US Republican members of Congress pushed back on Wednesday against President Donald Trump`s plan to sell $8 billion in weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, saying it was "unfortunate" the administration used an emergency declaration to avoid Congressional review.

Members of Congress had been blocking sales of military equipment to Saudi Arabia and the UAE for months, angry about the deaths of civilians in their air campaign in Yemen, as well as human rights abuses such as the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate in Turkey last year.&nbsp;

The Trump administration is pressing Riyadh to show "tangible progress" toward holding to account those behind Khashoggi`s killing, a senior administration official said on Tuesday.

The ranking Republican on the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs committee, Michael McCaul, said at a hearing on Wednesday that he supports "the efforts of Saudi Arabia to defend themselves against Iran," but "the recent use of this emergency authority, in my judgment, was unfortunate."

Another Republican, Representative Ann Wagner, asked for a better understanding of the administration`s move to sidestep congressional oversight given Saudi Arabia`s human rights abuses.&nbsp;

Citing an Iran-related emergency, the Trump administration told congressional committees on May 24 that it would go ahead with 22 military deals worth $8.1 billion to Saudi Arabia, UAE and Jordan, circumventing a long-standing precedent for lawmakers to review major weapons sales.&nbsp;

Strains between Washington and Tehran have increased in recent weeks, a year after Trump, a Republican, abandoned a 2015 nuclear accord between Iran and world powers to curb Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

Trump’s administration announced that it was sending 1,500 additional troops to the Middle East, which it described as an effort to bolster defences against what it sees as a threat of potential attack by Iran.

Iran has warned against any military aggression.&nbsp;

"Iran will never initiate a war but will give a crushing response to any aggression," Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday.

In a memorandum justifying the emergency declaration, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, "Iranian malign activity poses a fundamental threat to the stability of the Middle East and to American security at home and abroad."

Democrats on the committee called the emergency declaration phony.

Defending the administration`s position at Wednesday`s hearing, assistant secretary of state for Political-military affairs Clarke Cooper said: "This is an emergency, this is a one time event."

However, Cooper later said a "one time event is conditions based," and that this was the fifth time in history that such an emergency was used to push through the sale of weapons.&nbsp;

Cooper said that some of the weapons have already been sent to the customer since the emergency declaration and before Wednesday`s hearing. "Anything that`s what`s called `off then shelf` then it`s already moving" to customers, Cooper said.

But Cooper said "there was nothing new in these 22 sales," indicating that the packages had been previously notified to Congress, but did not progress through the established channels for weapons sales notifications.

US Senators have drafted 22 "resolutions of disapproval." The resolutions are intended to "protect and reaffirm Congress` role of approving arms sales to foreign governments."&nbsp;

Companies that would benefit include Raytheon Co precision-guided munitions (PGMs), support for Boeing Co F-15 aircraft, and Javelin anti-tank missiles, which are made by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin Corp. 
&nbsp;

US Republican members of Congress pushed back on Wednesday against President Donald Trump`s plan to sell $8 billion in weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, saying it was "unfortunate" the administration used an emergency declaration to avoid Congressional review.

US Republican members of Congress pushed back on Wednesday against President Donald Trump`s plan to sell $8 billion in weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, saying it was "unfortunate" the administration used an emergency declaration to avoid Congressional review. Members of Congress had been blocking sales of military equipment to Saudi Arabia and the UAE for months, angry about the deaths of civilians in their air campaign in Yemen, as well as human rights abuses such as the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate in Turkey last year. The Trump administration is pressing Riyadh to show "tangible progress" toward holding to account those behind Khashoggi`s killing, a senior administration official said on Tuesday. The ranking Republican on the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs committee, Michael McCaul, said at a hearing on Wednesday that he supports "the efforts of Saudi Arabia to defend themselves against Iran," but "the recent use of this emergency authority, in my judgment, was unfortunate." Another Republican, Representative Ann Wagner, asked for a better understanding of the administration`s move to sidestep congressional oversight given Saudi Arabia`s human rights abuses. Citing an Iran-related emergency, the Trump administration told congressional committees on May 24 that it would go ahead with 22 military deals worth $8.1 billion to Saudi Arabia, UAE and Jordan, circumventing a long-standing precedent for lawmakers to review major weapons sales. Strains between Washington and Tehran have increased in recent weeks, a year after Trump, a Republican, abandoned a 2015 nuclear accord between Iran and world powers to curb Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump’s administration announced that it was sending 1,500 additional troops to the Middle East, which it described as an effort to bolster defences against what it sees as a threat of potential attack by Iran. Iran has warned against any military aggression. "Iran will never initiate a war but will give a crushing response to any aggression," Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday. In a memorandum justifying the emergency declaration, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, "Iranian malign activity poses a fundamental threat to the stability of the Middle East and to American security at home and abroad." Democrats on the committee called the emergency declaration phony. Defending the administration`s position at Wednesday`s hearing, assistant secretary of state for Political-military affairs Clarke Cooper said: "This is an emergency, this is a one time event." However, Cooper later said a "one time event is conditions based," and that this was the fifth time in history that such an emergency was used to push through the sale of weapons. Cooper said that some of the weapons have already been sent to the customer since the emergency declaration and before Wednesday`s hearing. "Anything that`s what`s called `off then shelf` then it`s already moving" to customers, Cooper said. But Cooper said "there was nothing new in these 22 sales," indicating that the packages had been previously notified to Congress, but did not progress through the established channels for weapons sales notifications. US Senators have drafted 22 "resolutions of disapproval." The resolutions are intended to "protect and reaffirm Congress` role of approving arms sales to foreign governments." Companies that would benefit include Raytheon Co precision-guided munitions (PGMs), support for Boeing Co F-15 aircraft, and Javelin anti-tank missiles, which are made by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin Corp.

