Russian Foreign Minister<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-foreign-minister-sergei-lavrov-to-visit-washington-us-confirms-267075"> Sergei Lavrov</a> will meet US&nbsp;President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/global-stocks-rattled-after-donald-trump-says-no-deadline-on-us-china-trade-deal-266025">Donald Trump</a> during talks with his US&nbsp;counterpart in Washington on Tuesday, the Interfax news agency cited a Russian foreign ministry source as saying.

Lavrov's trip to Washington for talks with US&nbsp;Secretary of State <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/mike-pompeo-attempts-us-reset-in-the-middle-east-191020">Mike Pompeo</a> comes as bilateral ties are at post-Cold War lows, strained over everything from alleged election meddling to the wars in Ukraine and Syria.

Time is also running out for the two sides to strike a deal that would replace or extend their New START nuclear arms treaty that is set to expire in February 2021.

President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/vladimir-putin-a-brief-profile-of-the-russian-president-728">Vladimir Putin</a> last week offered the United States an extension on the deal without any pre-conditions or further discussion.

Russia's foreign ministry confirmed Lavrov's trip to Washington in a statement. It did not mention a meeting with Trump, but Interfax cited a foreign ministry source saying there would be such a meeting.

"We expect that (Lavrov) will be received by (Trump) and will hold talks with (Pompeo)," the source was quoted as saying.

There was no immediate response from the United States.

US&nbsp;intelligence agencies have said Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election campaign in order to tilt the vote in Trump's favor. Moscow has denied any interference.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet US President Donald Trump during talks with his US counterpart in Washington on Tuesday, the Interfax news agency cited a Russian foreign ministry source as saying.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet US President Donald Trump during talks with his US counterpart in Washington on Tuesday, the Interfax news agency cited a Russian foreign ministry source as saying. Lavrov's trip to Washington for talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo comes as bilateral ties are at post-Cold War lows, strained over everything from alleged election meddling to the wars in Ukraine and Syria. Time is also running out for the two sides to strike a deal that would replace or extend their New START nuclear arms treaty that is set to expire in February 2021. President Vladimir Putin last week offered the United States an extension on the deal without any pre-conditions or further discussion. Russia's foreign ministry confirmed Lavrov's trip to Washington in a statement. It did not mention a meeting with Trump, but Interfax cited a foreign ministry source saying there would be such a meeting. "We expect that (Lavrov) will be received by (Trump) and will hold talks with (Pompeo)," the source was quoted as saying. There was no immediate response from the United States. US intelligence agencies have said Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election campaign in order to tilt the vote in Trump's favor. Moscow has denied any interference.

Trump to meet Russia's foreign minister on Tuesday: Source

People&nbsp;held&nbsp;in&nbsp;camps&nbsp;in&nbsp;China's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/for-turkey-xinjiang-visit-amounts-to-a-risky-gamble-234168">Xinjiang</a>&nbsp;region&nbsp;have&nbsp;now "graduated" and new trainees will&nbsp;have&nbsp;the freedom to come and go, the regional governor said on Monday.

Governor Shohrat Zakir also hit out at Western criticism of the&nbsp;camps&nbsp;and said the United States had launched a smear campaign against&nbsp;Xinjiang.

The United Nations and human rights groups&nbsp;estimate that between 1 million and 2 million&nbsp;people, mostly ethnic <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-world-calls-out-china-on-mass-detention-of-uighur-muslims-206630">Uighur Muslims</a>,&nbsp;have&nbsp;been detained in harsh conditions as part of what Beijing calls an anti-terrorism campaign.

China&nbsp;has repeatedly denied any mistreatment of Uighurs&nbsp;and&nbsp;says&nbsp;the&nbsp;camps&nbsp;provide vocational training. It describes detainees as students.

"At present, the trainees who&nbsp;have&nbsp;participated have&nbsp;all graduated," Zakir told a news conference in Beijing. "With the help of the government, stable employment has been achieved and their quality of life has been improved."

Xinjiang&nbsp;will continue with training based on "independent will" and "the freedom to come and go", he said.

China&nbsp;has not provided any official figures on how many&nbsp;people&nbsp;have&nbsp;been&nbsp;held&nbsp;in the&nbsp;camps&nbsp;but Zakhir said foreign estimates were "pure fabrication". He gave no details.

He also called a measure passed by the&nbsp;US&nbsp;House of Representatives that condemned&nbsp;China's treatment of the Uighur minority a severe violation of international law and a gross interference in&nbsp;China's internal affairs.

"The&nbsp;US&nbsp;is getting restless and has launched a smear campaign against&nbsp;Xinjiang," Zakir said. "But no force can stop&nbsp;Xinjiang's progress toward stability and development."

Claims about the&nbsp;camps&nbsp;are hard to verify as&nbsp;China&nbsp;only allows periodic supervised visits and gives little information on their operations.

Watch: China slams US bill on Uighur Muslims

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In July, a&nbsp;Xinjiang&nbsp;official said most&nbsp;people&nbsp;had returned to society from the&nbsp;camps. Asked on Monday how many&nbsp;people&nbsp;had completed the training, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she could not give an exact number.

"Because the number of&nbsp;people&nbsp;participating in these training centers is dynamic, there's coming and going, so it's very difficult to give an exact number," Hua told reporters at a separate briefing.

Human rights groups&nbsp;and former detainees&nbsp;have&nbsp;said conditions in the&nbsp;camps&nbsp;are poor, with inmates subject to psychological and physical abuse.

At Zakir's news conference, images of past violence were displayed in excerpts from an English-language documentary, "Fighting Terrorism in&nbsp;Xinjiang" aired on state broadcaster CGTN last week.

Hua expressed disappointment at the lack of foreign media coverage of the documentary despite the intense concern over the&nbsp;Xinjiang&nbsp;issue.

She said there had been no terrorist attack in&nbsp;Xinjiang&nbsp;in the past three years due to the success of the&nbsp;camps.

The&nbsp;US&nbsp;Uighur Act passed by the House of Representatives last week requires the&nbsp;US&nbsp;president to condemn abuses against Muslims and calls for the closure of the&nbsp;camps&nbsp;in&nbsp;Xinjiang.

It also calls on President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/saudi-arabia-policy-shift-a-rare-donald-trumps-foreign-policy-success-252387">Donald Trump</a> to impose sanctions on a member of&nbsp;China's powerful politburo,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-bill-on-chinas-xinjiang-violates-international-law-regional-official-says-267068">Xinjiang&nbsp;Communist Party </a>Secretary Chen Quanguo.

The issue, along with Washington's support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, complicates prospects for a near-term deal to end a 17-month long trade war between&nbsp;China&nbsp;and the United States.

People held in camps in China's Xinjiang region have now "graduated" and new trainees will have the freedom to come and go, the regional governor said on Monday.

People held in camps in China's Xinjiang region have now "graduated" and new trainees will have the freedom to come and go, the regional governor said on Monday. Governor Shohrat Zakir also hit out at Western criticism of the camps and said the United States had launched a smear campaign against Xinjiang. The United Nations and human rights groups estimate that between 1 million and 2 million people, mostly ethnic Uighur Muslims, have been detained in harsh conditions as part of what Beijing calls an anti-terrorism campaign. China has repeatedly denied any mistreatment of Uighurs and says the camps provide vocational training. It describes detainees as students. "At present, the trainees who have participated have all graduated," Zakir told a news conference in Beijing. "With the help of the government, stable employment has been achieved and their quality of life has been improved." Xinjiang will continue with training based on "independent will" and "the freedom to come and go", he said. China has not provided any official figures on how many people have been held in the camps but Zakhir said foreign estimates were "pure fabrication". He gave no details. He also called a measure passed by the US House of Representatives that condemned China's treatment of the Uighur minority a severe violation of international law and a gross interference in China's internal affairs. "The US is getting restless and has launched a smear campaign against Xinjiang," Zakir said. "But no force can stop Xinjiang's progress toward stability and development." Claims about the camps are hard to verify as China only allows periodic supervised visits and gives little information on their operations. Watch: China slams US bill on Uighur Muslims In July, a Xinjiang official said most people had returned to society from the camps. Asked on Monday how many people had completed the training, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she could not give an exact number. "Because the number of people participating in these training centers is dynamic, there's coming and going, so it's very difficult to give an exact number," Hua told reporters at a separate briefing. Human rights groups and former detainees have said conditions in the camps are poor, with inmates subject to psychological and physical abuse. At Zakir's news conference, images of past violence were displayed in excerpts from an English-language documentary, "Fighting Terrorism in Xinjiang" aired on state broadcaster CGTN last week. Hua expressed disappointment at the lack of foreign media coverage of the documentary despite the intense concern over the Xinjiang issue. She said there had been no terrorist attack in Xinjiang in the past three years due to the success of the camps. The US Uighur Act passed by the House of Representatives last week requires the US president to condemn abuses against Muslims and calls for the closure of the camps in Xinjiang. It also calls on President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on a member of China's powerful politburo, Xinjiang Communist Party Secretary Chen Quanguo. The issue, along with Washington's support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, complicates prospects for a near-term deal to end a 17-month long trade war between China and the United States.

China says people held in Xinjiang camps have 'graduated', condemns US bill

US&nbsp;President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democrats-zoom-in-on-trump-impeachment-charges-this-week-267046">Donald&nbsp;Trump</a>&nbsp;said on Sunday that&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korean leader&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;Jong&nbsp;Un&nbsp;risks&nbsp;losing&nbsp;"everything" if he resumes hostility and his country must denuclearize,&nbsp;after&nbsp;the&nbsp;North&nbsp;said it had carried out a "successful&nbsp;test&nbsp;of great significance."

"Kim&nbsp;Jong&nbsp;Un&nbsp;is too smart and has far too much to lose, everything actually, if he acts in a hostile way. He signed a strong Denuclearization Agreement with me in Singapore,"&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;said on Twitter, referring to his first summit with&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;in Singapore in 2018.

"He does not want to void his special relationship with the President of the&nbsp;United States or interfere with the US&nbsp;Presidential Election in November," he said.

North&nbsp;Korea's state media KCNA reported earlier on Sunday that it had carried out a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/satellite-images-show-north-korea-tried-out-rocket-engine-in-very-important-test-experts-267133">"very important"&nbsp;test</a>&nbsp;at its Sohae satellite launch site, a rocket-testing ground that US&nbsp;officials once said&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;had promised to close.

The reported&nbsp;test&nbsp;comes ahead of a year-end deadline&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;has imposed for the&nbsp;United States to drop its insistence on&nbsp;unilateral denuclearization. Pyongyang has warned it could take a "new path" amid the stalled talks with the&nbsp;United States.

"North&nbsp;Korea,&nbsp;under the leadership of&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;Jong&nbsp;Un, has tremendous economic potential, but it must denuclearize as promised,"&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;said on Twitter.

The KCNA report called it a "successful&nbsp;test&nbsp;of great significance" but did not specify what was&nbsp;tested.

Missile experts said it appeared likely the&nbsp;North&nbsp;Koreans had conducted a static&nbsp;test&nbsp;of a rocket engine, rather than a missile launch.

"If it is indeed a static engine&nbsp;test&nbsp;for a new solid or liquid fuel missile, it is yet another loud signal that the door for diplomacy is quickly slamming, if it isn’t already," said Vipin Narang, a nuclear affairs expert at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the&nbsp;United States.

"This could be a very credible signal of what might await the world&nbsp;after&nbsp;the New Year."

Tensions have risen ahead of a year-end deadline set by&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea, which has called on the&nbsp;United States to change its policy of insisting on Pyongyang's&nbsp;unilateral denuclearization and demanded relief from punishing sanctions.

On Saturday&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea's ambassador to the&nbsp;United Nations said denuclearization was now off the negotiating table with the&nbsp;United States and lengthy talks with Washington are not needed.

"The results of the recent important&nbsp;test&nbsp;will have an important effect on changing the strategic position of the DPRK once again in the near future," KCNA reported, using the initials of&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of&nbsp;Korea.

Asked in a CBS "Face the Nation" interview if&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;might be preparing to resume nuclear&nbsp;tests, US&nbsp;National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said that "would be a mistake on the part of&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea."

Pyongyang's last nuclear&nbsp;test, its sixth and most powerful, took place in September 2017.

"It doesn't end well for them if they do.. If&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;takes a different path than the one it's promised... we've got plenty of tools in the toolkit," O'Brien said on Sunday.

Recent days have also seen a return to the highly charged rhetoric that raised fears of war two years ago.

In 2017,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;and&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;famously engaged in a war of words, with&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;calling&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;"Rocket Man" and&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;calling&nbsp;Trump, now 73, a "dotard."

On Tuesday,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;once again called&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;"Rocket Man" and said the&nbsp;United States reserved the right to use military force against&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea. Pyongyang, in response, said any repeat of such language would represent "the relapse of the dotage of a dotard."

The&nbsp;test&nbsp;is the latest&nbsp;in a string of statements and actions from&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;designed to&nbsp;underscore the seriousness of its year-end deadline.

North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;has announced it would convene a rare gathering of top ruling-party officials later this month, and on Wednesday state media showed photos of&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;taking a second symbolic horse ride on the country's sacred Mt. Paektu.

Such meetings and propaganda blitzes often come ahead of&nbsp;major&nbsp;announcements from&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korean authorities.

While&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;has not specified what its "new path" could be, observers have suggested the launch of a space satellite is a possibility, allowing Pyongyang to demonstrate and&nbsp;test&nbsp;its rocket capabilities without resorting to overt military provocation such as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch.

