US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he may invite North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un to the White House if the Singapore summit goes well.

His remarks came after his meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe where the two leaders discussed the forthcoming Singapore summit.

Answering a question if he would invite the North Korean leader to White House or Mar-a-lago, Trump said: "Maybe we'll start with the White House".

He, however, clarified that he would not hesitate in walking out of the meeting if his goals were not achieved.

He said, "I am totally prepared to walk. It could happen. Maybe it won't be necessary. I hope it won't be necessary to walk, because I really believe that Kim Jong-un wants to do something that is going to be great for his people, and also great for his family, and great for himself".

"I am totally prepared to walk away. I did it once before. You have to be able to walk away. If you're not going to be able to walk away -- we didn't walk away from the horrible Iran deal that was signed, and if you look at what's happened, since I signed that deal, Iran and in all fairness, I say it with great respect for the people of Iran, but Iran is acting a lot differently. They're no longer looking so much to the Mediterranean", Trump added.

After some back and forth, the highly anticipated meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un is scheduled for June 12.

The two leaders were hurling insults and threats of war with each other for a very long time.&nbsp;

The rhetoric began to cool during the Winter Olympics in South Korea, and by mid-March, the two sides decided to a face-to-face.

(With input from Agencies)

Answering a question if he would invite the North Korean leader to White House or Mar-a-lago, Trump said: "Maybe we'll start with the White House". He, however, clarified that he would not hesitate in walking out of the meeting if his goals were not achieved

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he may invite North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un to the White House if the Singapore summit goes well. His remarks came after his meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe where the two leaders discussed the forthcoming Singapore summit. Answering a question if he would invite the North Korean leader to White House or Mar-a-lago, Trump said: "Maybe we'll start with the White House". He, however, clarified that he would not hesitate in walking out of the meeting if his goals were not achieved. He said, "I am totally prepared to walk. It could happen. Maybe it won't be necessary. I hope it won't be necessary to walk, because I really believe that Kim Jong-un wants to do something that is going to be great for his people, and also great for his family, and great for himself". "I am totally prepared to walk away. I did it once before. You have to be able to walk away. If you're not going to be able to walk away -- we didn't walk away from the horrible Iran deal that was signed, and if you look at what's happened, since I signed that deal, Iran and in all fairness, I say it with great respect for the people of Iran, but Iran is acting a lot differently. They're no longer looking so much to the Mediterranean", Trump added. After some back and forth, the highly anticipated meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un is scheduled for June 12. The two leaders were hurling insults and threats of war with each other for a very long time. The rhetoric began to cool during the Winter Olympics in South Korea, and by mid-March, the two sides decided to a face-to-face. (With input from Agencies)

Might invite Kim to US if talks go well: Trump

Leaders of the Group of Seven rich nations are set to clash with a combative US&nbsp;President Donald Trump on Friday when they pressure him to lift sanctions on steel and aluminum they fear could lead to a trade war.

The confrontation threatens to rupture a body that during its 43-year history has traditionally sought to find consensus on the economy and other issues.

Trump, who aides say has little interest in multilateralism, resumed his tirade against Canada early Friday morning and appeared prepared to exit talks early without a consensus agreement among all seven countries.

"Looking forward to straightening out unfair Trade Deals with the G-7 countries. If it doesn’t happen, we come out even better!" Trump tweeted early Friday morning ahead of his planned departure from Washington to Quebec.

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Looking forward to straightening out unfair Trade Deals with the G-7 countries. If it doesn’t happen, we come out even better!
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Officials concede the mood is likely to be exceptionally tense.

"There will be some serious disagreements on a lot of things," a Canadian official told reporters late on Thursday.

Although Trump says the tariffs are necessary to protect US&nbsp;industry, Canada and the European Union have denounced them as illegal and are preparing retaliatory measures.

French President Emmanuel Macron warned Trump in a rare rebuke on Thursday that the other six members of the G7 could form their own grouping if necessary, adding that "no leader was forever."

British Prime Minister Theresa May took a more measured tone, telling reporters she wanted the European Union to use restraint in its retaliation to the US&nbsp;tariffs and that the response must be proportionate and legal.

Trump showed no sign of backing down on Friday, after earlier accusing both France and Canada of imposing massive tariffs on US&nbsp;goods and then accusing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of "being so indignant."

In response, the Canadian official replied that "the prime minister and the president have very frank, direct, candid, honest conversations." Trudeau and Trump are due to meet on Friday "and they will have lots to talk about," the official added.

The White House subsequently announced the president would be leaving on Saturday, before the summit formally ends, to fly to Singapore for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

While the G7 leaders have largely praised Trump for his efforts to stabilize the Korean peninsula, they are unhappy he pulled out of an agreement designed to limit Iran's nuclear ambitions.

The arguments threaten to derail a meeting that Trudeau had planned to focus on inclusive growth, gender equality and protecting oceans.

The Canadian official said Trudeau remained optimistic that the summit could help find common solutions to issues such as growth and environmental protection.

In Germany, top officials called for Europe to remain unified in the face of rising trade tensions with the United States even as they maintained that America remained its closest partner outside of the continent.

Leaders of the Group of Seven rich nations are set to clash with a combative US President Donald Trump on Friday when they pressure him to lift sanctions on steel and aluminum they fear could lead to a trade war

Leaders of the Group of Seven rich nations are set to clash with a combative US President Donald Trump on Friday when they pressure him to lift sanctions on steel and aluminum they fear could lead to a trade war. The confrontation threatens to rupture a body that during its 43-year history has traditionally sought to find consensus on the economy and other issues. Trump, who aides say has little interest in multilateralism, resumed his tirade against Canada early Friday morning and appeared prepared to exit talks early without a consensus agreement among all seven countries. "Looking forward to straightening out unfair Trade Deals with the G-7 countries. If it doesn’t happen, we come out even better!" Trump tweeted early Friday morning ahead of his planned departure from Washington to Quebec. Looking forward to straightening out unfair Trade Deals with the G-7 countries. If it doesn’t happen, we come out even better! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 8, 2018 × Officials concede the mood is likely to be exceptionally tense. "There will be some serious disagreements on a lot of things," a Canadian official told reporters late on Thursday. Although Trump says the tariffs are necessary to protect US industry, Canada and the European Union have denounced them as illegal and are preparing retaliatory measures. French President Emmanuel Macron warned Trump in a rare rebuke on Thursday that the other six members of the G7 could form their own grouping if necessary, adding that "no leader was forever." British Prime Minister Theresa May took a more measured tone, telling reporters she wanted the European Union to use restraint in its retaliation to the US tariffs and that the response must be proportionate and legal. Trump showed no sign of backing down on Friday, after earlier accusing both France and Canada of imposing massive tariffs on US goods and then accusing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of "being so indignant." In response, the Canadian official replied that "the prime minister and the president have very frank, direct, candid, honest conversations." Trudeau and Trump are due to meet on Friday "and they will have lots to talk about," the official added. The White House subsequently announced the president would be leaving on Saturday, before the summit formally ends, to fly to Singapore for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. While the G7 leaders have largely praised Trump for his efforts to stabilize the Korean peninsula, they are unhappy he pulled out of an agreement designed to limit Iran's nuclear ambitions. The arguments threaten to derail a meeting that Trudeau had planned to focus on inclusive growth, gender equality and protecting oceans. The Canadian official said Trudeau remained optimistic that the summit could help find common solutions to issues such as growth and environmental protection. In Germany, top officials called for Europe to remain unified in the face of rising trade tensions with the United States even as they maintained that America remained its closest partner outside of the continent.

G7 leaders set to clash with combative Trump over tariffs, trade

Despite the fact that the confirmation of the meeting between leaders of the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) came on a short notice, experts believe Singapore is well prepared for the historic event given the city-state's rich experience in security measures.

The White House has announced that U.S. President Donald Trump and top leader of the DPRK Kim Jong Un will meet at the Capella Hotel in Sentosa, a resort island off Singapore's southern coast, on June 12.

With Singapore's good track record in hosting major events, observers are confident that the country is able to put up good security measures for this historic meeting, even within a short period of time.

"We already have existing security infrastructure, which is good to go, meaning that whatever preparation that we are experiencing right now is going to be very little, I would say, because all the security resources, security personnel, the basic blueprints for all the different locations across Singapore are already there. All we have to do is just activate those resources," said Graham Ong-Webb, a research fellow with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University.

In addition to the infrastructure, security experts believe Singapore is also keeping close tabs on the latest security developments.

"Not to mention the close relationship that Singapore security agencies have with security agencies in the region - we work closely with the U.S. we also work closely with all the security agencies from around the country, around the region, and we are aware of all the latest intelligence required where security is concerned," said Lim How Kiat, general manager of Singapore office of the Ademco Security Group.

In preparation for the summit, Singapore police have tightened security measures to various areas where summit activities would be held. These include having enhanced powers to search people and vehicles.

Singapore airspace will also be restricted from June 10 to 14. During this period, flight delays might be expected.

Although preparation is the key to success, it’s only the beginning of the process.

"Regardless of your maximum amount of resources you put into doing good security, there will also be some residue risks, we don't know what these are. Nevertheless, I am sure that the security panels have put a whole range of contingencies in place for whatever may happen, whether it's about undesirable weather, heavy rainstorm that affects visibility that affects the movement of people, you know, wet weather can change all sorts of things. We can't foresee these things, but what we can do is to preempt the possibilities by putting all the resources in the area so that they are good to go and can be deployed in a short moment notice if they need to be," he said.

With all these security measures in place, Singapore is doing its best to make sure that its guests have a peace of mind, to focus on making the world a more secure place.

The White House has announced that US President Donald Trump and top leader of the DPRK Kim Jong Un will meet at the Capella Hotel in Sentosa

Despite the fact that the confirmation of the meeting between leaders of the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) came on a short notice, experts believe Singapore is well prepared for the historic event given the city-state's rich experience in security measures. The White House has announced that U.S. President Donald Trump and top leader of the DPRK Kim Jong Un will meet at the Capella Hotel in Sentosa, a resort island off Singapore's southern coast, on June 12. With Singapore's good track record in hosting major events, observers are confident that the country is able to put up good security measures for this historic meeting, even within a short period of time. "We already have existing security infrastructure, which is good to go, meaning that whatever preparation that we are experiencing right now is going to be very little, I would say, because all the security resources, security personnel, the basic blueprints for all the different locations across Singapore are already there. All we have to do is just activate those resources," said Graham Ong-Webb, a research fellow with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University. In addition to the infrastructure, security experts believe Singapore is also keeping close tabs on the latest security developments. "Not to mention the close relationship that Singapore security agencies have with security agencies in the region - we work closely with the U.S. we also work closely with all the security agencies from around the country, around the region, and we are aware of all the latest intelligence required where security is concerned," said Lim How Kiat, general manager of Singapore office of the Ademco Security Group. In preparation for the summit, Singapore police have tightened security measures to various areas where summit activities would be held. These include having enhanced powers to search people and vehicles. Singapore airspace will also be restricted from June 10 to 14. During this period, flight delays might be expected. Although preparation is the key to success, it’s only the beginning of the process. "Regardless of your maximum amount of resources you put into doing good security, there will also be some residue risks, we don't know what these are. Nevertheless, I am sure that the security panels have put a whole range of contingencies in place for whatever may happen, whether it's about undesirable weather, heavy rainstorm that affects visibility that affects the movement of people, you know, wet weather can change all sorts of things. We can't foresee these things, but what we can do is to preempt the possibilities by putting all the resources in the area so that they are good to go and can be deployed in a short moment notice if they need to be," he said. With all these security measures in place, Singapore is doing its best to make sure that its guests have a peace of mind, to focus on making the world a more secure place.

Singapore well prepared for Trump-Kim Summit with tight security measures

Iran criticised a US&nbsp;request that Saudi Arabia pump more oil to cover a drop in Iranian exports and predicted OPEC would not heed the appeal, setting the stage for a tough meeting of the producer group later this month.

Iran’s OPEC governor, Hossein Kazempour Ardebili, was responding to news that the US&nbsp;government had unofficially asked Saudi Arabia and some other OPEC producers to raise output.

“It’s crazy and astonishing to see instruction coming from Washington to Saudi to act and replace a shortfall of Iran’s export due to their Illegal sanction on Iran and Venezuela,” Kazempour said in comments to Reuters.

He predicted OPEC would not heed the US&nbsp;request and said oil prices would jump in response to Washington's sanctions on Iran and Venezuela, as they did during a previous round of US&nbsp;sanctions against Iran.

“No one in OPEC will act against two of its founder members,” he said.

“The US&nbsp;tried it last time against Iran, but oil prices got to $140 a barrel.”

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries meets to review its oil output policy on June 22 in Vienna.

OPEC, founded in 1960, has a history of collaboration over oil policy despite differences of opinion and even wars between some members over the years.

Kazempour said the group would unite in opposition to the US&nbsp;request.

“OPEC will not accept such a humiliation. How arrogant and ignorant one could be (to) underestimate the history of 60 years' cooperation among competitors,” he said.“We have to live together - we cannot change geography but we must build better history,” he said.

Iran’s OPEC governor, Hossein Kazempour Ardebili, was responding to news that the US government had unofficially asked Saudi Arabia and some other OPEC producers to raise output

Iran criticised a US request that Saudi Arabia pump more oil to cover a drop in Iranian exports and predicted OPEC would not heed the appeal, setting the stage for a tough meeting of the producer group later this month. Iran’s OPEC governor, Hossein Kazempour Ardebili, was responding to news that the US government had unofficially asked Saudi Arabia and some other OPEC producers to raise output. “It’s crazy and astonishing to see instruction coming from Washington to Saudi to act and replace a shortfall of Iran’s export due to their Illegal sanction on Iran and Venezuela,” Kazempour said in comments to Reuters. He predicted OPEC would not heed the US request and said oil prices would jump in response to Washington's sanctions on Iran and Venezuela, as they did during a previous round of US sanctions against Iran. “No one in OPEC will act against two of its founder members,” he said. “The US tried it last time against Iran, but oil prices got to $140 a barrel.” The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries meets to review its oil output policy on June 22 in Vienna. OPEC, founded in 1960, has a history of collaboration over oil policy despite differences of opinion and even wars between some members over the years. Kazempour said the group would unite in opposition to the US request. “OPEC will not accept such a humiliation. How arrogant and ignorant one could be (to) underestimate the history of 60 years' cooperation among competitors,” he said.“We have to live together - we cannot change geography but we must build better history,” he said.

Iran slams US for seeking Saudi oil output hike, says OPEC won’t comply

German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier called on Friday for Europe to remain unified in the face of rising trade tensions with the United States, saying it was unclear how a summit of the Group of Seven rich nations would end.

"We have a serious situation, not just since last night or this morning, but rather the entire last few weeks," Altmaier told broadcaster ZDF.

He underlined the importance of European unity on free trade and economic interests, especially since domestic debate was continuing in the United States about punitive sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump on G7 allies like Canada, Japan and the European Union.

Leaders of G7 nations meeting in Canada from Friday are more divided than at any time in the group's 42-year history, with Trump's "America First" policies at risk of causing a global trade war and deep diplomatic schisms.

Trump has already imposed hefty tariffs on steel and aluminium imports and threatened to do the same for cars. His decisions to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and a global climate change accord have also fueled tensions.

Altmaier said the EU had long resisted imposing tariffs of its own but had shown it would do so if left with no other choice.

European leaders remained committed to continuing the dialogue with the United States if both sides were willing to make concessions, he said, although there was no sign of that at the moment.

A business leader also expressed concern. Joe Kaeser, chief executive of the engineering group Siemens, warned against deepening the transatlantic trade dispute. "Escalation was never a good answer. That's why we must try to find areas of agreement," he said in Munich.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the United States remained Germany's closest partner outside Europe. However, there were significant differences that could not be ignored, and Europe needed new partnerships, he told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

He took aim at Trump's actions on the Iran deal, trade and climate change, saying the president was willfully ignoring the negative consequences that his decisions would have on Europe and focusing solely on U.S. interests.

"None of that will make the world better, safer or more peaceful," he told the newspaper. "We were used to relying on what had been agreed. That has fundamentally changed."

