Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unimaginable-says-javad-zarif-as-iran-dampens-down-prospect-of-trump-rouhani-meeting-246147">Javad Zarif</a> said on Thursday the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-has-discussed-iran-nuclear-standoff-with-macron-white-house-234187">United States</a> will have to observe the 2015 nuclear deal if it wants to meet for talks and that Washington was engaging in “economic terrorism” against Iran.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington have risen since US President Donald Trump’s administration last year quit an international deal to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and began to ratchet up sanctions.

Watch: Iran wants&nbsp;US to rejoin 2015 nuclear deal

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“The United States is engaged in an economic war against the Iranian people and it won’t be possible for us to engage with the United States unless they stop imposing war and engaging in economic terrorism against the Iranian people,” Zarif told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

“So if they want to come back into the room there is a ticket that they need to purchase and that ticket is to observe the agreement,” he said, referring to the 2015 nuclear deal.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Thursday the United States will have to observe the 2015 nuclear deal if it wants to meet for talks and that Washington was engaging in “economic terrorism” against Iran.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Thursday the United States will have to observe the 2015 nuclear deal if it wants to meet for talks and that Washington was engaging in “economic terrorism” against Iran. Tensions between Tehran and Washington have risen since US President Donald Trump’s administration last year quit an international deal to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and began to ratchet up sanctions. Watch: Iran wants US to rejoin 2015 nuclear deal × “The United States is engaged in an economic war against the Iranian people and it won’t be possible for us to engage with the United States unless they stop imposing war and engaging in economic terrorism against the Iranian people,” Zarif told reporters in Kuala Lumpur. “So if they want to come back into the room there is a ticket that they need to purchase and that ticket is to observe the agreement,” he said, referring to the 2015 nuclear deal.

Honour nuclear deal and stop economic terrorism if you want talks: Iran tells US

Guatemalans on Sunday elect a new president who will face a major challenge after the country agreed with Washington to act as a buffer against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/guatemalan-presidential-candidates-question-us-migration-deal-238957">illegal immigration under pressure from US President Donald Trump.</a>

Threatened with economic sanctions if it said no, the outgoing government signed an agreement in July to make Guatemala a so-called safe third country for migrants despite the endemic poverty and violence plaguing the Central American nation.

Voters must choose between conservative Alejandro Giammattei and his centre-left rival, former first lady Sandra Torres. Both veteran political campaigners have criticized the deal, but will probably be unable to do much to stop it.

Risa Grais-Targow, Latin America director at consultancy Eurasia Group, said while the agreement is facing a backlash in Guatemala, not honouring it would expose the country to the risk of taxes on remittances or tariffs on its goods.

"The next president faces a lose-lose situation when it comes to managing the deal with the United States," she said. "That is the biggest challenge the incoming president faces."

A CID-Gallup opinion poll of 1,216 voters conducted between July 29 and Aug. 5 gave Giammattei the advantage going into the run-off vote, with 39.5 per cent support, versus 32.4 per cent for Torres. The poll had a margin of error of 2.8 points.

Whoever takes office in January will inherit a country with a 60&nbsp;per cent poverty rate, widespread crime, and unemployment, which have led hundreds of thousands of Guatemalans to migrate north.

Between them, the two candidates have failed to win the presidency five times. Polling suggests that although Torres came out on top in a first found of voting in June, her unpopularity may prove her undoing.

"I wasn't going to vote, but ... seeing the circumstances I better vote so that Sandra doesn't win," said Ricardo Son, an 84-year-old retiree in Guatemala City.

Many Guatemalans are fed up with the political class after corruption scandals led to the arrest of former President Otto Perez in 2015 and then threatened to unseat his successor, incumbent President Jimmy Morales, a former TV comedian.

Both candidates have vowed to fight corruption without "foreign interference," an apparent allusion to the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), the United Nations mission that brought down Perez and went after Morales.

Morales, who terminated the commission's mandate effective as of September, is barred by law from standing again. But his legacy could prove lasting if the migration deal he authorized becomes a defining feature of the next administration.

The accord will require migrants from Honduras and El Salvador to seek asylum in Guatemala rather than the United States. Critics question whether Guatemala has the resources to handle a potential surge in asylum applications.

Giammattei, a surgeon, has proposed the death penalty for some criminals and promised to erect an 'investment wall' on the border between Guatemala and Mexico to curb migration.

Torres wants to put troops on the streets to fight gangs, and use welfare schemes to alleviate poverty, a strategy she supported as the first lady between 2008 and 2011.

Guatemalans on Sunday elect a new president who will face a major challenge after the country agreed with Washington to act as a buffer against illegal immigration under pressure from US President Donald Trump.

Guatemalans on Sunday elect a new president who will face a major challenge after the country agreed with Washington to act as a buffer against illegal immigration under pressure from US President Donald Trump. Threatened with economic sanctions if it said no, the outgoing government signed an agreement in July to make Guatemala a so-called safe third country for migrants despite the endemic poverty and violence plaguing the Central American nation. Voters must choose between conservative Alejandro Giammattei and his centre-left rival, former first lady Sandra Torres. Both veteran political campaigners have criticized the deal, but will probably be unable to do much to stop it. Risa Grais-Targow, Latin America director at consultancy Eurasia Group, said while the agreement is facing a backlash in Guatemala, not honouring it would expose the country to the risk of taxes on remittances or tariffs on its goods. "The next president faces a lose-lose situation when it comes to managing the deal with the United States," she said. "That is the biggest challenge the incoming president faces." A CID-Gallup opinion poll of 1,216 voters conducted between July 29 and Aug. 5 gave Giammattei the advantage going into the run-off vote, with 39.5 per cent support, versus 32.4 per cent for Torres. The poll had a margin of error of 2.8 points. Whoever takes office in January will inherit a country with a 60 per cent poverty rate, widespread crime, and unemployment, which have led hundreds of thousands of Guatemalans to migrate north. Between them, the two candidates have failed to win the presidency five times. Polling suggests that although Torres came out on top in a first found of voting in June, her unpopularity may prove her undoing. "I wasn't going to vote, but ... seeing the circumstances I better vote so that Sandra doesn't win," said Ricardo Son, an 84-year-old retiree in Guatemala City. Many Guatemalans are fed up with the political class after corruption scandals led to the arrest of former President Otto Perez in 2015 and then threatened to unseat his successor, incumbent President Jimmy Morales, a former TV comedian. Both candidates have vowed to fight corruption without "foreign interference," an apparent allusion to the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), the United Nations mission that brought down Perez and went after Morales. Morales, who terminated the commission's mandate effective as of September, is barred by law from standing again. But his legacy could prove lasting if the migration deal he authorized becomes a defining feature of the next administration. The accord will require migrants from Honduras and El Salvador to seek asylum in Guatemala rather than the United States. Critics question whether Guatemala has the resources to handle a potential surge in asylum applications. Giammattei, a surgeon, has proposed the death penalty for some criminals and promised to erect an 'investment wall' on the border between Guatemala and Mexico to curb migration. Torres wants to put troops on the streets to fight gangs, and use welfare schemes to alleviate poverty, a strategy she supported as the first lady between 2008 and 2011.

Guatemala elects a new president to inherit Donald Trump migration bind

A woman who <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/billionaire-financier-jeffrey-epstein-found-injured-in-jail-cell-media-238325">accused Jeffrey Epstein</a> of keeping her as a sex slave said one of the financier's associates had instructed her to have sex with at least a half-dozen prominent men, according to a court filing unsealed on Friday in a civil lawsuit.

The claim by Virginia Giuffre came in a deposition that was included among roughly 2,000 pages of documents related to her defamation lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell, the associate whom Giuffre has said helped Epstein procure girls for sex.

Lawyers for Maxwell did not respond to several phone and email requests for comment.

Epstein has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking involving dozens of underage girls as young as 14, from at least 2002 to 2005. He is being held in a Manhattan jail.

Lawyers for Epstein did not respond to requests for comment outside business hours. Maxwell has not been criminally charged.

The Giuffre deposition and the other documents were released after a federal appeals court in Manhattan rejected Maxwell's bid to keep them under seal.

Giuffre claimed in a May 3, 2016, deposition that Maxwell directed her to have sex with people including former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, former US Senator George Mitchell, modelling agent Jean Luc Brunel, and financier Glenn Dubin.

It was not clear from the deposition transcript included in the court documents how old Giuffre was at the time of the alleged direction.

The transcript does not indicate whether Giuffre actually engaged in sex with the four men.

None of the four men has been criminally charged in connection with Epstein.

Richardson, Mitchell, and Dubin, or their respective representatives, all said the various allegations against them were false.&nbsp;

A lawyer for Brunel did not respond to a phone call and email seeking comment.

A spokeswoman for Richardson said the former governor had never met Giuffre.

'These allegations and inferences are completely false,' she said.&nbsp;

'To be clear, in Governor Richardson's limited interactions with Mr Epstein, he never saw him in the presence of young or underage girls.'

Mitchell said in a statement: 'The allegation contained in the released documents is false. I have never met, spoken with or had any contact with Ms Giuffre.'

A spokeswoman for Dubin said he was 'outraged' by the unsealed allegations, which he considered 'demonstrably false and defamatory,' and said that he had flight records and other evidence that 'definitively' disproved them.

The name of US President Donald Trump, who was once a friend of Epstein, appears in a Nov. 14, 2016, deposition of Giuffre, in which she said Trump and Epstein had been good friends.

In response to a question about how she knew whom Trump had sex with, Giuffre said she 'didn't physically see him have sex with any of the girls.'

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

A woman who accused Jeffrey Epstein of keeping her as a sex slave said one of the financier's associates had instructed her to have sex with at least a half-dozen prominent men, according to a court filing unsealed on Friday in a civil lawsuit.

A woman who accused Jeffrey Epstein of keeping her as a sex slave said one of the financier's associates had instructed her to have sex with at least a half-dozen prominent men, according to a court filing unsealed on Friday in a civil lawsuit. The claim by Virginia Giuffre came in a deposition that was included among roughly 2,000 pages of documents related to her defamation lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell, the associate whom Giuffre has said helped Epstein procure girls for sex. Lawyers for Maxwell did not respond to several phone and email requests for comment. Epstein has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking involving dozens of underage girls as young as 14, from at least 2002 to 2005. He is being held in a Manhattan jail. Lawyers for Epstein did not respond to requests for comment outside business hours. Maxwell has not been criminally charged. The Giuffre deposition and the other documents were released after a federal appeals court in Manhattan rejected Maxwell's bid to keep them under seal. Giuffre claimed in a May 3, 2016, deposition that Maxwell directed her to have sex with people including former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, former US Senator George Mitchell, modelling agent Jean Luc Brunel, and financier Glenn Dubin. It was not clear from the deposition transcript included in the court documents how old Giuffre was at the time of the alleged direction. The transcript does not indicate whether Giuffre actually engaged in sex with the four men. None of the four men has been criminally charged in connection with Epstein. Richardson, Mitchell, and Dubin, or their respective representatives, all said the various allegations against them were false. A lawyer for Brunel did not respond to a phone call and email seeking comment. A spokeswoman for Richardson said the former governor had never met Giuffre. 'These allegations and inferences are completely false,' she said. 'To be clear, in Governor Richardson's limited interactions with Mr Epstein, he never saw him in the presence of young or underage girls.' Mitchell said in a statement: 'The allegation contained in the released documents is false. I have never met, spoken with or had any contact with Ms Giuffre.' A spokeswoman for Dubin said he was 'outraged' by the unsealed allegations, which he considered 'demonstrably false and defamatory,' and said that he had flight records and other evidence that 'definitively' disproved them. The name of US President Donald Trump, who was once a friend of Epstein, appears in a Nov. 14, 2016, deposition of Giuffre, in which she said Trump and Epstein had been good friends. In response to a question about how she knew whom Trump had sex with, Giuffre said she 'didn't physically see him have sex with any of the girls.' The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Jeffrey Epstein accuser links powerful men to financier: Civil court filing

President Donald Trump on Friday called for "common sense" solutions to address gun violence without mentioning what specific measures he would support.

Trump also said that the views of the powerful National Rifle Association lobbyists should be considered.

Thirty-one people were killed in two-weekend shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, in attacks that shook the country and reopened a national debate on gun safety as Americans grapple with yet another mass shooting.

A week later, it remains unclear what, if any, specific steps the Republican president would back. Democrats are trying to galvanize public support for legislative action over what has been a contentious issue for years, even before Trump's&nbsp;administration.

Since he became president in 2017, there have been mass shootings at a church in Texas, a concert in Las Vegas and high schools in Florida and Texas.

Trump earlier this week initially appeared to back background checks but then did not mention them in a public address on Monday that focused on mental illness and media culture.

He later predicted congressional support for those background checks and blocking gun access to the mentally ill, but not for any effort to ban assault rifles.

He had promised to take action in early 2018 after 17 people were killed at a Parkland, Florida, high school but backed down after the NRA, a key financial donor to Republican politicians, weighed in.

On Friday, he appeared to want to balance any congressional action with the NRA`s views.

"I am the biggest Second Amendment person there is, but we all must work together for the good and safety of our Country," he wrote.

"Common sense things can be done that are good for everyone."

Trump said he had "been speaking to the NRA, and others, so that their very strong views can be fully represented and respected."

The NRA, in a statement on Thursday, indicated it opposed further gun restrictions.&nbsp;

Congress is in recess but Trump said leaders of the House of Representatives and Senate were discussing expanding background checks for gun sales.&nbsp;

Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday rejected a plea from more than 200 mayors to call the Senate back early to consider gun legislation.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said they had each spoken separately to Trump and that he had assured them he would review legislation that has already passed the Democratic-majority House.&nbsp;

The White House had said it would hold also a meeting with representatives from the technology industry on Friday to discuss violent extremism online.

Trump is not scheduled to be at the White House for most of the day as he attends a fundraiser in the Hamptons in New York for his 2020 re-election campaign.

President Donald Trump on Friday called for "common sense" solutions to address gun violence without mentioning what specific measures he would support. Trump also said that the views of the powerful National Rifle Association lobbyists should be considered.

President Donald Trump on Friday called for "common sense" solutions to address gun violence without mentioning what specific measures he would support. Trump also said that the views of the powerful National Rifle Association lobbyists should be considered. Thirty-one people were killed in two-weekend shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, in attacks that shook the country and reopened a national debate on gun safety as Americans grapple with yet another mass shooting. A week later, it remains unclear what, if any, specific steps the Republican president would back. Democrats are trying to galvanize public support for legislative action over what has been a contentious issue for years, even before Trump's administration. Since he became president in 2017, there have been mass shootings at a church in Texas, a concert in Las Vegas and high schools in Florida and Texas. Trump earlier this week initially appeared to back background checks but then did not mention them in a public address on Monday that focused on mental illness and media culture. He later predicted congressional support for those background checks and blocking gun access to the mentally ill, but not for any effort to ban assault rifles. He had promised to take action in early 2018 after 17 people were killed at a Parkland, Florida, high school but backed down after the NRA, a key financial donor to Republican politicians, weighed in. On Friday, he appeared to want to balance any congressional action with the NRA`s views. "I am the biggest Second Amendment person there is, but we all must work together for the good and safety of our Country," he wrote. "Common sense things can be done that are good for everyone." Trump said he had "been speaking to the NRA, and others, so that their very strong views can be fully represented and respected." The NRA, in a statement on Thursday, indicated it opposed further gun restrictions. Congress is in recess but Trump said leaders of the House of Representatives and Senate were discussing expanding background checks for gun sales. Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday rejected a plea from more than 200 mayors to call the Senate back early to consider gun legislation. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said they had each spoken separately to Trump and that he had assured them he would review legislation that has already passed the Democratic-majority House. The White House had said it would hold also a meeting with representatives from the technology industry on Friday to discuss violent extremism online. Trump is not scheduled to be at the White House for most of the day as he attends a fundraiser in the Hamptons in New York for his 2020 re-election campaign.