Kim&nbsp;Dong-yub, a former South&nbsp;Korean Navy officer who teaches at Kyungnam&nbsp;University in Seoul, said&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;may have&nbsp;tested a solid fuel rocket engine, which could allow&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;to field ICBMs that are easier to hide and faster to deploy.

"North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;has already entered the ‘new path’ that they talked about," he said.

Trump&nbsp;told reporters in June 2018&nbsp;after&nbsp;his first summit with&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;that&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;had pledged to dismantle one of its missile installations, which US&nbsp;officials later identified as Sohae.

Shortly&nbsp;after&nbsp;that summit, analysts said satellite imagery showed some key facilities at Sohae being dismantled.

However, in the wake of the second summit between&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;and&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;earlier this year, which ended with no agreement, new imagery indicated the&nbsp;North&nbsp;Koreans were rebuilding the site.

"Remember this is at the site that was supposedly dismantled as a 'denuclearization step,'" Narang said. "So this is a first step at 'renuclearizing.' Reversible steps are being...reversed."

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un risks losing "everything" if he resumes hostility and his country must denuclearize, after the North said it had carried out a "successful test of great significance.

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un risks losing "everything" if he resumes hostility and his country must denuclearize, after the North said it had carried out a "successful test of great significance." "Kim Jong Un is too smart and has far too much to lose, everything actually, if he acts in a hostile way. He signed a strong Denuclearization Agreement with me in Singapore," Trump said on Twitter, referring to his first summit with Kim in Singapore in 2018. "He does not want to void his special relationship with the President of the United States or interfere with the US Presidential Election in November," he said. North Korea's state media KCNA reported earlier on Sunday that it had carried out a "very important" test at its Sohae satellite launch site, a rocket-testing ground that US officials once said North Korea had promised to close. The reported test comes ahead of a year-end deadline North Korea has imposed for the United States to drop its insistence on unilateral denuclearization. Pyongyang has warned it could take a "new path" amid the stalled talks with the United States. "North Korea, under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, has tremendous economic potential, but it must denuclearize as promised," Trump said on Twitter. The KCNA report called it a "successful test of great significance" but did not specify what was tested. Missile experts said it appeared likely the North Koreans had conducted a static test of a rocket engine, rather than a missile launch. "If it is indeed a static engine test for a new solid or liquid fuel missile, it is yet another loud signal that the door for diplomacy is quickly slamming, if it isn’t already," said Vipin Narang, a nuclear affairs expert at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States. "This could be a very credible signal of what might await the world after the New Year." Tensions have risen ahead of a year-end deadline set by North Korea, which has called on the United States to change its policy of insisting on Pyongyang's unilateral denuclearization and demanded relief from punishing sanctions. On Saturday North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations said denuclearization was now off the negotiating table with the United States and lengthy talks with Washington are not needed. "The results of the recent important test will have an important effect on changing the strategic position of the DPRK once again in the near future," KCNA reported, using the initials of North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Asked in a CBS "Face the Nation" interview if North Korea might be preparing to resume nuclear tests, US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said that "would be a mistake on the part of North Korea." Pyongyang's last nuclear test, its sixth and most powerful, took place in September 2017. "It doesn't end well for them if they do.. If North Korea takes a different path than the one it's promised... we've got plenty of tools in the toolkit," O'Brien said on Sunday. Recent days have also seen a return to the highly charged rhetoric that raised fears of war two years ago. In 2017, Trump and Kim famously engaged in a war of words, with Trump calling Kim "Rocket Man" and North Korea calling Trump, now 73, a "dotard." On Tuesday, Trump once again called Kim "Rocket Man" and said the United States reserved the right to use military force against North Korea. Pyongyang, in response, said any repeat of such language would represent "the relapse of the dotage of a dotard." The test is the latest in a string of statements and actions from North Korea designed to underscore the seriousness of its year-end deadline. North Korea has announced it would convene a rare gathering of top ruling-party officials later this month, and on Wednesday state media showed photos of Kim taking a second symbolic horse ride on the country's sacred Mt. Paektu. Such meetings and propaganda blitzes often come ahead of major announcements from North Korean authorities. While North Korea has not specified what its "new path" could be, observers have suggested the launch of a space satellite is a possibility, allowing Pyongyang to demonstrate and test its rocket capabilities without resorting to overt military provocation such as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch. Kim Dong-yub, a former South Korean Navy officer who teaches at Kyungnam University in Seoul, said North Korea may have tested a solid fuel rocket engine, which could allow North Korea to field ICBMs that are easier to hide and faster to deploy. "North Korea has already entered the ‘new path’ that they talked about," he said. Trump told reporters in June 2018 after his first summit with Kim that North Korea had pledged to dismantle one of its missile installations, which US officials later identified as Sohae. Shortly after that summit, analysts said satellite imagery showed some key facilities at Sohae being dismantled. However, in the wake of the second summit between Trump and Kim earlier this year, which ended with no agreement, new imagery indicated the North Koreans were rebuilding the site. "Remember this is at the site that was supposedly dismantled as a 'denuclearization step,'" Narang said. "So this is a first step at 'renuclearizing.' Reversible steps are being...reversed."

Kim Jong Un risks losing 'everything' after North Korea claims major test: Trump

Democratic&nbsp;presidential&nbsp;candidate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-poll-numbers-slide-elizabeth-warren-wrestles-with-medicare-for-all-dilemma-266968">Elizabeth&nbsp;Warren</a>&nbsp;released information on Sunday about her&nbsp;past&nbsp;legal&nbsp;work,&nbsp;showing&nbsp;nearly $2&nbsp;million&nbsp;in&nbsp;compensation&nbsp;from dozens of clients, as a dispute intensified with her rival Pete Buttigieg over transparency.

Warren, a leading&nbsp;candidate&nbsp;among the 15 Democrats vying for the party’s nomination to take on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democrats-zoom-in-on-trump-impeachment-charges-this-week-267046">President Donald Trump</a> in the November 2020 election, had already put out 11 years of tax returns in April and called on other&nbsp;candidates to follow suit.

Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has said in recent days that&nbsp;Warren, a US&nbsp;senator from Massachusetts, should release older tax documents detailing her corporate&nbsp;legal&nbsp;work.

In return,&nbsp;Warren&nbsp;has called on Buttigieg to allow media coverage of his private donor events and to disclose information about his&nbsp;past&nbsp;work&nbsp;at the consultancy company McKinsey.&nbsp;Warren&nbsp;does not hold big-ticket fundraisers and has focused her campaign on combating Washington corruption and corporate greed.

Buttigieg's campaign said on Saturday it was&nbsp;working on making the&nbsp;details&nbsp;of his employment at McKinsey "fully transparent" and called on&nbsp;Warren&nbsp;to match that by releasing her tax returns covering her corporate&nbsp;legal&nbsp;work.

On Sunday, in a 15-page document,&nbsp;Warren's campaign provided examples of her&nbsp;legal&nbsp;work, some of which dated back to 1985, in capacities including as a counsel, consultant and expert witness, giving information about the cases and how much she was compensated.

The document included dozens of cases, some of which&nbsp;Warren&nbsp;took on a pro-bono basis and was not compensated for. In some cases, she&nbsp;worked with a group of consultants. The document showed a total of nearly $2&nbsp;million&nbsp;in&nbsp;compensation.

A Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll on Thursday showed that support for&nbsp;Warren&nbsp;dropped nationally to its lowest level in four months, as she came under attack over her proposal to extend government-paid healthcare to all Americans, deemed too costly by her rivals for the nomination.

Warren, 70, is still among the leaders in opinion polls in Iowa, which kicks off the&nbsp;Democratic&nbsp;nominating contests on February&nbsp;3, and in other early voting states. Buttigieg, 37, who had campaign stops this weekend in Iowa, has surged into the lead in recent opinion polls there.

Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren released information on Sunday about her past legal work, showing nearly $2 million in compensation from dozens of clients, as a dispute intensified with her rival Pete Buttigieg over transparency.

Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren released information on Sunday about her past legal work, showing nearly $2 million in compensation from dozens of clients, as a dispute intensified with her rival Pete Buttigieg over transparency. Warren, a leading candidate among the 15 Democrats vying for the party’s nomination to take on President Donald Trump in the November 2020 election, had already put out 11 years of tax returns in April and called on other candidates to follow suit. Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has said in recent days that Warren, a US senator from Massachusetts, should release older tax documents detailing her corporate legal work. In return, Warren has called on Buttigieg to allow media coverage of his private donor events and to disclose information about his past work at the consultancy company McKinsey. Warren does not hold big-ticket fundraisers and has focused her campaign on combating Washington corruption and corporate greed. Buttigieg's campaign said on Saturday it was working on making the details of his employment at McKinsey "fully transparent" and called on Warren to match that by releasing her tax returns covering her corporate legal work. On Sunday, in a 15-page document, Warren's campaign provided examples of her legal work, some of which dated back to 1985, in capacities including as a counsel, consultant and expert witness, giving information about the cases and how much she was compensated. The document included dozens of cases, some of which Warren took on a pro-bono basis and was not compensated for. In some cases, she worked with a group of consultants. The document showed a total of nearly $2 million in compensation. A Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll on Thursday showed that support for Warren dropped nationally to its lowest level in four months, as she came under attack over her proposal to extend government-paid healthcare to all Americans, deemed too costly by her rivals for the nomination. Warren, 70, is still among the leaders in opinion polls in Iowa, which kicks off the Democratic nominating contests on February 3, and in other early voting states. Buttigieg, 37, who had campaign stops this weekend in Iowa, has surged into the lead in recent opinion polls there.

Democratic candidate Warren discloses details of past legal work, showing $2 million in compensation

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-gears-up-for-mass-rally-as-government-appeals-for-calm-266882">Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;protesters</a> set fire outside court buildings, threw petrol bombs and spray-painted graffiti on government buildings, marring what was otherwise a "generally peaceful" march over the weekend, police said on Monday.

The comments came as protesters called for strikes across the city on Monday. Most railway and transport links ran smoothly during the morning rush hour and there were no initial reports of widespread disruptions.

Vast crowds of black-clad demonstrators thronged the streets of the Asian financial hub on Sunday, in the largest anti-government rally since local elections last month and a resounding show of continued support for the pro-democracy movement.

Also Watch:&nbsp;Protests Resume in Hong Kong-&nbsp;Protesters form a human chain of 2 Kilometres

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While the march appeared to be largely peaceful - in marked contrast to other mass demonstrations over the last six months, where protesters fought pitched battles with police - authorities said there was some damage after it ended.

"Although the event was generally peaceful, acts of breaching public peace happened afterwards," police said in a statement on Monday.

"Some rioters spray-painted the exterior walls of the High Court, threw petrol bombs and set fire outside the High Court and the Court of Final Appeal, damaging government properties and seriously challenging the spirit of the rule of law," police said, adding that shops and banks were vandalised in the Causeway Bay and Wan Chai areas.

Protesters estimated the turnout at 800,000, while police said 183,000. In an editorial, the official China Daily newspaper called on the&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;government to uphold the rule of law.

"Many residents in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;are fed up with the violence and disruption that have plagued the city for months," said the newspaper, often used by Beijing to put out its message.

Hong&nbsp;Kong's new police commissioner had said he would take a "hard and soft approach" to the demonstrations, where acts of violence would be treated harshly but other issues more flexibly.

Two leaders of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;were denied entry over the weekend to the neighbouring Chinese city of Macau, without explanation.

Macau's security chief, Wong Sio Chak, on Monday said security concerns were the only reason for barring entry into the city, broadcaster RTHK reported.

AmCham Chairman Robert Grieves and President Tara Joseph had been traveling to Macau for an annual ball. The pair were told to sign a statement saying they "voluntarily agreed not to pursue entry to Macau".

Wong declined to comment specifically on their cases and said it was speculation that their refusal was linked to Beijing's response to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-house-passes-hong-kong-democracy-act-256310">US&nbsp;legislation</a> backing pro-democracy protesters in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong, RTHK said.

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump last month signed into law the&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;Human Rights and Democracy Act, linking the former British colony's special treatment under US&nbsp;law to its autonomy from Beijing.

The unrest in the city of about 7.4 million people started in June as demonstrations against a now-withdrawn bill allowing extradition to mainland China. It has since morphed into calls for greater democratic freedoms and sometimes violent protests.

Protesters have set out five demands, including universal suffrage and an investigation into alleged police brutality.

China has repeatedly blamed foreign powers, including the United States, for stirring up the unrest.

Hong Kong protesters set fire outside court buildings, threw petrol bombs and spray-painted graffiti on government buildings, marring what was otherwise a "generally peaceful" march over the weekend, police said on Monday.