Maas called for creation of a European security council, an idea backed by Chancellor Angela Merkel, and said ending the current requirement for unanimous decisions on foreign policy and security issues would make the EU more agile.

Maas also called for Europe to forge alliances with other regions, including countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

"We have a serious situation, not just since last night or this morning, but rather the entire last few weeks," Altmaier told

German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier called on Friday for Europe to remain unified in the face of rising trade tensions with the United States, saying it was unclear how a summit of the Group of Seven rich nations would end. "We have a serious situation, not just since last night or this morning, but rather the entire last few weeks," Altmaier told broadcaster ZDF. He underlined the importance of European unity on free trade and economic interests, especially since domestic debate was continuing in the United States about punitive sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump on G7 allies like Canada, Japan and the European Union. Leaders of G7 nations meeting in Canada from Friday are more divided than at any time in the group's 42-year history, with Trump's "America First" policies at risk of causing a global trade war and deep diplomatic schisms. Trump has already imposed hefty tariffs on steel and aluminium imports and threatened to do the same for cars. His decisions to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and a global climate change accord have also fueled tensions. Altmaier said the EU had long resisted imposing tariffs of its own but had shown it would do so if left with no other choice. European leaders remained committed to continuing the dialogue with the United States if both sides were willing to make concessions, he said, although there was no sign of that at the moment. A business leader also expressed concern. Joe Kaeser, chief executive of the engineering group Siemens, warned against deepening the transatlantic trade dispute. "Escalation was never a good answer. That's why we must try to find areas of agreement," he said in Munich. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the United States remained Germany's closest partner outside Europe. However, there were significant differences that could not be ignored, and Europe needed new partnerships, he told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung. He took aim at Trump's actions on the Iran deal, trade and climate change, saying the president was willfully ignoring the negative consequences that his decisions would have on Europe and focusing solely on U.S. interests. "None of that will make the world better, safer or more peaceful," he told the newspaper. "We were used to relying on what had been agreed. That has fundamentally changed." Maas called for creation of a European security council, an idea backed by Chancellor Angela Merkel, and said ending the current requirement for unanimous decisions on foreign policy and security issues would make the EU more agile. Maas also called for Europe to forge alliances with other regions, including countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Germany urges European unity in face of trade tensions with US

Britain's foreign minister Boris Johnson warned that there could be a Brexit meltdown but it will be "all right in the end" and that US&nbsp;President Trump would take a tougher stance were he leading the talks, according to BuzzFeed.

Johnson's comments were secretly recorded at a dinner on Wednesday evening and released on Thursday by the news website hours after ministers found a compromise on a backstop Brexit plan for the Irish border.

Johnson said that Prime Minister Theresa May was beginning to take a harder line but that there would be a need for level-headedness as talks became more difficult in the months ahead.

"I think Theresa is going to go into a phase where we are much more combative with Brussels,” Johnson was recorded saying.

"You’ve got to face the fact there may now be a meltdown. OK? I don’t want anybody to panic during the meltdown. No panic. Pro bono publico, no bloody panic. It’s going to be all right in the end."

Johnson said US&nbsp;President Trump, who is locked in a battle over steel tariffs with European allies including Britain, would take a stronger approach if he were in charge of the negotiations.

"Imagine Trump doing Brexit,” said Johnson.

"He’d go in bloody hard… There’d be all sorts of breakdowns, all sorts of chaos. Everyone would think he’d gone mad. But actually you might get somewhere. It’s a very, very good thought."

A spokeswoman at May's Downing Street office did not offer an immediate comment when contacted by Reuters.

"I think Theresa is going to go into a phase where we are much more combative with Brussels,” Johnson said

Britain's foreign minister Boris Johnson warned that there could be a Brexit meltdown but it will be "all right in the end" and that US President Trump would take a tougher stance were he leading the talks, according to BuzzFeed. Johnson's comments were secretly recorded at a dinner on Wednesday evening and released on Thursday by the news website hours after ministers found a compromise on a backstop Brexit plan for the Irish border. Johnson said that Prime Minister Theresa May was beginning to take a harder line but that there would be a need for level-headedness as talks became more difficult in the months ahead. "I think Theresa is going to go into a phase where we are much more combative with Brussels,” Johnson was recorded saying. "You’ve got to face the fact there may now be a meltdown. OK? I don’t want anybody to panic during the meltdown. No panic. Pro bono publico, no bloody panic. It’s going to be all right in the end." Johnson said US President Trump, who is locked in a battle over steel tariffs with European allies including Britain, would take a stronger approach if he were in charge of the negotiations. "Imagine Trump doing Brexit,” said Johnson. "He’d go in bloody hard… There’d be all sorts of breakdowns, all sorts of chaos. Everyone would think he’d gone mad. But actually you might get somewhere. It’s a very, very good thought." A spokeswoman at May's Downing Street office did not offer an immediate comment when contacted by Reuters.

Brace for a possible 'Brexit meltdown' but don't panic, UK's Johnson cautions: Buzzfeed

The US&nbsp;State Department on Friday issued an expanded health alert for all of China amid reports some US&nbsp;diplomats based in the country had experienced a mysterious malady that resembles a brain injury and has already affected US&nbsp;personnel in Cuba.

A previous statement in May only mentioned the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou as the location for the health alert, though it was sent to US&nbsp;citizens throughout the country.

The State Department had confirmed earlier that one US&nbsp;employee assigned to the consulate in Guangzhou had "suffered a medical incident", and that it had deployed a team to screen employees and family members there.

On Wednesday the US&nbsp;government said that it had brought a group of people from that consulate back to the United States for further evaluation of their symptoms, and that it was offering screening to anyone at the US&nbsp;embassy in Beijing or other consulates in China who requested it.

The United States also operates consulates in the mainland Chinese cities of Chengdu, Shanghai, Shenyang and Wuhan.

The location of the health alert was changed to "countrywide" from Guangzhou in the updated statement sent by email.

"The State Department received medical confirmation that a US&nbsp;government employee in China suffered a medical incident consistent with what other US&nbsp;government personnel experienced in Havana, Cuba," the statement said, reiterating comments made last month by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

It warned of "unexplained physical symptoms or events, auditory or sensory phenomena", and said symptoms of the ailment included dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, fatigue, cognitive issues, visual problems, ear complaints and hearing loss, as well as difficulty sleeping.

China has said that it thoroughly investigated the initial case reported by the United States and found no reasons or clues to explain it.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Thursday that as far as she was aware the Chinese government had not had any formal communication with US&nbsp;officials on any new cases.

China's state-run Global Times tabloid called the situation at the consulate "very strange".

"Practically all Chinese people do not believe that this country's official organisations would carry out such sonic attacks against US&nbsp;diplomats. This does not fit with China's basic concept and principles of diplomacy, and is inconceivable," the Global Times said in an editorial.

It also said people found it hard to believe that another foreign country could carry out such an attack in China, escape China's monitoring, and leave no trace.

Last year, 24 US&nbsp;government employees and family members in Cuba displayed the symptoms, which were similar to those related to concussion and mild traumatic brain injury, according to the State Department.

The illnesses among the American diplomats stationed in Havana heightened tension between the old Cold War foes.

Pompeo released a statement on Tuesday saying the department established a task force last month "to direct a multi-agency response to the unexplained health incidents".

A previous statement only mentioned the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou as the location for the health alert

The US State Department on Friday issued an expanded health alert for all of China amid reports some US diplomats based in the country had experienced a mysterious malady that resembles a brain injury and has already affected US personnel in Cuba. A previous statement in May only mentioned the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou as the location for the health alert, though it was sent to US citizens throughout the country. The State Department had confirmed earlier that one US employee assigned to the consulate in Guangzhou had "suffered a medical incident", and that it had deployed a team to screen employees and family members there. On Wednesday the US government said that it had brought a group of people from that consulate back to the United States for further evaluation of their symptoms, and that it was offering screening to anyone at the US embassy in Beijing or other consulates in China who requested it. The United States also operates consulates in the mainland Chinese cities of Chengdu, Shanghai, Shenyang and Wuhan. The location of the health alert was changed to "countrywide" from Guangzhou in the updated statement sent by email. "The State Department received medical confirmation that a US government employee in China suffered a medical incident consistent with what other US government personnel experienced in Havana, Cuba," the statement said, reiterating comments made last month by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. It warned of "unexplained physical symptoms or events, auditory or sensory phenomena", and said symptoms of the ailment included dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, fatigue, cognitive issues, visual problems, ear complaints and hearing loss, as well as difficulty sleeping. China has said that it thoroughly investigated the initial case reported by the United States and found no reasons or clues to explain it. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Thursday that as far as she was aware the Chinese government had not had any formal communication with US officials on any new cases. China's state-run Global Times tabloid called the situation at the consulate "very strange". "Practically all Chinese people do not believe that this country's official organisations would carry out such sonic attacks against US diplomats. This does not fit with China's basic concept and principles of diplomacy, and is inconceivable," the Global Times said in an editorial. It also said people found it hard to believe that another foreign country could carry out such an attack in China, escape China's monitoring, and leave no trace. Last year, 24 US government employees and family members in Cuba displayed the symptoms, which were similar to those related to concussion and mild traumatic brain injury, according to the State Department. The illnesses among the American diplomats stationed in Havana heightened tension between the old Cold War foes. Pompeo released a statement on Tuesday saying the department established a task force last month "to direct a multi-agency response to the unexplained health incidents".

US expands China health alert amid illness reports

Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan Pyongyang on Thursday, days before Singapore plays host to the summit between leaders of North Korea and the United States.

Video provided by North Korea's official&nbsp;showed Balakrishnan arriving Pyongyang International Airport and later meeting his North Korean counterpart, Ri Yong Ho, at Mansudae Assembly Hall.

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are due to hold their historic meeting in Singapore on Tuesday&nbsp;next week.

The United States and North Korea agreed upon Singapore last month as the venue for the first ever meeting between leaders of the two countries. The White House said then it chose Singapore because it could ensure the security of both leaders and provide a neutral meeting ground.

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are due to hold their historic meeting in Singapore on Tuesday

Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan Pyongyang on Thursday, days before Singapore plays host to the summit between leaders of North Korea and the United States. Video provided by North Korea's official showed Balakrishnan arriving Pyongyang International Airport and later meeting his North Korean counterpart, Ri Yong Ho, at Mansudae Assembly Hall. US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are due to hold their historic meeting in Singapore on Tuesday next week. The United States and North Korea agreed upon Singapore last month as the venue for the first ever meeting between leaders of the two countries. The White House said then it chose Singapore because it could ensure the security of both leaders and provide a neutral meeting ground.

Singapore's foreign minister visits North Korea

President Donald Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani has claimed that the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un begged for the summit with US President Donald Trump after he cancelled it.

He said the North Korean leader "got on his hands and knees and begged".

While speaking at an investment conference in Israel, Giuliani said Trump cancelled the summit because senior North Korean officials insulted top officials of the Trump administration.

The North Korean officials said they would wage a nuclear war with US and would defeat US in a war, he added.

He further said that the Trump administration refused to hold the summit under "such circumstances".

Giuliani said after Trump's refusal for the summit&nbsp;"Kim Jong-un got back on his hands and knees and begged for it, which is exactly the position you want to put him in", a media reported.

For a long time, Kim and Trump were hurling insults and threats of war with each other.

The rhetoric began to cool during the Winter Olympics in South Korea, and by mid-March, the two sides had agreed to a face-to-face.

After some back-and-forth, June 12 in Singapore has been scheduled for the meeting between the two leaders. 
&nbsp;

While speaking at an investment conference in Israel, Giuliani said Trump cancelled the summit because senior North Korean officials insulted top officials of the Trump administration

President Donald Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani has claimed that the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un begged for the summit with US President Donald Trump after he cancelled it. He said the North Korean leader "got on his hands and knees and begged". While speaking at an investment conference in Israel, Giuliani said Trump cancelled the summit because senior North Korean officials insulted top officials of the Trump administration. The North Korean officials said they would wage a nuclear war with US and would defeat US in a war, he added. He further said that the Trump administration refused to hold the summit under "such circumstances". Giuliani said after Trump's refusal for the summit "Kim Jong-un got back on his hands and knees and begged for it, which is exactly the position you want to put him in", a media reported. For a long time, Kim and Trump were hurling insults and threats of war with each other. The rhetoric began to cool during the Winter Olympics in South Korea, and by mid-March, the two sides had agreed to a face-to-face. After some back-and-forth, June 12 in Singapore has been scheduled for the meeting between the two leaders.

Kim got on his hands, knees and begged Trump for the summit: Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani

French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday he will huddle with the leaders of Britain, Germany and Italy to forge a common approach on how to handle Donald Trump at the Group of Seven summit in Canada.

Macron will meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and new Italian premier Giuseppe Conte on Friday at 10:30 am (1430 GMT), just before the formal start of the summit in La Malbaie.

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and EU president Donald Tusk will also attend, the French leader said.

Macron will meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and new Italian premier Giuseppe Conte on Friday

French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday he will huddle with the leaders of Britain, Germany and Italy to forge a common approach on how to handle Donald Trump at the Group of Seven summit in Canada. Macron will meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and new Italian premier Giuseppe Conte on Friday at 10:30 am (1430 GMT), just before the formal start of the summit in La Malbaie. European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and EU president Donald Tusk will also attend, the French leader said.

Macron to meet Britain, Italy, German leaders before G7

Famous NBA star Dennis Rodman might be joining Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump in Singapore&nbsp;during the summit media reports said.

The basketball star and the first American to met Trump and Kim both will reportedly arrive in Singapore a day before the summit. A report by New York daily has said citing sources that he may play a role in the negotiations.

Dennis Rodman has visited North Korea five times and&nbsp;has been&nbsp;a contestant on Trump's reality show twice.

After several reports of the summit being called off and on, the first ever face to face meeting between the Donald Trump and Kim Jong un will take place on June 12 in Singapore.

The Southeast Asian city is all set to host the historic summit. Earlier in the day, it was reported that the <a href="http://wionews.com/world/kim-got-on-his-handsknees-and-begged-trump-for-the-summit-trumps-lawyer-rudy-giuliani-142788">Singapore airspace will be restricted</a> during the planned summit.&nbsp;

Travellers were also advised to expect delays for flights arriving at and departing from Singapore during this period, Singapore's Defense Ministry and Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said.

Meanwhile, top UN rights expert Tomas Ojea Quintana called North Korea to begin freeing prisoners under a "general amnesty" ahead of next week's historic nuclear summit.

Dennis Rodman has visited North Korea five times and has been a contestant on Trump's reality show twice

Famous NBA star Dennis Rodman might be joining Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump in Singapore during the summit media reports said. The basketball star and the first American to met Trump and Kim both will reportedly arrive in Singapore a day before the summit. A report by New York daily has said citing sources that he may play a role in the negotiations. Dennis Rodman has visited North Korea five times and has been a contestant on Trump's reality show twice. After several reports of the summit being called off and on, the first ever face to face meeting between the Donald Trump and Kim Jong un will take place on June 12 in Singapore. The Southeast Asian city is all set to host the historic summit. Earlier in the day, it was reported that the Singapore airspace will be restricted during the planned summit. Travellers were also advised to expect delays for flights arriving at and departing from Singapore during this period, Singapore's Defense Ministry and Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said. Meanwhile, top UN rights expert Tomas Ojea Quintana called North Korea to begin freeing prisoners under a "general amnesty" ahead of next week's historic nuclear summit.

NBA star Dennis Rodman may join Trump and Kim Jong-un in Singapore

&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;airspace&nbsp;will be&nbsp;restricted&nbsp;during&nbsp;the planned US-NorthKorea&nbsp;summit&nbsp;next week, according to a notice to airmen posted by aviation authorities on Wednesday, which is likely to result in delays at one of Asia's busiest airports.

The Southeast Asian city-state is set to host a historic meeting between US&nbsp;President Donald Trump and North&nbsp;Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 and has increased security across the island.

The notice, published on the websites of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the US&nbsp;Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), said&nbsp;airspace&nbsp;over&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;will be temporarily restricted for parts of June 11, 12 and 13.

Travellers are advised to expect delays for flights arriving at and departing from&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;during this period,&nbsp;Singapore's Defense Ministry and Civil Aviation Authority of&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;said.