Trump says 'common sense things can be done' on guns, wants NRA input

South Korean<a href="wionews.com/world/south-korean-president-moon-jae-indenies-us-north-korea-nuclear-talks-in-stalemate-230576"> President Moon Jae-in</a> on Friday appointed a new ambassador to the US who has described Donald Trump as "treacherous", only a month after Britain's envoy to Washington had to step down over his criticisms of the US president.

In the early 2000s, Lee Soo-hyuk, a career diplomat before becoming a ruling party lawmaker, was Seoul's chief negotiator in the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programme.

Now he will be responsible for guiding the relationship between Seoul and Washington, who have not always seen eye-to-eye over the nuclear-armed North or their ties.&nbsp;

But only last year the South's Chosun Ilbo newspaper cited him as criticizing Trump.

Lee had been asked about an incident at the White House when the US president declined to have Moon's answer to a reporter's question translated, saying "I'm sure I've heard it before".

Lee told the paper: "That's Trump's style. I don't think he's only done that to Moon. He's treacherous," adding that as a former businessman the US leader tended to say insincere things.

"To be honest, I don't like", Lee went on, without making clear whether his disapproval was of Trump personally or his manner.

His appointment comes only a month after Britain's ambassador to Washington resigned after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democratic-congresswomen-hit-back-after-racist-trump-tirade-236437">Trump targeted him over highly critical </a>comments that put London and Washington's relationship on edge.

In a series of confidential diplomatic cables revealed by a British newspaper, Kim Darroch described the US leader as "inept" and his White House as "uniquely dysfunctional", adding the president was "radiating insecurity".

Trump hit back with a torrent of angry tweets, saying he would not deal with Darroch again, describing him as a "very stupid guy" and a "pompous fool", also calling Britain's then prime minister Theresa May "foolish".

Seoul and Washington are in a security alliance and the US stations 28,500 troops in the South to protect it against its neighbor, which invaded in 1950.

Trump has repeatedly demanded Seoul pay more towards the cost of the US troop presence, and has hinted that it could be withdrawn.

Negotiations on another increase had started, he tweeted Thursday, only for Seoul to deny that was the case.

The North has fired four sets of projectiles in the last two weeks to demonstrate its anger over joint military exercises between the South and the US but Trump has played them down, raising concerns among some South Koreans that Washington is concerned primarily with its security.

And while Seoul and Tokyo are embroiled in a bitter dispute over trade and history, conservative Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has established a much closer relationship with Trump, bonding over burgers and golf, than has Moon, a left-leaning former human rights lawyer.&nbsp;

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday appointed a new ambassador to the US who has described Donald Trump as "treacherous", only a month after Britain's envoy to Washington had to step down over his criticisms of the US president.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday appointed a new ambassador to the US who has described Donald Trump as "treacherous", only a month after Britain's envoy to Washington had to step down over his criticisms of the US president. In the early 2000s, Lee Soo-hyuk, a career diplomat before becoming a ruling party lawmaker, was Seoul's chief negotiator in the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programme. Now he will be responsible for guiding the relationship between Seoul and Washington, who have not always seen eye-to-eye over the nuclear-armed North or their ties. But only last year the South's Chosun Ilbo newspaper cited him as criticizing Trump. Lee had been asked about an incident at the White House when the US president declined to have Moon's answer to a reporter's question translated, saying "I'm sure I've heard it before". Lee told the paper: "That's Trump's style. I don't think he's only done that to Moon. He's treacherous," adding that as a former businessman the US leader tended to say insincere things. "To be honest, I don't like", Lee went on, without making clear whether his disapproval was of Trump personally or his manner. His appointment comes only a month after Britain's ambassador to Washington resigned after Trump targeted him over highly critical comments that put London and Washington's relationship on edge. In a series of confidential diplomatic cables revealed by a British newspaper, Kim Darroch described the US leader as "inept" and his White House as "uniquely dysfunctional", adding the president was "radiating insecurity". Trump hit back with a torrent of angry tweets, saying he would not deal with Darroch again, describing him as a "very stupid guy" and a "pompous fool", also calling Britain's then prime minister Theresa May "foolish". Seoul and Washington are in a security alliance and the US stations 28,500 troops in the South to protect it against its neighbor, which invaded in 1950. Trump has repeatedly demanded Seoul pay more towards the cost of the US troop presence, and has hinted that it could be withdrawn. Negotiations on another increase had started, he tweeted Thursday, only for Seoul to deny that was the case. The North has fired four sets of projectiles in the last two weeks to demonstrate its anger over joint military exercises between the South and the US but Trump has played them down, raising concerns among some South Koreans that Washington is concerned primarily with its security. And while Seoul and Tokyo are embroiled in a bitter dispute over trade and history, conservative Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has established a much closer relationship with Trump, bonding over burgers and golf, than has Moon, a left-leaning former human rights lawyer.

Seoul appoints an envoy to US who called Donald Trump 'treacherous'

Police arrested a man in body armour, with a loaded rifle and 100 rounds of ammunition, who walked into a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/walmart-told-us-government-indias-e-commerce-rules-regressive-warned-of-trade-impact-235131">Walmart store in Springfield</a>, Mo., on Thursday, alarming customers within in a week of back-to-back shootings that shocked the nation.

A national debate on gun safety was reignited by Saturday's shooting in Texas that killed 22 in a Walmart store in El Paso on the border with Mexico, hours before another in Dayton, Ohio on Sunday that killed 9 people and the suspect.

No shots were fired in Thursday's incident and it was unclear what the man's motives were, Springfield police said in an online statement. A police representative was not immediately available to speak to Reuters early on Friday.

"An armed white male in his twenties was detained by an armed, off-duty fireman until officers arrived on the scene and took the suspect into custody," the statement said, describing the incident at about 4 pm&nbsp;in southwest Springfield.

He was arrested after walking out of the store with his weapon, police said.

It was not immediately clear if the man had made any threats or had even committed a crime. His identity was not released and no information on possible charges was available.

Police believe the man intended to cause chaos, but they were also working to determine his motives, they told the Springfield News-Leader newspaper.

It was a "really scary, dangerous situation," police at the scene told media, adding that they would investigate the man's social media accounts to try to determine if a threat was intended.

Missouri is an "open carry" state that allows people to openly carry firearms without a special permit, but there are some restrictions, for example, on convicted felons.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-announce-second-term-run-at-june-florida-rally-223437">US&nbsp;President Donald Trump and the first lady visited both El Paso and Dayton</a> on Thursday to show support for the victims, their families, and first responders.

The visits have drawn some criticism as protesters and some Democrat presidential candidates have accused Trump of inflaming tension with anti-immigrant and racially charged rhetoric.

While the motive for the Dayton shooting is unclear, the accused gunman in El Paso had posted an anti-immigrant screed online.

Police arrested a man in body armour, with a loaded rifle and 100 rounds of ammunition, who walked into a Walmart store in Springfield, Mo., on Thursday, alarming customers within in a week of back-to-back shootings that shocked the nation.

Police arrested a man in body armour, with a loaded rifle and 100 rounds of ammunition, who walked into a Walmart store in Springfield, Mo., on Thursday, alarming customers within in a week of back-to-back shootings that shocked the nation. A national debate on gun safety was reignited by Saturday's shooting in Texas that killed 22 in a Walmart store in El Paso on the border with Mexico, hours before another in Dayton, Ohio on Sunday that killed 9 people and the suspect. No shots were fired in Thursday's incident and it was unclear what the man's motives were, Springfield police said in an online statement. A police representative was not immediately available to speak to Reuters early on Friday. "An armed white male in his twenties was detained by an armed, off-duty fireman until officers arrived on the scene and took the suspect into custody," the statement said, describing the incident at about 4 pm in southwest Springfield. He was arrested after walking out of the store with his weapon, police said. It was not immediately clear if the man had made any threats or had even committed a crime. His identity was not released and no information on possible charges was available. Police believe the man intended to cause chaos, but they were also working to determine his motives, they told the Springfield News-Leader newspaper. It was a "really scary, dangerous situation," police at the scene told media, adding that they would investigate the man's social media accounts to try to determine if a threat was intended. Missouri is an "open carry" state that allows people to openly carry firearms without a special permit, but there are some restrictions, for example, on convicted felons. US President Donald Trump and the first lady visited both El Paso and Dayton on Thursday to show support for the victims, their families, and first responders. The visits have drawn some criticism as protesters and some Democrat presidential candidates have accused Trump of inflaming tension with anti-immigrant and racially charged rhetoric. While the motive for the Dayton shooting is unclear, the accused gunman in El Paso had posted an anti-immigrant screed online.

A man armed with a loaded rifle, body armor arrested at Missouri Walmart

Four former leaders of the US Federal Reserve have called for the independence of the central bank, saying that the Fed and its chair must be permitted to act in the best interests of the economy, free of short-term political pressures, and, in particular, without the threat of removal or demotion of Fed leaders for political reasons.

In an opinion piece published on The Wall Street Journal on Monday, Paul Volcker, Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke and Janet Yellen said that an economy is strongest and functions best when the central bank acts independently and relies solely on sound economic principles and data.

The piece wrote, "Research has shown that monetary policy based on the political (rather than economic) needs of the moment leads to worse economic performance in the long run, including higher inflation and slower growth".

"Even the perception that monetary-policy decisions are politically motivated, or influenced by threats that policymakers won't be able to serve out their terms of office, can undermine public confidence that the central bank is acting in the best interest of the economy. That can lead to unstable financial markets and worse economic outcomes," the piece wrote.

The co-signed article came after US President Donald Trump's criticism of Fed Chairman Jerome Powell last week when he lashed out at Powell for not signalling the start of "a lengthy and aggressive rate-cutting cycle." Trump on Monday urged the Fed to pay attention to his remarks when he falsely accused China of "currency manipulation" on Twitter.

Trump has repeatedly voiced his discontent of the Fed's monetary policy over the past few months and even reportedly discussed an attempt to remove Powell from his position, raising questions about the central bank's independence.

Powell, meanwhile, has repeatedly stressed the Fed's commitment to independence and said he fully intends to serve a four-year term.

Four former leaders of the US Federal Reserve have called for the independence of the central bank, saying that the Fed and its chair must be permitted to act in the best interests of the economy, free of short-term political pressures, and, in particular, without the threat of removal or demotion of Fed leaders for political reasons.

Four former leaders of the US Federal Reserve have called for the independence of the central bank, saying that the Fed and its chair must be permitted to act in the best interests of the economy, free of short-term political pressures, and, in particular, without the threat of removal or demotion of Fed leaders for political reasons. In an opinion piece published on The Wall Street Journal on Monday, Paul Volcker, Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke and Janet Yellen said that an economy is strongest and functions best when the central bank acts independently and relies solely on sound economic principles and data. The piece wrote, "Research has shown that monetary policy based on the political (rather than economic) needs of the moment leads to worse economic performance in the long run, including higher inflation and slower growth". "Even the perception that monetary-policy decisions are politically motivated, or influenced by threats that policymakers won't be able to serve out their terms of office, can undermine public confidence that the central bank is acting in the best interest of the economy. That can lead to unstable financial markets and worse economic outcomes," the piece wrote. The co-signed article came after US President Donald Trump's criticism of Fed Chairman Jerome Powell last week when he lashed out at Powell for not signalling the start of "a lengthy and aggressive rate-cutting cycle." Trump on Monday urged the Fed to pay attention to his remarks when he falsely accused China of "currency manipulation" on Twitter. Trump has repeatedly voiced his discontent of the Fed's monetary policy over the past few months and even reportedly discussed an attempt to remove Powell from his position, raising questions about the central bank's independence. Powell, meanwhile, has repeatedly stressed the Fed's commitment to independence and said he fully intends to serve a four-year term.

Former United States Federal leaders call for independence of Central Bank

Former President Barack Obama responded to the weekend mass shootings in Ohio and Texas on Monday with a plea to Americans to reject the language of hatred, fear and intolerance from any of their leaders.

"We should soundly reject language coming out of the mouths of any of our leaders that feeds a climate of fear and hatred or normalises racist sentiments," Obama said in a statement posted on Twitter that did not refer to President Donald Trump by name.

The shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, killed 31 people.

A 21-year-old white man has been charged with capital murder in Saturday`s shooting spree in Texas. Police in El Paso cited a racist, anti-immigrant manifesto posted online shortly before the shooting, which they attributed to the suspect.

Democrats said Trump was indirectly to blame for the attack in Texas, with some drawing connections between his rhetoric to a resurgence in nationalism and xenophobic sentiment.

Trump on Monday proposed tighter monitoring of the internet, mental health reform and wider use of the death penalty in response to mass shootings.

Trump did not address accusations that his own anti-immigrant and racially charged comments have contributed to a rise in race tensions, nor did he call for broad gun control measures.

Former President Barack Obama responded to the weekend mass shootings in Ohio and Texas on Monday with a plea to Americans to reject the language of hatred, fear and intolerance from any of their leaders.

Former President Barack Obama responded to the weekend mass shootings in Ohio and Texas on Monday with a plea to Americans to reject the language of hatred, fear and intolerance from any of their leaders. "We should soundly reject language coming out of the mouths of any of our leaders that feeds a climate of fear and hatred or normalises racist sentiments," Obama said in a statement posted on Twitter that did not refer to President Donald Trump by name. The shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, killed 31 people. A 21-year-old white man has been charged with capital murder in Saturday`s shooting spree in Texas. Police in El Paso cited a racist, anti-immigrant manifesto posted online shortly before the shooting, which they attributed to the suspect. Democrats said Trump was indirectly to blame for the attack in Texas, with some drawing connections between his rhetoric to a resurgence in nationalism and xenophobic sentiment. Trump on Monday proposed tighter monitoring of the internet, mental health reform and wider use of the death penalty in response to mass shootings. Trump did not address accusations that his own anti-immigrant and racially charged comments have contributed to a rise in race tensions, nor did he call for broad gun control measures.

Reject language from leaders that 'normalises racist sentiments': Barack Obama

A Florida man who mailed pipes filled with explosives to prominent Democrats and critics of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-nominee-sparks-worries-of-intelligence-politicization-239554"> US President Donald Trump </a>was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday.

Cesar Sayoc, 57, who pleaded guilty in March to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-indicts-chinese-nationals-for-dealings-with-north-korean-companies-in-producing-weapons-of-mass-destruction-238031">using weapons of mass destruction</a> and other crimes, began crying when US District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan read the sentence.

Prosecutors had asked Rakoff to sentence Sayoc to life in prison, while Sayoc's lawyers had sought a sentence of 10 years plus one month.

Ian Marcus Amelkin, one of Sayoc's lawyers, argued that Sayoc's crimes were caused by paranoid, delusional thinking brought on by heavy use of steroids.

He said Sayoc, who was living in a van at the time of his arrest last year, had struggled all his life with severe learning disabilities, the effects of childhood abuse and social isolation.