Republicans in US Congress push back on Trump weapons packages to Saudi Arabia, UAE

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/modi-reduced-tariffs-on-harley-davidson-motorcycles-by-50-i-said-it-was-still-unacceptable-trump-226103">Modi reduced tariffs on Harley Davidson motorcycles by 50%, I said it was still unacceptable: Trump</a>

US President Donald Trump said that even though&nbsp;India has reduced its import tariff&nbsp;on American motorcycles from 100 per cent to 50 per cent, it is still too high and not acceptable to him.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/amitabh-bachchans-twitter-account-gets-hacked-profile-picture-changed-to-pak-pms-226100">Amitabh Bachchan's Twitter account gets hacked, profile picture changed to Pak PM's</a>

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan's twitter account&nbsp;is the latest star account to fall prey to hackers. The actor's Twitter account was reportedly hacked on Monday night by a Turkish hacker group called Ayyildiz Tim.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/helicopter-pilot-presumed-killed-in-crash-atop-fog-shrouded-manhattan-skyscraper-226099">Helicopter pilot presumed killed in crash atop fog-shrouded Manhattan skyscraper</a>

A helicopter crashed onto the fog-shrouded roof of a midtown Manhattan skyscraper on Monday, killing at least one person and unnerving a city still scarred by memories of September 11, 2001, airplane attacks on the World Trade Center.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/2-terrorists-killed-in-encounter-in-jammu-and-kashmirs-shopian-226106">2 terrorists killed in encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian</a>

Two terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday, police said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Awneera area of Shopian in early hours after receiving information about the presence of terrorists there, a police spokesman said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/s-400-row-turkish-pilots-halt-operations-at-us-air-base-in-arizona-226110">S-400 row: Turkish pilots halt operations at US air base in Arizona</a>

Training by Turkish pilots on&nbsp;F-35 fighter jets&nbsp;has come to a faster-than-expected halt at a US air base in Arizona, US officials said on Monday, as the United States winds down Ankara's involvement in the program over Turkey's plans to buy a Russian air defence system.

&nbsp;

Modi reduced tariffs on Harley Davidson motorcycles by 50%, I said it was still unacceptable: Trump US President Donald Trump said that even though India has reduced its import tariff on American motorcycles from 100 per cent to 50 per cent, it is still too high and not acceptable to him.

Modi reduced tariffs on Harley Davidson motorcycles by 50%, I said it was still unacceptable: Trump US President Donald Trump said that even though India has reduced its import tariff on American motorcycles from 100 per cent to 50 per cent, it is still too high and not acceptable to him. Amitabh Bachchan's Twitter account gets hacked, profile picture changed to Pak PM's Superstar Amitabh Bachchan's twitter account is the latest star account to fall prey to hackers. The actor's Twitter account was reportedly hacked on Monday night by a Turkish hacker group called Ayyildiz Tim. Helicopter pilot presumed killed in crash atop fog-shrouded Manhattan skyscraper A helicopter crashed onto the fog-shrouded roof of a midtown Manhattan skyscraper on Monday, killing at least one person and unnerving a city still scarred by memories of September 11, 2001, airplane attacks on the World Trade Center. 2 terrorists killed in encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian Two terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday, police said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Awneera area of Shopian in early hours after receiving information about the presence of terrorists there, a police spokesman said. S-400 row: Turkish pilots halt operations at US air base in Arizona Training by Turkish pilots on F-35 fighter jets has come to a faster-than-expected halt at a US air base in Arizona, US officials said on Monday, as the United States winds down Ankara's involvement in the program over Turkey's plans to buy a Russian air defence system.

News brief: Big stories of the day

The New York Times has announced it will no longer include daily political cartoons in its international edition, weeks after apologising for publishing a caricature of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deemed anti-Semitic.

The cartoon, published in April, depicted Netanyahu as a guide dog wearing a Star of David collar and leading a blind Donald Trump -- who was wearing a kippah, or a Jewish skullcap.

It prompted an uproar within the Jewish community, with Israel's ambassador to the UN likening the drawing to the content of Nazi propaganda tabloid Der Sturmer.

Editor James Bennet said the paper had planned for a year to cease running political cartoons in the international print version of the Times, in line with the US edition.

The decision will come into effect on July 1, Bennet said in a Monday statement.&nbsp;

Patrick Chappatte, one of the paper's leading cartoonists, said the decision was directly related to the Netanyahu cartoon.&nbsp;

He condemned the publication of the caricature at the center of the controversy but said he was concerned that media outlets were increasingly buckling under political pressure and criticism from "moralistic mobs" on social media.

"Over the last years, some of the very best cartoonists... lost their positions because their publishers found their work too critical of Trump. Maybe we should start worrying," Chappatte wrote on his personal website.

Bennet said the newspaper hoped to keep working with Chappatte and fellow contributor Heng Kim Song on other projects.

New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger announced in May that the editor who published the cartoon would be disciplined.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The New York Times has announced it will no longer include daily political cartoons in its international edition, weeks after apologising for publishing a caricature of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deemed anti-Semitic.

The New York Times has announced it will no longer include daily political cartoons in its international edition, weeks after apologising for publishing a caricature of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deemed anti-Semitic. The cartoon, published in April, depicted Netanyahu as a guide dog wearing a Star of David collar and leading a blind Donald Trump -- who was wearing a kippah, or a Jewish skullcap. It prompted an uproar within the Jewish community, with Israel's ambassador to the UN likening the drawing to the content of Nazi propaganda tabloid Der Sturmer. Editor James Bennet said the paper had planned for a year to cease running political cartoons in the international print version of the Times, in line with the US edition. The decision will come into effect on July 1, Bennet said in a Monday statement. Patrick Chappatte, one of the paper's leading cartoonists, said the decision was directly related to the Netanyahu cartoon. He condemned the publication of the caricature at the center of the controversy but said he was concerned that media outlets were increasingly buckling under political pressure and criticism from "moralistic mobs" on social media. "Over the last years, some of the very best cartoonists... lost their positions because their publishers found their work too critical of Trump. Maybe we should start worrying," Chappatte wrote on his personal website. Bennet said the newspaper hoped to keep working with Chappatte and fellow contributor Heng Kim Song on other projects. New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger announced in May that the editor who published the cartoon would be disciplined.