All aircraft arriving into&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;Changi Airport will be required to reduce speed and face some restrictions on runway use "for reasons of national security," the notice said.

A separate notice on the ICAO website warned aviators to keep clear of the Paya Lebar Air Base, a military facility in the east of the island that has been used by US presidents on past visits. The notice said aircraft that breach the&nbsp;restrictions "may be intercepted".

As part of its preparations for the&nbsp;summit,&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;has designated certain parts of the city as "special event areas" for June 10 to 14. These include the central region, which is home to its foreign ministry, the US&nbsp;embassy and several hotels, and Sentosa Island in the south, where the summit&nbsp;is scheduled to take place.

Items such as remotely piloted aircraft and public address systems will be prohibited in these areas throughout this period.

The Southeast Asian city-state is set to host a historic meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un and has increased security across the island

Singapore airspace will be restricted during the planned US-NorthKorea summit next week, according to a notice to airmen posted by aviation authorities on Wednesday, which is likely to result in delays at one of Asia's busiest airports. The Southeast Asian city-state is set to host a historic meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 and has increased security across the island. The notice, published on the websites of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), said airspace over Singapore will be temporarily restricted for parts of June 11, 12 and 13. Travellers are advised to expect delays for flights arriving at and departing from Singapore during this period, Singapore's Defense Ministry and Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said. All aircraft arriving into Singapore Changi Airport will be required to reduce speed and face some restrictions on runway use "for reasons of national security," the notice said. A separate notice on the ICAO website warned aviators to keep clear of the Paya Lebar Air Base, a military facility in the east of the island that has been used by US presidents on past visits. The notice said aircraft that breach the restrictions "may be intercepted". As part of its preparations for the summit, Singapore has designated certain parts of the city as "special event areas" for June 10 to 14. These include the central region, which is home to its foreign ministry, the US embassy and several hotels, and Sentosa Island in the south, where the summit is scheduled to take place. Items such as remotely piloted aircraft and public address systems will be prohibited in these areas throughout this period.

Singapore to restrict airspace during US-North Korea summit

The US&nbsp;government said on Wednesday it would&nbsp;release&nbsp;in&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;an American&nbsp;citizen detained on suspicion of being an Islamic State member, a move the&nbsp;AmericanCivil Liberties Union compared to dumping him on the road in a war zone.

The man, who holds dual US-Saudi citizenship and whose name has not been&nbsp;released, was captured&nbsp;in&nbsp;September&nbsp;in&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;by the US-backed&nbsp;Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance of militias fighting against Islamic State, before being handed over to the United States.

He was then held in Iraq without legal representation until the&nbsp;American&nbsp;Civil Liberties Union intervened on his behalf in US&nbsp;federal court last October.

"The government has&nbsp;effectively&nbsp;admitted that it has no&nbsp;reason&nbsp;to continue detaining our client and that he does not pose a threat," said ACLU attorney Jonathan Hafetz in a statement.

"But, instead of offering a safe&nbsp;release, they want to&nbsp;dump an&nbsp;American&nbsp;citizen&nbsp;onto the side of the road in a war-torn country without any assurances of protection&nbsp;and no identification."

The United States previously said it had evidence that he had signed up as an Islamic State foreign fighter in 2014 and entered&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;in January 2015, according to court papers. The detainee, who has a degree in electrical engineering, is married with one child, according to court papers.

The administration had previously sought to transfer the man to an unidentified country, possibly Saudi Arabia.

In its notice filed to a Washington DC&nbsp;court on Wednesday, the Justice Department said it offered the man a choice of being&nbsp;released "either in a town or outside an Internally Displaced Person camp," but he would not agree to&nbsp;release&nbsp;options.

The Justice Department said it would&nbsp;release&nbsp;him in the unspecified town "no sooner than 72 hours hence."

"The government has effectively admitted that it has no reason to continue detaining our client and that he does not pose a threat," said Jonathan Hafetz

The US government said on Wednesday it would release in Syria an American citizen detained on suspicion of being an Islamic State member, a move the AmericanCivil Liberties Union compared to dumping him on the road in a war zone. The man, who holds dual US-Saudi citizenship and whose name has not been released, was captured in September in Syria by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance of militias fighting against Islamic State, before being handed over to the United States. He was then held in Iraq without legal representation until the American Civil Liberties Union intervened on his behalf in US federal court last October. "The government has effectively admitted that it has no reason to continue detaining our client and that he does not pose a threat," said ACLU attorney Jonathan Hafetz in a statement. "But, instead of offering a safe release, they want to dump an American citizen onto the side of the road in a war-torn country without any assurances of protection and no identification." The United States previously said it had evidence that he had signed up as an Islamic State foreign fighter in 2014 and entered Syria in January 2015, according to court papers. The detainee, who has a degree in electrical engineering, is married with one child, according to court papers. The administration had previously sought to transfer the man to an unidentified country, possibly Saudi Arabia. In its notice filed to a Washington DC court on Wednesday, the Justice Department said it offered the man a choice of being released "either in a town or outside an Internally Displaced Person camp," but he would not agree to release options. The Justice Department said it would release him in the unspecified town "no sooner than 72 hours hence."

US plans to release American captured in Syria in September

Group of Seven leaders will pressure US&nbspPresident Donald Trump at a summit this week on tariffs he has imposed on metals imports but must remain civil as they try to persuade him to change his mind, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday.

Macron, speaking to reporters after talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, said the United States was an ally that the rest of the G7 needed. Tensions over trade are threatening to overshadow the June 8-9 summit.

Group of Seven leaders will pressure US President Donald Trump at a summit this week on tariffs he has imposed on metals imports

Group of Seven leaders will pressure US&nbspPresident Donald Trump at a summit this week on tariffs he has imposed on metals imports but must remain civil as they try to persuade him to change his mind, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday. Macron, speaking to reporters after talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, said the United States was an ally that the rest of the G7 needed. Tensions over trade are threatening to overshadow the June 8-9 summit.

G7 leaders must be civil as they pressure Trump, says Macron

Before President Donald Trump sits down with a third-generation North Korean autocrat, he will face what may well turn out to be a tougher crowd,&nbspsome of America's oldest allies.

With his new tariffs increasing US isolation, Trump heads to Canada tomorrow for a meeting of the Group of Seven industrialised nations.

The White House is expecting a chilly reception from Canada and West European countries, already frustrated over Trump's withdrawal from the Paris climate accord and the Iran nuclear agreement.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel previewed the dynamics yesterday, telling the German parliament that "it is apparent that we have a serious problem with multilateral agreements here, and so there will be contentious discussions." Anticipating a tense two days in Quebec, Trump has complained about having to attend the summit, particularly since it comes just before his high-stakes meeting in Singapore with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said two people with knowledge of his thinking.

But the White House has signalled no change in plans.

"The president wants to go on the trip," Larry Kudlow, Trump's top economic adviser, said of the summit in Canada. "The president is at ease with all of these tough issues.

"There may be disagreements," Kudlow added. "I regard this as much like a family quarrel."

Trump also is set to hold a series of one-on-one meetings, including with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron. Trump is unlikely to back away from the nationalistic policies that have frustrated and unnerved allies but which he sees as key promises to his most loyal voters.

He has highlighted his efforts on Twitter, writing Monday: "The US has made such bad trade deals over so many years that we can only WIN!" Kudlow said allies should understand that Trump "will do what is necessary to protect the US, its businesses and its workforce," adding that Trump "has always said, and I agree, tariffs are a tool in that effort."

Trump announced in March that he was imposing tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum, but he temporarily granted a waiver to US allies like Canada, Mexico and the European Union, and also to China, as his administration said trade talks were continuing.

Trump ended that temporary relief this month, seeking to pressure the other countries to cut new trade agreements with the US Japan was never granted a waiver, despite Prime Mininster Shinzo Abe's pleas.

Asked if the administration will respect decisions from the World Trade Organization on tariffs, Kudlow said that "international multilateral organizations are not going to determine American policy.

I think the president's made that very clear." This will be Trump's second summit of the G-7, an informal gathering that meets every year under a rotating chairmanship. The member countries are: Canada, France, Italy,

Japan, Germany, the United States and the Britain. The European Union also attends.

While trade is expected to dominate, Trudeau also wants to focus on gender equality and climate change. Kudlow was vague on whether the summit will produce a joint decision or a clear outcome on trade or other issues, saying "let them meet first."

The meeting comes after a gathering of G-7 finance ministers concluded last week with a message of "concern and disappointment" to Trump from the other six countries.

Describing the tense three days, Bruno Le Maire, France's finance and economy minister, said it was "far more a G-6 plus one than a G-7." Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin responded: "We believe in the G-7, it's an important group," adding that Trump looks forward to the gathering.

The increasingly critical tone from allies is a shift after leaders spent the past year and a half seeking to woo and cajole the American president.

Thomas Wright, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told reporters that for Trump's first 500 days, "these countries generally were bent over backwards not to criticize President Trump.

They tried to have close relations with him. They all tried to hug him close, as we used to say about Blair and Bush." But Wright added: "There is a feeling, I think, over the last few months, that that approach has not borne fruit, and that they haven't really gotten anything for that friendly approach."

Canada in particular has been outraged by Trump's tariffs, taking umbrage at the argument that they were motivated by national security concerns.

Trudeau told NBC: "The idea that we are somehow a national security threat to the United States is, quite frankly, insulting and unacceptable." Edward Alden, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said this marked the lowest point in decades in Canada-US relations, describing the two countries as allies that have "fought and died alongside each other" since World War I.

"This is deeply offensive to Canadians," Alden said.

Kudlow played down any conflict, saying he had "no doubt the United States and Canada will remain firm friends and allies whatever short-term disagreements may occur."&nbsp 
&nbsp

With his new tariffs increasing US isolation, Trump heads to Canada tomorrow for a meeting of the Group of Seven industrialised nations.

Before President Donald Trump sits down with a third-generation North Korean autocrat, he will face what may well turn out to be a tougher crowd,&nbspsome of America's oldest allies. With his new tariffs increasing US isolation, Trump heads to Canada tomorrow for a meeting of the Group of Seven industrialised nations. The White House is expecting a chilly reception from Canada and West European countries, already frustrated over Trump's withdrawal from the Paris climate accord and the Iran nuclear agreement. German Chancellor Angela Merkel previewed the dynamics yesterday, telling the German parliament that "it is apparent that we have a serious problem with multilateral agreements here, and so there will be contentious discussions." Anticipating a tense two days in Quebec, Trump has complained about having to attend the summit, particularly since it comes just before his high-stakes meeting in Singapore with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said two people with knowledge of his thinking. But the White House has signalled no change in plans. "The president wants to go on the trip," Larry Kudlow, Trump's top economic adviser, said of the summit in Canada. "The president is at ease with all of these tough issues. "There may be disagreements," Kudlow added. "I regard this as much like a family quarrel." Trump also is set to hold a series of one-on-one meetings, including with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron. Trump is unlikely to back away from the nationalistic policies that have frustrated and unnerved allies but which he sees as key promises to his most loyal voters. He has highlighted his efforts on Twitter, writing Monday: "The US has made such bad trade deals over so many years that we can only WIN!" Kudlow said allies should understand that Trump "will do what is necessary to protect the US, its businesses and its workforce," adding that Trump "has always said, and I agree, tariffs are a tool in that effort." Trump announced in March that he was imposing tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum, but he temporarily granted a waiver to US allies like Canada, Mexico and the European Union, and also to China, as his administration said trade talks were continuing. Trump ended that temporary relief this month, seeking to pressure the other countries to cut new trade agreements with the US Japan was never granted a waiver, despite Prime Mininster Shinzo Abe's pleas. Asked if the administration will respect decisions from the World Trade Organization on tariffs, Kudlow said that "international multilateral organizations are not going to determine American policy. I think the president's made that very clear." This will be Trump's second summit of the G-7, an informal gathering that meets every year under a rotating chairmanship. The member countries are: Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Germany, the United States and the Britain. The European Union also attends. While trade is expected to dominate, Trudeau also wants to focus on gender equality and climate change. Kudlow was vague on whether the summit will produce a joint decision or a clear outcome on trade or other issues, saying "let them meet first." The meeting comes after a gathering of G-7 finance ministers concluded last week with a message of "concern and disappointment" to Trump from the other six countries. Describing the tense three days, Bruno Le Maire, France's finance and economy minister, said it was "far more a G-6 plus one than a G-7." Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin responded: "We believe in the G-7, it's an important group," adding that Trump looks forward to the gathering. The increasingly critical tone from allies is a shift after leaders spent the past year and a half seeking to woo and cajole the American president. Thomas Wright, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told reporters that for Trump's first 500 days, "these countries generally were bent over backwards not to criticize President Trump. They tried to have close relations with him. They all tried to hug him close, as we used to say about Blair and Bush." But Wright added: "There is a feeling, I think, over the last few months, that that approach has not borne fruit, and that they haven't really gotten anything for that friendly approach." Canada in particular has been outraged by Trump's tariffs, taking umbrage at the argument that they were motivated by national security concerns. Trudeau told NBC: "The idea that we are somehow a national security threat to the United States is, quite frankly, insulting and unacceptable." Edward Alden, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said this marked the lowest point in decades in Canada-US relations, describing the two countries as allies that have "fought and died alongside each other" since World War I. "This is deeply offensive to Canadians," Alden said. Kudlow played down any conflict, saying he had "no doubt the United States and Canada will remain firm friends and allies whatever short-term disagreements may occur."

Trump likely to face a chilly reception at G-7 conference

China's&nbsp;Commerce&nbsp;Ministry&nbsp;said on Thursday that the country does not want an escalation of trade frictions with the United States and that some specific progress was made in the latest round of talks that concluded over the weekend.

China has said that it is willing to increase imports from America as part of negotiations to reduce the United States' $375 billion goods trade deficit with the world's second-largest economy and defuse broader commercial tensions.

Sources have told Reuters that President Donald Trump has discussed with trade advisors a Chinese government offer to import an extra $70 billion in US&nbsp;agricultural and energy commodities, but it is unclear if such as deal would be enough to avert a trade war.

Trump has threatened tariffs on up to $150 billion of Chinese exports as part of a separate dispute over Chinese intellectual property (IP) protections.

The administration has said that a final list of goods for the first wave of duties will be issued next week and that US&nbsp;Treasury Department plans to limit Chinese investment in the United States were also underway.

Commerce&nbsp;Ministry&nbsp;spokesman Gao Feng said that talks on Sunday between US&nbsp;commerce secretary Wilbur Ross and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He in Beijing included in-depth discussions about agriculture and energy trade, but he did not confirm that China had made a $70 billion offer.

Gao told a weekly news briefing that the talks had made specific progress, and reiterated&nbsp;China'swillingness to import more from the United States, but he did not offer details.

"There were discussions regarding specific areas of cooperation, including in-depth talks on agriculture and energy. China is willing to increase imports from the US&nbsp;(as part of negotiations)," Gao said.

China on Sunday warned that any agreements reached on trade and business between the two countries will be void if Washington implements tariffs and other trade measures.

Structural issues that for years have angered Washington, such as Chinese joint venture rules, market access restrictions, and policies that result in technology transfers, were not covered during Ross' latest trip to Beijing, according to sources.

Trump has threatened tariffs on up to $150 billion of Chinese exports as part of a separate dispute over Chinese intellectual property (IP) protections

China's Commerce Ministry said on Thursday that the country does not want an escalation of trade frictions with the United States and that some specific progress was made in the latest round of talks that concluded over the weekend. China has said that it is willing to increase imports from America as part of negotiations to reduce the United States' $375 billion goods trade deficit with the world's second-largest economy and defuse broader commercial tensions. Sources have told Reuters that President Donald Trump has discussed with trade advisors a Chinese government offer to import an extra $70 billion in US agricultural and energy commodities, but it is unclear if such as deal would be enough to avert a trade war. Trump has threatened tariffs on up to $150 billion of Chinese exports as part of a separate dispute over Chinese intellectual property (IP) protections. The administration has said that a final list of goods for the first wave of duties will be issued next week and that US Treasury Department plans to limit Chinese investment in the United States were also underway. Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng said that talks on Sunday between US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He in Beijing included in-depth discussions about agriculture and energy trade, but he did not confirm that China had made a $70 billion offer. Gao told a weekly news briefing that the talks had made specific progress, and reiterated China'swillingness to import more from the United States, but he did not offer details. "There were discussions regarding specific areas of cooperation, including in-depth talks on agriculture and energy. China is willing to increase imports from the US (as part of negotiations)," Gao said. China on Sunday warned that any agreements reached on trade and business between the two countries will be void if Washington implements tariffs and other trade measures. Structural issues that for years have angered Washington, such as Chinese joint venture rules, market access restrictions, and policies that result in technology transfers, were not covered during Ross' latest trip to Beijing, according to sources.