Sayoc, Amelkin said, saw Trump as a "father figure" and became obsessed with conspiracy theories about people he perceived as being enemies of the president.

"We believe that the president's rhetoric contributed to Mr Sayoc's behaviour," he said.

Assistant US Attorney Jane Kim, one of the prosecutors, argued that Sayoc was a danger to the public and that his crimes warranted severe punishment.

"The defendant here set out to terrorise people," she said.

Sayoc expressed remorse shortly before the sentencing. "I am so very sorry for what I did," he said.

Sayoc sent packages containing pipes stuffed with explosives, wires and alarm clocks to 16 intended targets, including former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, US Senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, billionaire investor and Democratic donor George Soros, former Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan, actor Robert De Niro and CNN.

All of the devices were intercepted and none exploded.

A report by federal investigators concluded they had no mechanism to trigger an explosion and "would not have functioned as designed."

Prosecutors argued that Sayoc nonetheless meant to injure his targets, while his lawyers said he meant only to inspire fear.

Sayoc himself said in a handwritten letter to Rakoff after his guilty plea that the bombs were a "hoax."

Rakoff said he believed Sayoc.

"He hated his victims. He wished them no good, but he was not so lost as to wish them dead, at least not by his hand," the judge said.

Still, the judge said, Sayoc's crimes were "far too horrible" for a "relatively lenient" 10-year sentence.

A Florida man who mailed pipes filled with explosives to prominent Democrats and critics of US President Donald Trump was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday.

A Florida man who mailed pipes filled with explosives to prominent Democrats and critics of US President Donald Trump was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday. Cesar Sayoc, 57, who pleaded guilty in March to using weapons of mass destruction and other crimes, began crying when US District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan read the sentence. Prosecutors had asked Rakoff to sentence Sayoc to life in prison, while Sayoc's lawyers had sought a sentence of 10 years plus one month. Ian Marcus Amelkin, one of Sayoc's lawyers, argued that Sayoc's crimes were caused by paranoid, delusional thinking brought on by heavy use of steroids. He said Sayoc, who was living in a van at the time of his arrest last year, had struggled all his life with severe learning disabilities, the effects of childhood abuse and social isolation. Sayoc, Amelkin said, saw Trump as a "father figure" and became obsessed with conspiracy theories about people he perceived as being enemies of the president. "We believe that the president's rhetoric contributed to Mr Sayoc's behaviour," he said. Assistant US Attorney Jane Kim, one of the prosecutors, argued that Sayoc was a danger to the public and that his crimes warranted severe punishment. "The defendant here set out to terrorise people," she said. Sayoc expressed remorse shortly before the sentencing. "I am so very sorry for what I did," he said. Sayoc sent packages containing pipes stuffed with explosives, wires and alarm clocks to 16 intended targets, including former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, US Senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, billionaire investor and Democratic donor George Soros, former Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan, actor Robert De Niro and CNN. All of the devices were intercepted and none exploded. A report by federal investigators concluded they had no mechanism to trigger an explosion and "would not have functioned as designed." Prosecutors argued that Sayoc nonetheless meant to injure his targets, while his lawyers said he meant only to inspire fear. Sayoc himself said in a handwritten letter to Rakoff after his guilty plea that the bombs were a "hoax." Rakoff said he believed Sayoc. "He hated his victims. He wished them no good, but he was not so lost as to wish them dead, at least not by his hand," the judge said. Still, the judge said, Sayoc's crimes were "far too horrible" for a "relatively lenient" 10-year sentence.

Twenty year sentence for Florida man who sent explosives to Trump critics

Japan&nbsp;and the United States have agreed to target a broad deal on bilateral trade by September, seeking to bridge differences of opinion over tariffs on beef and the automobile sector, the Nikkei business daily reported on Sunday.

As part of a drive to rectify what he claims are unfair global trade imbalances, US&nbsp;President Donald Trump has been urging Tokyo to accelerate <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../us-japan-trade-agreement-will-be-model-for- indo-pacific-pence-177013">trade talks</a> that would open up Japan's politically sensitive agriculture sector, as well as curbing&nbsp;Japan's US-bound auto exports.

The agreement to target a deal by September was reached during a meeting between&nbsp;Japanese Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and US&nbsp;Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer in Washington DC, the Nikkei said, citing unidentified negotiating sources.

The paper said both sides hope to have a broad trade deal in place by the time&nbsp;Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meets US&nbsp;President Donald Trump on the sidelines of United Nations' general assembly scheduled for later in September in New York.

On Friday, Motegi told reporters after meeting Lighthizer that the two sides made "significant progress" in narrowing their differences on trade and agreed to hold another ministerial-level meeting later this month.

Washington seeks the early opening of&nbsp;Japan's agriculture sector including reductions in 38.5% tariffs on US&nbsp;beef imports, while&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;calls for the abolition of US&nbsp;tariffs on&nbsp;Japan's industrial goods such as car parts.

Trump and Abe could also look at producing some kind of trade accord later this month when they may meet on the sidelines of Group of Seven leaders' summit, the Nikkei added.

Japan and the United States have agreed to target a broad deal on bilateral trade by September, seeking to bridge differences of opinion over tariffs on beef and the automobile sector, the Nikkei business daily reported on Sunday.

Japan and the United States have agreed to target a broad deal on bilateral trade by September, seeking to bridge differences of opinion over tariffs on beef and the automobile sector, the Nikkei business daily reported on Sunday. As part of a drive to rectify what he claims are unfair global trade imbalances, US President Donald Trump has been urging Tokyo to accelerate trade talks that would open up Japan's politically sensitive agriculture sector, as well as curbing Japan's US-bound auto exports. The agreement to target a deal by September was reached during a meeting between Japanese Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer in Washington DC, the Nikkei said, citing unidentified negotiating sources. The paper said both sides hope to have a broad trade deal in place by the time Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meets US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of United Nations' general assembly scheduled for later in September in New York. On Friday, Motegi told reporters after meeting Lighthizer that the two sides made "significant progress" in narrowing their differences on trade and agreed to hold another ministerial-level meeting later this month. Washington seeks the early opening of Japan's agriculture sector including reductions in 38.5% tariffs on US beef imports, while Japan calls for the abolition of US tariffs on Japan's industrial goods such as car parts. Trump and Abe could also look at producing some kind of trade accord later this month when they may meet on the sidelines of Group of Seven leaders' summit, the Nikkei added.

Japan, US target broad bilateral trade deal by September: Report

US President Donald Trump's administration is considering unveiling, as early as September, his healthcare plan as part of his presidential re election campaign strategy, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

US President Donald Trump's administration is considering unveiling, as early as September, his healthcare plan as part of his presidential re election campaign strategy, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. The plan would lay out an alternative to former President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, which has been challenged by Republicans in court, and could include coverage for people with pre existing conditions and a variety of insurance options, the Wall Street Journal said, citing unnamed sources. Trump has not signed off on the tentative plan, the newspaper said, describing ongoing debate about the plan and the timing for the roll out. Polling shows that healthcare is a top concern for voters leading up to the election. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the timing. Democrats vying to be their party's candidate for the November 2020 presidential election have focused on healthcare, debating how far to go to transform the U.S. healthcare system. Some candidates have suggested abolishing private insurance in favour of a single government run plan, sometimes referred to as “Medicare for All,” while others favour more modest reforms. On Tuesday, Trump is slated to give a speech at The Villages in Florida a large retirement community where he will address his administration's efforts to secure and improve Medicare. While he is there, Trump is expected to sign an executive order related to Medicare, a White House official said separately, declining to comment on specific details. Reuters has previously reported that Trump was considering an executive order to cut prices on branded prescription drugs sold to Medicare and other government programs.

Trump administration considers September unveiling of healthcare plan: Report

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-demands-social-media-details-email-addresses-for-5-years-from-visa-applicants-223685">United States</a> and North Korea are in regular communication for the resumption of working-level talks to revive denuclearisation negotiations, and are working on establishing a time and location for the meet, a senior US State Department official said on Friday.

"While we would like to be further along in restarting working-level negotiations, we are in regular contact with the North Koreans," the official said, according to a transcript released by the State Department.

"And I think it`s fair to say that (President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-defends-attack-on-african-american-us-lawmaker-elijah-cummings-239036">Donald Trump</a> and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo) are expecting that we will be resuming those negotiations relatively soon," he added, as cited by Yonhap news agency.&nbsp;

The official added that the US has not changed its goal of denuclearising North Korea in exchange for a "brighter future", meaning sanctions relief and other concessions.

On June 30, Trump and Kim had held an impromptu meeting at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where the two leaders agreed to resume working-level talks to put denuclearisation talks back on track.

However, North Korea has warned that the future of talks will depend on whether South Korea and the US will go ahead with the joint military exercises planned for next month.

In the past 8 days, North Korea has conducted three tests of projectiles, including short-range ballistic missiles, signalling its displeasure with South Korea-U.S. military exercises planned for this month.

The United States and North Korea are in regular communication for the resumption of working-level talks to revive denuclearisation negotiations, and are working on establishing a time and location for the meet, a senior US State Department official said on Friday.

The United States and North Korea are in regular communication for the resumption of working-level talks to revive denuclearisation negotiations, and are working on establishing a time and location for the meet, a senior US State Department official said on Friday. "While we would like to be further along in restarting working-level negotiations, we are in regular contact with the North Koreans," the official said, according to a transcript released by the State Department. "And I think it`s fair to say that (President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo) are expecting that we will be resuming those negotiations relatively soon," he added, as cited by Yonhap news agency. The official added that the US has not changed its goal of denuclearising North Korea in exchange for a "brighter future", meaning sanctions relief and other concessions. On June 30, Trump and Kim had held an impromptu meeting at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where the two leaders agreed to resume working-level talks to put denuclearisation talks back on track. However, North Korea has warned that the future of talks will depend on whether South Korea and the US will go ahead with the joint military exercises planned for next month. In the past 8 days, North Korea has conducted three tests of projectiles, including short-range ballistic missiles, signalling its displeasure with South Korea-U.S. military exercises planned for this month.

US, North Korea in regular communication for resumption of denuclearisation talks: Official

Levi Strauss &amp; Co has been "deliberate and diligent" in moving production out of China because of uncertainty hanging over tariffs on goods imported from China, Chief Executive Officer Chip Bergh said in an interview with Reuters.

Just 1% or 2% of Levi's product sold in the United States are manufactured in China, Bergh said, compared to 16% two years ago.

Bergh was speaking one day before President Donald Trump said he would impose tariffs on another $300 billion of Chinese goods, including apparel.

Trump has used tariffs as a tool to negotiate better trade terms, saying bad deals cost millions of US jobs.

Along with apparel, the new tariffs hit consumer goods such as electronics and toys and come in addition to those already imposed on $250 billion of other goods imported from China.

The on-again, off-again nature of the U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods had created uncertainty for many US&nbsp;retailers, Bergh said.

"Every day is a new day," he said. "Sometimes it looks like it's definitely going to happen and then other days you think it's off, it's not going to happen."

San Francisco-based Levi's, which returned to the public markets in March, is part of a wave of retailers that have been shifting supply chains out of China to countries such as Vietnam and Bangladesh.

The trend was initially in response to higher Chinese wages but the exodus is expected to be accelerated by the new tariffs, which Trump said will go into effect Sept. 1.

They are expected to increase consumers' costs and have an impact across the entire retail industry.

Apparel retailers like Gap Inc, handbag brand Steve Madden Ltd and department store Macy's Inc also have acted to move production out of China.

However, China still is a big supplier to the industry with 42% of apparel and 69% of footwear sold in the United States made in China, according to the American Apparel and Footwear Association.

Following the latest tariff news, several large retail trade groups warned the levied tariffs will hurt consumer purchases, raise prices and limit hiring.

Levi's has two of its own factories in Poland and South Africa but mostly uses third-party vendors or suppliers spread across 22 different countries, said Bergh, who joined the company in September 2011.

"We've narrowed down our supplier base during the time that I've been here to really develop deeper, more strategic relationships with many of our suppliers," he said.

Many of Levi's suppliers in China are publicly traded companies that have multi-country footprints, said Bergh, that has diversified risk by building factories in places like Vietnam and Cambodia.

Among Levi's best-selling products are the 501 men's jeans, which go for between $39.99 and $49.99, according to Levi's website.

Trump also has threatened to impose tariffs on Mexico in retaliation for illegal immigration largely from Central America, across the US-Mexican border. He is pushing Congress to approve the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a deal his administration reached to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Levi Strauss & Co has been "deliberate and diligent" in moving production out of China because of uncertainty hanging over tariffs on goods imported from China, Chief Executive Officer Chip Bergh said in an interview with Reuters.

Levi Strauss & Co has been "deliberate and diligent" in moving production out of China because of uncertainty hanging over tariffs on goods imported from China, Chief Executive Officer Chip Bergh said in an interview with Reuters. Just 1% or 2% of Levi's product sold in the United States are manufactured in China, Bergh said, compared to 16% two years ago. Bergh was speaking one day before President Donald Trump said he would impose tariffs on another $300 billion of Chinese goods, including apparel. Trump has used tariffs as a tool to negotiate better trade terms, saying bad deals cost millions of US jobs. Along with apparel, the new tariffs hit consumer goods such as electronics and toys and come in addition to those already imposed on $250 billion of other goods imported from China. The on-again, off-again nature of the U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods had created uncertainty for many US retailers, Bergh said. "Every day is a new day," he said. "Sometimes it looks like it's definitely going to happen and then other days you think it's off, it's not going to happen." San Francisco-based Levi's, which returned to the public markets in March, is part of a wave of retailers that have been shifting supply chains out of China to countries such as Vietnam and Bangladesh. The trend was initially in response to higher Chinese wages but the exodus is expected to be accelerated by the new tariffs, which Trump said will go into effect Sept. 1. They are expected to increase consumers' costs and have an impact across the entire retail industry. Apparel retailers like Gap Inc, handbag brand Steve Madden Ltd and department store Macy's Inc also have acted to move production out of China. However, China still is a big supplier to the industry with 42% of apparel and 69% of footwear sold in the United States made in China, according to the American Apparel and Footwear Association. Following the latest tariff news, several large retail trade groups warned the levied tariffs will hurt consumer purchases, raise prices and limit hiring. Levi's has two of its own factories in Poland and South Africa but mostly uses third-party vendors or suppliers spread across 22 different countries, said Bergh, who joined the company in September 2011. "We've narrowed down our supplier base during the time that I've been here to really develop deeper, more strategic relationships with many of our suppliers," he said. Many of Levi's suppliers in China are publicly traded companies that have multi-country footprints, said Bergh, that has diversified risk by building factories in places like Vietnam and Cambodia. Among Levi's best-selling products are the 501 men's jeans, which go for between $39.99 and $49.99, according to Levi's website. Trump also has threatened to impose tariffs on Mexico in retaliation for illegal immigration largely from Central America, across the US-Mexican border. He is pushing Congress to approve the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a deal his administration reached to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Levi's slims down China supply chain exposure as trade war rages on

This time, he didn't quite go there.

President Donald Trump on Thursday briefly renewed his criticism of four minority Democratic congresswomen at his first rally since the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-rebuke-trump-says-i-dont-have-a-racist-bone-in-my-body-236506">controversy erupted</a> when a crowd at a rally last month broke into a chant of "Send her back" about a US lawmaker who immigrated to the United States from Somalia.

But he did not name or dwell on them. The crowd as a whole did not chant, and the president - who was being watched for his response if such a unified cry erupted - did not have to show whether he would try to stop his supporters from engaging in a call that critics view as racist.

