This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

Watch WION Speed News, August 19th, 2019

Greenland dismisses the notion that it might be up for sale. Trump has discussed this with his advisers of buying Greenland. But Greenland's foreign minister said, ''We are not for sale.''

Donald Trump confirmed, ''Discussed the possibility to buy world's largest island''

The U.S. President Donald Trump parallels to Tiananmen Square in 1989. He said, ''it is very hard to do a deal if there is violence. China needs this deal more than the U.S.'' Troops raise concerns of military intervention.

Trump warns China's Xi Jinping against violence in Hong Kong

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - August 19th, 2019

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolsonaro-vows-to-fight-illegal-deforestation-in-brazil-240639">Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro</a> on Monday responded to Norway's decision to halt its forest protection subsidies, taking to Twitter to criticise the Scandinavian country for its whaling practice and post spectacular albeit misleading images.

"Look at the killing of whales sponsored by Norway," Bolsonaro wrote on Twitter.

The post includes a video and photographs of a spectacular whale hunt, where mammals in the shallow waters of a bay are slaughtered by people wading onshore, armed with hooked knives. The whales' blood turns the waters red.

However, the images, reportedly taken on May 29 in Norway, illustrate a "grind", a type of pilot whale hunt practised exclusively in the Faroe Islands a Danish territory in the North Atlantic.

Norway is one of the few countries in the world that authorises commercial whaling, but the whales are hunted individually, at sea from a ship, and with grenade-mounted harpoons.

"We can confirm that the video/the photos are not from Norway," the Norwegian fisheries ministry told AFP in an email.

"Our whale hunt takes place from ships at sea," he said, arguing that the Norwegian practice was "sustainable".&nbsp;

Bolsonaro was ridiculed on social media for the mix-up.

"Haha what a stupid president Brazil has! This is NOT from Norway! We don't kill whales like that. Do your homework to get respected! 'Fake news' as Trump would have said," wrote one Twitter user.

"False information is a crime Mr President," wrote another.

Bolsonaro has been taking digs at Norway since the country announced last week that it, like Germany, was blocking 30 million euros ($33 million) of subsidies to Brazil, accusing it of turning its back on the fight against deforestation.

Norway has been the single largest donor to the Amazon Fund for forest protection, giving almost 830 million euros since its creation 11 years ago.&nbsp;

Oslo said Brazil, under Bolsonaro's leadership, "no longer wishes to stop deforestation" and said it unilaterally "broke the agreement" it had on the Amazon Fund.

Bolsonaro reacted immediately and angrily.

"Norway, isn't that the country that kills whales up there, at the North Pole? And that produces oil too? That is not at all a role model for us. Let them keep their money and let them help Angela Merkel reforest Germany," he said. 
&nbsp;

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Monday responded to Norway's decision to halt its forest protection subsidies, taking to Twitter to criticise the Scandinavian country for its whaling practice and post spectacular albeit misleading images.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Monday responded to Norway's decision to halt its forest protection subsidies, taking to Twitter to criticise the Scandinavian country for its whaling practice and post spectacular albeit misleading images. "Look at the killing of whales sponsored by Norway," Bolsonaro wrote on Twitter. The post includes a video and photographs of a spectacular whale hunt, where mammals in the shallow waters of a bay are slaughtered by people wading onshore, armed with hooked knives. The whales' blood turns the waters red. However, the images, reportedly taken on May 29 in Norway, illustrate a "grind", a type of pilot whale hunt practised exclusively in the Faroe Islands a Danish territory in the North Atlantic. Norway is one of the few countries in the world that authorises commercial whaling, but the whales are hunted individually, at sea from a ship, and with grenade-mounted harpoons. "We can confirm that the video/the photos are not from Norway," the Norwegian fisheries ministry told AFP in an email. "Our whale hunt takes place from ships at sea," he said, arguing that the Norwegian practice was "sustainable". Bolsonaro was ridiculed on social media for the mix-up. "Haha what a stupid president Brazil has! This is NOT from Norway! We don't kill whales like that. Do your homework to get respected! 'Fake news' as Trump would have said," wrote one Twitter user. "False information is a crime Mr President," wrote another. Bolsonaro has been taking digs at Norway since the country announced last week that it, like Germany, was blocking 30 million euros ($33 million) of subsidies to Brazil, accusing it of turning its back on the fight against deforestation. Norway has been the single largest donor to the Amazon Fund for forest protection, giving almost 830 million euros since its creation 11 years ago. Oslo said Brazil, under Bolsonaro's leadership, "no longer wishes to stop deforestation" and said it unilaterally "broke the agreement" it had on the Amazon Fund. Bolsonaro reacted immediately and angrily. "Norway, isn't that the country that kills whales up there, at the North Pole? And that produces oil too? That is not at all a role model for us. Let them keep their money and let them help Angela Merkel reforest Germany," he said.

Brazil President Bolsonaro takes on Norway over whaling but bungles it

Why Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland

US President Donald Trump on Sunday warned China that carrying out a Tiananmen Square-style crackdown on Hong Kong <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-mounting-violence-and-warnings-from-china-hong-kong-protesters-flood-streets-in-peaceful-march-243848">pro-democracy protesters</a> would harm <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-and-china-seeking-to-revive-trade-talks-trump-advisor-243936">trade talks</a> between the two countries.

"I think it'd be very hard to deal if they do violence, I mean, if it's another Tiananmen Square," Trump told reporters in New Jersey. "I think it's a very hard thing to do if there's violence."

The months-long trade dispute between the US and China has been blamed for setting world financial markets on edge amid signs of a possible global economic slowdown.

Trump's comments came as Washington and Beijing look to revive pivotal talks aimed at ending their trade war.

Phone calls between both countries' deputies are planned for the next 10 days, and if those are successful, negotiations could resume, Trump's chief economic advisor Larry Kudlow said on Sunday.

Hong Kong has meanwhile been dealing with more than two months of protests and on Sunday saw a crowd that organizers said numbered some 1.7 million people march peacefully in the city despite rising unrest and stark warnings from Beijing.

Chinese state media has run images of military personnel and armoured personnel carriers in Shenzhen, across the border from the semi-autonomous city.

In the bloody 1989 crackdown in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, China deployed tanks to end student-led protests, resulting in an estimated death toll of hundreds if not thousands.

If such a situation was repeated in Hong Kong, "I think there'd be... tremendous political sentiment not to do something," Trump said, referring to the trade negotiations with China.

Creeping authoritarianism

Under a deal signed with Britain, China agreed to allow Hong Kong to keep its unique freedoms when the former crown colony was handed back in 1997.

But many Hong Kongers feel those freedoms are being chipped away, especially since China's hardline president Xi Jinping came to power.

Trump stopped short of endorsing the protesters, saying, "I'd love to see it worked out in a humane fashion," and calling on Xi to negotiate with the dissidents.

Last week, China's state-run daily The Global Times said there "won't be a repeat" of Tiananmen Square in a rare reference to the crackdown.

Analysts say any intervention in Hong Kong by Chinese security forces would be a disaster for China's reputation and economy.

The weeks of demonstrations have plunged the financial hub into crisis, with images of masked, black-clad protesters engulfed by tear gas during street battles against riot police stunning a city once renowned for its stability.

The unrest was sparked by widespread opposition to a plan for allowing extraditions to the Chinese mainland but has since morphed into a broader call for democratic rights in the semi-autonomous city.

Sunday's march billed as a return to the peaceful origins of the leaderless protest movement, was one of the largest rallies since the protests began about three months ago, according to organizers the Civil Human Rights Front.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday warned China that carrying out a Tiananmen Square-style crackdown on Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters would harm trade talks between the two countries.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday warned China that carrying out a Tiananmen Square-style crackdown on Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters would harm trade talks between the two countries. "I think it'd be very hard to deal if they do violence, I mean, if it's another Tiananmen Square," Trump told reporters in New Jersey. "I think it's a very hard thing to do if there's violence." The months-long trade dispute between the US and China has been blamed for setting world financial markets on edge amid signs of a possible global economic slowdown. Trump's comments came as Washington and Beijing look to revive pivotal talks aimed at ending their trade war. Phone calls between both countries' deputies are planned for the next 10 days, and if those are successful, negotiations could resume, Trump's chief economic advisor Larry Kudlow said on Sunday. Hong Kong has meanwhile been dealing with more than two months of protests and on Sunday saw a crowd that organizers said numbered some 1.7 million people march peacefully in the city despite rising unrest and stark warnings from Beijing. Chinese state media has run images of military personnel and armoured personnel carriers in Shenzhen, across the border from the semi-autonomous city. In the bloody 1989 crackdown in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, China deployed tanks to end student-led protests, resulting in an estimated death toll of hundreds if not thousands. If such a situation was repeated in Hong Kong, "I think there'd be... tremendous political sentiment not to do something," Trump said, referring to the trade negotiations with China. Creeping authoritarianism Under a deal signed with Britain, China agreed to allow Hong Kong to keep its unique freedoms when the former crown colony was handed back in 1997. But many Hong Kongers feel those freedoms are being chipped away, especially since China's hardline president Xi Jinping came to power. Trump stopped short of endorsing the protesters, saying, "I'd love to see it worked out in a humane fashion," and calling on Xi to negotiate with the dissidents. Last week, China's state-run daily The Global Times said there "won't be a repeat" of Tiananmen Square in a rare reference to the crackdown. Analysts say any intervention in Hong Kong by Chinese security forces would be a disaster for China's reputation and economy. The weeks of demonstrations have plunged the financial hub into crisis, with images of masked, black-clad protesters engulfed by tear gas during street battles against riot police stunning a city once renowned for its stability. The unrest was sparked by widespread opposition to a plan for allowing extraditions to the Chinese mainland but has since morphed into a broader call for democratic rights in the semi-autonomous city. Sunday's march billed as a return to the peaceful origins of the leaderless protest movement, was one of the largest rallies since the protests began about three months ago, according to organizers the Civil Human Rights Front.