Hong Kong protesters set fire outside court buildings, threw petrol bombs and spray-painted graffiti on government buildings, marring what was otherwise a "generally peaceful" march over the weekend, police said on Monday. The comments came as protesters called for strikes across the city on Monday. Most railway and transport links ran smoothly during the morning rush hour and there were no initial reports of widespread disruptions. Vast crowds of black-clad demonstrators thronged the streets of the Asian financial hub on Sunday, in the largest anti-government rally since local elections last month and a resounding show of continued support for the pro-democracy movement. Also Watch: Protests Resume in Hong Kong- Protesters form a human chain of 2 Kilometres × While the march appeared to be largely peaceful - in marked contrast to other mass demonstrations over the last six months, where protesters fought pitched battles with police - authorities said there was some damage after it ended. "Although the event was generally peaceful, acts of breaching public peace happened afterwards," police said in a statement on Monday. "Some rioters spray-painted the exterior walls of the High Court, threw petrol bombs and set fire outside the High Court and the Court of Final Appeal, damaging government properties and seriously challenging the spirit of the rule of law," police said, adding that shops and banks were vandalised in the Causeway Bay and Wan Chai areas. Protesters estimated the turnout at 800,000, while police said 183,000. In an editorial, the official China Daily newspaper called on the Hong Kong government to uphold the rule of law. "Many residents in Hong Kong are fed up with the violence and disruption that have plagued the city for months," said the newspaper, often used by Beijing to put out its message. Hong Kong's new police commissioner had said he would take a "hard and soft approach" to the demonstrations, where acts of violence would be treated harshly but other issues more flexibly. Two leaders of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Hong Kong were denied entry over the weekend to the neighbouring Chinese city of Macau, without explanation. Macau's security chief, Wong Sio Chak, on Monday said security concerns were the only reason for barring entry into the city, broadcaster RTHK reported. AmCham Chairman Robert Grieves and President Tara Joseph had been traveling to Macau for an annual ball. The pair were told to sign a statement saying they "voluntarily agreed not to pursue entry to Macau". Wong declined to comment specifically on their cases and said it was speculation that their refusal was linked to Beijing's response to US legislation backing pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, RTHK said. US President Donald Trump last month signed into law the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, linking the former British colony's special treatment under US law to its autonomy from Beijing. The unrest in the city of about 7.4 million people started in June as demonstrations against a now-withdrawn bill allowing extradition to mainland China. It has since morphed into calls for greater democratic freedoms and sometimes violent protests. Protesters have set out five demands, including universal suffrage and an investigation into alleged police brutality. China has repeatedly blamed foreign powers, including the United States, for stirring up the unrest.

Peaceful Hong Kong march marred by fire outside court, police say

US President Donald Trump aimed to make inroads Saturday in the politically important Jewish-American vote with a Florida speech where he declared himself the best friend Israel has ever had.

At a conference in Hollywood, Florida, the Republican real estate magnate said Jewish-Americans had been wrong to vote for Democrats under his predecessor Barack Obama.

"So many of you voted for people in the last administration," he said.

"Someday you'll have to explain that to me because I don't think they liked Israel too much."

By contrast, Trump said, "the Jewish state has never had a better friend in the White House than your president, Donald J. Trump."

He was speaking at a meeting of the Israeli-American Council, a non-profit whose funders include billionaire Jewish-American casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and his wife Miriam -- both of them high-profile Trump supporters.

Jews make up only a small portion of the electorate but in Florida, they represent a crucial piece of the swing state electoral puzzle. Historically, American-Jews have voted heavily Democratic.

Trump, who is hoping to repeat his 2016 strategy next year by winning reelection through the strategic accumulation of electoral college votes in key states, has worked especially hard to woo Jewish-Americans.

Since taking office he has upended decades of American policy in the Middle East by acceding to a string of Israeli demands and all but slamming the door on Palestinians.

This includes recognizing the disputed city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and also recognising Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, a territory taken from Syria in 1967.

In November, the Trump administration again broke with decades of international consensus when it said that it would no longer consider Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian lands in the West Bank illegal.

The policies are also highly popular with right-wing evangelical Christian Republicans -- a vital part of Trump's support base.

Despite the aggressive support for Israel, coupled with intense pressure on the Palestinians, the Trump administration says it has a peace plan ready to unveil once an ongoing Israeli leadership impasse is resolved.

Trump has put his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who is Jewish-American but had no previous experience in government before joining this administration, in charge of the peace plan.

"A lot of people say that can't be done," Trump told the crowd on Saturday. "They say that's the toughest of all deals but if Jared Kushner can't do it, it can't be done."

Taking direct aim at one of his potential Democratic opponents for the 2020 election, Trump told the audience that left-wing Senator Elizabeth Warren should not get their vote because she would impose heavy taxes.

"Let's take 100 per cent of your wealth away," he said in a reference to Warren.

One problem, Trump told the gathering, is that some American-Jews, while being "great people, they don't love Israel enough."

US President Donald Trump aimed to make inroads Saturday in the politically important Jewish-American vote with a Florida speech where he declared himself the best friend Israel has ever had.

US President Donald Trump aimed to make inroads Saturday in the politically important Jewish-American vote with a Florida speech where he declared himself the best friend Israel has ever had. At a conference in Hollywood, Florida, the Republican real estate magnate said Jewish-Americans had been wrong to vote for Democrats under his predecessor Barack Obama. "So many of you voted for people in the last administration," he said. "Someday you'll have to explain that to me because I don't think they liked Israel too much." By contrast, Trump said, "the Jewish state has never had a better friend in the White House than your president, Donald J. Trump." He was speaking at a meeting of the Israeli-American Council, a non-profit whose funders include billionaire Jewish-American casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and his wife Miriam -- both of them high-profile Trump supporters. Jews make up only a small portion of the electorate but in Florida, they represent a crucial piece of the swing state electoral puzzle. Historically, American-Jews have voted heavily Democratic. Trump, who is hoping to repeat his 2016 strategy next year by winning reelection through the strategic accumulation of electoral college votes in key states, has worked especially hard to woo Jewish-Americans. Since taking office he has upended decades of American policy in the Middle East by acceding to a string of Israeli demands and all but slamming the door on Palestinians. This includes recognizing the disputed city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and also recognising Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, a territory taken from Syria in 1967. In November, the Trump administration again broke with decades of international consensus when it said that it would no longer consider Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian lands in the West Bank illegal. The policies are also highly popular with right-wing evangelical Christian Republicans -- a vital part of Trump's support base. Despite the aggressive support for Israel, coupled with intense pressure on the Palestinians, the Trump administration says it has a peace plan ready to unveil once an ongoing Israeli leadership impasse is resolved. Trump has put his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who is Jewish-American but had no previous experience in government before joining this administration, in charge of the peace plan. "A lot of people say that can't be done," Trump told the crowd on Saturday. "They say that's the toughest of all deals but if Jared Kushner can't do it, it can't be done." Taking direct aim at one of his potential Democratic opponents for the 2020 election, Trump told the audience that left-wing Senator Elizabeth Warren should not get their vote because she would impose heavy taxes. "Let's take 100 per cent of your wealth away," he said in a reference to Warren. One problem, Trump told the gathering, is that some American-Jews, while being "great people, they don't love Israel enough."

Donald Trump tells Jewish-Americans he is Israel's best friend

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-for-world-bank-to-stop-loaning-to-china-266779">World Bank </a>said Saturday its lending to China has fallen sharply and will continue to be pared back, after US President Donald Trump demanded it stop altogether.

"Why is the World Bank loaning money to China? Can this be possible? China has plenty of money, and if they don't, they create it. STOP!" Trump wrote on Twitter Friday.

The bank, which is led by former US Treasury official David Malpass, defended its approach in a brief statement.

"World Bank lending to China has fallen sharply and will continue to reduce as part of our agreement with all our shareholders including the United States.

"We eliminate lending as countries get richer," it said.

Trump was reiterating a position long held by his administration, including Malpass prior to his election as the current head of the World Bank.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told US lawmakers Thursday that the United States "has objected" to the institution's multi-year program of loans and projects in China.

That program, which includes plans to reduce lending to China, was adopted on Thursday.

The program "reflects the evolution of our relationship with China," Martin Raiser, World Bank Country Director for China, said on Thursday. "Our engagement will be increasingly selective."

Trump's very public stance comes amid negotiations between Washington and Beijing seeking to end the US president's 18-month-long trade war, which is aimed at forcing China to make concessions on protecting American businesses and reducing its trade surplus.

There is a great deal of uncertainty about the date of a possible partial agreement, which Trump said was imminent in October. 
&nbsp;

The World Bank said Saturday its lending to China has fallen sharply and will continue to be pared back, after US President Donald Trump demanded it stop altogether.

The World Bank said Saturday its lending to China has fallen sharply and will continue to be pared back, after US President Donald Trump demanded it stop altogether. "Why is the World Bank loaning money to China? Can this be possible? China has plenty of money, and if they don't, they create it. STOP!" Trump wrote on Twitter Friday. The bank, which is led by former US Treasury official David Malpass, defended its approach in a brief statement. "World Bank lending to China has fallen sharply and will continue to reduce as part of our agreement with all our shareholders including the United States. "We eliminate lending as countries get richer," it said. Trump was reiterating a position long held by his administration, including Malpass prior to his election as the current head of the World Bank. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told US lawmakers Thursday that the United States "has objected" to the institution's multi-year program of loans and projects in China. That program, which includes plans to reduce lending to China, was adopted on Thursday. The program "reflects the evolution of our relationship with China," Martin Raiser, World Bank Country Director for China, said on Thursday. "Our engagement will be increasingly selective." Trump's very public stance comes amid negotiations between Washington and Beijing seeking to end the US president's 18-month-long trade war, which is aimed at forcing China to make concessions on protecting American businesses and reducing its trade surplus. There is a great deal of uncertainty about the date of a possible partial agreement, which Trump said was imminent in October.

World Bank to reduce lending to China

President Donald Trump on Sunday warned that North Korea's Kim Jong Un had "everything" to lose through hostility towards the United States. Trump's comment came after Pyongyang said it had carried out a major new weapons test.

"Kim Jong Un is too smart and has far too much to lose, everything actually, if he acts in a hostile way," Trump tweeted in response to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-conducts-very-significant-test-as-nuclear-talks-with-the-us-remain-deadlocked-266878">unspecified test </a>at the Sohae space launch center.

The announcement of Saturday's test&nbsp;came just hours after Trump said he would be "surprised" by any hostile action from the North, emphasizing his "very good relationship" with Kim.

Trump and Kim engaged in months of mutual insults and threats of devastation in 2017, sending tensions soaring before a diplomatic rapprochement the following year.

The pair have met three times since June 2018 but with little progress towards <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/denuclearisation-off-negotiating-table-with-us-north-koreas-un-envoy-266892">denuclearisation</a>. Pyongyang has set Washington a December&nbsp;31 deadline to make new concessions to kickstart stalled talks.

"North Korea, under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, has tremendous economic potential, but it must denuclearise as promised," Trump tweeted. "NATO, China, Russia, Japan, and the entire world is unified on this issue!"

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Kim Jong Un is too smart and has far too much to lose, everything actually, if he acts in a hostile way. He signed a strong Denuclearization Agreement with me in Singapore. He does not want to void his special relationship with the President of the United States or interfere.... <a href="https://t.co/THfOjfB2uE">https://t.co/THfOjfB2uE</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1203695081376690177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Writing that Kim had "signed a strong Denuclearisation Agreement" at their June 2018 summit in Singapore," Trump warned: "He does not want to void his special relationship with the President of the United States or interfere with the US&nbsp;Presidential Election in November."

A spokesman for North Korea's Academy of the National Defense Science said Saturday's "very important test" would have an "important effect" on changing the "strategic position" of North Korea, in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency.

The statement did not provide further details on the test.

A senior US administration official earlier said Washington had seen reports of a test and was "coordinating closely with allies and partners."

Trump indicated that military action was still possible when he was asked about Pyongyang on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Britain this week.

North Korea fired back that if the United States used military force it would take "prompt corresponding actions at any level."

UN diplomats fear that North Korea will resume long-range nuclear or ballistic tests if no progress is made soon in talks with the United States.

Sohae, on North Korea's northwest coast, is ostensibly a facility designed for putting satellites into orbit.

But Pyongyang has carried out several rocket launches there that were condemned by the US and others as disguised long-range ballistic missile tests.

Following the Singapore summit, Trump said Kim had agreed to destroy "a major missile engine testing site" without naming the facility.

Kim then agreed to shutter the Sohae site during a summit last year with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang as part of trust-building measures.

President Donald Trump on Sunday warned that North Korea's Kim Jong Un had "everything" to lose through hostility towards the United States. Trump's comment came after Pyongyang said it had carried out a major new weapons test.

President Donald Trump on Sunday warned that North Korea's Kim Jong Un had "everything" to lose through hostility towards the United States. Trump's comment came after Pyongyang said it had carried out a major new weapons test. "Kim Jong Un is too smart and has far too much to lose, everything actually, if he acts in a hostile way," Trump tweeted in response to the unspecified test at the Sohae space launch center. The announcement of Saturday's test came just hours after Trump said he would be "surprised" by any hostile action from the North, emphasizing his "very good relationship" with Kim. Trump and Kim engaged in months of mutual insults and threats of devastation in 2017, sending tensions soaring before a diplomatic rapprochement the following year. The pair have met three times since June 2018 but with little progress towards denuclearisation. Pyongyang has set Washington a December 31 deadline to make new concessions to kickstart stalled talks. "North Korea, under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, has tremendous economic potential, but it must denuclearise as promised," Trump tweeted. "NATO, China, Russia, Japan, and the entire world is unified on this issue!" Kim Jong Un is too smart and has far too much to lose, everything actually, if he acts in a hostile way. He signed a strong Denuclearization Agreement with me in Singapore. He does not want to void his special relationship with the President of the United States or interfere.... https://t.co/THfOjfB2uE — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 8, 2019 × Writing that Kim had "signed a strong Denuclearisation Agreement" at their June 2018 summit in Singapore," Trump warned: "He does not want to void his special relationship with the President of the United States or interfere with the US Presidential Election in November." A spokesman for North Korea's Academy of the National Defense Science said Saturday's "very important test" would have an "important effect" on changing the "strategic position" of North Korea, in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency. The statement did not provide further details on the test. A senior US administration official earlier said Washington had seen reports of a test and was "coordinating closely with allies and partners." Trump indicated that military action was still possible when he was asked about Pyongyang on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Britain this week. North Korea fired back that if the United States used military force it would take "prompt corresponding actions at any level." UN diplomats fear that North Korea will resume long-range nuclear or ballistic tests if no progress is made soon in talks with the United States. Sohae, on North Korea's northwest coast, is ostensibly a facility designed for putting satellites into orbit. But Pyongyang has carried out several rocket launches there that were condemned by the US and others as disguised long-range ballistic missile tests. Following the Singapore summit, Trump said Kim had agreed to destroy "a major missile engine testing site" without naming the facility. Kim then agreed to shutter the Sohae site during a summit last year with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang as part of trust-building measures.