New York Times to cease political cartoons after Netanyahu-Trump caricature row

Mexico avoided the most extreme immigration concession sought by US&nbsp;President Donald Trump in the deal reached to fend off <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-mulling-over-declaring-new-emergency-for-imposing-tariffs-on-mexico-225116">threatened tariffs</a>, but it is left even weaker than before in the face of potential new pressure from Trump as he formally kicks off his re-election campaign this month.

Under the deal reached on Friday, Mexico agreed to use a large part of its newly formed National Guard to hold back<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/its-business-as-usual-at-mexicos-southern-border-despite-trump-deal-225581"> immigrants</a> crossing from Guatemala, and to take in possibly tens of thousands of people seeking asylum in the United States while their cases are adjudicated.

Led by Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, negotiators in Washington resisted Trump's core demand that Mexico is declared a safe third country, a classification that would oblige Central Americans crossing through Mexico to seek safe haven there, not the United States.

But the two sides agree more action could be taken if within 90 days the measures do not have the desired result of drastically bringing down the numbers of undocumented migrants reaching the US&nbsp;border from levels that are at a more-than-decade high. Last month alone 132,000 were apprehended by US&nbsp;authorities.

Former World Trade Organisation head Pascal Lamy called Trump's approach to coerce its neighbour and ally "hostage-taking," reflecting widely held concerns in Mexico that the US&nbsp;president will come back with more threats to extract greater concessions.

Those fears are sharpened because Trump has used Mexico-bashing to fire up his base on repeated occasions since kicking off his first campaign for the White House in 2015. All signs are that he intends to keep the focus on immigration and cross-border issues in his second-term campaign, which officially launches on June 18.

"We think the threats, demands and Trump tweets against Mexico will continue, especially because it's all tied up with the politics of the 2020 election," said Gabriela Siller, an economist at Mexican bank Banco Base.

Siller expects the peso currency to rise when markets open on Monday on relief that a trade war has been averted, but she said the uptick could be short-lived. The peso, which had been pummelled in recent months on fears over a trade war, on Friday strengthened 0.5% after Trump tweeted that there was a "good chance" a deal would be reached with Mexico.

"A SURRENDER"

Vicente Fox, a former Mexican president and long-term critic of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, tweeted that by allowing the United States to dictate how, for example, Mexico uses its security forces, the government has already ceded some of its sovereignty.

That sentiment was echoed by centre-left politician Angel Avila, on the other side of the political aisle from Fox, who called the deal "a surrender."

"Mexico shouldn't militarise its southern border," said Avila, who heads the Party of the Democratic Revolution.

Others, however, think Lopez Obrador had little choice beyond giving some ground in the negotiations because the threatened tariffs would have caused economic devastation in Mexico, whose economy contracted in the first quarter of this year.

Francisco Labastida, a former presidential candidate, said the scale of the current immigration crisis was a threat to Mexico itself, and action was needed regardless of Trump.

"Mexico would have had to change its migration policy for its own reasons due to national security," he said, arguing that current numbers are unmanageable.

Carlos Pascual, a former US&nbsp;ambassador to Mexico, praised the deal as preferable to the downward spiral of a tit-for-tat trade war but acknowledged it left Mexico open to further pressure.

"Mexico is weak economically and it's always going to be vulnerable if the United States is willing to use economic policy to enforce national security policy," he said.

"There's no doubt this leaves a Damocles sword hanging over Lopez Obrador's head," he said, invoking a metaphor that describes an ever-present peril.

Mexico avoided the most extreme immigration concession sought by US President Donald Trump in the deal reached to fend off threatened tariffs, but it is left even weaker than before in the face of potential new pressure from Trump as he formally kicks off his re-election campaign this month.

Mexico avoided the most extreme immigration concession sought by US President Donald Trump in the deal reached to fend off threatened tariffs, but it is left even weaker than before in the face of potential new pressure from Trump as he formally kicks off his re-election campaign this month. Under the deal reached on Friday, Mexico agreed to use a large part of its newly formed National Guard to hold back immigrants crossing from Guatemala, and to take in possibly tens of thousands of people seeking asylum in the United States while their cases are adjudicated. Led by Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, negotiators in Washington resisted Trump's core demand that Mexico is declared a safe third country, a classification that would oblige Central Americans crossing through Mexico to seek safe haven there, not the United States. But the two sides agree more action could be taken if within 90 days the measures do not have the desired result of drastically bringing down the numbers of undocumented migrants reaching the US border from levels that are at a more-than-decade high. Last month alone 132,000 were apprehended by US authorities. Former World Trade Organisation head Pascal Lamy called Trump's approach to coerce its neighbour and ally "hostage-taking," reflecting widely held concerns in Mexico that the US president will come back with more threats to extract greater concessions. Those fears are sharpened because Trump has used Mexico-bashing to fire up his base on repeated occasions since kicking off his first campaign for the White House in 2015. All signs are that he intends to keep the focus on immigration and cross-border issues in his second-term campaign, which officially launches on June 18. "We think the threats, demands and Trump tweets against Mexico will continue, especially because it's all tied up with the politics of the 2020 election," said Gabriela Siller, an economist at Mexican bank Banco Base. Siller expects the peso currency to rise when markets open on Monday on relief that a trade war has been averted, but she said the uptick could be short-lived. The peso, which had been pummelled in recent months on fears over a trade war, on Friday strengthened 0.5% after Trump tweeted that there was a "good chance" a deal would be reached with Mexico. "A SURRENDER" Vicente Fox, a former Mexican president and long-term critic of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, tweeted that by allowing the United States to dictate how, for example, Mexico uses its security forces, the government has already ceded some of its sovereignty. That sentiment was echoed by centre-left politician Angel Avila, on the other side of the political aisle from Fox, who called the deal "a surrender." "Mexico shouldn't militarise its southern border," said Avila, who heads the Party of the Democratic Revolution. Others, however, think Lopez Obrador had little choice beyond giving some ground in the negotiations because the threatened tariffs would have caused economic devastation in Mexico, whose economy contracted in the first quarter of this year. Francisco Labastida, a former presidential candidate, said the scale of the current immigration crisis was a threat to Mexico itself, and action was needed regardless of Trump. "Mexico would have had to change its migration policy for its own reasons due to national security," he said, arguing that current numbers are unmanageable. Carlos Pascual, a former US ambassador to Mexico, praised the deal as preferable to the downward spiral of a tit-for-tat trade war but acknowledged it left Mexico open to further pressure. "Mexico is weak economically and it's always going to be vulnerable if the United States is willing to use economic policy to enforce national security policy," he said. "There's no doubt this leaves a Damocles sword hanging over Lopez Obrador's head," he said, invoking a metaphor that describes an ever-present peril.