Tiananmen Square-style crackdown in Hong Kong would harm trade deal with China: Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump denies business possibility with Huawei. Watch this video to know more.

US President Donald Trump denies business possibility with Huawei

Congress should move quickly with an $8&nbsp;billion&nbsp;sale&nbsp;of F-16&nbsp;fighter jets to&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;as the self-ruled island faces pressure from China's increased military presence in the region, leading US&nbsp;Democratic&nbsp;and&nbsp;Republican&nbsp;lawmakers&nbsp;said on Friday.

China denounced the planned&nbsp;sale, one of the biggest yet by the United States to&nbsp;Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province. It warned of unspecified "countermeasures."

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch, a&nbsp;Republican, welcomed the proposed&nbsp;sale&nbsp;of the Lockheed Martin Corp F-16V jets.&nbsp;

"These fighters are critical to improving&nbsp;Taiwan's ability to defend its sovereign airspace, which is under increasing pressure from the People’s Republic of China," he said in a statement.

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The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Jim Inhofe, and fellow&nbsp;Republican&nbsp;Senator John Cornyn said&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;"remains an important pillar of security and stability" in the region.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;sale&nbsp;of the jets would "deter aggression given Beijing's increasing assertiveness and military buildup," they said in a joint statement.

Similarly, the&nbsp;Democratic&nbsp;chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, Eliot Engel, and the panel's ranking&nbsp;Republican, Michael McCaul, said in a joint statement that the deal "sends a strong message" about US commitment to security and democracy in the region.

Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, both&nbsp;Republicans, also issued statements&nbsp;backing the deal.

Washington has no formal ties with self-ruled and&nbsp;democratic&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;but is bound by law to help provide it with the means to defend itself.

It is the main arms supplier to&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;and there is broad support for this in Congress.

China has never renounced the use of force to bring&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;under its control and has repeatedly denounced US arms&nbsp;sales to the island.

Friday's New York Times quoted unnamed US officials as saying that the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/to-survive-trade-war-some-us-importers-embark-on-major-revamps-of-product-lines-238323"> Trump administration, which is engaged in a major trade war with China</a>, was moving forward with the&nbsp;sale and said the State Department gave informal notification of the plan to the House and Senate foreign affairs committees on Thursday.

The paper said once those committees gave the go-ahead, which would probably come within days or weeks, there would follow a formal notification to Congress, which would trigger 30 days for objections.

The State Department and the White House declined to comment. China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Beijing had made solemn representations to the United States over the planned&nbsp;sale.

China's state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Hua as saying that it was a serious violation of the "one-China principle," under which Washington recognise Beijing and not Taipei, and undermined China's sovereignty and security interests.

Hua urged the US to stop arms&nbsp;sales to and military contact with&nbsp;Taiwan, otherwise, the Chinese side would "certainly take countermeasures," Xinhua said.

After the United States approved&nbsp;sales of tanks and Raytheon Co's &nbsp;anti-aircraft Stinger missiles to&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;in July, China said it was "ready to go to war" if people "try to split Taiwan&nbsp;from the country."

Beijing said it would impose sanctions on US companies involved in any deals.

On Thursday,&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;unveiled its largest defence spending increase in more than a decade, to T$411.3&nbsp;billion&nbsp;($13.11&nbsp;billion.)

Congress should move quickly with an $8 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan as the self-ruled island faces pressure from China's increased military presence in the region, leading US Democratic and Republican lawmakers said on Friday.

Congress should move quickly with an $8 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan as the self-ruled island faces pressure from China's increased military presence in the region, leading US Democratic and Republican lawmakers said on Friday. China denounced the planned sale, one of the biggest yet by the United States to Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province. It warned of unspecified "countermeasures." Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch, a Republican, welcomed the proposed sale of the Lockheed Martin Corp F-16V jets. "These fighters are critical to improving Taiwan's ability to defend its sovereign airspace, which is under increasing pressure from the People’s Republic of China," he said in a statement. The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Jim Inhofe, and fellow Republican Senator John Cornyn said Taiwan "remains an important pillar of security and stability" in the region. The sale of the jets would "deter aggression given Beijing's increasing assertiveness and military buildup," they said in a joint statement. Similarly, the Democratic chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, Eliot Engel, and the panel's ranking Republican, Michael McCaul, said in a joint statement that the deal "sends a strong message" about US commitment to security and democracy in the region. Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, both Republicans, also issued statements backing the deal. Washington has no formal ties with self-ruled and democratic Taiwan but is bound by law to help provide it with the means to defend itself. It is the main arms supplier to Taiwan and there is broad support for this in Congress. China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control and has repeatedly denounced US arms sales to the island. Friday's New York Times quoted unnamed US officials as saying that the Trump administration, which is engaged in a major trade war with China, was moving forward with the sale and said the State Department gave informal notification of the plan to the House and Senate foreign affairs committees on Thursday. The paper said once those committees gave the go-ahead, which would probably come within days or weeks, there would follow a formal notification to Congress, which would trigger 30 days for objections. The State Department and the White House declined to comment. China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Beijing had made solemn representations to the United States over the planned sale. China's state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Hua as saying that it was a serious violation of the "one-China principle," under which Washington recognise Beijing and not Taipei, and undermined China's sovereignty and security interests. Hua urged the US to stop arms sales to and military contact with Taiwan, otherwise, the Chinese side would "certainly take countermeasures," Xinhua said. After the United States approved sales of tanks and Raytheon Co's anti-aircraft Stinger missiles to Taiwan in July, China said it was "ready to go to war" if people "try to split Taiwan from the country." Beijing said it would impose sanctions on US companies involved in any deals. On Thursday, Taiwan unveiled its largest defence spending increase in more than a decade, to T$411.3 billion ($13.11 billion.)

Democratic, Republican lawmakers back F-16 sales to Taiwan

Last month after Donald Trump watched Fox News lob what he called "softball questions" at a Democratic lawmaker, the US president delivered a crisp smackdown of his favourite network: "Fox sure ain't what it used to be.