Kim Jong Un has everything to 'lose': Donald Trump after North Korea's 'significant' test

Democrats gear up for Monday Impeachment hearing .

Trump Impeachment Saga: What's next for Donald Trump?

President Donald Trump had rare positive words for Iran on Saturday, thanking the US foe for a "very fair" negotiation to successfully pull off a prisoner swap that saw an American released from Iranian detention amid soaring tensions.

The exchange, which took place in neutral Switzerland, involved a Princeton graduate student jailed in Iran for espionage since 2016 and an Iranian national arrested over a year ago in Chicago.

"Thank you to Iran on a very fair negotiation," tweeted Trump, as Xiyue Wang made his way home to his family. The US leader was expected to welcome Wang in person when he arrives in the United States, after a stop in Germany for medical evaluations.

"It was a one-on-one hostage swap," Trump told reporters. "I think it was great to show than we can do something. It might have been a precursor as to what can be done."

A photo tweeted by the American Embassy in Bern showed Wang on a rainswept tarmac in Zurich with an official blue and white US jet in the background, hugging Ambassador Edward McMullen.

The Chinese-born American was in apparent good health and in "very, very good humour," said a senior US administration official.

Tehran had announced the release of its national, Massoud Soleimani, shortly before Trump revealed that Wang was returning home.

"Glad that Professor Massoud Soleimani and Mr Xiyue Wang will be joining their families shortly," Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted -- along with a photograph of himself and the scientist on a plane under the words "Going home."

"Many thanks to all engaged, particularly the Swiss government," which has looked after US interests in Iran in the absence of diplomatic ties, Zarif said.

The Swiss foreign ministry confirmed that the exchange -- which it called a "humanitarian gesture" -- took place on its territory. Both the US and Iran credited Switzerland with an intensive diplomatic effort to secure the men's release.

"Our country stands ready for further facilitation," the foreign ministry statement said.

'Hopeful' sign

The United States and Iran have not had diplomatic ties since 1980, and relations have sharply worsened since Trump withdrew from an international accord giving Iran sanctions relief in return for curbs on its nuclear program.

The arch-enemies came to the brink of military confrontation in June this year when Iran downed a US drone and Trump ordered retaliatory strikes before cancelling them at the last minute.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was "pleased that Tehran has been constructive in this matter."

Briefing reporters on condition of anonymity, the senior US official noted that Trump "remains committed to talks with Iran without preconditions" -- about Tehran's nuclear program, its "malign activities" in the Middle East, and the deadly mass protests that have gripped the country.

While Iran has so far rebuffed US offers of talks, the official said: "We're hopeful that the release of Mr Wang is a sign that the Iranians may be willing to come to the table to discuss all these issues."

The official also voiced hope that Wang's release signals "the Iranians are realizing that the practice of hostage-taking diplomacy really should come to an end."

A doctoral candidate at Princeton, Wang was conducting research for his dissertation on late 19th- and early 20th-century Eurasian history when he was imprisoned in August 2016. He was serving 10 years on espionage charges.

"He was not a spy, he was not involved in espionage and, and was wrongfully detained from the start," the US official said.

A statement on the Iranian judiciary's Mizan Online website said Wang had been "freed on Islamic clemency."&nbsp;

Soleimani, a professor and senior stem cell researcher at Tehran's Tarbiat Modares University, was arrested on arrival at an airport in Chicago in October 2018 for allegedly attempting to ship growth hormones, according to Iranian media.

The US official confirmed the Justice Department has dropped charges against Soleimani, calling the swap a "reciprocal humanitarian gesture" and a "very, very good deal for the United States."

"There's been absolutely no payments of cash or lifting of sanctions or any sort of concessions or ransom," the official said.

Spying allegations

Rob Malley, president of the International Crisis Group consultancy, called it a "rare bit of good news on US-Iran front."

"But several other Americans remain unjustly detained in Iran and they should be released too," he cautioned. "They should not be used as pawns in the two countries' fraught relationship."

Foreign nationals still held in Iran include former US soldier Michael R. White, British-Iranian mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, French academic Roland Marchal and Australian university lecturer Kylie Moore-Gilbert.

Two other Australians, travel bloggers Jolie King and Mark Firkin, were released in October by Iran, in another apparent swap for Iranian student Reza Dehbashi.

In September, Negar Ghodskani, an Iranian woman sentenced in the United States for violating sanctions against Tehran was released and returned home after giving birth in custody.

An unknown number of Iranians are detained abroad.

President Donald Trump had rare positive words for Iran on Saturday, thanking the US foe for a "very fair" negotiation to successfully pull off a prisoner swap that saw an American released from Iranian detention amid soaring tensions.

President Donald Trump had rare positive words for Iran on Saturday, thanking the US foe for a "very fair" negotiation to successfully pull off a prisoner swap that saw an American released from Iranian detention amid soaring tensions. The exchange, which took place in neutral Switzerland, involved a Princeton graduate student jailed in Iran for espionage since 2016 and an Iranian national arrested over a year ago in Chicago. "Thank you to Iran on a very fair negotiation," tweeted Trump, as Xiyue Wang made his way home to his family. The US leader was expected to welcome Wang in person when he arrives in the United States, after a stop in Germany for medical evaluations. "It was a one-on-one hostage swap," Trump told reporters. "I think it was great to show than we can do something. It might have been a precursor as to what can be done." A photo tweeted by the American Embassy in Bern showed Wang on a rainswept tarmac in Zurich with an official blue and white US jet in the background, hugging Ambassador Edward McMullen. The Chinese-born American was in apparent good health and in "very, very good humour," said a senior US administration official. Tehran had announced the release of its national, Massoud Soleimani, shortly before Trump revealed that Wang was returning home. "Glad that Professor Massoud Soleimani and Mr Xiyue Wang will be joining their families shortly," Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted -- along with a photograph of himself and the scientist on a plane under the words "Going home." "Many thanks to all engaged, particularly the Swiss government," which has looked after US interests in Iran in the absence of diplomatic ties, Zarif said. The Swiss foreign ministry confirmed that the exchange -- which it called a "humanitarian gesture" -- took place on its territory. Both the US and Iran credited Switzerland with an intensive diplomatic effort to secure the men's release. "Our country stands ready for further facilitation," the foreign ministry statement said. 'Hopeful' sign The United States and Iran have not had diplomatic ties since 1980, and relations have sharply worsened since Trump withdrew from an international accord giving Iran sanctions relief in return for curbs on its nuclear program. The arch-enemies came to the brink of military confrontation in June this year when Iran downed a US drone and Trump ordered retaliatory strikes before cancelling them at the last minute. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was "pleased that Tehran has been constructive in this matter." Briefing reporters on condition of anonymity, the senior US official noted that Trump "remains committed to talks with Iran without preconditions" -- about Tehran's nuclear program, its "malign activities" in the Middle East, and the deadly mass protests that have gripped the country. While Iran has so far rebuffed US offers of talks, the official said: "We're hopeful that the release of Mr Wang is a sign that the Iranians may be willing to come to the table to discuss all these issues." The official also voiced hope that Wang's release signals "the Iranians are realizing that the practice of hostage-taking diplomacy really should come to an end." A doctoral candidate at Princeton, Wang was conducting research for his dissertation on late 19th- and early 20th-century Eurasian history when he was imprisoned in August 2016. He was serving 10 years on espionage charges. "He was not a spy, he was not involved in espionage and, and was wrongfully detained from the start," the US official said. A statement on the Iranian judiciary's Mizan Online website said Wang had been "freed on Islamic clemency." Soleimani, a professor and senior stem cell researcher at Tehran's Tarbiat Modares University, was arrested on arrival at an airport in Chicago in October 2018 for allegedly attempting to ship growth hormones, according to Iranian media. The US official confirmed the Justice Department has dropped charges against Soleimani, calling the swap a "reciprocal humanitarian gesture" and a "very, very good deal for the United States." "There's been absolutely no payments of cash or lifting of sanctions or any sort of concessions or ransom," the official said. Spying allegations Rob Malley, president of the International Crisis Group consultancy, called it a "rare bit of good news on US-Iran front." "But several other Americans remain unjustly detained in Iran and they should be released too," he cautioned. "They should not be used as pawns in the two countries' fraught relationship." Foreign nationals still held in Iran include former US soldier Michael R. White, British-Iranian mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, French academic Roland Marchal and Australian university lecturer Kylie Moore-Gilbert. Two other Australians, travel bloggers Jolie King and Mark Firkin, were released in October by Iran, in another apparent swap for Iranian student Reza Dehbashi. In September, Negar Ghodskani, an Iranian woman sentenced in the United States for violating sanctions against Tehran was released and returned home after giving birth in custody. An unknown number of Iranians are detained abroad.

Trump thanks Iran as American freed in prisoner swap

The Saudi military student who carried out a deadly shooting spree at a US naval base showed videos of mass shootings at a dinner party the night before the attack, The New York Times reported Saturday.

The shooting Friday in a classroom building at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida left three dead and eight wounded, including two responding sheriff's deputies.

The revelation about the dinner party came as authorities probed whether the shooter had any accomplices.

"We're finding out what took place, whether it's one person or a number of people," President Donald Trump told reporters. "We'll get to the bottom of it very quickly.

No additional details of the dinner party were reported by the Times, which cited a person briefed on the investigation.&nbsp;

The SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist media, identified the gunman as Mohammed al-Shamrani, saying he had posted a short manifesto on Twitter prior to the attack that read: "I'm against evil, and America as a whole has turned into a nation of evil."&nbsp;

"I hate you because every day you supporting, funding and committing crimes not only against Muslims but also humanity."

The Twitter account that posted the manifesto -- which also condemned US support for Israel and included a quote from Al-Qaeda's deceased leader Osama bin Laden -- has been suspended.

No terror group has claimed the attack, and the shooter did not have any apparent terror ties, the Times reported, citing an unnamed senior American official.

However, "given that ISIS has very little to lose at this point, it wouldn't be surprising if it claimed the attack, regardless of the attacker's potential allegiances," tweeted SITE Director Rita Katz.

Foreign trainees

Naval Air Station Pensacola is the center for the US Navy foreign military training programs, established in 1985 specifically for Saudi students before being expanded to other nationalities.

The shooter was one of "a couple hundred" foreign students at the base, according to Commanding officer Captain Timothy Kinsella.

Trump indicated the training program would now be under review.

"We've been doing this with other countries, foreign countries. I guess we're going to have to look into the whole procedure, we'll start that immediately," he said.

Six Saudi nationals also assigned to the base were questioned after the attack, US media reported.

Three were at the base and apparently filmed the shooting, The Washington Post said. The other three had flown into the US with the attacker and were based at training sites in Louisiana and Oklahoma, the Post said, citing an unnamed official.

- 'Hole in our hearts' - 
Saudi Arabia's King Salman has denounced the shooting as a "heinous crime" and said the gunman "does not represent the Saudi people."&nbsp;

The shooting marks a setback in the kingdom's efforts to shrug off its longstanding reputation for promoting religious extremism after the September 11, 2001 attacks in which 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudis.

Prince Khalid bin Salman, the king's younger son and the deputy defense minister, offered his "sincerest condolences" to the families of the victims.

"Like many other Saudi military personnel, I was trained in a US military base, and we used that valuable training to fight side by side with our American allies against terrorism and other threats," Prince Khalid said on Twitter.

Trump said King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country's de facto ruler, would "help out the families very greatly," though he did not specify how.

The victims have not been officially identified, but the older brother of Joshua Kaleb Watson said the 23-year old, who reported to the base for flight training two weeks ago, "saved countless lives today with his own."

"After being shot multiple times he made it outside and told the first response team where the shooter was and those details were invaluable," Adam Watson said in a Facebook post.&nbsp;

"He died a hero and we are beyond proud but there is a hole in our hearts that can never be filled."

The Saudi military student who carried out a deadly shooting spree at a US naval base showed videos of mass shootings at a dinner party the night before the attack, The New York Times reported Saturday.