China says it does not want US trade frictions to escalate

Asian&nbsp;shares&nbsp;rose to a fresh 11-week high on Thursday, supported by sound economic fundamentals, while expectations the&nbsp;European Central Bank (ECB) may soon start to wind down its stimulus boosted the&nbsp;euro&nbsp;and&nbsp;global&nbsp;bond&nbsp;yields.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific&nbsp;shares&nbsp;outside Japan advanced 0.5 per cent to extend its gains,&nbsp;hitting a 2-1/2-month high for a second straight day. Japan's Nikkei average rose 0.9 per cent.

Notable gainers included technology-heavy Taiwanese stocks, with Taiwan's main index nearing the 27-year high of 11,270&nbsp;hit&nbsp;on January 23. The index has rallied 4.25 per cent since last Wednesday, boosted by the rally in tech stocks and the Nasdaq.

India's broader NSE index rose to a three-week high, with private-sector lenders leading gains, a day&nbsp;after&nbsp;the central bank raised its policy rate for the first time in more than four years.

Spreadbetters expected the firmer tone in equities to carry over into&nbsp;Europe, forecasting a higher open for Britain's FTSE, Germany's DAX and France's CAC.

"Quite clearly, it was the&nbsp;euro's day," said Marshall Gittler, chief strategist at ACLS&nbsp;Global. "Aside from the&nbsp;euro, the main theme in the market was back to risk-on."

The&nbsp;euro&nbsp;held near a two-week high while the yield on Germany's benchmark 10-year bond&nbsp;hit&nbsp;its own two-week high of 0.486 per cent on growing conviction the&nbsp;European Central Bank would announce as early as next week its intention to end a drawn-out stimulus programme by year-end.

The 10-year US&nbsp;Treasury yield&nbsp;hit&nbsp;a fresh 1-1/2-week peak of 2.985 per cent.

ECB&nbsp;Chief Economist Peter Praet said on Wednesday that robust growth made the central bank increasingly confident that inflation is on its way back to target, raising the chances it may use next week's meeting next week to reveal more about the end of its bond-buying program.

Praet's&nbsp;comments&nbsp;sent the&nbsp;euro&nbsp;to $1.1796, its highest level since May 22, on Wednesday. The common currency last traded up 0.1 per cent at $1.1789. The dollar index was down 0.1 per cent to 93.525.

Worries over the effects of reduced&nbsp;ECB&nbsp;bond buying triggered a broad sell-off in German Bunds and other&nbsp;European government debt, which spilled over to Treasuries, analysts said.

Higher&nbsp;yields&nbsp;helped to lift S&P 500 financials, which rose 1.8 per cent and were the biggest percentage gainer among S&P 500 sectors.

"The US&nbsp;10 year Treasury yield rose alongside its&nbsp;eurozone peers overnight, while US&nbsp;stocks rallied, reflecting a risk-on attitude among investors," said Makoto Noji, senior FX/bond strategist at SMBC Nikko Securities.

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said late on Wednesday that US&nbsp;President Donald Trump would meet French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the G7 summit this week.

Although Kudlow said Trump would not back down from the tough line he has taken on trade, the comments&nbsp;appeared to calm investors.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.4 per cent to 25,146.39, the S&P 500 gained 0.86 per cent to 2,772.35 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.67 per cent to&nbsp;hit&nbsp;its record closing high of 7,689.24.

Oil prices rose on Thursday to shake off some of the previous session's losses, supported by plunging exports from OPEC-member Venezuela.

Brent crude futures last traded at $75.84 a barrel and US&nbsp;West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude at 65.04, rising 0.6 per cent and 0.5 per cent on the day, respectively.

Copper&nbsp;hit&nbsp;a five-month high of $7,278.50 per tonne, though the gains were driven more by supply concerns in Chile than by stronger demand.

Market participants, wary of event risk, are monitoring developments ahead of the G7 summit later this week and the US-North Korea summit scheduled for next week.

India's broader NSE index rose to a three-week high, with private-sector lenders leading gains, a day after the central bank raised its policy rate for the first time in more than four years

Asian shares rose to a fresh 11-week high on Thursday, supported by sound economic fundamentals, while expectations the European Central Bank (ECB) may soon start to wind down its stimulus boosted the euro and global bond yields. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan advanced 0.5 per cent to extend its gains, hitting a 2-1/2-month high for a second straight day. Japan's Nikkei average rose 0.9 per cent. Notable gainers included technology-heavy Taiwanese stocks, with Taiwan's main index nearing the 27-year high of 11,270 hit on January 23. The index has rallied 4.25 per cent since last Wednesday, boosted by the rally in tech stocks and the Nasdaq. India's broader NSE index rose to a three-week high, with private-sector lenders leading gains, a day after the central bank raised its policy rate for the first time in more than four years. Spreadbetters expected the firmer tone in equities to carry over into Europe, forecasting a higher open for Britain's FTSE, Germany's DAX and France's CAC. "Quite clearly, it was the euro's day," said Marshall Gittler, chief strategist at ACLS Global. "Aside from the euro, the main theme in the market was back to risk-on." The euro held near a two-week high while the yield on Germany's benchmark 10-year bond hit its own two-week high of 0.486 per cent on growing conviction the European Central Bank would announce as early as next week its intention to end a drawn-out stimulus programme by year-end. The 10-year US Treasury yield hit a fresh 1-1/2-week peak of 2.985 per cent. ECB Chief Economist Peter Praet said on Wednesday that robust growth made the central bank increasingly confident that inflation is on its way back to target, raising the chances it may use next week's meeting next week to reveal more about the end of its bond-buying program. Praet's comments sent the euro to $1.1796, its highest level since May 22, on Wednesday. The common currency last traded up 0.1 per cent at $1.1789. The dollar index was down 0.1 per cent to 93.525. Worries over the effects of reduced ECB bond buying triggered a broad sell-off in German Bunds and other European government debt, which spilled over to Treasuries, analysts said. Higher yields helped to lift S&P 500 financials, which rose 1.8 per cent and were the biggest percentage gainer among S&P 500 sectors. "The US 10 year Treasury yield rose alongside its eurozone peers overnight, while US stocks rallied, reflecting a risk-on attitude among investors," said Makoto Noji, senior FX/bond strategist at SMBC Nikko Securities. White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said late on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump would meet French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the G7 summit this week. Although Kudlow said Trump would not back down from the tough line he has taken on trade, the comments appeared to calm investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.4 per cent to 25,146.39, the S&P 500 gained 0.86 per cent to 2,772.35 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.67 per cent to hit its record closing high of 7,689.24. Oil prices rose on Thursday to shake off some of the previous session's losses, supported by plunging exports from OPEC-member Venezuela. Brent crude futures last traded at $75.84 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude at 65.04, rising 0.6 per cent and 0.5 per cent on the day, respectively. Copper hit a five-month high of $7,278.50 per tonne, though the gains were driven more by supply concerns in Chile than by stronger demand. Market participants, wary of event risk, are monitoring developments ahead of the G7 summit later this week and the US-North Korea summit scheduled for next week.

Global Markets: Asian shares hit 11-week high; euro, yields rise after ECB comments

On a shelf in a cramped office on the outskirts of Moscow, businessman Igor Michurin has a framed photograph of himself shaking hands with one of his important customers - a North Korean embassy official whom Michurin calls Lee.

It's a relationship which offers unusual insights into the negotiating techniques of Pyongyang officials, and the ways North Korea has gone about commerce in the face of international economic sanctions – from trading in&nbsp;spare&nbsp;parts or wine and cigarettes, to offering labour for hire.

The Russian, whose two companies had revenue of nearly 42 million roubles ($671,000) according to 2016 records, was blacklisted a year ago by the US&nbsp;Treasury Department because he often did business with a North Korean company that, according to the United Nations Security Council, helped Pyongyang's weapons programme.

Michurin does not deny doing business with North Korea, but says he believes he did not break any laws.

The story is rooted in an old alliance. North Korea was founded by the Soviet Union, which supplied much of its original defence equipment. In the years since Pyongyang's nuclear weapons tests sparked sanctions, Moscow often resisted the measures.

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump said in January that Russia was helping North Korea evade sanctions Moscow says it is now actively cracking down on potential violations.

Around 2011, when Michurin got involved with Lee, UN&nbsp;monitors saw how Pyongyang would adapt bits and pieces of old, off-the-shelf, civilian equipment, and obsolete or unwanted&nbsp;parts to use in missiles. These&nbsp;parts reached North Korea from all over the world, including from past Soviet allies.

That's the kind of item Michurin started out selling to the North Koreans.

One of his companies, Ardis-Bearings, specialises in trading ball bearings - the steel balls that fit between the moving&nbsp;parts of a machine to help it run smoothly. Bearings can be used for military and civilian purposes, so are known as a "dual-use" technology.

UN&nbsp;member states are expressly forbidden from exporting certain types to North Korea.

Those were not the types Michurin sold Lee, he said. Instead, he provided "regular mass-produced stuff, surplus stock, old bearings."

Michurin said the Russian foreign ministry had questioned him last year about his sales to North Korea, and at the time ministry officials had told him they were responding to a message from the United States. Neither the foreign ministry nor the US&nbsp;Treasury Department answered questions for this story.&nbsp;

"A spark"

Tall, with grey hair, and casually dressed in jeans, Michurin is a 39-year-old native of Belarus who set up his own business seven years ago after working in small Moscow firms in the industrial bearings trade. He quickly found interest from Asian customers.

"As soon as I place an ad on the internet to say I have some bearings for sale, some Asians will always turn up," he said in the office in Moscow South where he ran the business until earlier this year. "They're always buying different bearings, they apparently have a demand for them."

At the end of 2011, soon after the funeral of&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;Jong Un's father,&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;Jong Il, Michurin said Lee invited him to the North Korean embassy. They walked together up a red carpet towards a portrait of the deceased&nbsp;leader, where they offered flowers.

"A spark ignited between us," Michurin said. He returned several times, attending concerts of national songs and dances, eating in a North Korean restaurant in the embassy compound, and negotiating in embassy meeting rooms.

"We treated each other as&nbsp;friends," Michurin said. "He was here in Moscow with his family, his wife and his child, we used to meet up, we spent time socialising as families."

In 2013, Lee persuaded Michurin to&nbsp;make&nbsp;a $1,000 contribution to a North Korean charitable fund: the&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;Il Sung-Kim&nbsp;Jong Il Foundation. The foundation's website is not available in Russia, but a video on YouTube says it was set up after&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;Jong Il's death, preserves the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun and raises money for "education, public health and environmental protection."

In return, Michurin got a certificate. "Great president&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;Il Sung and great leader&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;Jong Il will remain forever in the hearts of humankind," it said, alongside portraits of the leaders.

Lee's business with the Russian was small. He would arrange for someone to collect a few dozen bearings at a time - the most the North Koreans ever paid was 100,000 roubles ($1,500).

Michurin said he sold the items as an 'individual entrepreneur,' a designation under Russian tax law that does not require a vendor to have a contract with a customer or to obtain proof of their identity. All the vendor needs do is give the customer a receipt.

"When you buy bread from a shop, you don't get asked for your passport and ID documents, do you," Michurin shrugged.

"Communism"

His account of how the North Koreans established their relationship was echoed by another Russian entrepreneur.

Ruben Kirakossian, who supplies specialist metals to Russian state defence manufacturing firms, said he first met North Korean diplomats at a trade fair in Moscow, then visited the embassy Pyongyang's representatives came to his office. He said they were interested in a range of goods from Armenian cigarettes and wine to rolled aluminium and steel.

The US&nbsp;Treasury Department also blacklisted Kirakossian last year, alleging he procured metals for the Korea Tangun Trading Corporation, which the UN&nbsp;Security Council has said has a role in Pyongyang's weapons programme.

Kirakossian says he didn't supply anything because he didn't have the metal the North Koreans wanted, and they were proposing unrealistic terms. "The Koreans have a Communist set-up," Kirakossian said. "And in today's world, that's not a relevant proposition."

Tangun could not be reached and North Korea's mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment.

&nbsp;Diversification

Michurin's friend Lee "always looked for an opportunity to&nbsp;make&nbsp;money beyond bearings," Michurin said. About three years ago, he said, Lee proposed the&nbsp;partners' branch out into hiring cheap North Korean labour.

Almost 100,000 North Korean expatriates, most of them in China and Russia, funnel some $500 million a year in wages to help finance Pyongyang, the US&nbsp;government says.

Michurin set up a construction company and signed a contract with a North Korean firm called Ryungseng Trading Corporation.

Ryungseng would recruit workers in North Korea and organise their flights to Moscow, while Michurin would billet them and pay their wages.

The Russian put the North Koreans to work on construction sites. One contract he landed was a housing development called Orlov in Moscow region, about 20 km (12 miles) south-east of Moscow.

Yuri Ilyushkin, a representative of the developer, Pekhra-Pokrovskoe, said Michurin's North Korean workers were "even better than some Russians. Not excellent, but good."

The UN&nbsp;agreed last year to phase in a ban on employing North Koreans. Michurin said he still employs 19 of them, but he expects them to leave when their permits expire.

"Desire to Acquire"

Back in 2015, Michurin said, Lee kept pushing him for help. Late that year, the North Korean asked him to set up a meeting with executives at a Moscow-based firm called Augur RosAeroSystems.

Augur has been active in projects related to Russian state defence procurement since the late 1990s, according to its website: It has carried out testing for the Russian defence ministry, and the Russian military uses some of its products.

The North Koreans wanted to discuss the purchase of an airship, also known as an aerostat, for around $1 million, Michurin said. He said he twice took a North Korean delegation to Augur's plant at Peresvet, north-east of Moscow.

The company's former commercial director, Mikhail Talesnikov, confirmed the North Koreans had been in contact with Augur when he was at the company. "They wanted to buy some kind of small aerostat and asked for broad cooperation," he said. But he did not know about the visits and said he had not held any talks with the North Koreans.

Aerostats in themselves are not military equipment, Talesnikov said. But "you can suspend from them things that are for surveillance, eavesdropping, detecting gases, and the package together with the payload can already have a military or semi-military use."

In the end, there was no deal. For Augur, the prospect was too risky because "it contradicts international sanctions," Talesnikov said. Augur is now going through bankruptcy proceedings related to other business.

Michurin said the North Koreans had "particular requirements." Asked what those were he said: "A tendency to copy technology, a desire to set up joint ventures on North Korean soil, requests for non-standard equipment and dirigibles of non-standard sizes."

He described them as "very&nbsp;particular customers," with "an absence of money, but at the same time, a desire to acquire."

Two and a half years ago, Lee and his family went back to North Korea, Michurin said. Before the men&nbsp;parted, they met up with their families in a Moscow café to toast their relationship.

And before long, Michurin said he was contacted by another North Korean, who introduced himself as a trade representative at the embassy in Moscow, and said he was interested in acquiring bearings, as well as other items. The new trade representative of the North Korean embassy is&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;Ju Hyok, two of his colleagues said. He did not answer emails.

Michurin said he went on to sell&nbsp;more bearings to other Asian customers, who he presumed were also North Korean. Early last year, he said he was visited by Russian foreign ministry officials and gave them a list of equipment he sold to the North Koreans.

Then on June 1, 2017, the US&nbsp;Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which enforces America's sanctions, put Michurin and his company on its sanctioned list.

The department had found Ryungseng – the company Michurin contracted to import North Korean labourers - is an alias for the foreign operations of the banned Korea Tangun Trading Corporation.

