end to religious persecution at another event on the sidelines of the UN gathering. He reiterated his comments in a speech to the General Assembly gathering of world leaders on Tuesday. "Americans will never .. tire in our effort to promote freedom of worship and religion. We want and support religious liberty for all," he said. Trump, who has been cautious about upsetting China on human rights issues while making a major trade deal with Beijing a major priority, said religious freedom was under growing threat around the world but fell short of specifically mentioning the Uighur situation. "Volume is coming up at a pace that we hope that the Beijing government recognises not only the US but the global concern about this situation," David Stilwell, US Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs told reporters at a briefing. "We will see how that plays out and how Beijing reacts and take it from there", he added. A representative for the Chinese delegation to the UN General Assembly accused Washington of violating the UN Charter by criticizing China. The United Nations says at least 1 million ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims have been detained in what China describes as "vocational training centres" to stamp out extremism and give people new skills. Sullivan said the United States had received "credible reports of deaths, forced labour, torture, and other cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment" in the camps. He said there were also many reports that the Chinese government forces detainees to renounce their ethnic identities as well as their culture and religion. Though US officials have ramped up criticism of China's measures in Xinjiang, it has refrained from responding with sanctions, amid on-again, off-again talks to resolve a bitter, costly trade war. At the same time, it has criticized other countries, including some Muslim states, for not doing enough or for backing China's approach in Xinjiang. Rishat Abbas, the brother of Uighur physician Gulshan Abbas, who was abducted from her home in Urumchi in September 2018, told Tuesday's event that "millions of Uighurs are becoming collateral damage to international trade policies, enabling China to continue to threaten our freedoms around the world, enable it to continue its police state.” UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet has repeatedly pushed China to grant the United Nations access to investigate reports of disappearances and arbitrary detentions, particularly of Muslims in Xinjiang. China's envoy in Geneva said in June that he hoped Bachelet would visit China, including Xinjiang. Bachelet's office said in June that it was discussing "full access" with China.

US leads condemnation of China for 'horrific' repression of Uighur Muslims

British Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-supreme-court-ruling-could-throw-boris-johnsons-brexit-plan-into-more-disarray-251621">Boris&nbsp;Johnson</a>&nbsp;called for the immediate&nbsp;release&nbsp;of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and other&nbsp;dual&nbsp;nationals&nbsp;imprisoned&nbsp;in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rouhani-says-iran-resists-sanctions-drives-us-desperate-251461">Iran</a> during a meeting with&nbsp;Iran's&nbsp;President Hassan&nbsp;Rouhani&nbsp;in New York on Tuesday, a Downing Street spokesperson said in a statement.

Johnson&nbsp;also "raised our deep concern about&nbsp;Iran's&nbsp;destabilising activity in the region, including the attacks on the Aramco oil facilities, and insisted this must stop," the spokesperson said. He stressed support for the Iran nuclear deal and the need for dialogue, "including on a comprehensive successor deal."

In the meanwhile, French President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-relations-with-macron-outstanding-225049">Emmanuel Macron </a>leader has been pushing to defuse tensions between Washington and Tehran over the last few weeks, especially after an attack on Saudi oil facilities on Sept 14. that the United States, Europe, and Saudi Arabia have blamed on&nbsp;Iran.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for the immediate release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and other dual nationals imprisoned in Iran during a meeting with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani in New York on Tuesday, a Downing Street spokesperson said in a statement.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for the immediate release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and other dual nationals imprisoned in Iran during a meeting with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani in New York on Tuesday, a Downing Street spokesperson said in a statement. Johnson also "raised our deep concern about Iran's destabilising activity in the region, including the attacks on the Aramco oil facilities, and insisted this must stop," the spokesperson said. He stressed support for the Iran nuclear deal and the need for dialogue, "including on a comprehensive successor deal." In the meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron leader has been pushing to defuse tensions between Washington and Tehran over the last few weeks, especially after an attack on Saudi oil facilities on Sept 14. that the United States, Europe, and Saudi Arabia have blamed on Iran.

Britain's Johnson urges Rouhani to release imprisoned dual nationals

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