"While Republicans are working every day to build up our country, the rage-filled Democrat Party is trying to tear America apart. The Democrat Party is now being led by four left-wing extremists who reject everything that we hold dear," Trump told the crowd in Ohio, making reference to US Representative Ilhan Omar and three colleagues are known as "the Squad."

"No one has paid a higher price for the far-left's destructive agenda than Americans living in our nation's inner cities," he said.

And that was that. Trump continued on a long riff about Democrats' performance in inner cities, but he did not name Elijah Cummings, a black US congressman from Baltimore and civil rights champion, whom Trump has also recently criticized.

Trump still had plenty to say about his opponents, and the enthusiastic crowd chanted, "Lock Her Up!" when the president criticized his 2016 Democratic presidential rival, Hillary Clinton.

The Republican president also picked up on a theme from Wednesday night's Democratic presidential debate, in which former Democratic President Barack Obama's legacy came under criticism from some candidates seeking their party's nomination to run against Trump next year. Trump said they spent more time attacking Obama than they did attack him.

Democrats have criticized the attacks by Trump on Omar and the three other progressive congresswomen as racist. The attacks started with Trump's tweets last month saying they should "go back" to where they came from. Many Republicans have shrugged off the remarks.

All four are US citizens and Omar is the only one not born in the United States.

Trump looked on when supporters chanted: "Send Her back!" at a July 17 North Carolina rally after he recounted past comments by Omar. The next day, he said he disagreed with the chant, but later resumed his criticism of the congresswomen, saying they had said horrible things about the United States and defending the North Carolina crowd as "incredible patriots."

Before he left for Cincinnati, Trump was asked by reporters at the White House whether he would stop rally participants if they started that chant.

"I don’t know that you can stop people. ... I’d prefer that they don’t. But if they do it, we’ll have to make a decision then."

This time, he didn't quite go there. President Donald Trump on Thursday briefly renewed his criticism of four minority Democratic congresswomen at his first rally since the controversy erupted when a crowd at a rally last month broke into a chant of "Send her back" about a US lawmaker who immigrated to the United States from Somalia.

This time, he didn't quite go there. President Donald Trump on Thursday briefly renewed his criticism of four minority Democratic congresswomen at his first rally since the controversy erupted when a crowd at a rally last month broke into a chant of "Send her back" about a US lawmaker who immigrated to the United States from Somalia. But he did not name or dwell on them. The crowd as a whole did not chant, and the president - who was being watched for his response if such a unified cry erupted - did not have to show whether he would try to stop his supporters from engaging in a call that critics view as racist. "While Republicans are working every day to build up our country, the rage-filled Democrat Party is trying to tear America apart. The Democrat Party is now being led by four left-wing extremists who reject everything that we hold dear," Trump told the crowd in Ohio, making reference to US Representative Ilhan Omar and three colleagues are known as "the Squad." "No one has paid a higher price for the far-left's destructive agenda than Americans living in our nation's inner cities," he said. And that was that. Trump continued on a long riff about Democrats' performance in inner cities, but he did not name Elijah Cummings, a black US congressman from Baltimore and civil rights champion, whom Trump has also recently criticized. Trump still had plenty to say about his opponents, and the enthusiastic crowd chanted, "Lock Her Up!" when the president criticized his 2016 Democratic presidential rival, Hillary Clinton. The Republican president also picked up on a theme from Wednesday night's Democratic presidential debate, in which former Democratic President Barack Obama's legacy came under criticism from some candidates seeking their party's nomination to run against Trump next year. Trump said they spent more time attacking Obama than they did attack him. Democrats have criticized the attacks by Trump on Omar and the three other progressive congresswomen as racist. The attacks started with Trump's tweets last month saying they should "go back" to where they came from. Many Republicans have shrugged off the remarks. All four are US citizens and Omar is the only one not born in the United States. Trump looked on when supporters chanted: "Send Her back!" at a July 17 North Carolina rally after he recounted past comments by Omar. The next day, he said he disagreed with the chant, but later resumed his criticism of the congresswomen, saying they had said horrible things about the United States and defending the North Carolina crowd as "incredible patriots." Before he left for Cincinnati, Trump was asked by reporters at the White House whether he would stop rally participants if they started that chant. "I don’t know that you can stop people. ... I’d prefer that they don’t. But if they do it, we’ll have to make a decision then."

'Lock Her Up!' but no 'Send her Back!' chant at Trump rally in Ohio

Oil prices rose more than 2% on Friday, regaining some ground after their biggest falls in years on US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's threat to impose more tariffs on Chinese imports.

The move, due to take effect on September&nbsp;1, intensifies a trade war between the world's top two economies and oil consumers that has disrupted global supply chains and roiled financial markets.

Any resulting economic slowdown could dent oil demand.

Benchmark Brent rose $1.56, or 2.6%, to $62.06 a barrel by 1210 GMT on Friday, after slumping more than 7% on Thursday, their steepest drop in more than three years.

US crude gained $1.29, or 2.4%, to $55.24 on Friday, after tumbling nearly 8% the previous day when they posted their biggest drop in more than four years.

Thursday's slide ended a fragile rally built on steady drawdowns in US inventories, even though global demand looked shaky due to the trade dispute.

"Given the latest turn in US-Sino trade relations, sustaining this uplift may be subject to how China chooses to respond to President Trump's new tariff initiative", said Harry Tchilinguirian, global oil strategist at BNP Paribas in London.

"The rise in oil prices may be simply the result of a technical bounce back from an oversold close," he told the Reuters Global Oil Forum, referring to Thursday's tumble.

Trump said on Thursday he would impose a 10% tariff on $300 billion of Chinese imports and could raise tariffs further if China's President Xi Jinping failed to move more quickly to strike a trade deal.

The announcement extends Trump's tariffs to nearly all of China's imports into the United States.

China said it would not accept any "intimidation or blackmail" and pledged countermeasures should the tariffs go into effect.

The US&nbsp;economy expanded by 2.1% in the second quarter, government data showed on July 26, beating economists' expectations although it was lower than first-quarter growth.

Still, there are signs of the economic toll of the trade dispute between the United States and China, which this week reported slowing manufacturing activity in July.

US&nbsp;manufacturing activity also slipped last month, dropping to a near three-year low, and construction spending fell in June as an investment in private construction projects tumbled to its lowest level in 1-1/2 years, data showed.

Oil prices rose more than 2% on Friday, regaining some ground after their biggest falls in years on US President Donald Trump's threat to impose more tariffs on Chinese imports.

Oil prices rose more than 2% on Friday, regaining some ground after their biggest falls in years on US President Donald Trump's threat to impose more tariffs on Chinese imports. The move, due to take effect on September 1, intensifies a trade war between the world's top two economies and oil consumers that has disrupted global supply chains and roiled financial markets. Any resulting economic slowdown could dent oil demand. Benchmark Brent rose $1.56, or 2.6%, to $62.06 a barrel by 1210 GMT on Friday, after slumping more than 7% on Thursday, their steepest drop in more than three years. US crude gained $1.29, or 2.4%, to $55.24 on Friday, after tumbling nearly 8% the previous day when they posted their biggest drop in more than four years. Thursday's slide ended a fragile rally built on steady drawdowns in US inventories, even though global demand looked shaky due to the trade dispute. "Given the latest turn in US-Sino trade relations, sustaining this uplift may be subject to how China chooses to respond to President Trump's new tariff initiative", said Harry Tchilinguirian, global oil strategist at BNP Paribas in London. "The rise in oil prices may be simply the result of a technical bounce back from an oversold close," he told the Reuters Global Oil Forum, referring to Thursday's tumble. Trump said on Thursday he would impose a 10% tariff on $300 billion of Chinese imports and could raise tariffs further if China's President Xi Jinping failed to move more quickly to strike a trade deal. The announcement extends Trump's tariffs to nearly all of China's imports into the United States. China said it would not accept any "intimidation or blackmail" and pledged countermeasures should the tariffs go into effect. The US economy expanded by 2.1% in the second quarter, government data showed on July 26, beating economists' expectations although it was lower than first-quarter growth. Still, there are signs of the economic toll of the trade dispute between the United States and China, which this week reported slowing manufacturing activity in July. US manufacturing activity also slipped last month, dropping to a near three-year low, and construction spending fell in June as an investment in private construction projects tumbled to its lowest level in 1-1/2 years, data showed.

Oil prices rebound more than 2% after plunging on Donald Trump's tariff plan

President Donald Trump's choice of a lawmaker with limited experience to oversee the massive US intelligence community has sparked concerns over the possible politicisation of crucial national security decisions.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../outrage-as-donald-trump-brands-mostly-black- baltimore-infested-mess-238913">Trump</a> declared Tuesday that John Ratcliffe is "strong" and "talented", two days after announcing the Republican congressman as his pick to replace Dan Coats as Director of National Intelligence, the person who coordinates the 17 agencies that make up the US intelligence community.

But strong criticism of the choice from Democrats and a tepid response from key Republicans -- some say they had never met him -- &nbsp;put a question mark over whether Ratcliffe can gain Senate confirmation.

"I'm gravely concerned when it appears that the president is trying to look for someone who will be a political loyalist rather than that independent voice standing up for the intelligence community," said Democratic Senator John Warner.

"I don't know John, but I look forward to getting to know him," said Senator Richard Burr, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, which must approve the nomination.

&nbsp;Fox News commentator&nbsp;

Coats, previously a longtime legislator on the Senate Intelligence Committee and US ambassador to Germany, spent 24 months as DNI quietly advancing and defending the intelligence community's global threats assessments.

Occasionally Coats publicly challenged Trump's rejection of those views, especially on Russia, Iran and North Korea.

Ratcliffe, by comparison, has made his name over four years in the House of Representatives as a staunch defender of the president.

Like many Trump appointees, he frequently appears on Fox News repeating conservative conspiracy theories, like alleging that special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference was a political hit-job by Democrats working with US intelligence.

"So was the Trump investigation really about our national security -- or was it politically motivated?" he said last year.

"John Ratcliffe is a good man," Trump said Tuesday. "He's a very talented guy. Strong man. It's what we need in that position."

&nbsp;Former small-town mayor&nbsp;

Ratcliffe, 53, would take over a crucial job that involves collating and distilling intelligence from the CIA, the National Security Agency, the FBI, the Pentagon and other bodies, to prioritize for the president the threats the country faces.&nbsp;

All previous directors have been former diplomats steeped in security and military issues, senior Pentagon officials, and intelligence agency chiefs.

Ratcliffe's resume is thin: before arriving in Congress in 2015, he was mayor of a small, wealthy lakeside suburb of Dallas, Texas for eight years, a staff lawyer for the local federal district attorney, and then interim district attorney for just one year in 2007.

His office in Congress has claimed that during that time he investigated and prosecuted major terror cases, but there is no evidence of that in available court records.

In Congress, he has served on the House Intelligence Committee only since January, where he has made a mark attacking the Mueller investigation and insinuating that the intelligence community itself threatens the president.

"Ratcliffe would be the first DNI without significant intelligence or ambassadorial experience," said John McLaughlin, former CIA deputy director.

'Hyper-political time'&nbsp;

Ratcliffe's nomination -- which has not yet been formalized by the White House -- comes as the intelligence community has struggled with Trump's determination to see the world his way and use intelligence for his own political goals.

Earlier this month, Sue Gordon, the deputy director of national intelligence, said Coats' independence has been important in the current political environment.

"The intelligence community has been able to keep its eyes in the boat, because he plays it down the middle, even when it's unpopular," she told CBS News' "Intelligence Matters" program.&nbsp;

"There is something great about people who understand the world in the way intelligence officers understand the world," she added.&nbsp;

"Where it has gotten difficult in this time is, this is a hyper-political time. And it's difficult because we are all serious people who are just trying to solve some really serious issues."

Democrats have made clear they will fight against his nomination.

"Congressman Ratcliffe is the most partisan and least qualified individual ever nominated to serve as Director of National Intelligence," said Senator Ron Wyden, who serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

"Confirming this individual would amount to an endorsement of this administration's drive to politicize our intelligence agencies."

President Donald Trump's choice of a lawmaker with limited experience to oversee the massive US intelligence community has sparked concerns over the possible politicisation of crucial national security decisions.

President Donald Trump's choice of a lawmaker with limited experience to oversee the massive US intelligence community has sparked concerns over the possible politicisation of crucial national security decisions. Trump declared Tuesday that John Ratcliffe is "strong" and "talented", two days after announcing the Republican congressman as his pick to replace Dan Coats as Director of National Intelligence, the person who coordinates the 17 agencies that make up the US intelligence community. But strong criticism of the choice from Democrats and a tepid response from key Republicans -- some say they had never met him -- put a question mark over whether Ratcliffe can gain Senate confirmation. "I'm gravely concerned when it appears that the president is trying to look for someone who will be a political loyalist rather than that independent voice standing up for the intelligence community," said Democratic Senator John Warner. "I don't know John, but I look forward to getting to know him," said Senator Richard Burr, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, which must approve the nomination. Fox News commentator Coats, previously a longtime legislator on the Senate Intelligence Committee and US ambassador to Germany, spent 24 months as DNI quietly advancing and defending the intelligence community's global threats assessments. Occasionally Coats publicly challenged Trump's rejection of those views, especially on Russia, Iran and North Korea. Ratcliffe, by comparison, has made his name over four years in the House of Representatives as a staunch defender of the president. Like many Trump appointees, he frequently appears on Fox News repeating conservative conspiracy theories, like alleging that special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference was a political hit-job by Democrats working with US intelligence. "So was the Trump investigation really about our national security -- or was it politically motivated?" he said last year. "John Ratcliffe is a good man," Trump said Tuesday. "He's a very talented guy. Strong man. It's what we need in that position." Former small-town mayor Ratcliffe, 53, would take over a crucial job that involves collating and distilling intelligence from the CIA, the National Security Agency, the FBI, the Pentagon and other bodies, to prioritize for the president the threats the country faces. All previous directors have been former diplomats steeped in security and military issues, senior Pentagon officials, and intelligence agency chiefs. Ratcliffe's resume is thin: before arriving in Congress in 2015, he was mayor of a small, wealthy lakeside suburb of Dallas, Texas for eight years, a staff lawyer for the local federal district attorney, and then interim district attorney for just one year in 2007. His office in Congress has claimed that during that time he investigated and prosecuted major terror cases, but there is no evidence of that in available court records. In Congress, he has served on the House Intelligence Committee only since January, where he has made a mark attacking the Mueller investigation and insinuating that the intelligence community itself threatens the president. "Ratcliffe would be the first DNI without significant intelligence or ambassadorial experience," said John McLaughlin, former CIA deputy director. 'Hyper-political time' Ratcliffe's nomination -- which has not yet been formalized by the White House -- comes as the intelligence community has struggled with Trump's determination to see the world his way and use intelligence for his own political goals. Earlier this month, Sue Gordon, the deputy director of national intelligence, said Coats' independence has been important in the current political environment. "The intelligence community has been able to keep its eyes in the boat, because he plays it down the middle, even when it's unpopular," she told CBS News' "Intelligence Matters" program. "There is something great about people who understand the world in the way intelligence officers understand the world," she added. "Where it has gotten difficult in this time is, this is a hyper-political time. And it's difficult because we are all serious people who are just trying to solve some really serious issues." Democrats have made clear they will fight against his nomination. "Congressman Ratcliffe is the most partisan and least qualified individual ever nominated to serve as Director of National Intelligence," said Senator Ron Wyden, who serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee. "Confirming this individual would amount to an endorsement of this administration's drive to politicize our intelligence agencies."