Mexico holds off Trump's fire but seen vulnerable to new pressure

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-he-is-confident-mexico-will-try-very-hard-to-enforce-new-immigration-deal-225578">Trump says he is confident Mexico will 'try very hard' to enforce new immigration deal</a>

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump on Saturday predicted Mexico would strongly enforce a new deal under which it agreed to expand a controversial asylum program and boost security on its southern border to stem Central American migrants trying to reach the United States.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-he-is-confident-mexico-will-try-very-hard-to-enforce-new-immigration-deal-225578">Sudan protest group calls nationwide 'civil disobedience'</a>

A key protest group on Saturday announced a nationwide "civil disobedience" campaign in Sudan. The campaign would run until Sudan's ruling generals transfer power to a civilian government, the protest group said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-envoy-in-interview-does-not-rule-out-israeli-annexation-in-west-bank-225577">US envoy, in interview, does not rule out Israeli annexation in West Bank</a>

The US ambassador to Israel did not rule out an&nbsp;Israeli&nbsp;move to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, land that the&nbsp;Palestinians&nbsp;seek for a state, in an interview with the New York Times published on Saturday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/its-business-as-usual-at-mexicos-southern-border-despite-trump-deal-225581">It's business as usual at Mexico's southern border despite Trump deal</a>

On Saturday, at the busiest crossing point along Mexico`s porous southern border with Guatemala, evidence of Mexico`s promised crackdown on waves of new arrivals trying to reach the United States was nowhere to be seen.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-in-sri-lanka-today-will-be-personally-received-by-sri-lankan-counterpart-wickremesinghe-in-colombo-225582">PM Modi in Sri Lanka today, will be personally received by Sri Lankan counterpart Wickremesinghe in Colombo</a>

After a day-long visit to the Maldives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a state visit to Sri Lanka on Sunday.&nbsp;The prime minister will be personally received by his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo today.&nbsp;

 
 
&nbsp;

Trump says he is confident Mexico will 'try very hard' to enforce new immigration deal US President Donald Trump on Saturday predicted Mexico would strongly enforce a new deal under which it agreed to expand a controversial asylum program and boost security on its southern border to stem Central American migrants trying to reach the United States.

Trump says he is confident Mexico will 'try very hard' to enforce new immigration deal US President Donald Trump on Saturday predicted Mexico would strongly enforce a new deal under which it agreed to expand a controversial asylum program and boost security on its southern border to stem Central American migrants trying to reach the United States. Sudan protest group calls nationwide 'civil disobedience' A key protest group on Saturday announced a nationwide "civil disobedience" campaign in Sudan. The campaign would run until Sudan's ruling generals transfer power to a civilian government, the protest group said. US envoy, in interview, does not rule out Israeli annexation in West Bank The US ambassador to Israel did not rule out an Israeli move to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, land that the Palestinians seek for a state, in an interview with the New York Times published on Saturday. It's business as usual at Mexico's southern border despite Trump deal On Saturday, at the busiest crossing point along Mexico`s porous southern border with Guatemala, evidence of Mexico`s promised crackdown on waves of new arrivals trying to reach the United States was nowhere to be seen. PM Modi in Sri Lanka today, will be personally received by Sri Lankan counterpart Wickremesinghe in Colombo After a day-long visit to the Maldives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a state visit to Sri Lanka on Sunday. The prime minister will be personally received by his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo today.

A highly anticipated late June meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping has some parallels with their Buenos Aires summit last December that postponed a tariff hike, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Saturday.

Mnuchin told Reuters in an interview that the US-China trade dispute was at a similar point in December 2018, when Trump and Xi met on the sidelines of a G20 summit, with a US tariff increase about to kick in on hundreds of billions of dollars in Chinese goods.

As this year's June 28-29 G20 summit in Osaka, Japan approaches, Trump is preparing to launch 25 per cent tariffs on virtually all Chinese imports so far untouched by the two countries' tariff war, a $300 billion list of consumer goods including cell phones, computers and clothing.

"As it relates to the higher tariffs, if you just recall where we were in Buenos Aires, they were going to go up," Mnuchin said. "They were scheduled to go up, and as a result of that meeting, the president agreed not to raise them while we were negotiating," Mnuchin said.

Asked whether he thought a similar outcome would result from the meeting in Osaka - Trump agreeing to forestall the tariffs while negotiations resume - Mnuchin said, "That's the president's decision."

Trump said on Thursday in France that he will decide whether to proceed with the tariffs after the meeting with Xi.