Ryungseng could not be reached.

Michurin says he had no idea. "I am practically 100 per cent sure that there was no violation here from my behalf," he said. "Why do I leave a shadow of doubt? Because the laws, you cannot keep up with them all, there are so many of them. I hope I did not violate anything."

US President Donald Trump said in January that Russia was helping North Korea evade sanctions; Moscow says it is now actively cracking down on potential violations

On a shelf in a cramped office on the outskirts of Moscow, businessman Igor Michurin has a framed photograph of himself shaking hands with one of his important customers - a North Korean embassy official whom Michurin calls Lee. It's a relationship which offers unusual insights into the negotiating techniques of Pyongyang officials, and the ways North Korea has gone about commerce in the face of international economic sanctions – from trading in spare parts or wine and cigarettes, to offering labour for hire. The Russian, whose two companies had revenue of nearly 42 million roubles ($671,000) according to 2016 records, was blacklisted a year ago by the US Treasury Department because he often did business with a North Korean company that, according to the United Nations Security Council, helped Pyongyang's weapons programme. Michurin does not deny doing business with North Korea, but says he believes he did not break any laws. The story is rooted in an old alliance. North Korea was founded by the Soviet Union, which supplied much of its original defence equipment. In the years since Pyongyang's nuclear weapons tests sparked sanctions, Moscow often resisted the measures. US President Donald Trump said in January that Russia was helping North Korea evade sanctions Moscow says it is now actively cracking down on potential violations. Around 2011, when Michurin got involved with Lee, UN monitors saw how Pyongyang would adapt bits and pieces of old, off-the-shelf, civilian equipment, and obsolete or unwanted parts to use in missiles. These parts reached North Korea from all over the world, including from past Soviet allies. That's the kind of item Michurin started out selling to the North Koreans. One of his companies, Ardis-Bearings, specialises in trading ball bearings - the steel balls that fit between the moving parts of a machine to help it run smoothly. Bearings can be used for military and civilian purposes, so are known as a "dual-use" technology. UN member states are expressly forbidden from exporting certain types to North Korea. Those were not the types Michurin sold Lee, he said. Instead, he provided "regular mass-produced stuff, surplus stock, old bearings." Michurin said the Russian foreign ministry had questioned him last year about his sales to North Korea, and at the time ministry officials had told him they were responding to a message from the United States. Neither the foreign ministry nor the US Treasury Department answered questions for this story. "A spark" Tall, with grey hair, and casually dressed in jeans, Michurin is a 39-year-old native of Belarus who set up his own business seven years ago after working in small Moscow firms in the industrial bearings trade. He quickly found interest from Asian customers. "As soon as I place an ad on the internet to say I have some bearings for sale, some Asians will always turn up," he said in the office in Moscow South where he ran the business until earlier this year. "They're always buying different bearings, they apparently have a demand for them." At the end of 2011, soon after the funeral of Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il, Michurin said Lee invited him to the North Korean embassy. They walked together up a red carpet towards a portrait of the deceased leader, where they offered flowers. "A spark ignited between us," Michurin said. He returned several times, attending concerts of national songs and dances, eating in a North Korean restaurant in the embassy compound, and negotiating in embassy meeting rooms. "We treated each other as friends," Michurin said. "He was here in Moscow with his family, his wife and his child, we used to meet up, we spent time socialising as families." In 2013, Lee persuaded Michurin to make a $1,000 contribution to a North Korean charitable fund: the Kim Il Sung-Kim Jong Il Foundation. The foundation's website is not available in Russia, but a video on YouTube says it was set up after Kim Jong Il's death, preserves the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun and raises money for "education, public health and environmental protection." In return, Michurin got a certificate. "Great president Kim Il Sung and great leader Kim Jong Il will remain forever in the hearts of humankind," it said, alongside portraits of the leaders. Lee's business with the Russian was small. He would arrange for someone to collect a few dozen bearings at a time - the most the North Koreans ever paid was 100,000 roubles ($1,500). Michurin said he sold the items as an 'individual entrepreneur,' a designation under Russian tax law that does not require a vendor to have a contract with a customer or to obtain proof of their identity. All the vendor needs do is give the customer a receipt. "When you buy bread from a shop, you don't get asked for your passport and ID documents, do you," Michurin shrugged. "Communism" His account of how the North Koreans established their relationship was echoed by another Russian entrepreneur. Ruben Kirakossian, who supplies specialist metals to Russian state defence manufacturing firms, said he first met North Korean diplomats at a trade fair in Moscow, then visited the embassy Pyongyang's representatives came to his office. He said they were interested in a range of goods from Armenian cigarettes and wine to rolled aluminium and steel. The US Treasury Department also blacklisted Kirakossian last year, alleging he procured metals for the Korea Tangun Trading Corporation, which the UN Security Council has said has a role in Pyongyang's weapons programme. Kirakossian says he didn't supply anything because he didn't have the metal the North Koreans wanted, and they were proposing unrealistic terms. "The Koreans have a Communist set-up," Kirakossian said. "And in today's world, that's not a relevant proposition." Tangun could not be reached and North Korea's mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment. Diversification Michurin's friend Lee "always looked for an opportunity to make money beyond bearings," Michurin said. About three years ago, he said, Lee proposed the partners' branch out into hiring cheap North Korean labour. Almost 100,000 North Korean expatriates, most of them in China and Russia, funnel some $500 million a year in wages to help finance Pyongyang, the US government says. Michurin set up a construction company and signed a contract with a North Korean firm called Ryungseng Trading Corporation. Ryungseng would recruit workers in North Korea and organise their flights to Moscow, while Michurin would billet them and pay their wages. The Russian put the North Koreans to work on construction sites. One contract he landed was a housing development called Orlov in Moscow region, about 20 km (12 miles) south-east of Moscow. Yuri Ilyushkin, a representative of the developer, Pekhra-Pokrovskoe, said Michurin's North Korean workers were "even better than some Russians. Not excellent, but good." The UN agreed last year to phase in a ban on employing North Koreans. Michurin said he still employs 19 of them, but he expects them to leave when their permits expire. "Desire to Acquire" Back in 2015, Michurin said, Lee kept pushing him for help. Late that year, the North Korean asked him to set up a meeting with executives at a Moscow-based firm called Augur RosAeroSystems. Augur has been active in projects related to Russian state defence procurement since the late 1990s, according to its website: It has carried out testing for the Russian defence ministry, and the Russian military uses some of its products. The North Koreans wanted to discuss the purchase of an airship, also known as an aerostat, for around $1 million, Michurin said. He said he twice took a North Korean delegation to Augur's plant at Peresvet, north-east of Moscow. The company's former commercial director, Mikhail Talesnikov, confirmed the North Koreans had been in contact with Augur when he was at the company. "They wanted to buy some kind of small aerostat and asked for broad cooperation," he said. But he did not know about the visits and said he had not held any talks with the North Koreans. Aerostats in themselves are not military equipment, Talesnikov said. But "you can suspend from them things that are for surveillance, eavesdropping, detecting gases, and the package together with the payload can already have a military or semi-military use." In the end, there was no deal. For Augur, the prospect was too risky because "it contradicts international sanctions," Talesnikov said. Augur is now going through bankruptcy proceedings related to other business. Michurin said the North Koreans had "particular requirements." Asked what those were he said: "A tendency to copy technology, a desire to set up joint ventures on North Korean soil, requests for non-standard equipment and dirigibles of non-standard sizes." He described them as "very particular customers," with "an absence of money, but at the same time, a desire to acquire." Two and a half years ago, Lee and his family went back to North Korea, Michurin said. Before the men parted, they met up with their families in a Moscow café to toast their relationship. And before long, Michurin said he was contacted by another North Korean, who introduced himself as a trade representative at the embassy in Moscow, and said he was interested in acquiring bearings, as well as other items. The new trade representative of the North Korean embassy is Kim Ju Hyok, two of his colleagues said. He did not answer emails. Michurin said he went on to sell more bearings to other Asian customers, who he presumed were also North Korean. Early last year, he said he was visited by Russian foreign ministry officials and gave them a list of equipment he sold to the North Koreans. Then on June 1, 2017, the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which enforces America's sanctions, put Michurin and his company on its sanctioned list. The department had found Ryungseng – the company Michurin contracted to import North Korean labourers - is an alias for the foreign operations of the banned Korea Tangun Trading Corporation. Ryungseng could not be reached. Michurin says he had no idea. "I am practically 100 per cent sure that there was no violation here from my behalf," he said. "Why do I leave a shadow of doubt? Because the laws, you cannot keep up with them all, there are so many of them. I hope I did not violate anything."

Kim Jong Un's art of the deal - make friends for spare parts

A resort island off Singapore that once housed a prisoner of war camp run by wartime Japanese forces and was called "Rear&nbsp;Death&nbsp;Island" is the&nbsp;venue&nbsp;for Tuesday's summit&nbsp;between US&nbsp;President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The island is now called Sentosa, or Peace and Tranquility, and the two leaders will meet in the Capella hotel, a refurbished British Royal Artillery mess, where, according to legend, there may be silver&nbsp;buried&nbsp;under the lawn.

There were few tourists at the Capella on Wednesday but police, other security personnel and workers were thronging the luxury sprawling hotel to prepare for the meeting that is set to start in six days time.

The hotel is honouring existing guest reservations for now but no new bookings were being accepted.

While Singapore has hosted major&nbsp;summits in the past, none have been held on Sentosa, better known for its beaches, hotels, a casino and a Universal Studios theme park.

"That means having to plan the security strategy from scratch," said Toby Koh, group managing director at Ademco Security Group, which provides security systems to businesses in several Asian countries.

Koh is not involved in security for the&nbsp;summit.

The United States and North Korea are technically still at war, being the signatories along with China of the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War. Trump has indicated he would try to sign a document that formally ends the war.

Singapore has declared all of Sentosa island a "special event area" for the Trump-Kim&nbsp;summit, which means it will be subject to enhanced security checks, potentially slowing the movement of traffic, and banning the use of loudspeakers and drones.

Even though hotels and other establishments on the island was bracing for disruptions for several days next week, the government agency that handles its management said it would be "business as usual."

But those who live in the multi-million dollar homes on the island, linked to Singapore by a causeway, monorail and cable car, were braced for delays.

"Sentosa has only one entrance and if the entrance is blocked completely, it will definitely be a major inconvenience," said Patricia Siswandjo, a Sentosa resident.

Once a graveyard and named Pulau Belakang Mati, which roughly means "Rear&nbsp;Death&nbsp;Island" in Malay, it was developed as a tourist attraction in the 1970s, when it was enlarged through land reclamation.

Under the Lawn

Included in the Capella are two colonial-era bungalows that used to accommodate British artillery officers and was also their regimental mess. According to the hotel's website, the officers&nbsp;buriedthe regimental silver in front of the mess before the Japanese invasion.

Part of the silver was recovered from Malaysia in later years "but the whereabouts of the rest is still unknown, and possibly still lying under the lawn", the website said.

Today the Capella is a part of real estate development company called Pontiac Land Group, which is owned by Singapore's billionaire Kwee family that bought the brand from former Ritz Carlton president Horst Schulze last year.

It has 112 rooms, suites, villas and manors, including the three-bedroom colonial manor, which goes for 10,000 Singapore dollars ($7,500) a night. The grounds have three pools, tennis courts and a spa.

Although no announcements have been made, the leaders are unlikely to stay on Sentosa.

Singapore has designated a separate area near its main downtown district as another special event zone, which has several luxury hotels, which could house the two delegations.

The Orchard Road district also has most major embassies, the Interpol regional office, condominiums, high-end shops and malls and some seedy bars and massage parlours.

The Orchard Towers, a short stroll from some of the major hotels that have been mentioned as possible&nbsp;venues to host Trump and Kim, is home to the embassies of Cambodia and Romania but also a series of establishments with names such as "Naughty Girl" and "Top 5" that come to life after dark.

Not far from there is the Shangri-La Hotel, the site for the historic and only meeting between China's President Xi Jinping and then-Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou in 2015.

Last weekend, the hotel hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US&nbsp;Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and other defence ministers for the annual Shangri-La Dialogue and local media have said it could be where Trump stays.

Security will be the biggest priority for Singapore, ranked one of the safest countries in the world, but which has been stepping up efforts to deter terrorism in recent years.

While both leaders will bring their own personal security teams, elite Singaporean police, including its Gurkha Contingent, will be securing the&nbsp;summit&nbsp;venue, roads and hotels, according to diplomats familiar with VIP security in the island state.

"Because of the unique sensitivities and peculiarities of the&nbsp;summit, almost anything unpredictable could possibly affect the&nbsp;summit&nbsp;itself," Graham Ong-Webb, a research fellow, at the S&nbsp;Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said.

A resort island off Singapore that once housed a prisoner of war camp run by wartime Japanese forces and was called "Rear Death Island" is the venue for Tuesday's summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

A resort island off Singapore that once housed a prisoner of war camp run by wartime Japanese forces and was called "Rear Death Island" is the venue for Tuesday's summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The island is now called Sentosa, or Peace and Tranquility, and the two leaders will meet in the Capella hotel, a refurbished British Royal Artillery mess, where, according to legend, there may be silver buried under the lawn. There were few tourists at the Capella on Wednesday but police, other security personnel and workers were thronging the luxury sprawling hotel to prepare for the meeting that is set to start in six days time. The hotel is honouring existing guest reservations for now but no new bookings were being accepted. While Singapore has hosted major summits in the past, none have been held on Sentosa, better known for its beaches, hotels, a casino and a Universal Studios theme park. "That means having to plan the security strategy from scratch," said Toby Koh, group managing director at Ademco Security Group, which provides security systems to businesses in several Asian countries. Koh is not involved in security for the summit. The United States and North Korea are technically still at war, being the signatories along with China of the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War. Trump has indicated he would try to sign a document that formally ends the war. Singapore has declared all of Sentosa island a "special event area" for the Trump-Kim summit, which means it will be subject to enhanced security checks, potentially slowing the movement of traffic, and banning the use of loudspeakers and drones. Even though hotels and other establishments on the island was bracing for disruptions for several days next week, the government agency that handles its management said it would be "business as usual." But those who live in the multi-million dollar homes on the island, linked to Singapore by a causeway, monorail and cable car, were braced for delays. "Sentosa has only one entrance and if the entrance is blocked completely, it will definitely be a major inconvenience," said Patricia Siswandjo, a Sentosa resident. Once a graveyard and named Pulau Belakang Mati, which roughly means "Rear Death Island" in Malay, it was developed as a tourist attraction in the 1970s, when it was enlarged through land reclamation. Under the Lawn Included in the Capella are two colonial-era bungalows that used to accommodate British artillery officers and was also their regimental mess. According to the hotel's website, the officers buriedthe regimental silver in front of the mess before the Japanese invasion. Part of the silver was recovered from Malaysia in later years "but the whereabouts of the rest is still unknown, and possibly still lying under the lawn", the website said. Today the Capella is a part of real estate development company called Pontiac Land Group, which is owned by Singapore's billionaire Kwee family that bought the brand from former Ritz Carlton president Horst Schulze last year. It has 112 rooms, suites, villas and manors, including the three-bedroom colonial manor, which goes for 10,000 Singapore dollars ($7,500) a night. The grounds have three pools, tennis courts and a spa. Although no announcements have been made, the leaders are unlikely to stay on Sentosa. Singapore has designated a separate area near its main downtown district as another special event zone, which has several luxury hotels, which could house the two delegations. The Orchard Road district also has most major embassies, the Interpol regional office, condominiums, high-end shops and malls and some seedy bars and massage parlours. The Orchard Towers, a short stroll from some of the major hotels that have been mentioned as possible venues to host Trump and Kim, is home to the embassies of Cambodia and Romania but also a series of establishments with names such as "Naughty Girl" and "Top 5" that come to life after dark. Not far from there is the Shangri-La Hotel, the site for the historic and only meeting between China's President Xi Jinping and then-Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou in 2015. Last weekend, the hotel hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and other defence ministers for the annual Shangri-La Dialogue and local media have said it could be where Trump stays. Security will be the biggest priority for Singapore, ranked one of the safest countries in the world, but which has been stepping up efforts to deter terrorism in recent years. While both leaders will bring their own personal security teams, elite Singaporean police, including its Gurkha Contingent, will be securing the summit venue, roads and hotels, according to diplomats familiar with VIP security in the island state. "Because of the unique sensitivities and peculiarities of the summit, almost anything unpredictable could possibly affect the summit itself," Graham Ong-Webb, a research fellow, at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said.