Donald Trump nominee sparks worries of intelligence politicisation

US President Donald Trump was hit with new accusations of racism Saturday after he attacked a prominent African-American lawmaker and branded the majority-black city of Baltimore an "infested mess."

Trump's outburst came in a series of sharply worded tweets aimed at Democratic Representative Elijah Cummings -- a high-profile critic of Trump's administration whose district covers much of Baltimore.

"Cumming (sic) District is a disgusting, rat and rodent-infested mess," the president wrote, calling it "the worst run and most dangerous anywhere in the United States."

"No human being would want to live there," he said -&nbsp;in an attack ostensibly provoked by Cummings' criticism of the harsh conditions facing would-be asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border.

The morning diatribe ignited a storm of criticism, less than two weeks after the House of Representatives condemned Trump for "racist" comments targeting four first-term Democratic congresswomen who are ethnic minorities.

The top Democrat in Congress, Nancy Pelosi, accused Trump of a "racist" attack on a "champion... of civil rights and economic justice, a beloved leader in Baltimore, and deeply valued colleague."&nbsp;

"We all reject racist attacks against him," wrote Pelosi -- who was born in Baltimore and whose father served as mayor of the city.&nbsp;

Former vice president Joe Biden -- the Democratic frontrunner to challenge Trump in 2020 -- called out the president directly on Twitter.

"It is despicable for you to attack him and the people of Baltimore this way," Biden wrote. "Once again you have proved yourself unfit to hold the office. A President is supposed to lift this nation up. Not tear it down."

There was similar condemnation from half a dozen White House candidates including Cory Booker, who tweeted footage of a black CNN anchor and Baltimore native who broke down on air while reacting to the attack on his hometown.

"This is painful. This is a moral, defining moment in America," wrote Booker. "Silence is toxic complicity."

Democratic 2020 contender Kamala Harris, who like Booker is black, said she was "proud" to have her campaign headquarters in Cummings' district and called Trump's attack "disgraceful."

The city's Democratic Mayor Bernard "Jack" Young&nbsp; -- also black -- rejected Trump's rhetoric, calling it "hurtful and dangerous."

"It was a total insult," he told reporters. "We're not going to ignore anyone degrading Baltimore city and its effective leadership, no one."

The editorial board of the city's newspaper, The Baltimore Sun, took a direct swipe at Trump in a scathing column which concluded that it is "better to have a few rats than to be one."

A historic port city of 600,000 people, Baltimore presents a mixed picture, with both handsome and affluent neighbourhoods and poverty-stricken districts. It has one of the country's highest murder rates.&nbsp;

Cummings' district is more than 50 per cent black -- and the city of Baltimore as a whole, more than 60 per cent.

Cummings himself tweeted: "Mr President, I go home to my district daily. Each morning, I wake up, and I go and fight for my neighbours. It is my constitutional duty to conduct oversight of the Executive Branch. But it is my moral duty to fight for my constituents."

As chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Cummings -- one of the most prominent African Americans in Congress -- has launched investigations into Trump administration policies, including reports of poor treatment at migrant detention centres.

"Rep. Elijah Cummings has been a brutal bully, shouting and screaming at the great men &amp; women of Border Patrol about conditions at the Southern Border, when actually his Baltimore district is FAR WORSE and more dangerous," Trump charged.

He attacked Cummings again Saturday evening after spending the day at Trump National Golf Club outside Washington.

"Elijah Cummings spends all of his time trying to hurt innocent people through 'Oversight.' He does NOTHING for his very poor, very dangerous and very badly run district!," the president tweeted, adding the hashtag #BlacksForTrump2020.

The broadside was reminiscent of Trump's recent, racially charged onslaught against four young Democratic women lawmakers, who he said should "go back" to the "crime infested" places they came from. In fact, three were born in the US and all are American citizens.

Trump denies accusations of racism -- and has made a point of pushing for the release of US rapper A$AP Rocky, held in Sweden on assault charges, in an apparent effort to curb his unpopularity with black voters.

But his calculated targeting of the "Squad" -- as the four are known -- was widely seen as a bid to galvanize his mostly white electoral base as he gears up for next year's re-election battle.

US President Donald Trump was hit with new accusations of racism Saturday after he attacked a prominent African-American lawmaker and branded the majority-black city of Baltimore an "infested mess.

US President Donald Trump was hit with new accusations of racism Saturday after he attacked a prominent African-American lawmaker and branded the majority-black city of Baltimore an "infested mess." Trump's outburst came in a series of sharply worded tweets aimed at Democratic Representative Elijah Cummings -- a high-profile critic of Trump's administration whose district covers much of Baltimore. "Cumming (sic) District is a disgusting, rat and rodent-infested mess," the president wrote, calling it "the worst run and most dangerous anywhere in the United States." "No human being would want to live there," he said - in an attack ostensibly provoked by Cummings' criticism of the harsh conditions facing would-be asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border. The morning diatribe ignited a storm of criticism, less than two weeks after the House of Representatives condemned Trump for "racist" comments targeting four first-term Democratic congresswomen who are ethnic minorities. The top Democrat in Congress, Nancy Pelosi, accused Trump of a "racist" attack on a "champion... of civil rights and economic justice, a beloved leader in Baltimore, and deeply valued colleague." "We all reject racist attacks against him," wrote Pelosi -- who was born in Baltimore and whose father served as mayor of the city. Former vice president Joe Biden -- the Democratic frontrunner to challenge Trump in 2020 -- called out the president directly on Twitter. "It is despicable for you to attack him and the people of Baltimore this way," Biden wrote. "Once again you have proved yourself unfit to hold the office. A President is supposed to lift this nation up. Not tear it down." There was similar condemnation from half a dozen White House candidates including Cory Booker, who tweeted footage of a black CNN anchor and Baltimore native who broke down on air while reacting to the attack on his hometown. "This is painful. This is a moral, defining moment in America," wrote Booker. "Silence is toxic complicity." Democratic 2020 contender Kamala Harris, who like Booker is black, said she was "proud" to have her campaign headquarters in Cummings' district and called Trump's attack "disgraceful." The city's Democratic Mayor Bernard "Jack" Young -- also black -- rejected Trump's rhetoric, calling it "hurtful and dangerous." "It was a total insult," he told reporters. "We're not going to ignore anyone degrading Baltimore city and its effective leadership, no one." The editorial board of the city's newspaper, The Baltimore Sun, took a direct swipe at Trump in a scathing column which concluded that it is "better to have a few rats than to be one." A historic port city of 600,000 people, Baltimore presents a mixed picture, with both handsome and affluent neighbourhoods and poverty-stricken districts. It has one of the country's highest murder rates. Cummings' district is more than 50 per cent black -- and the city of Baltimore as a whole, more than 60 per cent. Cummings himself tweeted: "Mr President, I go home to my district daily. Each morning, I wake up, and I go and fight for my neighbours. It is my constitutional duty to conduct oversight of the Executive Branch. But it is my moral duty to fight for my constituents." As chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Cummings -- one of the most prominent African Americans in Congress -- has launched investigations into Trump administration policies, including reports of poor treatment at migrant detention centres. "Rep. Elijah Cummings has been a brutal bully, shouting and screaming at the great men & women of Border Patrol about conditions at the Southern Border, when actually his Baltimore district is FAR WORSE and more dangerous," Trump charged. He attacked Cummings again Saturday evening after spending the day at Trump National Golf Club outside Washington. "Elijah Cummings spends all of his time trying to hurt innocent people through 'Oversight.' He does NOTHING for his very poor, very dangerous and very badly run district!," the president tweeted, adding the hashtag #BlacksForTrump2020. The broadside was reminiscent of Trump's recent, racially charged onslaught against four young Democratic women lawmakers, who he said should "go back" to the "crime infested" places they came from. In fact, three were born in the US and all are American citizens. Trump denies accusations of racism -- and has made a point of pushing for the release of US rapper A$AP Rocky, held in Sweden on assault charges, in an apparent effort to curb his unpopularity with black voters. But his calculated targeting of the "Squad" -- as the four are known -- was widely seen as a bid to galvanize his mostly white electoral base as he gears up for next year's re-election battle.

Outrage as Trump brands mostly-black Baltimore 'infested mess'

France's Emmanuel&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;discussed the need for an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-slams-macron-over-digital-tax-on-us-tech-giants-threatens-reciprocal-action-against-french-wine-238733">international agreement on taxing digital</a> service companies with US&nbsp;President Donald Trump in a call on Friday, the French president's office said.

The exchange - which partly centred on Iran and the upcoming summit of the G7 group of rich nations in August - came after Trump earlier said he would hit France with "substantial reciprocal action" after Paris announced a tax that will affect US&nbsp;technology companies.

"The president also underlined that the G7 summit would be an important opportunity to move towards universal taxation of digital activities, which is in our common interest, and which we need to keep working on in order to obtain a broad international agreement,"&nbsp;Macron's office said.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Friday accused his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron of "foolishness" over a move to tax global tech giants, promising substantial retaliation which he hinted could target French wine.

"France just put a digital tax on our great American technology companies," Trump tweeted about the law passed this month that is set to affect US giants Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon.

France's Emmanuel Macron discussed the need for an international agreement on taxing digital service companies with US President Donald Trump in a call on Friday, the French president's office said.

France's Emmanuel Macron discussed the need for an international agreement on taxing digital service companies with US President Donald Trump in a call on Friday, the French president's office said. The exchange - which partly centred on Iran and the upcoming summit of the G7 group of rich nations in August - came after Trump earlier said he would hit France with "substantial reciprocal action" after Paris announced a tax that will affect US technology companies. "The president also underlined that the G7 summit would be an important opportunity to move towards universal taxation of digital activities, which is in our common interest, and which we need to keep working on in order to obtain a broad international agreement," Macron's office said. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Friday accused his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron of "foolishness" over a move to tax global tech giants, promising substantial retaliation which he hinted could target French wine. "France just put a digital tax on our great American technology companies," Trump tweeted about the law passed this month that is set to affect US giants Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon.

France's Macron discussed need for broad digital tax deal with Trump: Elysee Palace

US&nbsp;House Speaker Nancy&nbsp;Pelosi&nbsp;said she and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had no hatchet to bury on Friday, playing down tensions after a meeting between the powerful speaker and freshman lawmaker who in recent months has seized the Democratic Party spotlight.

In clashes with her own party leaders as well as the White House over border aid and other issues, Ocasio-Cortez and a handful of other left-wing Democratic progressives have become a target for President Donald Trump and his Republicans heading into the 2020 US elections.

The rise of "the squad," as Ocasio-Cortez's small group of four minority congresswomen is known, has sometimes appeared to strain&nbsp;Pelosi's patience as she works to keep House Democrats unified and to restrain demands from many lawmakers to start impeachment proceedings against Trump.

In a news conference on Friday,&nbsp;Pelosi&nbsp;minimized divisions with Ocasio-Cortez and the other three squad members - Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley.

Asked if she and Ocasio-Cortez had buried the hatchet,&nbsp;Pelosi&nbsp;told reporters, "I don't think there ever was any hatchet."

"These, some personality issues and the rest, they are minor," she said.

"We sat down today. We had a good meeting. And the congresswoman is a very gracious member of Congress, so we had a very positive conversation about our districts and how we represent them, our country."

Pelosi&nbsp;also said that differences of opinion in the Democratic Party should be respected.

"We are not lockstep, rubber-stamp representation of anything," the speaker said, recalling past party brawls over issues such as the Iraq war.

Later Friday, Ocasio-Cortez told reporters the meeting with&nbsp;Pelosi&nbsp;had been positive and productive.

"I'm looking forward to us continuing our work," she said as she left a House committee room, several news outlets reported.

The Capitol Hill meeting with&nbsp;Pelosi&nbsp;came at the request of the 29-year-old Ocasio-Cortez as Congress departed Washington for a six-week break with an uncertain outlook for Democrats' legislative agenda and their multiple investigations of Trump.

The speaker, who is 79, declined to list her policy differences with Ocasio-Cortez, but others did on Twitter. They "hold different positions on Medicare for All, free college and cancelling student debt, taking corporate donations, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and border issues, impeachment," wrote Waleed Shahid, communications director for the Justice Democrats, a left-wing group that helped launch Ocasio-Cortez's political career last year.

Initiating an impeachment proceeding against Trump remains high on the priority list for Democrats such as Ocasio-Cortez while&nbsp;Pelosi&nbsp;has worked to rein in impeachment demands.

At least 90 House of Representatives Democrats as of early this week had said they support starting impeachment investigations against Trump.

Earlier this month&nbsp;Pelosi&nbsp;appeared dismissive of the influence of Ocasio-Cortez and the squad in an interview with the New York Times. Ocasio-Cortez responded by telling the Washington Post that she thought&nbsp;Pelosi&nbsp;had been "disrespectful."

Trump then attacked the minority lawmakers in tweets that the House of Representatives, under&nbsp;Pelosi’s leadership, afterwards voted to condemn as racist.

While Trump’s attack was seen by some as an attempt to divide Democrats, it gave&nbsp;Pelosi&nbsp;a chance to come to the squad’s defence and reset her relationship with the lawmakers as the 2020 congressional and presidential elections approach.

Sarah Matthews, the Trump campaign's deputy press secretary, on Friday poked fun at the meeting of&nbsp;Pelosi&nbsp;and Ocasio-Cortez, saying, "So nice for the leader of the Democratic party to take time out of her busy schedule to meet with Nancy&nbsp;Pelosi."

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had no hatchet to bury on Friday, playing down tensions after a meeting between the powerful speaker and freshman lawmaker who in recent months has seized the Democratic Party spotlight.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had no hatchet to bury on Friday, playing down tensions after a meeting between the powerful speaker and freshman lawmaker who in recent months has seized the Democratic Party spotlight. In clashes with her own party leaders as well as the White House over border aid and other issues, Ocasio-Cortez and a handful of other left-wing Democratic progressives have become a target for President Donald Trump and his Republicans heading into the 2020 US elections. The rise of "the squad," as Ocasio-Cortez's small group of four minority congresswomen is known, has sometimes appeared to strain Pelosi's patience as she works to keep House Democrats unified and to restrain demands from many lawmakers to start impeachment proceedings against Trump. In a news conference on Friday, Pelosi minimized divisions with Ocasio-Cortez and the other three squad members - Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley. Asked if she and Ocasio-Cortez had buried the hatchet, Pelosi told reporters, "I don't think there ever was any hatchet." "These, some personality issues and the rest, they are minor," she said. "We sat down today. We had a good meeting. And the congresswoman is a very gracious member of Congress, so we had a very positive conversation about our districts and how we represent them, our country." Pelosi also said that differences of opinion in the Democratic Party should be respected. "We are not lockstep, rubber-stamp representation of anything," the speaker said, recalling past party brawls over issues such as the Iraq war. Later Friday, Ocasio-Cortez told reporters the meeting with Pelosi had been positive and productive. "I'm looking forward to us continuing our work," she said as she left a House committee room, several news outlets reported. The Capitol Hill meeting with Pelosi came at the request of the 29-year-old Ocasio-Cortez as Congress departed Washington for a six-week break with an uncertain outlook for Democrats' legislative agenda and their multiple investigations of Trump. The speaker, who is 79, declined to list her policy differences with Ocasio-Cortez, but others did on Twitter. They "hold different positions on Medicare for All, free college and cancelling student debt, taking corporate donations, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and border issues, impeachment," wrote Waleed Shahid, communications director for the Justice Democrats, a left-wing group that helped launch Ocasio-Cortez's political career last year. Initiating an impeachment proceeding against Trump remains high on the priority list for Democrats such as Ocasio-Cortez while Pelosi has worked to rein in impeachment demands. At least 90 House of Representatives Democrats as of early this week had said they support starting impeachment investigations against Trump. Earlier this month Pelosi appeared dismissive of the influence of Ocasio-Cortez and the squad in an interview with the New York Times. Ocasio-Cortez responded by telling the Washington Post that she thought Pelosi had been "disrespectful." Trump then attacked the minority lawmakers in tweets that the House of Representatives, under Pelosi’s leadership, afterwards voted to condemn as racist. While Trump’s attack was seen by some as an attempt to divide Democrats, it gave Pelosi a chance to come to the squad’s defence and reset her relationship with the lawmakers as the 2020 congressional and presidential elections approach. Sarah Matthews, the Trump campaign's deputy press secretary, on Friday poked fun at the meeting of Pelosi and Ocasio-Cortez, saying, "So nice for the leader of the Democratic party to take time out of her busy schedule to meet with Nancy Pelosi."