The Saudi military student who carried out a deadly shooting spree at a US naval base showed videos of mass shootings at a dinner party the night before the attack, The New York Times reported Saturday. The shooting Friday in a classroom building at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida left three dead and eight wounded, including two responding sheriff's deputies. The revelation about the dinner party came as authorities probed whether the shooter had any accomplices. "We're finding out what took place, whether it's one person or a number of people," President Donald Trump told reporters. "We'll get to the bottom of it very quickly. No additional details of the dinner party were reported by the Times, which cited a person briefed on the investigation. The SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist media, identified the gunman as Mohammed al-Shamrani, saying he had posted a short manifesto on Twitter prior to the attack that read: "I'm against evil, and America as a whole has turned into a nation of evil." "I hate you because every day you supporting, funding and committing crimes not only against Muslims but also humanity." The Twitter account that posted the manifesto -- which also condemned US support for Israel and included a quote from Al-Qaeda's deceased leader Osama bin Laden -- has been suspended. No terror group has claimed the attack, and the shooter did not have any apparent terror ties, the Times reported, citing an unnamed senior American official. However, "given that ISIS has very little to lose at this point, it wouldn't be surprising if it claimed the attack, regardless of the attacker's potential allegiances," tweeted SITE Director Rita Katz. Foreign trainees Naval Air Station Pensacola is the center for the US Navy foreign military training programs, established in 1985 specifically for Saudi students before being expanded to other nationalities. The shooter was one of "a couple hundred" foreign students at the base, according to Commanding officer Captain Timothy Kinsella. Trump indicated the training program would now be under review. "We've been doing this with other countries, foreign countries. I guess we're going to have to look into the whole procedure, we'll start that immediately," he said. Six Saudi nationals also assigned to the base were questioned after the attack, US media reported. Three were at the base and apparently filmed the shooting, The Washington Post said. The other three had flown into the US with the attacker and were based at training sites in Louisiana and Oklahoma, the Post said, citing an unnamed official. - 'Hole in our hearts' - Saudi Arabia's King Salman has denounced the shooting as a "heinous crime" and said the gunman "does not represent the Saudi people." The shooting marks a setback in the kingdom's efforts to shrug off its longstanding reputation for promoting religious extremism after the September 11, 2001 attacks in which 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudis. Prince Khalid bin Salman, the king's younger son and the deputy defense minister, offered his "sincerest condolences" to the families of the victims. "Like many other Saudi military personnel, I was trained in a US military base, and we used that valuable training to fight side by side with our American allies against terrorism and other threats," Prince Khalid said on Twitter. Trump said King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country's de facto ruler, would "help out the families very greatly," though he did not specify how. The victims have not been officially identified, but the older brother of Joshua Kaleb Watson said the 23-year old, who reported to the base for flight training two weeks ago, "saved countless lives today with his own." "After being shot multiple times he made it outside and told the first response team where the shooter was and those details were invaluable," Adam Watson said in a Facebook post. "He died a hero and we are beyond proud but there is a hole in our hearts that can never be filled."

Before attack, US military base gunman showed mass shooting videos at party: Report

Florida government says Saudi Arabia owes a debt to victims.

Florida Naval Base Shooting: Saudi King reaches out to Donald Trump

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/frances-emmanuel-macron-to-hold-meeting-on-pensions-as-strike-bites-266909">France</a> is ready to go to the World Trade Organisation to challenge US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's threat to put tariffs on champagne and other French goods in a row over a French tax on internet companies, its finance minister said on Sunday.

"We are ready to take this to an international court, notably the WTO, because the national tax on digital companies touches US&nbsp;companies in the same way as EU or French companies or Chinese. It is not discriminatory," Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told France 3 television.

Paris has long complained about US&nbsp;digital companies not paying enough tax on revenues earned in France.

In July, the French government decided to apply a 3 per cent&nbsp;levy on revenue from digital services earned in France by firms with more than 25 million euros in French revenue and 750 million euros ($845 million) worldwide.

It is due to kick in retroactively from the start of 2019.

Washington is threatening to retaliate with heavy duties on imports of French champagne, cheeses and luxury handbags, but France and the European Union say they are ready to retaliate in turn if Trump carries out the threat.

Le Maire said France was willing to discuss a global digital tax with the United States at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), but that such a tax could not be optional for internet companies.

"If there is agreement at the OECD, all the better, then we will finally have a global digital tax. If there is no agreement at OECD level, we will restart talks at EU level," Le Maire said.

He added that new EU Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni had already proposed to restart such talks.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-unions-call-for-new-protests-strikes-on-tuesday-over-pension-reforms-266676">France pushed ahead with its digital tax</a> after EU member states, under the previous executive European Commission, failed to agree on a levy valid across the bloc after opposition from Ireland, Denmark, Sweden and Finland.

The new European Commission assumed office on December&nbsp;1.

France is ready to go to the World Trade Organisation to challenge US President Donald Trump's threat to put tariffs on champagne and other French goods in a row over a French tax on internet companies, its finance minister said on Sunday.

France is ready to go to the World Trade Organisation to challenge US President Donald Trump's threat to put tariffs on champagne and other French goods in a row over a French tax on internet companies, its finance minister said on Sunday. "We are ready to take this to an international court, notably the WTO, because the national tax on digital companies touches US companies in the same way as EU or French companies or Chinese. It is not discriminatory," Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told France 3 television. Paris has long complained about US digital companies not paying enough tax on revenues earned in France. In July, the French government decided to apply a 3 per cent levy on revenue from digital services earned in France by firms with more than 25 million euros in French revenue and 750 million euros ($845 million) worldwide. It is due to kick in retroactively from the start of 2019. Washington is threatening to retaliate with heavy duties on imports of French champagne, cheeses and luxury handbags, but France and the European Union say they are ready to retaliate in turn if Trump carries out the threat. Le Maire said France was willing to discuss a global digital tax with the United States at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), but that such a tax could not be optional for internet companies. "If there is agreement at the OECD, all the better, then we will finally have a global digital tax. If there is no agreement at OECD level, we will restart talks at EU level," Le Maire said. He added that new EU Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni had already proposed to restart such talks. France pushed ahead with its digital tax after EU member states, under the previous executive European Commission, failed to agree on a levy valid across the bloc after opposition from Ireland, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. The new European Commission assumed office on December 1.

Ready to take Trump's tariff threat to World Trade Organisation: French Finance Minister Le Maire

US President Donald Trump on Friday called for the World Bank to stop loaning money to China, one day after the institution adopted a lending plan to Beijing over Washington's objections.

US President Donald Trump on Friday called for the World Bank to stop loaning money to China, one day after the institution adopted a lending plan to Beijing over Washington's objections. The World Bank on Thursday adopted a plan to aid China with $1 billion to $1.5 billion in low-interest loans annually through June 2025. The plan calls for lending to "gradually decline" from the previous five-year average of $1.8 billion. "Why is the World Bank loaning money to China? Can this be possible? China has plenty of money, and if they don't, they create it. STOP!" Trump wrote in a post on Twitter. "World Bank lending to China has fallen sharply and will continue to reduce as part of our agreement with all our shareholders including the United States," the World Bank said in an emailed statement. "We eliminate lending as countries get richer." Spokespeople for the White House declined to comment on the record. The World Bank loaned China $1.3 billion in the fiscal 2019 year, which ended on June 30, a decrease from around $2.4 billion in fiscal 2017. But the fall in the World Bank's loans to China is not swift enough for the Trump administration, which has argued that Beijing is too wealthy for international aid.

US President Trump calls for World Bank to stop loaning to China

North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations said on Saturday that denuclearisation talks with the United States are off the "negotiating table" and lengthy talks with Washington are not required.

"We do not need to have lengthy talks with the US now and denuclearisation is already gone out of the negotiating table," ambassador Kim Song said in a statement, reported Reuters.&nbsp;

Song added that United State's "sustained and substantial dialogue" was a "time-saving trick" in order to fulfil its domestic political agenda.&nbsp;

The North Korean ambassador's comments reflect Pyongyang's earlier warning that discussions on its nuclear weapons program might end as Washington is&nbsp;refusing&nbsp;to offer concessions.&nbsp;

Tensions between the US and North Korea, rose after Pyongyang gave <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-test-fires-rockets-in-thanksgiving-reminder-of-year-end-deadline-for-us-265157">Washington a year-end deadline </a>to change its policy of demanding unilateral denuclearisation and asked for relief from punishing sanctions.&nbsp;

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un also warned that he could take an unspecified "next path" next year, which raised fears of the development of a nuclear bomb and long-range missile testing suspended since 2017.&nbsp;

On Friday, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-south-koreas-moon-discuss-trying-to-maintain-talks-with-north-korea-266769">US President Donald Trump </a>held a half-hour phone discussion with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in on ways to maintain diplomacy with North Korea, South Korea said. it said that both leaders agreed that the situation has become "severe" and that "dialogue momentum should be maintained to achieve prompt results from denuclearisation negotiations."

Earlier, Trump and Kim Jong Un have met three times since June 2018, but little progress has been made so far. Recently, both nations again started making inflamed statements against each other, which halted two years ago.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, Trump once again called Kim Jong Un <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/very-dangerous-challenge-if-trump-calls-kim-rocket-man-again-north-korea-266482">"Rocket man"</a>, adding that Washington has the right to use military force against Pyongyang. Responding to Trump's statements, North Korea said that repeat of such language would mean "the relapse of the dotage of a dotard."

North Korea, earlier used to describe Trump as a "dotard".&nbsp;

(With inputs from Reuters) 
&nbsp;

North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations said on Saturday that denuclearisation talks with the United States are off the "negotiating table" and lengthy talks with Washington are not required.

North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations said on Saturday that denuclearisation talks with the United States are off the "negotiating table" and lengthy talks with Washington are not required. "We do not need to have lengthy talks with the US now and denuclearisation is already gone out of the negotiating table," ambassador Kim Song said in a statement, reported Reuters. Song added that United State's "sustained and substantial dialogue" was a "time-saving trick" in order to fulfil its domestic political agenda. The North Korean ambassador's comments reflect Pyongyang's earlier warning that discussions on its nuclear weapons program might end as Washington is refusing to offer concessions. Tensions between the US and North Korea, rose after Pyongyang gave Washington a year-end deadline to change its policy of demanding unilateral denuclearisation and asked for relief from punishing sanctions. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un also warned that he could take an unspecified "next path" next year, which raised fears of the development of a nuclear bomb and long-range missile testing suspended since 2017. On Friday, the US President Donald Trump held a half-hour phone discussion with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in on ways to maintain diplomacy with North Korea, South Korea said. it said that both leaders agreed that the situation has become "severe" and that "dialogue momentum should be maintained to achieve prompt results from denuclearisation negotiations." Earlier, Trump and Kim Jong Un have met three times since June 2018, but little progress has been made so far. Recently, both nations again started making inflamed statements against each other, which halted two years ago. On Tuesday, Trump once again called Kim Jong Un "Rocket man", adding that Washington has the right to use military force against Pyongyang. Responding to Trump's statements, North Korea said that repeat of such language would mean "the relapse of the dotage of a dotard." North Korea, earlier used to describe Trump as a "dotard". (With inputs from Reuters)

Talks with US on denuclearisation off 'negotiating table': North Korean envoy

US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in held a half-hour phone discussion on ways to maintain diplomacy with North Korea, Seoul said on Saturday, as Pyongyang warns of waning patience with stalled nuclear talks.

US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in held a half-hour phone discussion on ways to maintain diplomacy with North Korea, Seoul said on Saturday, as Pyongyang warns of waning patience with stalled nuclear talks. The two leaders agreed that the situation has become "severe" and that "dialogue momentum should be maintained to achieve prompt results from denuclearisation negotiations," South Korea's presidential Blue House said in a statement. They also agreed to consult regularly as needed, the statement said. Tensions are rising ahead of a year-end deadline set by North Korea, which has called on the United States to change its policy of demanding unilateral denuclearisation or leader Kim Jong Un may choose an unspecified "new path". In a series of statements in recent weeks, senior North Korean officials have warned the United States not to ignore the deadline, and called Washington's offer of more talks a stalling tactic ahead of next year's US election. Longtime allies, the United States and South Korea are also in negotiations over how much each side will pay to fund the roughly 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea. Trump has demanded that Seoul pay as much as $4 billion more per year, according to South Korean officials, and a fourth round of talks ended in Washington on Wednesday with no agreement. The Blue House did not say if the cost-sharing dispute was raised during Moon's call with Trump on Saturday.

Trump, South Korea's Moon discuss trying to maintain talks with North Korea

Florida Naval Base Shooting: 3 killed and 8 injured by Gunman. Attacker identified as a Saudi National.

Florida Naval Base Shooting: 3 killed and 8 injured by Saudi Gunman

US President Donald Trump on Friday pulled back on his stated plans to designate Mexican drug cartels as terror groups, saying he was doing so at the request of his counterpart Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

US President Donald Trump on Friday pulled back on his stated plans to designate Mexican drug cartels as terror groups, saying he was doing so at the request of his counterpart Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Last month, Trump called for a "war" on the cartels after the killings of nine women and children from a US-Mexican Mormon community, but south of the common border, his plans were seen as unwanted meddling. Mexican officials asked for clarification, and said they wanted to make progress on efforts to stem the flow of weapons and money from the United States to criminal gangs in Mexico. Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard had reacted more forcefully, saying: "Mexico will never allow any action that means a violation of its national sovereignty." While Trump said in a tweet Friday evening that "all necessary work has been completed to declare Mexican Cartels terrorist organizations," he said he was putting a hold on the move out of respect for Lopez Obrador. "We will temporarily hold off this designation and step up our joint efforts to deal decisively with these vicious and ever-growing organizations!" the Republican president tweeted. Trump noted that the leftist Lopez Obrador was a "man who I like and respect, and has worked so well with us." Ebrard hailed Trump's decision in a tweet, writing that "cooperation has won and there will be good results." The case of the slain Mormons has cast a spotlight on drug cartel-fueled violence in Mexico -- and Lopez Obrador's struggles to rein it in. The victims, including twin eight-month-old babies, were killed as they drove on a remote road between the states of Sonora and Chihuahua, in northern Mexico, a lawless region disputed by warring drug cartels.

Trump pulls back on designating Mexico cartels as 'terror' groups

Democrats in the US&nbsp;House of Representatives will spend the weekend on Capitol Hill preparing for what could be the final week of their months-old impeachment inquiry that has imperiled <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-win-impeachment-fight-us-president-donald-trump-266504">Donald Trump's presidency</a>.

The House Judiciary Committee's Democratic lawmakers are due to meet on Saturday and Sunday behind closed doors to sift through evidence against the Republican president and draft formal charges, known as articles of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-has-abused-power-us-house-to-draft-impeachment-charges-against-him-nancy-pelosi-266490">impeachment</a>, that the panel could recommend for a full House vote as early as Thursday.

On Friday, the White House told committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler it would not take part in the panel's hearings and condemned the inquiry as "completely baseless."