Last month after Donald Trump watched Fox News lob what he called "softball questions" at a Democratic lawmaker, the US president delivered a crisp smackdown of his favourite network: "Fox sure ain't what it used to be." After years of often fawning coverage by Fox, particularly from its pro-Trump anchors like Sean Hannity, the commander in chief appears to be tilting his media gaze toward a younger, more right-wing rival, cable outfit One America News Network (OANN). The small upstart broadcaster was launched only recently, in 2013, by technology millionaire Robert Herring, who sought a more conservative alternative to mainstream media behemoths like CNN. Today it seeks to outfox Fox by drawing extra attention from Trump, who has been voicing his displeasure with the rating leader over everything from presidential polling to its hosting of Democratic candidate town halls. Last week in a tweet to his 63 million followers, the president managed to disparage Fox and his mainstream news foil CNN, while heaping praise on the new object of his media affection. Embracing a newcomer "Watching Fake News CNN is better than watching Shepard Smith, the lowest-rated show on @FoxNews. Actually, whenever possible, I turn to @OANN!" Trump posted. Since March he has tweeted links to OANN stories or shared his appreciation of the network 13 times. The relationship has been years in the making. In 2015 Trump was interviewed by Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee in 2008, when she guest-hosted OANN's show "On Point." At his first press conference as president-elect, in January 2017, Trump took a question from an OANN reporter. OANN was then called on dozens of times at the daily briefings in Trump's first 100 days in office. During his June 2018 press conference in Singapore, following the summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, Trump took a question from OANN White House correspondent Emerald Robinson, but not before gushing about her network. 'It's really beautiful' "Thank you for the nice way you treat us. We appreciate it," he said. "Really, it's very good. It's really beautiful what you do." The San Diego-based operation describes itself as "straight news, no opinion." But the pro-Trump agenda is crystal clear, more than a dozen current and former employees told The Washington Post in 2017. Herring himself, in his pinned tweet, describes OANN as "the president's favourite news outlet." When Fox cut away from broadcasting a Trump rally in New Hampshire on Thursday, Herring tweeted, "We will never cut away!" 'Wasting airtime' OANN has faced accusations of promoting conspiracy theories and peddling Kremlin propaganda. "Yeah, we like Russia here," a staffer assigned to brief new OANN producer Ernest Champell told him, according to The Daily Beast. Champell left, disillusioned, four months later. "The network has a history of race-baiting and presenting anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant and anti-abortion reporting," according to Media Matters, a progressive nonprofit group that says its mission is "analyzing and correcting conservative misinformation." While OANN's influence in the White House may far outweigh its position in the news media landscape, Trump clearly retains an affinity for several people in the Fox organization. The show "Fox & Friends" remains his go-to morning program; Trump has phoned in on numerous occasions as president. Perhaps that is why Democratic longshot contender Julian Castro purchased ad time during "Fox & Friends" this week, airing a spot in which he directly addresses Trump and blames him for inspiring the El Paso shooter who massacred 22 people early this month. Polls 'have been terrible' Sean Hannity, the network's popular anchor, campaigned for Trump in 2016. But friction emerged this week when Hannity expressed support for CNN anchor Chris Cuomo after a video of Cuomo in a heated argument at a New York bar went viral. It was a sharp contrast to Trump, who tweeted that Cuomo the brother of New York's Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo was "nuts" and showed a "total loss of control" in the incident. The president expressed frustration when Fox aired multiple town halls in recent months featuring Democrats who are trying to unseat him in 2020, including South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, currently fifth in major polling. "Hard to believe that @FoxNews is wasting airtime on Mayor Pete," Trump tweeted in May. "Fox is moving more and more to the losing (wrong) side in covering the Dems." Fox News presidential polling is also a concern for Trump, whose job approval rating in the network's mid-August poll dipped substantially, to 43 per cent, while his disapproval rating spiked to 56 per cent, its highest since October 2017. In head-to-head matchups, the poll shows Trump losing to major Democratic candidates, including to frontrunner Joe Biden by 12 percentage points and to liberal Bernie Sanders by nine.

Is Trump's love affair with Fox News fading?

Police in Southeast China's Fujian province have launched an investigation after a FedEx parcel sent from the United States was found to contain a handgun, the latest Chinese-related problem to affect the US&nbsp;package delivery firm.

Amid tense Sino-US&nbsp;relations, Memphis-based FedEx is already facing scrutiny in China on suspicion it illegally held back more than 100 Huawei packages after Washington in May placed the Chinese telecoms giant on a blacklist that effectively blocks US firms from doing business with it.

Police in the Jin'an district of Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian, said on Sunday on Weibo, a micro-blogging platform similar to Twitter, that an unidentified sporting goods company had received the parcel sent from a US customer via FedEx.

"Inside was a gun," the Jin'an police said on their official Weibo account. "At the present time, the Fuzhou police have already impounded the gun and started an investigation into the case."

FedEx, which has apologised for multiple incidents of Huawei packages being diverted, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Fuzhou incident outside of normal business hours.

Police in Southeast China's Fujian province have launched an investigation after a FedEx parcel sent from the United States was found to contain a handgun, the latest Chinese-related problem to affect the US package delivery firm.

Police in Southeast China's Fujian province have launched an investigation after a FedEx parcel sent from the United States was found to contain a handgun, the latest Chinese-related problem to affect the US package delivery firm. Amid tense Sino-US relations, Memphis-based FedEx is already facing scrutiny in China on suspicion it illegally held back more than 100 Huawei packages after Washington in May placed the Chinese telecoms giant on a blacklist that effectively blocks US firms from doing business with it. Police in the Jin'an district of Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian, said on Sunday on Weibo, a micro-blogging platform similar to Twitter, that an unidentified sporting goods company had received the parcel sent from a US customer via FedEx. "Inside was a gun," the Jin'an police said on their official Weibo account. "At the present time, the Fuzhou police have already impounded the gun and started an investigation into the case." FedEx, which has apologised for multiple incidents of Huawei packages being diverted, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Fuzhou incident outside of normal business hours.

Chinese police investigate FedEx package containing handgun

Washington and Beijing are working actively to revive negotiations aimed at ending the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/oil-edges-down-on-lower-demand-outlook-us-china-trade-dispute-242428"> trade war that has rattled world markets</a>, Donald Trump's chief economic advisor said Sunday.

If teleconferences between both sides' deputies pan out in the next 10 days "and we can have a substantive renewal of negotiations," Larry Kudlow said on "Fox News Sunday," "then we are planning to have China come to the USA and meet with our principals to continue the negotiations."

That left it uncertain, however, whether a Chinese delegation would be coming to Washington next month, as a White House spokesperson predicted after US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin left a round of trade talks in Shanghai in July.

Watch: Beijing ready to fight US on trade, says China's new UN envoy

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But Kudlow emphasized that phone conversations held last week to follow up on the Shanghai talks -- involving Lighthizer, Mnuchin and two senior Chinese negotiators, Vice Premier Liu He and Commerce Secretary Zhong Shan -- were "a lot more positive than has been reported in the media."

World financial markets have been on edge amid a series of signs pointing to a slowing of the global economy -- notably because of the trade war between the world's two largest economies -- and have been reacting to even the slightest new indicator.

No fear of 'optimism'

But Kudlow insisted that the outlook was far from gloomy. "Let's not be afraid of optimism," he said, adding that "I sure don't see a recession."

The US-China negotiations began in earnest in January and seemed at first to make substantial progress, raising hopes that a trade deal could be rapidly reached. &nbsp;

But during the spring, the US president abruptly called off the talks, saying the Chinese had reneged on earlier commitments.&nbsp;

The discussions resumed again in June at the highest levels in the margins of the G-20 summit meeting in Osaka, Japan between Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

But markets were hit with a fresh surprise when Trump suddenly announced that as of September 1 he was imposing punitive 10-per cent tariffs on $300 billion in Chinese goods that had so far been spared.&nbsp;

And then came the announcement Tuesday that Trump -- already campaigning for re-election in 2020 -- had decided to delay imposing the tariffs until December 15 so as not to cast a shadow on the Christmas shopping plans of Americans.

The delay was seen as a concession to China and a backhanded admission that the tariffs -- despite Trump's repeated insistence to the contrary -- could in fact have an impact on US consumers.

Impact on US denied

Nonetheless, the president's chief trade advisor, Peter Navarro, firmly rejected that notion in several television appearances on Sunday.

He said Trump had decided on the postponement only after several company heads told him their contracts with Chinese suppliers were denominated in dollars, meaning they got no benefit from the weakening of the Chinese yuan and their orders ahead of the year-end holidays would be hard-hit.&nbsp;

Navarro said the executives also insisted they were increasingly looking to suppliers outside of China.

He vigorously rejected the notion that the tariff war is hurting American consumers, saying no data supported that view -- despite studies to the contrary by the International Monetary Fund, Harvard University and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

"We're seeing production investment and supply-chain sourcing move -- hemorrhaging from China," Navarro said, with Southeast Asia and the US benefiting.

Washington and Beijing are working actively to revive negotiations aimed at ending the trade war that has rattled world markets, Donald Trump's chief economic advisor said Sunday.