The Buenos Aires summit paved the way for five months of talks aimed at ending a festering trade war between the world's two largest economies.

But these talks broke down in early May, and no face-to-face meetings have been held since May 10, the day that Trump sharply increased tariffs on a $200 billion list of Chinese goods to 25 per cent - the increase that he delayed after the Buenos Aires meeting.

Since then, acrimonious rhetoric and trade threats between Beijing and Washington have steadily increased, especially after the United States imposed severe sanctions against Huawei Technologies Co, China's premier telecommunications equipment firm.

Mnuchin told Reuters that the Huawei sanctions were "completely separate" from the US-China trade dispute.

China central banker meeting

Earlier, Mnuchin said at a news briefing that the Osaka meeting, yet to be confirmed by the Chinese side, was where the "main progress" could be made towards reviving talks to end the US-China trade conflict.

Mnuchin downplayed expectations for a meeting expected on Sunday with People's Bank of China Governor Yi Gang on the sidelines of a G20 finance leaders meeting in Fukuoka, Japan.

The US Treasury chief said that while he would discuss trade issues with Yi, "this is not a negotiating meeting."

The Trump administration was comfortable with any outcome from the negotiations, Mnuchin said, adding that more tariffs would encourage companies to move their operations out of China.

"If we can get the right agreement, that's great. If we can't get the right agreement, we will proceed with tariffs," Mnuchin said.

Mnuchin said the United States and China were about 90 per cent of the way toward reaching "an historic agreement" before China backtracked on certain commitments. He said that if China wants to resume the negotiations on the basis of the texts prior to an early May breakdown of talks, the US side is ready to engage.

Mnuchin said that the United States wants free, fair and balanced trade with China, in part to close a gaping US trade deficit with China.

"If we can't have that, the end result will be that my expectation is that many companies will move their production out of China to other locations," due to tariffs, Mnuchin said.

Mnuchin also said that the Treasury was watching China's currency markets closely for signs of intervention, saying that the markets may have become accustomed to central bank support for the yuan.

If that support is suddenly withdrawn, "the market could view that as a desire to have the currency weaken," he said, declining to comment when asked whether he thought China was deliberately trying to weaken its currency.

A highly anticipated late June meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping has some parallels with their Buenos Aires summit last December that postponed a tariff hike, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Saturday.

A highly anticipated late June meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping has some parallels with their Buenos Aires summit last December that postponed a tariff hike, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Saturday. Mnuchin told Reuters in an interview that the US-China trade dispute was at a similar point in December 2018, when Trump and Xi met on the sidelines of a G20 summit, with a US tariff increase about to kick in on hundreds of billions of dollars in Chinese goods. As this year's June 28-29 G20 summit in Osaka, Japan approaches, Trump is preparing to launch 25 per cent tariffs on virtually all Chinese imports so far untouched by the two countries' tariff war, a $300 billion list of consumer goods including cell phones, computers and clothing. "As it relates to the higher tariffs, if you just recall where we were in Buenos Aires, they were going to go up," Mnuchin said. "They were scheduled to go up, and as a result of that meeting, the president agreed not to raise them while we were negotiating," Mnuchin said. Asked whether he thought a similar outcome would result from the meeting in Osaka - Trump agreeing to forestall the tariffs while negotiations resume - Mnuchin said, "That's the president's decision." Trump said on Thursday in France that he will decide whether to proceed with the tariffs after the meeting with Xi. The Buenos Aires summit paved the way for five months of talks aimed at ending a festering trade war between the world's two largest economies. But these talks broke down in early May, and no face-to-face meetings have been held since May 10, the day that Trump sharply increased tariffs on a $200 billion list of Chinese goods to 25 per cent - the increase that he delayed after the Buenos Aires meeting. Since then, acrimonious rhetoric and trade threats between Beijing and Washington have steadily increased, especially after the United States imposed severe sanctions against Huawei Technologies Co, China's premier telecommunications equipment firm. Mnuchin told Reuters that the Huawei sanctions were "completely separate" from the US-China trade dispute. China central banker meeting Earlier, Mnuchin said at a news briefing that the Osaka meeting, yet to be confirmed by the Chinese side, was where the "main progress" could be made towards reviving talks to end the US-China trade conflict. Mnuchin downplayed expectations for a meeting expected on Sunday with People's Bank of China Governor Yi Gang on the sidelines of a G20 finance leaders meeting in Fukuoka, Japan. The US Treasury chief said that while he would discuss trade issues with Yi, "this is not a negotiating meeting." The Trump administration was comfortable with any outcome from the negotiations, Mnuchin said, adding that more tariffs would encourage companies to move their operations out of China. "If we can get the right agreement, that's great. If we can't get the right agreement, we will proceed with tariffs," Mnuchin said. Mnuchin said the United States and China were about 90 per cent of the way toward reaching "an historic agreement" before China backtracked on certain commitments. He said that if China wants to resume the negotiations on the basis of the texts prior to an early May breakdown of talks, the US side is ready to engage. Mnuchin said that the United States wants free, fair and balanced trade with China, in part to close a gaping US trade deficit with China. "If we can't have that, the end result will be that my expectation is that many companies will move their production out of China to other locations," due to tariffs, Mnuchin said. Mnuchin also said that the Treasury was watching China's currency markets closely for signs of intervention, saying that the markets may have become accustomed to central bank support for the yuan. If that support is suddenly withdrawn, "the market could view that as a desire to have the currency weaken," he said, declining to comment when asked whether he thought China was deliberately trying to weaken its currency.

US Treasury's Mnuchin says Trump-Xi meeting has parallels to Buenos Aires summit

On Saturday, at the busiest crossing point along Mexico`s porous southern border with Guatemala, evidence of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-immigration-deal-will-work-if-mexico-plays-its-part-225505">Mexico`s promised crackdown</a> on waves of new arrivals trying to reach the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-reaches-deal-with-us-on-migration-averting-tariff-war-trump-225346">United States </a>was nowhere to be seen.