Death, POWs and buried silver: Chequered history of Trump-Kim summit venue

US President Donald Trump hosted his first Iftar dinner at the White House during which he sought co-operation from the Muslim world to achieve a future of security and prosperity for all, a move that surprised many in the community after he skipped hosting such a party last year.

Last year, Trump broke with decades of precedent by not hosting the annual Iftar dinner? a bipartisan tradition that formally began with Bill Clinton in the 1990s but has conceptual roots tracing as far back as under Thomas Jefferson in 1805.

Trump, who has frequently engaged in anti-Muslim rhetoric, wished Muslims around the world a "Ramadan Mubarak" - a blessed holiday and sought co-operation from them to achieve a future of security and prosperity for all.

"Only by working together can we achieve a future of security and prosperity for all," Trump told a gathering of diplomats and officials at the iftar dinner last evening.

"For this reason, I was proud to make my first foreign trip as President to the heart of the Muslim world, where I addressed an assembly of more than 50 leaders of Muslim-majority countries. That was something," he said.

"The partnership and solidarity that we established over the past year has only deepened with time. So many friendships. So many meetings, even in the Oval Office. And we've made a lot of progress, I think, a lot of tremendous progress," Trump said.

After delivering his remarks, Trump sat on the head table which among others included Saudi Ambassador Prince Khalid Ben Salman and Jordanian envoy Dina Kawar. The Indonesian Ambassadors was also seated on the same table.

Envoys from several Muslim countries including the UAE, Egypt, Tunisia, Qatar, Bahrain, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Kuwait, Gambia, Ethiopia, Iraq, and Bosnia were invited.

"A very warm welcome to all of the ambassadors here&nbsp;tonight&nbsp;representing Muslim-majority nations. We're greatly honoured by your presence, and thank you very much for being here. Some very good friends. To each of you and to the Muslims around the world: Ramadan Mubarak," Trump said.

Vice President Mike Pence and several of his Cabinet members, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross attended the Iftar dinner.&nbsp;

"Tonight, as we enjoy a magnificent dinner at the White House, let us strive to embody the grace and goodwill that mark the Ramadan season. Let us pray for peace and justice, and let us resolve that these values will guide us as we work together to build a bright and prosperous future that does honour and glory to God," Trump said.

"In gathering together this evening, we honour a sacred tradition of one of the world's great religions," he said.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, members of the some of the Muslim groups held their own Iftar outside the White House in protest against the alleged anti-Muslim rhetoric of the Trump administration.

Several Muslim civil rights groups pushed back, organising a "NOT Trump's Iftar" protest at a park across from the White House. The groups say Trump's heated rhetoric has contributed to an increase in bullying and discrimination against Muslim Americans.

The Iftar dinner was completely opposite from the inflammatory rhetoric Trump used during his campaign, when he called for a "complete and total shutdown" of Muslims entering the country, compared Syrian refugees fleeing civil war to a deadly snake and declared.

He has also imposed a travel ban, targeting travellers from five countries with overwhelmingly Muslim populations - Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.

Trump, who has frequently engaged in anti-Muslim rhetoric, wished Muslims around the world a "Ramadan Mubarak

US President Donald Trump hosted his first Iftar dinner at the White House during which he sought co-operation from the Muslim world to achieve a future of security and prosperity for all, a move that surprised many in the community after he skipped hosting such a party last year. Last year, Trump broke with decades of precedent by not hosting the annual Iftar dinner? a bipartisan tradition that formally began with Bill Clinton in the 1990s but has conceptual roots tracing as far back as under Thomas Jefferson in 1805. Trump, who has frequently engaged in anti-Muslim rhetoric, wished Muslims around the world a "Ramadan Mubarak" - a blessed holiday and sought co-operation from them to achieve a future of security and prosperity for all. "Only by working together can we achieve a future of security and prosperity for all," Trump told a gathering of diplomats and officials at the iftar dinner last evening. "For this reason, I was proud to make my first foreign trip as President to the heart of the Muslim world, where I addressed an assembly of more than 50 leaders of Muslim-majority countries. That was something," he said. "The partnership and solidarity that we established over the past year has only deepened with time. So many friendships. So many meetings, even in the Oval Office. And we've made a lot of progress, I think, a lot of tremendous progress," Trump said. After delivering his remarks, Trump sat on the head table which among others included Saudi Ambassador Prince Khalid Ben Salman and Jordanian envoy Dina Kawar. The Indonesian Ambassadors was also seated on the same table. Envoys from several Muslim countries including the UAE, Egypt, Tunisia, Qatar, Bahrain, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Kuwait, Gambia, Ethiopia, Iraq, and Bosnia were invited. "A very warm welcome to all of the ambassadors here tonight representing Muslim-majority nations. We're greatly honoured by your presence, and thank you very much for being here. Some very good friends. To each of you and to the Muslims around the world: Ramadan Mubarak," Trump said. Vice President Mike Pence and several of his Cabinet members, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross attended the Iftar dinner. "Tonight, as we enjoy a magnificent dinner at the White House, let us strive to embody the grace and goodwill that mark the Ramadan season. Let us pray for peace and justice, and let us resolve that these values will guide us as we work together to build a bright and prosperous future that does honour and glory to God," Trump said. "In gathering together this evening, we honour a sacred tradition of one of the world's great religions," he said. Meanwhile, members of the some of the Muslim groups held their own Iftar outside the White House in protest against the alleged anti-Muslim rhetoric of the Trump administration. Several Muslim civil rights groups pushed back, organising a "NOT Trump's Iftar" protest at a park across from the White House. The groups say Trump's heated rhetoric has contributed to an increase in bullying and discrimination against Muslim Americans. The Iftar dinner was completely opposite from the inflammatory rhetoric Trump used during his campaign, when he called for a "complete and total shutdown" of Muslims entering the country, compared Syrian refugees fleeing civil war to a deadly snake and declared. He has also imposed a travel ban, targeting travellers from five countries with overwhelmingly Muslim populations - Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.

Trump hosts first iftar dinner at White House, seeks co-operation from Muslim world

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday his phone calls with US&nbsp;President Donald Trump and other world leaders were just like&nbsp;sausages: better not explain what's inside.

During a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Macron was asked about a CNN report on Monday saying that a phone call between the French leader and Trump last week had been "terrible."

Borrowing a famous quote from 19th-century Prussian statesman Otto von Bismarck, Macron summed up his policy of refraining from making off-the-record comments about his conversations with other world leaders.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed the need for confidentiality.

A readout from the French presidency of Macron's call with Trump last week said the 40-year old president had told Trump that his decision to slap tariffs on the exports of US&nbsp;allies were both "illegal" and a "mistake."

The shorter White House readout of the same call said the conversation had focused on trade and immigration, without elaborating.

Macron, appalled by his predecessor Francois Hollande's frequent off-the-record comments to journalists, has kept the press at a distance since his election last year and banned his aides from giving behind-the-scenes accounts of his presidency.

He said on Tuesday that he would have a "useful" and "frank" exchange with Trump at the next G7 summit in Canada on June 7-8 about both issues on which they agree and those where they disagree.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed the need for confidentiality

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday his phone calls with US President Donald Trump and other world leaders were just like sausages: better not explain what's inside. During a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Macron was asked about a CNN report on Monday saying that a phone call between the French leader and Trump last week had been "terrible." Borrowing a famous quote from 19th-century Prussian statesman Otto von Bismarck, Macron summed up his policy of refraining from making off-the-record comments about his conversations with other world leaders. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed the need for confidentiality. A readout from the French presidency of Macron's call with Trump last week said the 40-year old president had told Trump that his decision to slap tariffs on the exports of US allies were both "illegal" and a "mistake." The shorter White House readout of the same call said the conversation had focused on trade and immigration, without elaborating. Macron, appalled by his predecessor Francois Hollande's frequent off-the-record comments to journalists, has kept the press at a distance since his election last year and banned his aides from giving behind-the-scenes accounts of his presidency. He said on Tuesday that he would have a "useful" and "frank" exchange with Trump at the next G7 summit in Canada on June 7-8 about both issues on which they agree and those where they disagree.

Watch: Phone calls with Trump like 'sausages', says Macron

US President Donald Trump has pardoned 63-year-old great grandmother Alice Johnson, who was serving a life sentence in jail for a non-violent drug crime.&nbsp

There has been a long-running campaign to free her, but Johnson's case was most recently brought to Trump's attention by Kim Kardashian West.&nbsp

Johnson was arrested in 1996 for being part of a cocaine distribution ring.&nbsp

She was convicted on charges of possession and money laundering.&nbsp

Johnson's appeal for clemency was turned down by former president Barack Obama just before he left office.&nbsp

"Ms Johnson has accepted responsibility for her past behaviour and has been a model prisoner over the past two decades," the White House said in a statement.

"Despite receiving a life sentence, Alice worked hard to rehabilitate herself in prison, and act as a mentor to her fellow inmates."

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BEST NEWS EVER!!!! ?????? <a href="https://t.co/JUbpbE1Bk0">https://t.co/JUbpbE1Bk0</a>
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) <a href="https://twitter.com/KimKardashian/status/1004398935534948353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"BEST NEWS EVER!!!!" Kardashian tweeted after the news broke.&nbsp

"So grateful to @realDonaldTrump, Jared Kushner & to everyone who has showed compassion & contributed countless hours to this important moment for Ms. Alice Marie Johnson. Her commutation is inspirational & gives hope to so many others who are also deserving of a second chance," she added.&nbsp

Alice Johnson was serving a life sentence in jail for a non-violent drug crime. There has been a long-running campaign to free her, but Johnson's case was most recently brought to Trump's attention by Kim Kardashian West

US President Donald Trump has pardoned 63-year-old great grandmother Alice Johnson, who was serving a life sentence in jail for a non-violent drug crime. There has been a long-running campaign to free her, but Johnson's case was most recently brought to Trump's attention by Kim Kardashian West. Johnson was arrested in 1996 for being part of a cocaine distribution ring. She was convicted on charges of possession and money laundering. Johnson's appeal for clemency was turned down by former president Barack Obama just before he left office. "Ms Johnson has accepted responsibility for her past behaviour and has been a model prisoner over the past two decades," the White House said in a statement. "Despite receiving a life sentence, Alice worked hard to rehabilitate herself in prison, and act as a mentor to her fellow inmates." BEST NEWS EVER!!!! ?????? https://t.co/JUbpbE1Bk0 — Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 6, 2018 × "BEST NEWS EVER!!!!" Kardashian tweeted after the news broke. "So grateful to @realDonaldTrump, Jared Kushner & to everyone who has showed compassion & contributed countless hours to this important moment for Ms. Alice Marie Johnson. Her commutation is inspirational & gives hope to so many others who are also deserving of a second chance," she added.

Trump pardons 63-year-old drug offender after meeting with Kim Kardashian

Several Muslim organisations have decided to boycott US President Donald Trump's first Iftar dinner at the White House, citing his alleged anti-Muslim rhetoric, media reports said.&nbsp;

Last year, Trump broke with decades of precedent by forgoing the annual Iftar dinner,&nbsp;a bipartisan tradition that formally began with Bill Clinton in the 1990s but has conceptual roots tracing as far back as under Thomas Jefferson in 1805.

When the White House confirmed earlier this week that Trump would, in fact, host the event this year, most Muslim civic organisations were caught off guard.

Now the event would be held tonight.

"There will be roughly, I believe, about 30 to 40 different attendees," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters at her daily news conference yesterday.

Leading Muslim groups in Washington who attended the event under previous administrations said Trump's continued targeting of Islam and its followers made engagement with his administration a futile, if not impossible task.

Many of them have announced that they would hold a parallel Iftar dinner outside the White House.&nbsp;

"President Trump has demonstrated overt antipathy towards Muslims in the US and abroad from the beginning of his presidential campaign and continues to support his un-American Muslim and refugee travel bans," the organisers said in a statement.

Council on American-Islamic Relations said that it has witnessed an "unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting" American-Muslims and members of other minority groups since the election of Trump as president.

The Washington-based civil rights organisation has also repeatedly expressed concern about Islamophobic and racist Trump administration policies and appointments.&nbsp;

Trump's during the 2016 campaign had vowed to ban all Muslims from entering the US, nor his flirtation with the idea of a Muslim registry.&nbsp;

In one of his first acts from the Oval Office, Trump imposed a travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries and indefinitely suspended the US refugee program. Several iterations of the policy have since been mired by legal challenges, with its ultimate fate facing an imminent ruling by the supreme court.

In November, Trump drew widespread condemnation for retweeting a series of anti-Muslim videos from the ultranationalist far-right group Britain First.

Last year, Trump broke with decades of precedent by forgoing the annual Iftar dinner, a bipartisan tradition that formally began with Bill Clinton in the 1990s but has conceptual roots tracing as far back as under Thomas Jefferson in 1805.

Several Muslim organisations have decided to boycott US President Donald Trump's first Iftar dinner at the White House, citing his alleged anti-Muslim rhetoric, media reports said. Last year, Trump broke with decades of precedent by forgoing the annual Iftar dinner, a bipartisan tradition that formally began with Bill Clinton in the 1990s but has conceptual roots tracing as far back as under Thomas Jefferson in 1805. When the White House confirmed earlier this week that Trump would, in fact, host the event this year, most Muslim civic organisations were caught off guard. Now the event would be held tonight. "There will be roughly, I believe, about 30 to 40 different attendees," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters at her daily news conference yesterday. Leading Muslim groups in Washington who attended the event under previous administrations said Trump's continued targeting of Islam and its followers made engagement with his administration a futile, if not impossible task. Many of them have announced that they would hold a parallel Iftar dinner outside the White House. "President Trump has demonstrated overt antipathy towards Muslims in the US and abroad from the beginning of his presidential campaign and continues to support his un-American Muslim and refugee travel bans," the organisers said in a statement. Council on American-Islamic Relations said that it has witnessed an "unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting" American-Muslims and members of other minority groups since the election of Trump as president. The Washington-based civil rights organisation has also repeatedly expressed concern about Islamophobic and racist Trump administration policies and appointments. Trump's during the 2016 campaign had vowed to ban all Muslims from entering the US, nor his flirtation with the idea of a Muslim registry. In one of his first acts from the Oval Office, Trump imposed a travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries and indefinitely suspended the US refugee program. Several iterations of the policy have since been mired by legal challenges, with its ultimate fate facing an imminent ruling by the supreme court. In November, Trump drew widespread condemnation for retweeting a series of anti-Muslim videos from the ultranationalist far-right group Britain First.

Several Muslim groups to boycott Trump's first White House iftar dinner

Donald Trump has sacked an aide who said cancer-stricken Senator John McCain's opposition to a presidential nominee did not matter because "he's dying anyway," the White House announced today

The White House was roiled by bipartisan fury over the remark attributed to Kelly Sadler in May.

"Kelly Sadler is no longer employed within the Executive Office of the President," read a brief statement by deputy White House spokesman Raj Shah. McCain, 81, had indicated he opposed the nomination of now CIA Director nominee Gina Haspel over her role in enhanced interrogation techniques under president George W. Bush.

The Arizona senator, who was held prisoner and tortured during the Vietnam War, is battling brain cancer.

CNN had quoted a White House official as saying Sadler, speaking at a staff meeting, meant the comment as a joke but that it flopped.

Another extraordinary attack against McCain that stunned Washington came around the same time from a fellow veteran, retired US Air Force lieutenant general Thomas McInerney, who said torture works because it made McCain spill sensitive information to his captors during his years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

The attacks, remarkable for their bluntness, triggered swift reaction from across the political spectrum, with lawmakers demanding an apology from Trump that never came.

Meghan McCain, a conservative commentator on ABC's popular morning talk show "The View," delivered an eloquent defense of her father, who is battling brain cancer at home in Arizona.