Washington and Beijing are working actively to revive negotiations aimed at ending the trade war that has rattled world markets, Donald Trump's chief economic advisor said Sunday. If teleconferences between both sides' deputies pan out in the next 10 days "and we can have a substantive renewal of negotiations," Larry Kudlow said on "Fox News Sunday," "then we are planning to have China come to the USA and meet with our principals to continue the negotiations." That left it uncertain, however, whether a Chinese delegation would be coming to Washington next month, as a White House spokesperson predicted after US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin left a round of trade talks in Shanghai in July. Watch: Beijing ready to fight US on trade, says China's new UN envoy × But Kudlow emphasized that phone conversations held last week to follow up on the Shanghai talks -- involving Lighthizer, Mnuchin and two senior Chinese negotiators, Vice Premier Liu He and Commerce Secretary Zhong Shan -- were "a lot more positive than has been reported in the media." World financial markets have been on edge amid a series of signs pointing to a slowing of the global economy -- notably because of the trade war between the world's two largest economies -- and have been reacting to even the slightest new indicator. No fear of 'optimism' But Kudlow insisted that the outlook was far from gloomy. "Let's not be afraid of optimism," he said, adding that "I sure don't see a recession." The US-China negotiations began in earnest in January and seemed at first to make substantial progress, raising hopes that a trade deal could be rapidly reached. But during the spring, the US president abruptly called off the talks, saying the Chinese had reneged on earlier commitments. The discussions resumed again in June at the highest levels in the margins of the G-20 summit meeting in Osaka, Japan between Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. But markets were hit with a fresh surprise when Trump suddenly announced that as of September 1 he was imposing punitive 10-per cent tariffs on $300 billion in Chinese goods that had so far been spared. And then came the announcement Tuesday that Trump -- already campaigning for re-election in 2020 -- had decided to delay imposing the tariffs until December 15 so as not to cast a shadow on the Christmas shopping plans of Americans. The delay was seen as a concession to China and a backhanded admission that the tariffs -- despite Trump's repeated insistence to the contrary -- could in fact have an impact on US consumers. Impact on US denied Nonetheless, the president's chief trade advisor, Peter Navarro, firmly rejected that notion in several television appearances on Sunday. He said Trump had decided on the postponement only after several company heads told him their contracts with Chinese suppliers were denominated in dollars, meaning they got no benefit from the weakening of the Chinese yuan and their orders ahead of the year-end holidays would be hard-hit. Navarro said the executives also insisted they were increasingly looking to suppliers outside of China. He vigorously rejected the notion that the tariff war is hurting American consumers, saying no data supported that view -- despite studies to the contrary by the International Monetary Fund, Harvard University and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. "We're seeing production investment and supply-chain sourcing move -- hemorrhaging from China," Navarro said, with Southeast Asia and the US benefiting.

US and China seeking to revive trade talks: Trump's chief economic advisor

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - August 18th, 2019

Pakistan PM Imran Khan discusses kashmir issue with Donald Trump. Watch video to know more.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan discusses kashmir issue with Donald Trump

Sitting under an olive tree in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Muftia Tlaib scoffs at the attention she has recently received from the president of the United States.

"May God ruin him," she says.

Tlaib is the grandmother of US congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, at the centre of an affair that has drawn<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../donald-trump-urges-israel-to-bar-visit-by-us- congresswomen-ilhan-omar-rashida-tlaib-243211"> Donald Trump</a> and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu together against US&nbsp;Democrats.

On Thursday, bowing to pressure from Trump, Israel barred a visit by Rashida Tlaib and fellow Democrat Ilhan Omar that it had initially said it would allow.

The next day, Israel said it would let Tlaib visit her family in the West Bank on humanitarian grounds -<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../us-rep-tlaib-says-she-wont-visit-west-bank- under-israels-oppressive-conditions-243480"> but Tlaib rejected the offe</a>r, saying that Israel had imposed restrictions meant to humiliate her.

On Friday night, Trump tweeted:

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Rep. Tlaib wrote a letter to Israeli officials desperately wanting to visit her grandmother. Permission was quickly granted, whereupon Tlaib obnoxiously turned the approval down, a complete setup. The only real winner here is Tlaib’s grandmother. She doesn’t have to see her now!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1162493654432460801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"Rep. Tlaib wrote a letter to Israeli officials desperately wanting to visit her grandmother. Permission was quickly granted, whereupon Tlaib obnoxiously turned the approval down, a complete setup. The only real winner here is Tlaib’s grandmother. She doesn’t have to see her now!"

Ninety-year-old Muftia Tlaib, sitting in her garden in the village of Beit Ur Al-Fauqa, was not impressed. "

Trump tells me I should be happy Rashida is not coming," she said. "May God ruin him."

Her son, Rashida's uncle Bassam Tlaib, said the women had not seen each other since 2006.

"She was going to slaughter a sheep when Rashida arrived and prepare her favourite food, stuffed vine leaves.

SECOND MOTHER

"Rashida sees her granny as a second mother, she has always supported her. Rashida says she owes her success to her grandmother."

Tlaib did not outline what the conditions imposed on her visit were. Israeli media reported that she had agreed not to promote boycotts against Israel as part of her request to Israel's Foreign Ministry.

Tlaib, like Omar, has voiced support for the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, which opposes the occupation and Israel's policies toward Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. BDS backers can be denied entry to Israel by law.

The pair are the first two Muslim women to be elected to Congress, and Detroit-born Tlaib is the first Palestinian-American congresswoman. Both are members of the Democratic party's progressive wing and sharp critics of Trump and Israel.

The Palestinians want to establish a state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, territories Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war.

Israel has annexed East Jerusalem in a move not recognised internationally; maintains a blockade of Gaza, run by the Islamist Hamas movement; and controls most of the West Bank, where Palestinians have limited self-rule.

&nbsp;The prospects of resolving the conflict under the "two-state solution" that had guided peacemaking efforts for years have dimmed significantly since Trump took office, while Israeli settlements on land Palestinians seek for a state have expanded.

&nbsp;The Trump administration, which is particularly close to the Netanyahu government, has touted its own peace plan but details remain vague. It fuelled Palestinian anger by recognising disputed Jerusalem as Israel's capital in 2017.

Trump has for weeks been attacking Tlaib and Omar, along with lawmakers Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts - all women of colour known as the "Squad" - accusing them of hostility to Israel in a barrage condemned by critics as racist.

"Trump has told Rashida and Ilhan to go back to their home countries. What a contradiction, yesterday he asked them to leave and today he asks that they aren't let in," said Bassam Tlaib.

Still, the grandmother is hopeful: "My heart tells me that she will come."

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Sitting under an olive tree in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Muftia Tlaib scoffs at the attention she has recently received from the president of the United States.

Sitting under an olive tree in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Muftia Tlaib scoffs at the attention she has recently received from the president of the United States. "May God ruin him," she says. Tlaib is the grandmother of US congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, at the centre of an affair that has drawn Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu together against US Democrats. On Thursday, bowing to pressure from Trump, Israel barred a visit by Rashida Tlaib and fellow Democrat Ilhan Omar that it had initially said it would allow. The next day, Israel said it would let Tlaib visit her family in the West Bank on humanitarian grounds - but Tlaib rejected the offer, saying that Israel had imposed restrictions meant to humiliate her. On Friday night, Trump tweeted: Rep. Tlaib wrote a letter to Israeli officials desperately wanting to visit her grandmother. Permission was quickly granted, whereupon Tlaib obnoxiously turned the approval down, a complete setup. The only real winner here is Tlaib’s grandmother. She doesn’t have to see her now! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 16, 2019 × "Rep. Tlaib wrote a letter to Israeli officials desperately wanting to visit her grandmother. Permission was quickly granted, whereupon Tlaib obnoxiously turned the approval down, a complete setup. The only real winner here is Tlaib’s grandmother. She doesn’t have to see her now!" Ninety-year-old Muftia Tlaib, sitting in her garden in the village of Beit Ur Al-Fauqa, was not impressed. " Trump tells me I should be happy Rashida is not coming," she said. "May God ruin him." Her son, Rashida's uncle Bassam Tlaib, said the women had not seen each other since 2006. "She was going to slaughter a sheep when Rashida arrived and prepare her favourite food, stuffed vine leaves. SECOND MOTHER "Rashida sees her granny as a second mother, she has always supported her. Rashida says she owes her success to her grandmother." Tlaib did not outline what the conditions imposed on her visit were. Israeli media reported that she had agreed not to promote boycotts against Israel as part of her request to Israel's Foreign Ministry. Tlaib, like Omar, has voiced support for the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, which opposes the occupation and Israel's policies toward Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. BDS backers can be denied entry to Israel by law. The pair are the first two Muslim women to be elected to Congress, and Detroit-born Tlaib is the first Palestinian-American congresswoman. Both are members of the Democratic party's progressive wing and sharp critics of Trump and Israel. The Palestinians want to establish a state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, territories Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war. Israel has annexed East Jerusalem in a move not recognised internationally; maintains a blockade of Gaza, run by the Islamist Hamas movement; and controls most of the West Bank, where Palestinians have limited self-rule. The prospects of resolving the conflict under the "two-state solution" that had guided peacemaking efforts for years have dimmed significantly since Trump took office, while Israeli settlements on land Palestinians seek for a state have expanded. The Trump administration, which is particularly close to the Netanyahu government, has touted its own peace plan but details remain vague. It fuelled Palestinian anger by recognising disputed Jerusalem as Israel's capital in 2017. Trump has for weeks been attacking Tlaib and Omar, along with lawmakers Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts - all women of colour known as the "Squad" - accusing them of hostility to Israel in a barrage condemned by critics as racist. "Trump has told Rashida and Ilhan to go back to their home countries. What a contradiction, yesterday he asked them to leave and today he asks that they aren't let in," said Bassam Tlaib. Still, the grandmother is hopeful: "My heart tells me that she will come."