Within sight of a bridge connecting Mexico to Guatemala, a fleet of about 16 rafts carried migrants hoping to escape poverty and gang-related violence in Central America.

A few police appeared briefly at dawn on the Mexican shore, people said, but they vanished as fast. Nothing else outwardly changed despite a deal struck in Washington on Friday in which Mexico vowed to stem the northern flow of migrants with a crackdown on illegal crossings across the Guatemala border.

The travellers, often exploited by cross-border guides called "coyotes" and security forces out to make a buck, said the business of illegal immigration was unaltered by the deal in Washington.&nbsp;

Over the past few months, Mexico has stepped up efforts to stem the flow of immigrants. In May, authorities detained nearly 23,000 migrants, triple the number in January and about twice the monthly average in the first five months of last year.

However, most of that activity has taken place further from the border between Chiapas state and Guatemala. On Friday, negotiators agreed to send up to 6,000 members of the National Guard security force into Chiapas after Trump`s calls for Mexico to secure the frontier.&nbsp;

Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said that deployment would start on Monday. For now, the decades` old business of ferrying people across the river to dodge usual passport controls has not been interrupted.

Another common practice that undermines Mexico`s efforts is corruption among low-paid police forces.

Seven Salvadorians and Hondurans who said they crossed the river by raft on Friday at dawn told Reuters that Chiapas state police officers had pulled them out of small public buses on their way to the Mexican border town of Tapachula where they were heading to seek papers.

"They took 100 Mexican pesos ($5) from me, 200 from him, about 1,000 altogether between us - and that other family," said Jaime Mejia, 44, a Salvadoran pastor, squatting on a Tapachula sidewalk, nodding down the block at clutches of bedraggled men, women and children perched among bags and bundles.

The toll paid to the police, he said, left the group without money to pay for lodging. Chiapas security officials and Mexico`s interior ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mejia said he fled the town of La Libertad, El Salvador, after members of the country`s dominant gang, MS-13, told him to surrender his church to them to stash their weapons and drugs.&nbsp;

Asked about the immigration talks between the Trump and Lopez Obrador governments that could decide their fate, Mejia and more than 20 other migrants who spoke with Reuters on Friday and Saturday shrugged, shook their heads and looked blankly.

Friday`s deal averted a US-Mexico tariff war, with Mexico also agreeing to expand asylum programs. President Donald Trump had threatened to impose 5% import tariffs on all Mexican goods starting on Monday if Mexico did not commit to do more to tighten its borders.

Tapachula, a first stop for many migrants on their journey north, was overflowing with migrants, from Central America, Cuba and elsewhere.

After the shakedown by police, Mejia and his group headed to the city`s office of the Mexican refugee agency to apply for asylum in Mexico. Each one was given a number to reappear days later for an interview, Mejia said.&nbsp;

But they found that the migration shelters -only three in town - were overflowing. With no money left, they had to bed down in the street.

Olga Sanchez, head of the Jesus El Buen Pastor migrant shelter, said she had been caring for about 700 people since about November. Among those at the shelter were about 200 children.

On Saturday, at the busiest crossing point along Mexico`s porous southern border with Guatemala, evidence of Mexico`s promised crackdown on waves of new arrivals trying to reach the United States was nowhere to be seen.

On Saturday, at the busiest crossing point along Mexico`s porous southern border with Guatemala, evidence of Mexico`s promised crackdown on waves of new arrivals trying to reach the United States was nowhere to be seen. Within sight of a bridge connecting Mexico to Guatemala, a fleet of about 16 rafts carried migrants hoping to escape poverty and gang-related violence in Central America. A few police appeared briefly at dawn on the Mexican shore, people said, but they vanished as fast. Nothing else outwardly changed despite a deal struck in Washington on Friday in which Mexico vowed to stem the northern flow of migrants with a crackdown on illegal crossings across the Guatemala border. The travellers, often exploited by cross-border guides called "coyotes" and security forces out to make a buck, said the business of illegal immigration was unaltered by the deal in Washington. Over the past few months, Mexico has stepped up efforts to stem the flow of immigrants. In May, authorities detained nearly 23,000 migrants, triple the number in January and about twice the monthly average in the first five months of last year. However, most of that activity has taken place further from the border between Chiapas state and Guatemala. On Friday, negotiators agreed to send up to 6,000 members of the National Guard security force into Chiapas after Trump`s calls for Mexico to secure the frontier. Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said that deployment would start on Monday. For now, the decades` old business of ferrying people across the river to dodge usual passport controls has not been interrupted. Another common practice that undermines Mexico`s efforts is corruption among low-paid police forces. Seven Salvadorians and Hondurans who said they crossed the river by raft on Friday at dawn told Reuters that Chiapas state police officers had pulled them out of small public buses on their way to the Mexican border town of Tapachula where they were heading to seek papers. "They took 100 Mexican pesos ($5) from me, 200 from him, about 1,000 altogether between us - and that other family," said Jaime Mejia, 44, a Salvadoran pastor, squatting on a Tapachula sidewalk, nodding down the block at clutches of bedraggled men, women and children perched among bags and bundles. The toll paid to the police, he said, left the group without money to pay for lodging. Chiapas security officials and Mexico`s interior ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mejia said he fled the town of La Libertad, El Salvador, after members of the country`s dominant gang, MS-13, told him to surrender his church to them to stash their weapons and drugs. Asked about the immigration talks between the Trump and Lopez Obrador governments that could decide their fate, Mejia and more than 20 other migrants who spoke with Reuters on Friday and Saturday shrugged, shook their heads and looked blankly. Friday`s deal averted a US-Mexico tariff war, with Mexico also agreeing to expand asylum programs. President Donald Trump had threatened to impose 5% import tariffs on all Mexican goods starting on Monday if Mexico did not commit to do more to tighten its borders. Tapachula, a first stop for many migrants on their journey north, was overflowing with migrants, from Central America, Cuba and elsewhere. After the shakedown by police, Mejia and his group headed to the city`s office of the Mexican refugee agency to apply for asylum in Mexico. Each one was given a number to reappear days later for an interview, Mejia said. But they found that the migration shelters -only three in town - were overflowing. With no money left, they had to bed down in the street. Olga Sanchez, head of the Jesus El Buen Pastor migrant shelter, said she had been caring for about 700 people since about November. Among those at the shelter were about 200 children.