"I don't understand what kind of environment you're working in when that would be acceptable and then you can come to work the next day and still have a job," she said at the time.

Her father is "all about character and bipartisanship and something greater than yourself," Meghan McCain said, before adding a stinging message to the critics: "Nobody's going to remember you." Members of Congress also rallied behind their ailing, war-hero colleague.

Trump, for his part, once mocked McCain's war service, saying during the presidential campaign that "I like people that weren't captured."

The White House was roiled by bipartisan fury over the remark attributed to Kelly Sadler in May

Donald Trump has sacked an aide who said cancer-stricken Senator John McCain's opposition to a presidential nominee did not matter because "he's dying anyway," the White House announced today The White House was roiled by bipartisan fury over the remark attributed to Kelly Sadler in May. "Kelly Sadler is no longer employed within the Executive Office of the President," read a brief statement by deputy White House spokesman Raj Shah. McCain, 81, had indicated he opposed the nomination of now CIA Director nominee Gina Haspel over her role in enhanced interrogation techniques under president George W. Bush. The Arizona senator, who was held prisoner and tortured during the Vietnam War, is battling brain cancer. CNN had quoted a White House official as saying Sadler, speaking at a staff meeting, meant the comment as a joke but that it flopped. Another extraordinary attack against McCain that stunned Washington came around the same time from a fellow veteran, retired US Air Force lieutenant general Thomas McInerney, who said torture works because it made McCain spill sensitive information to his captors during his years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. The attacks, remarkable for their bluntness, triggered swift reaction from across the political spectrum, with lawmakers demanding an apology from Trump that never came. Meghan McCain, a conservative commentator on ABC's popular morning talk show "The View," delivered an eloquent defense of her father, who is battling brain cancer at home in Arizona. "I don't understand what kind of environment you're working in when that would be acceptable and then you can come to work the next day and still have a job," she said at the time. Her father is "all about character and bipartisanship and something greater than yourself," Meghan McCain said, before adding a stinging message to the critics: "Nobody's going to remember you." Members of Congress also rallied behind their ailing, war-hero colleague. Trump, for his part, once mocked McCain's war service, saying during the presidential campaign that "I like people that weren't captured."

Trump fires aide who joked about 'dying' war hero John McCain

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump cancelled the planned visit&nbsp;on Tuesday&nbsp;of the Super Bowl champions the Philadelphia Eagles to the White House, saying he disinvited the team after it disagreed with his call for players to stand for the national anthem.

Trump said in a statement late&nbsp;on Monday&nbsp;that the Eagles, who defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL's Super Bowl in February, wanted to send a smaller delegation but that he declined.

"They disagree with their President because he insists that they proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country," Trump said.

Last season, some National Football League players took a knee during the anthem to protest police shootings of unarmed black men, sparking a controversy. The protests began in 2016 with former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Trump denounced the players as unpatriotic and repeatedly demanded an end to such protests.

Under a policy unveiled last month by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and welcomed by Trump, teams will be fined if players on the field fail to stand during "The Star-Spangled Banner." Players who choose not to stand may remain in the locker room until the anthem is finished.

"The Philadelphia Eagles Football Team was invited to the White House. Unfortunately, only a small number of players decided to come, and we canceled the event. Staying in the Locker Room for the playing of our National Anthem is as disrespectful to our country as kneeling. Sorry!" Trump tweeted later in the evening.

In his earlier statement, Trump said the Eagles wanted to a send a smaller delegation, "but the 1,000 fans planning to attend the event deserve better."

"These fans are still invited to the White House to be part of a different type of ceremony - one that will honor our great country, pay tribute to the heroes who fight to protect it, and loudly and proudly play the National Anthem," Trump said.

The Eagles did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Torrey Smith, who played as a wide receiver for the Eagles in the Super Bowl but has since been traded, responded on Twitter to Trump, saying that there were "so many lies."

"Not many people were going to go," Smith said, and "no one refused to go simply because Trump 'insists' folks stand for the anthem."

Trump, he said, "continues to spread the false narrative that players are anti military."

No player for the Eagles knelt or sat while there were 73 other protests among Eagles players during the National Anthem during the 2017 regular season, according to report by Sports Pundit, which tracked protests among the 32 NFL teams.

A player knelt and another player raised up his fist while a teammate put his arm around him during the anthem before a preseason game in August, local media reported.

Democratic US&nbsp;Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania invited the team to visit the Capitol Building and called Trump's action "a political stunt".

Trump wants everybody to stand during the playing of the US national. A number of NFL athletes have chosen to kneel during the anthem as a protest against the shooting of African Americans by police

US President Donald Trump cancelled the planned visit on Tuesday of the Super Bowl champions the Philadelphia Eagles to the White House, saying he disinvited the team after it disagreed with his call for players to stand for the national anthem. Trump said in a statement late on Monday that the Eagles, who defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL's Super Bowl in February, wanted to send a smaller delegation but that he declined. "They disagree with their President because he insists that they proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country," Trump said. Last season, some National Football League players took a knee during the anthem to protest police shootings of unarmed black men, sparking a controversy. The protests began in 2016 with former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Trump denounced the players as unpatriotic and repeatedly demanded an end to such protests. Under a policy unveiled last month by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and welcomed by Trump, teams will be fined if players on the field fail to stand during "The Star-Spangled Banner." Players who choose not to stand may remain in the locker room until the anthem is finished. "The Philadelphia Eagles Football Team was invited to the White House. Unfortunately, only a small number of players decided to come, and we canceled the event. Staying in the Locker Room for the playing of our National Anthem is as disrespectful to our country as kneeling. Sorry!" Trump tweeted later in the evening. In his earlier statement, Trump said the Eagles wanted to a send a smaller delegation, "but the 1,000 fans planning to attend the event deserve better." "These fans are still invited to the White House to be part of a different type of ceremony - one that will honor our great country, pay tribute to the heroes who fight to protect it, and loudly and proudly play the National Anthem," Trump said. The Eagles did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Torrey Smith, who played as a wide receiver for the Eagles in the Super Bowl but has since been traded, responded on Twitter to Trump, saying that there were "so many lies." "Not many people were going to go," Smith said, and "no one refused to go simply because Trump 'insists' folks stand for the anthem." Trump, he said, "continues to spread the false narrative that players are anti military." No player for the Eagles knelt or sat while there were 73 other protests among Eagles players during the National Anthem during the 2017 regular season, according to report by Sports Pundit, which tracked protests among the 32 NFL teams. A player knelt and another player raised up his fist while a teammate put his arm around him during the anthem before a preseason game in August, local media reported. Democratic US Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania invited the team to visit the Capitol Building and called Trump's action "a political stunt".

Trump disinvites NFL champions after they disagree with him on anthem

Russian President Vladimir Putin said&nbsp;on Wednesday&nbsp;a decision by US&nbsp;President Donald Trump to set up a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was "brave and mature", and said that he was expecting a "positive outcome".

The historic summit will take place on&nbsp;June 12&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/kim-trump-summit-to-take-place-in-singapores-capella-hotel-on-sentosa-island-142478">in Singapore</a>, in the latest twist in a high-stakes diplomatic drive by the United States to curtail Pyongyang's nuclear arms programme.

On Friday, Trump, in a complete reversal, said he would hold the meeting with Kim after initially cancelling it, citing what he called Pyongyang's "open hostility".

"I still hope that this meeting – a very brave and mature decision US&nbsp;President Donald Trump has made, to have direct contacts with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un – will take place, and we all expect a positive outcome," Putin said in an interview with China Media Group.

Putin is due to take part in a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation later this week.

The Kremlin leader said last month that his own proposed meeting with Trump was not working out for now and was beset by problems.

Trump said in March that the two leaders would meet soon, but since then already poor ties between Washington and Moscow have deteriorated further over the conflict in Syria and the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.

Trump will meet Kim on June 12 in Singapore. Putin said he was expecting a 'positive outcome' from the 'brave and mature' decision

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday a decision by US President Donald Trump to set up a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was "brave and mature", and said that he was expecting a "positive outcome". The historic summit will take place on June 12 in Singapore, in the latest twist in a high-stakes diplomatic drive by the United States to curtail Pyongyang's nuclear arms programme. On Friday, Trump, in a complete reversal, said he would hold the meeting with Kim after initially cancelling it, citing what he called Pyongyang's "open hostility". "I still hope that this meeting – a very brave and mature decision US President Donald Trump has made, to have direct contacts with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un – will take place, and we all expect a positive outcome," Putin said in an interview with China Media Group. Putin is due to take part in a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation later this week. The Kremlin leader said last month that his own proposed meeting with Trump was not working out for now and was beset by problems. Trump said in March that the two leaders would meet soon, but since then already poor ties between Washington and Moscow have deteriorated further over the conflict in Syria and the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.

Putin praises 'brave' Trump over planned meeting with North Korea's Kim

British Prime Minister Theresa&nbspMay&nbsptold President Donald&nbspTrump&nbspon Monday that US&nbsptariffs&nbspimposed on European Union steel and aluminium imports were "unjustified and deeply disappointing" during a phone&nbspcall.

The leaders spoke for the first time since the announcement in a 30-minute&nbspcall&nbspand agreed to discuss the issue further at the G7 summit in Canada later this week.

Trump&nbsphas infuriated European Union members, Canada and Mexico by imposing&nbsptariffs&nbspof 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminium, ending months of uncertainty about potential exemptions and suggesting a hardening of the U.S. approach to trade negotiations.

"The prime minister raised the US&nbspdecision to apply&nbsptariffs&nbspto EU steel and aluminium imports, which she said was unjustified and deeply disappointing," a spokesman for the prime minister told reporters.

"She said the US&nbspand UK and EU are close national security allies and we recognise the importance of the values of open and fair trade across the world. The prime minister also underlined the need to safeguard jobs."

The EU threatened&nbsptariffs&nbspon Harley Davidson motorcycles and bourbon, measures aimed at the political bases of US&nbspRepublican legislators.

Britain's&nbsptrade minister Liam Fox warned parliament on Monday that growing protectionism could "ramp up into a global trading disaster" and said Britain and the European Union's response must be measured and proportionate.

"It is right to seek to defend our domestic industries from both the direct and indirect impacts of these US&nbsptariffs. The response must be measured, and proportionate," Fox told parliament.

During the&nbspcall,&nbspMay&nbspalso announced her support for&nbspTrump's plan to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore next week.

The leaders spoke for the first time since the announcement in a 30-minute call and agreed to discuss the issue further at the G7 summit in Canada later this week

British Prime Minister Theresa&nbspMay&nbsptold President Donald&nbspTrump&nbspon Monday that US&nbsptariffs&nbspimposed on European Union steel and aluminium imports were "unjustified and deeply disappointing" during a phone&nbspcall. The leaders spoke for the first time since the announcement in a 30-minute&nbspcall&nbspand agreed to discuss the issue further at the G7 summit in Canada later this week. Trump&nbsphas infuriated European Union members, Canada and Mexico by imposing&nbsptariffs&nbspof 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminium, ending months of uncertainty about potential exemptions and suggesting a hardening of the U.S. approach to trade negotiations. "The prime minister raised the US&nbspdecision to apply&nbsptariffs&nbspto EU steel and aluminium imports, which she said was unjustified and deeply disappointing," a spokesman for the prime minister told reporters. "She said the US&nbspand UK and EU are close national security allies and we recognise the importance of the values of open and fair trade across the world. The prime minister also underlined the need to safeguard jobs." The EU threatened&nbsptariffs&nbspon Harley Davidson motorcycles and bourbon, measures aimed at the political bases of US&nbspRepublican legislators. Britain's&nbsptrade minister Liam Fox warned parliament on Monday that growing protectionism could "ramp up into a global trading disaster" and said Britain and the European Union's response must be measured and proportionate. "It is right to seek to defend our domestic industries from both the direct and indirect impacts of these US&nbsptariffs. The response must be measured, and proportionate," Fox told parliament. During the&nbspcall,&nbspMay&nbspalso announced her support for&nbspTrump's plan to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore next week.

US tariffs 'unjustified', Britain's May tells Trump on call

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday threw out a lower court ruling that let a pregnant illegal immigrant minor held in federal immigration custody obtain an abortion last year at age 17 over the objections of President Donald Trump’s administration. 
The action by the justices provided a legal victory to Trump’s administration even though the teenager already has had the abortion because it eliminated a precedent at the federal appeals court level that could have applied in similar circumstances in which detained minors sought abortions.

In the unsigned opinion with no dissents, the justices threw out the appeals court decision on the grounds that the dispute became moot once the unnamed teenager had the abortion.

The justices, however, declined to take up the administration’s request for disciplinary action against the American Civil Liberties Union lawyers who represented the girl, who underwent an abortion in Texas last October.

The administration had accused the ACLU lawyers of misleading the Justice Department over when she would have the abortion. The high court said that it takes misconduct allegations against lawyers seriously but said “not all communication breakdowns constitute misconduct.”

The justices also allowed litigation to continue in lower courts concerning other detained immigrants in detention in a similar situations.

The Trump administration had argued that while the girl was in federal custody, she was subject to its policy of refusing to facilitate abortions. The girl, whose name and nationality were not disclosed, went by the name of “Jane Doe” in legal papers.

While the case was pending at the Supreme Court, litigation continued in lower courts.

On March 30, a federal judge in Washington issued an injunction preventing the administration from impeding access to abortion by detained immigrant minors. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan also certified a class action of similar minors to challenge the administration’s policy.

“Today’s decision doesn’t affect our ongoing efforts to ensure that all ‘Janes’ can get an abortion if they need one,” said ACLU attorney Brigitte Amiri. “The district court has blocked the Trump administration’s cruel policy of obstructing unaccompanied immigrant minors’ access to abortion while the case continues, and we won’t stop until we strike it down once and for all.”

The ACLU, which has filed a range of lawsuits against the administration, sued in Washington in October, seeking a decision on obtaining abortions that would be binding in any future cases that arise.

A 1973 Supreme Court ruling legalized abortion nationwide. One of the issues raised by the current case is whether illegal immigrant women have the same right to an abortion as American citizens and legal residents.

The case involves the intersection of two divisive social issues on which Trump has taken a hard line: abortion and immigration.

The girl at the center of the legal fight had an abortion on Oct. 25, the day after a U.S. appeals court ruled against the Trump administration’s objections.

The Justice Department has said it was preparing to appeal that ruling to the Supreme Court when it learned she had already had the abortion early that morning.

She entered the United States without any family in September 2017 and was immediately detained by U.S. authorities and placed in a shelter in Texas for unaccompanied illegal immigrant minors.

She had sought and received a Texas court order to approve the abortion because she a minor, and had scheduled a sonogram and consultation with a physician, as required by Texas law. But the Trump administration refused to let her leave the detention center to carry out those steps.

At the time of the abortion, she was around 15 weeks pregnant. Under Texas law, abortions after 20 weeks are illegal.