'May God ruin Trump', says US lawmaker Rashida Tlaib's grandmother

Afghan Taliban officials said on Saturday the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../brother-of-afghan-taliban-leader-killed-in- pakistan-mosque-blast-243513"> killing of the brother of their leader in a bomb attack </a>would not derail talks with the United States aimed at securing the withdrawal of US&nbsp;troops after 18 years of war.

Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada was not in the mosque near the Pakistani city of Quetta when a bomb went off but his younger brother, Hafiz Ahmadullah, was leading Friday prayers and was among four people killed, several Taliban officials have said.

There was no claim of responsibility for the blast that came after both Taliban and US&nbsp;officials have reported progress in talks on an agreement centred on a US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in exchange for a Taliban security guarantee.

"If someone thinks martyring our leaders would stop us from our goal they're living in a fool's paradise," a Taliban leader said by telephone from an undisclosed location.

"We are close to our goals,” he said, referring to the talks with the United States. He declined to be identified.

The militants have been fighting to expel foreign forces and set up an Islamic state since they were ousted in October 2001, weeks after the September 11 attacks on the United States.

Both US&nbsp;negotiators and the Taliban have reported progress after eight rounds of talks since late last year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../trump-meeting-advisers-on-afghan-peace-plan- 243511">US&nbsp;President Donald Trump </a>has made no secret of his desire for a US&nbsp;pullout from Afghanistan and an end to America's longest war.

Top US&nbsp;national security advisers briefed Trump on Friday on the negotiations.

There are deep concerns among Afghan officials and U.S. national security aides about the talks led by US&nbsp;special representative to Afghanistan, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../us-envoy-for-peace-in-afghanistan-zalmay- khalilzad-meets-jaishankar-241214">Zalmay Khalilzad</a>, who updated Trump.

A US pullout has raised fears Afghanistan could plunge into a new civil war that could see a return of Taliban rule and give international militants a sanctuary.

Under the expected deal, the Taliban, in exchange for a US&nbsp;commitment on a withdrawal, would guarantee Afghanistan would not be a sanctuary for militants to expand and plot new attacks, both sides have said.

The Taliban are also expected to make a commitment to open power-sharing talks with the US-backed&nbsp;government and agree to a ceasefire.

Presidential spokesman Sediq Seddiqi told a news briefing any deal had to include a ceasefire and a US withdrawal would be based on conditions being met.

'FINAL ROUND'

A second Taliban official, speaking from Doha, where the Taliban have a political office and where the talks have been held, said preparations were being made for a meaningful final round.

"We've solved most issues, just a few remaining," said the official, who also declined to be identified.

No date has been set for more talks.

The Taliban were considering a ceasefire in places from which US&nbsp;forces withdraw, the second official said.

Some 14,000 US&nbsp;troops remain in Afghanistan, training and advising Afghan security forces and conducting counterinsurgency operations.

The war has ground into a stalemate with casualties rising among civilians as well as combatants.

Afghan Taliban officials said on Saturday the killing of the brother of their leader in a bomb attack would not derail talks with the United States aimed at securing the withdrawal of US troops after 18 years of war.

Afghan Taliban officials said on Saturday the killing of the brother of their leader in a bomb attack would not derail talks with the United States aimed at securing the withdrawal of US troops after 18 years of war. Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada was not in the mosque near the Pakistani city of Quetta when a bomb went off but his younger brother, Hafiz Ahmadullah, was leading Friday prayers and was among four people killed, several Taliban officials have said. There was no claim of responsibility for the blast that came after both Taliban and US officials have reported progress in talks on an agreement centred on a US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in exchange for a Taliban security guarantee. "If someone thinks martyring our leaders would stop us from our goal they're living in a fool's paradise," a Taliban leader said by telephone from an undisclosed location. "We are close to our goals,” he said, referring to the talks with the United States. He declined to be identified. The militants have been fighting to expel foreign forces and set up an Islamic state since they were ousted in October 2001, weeks after the September 11 attacks on the United States. Both US negotiators and the Taliban have reported progress after eight rounds of talks since late last year. US President Donald Trump has made no secret of his desire for a US pullout from Afghanistan and an end to America's longest war. Top US national security advisers briefed Trump on Friday on the negotiations. There are deep concerns among Afghan officials and U.S. national security aides about the talks led by US special representative to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, who updated Trump. A US pullout has raised fears Afghanistan could plunge into a new civil war that could see a return of Taliban rule and give international militants a sanctuary. Under the expected deal, the Taliban, in exchange for a US commitment on a withdrawal, would guarantee Afghanistan would not be a sanctuary for militants to expand and plot new attacks, both sides have said. The Taliban are also expected to make a commitment to open power-sharing talks with the US-backed government and agree to a ceasefire. Presidential spokesman Sediq Seddiqi told a news briefing any deal had to include a ceasefire and a US withdrawal would be based on conditions being met. 'FINAL ROUND' A second Taliban official, speaking from Doha, where the Taliban have a political office and where the talks have been held, said preparations were being made for a meaningful final round. "We've solved most issues, just a few remaining," said the official, who also declined to be identified. No date has been set for more talks. The Taliban were considering a ceasefire in places from which US forces withdraw, the second official said. Some 14,000 US troops remain in Afghanistan, training and advising Afghan security forces and conducting counterinsurgency operations. The war has ground into a stalemate with casualties rising among civilians as well as combatants.

Taliban say killing of leader's brother will not derail US talks

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the evening - August 17th, 2019

US President Donald Trump was briefed on Friday by top national security advisers on the status of negotiations with the Taliban on a US troop pullout from Afghanistan and the potential for a political settlement between the warring sides.

US President Donald Trump was briefed on Friday by top national security advisers on the status of negotiations with the Taliban on a US troop pullout from Afghanistan and the potential for a political settlement between the warring sides. There was no indication that any conclusions were reached at the session, which took place in a secure conference room at Trump's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. "Just completed a very good meeting on Afghanistan. Many on the opposite side of this 19 year war, and us, are looking to make a deal - if possible!" Trump said in a tweet after the session. Trump, who has repeatedly questioned the billions of dollars spent in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, has made no secret of his desire for a US pullout from Afghanistan after 19 years of war triggered by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. But there are deep concerns among national security aides about negotiations led by US special representative to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, who updated Trump and others on the status of the talks. A pullout has raised fears within the US military and among some lawmakers that Afghanistan could plunge into a new civil war that could see a return of Taliban rule and give al Qaeda and other militants a sanctuary in which to expand and plot new attacks on US and allied targets. A US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said significant differences remained between the United States and the Taliban after an eighth round of talks ended in Qatar on Monday. Some 14,000 US troops remain engaged in America's longest war, training and advising Afghan security forces and conducting counterinsurgency operations against militant groups such as al Qaeda and Islamic State's local affiliate. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement issued after the meeting that the United States remains committed "achieving a comprehensive peace agreement, including a reduction in violence and a ceasefire" in Afghanistan. Trump and Pompeo were joined for the talks by Vice President Mike Pence, national security adviser John Bolton, Defense Secretary Mike Esper, Joint Chiefs chairman General Joseph Dunford and CIA Director Gina Haspel. "The meeting went very well, and negotiations are proceeding," the White House said in a statement. The US military presence dates to 2001 when then-President George W. Bush invaded in pursuit of al Qaeda and ousted the Taliban rulers who had given Osama bin Laden and his followers a safe haven in which they plotted the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. US Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, said any deal should allow the United States to maintain a military presence in Afghanistan to pursue such groups. "Any peace agreement which denies the U.S. a robust counter-terrorism capability in Afghanistan is not a peace deal," he said in a statement. "Instead, it is paving the way for another attack on the American homeland and attacks against American interests around the world." A senior administration official said a decision was not necessarily expected from the Bedminster meeting, but Trump "has been pretty clear that he wants to bring the troops home." Both sides had raised expectations of being close to finalising an agreement prior to convening the latest round of talks. The US defence official, however, said differences remained over U.S. demands that the insurgents publicly renounce ties to al Qaeda and other militant groups and agree to a nationwide ceasefire, the official said. Khalilzad also is seeking the Taliban's agreement to hold direct negotiations on a political settlement with Kabul government officials who would be part of a delegation that included opposition leaders and civil society representatives. Taliban leaders to date have refused to hold official talks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's government, which they denounce as a US puppet.

Trump gets update from aides on Afghan peace plan with troop pullout possible

Newly released US&nbsp;court documents show the United States issued a warrant for the seizure of an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-denies-giving-gibraltar-assurances-for-release-of-tanker-243388">Iranian tanker that British Royal Marines had seized</a> last month in Gibraltar, citing evidence that it was transporting oil to Syria in violation of US sanctions.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-tanker-freed-by-gibraltar-poised-to-set-sail-243333">oil tanker Grace 1</a>, the more than 2 million barrels of oil it carries and $995,000 are subject to forfeiture based on a complaint by the US government, US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jessie Liu said in a news release on Friday.