Nadler expressed disappointment in a statement: "The American people deserve answers from President Trump."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi directed the committee to draw up the charges on Thursday after weeks of investigation into Trump's request that Ukraine investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a leading contender for the Democratic nomination to face the president in the 2020 US&nbsp;election.

Passage of formal charges in the Democratic-led House, now seen as all but certain, would lead to a trial in the Senate on whether to remove Trump from office. The Republicans who control the Senate have shown little sign of supporting Trump's removal.

While Trump has refused to cooperate with the House probe, he has made clear his lawyers will mount a defense in a Senate trial, where he believes he will prevail.

The Judiciary Committee is focused on two possible articles of impeachment that would accuse the president of abuse of power in his dealings with Ukraine and obstruction of Congress for refusing to cooperate with investigating committees.

Democrats also need to settle the question of whether to draft a third article alleging obstruction of justice based on former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on the federal investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

"That's something that we'll decide this weekend," Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell told reporters on Friday.

The probe has focused on a July 25 telephone call in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to open an investigation into Biden and his son Hunter, and into a discredited theory promoted by Trump and his allies that Ukraine, not Russia, meddled in the 2016 election.

Hunter Biden joined the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma while his father was vice president. Trump has accused the Bidens of corruption. They have denied wrongdoing and the allegations have not been substantiated.

Democrats also have accused Trump of abusing his power by withholding $391 million in security aid to Ukraine - a vulnerable US&nbsp;ally facing Russian aggression - and holding back a coveted White House meeting with Zelenskiy as leverage to pressure Kiev into investigating the Bidens.

The Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on Monday. Republicans have also called for a full day of proceedings to examine their own evidence, including a 110-page report saying the inquiry had found no evidence of an impeachable offense.

They have presented their own list of requested witnesses, including Hunter Biden and the anonymous whistleblower whose complaint sparked the impeachment inquiry. Nadler is considered unlikely to call them to testify.

Trump is the fourth US&nbsp;president to face impeachment proceedings. None were removed from office, although Richard Nixon resigned as he faced almost certain impeachment in 1974 over the Watergate scandal. 
&nbsp;

Democrats in the US House of Representatives will spend the weekend on Capitol Hill preparing for what could be the final week of their months-old impeachment inquiry that has imperiled Donald Trump's presidency.

Democrats in the US House of Representatives will spend the weekend on Capitol Hill preparing for what could be the final week of their months-old impeachment inquiry that has imperiled Donald Trump's presidency. The House Judiciary Committee's Democratic lawmakers are due to meet on Saturday and Sunday behind closed doors to sift through evidence against the Republican president and draft formal charges, known as articles of impeachment, that the panel could recommend for a full House vote as early as Thursday. On Friday, the White House told committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler it would not take part in the panel's hearings and condemned the inquiry as "completely baseless." Nadler expressed disappointment in a statement: "The American people deserve answers from President Trump." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi directed the committee to draw up the charges on Thursday after weeks of investigation into Trump's request that Ukraine investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a leading contender for the Democratic nomination to face the president in the 2020 US election. Passage of formal charges in the Democratic-led House, now seen as all but certain, would lead to a trial in the Senate on whether to remove Trump from office. The Republicans who control the Senate have shown little sign of supporting Trump's removal. While Trump has refused to cooperate with the House probe, he has made clear his lawyers will mount a defense in a Senate trial, where he believes he will prevail. The Judiciary Committee is focused on two possible articles of impeachment that would accuse the president of abuse of power in his dealings with Ukraine and obstruction of Congress for refusing to cooperate with investigating committees. Democrats also need to settle the question of whether to draft a third article alleging obstruction of justice based on former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on the federal investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. "That's something that we'll decide this weekend," Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell told reporters on Friday. The probe has focused on a July 25 telephone call in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to open an investigation into Biden and his son Hunter, and into a discredited theory promoted by Trump and his allies that Ukraine, not Russia, meddled in the 2016 election. Hunter Biden joined the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma while his father was vice president. Trump has accused the Bidens of corruption. They have denied wrongdoing and the allegations have not been substantiated. Democrats also have accused Trump of abusing his power by withholding $391 million in security aid to Ukraine - a vulnerable US ally facing Russian aggression - and holding back a coveted White House meeting with Zelenskiy as leverage to pressure Kiev into investigating the Bidens. The Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on Monday. Republicans have also called for a full day of proceedings to examine their own evidence, including a 110-page report saying the inquiry had found no evidence of an impeachable offense. They have presented their own list of requested witnesses, including Hunter Biden and the anonymous whistleblower whose complaint sparked the impeachment inquiry. Nadler is considered unlikely to call them to testify. Trump is the fourth US president to face impeachment proceedings. None were removed from office, although Richard Nixon resigned as he faced almost certain impeachment in 1974 over the Watergate scandal.

Democrats to spend weekend drafting impeachment charges against Donald Trump

China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi told US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a phone call on Saturday that the United States should stop interfering in China's internal affairs, according to a report by state TV.

Citing the passing of the Uighur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019 and the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019, Yang said the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-media-blasts-us-for-uighur-bill-calls-for-action-266285">United States </a>had seriously violated international relations, and urged Washington to "correct its mistakes" and "immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs".

The US&nbsp;House of Representatives passed legislation on Tuesday requiring a stronger response to Beijing's treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority.

UN&nbsp;experts and activists say China has detained possibly one million Uighurs in mass detention camps in Xinjiang, a region in China's far west.

China says the camps are part of an anti-terror crackdown and are providing vocational training. It denies any mistreatment of Uighurs.

The Uighur Act followed US&nbsp;legislation recently signed into law by President Donald Trump aimed at protecting human rights in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-slaps-sanctions-on-united-states-for-passing-hong-kong-rights-bill-265730">Hong Kong </a>amid a crackdown on pro-democracy protests.

What started as demonstrations against a now-withdrawn bill allowing extradition from Hong Kong to mainland China has morphed into calls for greater democratic freedoms and nearly six months of sometimes violent protests in Hong Kong. Beijing has condemned the unrest and blamed foreign interference.

Yang said US&nbsp;officials have repeatedly made statements that distorted and attacked China's political system and domestic and foreign policies, and interfered in China's internal affairs.

"China expresses its firm opposition and strongly condemns this," said Yang, according to the report.

 
&nbsp;

China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi told US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a phone call on Saturday that the United States should stop interfering in China's internal affairs, according to a report by state TV.

China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi told US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a phone call on Saturday that the United States should stop interfering in China's internal affairs, according to a report by state TV. Citing the passing of the Uighur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019 and the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019, Yang said the United States had seriously violated international relations, and urged Washington to "correct its mistakes" and "immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs". The US House of Representatives passed legislation on Tuesday requiring a stronger response to Beijing's treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority. UN experts and activists say China has detained possibly one million Uighurs in mass detention camps in Xinjiang, a region in China's far west. China says the camps are part of an anti-terror crackdown and are providing vocational training. It denies any mistreatment of Uighurs. The Uighur Act followed US legislation recently signed into law by President Donald Trump aimed at protecting human rights in Hong Kong amid a crackdown on pro-democracy protests. What started as demonstrations against a now-withdrawn bill allowing extradition from Hong Kong to mainland China has morphed into calls for greater democratic freedoms and nearly six months of sometimes violent protests in Hong Kong. Beijing has condemned the unrest and blamed foreign interference. Yang said US officials have repeatedly made statements that distorted and attacked China's political system and domestic and foreign policies, and interfered in China's internal affairs. "China expresses its firm opposition and strongly condemns this," said Yang, according to the report.

US must stop interfering in our internal affairs: China's top diplomat tells Pompeo

Washington resumed talks with the Taliban in Qatar Saturday, a US source said, three months after President Donald Trump abruptly halted diplomatic efforts that could end America's longest war.

Washington resumed talks with the Taliban in Qatar Saturday, a US source said, three months after President Donald Trump abruptly halted diplomatic efforts that could end America's longest war. "The US rejoined talks today in Doha. The focus of discussion will be reduction of violence that leads to intra-Afghan negotiations and a ceasefire," said the source briefed on efforts to end almost two decades of war in Afghanistan. In September, the United States and the Taliban had appeared on the verge of signing a deal that would have seen Washington begin withdrawing thousands of troops in return for security guarantees. It was also expected to pave the way towards direct talks between the Taliban and the government in Kabul and, ultimately, a possible peace agreement after more than 18 years of war. But that same month, Trump abruptly called the year-long effort "dead" and withdrew an invitation to the insurgents to join secret talks at his US retreat at Camp David after the killing of an American soldier. During a surprise visit to a US military base in Afghanistan last week, Trump said the Taliban "wants to make a deal."

US resumes talks with Taliban in Doha, focus on reduction of violence: US source

What all 'high crimes and misdemeanors' can Trump be impeached for?

Indian shares rose on Friday, in line with gains in broader Asia, as investors cheered US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's latest comments saying trade talks with China were moving on track.

The NSE Nifty 50 index rose 0.22% at 12,044.25 and the S&amp;P BSE Sensex was up 0.28% at 40,893.17 by 0349 GMT.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.5% after Trump's upbeat tone in comments on Thursday, despite a lack of agreement between Washington and Beijing over whether existing tariffs should be dropped as part of a preliminary trade deal.

In the domestic market, shares bounced back, a day after the Reserve Bank of India kept rates steady, which led to markets ending lower on Thursday.

State-owned banking stocks led gains on Friday, as their main sub-index rose 0.52% in early trading, followed by the metals index, which gained 0.47%.

Bharti Infratel Ltd rose 1.3.% and topped the list among stock gainers, while Yes Bank Ltd fell 4.27% and was the day`s biggest laggard. 
&nbsp;

Indian shares rose on Friday, in line with gains in broader Asia, as investors cheered US President Donald Trump's latest comments saying trade talks with China were moving on track.

Indian shares rose on Friday, in line with gains in broader Asia, as investors cheered US President Donald Trump's latest comments saying trade talks with China were moving on track. The NSE Nifty 50 index rose 0.22% at 12,044.25 and the S&P BSE Sensex was up 0.28% at 40,893.17 by 0349 GMT. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.5% after Trump's upbeat tone in comments on Thursday, despite a lack of agreement between Washington and Beijing over whether existing tariffs should be dropped as part of a preliminary trade deal. In the domestic market, shares bounced back, a day after the Reserve Bank of India kept rates steady, which led to markets ending lower on Thursday. State-owned banking stocks led gains on Friday, as their main sub-index rose 0.52% in early trading, followed by the metals index, which gained 0.47%. Bharti Infratel Ltd rose 1.3.% and topped the list among stock gainers, while Yes Bank Ltd fell 4.27% and was the day`s biggest laggard.

Nifty, Sensex track broader Asia higher as Trump's comments renew trade hopes

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden snapped at a questioner during a campaign event in Iowa on Thursday after the man asked about his son's business dealings in Ukraine.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden snapped at a questioner during a campaign event in Iowa on Thursday after the man asked about his son's business dealings in Ukraine. "You're a damn liar, man," the former vice president said in a rare flash of anger at the town hall in New Hampton, Iowa. After first saying that President Donald Trump is "messing around in Ukraine," the man told Biden "you on the other hand sent your son over there, to get him a job and work for a gas company. "He had no experience," the man said. "You're selling access to the president." "That's not true and no one has ever said that," Biden responded after calling the man a liar. Biden's son Hunter served on the board of Ukrainian gas company Burisma from 2014 to 2019 and was reportedly paid $50,000 a month. Hunter Biden has not been accused of any wrongdoing but questions have been raised about the propriety of him taking the position while his father was vice president and dealing with Ukraine issues. Trump is facing impeachment in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives after asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate the Bidens. The 77-year-old Biden also responded forcefully to a suggestion by the questioner that he was "too old" to be running for president. "I'm not sedentary," Biden said. "The reason I'm running is because I've been around a long time and I know more than most people know and I can get things done. "You want to check my shape on it, let's do pushups together, man," he said. "Let's run. Let's do whatever you want to do. Let's take an IQ test." At another point, he appeared to say "Look, fat, look, here's the deal" -- but this was strongly disputed by Biden aide Symone Sanders, who tweeted that he had said: "Look, facts." Biden is the current frontrunner in the race for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, according to an average of national polls by RealClearPolitics.com. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg are the only other candidates in the crowded field with double-digit support. The first vote of the Democratic primary season is to be held in Iowa in February.

Biden lashes out at questioner after query about son at campaign event in Iowa

Nancy Pelosi has said that the US President Donald Trump has abused his power as President. Watch this video to know more.

Pelosi: Trump has abused his power as President

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/global-markets-biting-bears-sink-world-shares-to-1-year-low-173030">World shares</a> ticked up on Friday, buoyed by comments from US&nbsp;President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/global-stocks-rattled-after-donald-trump-says-no-deadline-on-us-china-trade-deal-266025">Donald Trump</a> that talks aimed at dialing down the damaging trade war with China were "moving right along".

Trump's relatively upbeat tone in comments on Thursday was enough to encourage riskier bets by investors, despite a lack of agreement over whether existing tariffs should be dropped as part of an initial deal to ease the long standoff.

European shares, including the broader Euro STOXX 600 gained 0.3&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;in early trade, with indexes in Frankfurt and Paris up by similar amounts.

The cautiously buoyant mood mirrored an appetite for riskier bets in Asia, where MSCI's broadest index of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/flare-up-of-sino-us-tensions-over-hong-kong-knocks-world-shares-off-22-month-high-263395">Asia-Pacific shares</a> outside Japan was up 0.5 per cent.

The MSCI world equity index, which tracks shares in 47 countries, added 0.2&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;to 554.91 points, not far off a record high of 550.63 hit last January but still on track for a weekly fall.