The administration had accused the ACLU lawyers of misleading the Justice Department over when she would have the abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday threw out a lower court ruling that let a pregnant illegal immigrant minor held in federal immigration custody obtain an abortion last year at age 17 over the objections of President Donald Trump’s administration. The action by the justices provided a legal victory to Trump’s administration even though the teenager already has had the abortion because it eliminated a precedent at the federal appeals court level that could have applied in similar circumstances in which detained minors sought abortions. In the unsigned opinion with no dissents, the justices threw out the appeals court decision on the grounds that the dispute became moot once the unnamed teenager had the abortion. The justices, however, declined to take up the administration’s request for disciplinary action against the American Civil Liberties Union lawyers who represented the girl, who underwent an abortion in Texas last October. The administration had accused the ACLU lawyers of misleading the Justice Department over when she would have the abortion. The high court said that it takes misconduct allegations against lawyers seriously but said “not all communication breakdowns constitute misconduct.” The justices also allowed litigation to continue in lower courts concerning other detained immigrants in detention in a similar situations. The Trump administration had argued that while the girl was in federal custody, she was subject to its policy of refusing to facilitate abortions. The girl, whose name and nationality were not disclosed, went by the name of “Jane Doe” in legal papers. While the case was pending at the Supreme Court, litigation continued in lower courts. On March 30, a federal judge in Washington issued an injunction preventing the administration from impeding access to abortion by detained immigrant minors. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan also certified a class action of similar minors to challenge the administration’s policy. “Today’s decision doesn’t affect our ongoing efforts to ensure that all ‘Janes’ can get an abortion if they need one,” said ACLU attorney Brigitte Amiri. “The district court has blocked the Trump administration’s cruel policy of obstructing unaccompanied immigrant minors’ access to abortion while the case continues, and we won’t stop until we strike it down once and for all.” The ACLU, which has filed a range of lawsuits against the administration, sued in Washington in October, seeking a decision on obtaining abortions that would be binding in any future cases that arise. A 1973 Supreme Court ruling legalized abortion nationwide. One of the issues raised by the current case is whether illegal immigrant women have the same right to an abortion as American citizens and legal residents. The case involves the intersection of two divisive social issues on which Trump has taken a hard line: abortion and immigration. The girl at the center of the legal fight had an abortion on Oct. 25, the day after a U.S. appeals court ruled against the Trump administration’s objections. The Justice Department has said it was preparing to appeal that ruling to the Supreme Court when it learned she had already had the abortion early that morning. She entered the United States without any family in September 2017 and was immediately detained by U.S. authorities and placed in a shelter in Texas for unaccompanied illegal immigrant minors. She had sought and received a Texas court order to approve the abortion because she a minor, and had scheduled a sonogram and consultation with a physician, as required by Texas law. But the Trump administration refused to let her leave the detention center to carry out those steps. At the time of the abortion, she was around 15 weeks pregnant. Under Texas law, abortions after 20 weeks are illegal.

Supreme Court throws out immigrant teen abortion ruling

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Tuesday that US sanctions on Russia military exports would not impact long-standing ties between New Delhi and one of its key arms suppliers Moscow.

US President Donald Trump in August signed a law threatening sanctions on any country doing business with Russia's defence and intelligence sectors.

The sanctions regime affects American allies like India, which has purchased Russian military hardware and expertise for decades.

India, the world's top defence importer, had been in talks with Russia to buy S-400 long range surface-to-air missile systems when the sanctions were announced.

There had been speculation last year when the sanctions were signed into law that the $6 billion weapons deal could be scuttled.

But Sitharaman said the long-running negotiations "have reached the final stage".

“I like to make it clear here that in all our engagements with the U.S., we have very clearly explained how India and Russia’s defence cooperation has been going on for a very long time,” Sitharaman said in response to a media query pertaining to the&nbsp;US&nbsp;advising India to not go ahead with purchase of S-400 anti-missile system from Russia.

“It’s a time-tested relationship and India has got quite a lot of defence assets from Russia. Assets, spares, servicing, we have a continuous relationship with Russia,” she noted.

Sitharaman said the US&nbsp;sanctions against Russia would not be impacting “this particular characteristic of India-Russia defence cooperation”.

Negotiations with Russia for S-400 were in the final stage, she pointed out, “The S-400 deal has been on for a very long time and we have reached the final stage negotiations. That explains it all,” she said.

India has increasingly turned to the United States and France for arms purchases in recent years, but is still reliant on Russia hardware and expertise to maintain its existing arsenal.

India has very clearly conveyed to the US that the "time-tested" Indo-Russian cooperation in the defence sector will continue, including the deal for S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems for the IAF, notwithstanding the American sanctions against Moscow.&nbsp;

Sources said India wants its defence transactions with Russia to be insulated from the purview of stringent American law CAATSA and is likely to raise the issue with the US when the two sides meet in Washington for the 2+2 talks next month.&nbsp;

"In all our engagements with the US, we have clearly explained how India and Russia's defence cooperation has been going on for a long time and that it is a time-tested relationship. We have mentioned that CAATSA cannot impact the India-Russia defence cooperation," Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said at a press conference.&nbsp;

She said India has got quite a lot of defence assets from Russia and the cooperation between the two countries will continue.&nbsp; 
 
In January, the US announced sanctions against Russia under its Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for Moscow's alleged meddling in the American presidential election in 2016.&nbsp; 
 
India wants to procure the long-range missile systems to tighten its air defence mechanism, particularly along the nearly 4,000-km-long Sino-India border.&nbsp; 
 
Official sources said both Russia and India are likely to announce the deal before an annual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in October.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump in August signed a law threatening sanctions on any country doing business with Russia's defence and intelligence sectors

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Tuesday that US sanctions on Russia military exports would not impact long-standing ties between New Delhi and one of its key arms suppliers Moscow. US President Donald Trump in August signed a law threatening sanctions on any country doing business with Russia's defence and intelligence sectors. The sanctions regime affects American allies like India, which has purchased Russian military hardware and expertise for decades. India, the world's top defence importer, had been in talks with Russia to buy S-400 long range surface-to-air missile systems when the sanctions were announced. There had been speculation last year when the sanctions were signed into law that the $6 billion weapons deal could be scuttled. But Sitharaman said the long-running negotiations "have reached the final stage". “I like to make it clear here that in all our engagements with the U.S., we have very clearly explained how India and Russia’s defence cooperation has been going on for a very long time,” Sitharaman said in response to a media query pertaining to the US advising India to not go ahead with purchase of S-400 anti-missile system from Russia. “It’s a time-tested relationship and India has got quite a lot of defence assets from Russia. Assets, spares, servicing, we have a continuous relationship with Russia,” she noted. Sitharaman said the US sanctions against Russia would not be impacting “this particular characteristic of India-Russia defence cooperation”. Negotiations with Russia for S-400 were in the final stage, she pointed out, “The S-400 deal has been on for a very long time and we have reached the final stage negotiations. That explains it all,” she said. India has increasingly turned to the United States and France for arms purchases in recent years, but is still reliant on Russia hardware and expertise to maintain its existing arsenal. India has very clearly conveyed to the US that the "time-tested" Indo-Russian cooperation in the defence sector will continue, including the deal for S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems for the IAF, notwithstanding the American sanctions against Moscow. Sources said India wants its defence transactions with Russia to be insulated from the purview of stringent American law CAATSA and is likely to raise the issue with the US when the two sides meet in Washington for the 2+2 talks next month. "In all our engagements with the US, we have clearly explained how India and Russia's defence cooperation has been going on for a long time and that it is a time-tested relationship. We have mentioned that CAATSA cannot impact the India-Russia defence cooperation," Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said at a press conference. She said India has got quite a lot of defence assets from Russia and the cooperation between the two countries will continue. In January, the US announced sanctions against Russia under its Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for Moscow's alleged meddling in the American presidential election in 2016. India wants to procure the long-range missile systems to tighten its air defence mechanism, particularly along the nearly 4,000-km-long Sino-India border. Official sources said both Russia and India are likely to announce the deal before an annual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in October. (With inputs from agencies)

US sanctions won't impact India-Russia defence ties: Nirmala Sitharaman

The United Nations called on the United States on Tuesday to stop detaining irregular migrant families and separating children on its frontier with Mexico, saying this broke the law.

Several hundred children crossing the southern U.S. border have been held in custody since October 2017 following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump when he took office in January 2016, it said.

"The U.S. should immediately halt this practice of separating families and stop criminalising what should at most be an administrative offence – that of irregular entry or stay in the U.S.," U.N. human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told a briefing in Geneva.

"Entering a country without the relevant papers should not be a criminal offence...so these people should not be detained," she said, adding that some children were very young, including a one-year-old infant.

Poverty, as well as deepening violence from criminal gangs and drug traffickers has driven hundreds of thousands of Central Americans to try to cross the U.S. border illegally or seek asylum in the country.

The Trump administration will soon begin fingerprinting parents claiming custody of children who entered the United States illegally without an adult relative, officials said a week ago, prompting criticism that children may be abandoned by those who fear being identified and deported. [nL2N1T01BY]

Shamdasani, asked about comments by senior U.S. officials that it was normal to remove children from parents in custody, said: "There is nothing normal about detaining children.

"Detention is never in the best interests of the child and always constitutes a child rights violation," she said.

The United States - the only country in the world not to have ratified the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child - still has obligations as a signatory to that treaty and as a party that has ratified other rights treaties, Shamdasani said

"Our position is that preserving family unity is a fundamental tenet of refugee protection," U.N. refugee agency spokesman William Spindler said.

Most crossing the U.S. southern border are from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador where there is rampant violence and persecution targetting children and youth, he said.

"The fact that you have people coming from countries experiencing violence and might be subject to persecution by gangs and other criminal violence, would certainly ... give them the right to receive international protection," Spindler said.

Several hundred children crossing the southern U.S. border have been held in custody since October 2017 following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump when he took office in January 2016, it said

The United Nations called on the United States on Tuesday to stop detaining irregular migrant families and separating children on its frontier with Mexico, saying this broke the law. Several hundred children crossing the southern U.S. border have been held in custody since October 2017 following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump when he took office in January 2016, it said. "The U.S. should immediately halt this practice of separating families and stop criminalising what should at most be an administrative offence – that of irregular entry or stay in the U.S.," U.N. human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told a briefing in Geneva. "Entering a country without the relevant papers should not be a criminal offence...so these people should not be detained," she said, adding that some children were very young, including a one-year-old infant. Poverty, as well as deepening violence from criminal gangs and drug traffickers has driven hundreds of thousands of Central Americans to try to cross the U.S. border illegally or seek asylum in the country. The Trump administration will soon begin fingerprinting parents claiming custody of children who entered the United States illegally without an adult relative, officials said a week ago, prompting criticism that children may be abandoned by those who fear being identified and deported. [nL2N1T01BY] Shamdasani, asked about comments by senior U.S. officials that it was normal to remove children from parents in custody, said: "There is nothing normal about detaining children. "Detention is never in the best interests of the child and always constitutes a child rights violation," she said. The United States - the only country in the world not to have ratified the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child - still has obligations as a signatory to that treaty and as a party that has ratified other rights treaties, Shamdasani said "Our position is that preserving family unity is a fundamental tenet of refugee protection," U.N. refugee agency spokesman William Spindler said. Most crossing the U.S. southern border are from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador where there is rampant violence and persecution targetting children and youth, he said. "The fact that you have people coming from countries experiencing violence and might be subject to persecution by gangs and other criminal violence, would certainly ... give them the right to receive international protection," Spindler said.

US should stop detaining migrants, separating children: UN

Finally, Melania Trump has reappeared. 
 
After more than three weeks out of the public eye, the first lady strolled into a White House event&nbsp;Monday&nbsp;for military families and swept away the wild speculation that she was incapacitated or had otherwise vanished. 
 
The White House did not allow journalists to cover the Gold Star event out of respect for the families, which meant Mrs. Trump was seen in person only by the 40 or so families and administration officials who attended. Others had to keep an eye on social media. 
 
Video posted on Twitter showed the first lady, who wore a black sleeveless dress and her trademark stilettos, strolling into the East Room accompanied by President Donald Trump. He showed her to a front-row seat across the aisle from Vice President Mike Pence before heading to the microphone. 
 
"She looked beautiful," said retired Sgt. 1st Class Diana Pike. Pike's son, Chief Petty Officer Christian Pike, of Peoria, Arizona, died in 2013 from injuries suffered in Afghanistan. "She just looked so beautiful." 
 
Trump joked about all the speculation that his wife had supposedly left him but said she was doing fine, Pike said. 
 
The first lady later tweeted several photos of the event, including two of her seated alongside the president. 
 
Mrs. Trump was last seen publicly during the overnight hours of May 10 when she and the president welcomed home three Americans who had been detained in North Korea.&nbsp;Four days later, the White House announced that she had been hospitalized to treat a benign kidney condition. 
 
The closest first lady parallel to Mrs Trump's time out of the public spotlight is Bess Truman, who did few events as first lady because of discomfort around the media, said Anita McBride, a veteran of three Republican administrations who last served as chief of staff to first lady Laura Bush. Mrs Truman also spent a lot of time in Missouri with her mother. 
 
Nancy Reagan spent several weeks out of public view after a mastectomy, but continued to meet with staff and do other work behind the scenes. 
 
Public interest in and news media coverage of first ladies exploded during the Obama administration, the first White House to extensively use social media to spread its brand, McBride said. But first ladies are not elected and technically are still private citizens, and each one gets to tailor the job to suit her. 
 
"She is going to do this job her way," McBride said of Mrs Trump. "It's her style and we just have to accept that." 
 
Mrs Trump stayed in the hospital for five days and has kept out of public view since returning home May 19. She has been meeting with staff and working on upcoming projects, according to spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham. 
 
Grisham said the Gold Star families' event was important to Mrs Trump and had been on her calendar for some time. 
 
It's still unclear when the first lady will make an appearance in public. She's not scheduled to accompany Trump to an annual world leaders' summit in Canada this weekend, or when he meets with North Korea's leader in Singapore next week.&nbsp; 
 
Her absence sparked all kinds of wild speculation, but the first lady has shown no interest in making an appearance just to knock down rumors. 
 
 
She sent early signals that she will not bow to speculation or public expectations about what she should be doing.&nbsp; 
 
Her first clue that she would be a different first lady came when she decided to continue living at Trump Tower after her husband took office in January 2017, citing a desire to maintain stability for her son's schooling. She and son Barron officially moved to the White House last June. 
 
 
"Mrs Trump is very strong and independent," Grisham said.&nbsp;

After more than three weeks out of the public eye, the first lady strolled into a White House event Monday for military families and swept away the wild speculation that she was incapacitated or had otherwise vanished

Finally, Melania Trump has reappeared. After more than three weeks out of the public eye, the first lady strolled into a White House event Monday for military families and swept away the wild speculation that she was incapacitated or had otherwise vanished. The White House did not allow journalists to cover the Gold Star event out of respect for the families, which meant Mrs. Trump was seen in person only by the 40 or so families and administration officials who attended. Others had to keep an eye on social media. Video posted on Twitter showed the first lady, who wore a black sleeveless dress and her trademark stilettos, strolling into the East Room accompanied by President Donald Trump. He showed her to a front-row seat across the aisle from Vice President Mike Pence before heading to the microphone. "She looked beautiful," said retired Sgt. 1st Class Diana Pike. Pike's son, Chief Petty Officer Christian Pike, of Peoria, Arizona, died in 2013 from injuries suffered in Afghanistan. "She just looked so beautiful." Trump joked about all the speculation that his wife had supposedly left him but said she was doing fine, Pike said. The first lady later tweeted several photos of the event, including two of her seated alongside the president. Mrs. Trump was last seen publicly during the overnight hours of May 10 when she and the president welcomed home three Americans who had been detained in North Korea. Four days later, the White House announced that she had been hospitalized to treat a benign kidney condition. The closest first lady parallel to Mrs Trump's time out of the public spotlight is Bess Truman, who did few events as first lady because of discomfort around the media, said Anita McBride, a veteran of three Republican administrations who last served as chief of staff to first lady Laura Bush. Mrs Truman also spent a lot of time in Missouri with her mother. Nancy Reagan spent several weeks out of public view after a mastectomy, but continued to meet with staff and do other work behind the scenes. Public interest in and news media coverage of first ladies exploded during the Obama administration, the first White House to extensively use social media to spread its brand, McBride said. But first ladies are not elected and technically are still private citizens, and each one gets to tailor the job to suit her. "She is going to do this job her way," McBride said of Mrs Trump. "It's her style and we just have to accept that." Mrs Trump stayed in the hospital for five days and has kept out of public view since returning home May 19. She has been meeting with staff and working on upcoming projects, according to spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham. Grisham said the Gold Star families' event was important to Mrs Trump and had been on her calendar for some time. It's still unclear when the first lady will make an appearance in public. She's not scheduled to accompany Trump to an annual world leaders' summit in Canada this weekend, or when he meets with North Korea's leader in Singapore next week. Her absence sparked all kinds of wild speculation, but the first lady has shown no interest in making an appearance just to knock down rumors. She sent early signals that she will not bow to speculation or public expectations about what she should be doing. Her first clue that she would be a different first lady came when she decided to continue living at Trump Tower after her husband took office in January 2017, citing a desire to maintain stability for her son's schooling. She and son Barron officially moved to the White House last June. "Mrs Trump is very strong and independent," Grisham said.

After 24 days out of sight, Melania Trump finally reappears

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