The tanker was seized by British Royal Marines at the western mouth of the Mediterranean on July 4 on suspicion of violating European Union sanctions by taking oil to Syria, a close ally of Iran.

In a court document obtained by Reuters, it said there was evidence that showed that the tanker was scheduled to arrive in Syria in early July.

"Charts and electronic equipment recovered from onboard the Grace 1, WhatsApp messages recovered from crewmembers' mobile devices, and crewmembers' statements revealed that the Grace 1 was destined for Port Banias, Syria in violation of US sanctions," the document said.

Watch: Gibraltar court releases Iranian oil tanker Grace 1

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Iran has repeatedly denied that tanker's destination was Syria.

"As we said earlier ... Syria was not its destination and we have upheld the same ... and reiterated that it was nobody's business even if it was Syria," Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency on Friday.

Gibraltar authorities said on Thursday the US Department of Justice had applied to seize the tanker.

Washington had attempted to detain the Grace 1 on the grounds that it had links to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which it has designated a terrorist organization.

"The scheme involves multiple parties affiliated with the IRGC and furthered by the deceptive voyages of the Grace 1," Liu said. "A network of front companies allegedly laundered millions of dollars in support of such shipments."

"A seizure warrant and a forfeiture complaint are merely allegations. The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government," the news release said.

Gibraltar, which said it first received a US&nbsp;Department of Justice request to seize the Grace 1 tanker on Thursday, lifted the tanker's detention order later in the same day.,

But the vessel's fate was further complicated by a last-ditch US&nbsp;legal appeal to hold it.

The tanker shifted its position on Friday, but its anchor was still down off Gibraltar and it was unclear if it was ready to set sail soon.

The warrant for the seizure of the tanker, which carries 2.1 million barrels of oil, was issued by the US&nbsp;District Court for the District of Columbia and addressed to "the United States Marshal's Service and/or any other duly authorized law enforcement officer."

Newly released US court documents show the United States issued a warrant for the seizure of an Iranian tanker that British Royal Marines had seized last month in Gibraltar, citing evidence that it was transporting oil to Syria in violation of US sanctions.

Newly released US court documents show the United States issued a warrant for the seizure of an Iranian tanker that British Royal Marines had seized last month in Gibraltar, citing evidence that it was transporting oil to Syria in violation of US sanctions. The oil tanker Grace 1, the more than 2 million barrels of oil it carries and $995,000 are subject to forfeiture based on a complaint by the US government, US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jessie Liu said in a news release on Friday. The tanker was seized by British Royal Marines at the western mouth of the Mediterranean on July 4 on suspicion of violating European Union sanctions by taking oil to Syria, a close ally of Iran. In a court document obtained by Reuters, it said there was evidence that showed that the tanker was scheduled to arrive in Syria in early July. "Charts and electronic equipment recovered from onboard the Grace 1, WhatsApp messages recovered from crewmembers' mobile devices, and crewmembers' statements revealed that the Grace 1 was destined for Port Banias, Syria in violation of US sanctions," the document said. Watch: Gibraltar court releases Iranian oil tanker Grace 1 × Iran has repeatedly denied that tanker's destination was Syria. "As we said earlier ... Syria was not its destination and we have upheld the same ... and reiterated that it was nobody's business even if it was Syria," Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency on Friday. Gibraltar authorities said on Thursday the US Department of Justice had applied to seize the tanker. Washington had attempted to detain the Grace 1 on the grounds that it had links to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which it has designated a terrorist organization. "The scheme involves multiple parties affiliated with the IRGC and furthered by the deceptive voyages of the Grace 1," Liu said. "A network of front companies allegedly laundered millions of dollars in support of such shipments." "A seizure warrant and a forfeiture complaint are merely allegations. The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government," the news release said. Gibraltar, which said it first received a US Department of Justice request to seize the Grace 1 tanker on Thursday, lifted the tanker's detention order later in the same day., But the vessel's fate was further complicated by a last-ditch US legal appeal to hold it. The tanker shifted its position on Friday, but its anchor was still down off Gibraltar and it was unclear if it was ready to set sail soon. The warrant for the seizure of the tanker, which carries 2.1 million barrels of oil, was issued by the US District Court for the District of Columbia and addressed to "the United States Marshal's Service and/or any other duly authorized law enforcement officer."

Court documents show US seeks seizure of Iranian tanker violating sanctions

Donald Trump said Friday that tech giant Apple would be spending "vast sums" of money in the US in a tweet ahead of a dinner meeting with its CEO Tim Cook.

The men have had several informal meetings before, including at Bedminster, New Jersey, where Trump is reportedly on a working holiday at his golf course.

"Having dinner tonight with Tim Cook of Apple. They will be spending vast sums of money in the US Great!" he tweeted at around 7 pm local time.

The meeting follows Thursday's announcement from Apple that it has invested roughly $60 billion in the US, and currently employs some 90,000 people in the country.

Many of the tech giant's products are assembled in China and the company opposes incoming tariffs an issue Trump is fixated on of 10 per cent on goods manufactured in China, due to come into force on September 1.

Trump has rejected <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/apple-loses-more-ground-in-smartphone-market-falls-to-fourth-place-in-global-sales-241919">Apple's calls for an exemption on its products</a>, tweeting in July the company should, "Make them in the USA, No Tariffs!"

But his administration announced Thursday tariffs on some goods would be delayed until December.

Apple did not immediately respond to comment about the dinner, and Trump did not tweet again about the meeting, or what was discussed.

The president's latest missive comes after a gaffe in March when he referred to Cook as "Tim Apple".

Donald Trump said Friday that tech giant Apple would be spending "vast sums" of money in the US in a tweet ahead of a dinner meeting with its CEO Tim Cook. The men have had several informal meetings before, including at Bedminster, New Jersey, where Trump is reportedly on a working holiday at his golf course.

Donald Trump said Friday that tech giant Apple would be spending "vast sums" of money in the US in a tweet ahead of a dinner meeting with its CEO Tim Cook. The men have had several informal meetings before, including at Bedminster, New Jersey, where Trump is reportedly on a working holiday at his golf course. "Having dinner tonight with Tim Cook of Apple. They will be spending vast sums of money in the US Great!" he tweeted at around 7 pm local time. The meeting follows Thursday's announcement from Apple that it has invested roughly $60 billion in the US, and currently employs some 90,000 people in the country. Many of the tech giant's products are assembled in China and the company opposes incoming tariffs an issue Trump is fixated on of 10 per cent on goods manufactured in China, due to come into force on September 1. Trump has rejected Apple's calls for an exemption on its products, tweeting in July the company should, "Make them in the USA, No Tariffs!" But his administration announced Thursday tariffs on some goods would be delayed until December. Apple did not immediately respond to comment about the dinner, and Trump did not tweet again about the meeting, or what was discussed. The president's latest missive comes after a gaffe in March when he referred to Cook as "Tim Apple".

Trump says Apple will spend 'vast sums' of money in the United States

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday barred US Democratic congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from making a planned trip to Israel, shortly after US President Donald Trump called on his ally not to let them in.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday barred US Democratic congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from making a planned trip to Israel, shortly after US President Donald Trump called on his ally not to let them in. Tlaib and Omar, the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, are members of their party's progressive wing and sharp critics both of Trump and of Israel's policy toward the Palestinians. The moves, which were immediately condemned by many Democratic leaders in the United States as well as Palestinians, could help whip up support among Trump and Netanyahu's conservative voter bases as they head into election campaigns. Israel holds a national election on September 17 and Trump faces re-election in November 2020. Tlaib and Omar have voiced support for the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement over Israel's policies toward Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Under Israeli law, BDS backers can be denied entry to Israel. Omar called Thursday's decision an "affront" and "an insult to democratic values." Israel had initially chosen to allow the visit. A source who took part in consultations Netanyahu held with cabinet members and advisers on Wednesday told that Israel backtracked due to pressure from Trump. The pressure was reported by the Axios news site on Saturday but denied by the White House. "In a discussion held two weeks ago all the officials were in favour of letting them in but, after Trump's pressure, they reversed the decision," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. In a tweet on Thursday, Trump wrote: "It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep. Tlaib to visit ... They are a disgrace!" Asked if he had spoken to Netanyahu about the planned visit, Trump told reporters: "I don't want to comment about who I spoke to, but I think my social media statement pretty well speaks for itself." "But I did speak to people over there," he added. Trump's request appeared to contravene a US government policy that says the United States seeks "equal treatment and freedom to travel" for all US citizens regardless of ethnicity. It says those denied entry should be given a written explanation by Israel.