Investors were hoping the two sides can reach a compromise to at least avoid their worst fear: that the United States goes ahead with its final batch of tariffs on about $156 billion of Chinese exports, due to take effect on December&nbsp;15.

Trump's remarks came after Chinese officials reiterated demands that some US&nbsp;tariffs be rolled back if the sides are to reach a so-called phase one deal.

Markets had expected the sides to seal the initial deal in November. Instead, investors are nervously watching the approaching deadline for the new US&nbsp;levies.

"The difficulty with this is it's very difficult to time and to trade," said Jeremy Gatto, a multi-asset investment manager at Unigestion. "We are relatively favorable towards riskier assets in general but with hedges."

Gatto said those hedges include currencies such as the US&nbsp;dollar, Japanese yen, and Australian dollar, as well as options.

Investors have already taken precautions against a possible slide in stocks by buying put options, with demand for "put" options to hedge exposure to the S&amp;P500 index climbing in recent days.

In one sign of detente, China said it would waive import tariffs imposed last year on some US&nbsp;soybean and pork shipments. Beijing is rushing to source more meat to fill a gap in protein supplies.

China stocks posted their biggest weekly advance in nearly two months, with the blue-chips up 0.6 per cent.

Investors were looking out for US&nbsp;jobs data, due out at 1330 GMT. The non-farm payrolls report is expected to show 180,000 new jobs were created in November, up from 128,000 a month earlier.

Signs of buoyancy in the labour market would soothe anxiety over the impact of the trade war.

"Markets are in consolidation phase," said Salman Ahmed, chief investment strategist at Lombard Odier. "It's wait and watch for first, how does the non-farm payrolls look and, more importantly, the December&nbsp;15 tariff deadline."

In other economic data, German industrial output fell unexpectedly in October, pointing to persistent weakness in the backbone of the economy. Berlin said, however, that new orders and business expectations suggest output may stabilise.

While markets have largely priced in the view that the world economy has dodged the bullet of recession, there are still signs of fragility in many major economies.

Oil lost ground as investors awaited a meeting of OPEC and its allies later on Friday, which is expected to formally agree to more output curbs in early 2020.

Details of the agreement and how the cuts will be distributed among producers still need to be ratified at a meeting of OPEC and non-OPEC nations, otherwise known as OPEC+, in Vienna.

Brent crude futures were flat at $63.46 a barrel after earlier gaining ground.

The agreement coincided with the initial public offering of state oil firm Saudi Aramco, which was priced at the top of its range and raised $25.6 billion in the world's biggest IPO.

In currencies, the British pound stepped back some 0.2 per cent. Sterling spiked to a seven-month high of $1.3166 on Thursday on bets that next week's election will give the Conservative party the majority it needs to deliver Brexit, ending near-term uncertainty.

The pound last stood at $1.313. It hit 2-1/2-year highs versus the euro.

Against a basket of currencies the dollar has dropped every day this week, falling to a one-month low of 97.356 on Thursday. The index was last down a smidgeon at 97.370 and has lost nearly 1 per cent&nbsp;this week.

World shares ticked up on Friday, buoyed by comments from US President Donald Trump that talks aimed at dialing down the damaging trade war with China were "moving right along".

World shares ticked up on Friday, buoyed by comments from US President Donald Trump that talks aimed at dialing down the damaging trade war with China were "moving right along". Trump's relatively upbeat tone in comments on Thursday was enough to encourage riskier bets by investors, despite a lack of agreement over whether existing tariffs should be dropped as part of an initial deal to ease the long standoff. European shares, including the broader Euro STOXX 600 gained 0.3 per cent in early trade, with indexes in Frankfurt and Paris up by similar amounts. The cautiously buoyant mood mirrored an appetite for riskier bets in Asia, where MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.5 per cent. The MSCI world equity index, which tracks shares in 47 countries, added 0.2 per cent to 554.91 points, not far off a record high of 550.63 hit last January but still on track for a weekly fall. Investors were hoping the two sides can reach a compromise to at least avoid their worst fear: that the United States goes ahead with its final batch of tariffs on about $156 billion of Chinese exports, due to take effect on December 15. Trump's remarks came after Chinese officials reiterated demands that some US tariffs be rolled back if the sides are to reach a so-called phase one deal. Markets had expected the sides to seal the initial deal in November. Instead, investors are nervously watching the approaching deadline for the new US levies. "The difficulty with this is it's very difficult to time and to trade," said Jeremy Gatto, a multi-asset investment manager at Unigestion. "We are relatively favorable towards riskier assets in general but with hedges." Gatto said those hedges include currencies such as the US dollar, Japanese yen, and Australian dollar, as well as options. Investors have already taken precautions against a possible slide in stocks by buying put options, with demand for "put" options to hedge exposure to the S&P500 index climbing in recent days. In one sign of detente, China said it would waive import tariffs imposed last year on some US soybean and pork shipments. Beijing is rushing to source more meat to fill a gap in protein supplies. China stocks posted their biggest weekly advance in nearly two months, with the blue-chips up 0.6 per cent. Investors were looking out for US jobs data, due out at 1330 GMT. The non-farm payrolls report is expected to show 180,000 new jobs were created in November, up from 128,000 a month earlier. Signs of buoyancy in the labour market would soothe anxiety over the impact of the trade war. "Markets are in consolidation phase," said Salman Ahmed, chief investment strategist at Lombard Odier. "It's wait and watch for first, how does the non-farm payrolls look and, more importantly, the December 15 tariff deadline." In other economic data, German industrial output fell unexpectedly in October, pointing to persistent weakness in the backbone of the economy. Berlin said, however, that new orders and business expectations suggest output may stabilise. While markets have largely priced in the view that the world economy has dodged the bullet of recession, there are still signs of fragility in many major economies. Oil lost ground as investors awaited a meeting of OPEC and its allies later on Friday, which is expected to formally agree to more output curbs in early 2020. Details of the agreement and how the cuts will be distributed among producers still need to be ratified at a meeting of OPEC and non-OPEC nations, otherwise known as OPEC+, in Vienna. Brent crude futures were flat at $63.46 a barrel after earlier gaining ground. The agreement coincided with the initial public offering of state oil firm Saudi Aramco, which was priced at the top of its range and raised $25.6 billion in the world's biggest IPO. In currencies, the British pound stepped back some 0.2 per cent. Sterling spiked to a seven-month high of $1.3166 on Thursday on bets that next week's election will give the Conservative party the majority it needs to deliver Brexit, ending near-term uncertainty. The pound last stood at $1.313. It hit 2-1/2-year highs versus the euro. Against a basket of currencies the dollar has dropped every day this week, falling to a one-month low of 97.356 on Thursday. The index was last down a smidgeon at 97.370 and has lost nearly 1 per cent this week.

'Moving right along'? Global shares nudge up after Trump trade talk

China said on Friday it will waive import tariffs for some soybeans and pork shipments from the United States, as the two sides try to thrash out an agreement to defuse their protracted trade war.

The tariff waivers were based on applications by individual firms for US&nbsp;soybeans and pork imports, the finance ministry said in a statement, citing a decision by the country's cabinet. It did not specify the quantities involved.

China imposed tariffs of 25 per cent&nbsp;on both US&nbsp;soybeans and pork in July 2018 as a countermeasure to tariffs levied by Washington over allegations that China steals and forces the transfer of American intellectual property to Chinese firms.

The waiver comes amid negotiations between the United States and China to conclude a 'phase one' or interim deal to de-escalate a 17-month trade war that has roiled financial markets, disrupted supply chains and weighed on global economic growth.

A deal had initially been expected last month, but the two sides are said to be still seeking agreement on major issues such as which tariffs to roll back and the size of US&nbsp;farm purchases China is willing to make.

Though Trump struck an upbeat tone on progress in talks on Thursday, a new round of US&nbsp;tariffs covering about $156 billion of Chinese imports is set to kick in just over a week away on December&nbsp;15.

China's tariff waivers on key US&nbsp;agricultural products is a sign of its commitment to the deal, said an industry source who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Beijing's levies on US&nbsp;soybeans initially brought its purchases of the US' most valuable farm export to a virtual halt, although it has offered waivers to buyers in recent months.

Those waivers are said to have expired, although new exemptions may come too late, said an analyst.

"December arrivals are already pretty high and then we're getting into the Brazil crop," said Darin Friedrichs, senior Asia commodity analyst at INTL FC Stone.

"There's limited space to buy new US&nbsp;soybeans at this point."

Exemptions for pork are likely to be in higher demand, with less than two months until China's Lunar New Year holiday, the country's peak consumption period.

China has been scouring the world for more meat to fill a big shortage of protein after an outbreak of African swine fever devastated its massive hog herd, cutting supplies of pork.

US pork exports to China and Hong Kong are already up 47 per cent&nbsp;in volume terms from January to September, even with high duties in place.

An adviser to the Chinese government said exemptions on the products suited Beijing, as they helped meet market demand for such goods while reducing the trade surplus with the United States.

"We might as well buy soybeans from the US&nbsp;rather than from Brazil. Brazil is actually selling us what was purchased from the United States and they even hiked the prices up before selling to us. In that case, we'd better just buy from the United States," she said.

China said on Friday it will waive import tariffs for some soybeans and pork shipments from the United States, as the two sides try to thrash out an agreement to defuse their protracted trade war.

China said on Friday it will waive import tariffs for some soybeans and pork shipments from the United States, as the two sides try to thrash out an agreement to defuse their protracted trade war. The tariff waivers were based on applications by individual firms for US soybeans and pork imports, the finance ministry said in a statement, citing a decision by the country's cabinet. It did not specify the quantities involved. China imposed tariffs of 25 per cent on both US soybeans and pork in July 2018 as a countermeasure to tariffs levied by Washington over allegations that China steals and forces the transfer of American intellectual property to Chinese firms. The waiver comes amid negotiations between the United States and China to conclude a 'phase one' or interim deal to de-escalate a 17-month trade war that has roiled financial markets, disrupted supply chains and weighed on global economic growth. A deal had initially been expected last month, but the two sides are said to be still seeking agreement on major issues such as which tariffs to roll back and the size of US farm purchases China is willing to make. Though Trump struck an upbeat tone on progress in talks on Thursday, a new round of US tariffs covering about $156 billion of Chinese imports is set to kick in just over a week away on December 15. China's tariff waivers on key US agricultural products is a sign of its commitment to the deal, said an industry source who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter. Beijing's levies on US soybeans initially brought its purchases of the US' most valuable farm export to a virtual halt, although it has offered waivers to buyers in recent months. Those waivers are said to have expired, although new exemptions may come too late, said an analyst. "December arrivals are already pretty high and then we're getting into the Brazil crop," said Darin Friedrichs, senior Asia commodity analyst at INTL FC Stone. "There's limited space to buy new US soybeans at this point." Exemptions for pork are likely to be in higher demand, with less than two months until China's Lunar New Year holiday, the country's peak consumption period. China has been scouring the world for more meat to fill a big shortage of protein after an outbreak of African swine fever devastated its massive hog herd, cutting supplies of pork. US pork exports to China and Hong Kong are already up 47 per cent in volume terms from January to September, even with high duties in place. An adviser to the Chinese government said exemptions on the products suited Beijing, as they helped meet market demand for such goods while reducing the trade surplus with the United States. "We might as well buy soybeans from the US rather than from Brazil. Brazil is actually selling us what was purchased from the United States and they even hiked the prices up before selling to us. In that case, we'd better just buy from the United States," she said.

China to waive tariffs on some US soybeans, pork

By Megan Dee

Anniversaries are meant to be a celebration. They represent a moment of reflection – a marker, a milestone, a time to look back. And therein lies their biggest problem. For anniversaries have that unfortunate effect of turning any subject – be it a past event, a married couple, or indeed an international institution – into an object of intense scrutiny. For the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) celebrating its 70th anniversary in London on December 3-4, that scrutiny has come at an unfortunate time.

Founded in 1949 with the signing of the Washington Treaty, NATO at 70 represents one the longest-standing and arguably most successful political and military alliances in history. Yet NATO’s evolution, longevity and very survival continues to draw debate for academics, practitioners and world leaders alike. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO’s raison d’etre has been constantly criticised, with many seeing it as a dinosaur of a bygone era.

Yet Russia’s resurgent efforts to disturb and disrupt the North Atlantic region since the 2014 annexation of Crimea has also seen a renewed impetus for NATO as a security alliance. And new threats are looming, as my own research and teaching on international negotiation has examined.

NATO in 2019 in fact faces an unenviable agenda and a political environment increasingly unconducive to building a consensus. NATO’s core geopolitical challenges not only include a resurgent Russia amid claims of a “New Cold War”, but an increasingly influential and encroaching China. China was on the agenda of this leaders’ meeting for the first time.

The alliance must also address new hybrid threats ranging from cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure, to public disinformation. Arms control is again a top agenda item for the alliance, not only over nuclear and chemical weapons, but now also addressing space as a new operational domain. Climate change and migration have also become hot topics for NATO.

NATO’s security environment has therefore become something of a multi-headed hydra, with each head representing a new challenge that only a strong and united NATO can ultimately meet.

Fraying solidarity a NATO hallmark

Fraying solidarity has nevertheless become a hallmark for the alliance. The Syrian crisis has involved the US and Turkey both undertaking unilateral action without consulting with NATO allies. That action has been further exacerbated by Turkey’s growing ties with Russia, including the purchase of the S-400 missile system.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has also challenged the cohesion of the 29-nation alliance by emphasising his own preference for a strong European security architecture, independent of the US and citing NATO’s “brain-death”. Macron’s comments were sharply challenged by both Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel and US president, Donald Trump.