It's business as usual at Mexico's southern border despite Trump deal

US President Donald Trump on Friday criticised&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nasa-releases-images-of-power-situation-after-fani-217238">NASA</a>&nbsp;for aiming to put astronauts back on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/moon-is-steadily-shrinking-causing-wrinkling-on-its-surface-and-quakes-study-218513">moon</a> by 2024 and urged the space agency to focus instead on "much bigger" initiatives like going to Mars, undercutting his previous support for the lunar initiative.

"For all of the money we are spending,&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;should NOT be talking about going to the Moon - We did that 50 years ago," the president wrote on Twitter. "They should be focused on the much bigger things we are doing, including Mars (of which the Moon is a part), Defence and Science!"

Trump's statement, tweeted from Air Force One as he returned from Europe, appeared at odds with his administration's recent push to return humans to the lunar surface by 2024 "by any means necessary," five years sooner than the previous goal of 2028.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasa-to-open-international-space-station-to-tourists-from-2020-225333">NASA to open International Space Station to tourists from 2020</a>

NASA&nbsp;plans to build a space outpost in lunar orbit that can relay astronauts to the lunar surface by 2024, part of a broader initiative to use the moon as a staging ground for eventual missions to Mars.&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;administrator Jim Bridenstine said Trump was only reaffirmingNASA's space plan.

"As @POTUS said, @NASA&nbsp;is using the Moon to send humans to Mars!,” he said on Friday in a tweet referring to the President of the United States. The accelerated timetable to land humans on the moon by 2024 ran into early trouble when the Trump administration asked a sceptical Congress in May to increase&nbsp;NASA's 2020 budget proposal by $1.6 billion as a “down payment” to accommodate the accelerated goal.

The accelerated timetable for going to the moon was a key recommendation in March of the new National Space Council led by Vice President Mike Pence.

Watch: The Moon is shrinking due to earthquakes, claims study

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'Sustainable human presence'

NASA's website on Friday said the Artemis program would send "the first woman and the next man to the Moon by 2024 and develop a sustainable human presence on the Moon by 2028." The program takes its name from the twin sister of Apollo and the goddess of the moon in Greek mythology.

NASA's Apollo program landed the first men on the moon 50 years ago on July 20.

The&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;website also provided details on the space agency's plans for making the moon a jumping off point for future missions to Mars and a place to test equipment and technology for other forays out into the solar system.

Trump's comments about the US&nbsp;manned space program reflect his desire to champion a bold new national objective as he mounts a re-election bid, while also seeking to counter the potential space weaponry capabilities of Russia and China.

Private companies are also joining the race to the moon.

Billionaire entrepreneur Jeff Bezos last month unveiled a mock-up of a lunar lander being built by his Blue Origin rocket company and touted his moon goals as part of a strategy aimed at capitalizing on the Trump administration’s push to establish a lunar outpost in just five years.

US President Donald Trump on Friday criticised NASA for aiming to put astronauts back on the moon by 2024 and urged the space agency to focus instead on "much bigger" initiatives like going to Mars, undercutting his previous support for the lunar initiative.

US President Donald Trump on Friday criticised NASA for aiming to put astronauts back on the moon by 2024 and urged the space agency to focus instead on "much bigger" initiatives like going to Mars, undercutting his previous support for the lunar initiative. "For all of the money we are spending, NASA should NOT be talking about going to the Moon - We did that 50 years ago," the president wrote on Twitter. "They should be focused on the much bigger things we are doing, including Mars (of which the Moon is a part), Defence and Science!" Trump's statement, tweeted from Air Force One as he returned from Europe, appeared at odds with his administration's recent push to return humans to the lunar surface by 2024 "by any means necessary," five years sooner than the previous goal of 2028. Also read: NASA to open International Space Station to tourists from 2020 NASA plans to build a space outpost in lunar orbit that can relay astronauts to the lunar surface by 2024, part of a broader initiative to use the moon as a staging ground for eventual missions to Mars. NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said Trump was only reaffirmingNASA's space plan. "As @POTUS said, @NASA is using the Moon to send humans to Mars!,” he said on Friday in a tweet referring to the President of the United States. The accelerated timetable to land humans on the moon by 2024 ran into early trouble when the Trump administration asked a sceptical Congress in May to increase NASA's 2020 budget proposal by $1.6 billion as a “down payment” to accommodate the accelerated goal. The accelerated timetable for going to the moon was a key recommendation in March of the new National Space Council led by Vice President Mike Pence. Watch: The Moon is shrinking due to earthquakes, claims study × 'Sustainable human presence' NASA's website on Friday said the Artemis program would send "the first woman and the next man to the Moon by 2024 and develop a sustainable human presence on the Moon by 2028." The program takes its name from the twin sister of Apollo and the goddess of the moon in Greek mythology. NASA's Apollo program landed the first men on the moon 50 years ago on July 20. The NASA website also provided details on the space agency's plans for making the moon a jumping off point for future missions to Mars and a place to test equipment and technology for other forays out into the solar system. Trump's comments about the US manned space program reflect his desire to champion a bold new national objective as he mounts a re-election bid, while also seeking to counter the potential space weaponry capabilities of Russia and China. Private companies are also joining the race to the moon. Billionaire entrepreneur Jeff Bezos last month unveiled a mock-up of a lunar lander being built by his Blue Origin rocket company and touted his moon goals as part of a strategy aimed at capitalizing on the Trump administration’s push to establish a lunar outpost in just five years.