Israel bars US Democratic lawmakers under pressure from Trump

US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/donald-trump-wants-troop-withdrawal-in-afghan-before-2020-election-us-state-secretary-mike-pompeo-239310">Donald Trump</a> on Friday was to meet US top advisers about negotiations with the Taliban and the potential for a political settlement that could prompt withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, a senior administration official said.

On a working vacation at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump was to receive an afternoon briefing from US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other advisers to get updated on the talks, which have been handled by Special Representative <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/us-envoy-for-peace-in-afghanistan-zalmay-khalilzad-meets-jaishankar-241214">Zalmay Khalilzad</a>.

The US military presence in Afghanistan dates to 2001 when then-President George W. Bush launched an offensive against Al Qaeda, which the Taliban government had given haven to, after the September&nbsp;11, 2001, attacks.

Trump has been adamant that he would like to withdraw US forces, possibly ahead of the November 2020 election, although a pullout would raise concerns among some in the national security community that the United States could be sacrificing gains it has made there.

US Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a Trump ally, said any deal should allow for the United States to maintain a presence in Afghanistan.

"Any peace agreement which denies the US a robust counter-terrorism capability in Afghanistan is not a peace deal," he said in a statement. "Instead, it is paving the way for another attack on the American homeland and attacks against American interests around the world."

The senior administration official said a decision was not necessarily expected from the Bedminster meeting, but Trump "has been pretty clear that he wants to bring the troops home."

The negotiations with the Taliban have been centred around a potential agreement for a US&nbsp;troop withdrawal and talks on a political settlement between the insurgents and a delegation comprising government officials, opposition leaders and civil society members.

Khalilzad also has pressed in nine rounds of negotiations in Qatar for the Taliban to renounce al Qaida, agree to prevent Afghanistan from being used as a base for extremist attacks and embrace a nationwide ceasefire while the intra-Afghan talks continue.

Both sides raised expectations that an agreement was close. Khalilzad repeatedly has said nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.

US President Donald Trump on Friday was to meet US top advisers about negotiations with the Taliban and the potential for a political settlement that could prompt withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, a senior administration official said.

US President Donald Trump on Friday was to meet US top advisers about negotiations with the Taliban and the potential for a political settlement that could prompt withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, a senior administration official said. On a working vacation at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump was to receive an afternoon briefing from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other advisers to get updated on the talks, which have been handled by Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad. The US military presence in Afghanistan dates to 2001 when then-President George W. Bush launched an offensive against Al Qaeda, which the Taliban government had given haven to, after the September 11, 2001, attacks. Trump has been adamant that he would like to withdraw US forces, possibly ahead of the November 2020 election, although a pullout would raise concerns among some in the national security community that the United States could be sacrificing gains it has made there. US Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a Trump ally, said any deal should allow for the United States to maintain a presence in Afghanistan. "Any peace agreement which denies the US a robust counter-terrorism capability in Afghanistan is not a peace deal," he said in a statement. "Instead, it is paving the way for another attack on the American homeland and attacks against American interests around the world." The senior administration official said a decision was not necessarily expected from the Bedminster meeting, but Trump "has been pretty clear that he wants to bring the troops home." The negotiations with the Taliban have been centred around a potential agreement for a US troop withdrawal and talks on a political settlement between the insurgents and a delegation comprising government officials, opposition leaders and civil society members. Khalilzad also has pressed in nine rounds of negotiations in Qatar for the Taliban to renounce al Qaida, agree to prevent Afghanistan from being used as a base for extremist attacks and embrace a nationwide ceasefire while the intra-Afghan talks continue. Both sides raised expectations that an agreement was close. Khalilzad repeatedly has said nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.

US President Donald Trump to meet advisers on Afghanistan peace plan

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - August 16th, 2019

Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan on Friday telephoned US President Donald Trump to apprise him of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/situation-under-control-in-jammu-and-kashmir-authorities-to-review-restrictions-243346">situation in Kashmir region</a>.

 
"Today (Khan) has talked to President Trump. Views were exchanged on the situation in the region and particularly the situation in Occupied Kashmir," said foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi during a press conference.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistans-letter-on-kashmir-united-nations-security-council-to-hold-closed-door-talks-on-kashmir-today-243241">United Nations Security Council </a>(UNSC) meeting is underway to discuss the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had earlier written a letter to UNSC president Joanna Wronecka, urging the council to urgently convene a session on India's decision to reorganise Jammu and Kashmir and revoking of Article 370.&nbsp;

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Pakistan PM Imran Khan spoke to US President Donald trump: Pak FM <a href="https://t.co/tNd1fsr0yN">pic.twitter.com/tNd1fsr0yN</a>
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China had requested a closed meeting on Jammu and Kashmir, citing the letter sent by Qureshi.

Ever since India announced its decision to do away with Article 370, Islamabad has escalated its virulent rhetorics against New Delhi and tried to involve the international community in the matter.

Pakistan has alleged that India's decision of revoking the provisions under Article 370 will not only threaten the regional peace but also the world peace.

However, India has made it clear that it is an internal matter of the country and does not violate the Line of Control (LoC) or any border.

Trump and Khan also discussed Afghanistan, where the US is engaged in talks with the Taliban, and pledged to remain in constant contact moving forward, the minister added.&nbsp;

During a meeting with Khan in July, Trump said that Modi had asked him to help mediate the Kashmir dispute -- a claim Delhi strenuously denied.

India has always insisted the Kashmir issue can only be resolved bilaterally with Pakistan.

Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan on Friday telephoned US President Donald Trump to apprise him of the situation in Kashmir region. "Today (Khan) has talked to President Trump.

Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan on Friday telephoned US President Donald Trump to apprise him of the situation in Kashmir region. "Today (Khan) has talked to President Trump. Views were exchanged on the situation in the region and particularly the situation in Occupied Kashmir," said foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi during a press conference. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting is underway to discuss the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had earlier written a letter to UNSC president Joanna Wronecka, urging the council to urgently convene a session on India's decision to reorganise Jammu and Kashmir and revoking of Article 370. Pakistan PM Imran Khan spoke to US President Donald trump: Pak FM pic.twitter.com/tNd1fsr0yN — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) August 16, 2019 × China had requested a closed meeting on Jammu and Kashmir, citing the letter sent by Qureshi. Ever since India announced its decision to do away with Article 370, Islamabad has escalated its virulent rhetorics against New Delhi and tried to involve the international community in the matter. Pakistan has alleged that India's decision of revoking the provisions under Article 370 will not only threaten the regional peace but also the world peace. However, India has made it clear that it is an internal matter of the country and does not violate the Line of Control (LoC) or any border. Trump and Khan also discussed Afghanistan, where the US is engaged in talks with the Taliban, and pledged to remain in constant contact moving forward, the minister added. During a meeting with Khan in July, Trump said that Modi had asked him to help mediate the Kashmir dispute -- a claim Delhi strenuously denied. India has always insisted the Kashmir issue can only be resolved bilaterally with Pakistan.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan calls US President Donald Trump to discuss Kashmir

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistans-letter-on-kashmir-united-nations-security-council-to-hold-closed-door-talks-on-kashmir-today-243241">Pakistan's letter on Kashmir: United Nations Security Council to hold closed-door talks on Kashmir today</a>

Following a request from China, the&nbsp;United Nations Security Council&nbsp;(UNSC) will hold closed-door talks on Kashmir on Friday. All 15 members of the UNSC will be present when the issue is taken up.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-fires-projectiles-rejects-south-koreas-dialogue-pledge-243231">North Korea fires projectiles, rejects South Korea's dialogue pledge</a>

North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;launched at least two projectiles into the sea on Friday, South&nbsp;Korea's military said, shortly after Pyongyang described South&nbsp;Korea's president as "impudent" and vowed that inter-Korean talks are over.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-blames-mass-shootings-on-mentally-ill-calls-for-more-mental-institutions-243232">Trump blames mass shootings on mentally ill, calls for more mental institutions</a>

President Donald Trump said on Thursday he supports meaningful background checks for gun buyers, but he told reporters that those responsible for recent mass shootings were mentally ill and the United States should build more mental institutions.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-china-talks-productive-beijing-vows-tariff-retaliation-243233">Trump says China talks 'productive'; Beijing vows tariff retaliation</a>

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that US and Chinese negotiators were holding "productive" trade talks and expected them to meet in September despite US tariffs on over $125 billion worth of Chinese imports taking effect September 1.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gibraltar-decides-to-free-seized-iranian-tanker-us-opens-new-case-to-hold-it-243219">Gibraltar decides to free seized Iranian tanker; US opens new case to hold it</a>

Britain's Mediterranean territory Gibraltar decided on Thursday to free a seized&nbsp;Iranian oil tanker, but did not immediately indicate when or if the ship would set sail after the United States launched a new, last-minute legal bid to hold it.