Amid it all, political contentions continue to fester within NATO over burden-sharing, and the US push for all 29 nations to meet their spending obligations to spend 2% of GDP on defence.

All this would seem to suggest that NATO’s anniversary really has come at the worst possible juncture for an ageing, somewhat challenged, alliance. As the London NATO leader’s meeting has highlighted, forced family gatherings can be fuelled by squabbling and the airing of past and current grievances rather than affection and unity. While anniversary gatherings are intended to celebrate, they also shine a spotlight on the cracks that fester.

Introverted, yet successful

For a naturally introverted NATO that operates most effectively as a military alliance away from the political spotlight, the London anniversary meeting must have been gruelling. It is only when you remove the spotlight and political grandstanding of this 70th anniversary that NATO’s truest successes come to the fore.

For the success of NATO is its longevity, its adaptation, its ability to look out and seek to address the risks of an ever-changing security environment and its ability to maintain the ties that bind among its growing family. As NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg remarked at a conference the day before the leaders met, in contrast to most politicians who are criticised for being good on rhetoric but bad on substance, NATO is the opposite – it is “bad on rhetoric but good on substance”.

For all of the cracks that this 70th anniversary has revealed, it has provided a moment for reflection. As the declaration published after the three-hour meeting of leaders identifies, what is now needed is a “forward-looking reflection process.”

NATO’s 70-year history is itself testimony of the organisation’s ongoing self-reflection, coupled with a willingness to adapt. But this meeting has provided just such a time for deep reflection on the alliance’s future as both a political and military organisation.

In tackling the challenges facing NATO today, that reflective process must consider NATO’s institutional procedures, decision-making and political structures under a soon-to-be 30-nation alliance, with North Macedonia set to join in 2020. A focus on consultation will also be critical in ensuring the cohesion of the alliance and maintaining solidarity.

Moving beyond this anniversary, NATO has much to do and hard questions to answer. But take away the spotlight and NATO will continue to work away quietly on the substance over the rhetoric … at least until its 80th.

 
(Megan Dee is Lecturer in International Politics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/nato-meeting-solidarity-reinforced-despite-uncomfortable-time-for-alliance-to-be-in-the-spotlight-128143">University of Stirling</a>)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp;

By Megan Dee Anniversaries are meant to be a celebration. They represent a moment of reflection – a marker, a milestone, a time to look back. And therein lies their biggest problem.

By Megan Dee Anniversaries are meant to be a celebration. They represent a moment of reflection – a marker, a milestone, a time to look back. And therein lies their biggest problem. For anniversaries have that unfortunate effect of turning any subject – be it a past event, a married couple, or indeed an international institution – into an object of intense scrutiny. For the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) celebrating its 70th anniversary in London on December 3-4, that scrutiny has come at an unfortunate time. Founded in 1949 with the signing of the Washington Treaty, NATO at 70 represents one the longest-standing and arguably most successful political and military alliances in history. Yet NATO’s evolution, longevity and very survival continues to draw debate for academics, practitioners and world leaders alike. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO’s raison d’etre has been constantly criticised, with many seeing it as a dinosaur of a bygone era. Yet Russia’s resurgent efforts to disturb and disrupt the North Atlantic region since the 2014 annexation of Crimea has also seen a renewed impetus for NATO as a security alliance. And new threats are looming, as my own research and teaching on international negotiation has examined. NATO in 2019 in fact faces an unenviable agenda and a political environment increasingly unconducive to building a consensus. NATO’s core geopolitical challenges not only include a resurgent Russia amid claims of a “New Cold War”, but an increasingly influential and encroaching China. China was on the agenda of this leaders’ meeting for the first time. The alliance must also address new hybrid threats ranging from cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure, to public disinformation. Arms control is again a top agenda item for the alliance, not only over nuclear and chemical weapons, but now also addressing space as a new operational domain. Climate change and migration have also become hot topics for NATO. NATO’s security environment has therefore become something of a multi-headed hydra, with each head representing a new challenge that only a strong and united NATO can ultimately meet. Fraying solidarity a NATO hallmark Fraying solidarity has nevertheless become a hallmark for the alliance. The Syrian crisis has involved the US and Turkey both undertaking unilateral action without consulting with NATO allies. That action has been further exacerbated by Turkey’s growing ties with Russia, including the purchase of the S-400 missile system. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has also challenged the cohesion of the 29-nation alliance by emphasising his own preference for a strong European security architecture, independent of the US and citing NATO’s “brain-death”. Macron’s comments were sharply challenged by both Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel and US president, Donald Trump. Amid it all, political contentions continue to fester within NATO over burden-sharing, and the US push for all 29 nations to meet their spending obligations to spend 2% of GDP on defence. All this would seem to suggest that NATO’s anniversary really has come at the worst possible juncture for an ageing, somewhat challenged, alliance. As the London NATO leader’s meeting has highlighted, forced family gatherings can be fuelled by squabbling and the airing of past and current grievances rather than affection and unity. While anniversary gatherings are intended to celebrate, they also shine a spotlight on the cracks that fester. Introverted, yet successful For a naturally introverted NATO that operates most effectively as a military alliance away from the political spotlight, the London anniversary meeting must have been gruelling. It is only when you remove the spotlight and political grandstanding of this 70th anniversary that NATO’s truest successes come to the fore. For the success of NATO is its longevity, its adaptation, its ability to look out and seek to address the risks of an ever-changing security environment and its ability to maintain the ties that bind among its growing family. As NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg remarked at a conference the day before the leaders met, in contrast to most politicians who are criticised for being good on rhetoric but bad on substance, NATO is the opposite – it is “bad on rhetoric but good on substance”. For all of the cracks that this 70th anniversary has revealed, it has provided a moment for reflection. As the declaration published after the three-hour meeting of leaders identifies, what is now needed is a “forward-looking reflection process.” NATO’s 70-year history is itself testimony of the organisation’s ongoing self-reflection, coupled with a willingness to adapt. But this meeting has provided just such a time for deep reflection on the alliance’s future as both a political and military organisation. In tackling the challenges facing NATO today, that reflective process must consider NATO’s institutional procedures, decision-making and political structures under a soon-to-be 30-nation alliance, with North Macedonia set to join in 2020. A focus on consultation will also be critical in ensuring the cohesion of the alliance and maintaining solidarity. Moving beyond this anniversary, NATO has much to do and hard questions to answer. But take away the spotlight and NATO will continue to work away quietly on the substance over the rhetoric … at least until its 80th. (Megan Dee is Lecturer in International Politics, University of Stirling) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

NATO meeting: Solidarity reinforced despite uncomfortable time for alliance to be in the spotlight

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-approves-uighur-bill-demanding-sanctions-on-senior-chinese-officials-266033">Trump&nbsp;administration</a>&nbsp;said on Wednesday it will make it harder for states to keep residents in the US&nbsp;food&nbsp;stamp program in a move that is projected to end benefits for nearly&nbsp;700,000&nbsp;people.

President Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;has argued that many Americans receiving&nbsp;food&nbsp;stamps&nbsp;through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, do not need it given the strong economy and low unemployment. The program provides free&nbsp;food&nbsp;to 36 million Americans.

The&nbsp;administration&nbsp;has now finalised a rule that tightens guidelines on when and where states can waive limits on how long certain residents can receive benefits. The changes will move more "able-bodied" adults into the workplace, US&nbsp;Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said.

"States are seeking waivers for wide swaths of their population, and millions of&nbsp;people&nbsp;who could work are continuing to receive SNAP benefits," he told reporters.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-ends-freeze-on-lebanon-aid-worth-100-million-265820">United States</a> generally limits the amount of time that adults ages 18-49, who do not have dependents or disability, can receive&nbsp;food&nbsp;stamps&nbsp;to three months in a 36-month period unless they meet certain work requirements.

States can apply for waivers to this time limit due to tough economic conditions. However, counties with an unemployment rate as low as 2.5 per cent&nbsp;have been included in waived areas, according to the US&nbsp;Department of Agriculture, which runs SNAP.

The agency is stiffening guidelines defining where recipients can reside to be eligible for waivers and standards for demonstrating whether an area has enough jobs to justify a waiver.

The US&nbsp;unemployment rate was 3.6 per cent&nbsp;in October.

"We need everyone who can work to work," Perdue said.

But critics say the&nbsp;moves&nbsp;will hurt poor Americans.

"This is an unacceptable escalation of the&nbsp;administration's war on working families, and it comes during a time when too many are forced to stretch already-thin budgets to make ends meet," said US&nbsp;Representative Marcia Fudge, an Ohio Democrat.

The&nbsp;administration&nbsp;has sought to tighten requirements for&nbsp;food&nbsp;stamps&nbsp;without congressional approval after Congress blocked a&nbsp;Trump-backed effort to pass new restrictions through the Farm Bill last year.

The latest rule will take effect next year and save the US&nbsp;government $5.5 billion over five years by removing about 688,000&nbsp;people&nbsp;from&nbsp;food&nbsp;stamps, said Brandon Lipps, a USDA deputy undersecretary.

"For those impacted, it will mean less nutritious meals or meals that are skipped altogether," said Cassie Ramos, policy associate for the Centre&nbsp;for Science in the Public Interest, an advocacy group.

The Trump administration said on Wednesday it will make it harder for states to keep residents in the US food stamp program in a move that is projected to end benefits for nearly 700,000 people.

The Trump administration said on Wednesday it will make it harder for states to keep residents in the US food stamp program in a move that is projected to end benefits for nearly 700,000 people. President Donald Trump has argued that many Americans receiving food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, do not need it given the strong economy and low unemployment. The program provides free food to 36 million Americans. The administration has now finalised a rule that tightens guidelines on when and where states can waive limits on how long certain residents can receive benefits. The changes will move more "able-bodied" adults into the workplace, US Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said. "States are seeking waivers for wide swaths of their population, and millions of people who could work are continuing to receive SNAP benefits," he told reporters. The United States generally limits the amount of time that adults ages 18-49, who do not have dependents or disability, can receive food stamps to three months in a 36-month period unless they meet certain work requirements. States can apply for waivers to this time limit due to tough economic conditions. However, counties with an unemployment rate as low as 2.5 per cent have been included in waived areas, according to the US Department of Agriculture, which runs SNAP. The agency is stiffening guidelines defining where recipients can reside to be eligible for waivers and standards for demonstrating whether an area has enough jobs to justify a waiver. The US unemployment rate was 3.6 per cent in October. "We need everyone who can work to work," Perdue said. But critics say the moves will hurt poor Americans. "This is an unacceptable escalation of the administration's war on working families, and it comes during a time when too many are forced to stretch already-thin budgets to make ends meet," said US Representative Marcia Fudge, an Ohio Democrat. The administration has sought to tighten requirements for food stamps without congressional approval after Congress blocked a Trump-backed effort to pass new restrictions through the Farm Bill last year. The latest rule will take effect next year and save the US government $5.5 billion over five years by removing about 688,000 people from food stamps, said Brandon Lipps, a USDA deputy undersecretary. "For those impacted, it will mean less nutritious meals or meals that are skipped altogether," said Cassie Ramos, policy associate for the Centre for Science in the Public Interest, an advocacy group.

Trump administration moves to remove 700,000 people from food stamps' benefits

Trouble Seems To Follow The U.S. President Trump Wherever He Goes.

Gravitas: Trump: Impeachment Trouble, NATO Disaster

A defiant President Donald Trump predicted Thursday he "will win," after the Democratic Speaker of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-has-abused-power-us-house-to-draft-impeachment-charges-against-him-nancy-pelosi-266490">House of Representatives gave the greenlight for impeachment</a>.

"The good thing is that the Republicans have NEVER been more united. We will win!" Trump tweeted.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi earlier asked her party to draft articles of impeachment based on allegations that Trump abused his office by pressuring Ukraine into a scheme to embarrass one of his main opponents for reelection next year.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
....This will mean that the beyond important and seldom used act of Impeachment will be used routinely to attack future Presidents. That is not what our Founders had in mind. The good thing is that the Republicans have NEVER been more united. We will win!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1202606537342160896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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While impeachment is expected to pass in the Democratic-led House, the Senate is held by a Republican majority and would likely acquit the US president as his 2020 reelection campaign gathers pace.

Trump tweeted that the "Radical Left Democrats have just announced that they are going to seek to Impeach me over NOTHING."

Echoing a frequent Republican argument, he said that the "important and seldom used act of Impeachment will be used routinely to attack future Presidents. That is not what our Founders had in mind."

A defiant President Donald Trump predicted Thursday he "will win," after the Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives gave the greenlight for impeachment.

A defiant President Donald Trump predicted Thursday he "will win," after the Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives gave the greenlight for impeachment. "The good thing is that the Republicans have NEVER been more united. We will win!" Trump tweeted. Speaker Nancy Pelosi earlier asked her party to draft articles of impeachment based on allegations that Trump abused his office by pressuring Ukraine into a scheme to embarrass one of his main opponents for reelection next year. ....This will mean that the beyond important and seldom used act of Impeachment will be used routinely to attack future Presidents. That is not what our Founders had in mind. The good thing is that the Republicans have NEVER been more united. We will win! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 5, 2019 × While impeachment is expected to pass in the Democratic-led House, the Senate is held by a Republican majority and would likely acquit the US president as his 2020 reelection campaign gathers pace. Trump tweeted that the "Radical Left Democrats have just announced that they are going to seek to Impeach me over NOTHING." Echoing a frequent Republican argument, he said that the "important and seldom used act of Impeachment will be used routinely to attack future Presidents. That is not what our Founders had in mind."

'Will win' impeachment fight: US President Donald Trump

donald-trump

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