US House Speaker Pelosi all smiles after meeting with Ocasio-Cortez

The United States has told Pakistan to fulfil the commitments made during <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/wion-edit-little-to-cheer-in-pakistan-pm-imran-khans-first-year-238649">Prime Minister Imran Khan</a>`s recently concluded visit to Washington.

The Pakistan Prime Minister held meetings with US President Donald Trump and the US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo earlier this week, during which he "vowed to urge the Taliban to negotiate with the Afghan government".

"(The July 22 White House meeting) gave the chance for the President and the Secretary to meet Prime Minister Khan, to build a personal connection and rapport. (Now) we think it`s time to make progress on the success of this first meeting," said State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus, according to Dawn.

Watch- Khan's US Visit: Much to do about nothing?

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"There was a number of issues that were discussed not only in the President`s meeting but during the Secretary`s meeting as well...Now is the time to build upon that meeting and to build upon those commitments," she added.

The United States has told Pakistan to fulfil the commitments made during Prime Minister Imran Khan`s recently concluded visit to Washington. The Pakistan Prime Minister held meetings with US President Donald Trump and the US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo earlier this week, during which he "vowed to urge the Taliban to negotiate with the Afghan government".

The United States has told Pakistan to fulfil the commitments made during Prime Minister Imran Khan`s recently concluded visit to Washington. The Pakistan Prime Minister held meetings with US President Donald Trump and the US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo earlier this week, during which he "vowed to urge the Taliban to negotiate with the Afghan government". "(The July 22 White House meeting) gave the chance for the President and the Secretary to meet Prime Minister Khan, to build a personal connection and rapport. (Now) we think it`s time to make progress on the success of this first meeting," said State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus, according to Dawn. Watch- Khan's US Visit: Much to do about nothing? × "There was a number of issues that were discussed not only in the President`s meeting but during the Secretary`s meeting as well...Now is the time to build upon that meeting and to build upon those commitments," she added.

US tells Pakistan to make progress on commitments of Khan-Trump meeting

Nissan said Wednesday that a reported 90 per cent plunge in its first-quarter operating profit was "broadly accurate".

The auto giant confirmed the Nikkei business daily story amid separate reports that it was also planning to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nissan-to-cut-10000-jobs-worldwide-report-238084">slash more than 10,000 jobs worldwide</a>.

"While the financial results are still being reviewed, the operating profit reported in the Nikkei Shimbun article was broadly accurate," Nissan said in a press release.

The Nikkei reported that the plunge was due to declines in US sales, and costs for developing electric vehicles and autonomous driving technologies weighed on profits.

But Nissan added no official confirmation can be made before the announcement of results on Thursday.

In May, it reported net profit fell to a near-decade low and warned of "a difficult business environment" for the next 12 months.

The company has struggled in the US and Europe as it works to turn its fortunes around after former chief Carlos Ghosn was arrested for alleged financial misconduct.&nbsp;

Nissan said Wednesday that a reported 90 per cent plunge in its first-quarter operating profit was "broadly accurate". The auto giant confirmed the Nikkei business daily story amid separate reports that it was also planning to slash more than 10,000 jobs worldwide.

Nissan said Wednesday that a reported 90 per cent plunge in its first-quarter operating profit was "broadly accurate". The auto giant confirmed the Nikkei business daily story amid separate reports that it was also planning to slash more than 10,000 jobs worldwide. "While the financial results are still being reviewed, the operating profit reported in the Nikkei Shimbun article was broadly accurate," Nissan said in a press release. The Nikkei reported that the plunge was due to declines in US sales, and costs for developing electric vehicles and autonomous driving technologies weighed on profits. But Nissan added no official confirmation can be made before the announcement of results on Thursday. In May, it reported net profit fell to a near-decade low and warned of "a difficult business environment" for the next 12 months. The company has struggled in the US and Europe as it works to turn its fortunes around after former chief Carlos Ghosn was arrested for alleged financial misconduct.

Nissan confirms Q1 operating profit plunge

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar assured both the houses of Parliament&nbsp;that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not ask US President Donald Trump to mediate in the Kashmir issue. 
 
"I would like to categorically assure the House that no such request has been made by PM Modi," he said.

"It has been India's consistent position that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally. Any engagement with Pakistan would require an end to cross-border terrorism," Jaishankar said. 
 
"The Shimla Agreement &amp; the Lahore declaration provide the basis to resolve all issues between India &amp; Pakistan bilaterally," Jaishankar told parliamentarians.

Meanwhile, Opposition members created ruckus in both the houses, seeking <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-rubbishes-donald-trumps-claim-that-pm-modi-asked-him-to-mediate-in-resolving-kashmir-issue-237794">Prime Minister's clarification </a>on the issue. 
 
Following the ruckus, Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu said that everyone should be seen speaking in one voice on the issue.&nbsp;"It is a national issue. Country’s unity, integrity &amp; national interest is involved, we should be seen speaking in one voice," he said. 
 
Watch:&nbsp;

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Jaishankar's statement comes after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-trump-offers-to-mediate-on-kashmir-issue-during-meeting-with-pakistan-pm-imran-khan-report-237780">Donald Trump said that PM Modi</a> had asked him to mediate on Kashmir while he was hosting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at the Oval office.

"I was with Prime Minister Modi two weeks ago and we talked about this subject (Kashmir). And he actually said, 'would you like to be a mediator or arbitrator?' I said, 'where?' (PM Modi said) 'Kashmir'," Trump said.

Explaining his position, Trump said, "I would love to be a mediator, Its impossible to believe, two incredible countries that are very, very smart with very smart leadership can't solve a problem. But if you would want me to mediate or arbitrate, I would be willing to do." 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar assured both the houses of Parliament that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not ask US President Donald Trump to mediate in the Kashmir issue.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar assured both the houses of Parliament that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not ask US President Donald Trump to mediate in the Kashmir issue. "I would like to categorically assure the House that no such request has been made by PM Modi," he said. "It has been India's consistent position that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally. Any engagement with Pakistan would require an end to cross-border terrorism," Jaishankar said. "The Shimla Agreement & the Lahore declaration provide the basis to resolve all issues between India & Pakistan bilaterally," Jaishankar told parliamentarians. Meanwhile, Opposition members created ruckus in both the houses, seeking Prime Minister's clarification on the issue. Following the ruckus, Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu said that everyone should be seen speaking in one voice on the issue. "It is a national issue. Country’s unity, integrity & national interest is involved, we should be seen speaking in one voice," he said. Watch: × Jaishankar's statement comes after Donald Trump said that PM Modi had asked him to mediate on Kashmir while he was hosting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at the Oval office. "I was with Prime Minister Modi two weeks ago and we talked about this subject (Kashmir). And he actually said, 'would you like to be a mediator or arbitrator?' I said, 'where?' (PM Modi said) 'Kashmir'," Trump said. Explaining his position, Trump said, "I would love to be a mediator, Its impossible to believe, two incredible countries that are very, very smart with very smart leadership can't solve a problem. But if you would want me to mediate or arbitrate, I would be willing to do." (With inputs from agencies)

Any mediation with Pakistan will require end to cross-border terrorism: S Jaishankar rejects Trump's remarks on Kashmir issue

American Airlines Group Inc said on Sunday it is extending for a fourth time cancellations of about 115 daily flights into early November due to the ongoing grounding of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeings-737-max-aircraft-what-comes-next-203786">Boeing Co 737 MAX jets</a>.

The airline's decision was expected after the Federal Aviation Administration, which must reapprove the jets for flight following two fatal crashes, last month uncovered a new flaw that Boeing estimates will take until at least September to fix.

"American Airlines remains confident that impending software updates to the Boeing 737 MAX, along with the new training elements Boeing is developing in coordination with our union partners, will lead to recertification of the aircraft this year," the airline said in a statement on Sunday.

American, the world's largest airline and the second largest MAX operator in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/global-shares-muted-as-prospect-of-sharp-united-states-rate-cut-fades-234064">United States</a>, most recently had planned to keep the MAX, which it used on most flights between New York's LaGuardia airport and Miami, off its schedule through Sept. 3. It has been substituting other aircraft for its busiest flights while canceling others and temporarily suspending direct flights between Oakland, California, and Dallas-Fort Worth.

Some analysts have said they do not expect the MAX jets to fly again before the end of the year.

American, with 24 737 MAX aircraft and dozens more on order, is scheduling without the jets through Nov. 2.

Among other US MAX carriers, Southwest Airlines Co has removed the aircraft from its scheduling through October 1, and United Airlines Holdings until November 3. Southwest is the world's largest MAX operator.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ryanair-holdings-sees-risk-to-2020-growth-if-737-max-grounded-beyond-november-234886">737 MAX</a>, which had been Boeing's fastest-selling aircraft thanks to its fuel-efficient engines and longer ranger, was grounded worldwide in March after an Ethiopian Airlines plane plunged to the ground soon after take-off, five months after a similar Lion Air fatal crash off the coast of Indonesia.

Boeing hopes a software upgrade and new pilot training will add layers of protection to prevent erroneous data from triggering a system called MCAS, which was activated in both the planes before they crashed.

American, which is also grappling with cancellations related to a labor dispute with its mechanics, is due to report second-quarter results later this month, with an expected rise in unit revenues as capacity constraints mean its planes are flying fuller.

However, the airline cut its annual profit forecast in April, blaming an estimated $350 million hit from the MAX groundings.

American's chief executive, Doug Parker, has been among the most vocal supporters of the MAX aircraft, saying on June 12 that it was "highly likely" flights would resume by mid-August.

American Airlines Group Inc said on Sunday it is extending for a fourth time cancellations of about 115 daily flights into early November due to the ongoing grounding of the Boeing Co 737 MAX jets.

American Airlines Group Inc said on Sunday it is extending for a fourth time cancellations of about 115 daily flights into early November due to the ongoing grounding of the Boeing Co 737 MAX jets. The airline's decision was expected after the Federal Aviation Administration, which must reapprove the jets for flight following two fatal crashes, last month uncovered a new flaw that Boeing estimates will take until at least September to fix. "American Airlines remains confident that impending software updates to the Boeing 737 MAX, along with the new training elements Boeing is developing in coordination with our union partners, will lead to recertification of the aircraft this year," the airline said in a statement on Sunday. American, the world's largest airline and the second largest MAX operator in the United States, most recently had planned to keep the MAX, which it used on most flights between New York's LaGuardia airport and Miami, off its schedule through Sept. 3. It has been substituting other aircraft for its busiest flights while canceling others and temporarily suspending direct flights between Oakland, California, and Dallas-Fort Worth. Some analysts have said they do not expect the MAX jets to fly again before the end of the year. American, with 24 737 MAX aircraft and dozens more on order, is scheduling without the jets through Nov. 2. Among other US MAX carriers, Southwest Airlines Co has removed the aircraft from its scheduling through October 1, and United Airlines Holdings until November 3. Southwest is the world's largest MAX operator. The 737 MAX, which had been Boeing's fastest-selling aircraft thanks to its fuel-efficient engines and longer ranger, was grounded worldwide in March after an Ethiopian Airlines plane plunged to the ground soon after take-off, five months after a similar Lion Air fatal crash off the coast of Indonesia. Boeing hopes a software upgrade and new pilot training will add layers of protection to prevent erroneous data from triggering a system called MCAS, which was activated in both the planes before they crashed. American, which is also grappling with cancellations related to a labor dispute with its mechanics, is due to report second-quarter results later this month, with an expected rise in unit revenues as capacity constraints mean its planes are flying fuller. However, the airline cut its annual profit forecast in April, blaming an estimated $350 million hit from the MAX groundings. American's chief executive, Doug Parker, has been among the most vocal supporters of the MAX aircraft, saying on June 12 that it was "highly likely" flights would resume by mid-August.

American Airlines extends Boeing 737 MAX cancellations for fourth time

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-backs-down-on-including-citizenship-question-in-2020-census-235152&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjKypS327HjAhXv7nMBHXgDDcc4ChAWMAR6BAgBEAI&amp;usg=AOvVaw22Srw7_bPoBw7xzwLt14Bu">US President Donald Trump</a> late Friday declined to issue quotas for domestic uranium production but instead ordered a new 90-day review by a group of federal agencies.

Trump said in a written memorandum he did not concur with a US Commerce Department investigation that found uranium imports threaten to impair <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-provide-licenses-for-sales-to-huawei-if-national-security-protected-234433">US national security.</a>

Trump wrote that while findings "raise significant concerns" he was ordering a deeper review.

"A fuller analysis of national security considerations with respect to the entire nuclear fuel supply chain is necessary at this time."

The United States sourced just 7% of its uranium domestically in 2017, with most of the rest coming from Canada, Australia, and Russia, according to the Energy Information Administration.

The US uranium mining firms, as well as more than two dozen western state lawmakers, have argued that nuclear generators rely heavily on countries such as Russia, China, and Kazakhstan for uranium supply from their state-owned companies, who flood the market.

Electric utility companies with nuclear power plants, including Duke Energy &lt;DUK.N&gt; and Entergy &lt;ETR.N&gt;, fought back hard against the miners' petition, arguing that their costs would spike if they were forced to source uranium domestically.

They had pushed back against the miners' argument that the utilities relied on adversaries like Russia, China and Kazakhstan, saying that the United States, Canada and Australia together accounted for nearly 60 per cent of the US uranium supply in 2017.

Trump said the working group would make "recommendations to further enable domestic nuclear fuel production if needed."

US President Donald Trump late Friday declined to issue quotas for domestic uranium production but instead ordered a new 90-day review by a group of federal agencies.