&nbsp;

Pakistan's letter on Kashmir: United Nations Security Council to hold closed-door talks on Kashmir today Following a request from China, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will hold closed-door talks on Kashmir on Friday.

Pakistan's letter on Kashmir: United Nations Security Council to hold closed-door talks on Kashmir today Following a request from China, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will hold closed-door talks on Kashmir on Friday. All 15 members of the UNSC will be present when the issue is taken up. North Korea fires projectiles, rejects South Korea's dialogue pledge North Korea launched at least two projectiles into the sea on Friday, South Korea's military said, shortly after Pyongyang described South Korea's president as "impudent" and vowed that inter-Korean talks are over. Trump blames mass shootings on mentally ill, calls for more mental institutions President Donald Trump said on Thursday he supports meaningful background checks for gun buyers, but he told reporters that those responsible for recent mass shootings were mentally ill and the United States should build more mental institutions. Trump says China talks 'productive'; Beijing vows tariff retaliation US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that US and Chinese negotiators were holding "productive" trade talks and expected them to meet in September despite US tariffs on over $125 billion worth of Chinese imports taking effect September 1. Gibraltar decides to free seized Iranian tanker; US opens new case to hold it Britain's Mediterranean territory Gibraltar decided on Thursday to free a seized Iranian oil tanker, but did not immediately indicate when or if the ship would set sail after the United States launched a new, last-minute legal bid to hold it.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Thousands of US President Donald Trump's supporters lined up for hours outside an arena in New Hampshire on Thursday to see him campaign for re-election.

Trump supporters, protesters gather at rally

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that US and Chinese negotiators were holding "productive" trade talks and expected them to meet in September despite US tariffs on over $125 billion worth of Chinese imports taking effect September 1.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that US and Chinese negotiators were holding "productive" trade talks and expected them to meet in September despite US tariffs on over $125 billion worth of Chinese imports taking effect September 1. "September, the meeting is still on as I understand it, but I think more importantly than September, we're talking by phone, and we're having very productive talks," Trump told reporters in New Jersey. He said US and Chinese officials had "a very good conversation" earlier this week before his administration delayed until December 15 tariffs on over $150 billion in Chinese imports, including toys, cell phones, and laptop and tablet computers. Nonetheless, China on Thursday vowed to counter the latest US tariffs on $300 billion of Chinese goods but called on the United States to meet it halfway on a potential trade deal. Trump said he did not think Beijing would retaliate for the US tariffs and that he believes China wants to make a trade deal. "I think we're having very good discussions with China. They very much want to make a deal," Trump told reporters. He said he had a call scheduled soon with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but he did not say when. "I think the longer it goes the stronger we get," Trump said of the trade war. "I have a feeling it's going to go fairly short," he said. The Chinese finance ministry said in a statement that Washington's tariffs violated a consensus reached between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a June summit in Japan to resolve their disputes via negotiation. In a separate statement, China's foreign ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, said, "We hope the U.S. will meet China halfway, and implement the consensus of the two heads of the two countries in Osaka." China hopes to find mutually acceptable solutions through dialogue and consultation on the basis of equality and mutual respect, she added. Trump, who is seeking re-election in 2020 and had made the economy and his tough stance on China a key part of his 2016 campaign for the White House, on Thursday said any agreement must meet US demands. "China, frankly, would love to make a deal, and it's got to be a deal on proper terms. It's got to be a deal, frankly, on our terms. Otherwise, what's the purpose?" Trump said in an interview on New Hampshire radio station WGIR. The trade picture is further complicated by continuing unrest in Hong Kong. Trump on Wednesday tied the situation to any possible agreement, saying Xi must first resolve the issues in the territory with protesters. On Thursday, he used Twitter to call on the Chinese president to personally meet with protesters to spur "a happy and enlightened ending to the Hong Kong problem." Trump and Xi in June had agreed to restart trade talks after negotiations stalled earlier this year. But earlier this month, the Trump administration said it would slap duties beginning September 1 on $300 billion of Chinese goods, which would effectively cover all of China's exports to the United States. He said the partial delay to Dec. 15 for about half the list was aimed at sparing retailers and consumers pain during the Christmas selling season. The tariff plan has roiled global markets and further unnerved investors as the trade dispute between the world's two largest economies stretch into its second year with no end in sight.

Trump says China talks 'productive'; Beijing vows tariff retaliation

Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement faces a major test this weekend as it tries to muster another huge crowd following criticism over a recent violent airport protest and as concerns mount over Beijing's next move.

Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement faces a major test this weekend as it tries to muster another huge crowd following criticism over a recent violent airport protest and as concerns mount over Beijing's next move. Ten weeks of protests have plunged the international finance hub into crisis with the communist mainland taking an increasingly hardline tone, including labelling the more violent protester actions "terrorist-like". Chinese state media have put out images of military personnel and armoured personnel carriers across the border in Shenzhen, while the United States has warned Beijing against sending in troops, a move many analysts say would be a reputational and economic disaster for China. The nationalistic Global Times newspaper said there would not be a repeat of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, in which hundreds or even thousands are believed to have been killed if Beijing moves to quash the protests. "The incident in Hong Kong won't be a repeat of the June 4th political incident in 1989," it said, insisting the country now had more sophisticated approaches. It was a rare reference to the bloody events, which are taboo in China. Hong Kong's protests were sparked by opposition to a plan to allow extraditions to the mainland, but have since morphed into a wider call for democratic rights in the semi-autonomous city. Millions of people have hit the streets while clashes have broken out between police and small groups of hardcore protesters for 10 consecutive weekends. For most of that time, US President Donald Trump has taken a hands-off approach to the unrest but began speaking up this week, suggesting any potential trade deal with Beijing could be upended by a violent response from the mainland. Speaking on Thursday, Trump urged his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to meet protesters and solve the crisis "humanely". Huge Sunday rally planned Activists are now planning to hold a major rally on Sunday, which is being billed as a "rational, non-violent" protest designed to show the movement still maintains broad public support after suffering a setback earlier in the week. On Tuesday, protesters blocked passengers from boarding flights at the city's airport and later assaulted two men they accused of being Chinese spies. The shocking images damaged a movement that until then had largely only targeted the police or government institutions, and prompted some soul-searching among protesters. China's propaganda apparatus seized on the violence, with state-media churning out a deluge of condemnatory articles, pictures, and videos. Sunday's rally is being put together by the Civil Human Rights Front, a protest group that advocates non-violence and has previously been the driving force behind record-breaking rallies in June and July that saw hundreds of thousands of people hit the streets. "This coming Sunday should be another million-strong march. Hong Kong people can't be defeated, Hong Kongers soldier on," prominent pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo wrote on Facebook. But the likelihood of renewed clashes over the weekend remains high. On Saturday, activists have vowed to gather in Hung Hom and To Kwa Wan two harbourside districts popular with mainland Chinese tourists despite police banning their proposed marches. And while police have permitted protesters on Sunday to rally in a major park on Hong Kong island, they have forbidden demonstrators from marching through the city. Previous bans in the last few weeks have simply been ignored by demonstrators, leading to running battles with riot police. Authorities say they have been compelled to ban recent rallies because of increasing violence used by hardcore protesters, who have often targeted police stations alone their marching routes with bricks, slingshots and Molotov cocktails. Toe the line Hong Kong maintains freedoms unknown on the authoritarian mainland under a 50-year deal that came into effect when the former colony was handed back to China by Britain in 1997. Many Hong Kongers say those liberties are being eroded and have hit the streets in huge numbers in recent years. Yet their demands to elect their leaders and halt sliding freedoms have fallen on deaf ears. The current protests are the biggest threat to Beijing's authority since the handover and as violence has escalated, party leaders have only hardened their tone. Beijing has also ordered Hong Kong's companies and influential tycoons to toe the line. On Friday Cathay Pacific announced the shock resignation of its CEO Rupert Hogg after the Hong Kong carrier was excoriated by Beijing because some staff supported the pro-democracy protests. Many tycoons have published statements calling for an end to the protests, the latest coming from the city's wealthiest man Li Ka-Shing who took out adverts in seven Hong Kong newspapers.

Hong Kong protesters face crucial weekend test after airport setback

President Donald Trump on Thursday sought to reassure his supporters about the state of the U.S. economy despite the stock market volatility and told rallygoers in New Hampshire, a state that he hopes to capture in 2020, that their financial security depends on his reelection.

Trump: love me or hate me, you got to vote for me

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the evening - August 16th, 2019

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WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - August 16th, 2019

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan calls US President Donald Trump to discuss Kashmir

News brief: Big stories of the day