US President Donald Trump late Friday declined to issue quotas for domestic uranium production but instead ordered a new 90-day review by a group of federal agencies. Trump said in a written memorandum he did not concur with a US Commerce Department investigation that found uranium imports threaten to impair US national security. Trump wrote that while findings "raise significant concerns" he was ordering a deeper review. "A fuller analysis of national security considerations with respect to the entire nuclear fuel supply chain is necessary at this time." The United States sourced just 7% of its uranium domestically in 2017, with most of the rest coming from Canada, Australia, and Russia, according to the Energy Information Administration. The US uranium mining firms, as well as more than two dozen western state lawmakers, have argued that nuclear generators rely heavily on countries such as Russia, China, and Kazakhstan for uranium supply from their state-owned companies, who flood the market. Electric utility companies with nuclear power plants, including Duke Energy <DUK.N> and Entergy <ETR.N>, fought back hard against the miners' petition, arguing that their costs would spike if they were forced to source uranium domestically. They had pushed back against the miners' argument that the utilities relied on adversaries like Russia, China and Kazakhstan, saying that the United States, Canada and Australia together accounted for nearly 60 per cent of the US uranium supply in 2017. Trump said the working group would make "recommendations to further enable domestic nuclear fuel production if needed."

Donald Trump declines to set United States uranium production quotas

New Orleans braced for severe flooding with residents told to hunker down as a growing tropical storm in the US-Gulf of Mexico headed for landfall late on Friday or early on Saturday as the first Atlantic hurricane of 2019.

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency for the state of Louisiana late on Thursday, hours after the region's oil production was cut by half as energy companies evacuated offshore drilling facilities and a coastal refinery.

Tropical Storm Barry was packing maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour (85 km/hour) early on Friday.

Authorities were keeping a watchful eye on the levee system built to contain flooding along the lower Mississippi River, which winds through the heart of New Orleans and has been running above flood stage for the past six months.

Barry was forecast to bring a coastal storm surge into the mouth of the river that could push its crest to 19 feet (5.9 m) on Saturday - a foot lower than initially predicted but still the highest level since 1950 and dangerously close to the top of the city's levees.

Meteorologists predicted between 10 and 20 inches (25-50 cm) of rain along much of the Gulf Coast on Friday and Saturday.

The brunt of the storm was expected to skirt the western edge of New Orleans instead of making a direct hit. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said that the city had not ordered any voluntary or mandatory evacuations, but added that 48 hours of heavy downpours could overwhelm pumps designed to purge streets and storm drains of excess water in the low-lying city.

Pumps were already working at capacity after heavy rains flooded streets on Wednesday, she said.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards warned: "The more information we get, the more concerned we are that this is going to be an extreme rain event."

Officials for the US&nbsp;Army Corps of Engineers, which maintains the levees, insisted no significant breaching of the 20-foot-tall levees in New Orleans was likely.

Some residents, recalling the deadly, devastating floods unleashed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina, said they were determined to get out of harm's way.

"It's really the river that has us worried," said Betsey Hazard, who lives with her husband, Jack, and their two young children a block from the Mississippi River. She said the family was packing up and heading for the neighboring state of Mississippi to ride out the storm.

"They say that the river won't flood in New Orleans, but we have a 5-year-old and a 10-month-old, and we don't want to take any chances."

Others flocked to supermarkets for bottled water, ice, snack foods and beer, thronging grocery outlets in such numbers that some stores ran out of shopping carts.

Throughout the city, motorists left cars parked on the raised median strips of roadways in hopes the extra elevation would protect them from flood damage.

A tropical storm warning was posted on Thursday afternoon for metropolitan New Orleans, and a hurricane warning for a stretch of the Louisiana coast south of the city.

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for areas of Plaquemines Parish beyond the levees southeast of the city, and for low-lying communities in Jefferson Parish, to the southwest.

Barry will be classified a hurricane once sustained winds hit 74 mph (119 km), which could occur late on Friday or early on Saturday when its center is expected to be near the Louisiana shoreline, the National Weather Service said. Weakening is expected after Barry moves inland.

New Orleans braced for severe flooding with residents told to hunker down as a growing tropical storm in the US-Gulf of Mexico headed for landfall late on Friday or early on Saturday as the first Atlantic hurricane of 2019.

New Orleans braced for severe flooding with residents told to hunker down as a growing tropical storm in the US-Gulf of Mexico headed for landfall late on Friday or early on Saturday as the first Atlantic hurricane of 2019. US President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency for the state of Louisiana late on Thursday, hours after the region's oil production was cut by half as energy companies evacuated offshore drilling facilities and a coastal refinery. Tropical Storm Barry was packing maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour (85 km/hour) early on Friday. Authorities were keeping a watchful eye on the levee system built to contain flooding along the lower Mississippi River, which winds through the heart of New Orleans and has been running above flood stage for the past six months. Barry was forecast to bring a coastal storm surge into the mouth of the river that could push its crest to 19 feet (5.9 m) on Saturday - a foot lower than initially predicted but still the highest level since 1950 and dangerously close to the top of the city's levees. Meteorologists predicted between 10 and 20 inches (25-50 cm) of rain along much of the Gulf Coast on Friday and Saturday. The brunt of the storm was expected to skirt the western edge of New Orleans instead of making a direct hit. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said that the city had not ordered any voluntary or mandatory evacuations, but added that 48 hours of heavy downpours could overwhelm pumps designed to purge streets and storm drains of excess water in the low-lying city. Pumps were already working at capacity after heavy rains flooded streets on Wednesday, she said. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards warned: "The more information we get, the more concerned we are that this is going to be an extreme rain event." Officials for the US Army Corps of Engineers, which maintains the levees, insisted no significant breaching of the 20-foot-tall levees in New Orleans was likely. Some residents, recalling the deadly, devastating floods unleashed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina, said they were determined to get out of harm's way. "It's really the river that has us worried," said Betsey Hazard, who lives with her husband, Jack, and their two young children a block from the Mississippi River. She said the family was packing up and heading for the neighboring state of Mississippi to ride out the storm. "They say that the river won't flood in New Orleans, but we have a 5-year-old and a 10-month-old, and we don't want to take any chances." Others flocked to supermarkets for bottled water, ice, snack foods and beer, thronging grocery outlets in such numbers that some stores ran out of shopping carts. Throughout the city, motorists left cars parked on the raised median strips of roadways in hopes the extra elevation would protect them from flood damage. A tropical storm warning was posted on Thursday afternoon for metropolitan New Orleans, and a hurricane warning for a stretch of the Louisiana coast south of the city. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for areas of Plaquemines Parish beyond the levees southeast of the city, and for low-lying communities in Jefferson Parish, to the southwest. Barry will be classified a hurricane once sustained winds hit 74 mph (119 km), which could occur late on Friday or early on Saturday when its center is expected to be near the Louisiana shoreline, the National Weather Service said. Weakening is expected after Barry moves inland.

New Orleans braces for flooding, Trump declares emergency ahead of Storm Barry

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-offers-full-support-to-us-ambassador-trump-lashes-out-at-theresa-may-after-leak-of-damning-cables-234128">US President Donald Trump</a> discussed the standoff over Iran's nuclear program with his French counterpart <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-president-emmanuel-macrons-advisor-heads-to-iran-to-calm-nuclear-tensions-234122">Emmanuel Macron</a> on Monday, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-held-up-my-end-of-the-bargain-dont-want-to-go-to-the-white-house-rapinoe-after-winning-womens-world-cup-234154">White House</a> said.

The two leaders 'discussed ongoing efforts to ensure that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-strongly-urges-iran-to-stop-nuclear-enrichment-234076">Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon</a> and to end Iran's destabilizing behaviour in the Middle East,'&nbsp;the White House said in a statement.

Iran on Monday breached a uranium enrichment cap set by a 2015 nuclear deal that the Trump administration abandoned last year.

Washington has imposed punishing sanctions on Tehran, and tensions between the two sides have risen further amid Iran's downing of an American drone and attacks on tanker ships the US has blamed on the Islamic republic.

Iran -- which also passed a 300-kilogram limit on enriched uranium reserves this month -- says it is not violating the deal, citing terms of the agreement allowing one side to temporarily abandon some commitments if it deems the other side is not respecting its part of the accord.

US President Donald Trump discussed the standoff over Iran's nuclear program with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Monday, the White House said. The two leaders 'discussed ongoing efforts to ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon and to end Iran's destabilizing behaviour in the Middle East,' the White House said in a statement.

US President Donald Trump discussed the standoff over Iran's nuclear program with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Monday, the White House said. The two leaders 'discussed ongoing efforts to ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon and to end Iran's destabilizing behaviour in the Middle East,' the White House said in a statement. Iran on Monday breached a uranium enrichment cap set by a 2015 nuclear deal that the Trump administration abandoned last year. Washington has imposed punishing sanctions on Tehran, and tensions between the two sides have risen further amid Iran's downing of an American drone and attacks on tanker ships the US has blamed on the Islamic republic. Iran -- which also passed a 300-kilogram limit on enriched uranium reserves this month -- says it is not violating the deal, citing terms of the agreement allowing one side to temporarily abandon some commitments if it deems the other side is not respecting its part of the accord.

US President Donald Trump has discussed Iran nuclear standoff with Macron: White House

US President Donald Trump warned Iran again on Tuesday over its breach of a uranium enrichment cap.

"Iran is doing a lot of bad things ... and they'd better be very careful," the president told reporters at the White House.

Trump's warning -- repeating similar remarks he made over the weekend in New Jersey -- came a day after UN inspectors confirmed Tehran had exceeded a uranium enrichment cap set by its landmark 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Washington has imposed punishing sanctions on Tehran, and tensions between the two sides have risen further amid Iran's downing of an American drone and attacks on tanker ships the US has blamed on the Islamic republic.

Meanwhile, Iran says that it is not violating the deal, citing terms of the agreement allowing one side to temporarily abandon some commitments if it deems the other side is not respecting its part of the accord.

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Donald Trump warned Iran again on Tuesday over its breach of a uranium enrichment cap. "Iran is doing a lot of bad things ... and they'd better be very careful," the president told reporters at the White House.

US President Donald Trump warned Iran again on Tuesday over its breach of a uranium enrichment cap. "Iran is doing a lot of bad things ... and they'd better be very careful," the president told reporters at the White House. Trump's warning -- repeating similar remarks he made over the weekend in New Jersey -- came a day after UN inspectors confirmed Tehran had exceeded a uranium enrichment cap set by its landmark 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Washington has imposed punishing sanctions on Tehran, and tensions between the two sides have risen further amid Iran's downing of an American drone and attacks on tanker ships the US has blamed on the Islamic republic. Meanwhile, Iran says that it is not violating the deal, citing terms of the agreement allowing one side to temporarily abandon some commitments if it deems the other side is not respecting its part of the accord. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump repeats warning that Iran should be 'very careful'

The future of Obamacare could be at stake on Tuesday when a coalition of Democratic-led states and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-panel-launches-probe-into-possible-obstruction-by-trump-200941">House of Representatives</a> urge a federal appeals court to overturn a Texas judge's ruling that the US healthcare reform law is unconstitutional.

Republicans have repeatedly tried to repeal Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act (ACA), since its 2010 passage, and while the Justice Department would normally defend a federal law, the Trump administration has declined to defend its constitutionality against a challenge by 18 Republican-led states.

A coalition of Democratic state attorneys general led by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/california-desert-braces-for-aftershocks-from-major-71-quake-233580">California</a> Attorney General Xavier Becerra stepped into the void to defend the law. The House intervened after Democrats won control in November's elections after many focused their campaigns on defunding Obamacare.

A three-judge panel of the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, including two judges appointed by Republican presidents and one by a Democrat, will take up a ruling by a federal judge in Texas last year that the entire ACA was unconstitutional.

An appellate ruling declaring Obamacare unconstitutional could prompt an appeal to the US Supreme Court, opening the door for the top court to take up the issue during the 2020 US presidential election.

Obamacare, the signature domestic achievement of Trump's Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, has been a political flashpoint since its passage.

Republican opponents call the law an unwarranted intervention by government in health insurance markets, while supporters say that striking it down would put at risk the healthcare of 20 million people who have gained insurance since its enactment.

In 2012, a divided <a href="http://wionews.com/world/us-supreme-court-to-take-up-dreamers-case-231345">US Supreme Court</a> upheld most of its provisions, including the individual mandate, which requires people to obtain insurance or pay a penalty.

The mandate compelled healthy people to buy insurance to offset sicker patients' costs after Obamacare barred insurers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.

The Supreme Court's conservative majority argued that Congress could not constitutionally order people to buy insurance. But Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court's four liberal members to hold the mandate was a valid exercise of Congress' tax power.

Republicans in Congress subsequently failed to overturn Obamacare, but in December 2017, <a href="http://wionews.com/world/donald-trump-has-discussed-iran-nuclear-standoff-with-macron-white-house-234187">Trump</a> signed into law a tax bill passed by a Republican-led Congress that reduced the tax penalty to zero dollars.

A coalition of Republican-led states headed by Texas sued, alleging the tax penalty's elimination rendered Obamacare unconstitutional.

US District Judge Reed O'Connor in Fort Worth, Texas, agreed in December 2018, saying the individual mandate was unconstitutional because it no longer triggered a tax.

O'Connor, nominated by former Republican President George W. Bush, said that because Obamacare called the mandate "essential," the entire law must be struck down.

The Justice Department initially argued the mandate was unconstitutional but most of Obamacare could be severed from it. But it argues on appeal the law's balance must be struck down.

The future of Obamacare could be at stake on Tuesday when a coalition of Democratic-led states and House of Representatives urge a federal appeals court to overturn a Texas judge's ruling that the US healthcare reform law is unconstitutional.

The future of Obamacare could be at stake on Tuesday when a coalition of Democratic-led states and House of Representatives urge a federal appeals court to overturn a Texas judge's ruling that the US healthcare reform law is unconstitutional. Republicans have repeatedly tried to repeal Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act (ACA), since its 2010 passage, and while the Justice Department would normally defend a federal law, the Trump administration has declined to defend its constitutionality against a challenge by 18 Republican-led states. A coalition of Democratic state attorneys general led by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra stepped into the void to defend the law. The House intervened after Democrats won control in November's elections after many focused their campaigns on defunding Obamacare. A three-judge panel of the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, including two judges appointed by Republican presidents and one by a Democrat, will take up a ruling by a federal judge in Texas last year that the entire ACA was unconstitutional. An appellate ruling declaring Obamacare unconstitutional could prompt an appeal to the US Supreme Court, opening the door for the top court to take up the issue during the 2020 US presidential election. Obamacare, the signature domestic achievement of Trump's Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, has been a political flashpoint since its passage. Republican opponents call the law an unwarranted intervention by government in health insurance markets, while supporters say that striking it down would put at risk the healthcare of 20 million people who have gained insurance since its enactment. In 2012, a divided US Supreme Court upheld most of its provisions, including the individual mandate, which requires people to obtain insurance or pay a penalty. The mandate compelled healthy people to buy insurance to offset sicker patients' costs after Obamacare barred insurers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. The Supreme Court's conservative majority argued that Congress could not constitutionally order people to buy insurance. But Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court's four liberal members to hold the mandate was a valid exercise of Congress' tax power. Republicans in Congress subsequently failed to overturn Obamacare, but in December 2017, Trump signed into law a tax bill passed by a Republican-led Congress that reduced the tax penalty to zero dollars. A coalition of Republican-led states headed by Texas sued, alleging the tax penalty's elimination rendered Obamacare unconstitutional. US District Judge Reed O'Connor in Fort Worth, Texas, agreed in December 2018, saying the individual mandate was unconstitutional because it no longer triggered a tax. O'Connor, nominated by former Republican President George W. Bush, said that because Obamacare called the mandate "essential," the entire law must be struck down. The Justice Department initially argued the mandate was unconstitutional but most of Obamacare could be severed from it. But it argues on appeal the law's balance must be struck down.

United States appeals court to take up constitutionality of Obamacare

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-us-agree-to-restart-trade-talks-at-xi-trump-meeting-report-231374">United States and China are set to relaunch trade talks</a> this week after a two-month hiatus, but a year after their trade war began there is little sign their differences have narrowed.

After meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Japan just in late June, US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g20-summit-donald-trump-confirms-wont-impose-new-tariffs-on-china-231445">Donald Trump agreed to suspend a new round of tariffs</a> on $300 billion worth of imported Chinese consumer goods while the two sides resumed negotiations.

Trump said then that China would restart large purchases of US agricultural commodities, and the United States would ease some export restrictions on Chinese telecom equipment giant Huawei Technologies.

But sources familiar with the talks and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/oil-prices-drop-as-trade-tensions-stoke-economy-worries-234147">China trade</a> watchers in Washington say the summit did little to clear the path for top negotiators to resolve an impasse that caused trade deal talks to break down in early May.

A US official said last week the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-china-trade-officials-aim-to-talk-next-week-officials-233488">discussions were expected to resume with a phone call</a> between US <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/oil-prices-drop-as-trade-tensions-stoke-economy-worries-234147">Trade </a>Representative Robert Lighthizer, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

A USTR spokesman said the call was expected this week, but gave no further details.

The United States is demanding that China make sweeping policy changes to better protect American intellectual property, end the forced transfer and theft of trade secrets and curb massive state industrial subsidies. At stake, US officials say, is the dominance of the high-tech industries of the future, from artificial intelligence to aerospace.

"We've had a change in atmospherics," said Derek Scissors, a China expert at the American Enterprise Institute, a business-oriented Washington think tank. "While this is great for markets, the administration has not said one specific thing about how we're unstuck."

Scissors, who has at times consulted with Trump administration officials, said that both sides got what they wanted out of the summit -- a lowering of the temperature and the avoidance of new tariffs that would have been painful for both sides.

Watch: US-China trade friction hurting world economic chain: Chinese scholars

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"The pressure for one side to give in to the other is diffused right now. I expect this to drag out for months," Scissors added.

No firm commitments

Washington and Beijing appear to have different ideas of what the two leaders agreed in Osaka.

Three sources familiar with the state of negotiations say that the Chinese side did not make firm commitments to immediately purchase agricultural commodities.

In pics: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/why-china-is-afraid-of-us-abrams-tanks-to-be-delivered-to-taiwan-234260">Why China is afraid of US Abrams tanks to be delivered to Taiwan</a>

One of the sources said Trump raised the issue of agricultural purchases twice during the meeting, but Xi only agreed to consider purchases in the context of a broader final agreement.

Other than a small purchase of American rice by a private Chinese firm, no purchases have materialized. Chinese officials and state media accounts in the past week have emphasized that any deal, including agricultural purchases, is dependent on the removal of US tariffs.

"The Chinese have been clear they didn't promise anything," said one source familiar with the talks.

"The idea they would give up their main leverage before getting anything doesn’t make sense. I could see them buying some pork and buying some soybeans, but it's still going to be pennies."

Trump administration officials have also downplayed the extent of pledges to allow Huawei to purchase US technology products, with White House trade adviser Peter Navarro saying that only "lower-tech" US semiconductors could be made available for sale to the company. [nL2N243133].

Reuters reported last week that the Commerce Department's export control enforcement staff was told to continue to treat Huawei as a blacklisted entity as the department considers requests for licenses to US&nbsp;firms to sell products and services to Huawei [nL2N24402Y]

Chinese officials point out that they only got the United States to concede on Huawei at the Osaka talks, rather than on their other demand, which was removing the existing tariffs.

So the focus on the upcoming talks will be the scrapping on the tariffs, they say.

A second source said that US tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods and Chinese tariffs on $160 billion worth of US goods could wind up being "the new normal."

One Chinese official familiar with the situation said that trade talks would be re-started very quickly, but that there was a "fairly large gap" in the core demands of both countries and it would be a challenge to reach consensus on the toughest issues.

"The negotiating environment is even more severe," the official said.

Another official said <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sale-of-weapons-to-taiwan-violates-one-china-policy-cancel-it-immediately-china-to-us-234236">China remained concerned</a> about the presence of hawks in the US&nbsp;team, such as Trump advisor Peter Navarro.

"There are bullies there," the official said.

The officials spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.

China's foreign ministry cited Xi as telling Trump at Osaka that "on issues concerning China's sovereignty and dignity, China must safeguard its core interests".

A senior Beijing-based Asia diplomat said there would be pressure on China's leadership not to give in to the United States and for any outcomes to seen as equal and balanced.

"A trade deal cannot be portrayed as a victory for the United States," the diplomat said, citing conversations with Chinese officials.

Which text?

There has been no indication the two sides will resume negotiations using a text that had been largely agreed before China backtracked on commitments in early May, prompting Trump to proceed with a long-threatened tariff hike to 25 per cent on a $200 billion list of Chinese imports.

Beijing had cut out of that text commitments to make changes to its laws reflecting reform pledges, arguing that this would violate its national sovereignty.

Lighthizer has insisted on legal changes to make it more likely that Chinese reform pledges will be carried out.

Finding a way around this issue is paramount for talks. Beyond that, there are many other difficult issues to resolve, including the structure of an enforcement mechanism designed to hold the two sides to their pledges.

US demands for curbs to provincial and local subsidies for Chinese state companies, access to China's cloud computing market, agricultural biotech approvals and the ultimate size of China's purchases of agricultural products are all divisive issues for the two sides.

Claire Reade, a former China trade negotiator at USTR who is now a Washington-based trade lawyer with the firm Arnold and Porter, said there was room on both sides to get a deal.

"It's a question of political will and there are ways to manoeuvre around the current red flags that have been put in the ground," Reade said. "Both President Xi and President Trump have to come out of this saying they stood strong, and they in-effect got a win."

One way for China to avoid the appearance of giving in to US demands is to take some legal steps on key issues before the deal is agreed. That way they can say they’re doing it on their terms, she added.

The United States and China are set to relaunch trade talks this week after a two-month hiatus, but a year after their trade war began there is little sign their differences have narrowed.

The United States and China are set to relaunch trade talks this week after a two-month hiatus, but a year after their trade war began there is little sign their differences have narrowed. After meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Japan just in late June, US President Donald Trump agreed to suspend a new round of tariffs on $300 billion worth of imported Chinese consumer goods while the two sides resumed negotiations. Trump said then that China would restart large purchases of US agricultural commodities, and the United States would ease some export restrictions on Chinese telecom equipment giant Huawei Technologies. But sources familiar with the talks and China trade watchers in Washington say the summit did little to clear the path for top negotiators to resolve an impasse that caused trade deal talks to break down in early May. A US official said last week the discussions were expected to resume with a phone call between US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. A USTR spokesman said the call was expected this week, but gave no further details. The United States is demanding that China make sweeping policy changes to better protect American intellectual property, end the forced transfer and theft of trade secrets and curb massive state industrial subsidies. At stake, US officials say, is the dominance of the high-tech industries of the future, from artificial intelligence to aerospace. "We've had a change in atmospherics," said Derek Scissors, a China expert at the American Enterprise Institute, a business-oriented Washington think tank. "While this is great for markets, the administration has not said one specific thing about how we're unstuck." Scissors, who has at times consulted with Trump administration officials, said that both sides got what they wanted out of the summit -- a lowering of the temperature and the avoidance of new tariffs that would have been painful for both sides. Watch: US-China trade friction hurting world economic chain: Chinese scholars × "The pressure for one side to give in to the other is diffused right now. I expect this to drag out for months," Scissors added. No firm commitments Washington and Beijing appear to have different ideas of what the two leaders agreed in Osaka. Three sources familiar with the state of negotiations say that the Chinese side did not make firm commitments to immediately purchase agricultural commodities. In pics: Why China is afraid of US Abrams tanks to be delivered to Taiwan One of the sources said Trump raised the issue of agricultural purchases twice during the meeting, but Xi only agreed to consider purchases in the context of a broader final agreement. Other than a small purchase of American rice by a private Chinese firm, no purchases have materialized. Chinese officials and state media accounts in the past week have emphasized that any deal, including agricultural purchases, is dependent on the removal of US tariffs. "The Chinese have been clear they didn't promise anything," said one source familiar with the talks. "The idea they would give up their main leverage before getting anything doesn’t make sense. I could see them buying some pork and buying some soybeans, but it's still going to be pennies." Trump administration officials have also downplayed the extent of pledges to allow Huawei to purchase US technology products, with White House trade adviser Peter Navarro saying that only "lower-tech" US semiconductors could be made available for sale to the company. [nL2N243133]. Reuters reported last week that the Commerce Department's export control enforcement staff was told to continue to treat Huawei as a blacklisted entity as the department considers requests for licenses to US firms to sell products and services to Huawei [nL2N24402Y] Chinese officials point out that they only got the United States to concede on Huawei at the Osaka talks, rather than on their other demand, which was removing the existing tariffs. So the focus on the upcoming talks will be the scrapping on the tariffs, they say. A second source said that US tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods and Chinese tariffs on $160 billion worth of US goods could wind up being "the new normal." One Chinese official familiar with the situation said that trade talks would be re-started very quickly, but that there was a "fairly large gap" in the core demands of both countries and it would be a challenge to reach consensus on the toughest issues. "The negotiating environment is even more severe," the official said. Another official said China remained concerned about the presence of hawks in the US team, such as Trump advisor Peter Navarro. "There are bullies there," the official said. The officials spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity. China's foreign ministry cited Xi as telling Trump at Osaka that "on issues concerning China's sovereignty and dignity, China must safeguard its core interests". A senior Beijing-based Asia diplomat said there would be pressure on China's leadership not to give in to the United States and for any outcomes to seen as equal and balanced. "A trade deal cannot be portrayed as a victory for the United States," the diplomat said, citing conversations with Chinese officials. Which text? There has been no indication the two sides will resume negotiations using a text that had been largely agreed before China backtracked on commitments in early May, prompting Trump to proceed with a long-threatened tariff hike to 25 per cent on a $200 billion list of Chinese imports. Beijing had cut out of that text commitments to make changes to its laws reflecting reform pledges, arguing that this would violate its national sovereignty. Lighthizer has insisted on legal changes to make it more likely that Chinese reform pledges will be carried out. Finding a way around this issue is paramount for talks. Beyond that, there are many other difficult issues to resolve, including the structure of an enforcement mechanism designed to hold the two sides to their pledges. US demands for curbs to provincial and local subsidies for Chinese state companies, access to China's cloud computing market, agricultural biotech approvals and the ultimate size of China's purchases of agricultural products are all divisive issues for the two sides. Claire Reade, a former China trade negotiator at USTR who is now a Washington-based trade lawyer with the firm Arnold and Porter, said there was room on both sides to get a deal. "It's a question of political will and there are ways to manoeuvre around the current red flags that have been put in the ground," Reade said. "Both President Xi and President Trump have to come out of this saying they stood strong, and they in-effect got a win." One way for China to avoid the appearance of giving in to US demands is to take some legal steps on key issues before the deal is agreed. That way they can say they’re doing it on their terms, she added.

United States, China to relaunch talks with little changed since deal fell apart

Why China is afraid of US Abrams tanks to be delivered to Taiwan

China and the rest of the world must co-exist, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/china-will-always-stand-by-pakistans-core-interests-chinese-vice-president-221991">Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan</a> said on Monday, in an indirect jab at the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-congress-expands-probe-of-white-house-personal-email-use-232215">United States</a> with which Beijing is currently trying to resolve a bitter trade war.

"China's development can't shut out the rest of the world. The world's development can't shut out China," Wang said in an opening address to the World Peace Forum at Beijing's elite Tsinghua University.

Wang also warned against "protectionism in the name of national security", without mentioning the United States, and called major powers to make more contributions to global peace and stability.

The Trump administration has accused China of engaging in unfair trade practices that discriminate against US firms, forced technology transfers, and intellectual property rights theft, all charges Beijing has denied.

Both sides have levelled increasingly severe tariffs on each other's imports.

China has also been angered by the US sanctions against Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd over national security concerns.

Wang, who is extremely close to Chinese President Xi Jinping and who only rarely speaks in public, reiterated China's commitment to opening up.

The world needs China just as much as China needs the world, said Wang, who became vice president last year having previously lead Xi's fight against deep-rooted corruption.

"Large countries must assume their responsibilities and set an example, make more contributions to global peace and stability, and broaden the path of joint development," he said.

"Development is the key to resolving all issues," Wang told an audience that included senior Beijing-based Western diplomats and former European Council President Herman Van Rompuy.

Top representatives of the United States and China are organizing a resumption of talks for this week to try to resolve the year-long trade war between the world's two largest economies.

The two sides have been in communication by telephone since last month's G20 summit when US President Donald Trump and Xi agreed to relaunch talks that had stalled in May.

Talks between the two sides broke down in May after US officials accused China of pulling back from commitments it had made previously in the text of an agreement that negotiators said was nearly finished.

The two countries have been at loggerheads over a series of other issues, from human rights to the disputed South China Sea and US support of self-ruled Taiwan, claimed by China as its own.

Wang said that no matter how the international situation develops or how China develops, it will walk the path of peace, and not seek spheres of influence or expansion.

"If there is no peaceful, stable international environment, there will be no development to talk of."

China and the rest of the world must co-exist, Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan said on Monday, in an indirect jab at the United States with which Beijing is currently trying to resolve a bitter trade war.

China and the rest of the world must co-exist, Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan said on Monday, in an indirect jab at the United States with which Beijing is currently trying to resolve a bitter trade war. "China's development can't shut out the rest of the world. The world's development can't shut out China," Wang said in an opening address to the World Peace Forum at Beijing's elite Tsinghua University. Wang also warned against "protectionism in the name of national security", without mentioning the United States, and called major powers to make more contributions to global peace and stability. The Trump administration has accused China of engaging in unfair trade practices that discriminate against US firms, forced technology transfers, and intellectual property rights theft, all charges Beijing has denied. Both sides have levelled increasingly severe tariffs on each other's imports. China has also been angered by the US sanctions against Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd over national security concerns. Wang, who is extremely close to Chinese President Xi Jinping and who only rarely speaks in public, reiterated China's commitment to opening up. The world needs China just as much as China needs the world, said Wang, who became vice president last year having previously lead Xi's fight against deep-rooted corruption. "Large countries must assume their responsibilities and set an example, make more contributions to global peace and stability, and broaden the path of joint development," he said. "Development is the key to resolving all issues," Wang told an audience that included senior Beijing-based Western diplomats and former European Council President Herman Van Rompuy. Top representatives of the United States and China are organizing a resumption of talks for this week to try to resolve the year-long trade war between the world's two largest economies. The two sides have been in communication by telephone since last month's G20 summit when US President Donald Trump and Xi agreed to relaunch talks that had stalled in May. Talks between the two sides broke down in May after US officials accused China of pulling back from commitments it had made previously in the text of an agreement that negotiators said was nearly finished. The two countries have been at loggerheads over a series of other issues, from human rights to the disputed South China Sea and US support of self-ruled Taiwan, claimed by China as its own. Wang said that no matter how the international situation develops or how China develops, it will walk the path of peace, and not seek spheres of influence or expansion. "If there is no peaceful, stable international environment, there will be no development to talk of."

In jab at US, China's vice president Wang Qishan says world cannot shut China out

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