'They should be focused on much bigger things!' Trump criticises NASA moon mission

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-reaches-deal-with-us-on-migration-averting-tariff-war-trump-225346">Mexico reaches deal with US on migration, averts tariff war: Trump</a> 
 
'Mexico, in turn, has agreed to take strong measures to stem the tide of Migration through Mexico, and to our Southern Border. This is being done to greatly reduce, or eliminate, Illegal Immigration coming from Mexico and into the United States,'' Trump added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-arrives-in-kochi-will-visit-guruvayur-temple-in-thrissur-225348">PM Modi to offer prayers at Guruvayur temple in Thrissur ahead of his visit to Maldives and Sri Lanka</a> 
 
The foreign engagements will be the first to be undertaken by him after coming back to power for a second term as Prime Minister.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeing-delayed-fix-of-defective-737-max-warning-light-for-three-years-us-lawmakers-225351">Boeing delayed fix of defective 737 MAX warning light for three years: US lawmakers</a> 
 
Those crashes, which killed 346 people, have triggered investigations by aviation regulators and US lawmakers and left Chicago-based Boeing facing one of the biggest crises in its more than 100-year history.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/west-bengal-fire-breaks-out-near-kolkatas-howrah-bridge-20-fire-tenders-at-spot-225353">West Bengal: Fire breaks out near Kolkata's Howrah Bridge, 20 fire tenders at spot</a> 
 
More details are awaited; no loss of life or any word on people injured has been reported yet.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-encounter-underway-between-security-forces-terrorists-in-anantnag-225349">Jammu and Kashmir: Encounter underway between security forces, terrorists in Anantnag</a>

This comes a day after terrorists hurled a grenade at a police station in Sopore area of Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district on Friday.

Mexico reaches deal with US on migration, averts tariff war: Trump 'Mexico, in turn, has agreed to take strong measures to stem the tide of Migration through Mexico, and to our Southern Border.

Mexico reaches deal with US on migration, averts tariff war: Trump 'Mexico, in turn, has agreed to take strong measures to stem the tide of Migration through Mexico, and to our Southern Border. This is being done to greatly reduce, or eliminate, Illegal Immigration coming from Mexico and into the United States,'' Trump added. PM Modi to offer prayers at Guruvayur temple in Thrissur ahead of his visit to Maldives and Sri Lanka The foreign engagements will be the first to be undertaken by him after coming back to power for a second term as Prime Minister. Boeing delayed fix of defective 737 MAX warning light for three years: US lawmakers Those crashes, which killed 346 people, have triggered investigations by aviation regulators and US lawmakers and left Chicago-based Boeing facing one of the biggest crises in its more than 100-year history. West Bengal: Fire breaks out near Kolkata's Howrah Bridge, 20 fire tenders at spot More details are awaited; no loss of life or any word on people injured has been reported yet. Jammu and Kashmir: Encounter underway between security forces, terrorists in Anantnag This comes a day after terrorists hurled a grenade at a police station in Sopore area of Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district on Friday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-mulling-over-declaring-new-emergency-for-imposing-tariffs-on-mexico-225116">US President Donald Trump</a> said on Friday Mexico`s government had reached a deal with the United States to avert a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-adviser-influential-senator-cast-doubt-on-mexico-tariffs-224742">tariff war </a>by pledging to take "strong measures" to contain migration of mostly Central Americans crossing the southern US border.

Trump had threatened to impose 5 per cent&nbsp;import tariffs on all Mexican goods from Monday if Mexico did not agree to his demands to tighten its borders, and his announcement of a deal came after three days of Mexico-US&nbsp;negotiations in Washington.

"The Tariffs scheduled to be implemented by the US on Monday, against Mexico, are hereby indefinitely suspended," Trump said on Twitter on Friday evening.

"Mexico, in turn, has agreed to take strong measures to stem the tide of Migration through Mexico, and to our Southern Border. This is being done to greatly reduce, or eliminate, Illegal Immigration coming from Mexico and into the United States," Trump added.

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I am pleased to inform you that The United States of America has reached a signed agreement with Mexico. The Tariffs scheduled to be implemented by the U.S. on Monday, against Mexico, are hereby indefinitely suspended. Mexico, in turn, has agreed to take strong measures to....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1137155056044826626?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2019</a></blockquote>
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....stem the tide of Migration through Mexico, and to our Southern Border. This is being done to greatly reduce, or eliminate, Illegal Immigration coming from Mexico and into the United States. Details of the agreement will be released shortly by the State Department. Thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1137155057667989511?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Details of the agreement would be released shortly by the USState Department, Trump said.

US border officers apprehended more than 132,000 people crossing from Mexico in May, the highest monthly level since 2006, and Trump, who has railed against what he describes as an "invasion," had threatened to impose levies rising to 25 per cent&nbsp;unless Mexico addressed the problem.

Mexico made concessions during the talks, offering to send 6,000 troops to its southern border with Guatemala, but has also said it wants to see a long-term solution that would involve economic development aid.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday Mexico`s government had reached a deal with the United States to avert a tariff war by pledging to take "strong measures" to contain migration of mostly Central Americans crossing the southern US border.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday Mexico`s government had reached a deal with the United States to avert a tariff war by pledging to take "strong measures" to contain migration of mostly Central Americans crossing the southern US border. Trump had threatened to impose 5 per cent import tariffs on all Mexican goods from Monday if Mexico did not agree to his demands to tighten its borders, and his announcement of a deal came after three days of Mexico-US negotiations in Washington. "The Tariffs scheduled to be implemented by the US on Monday, against Mexico, are hereby indefinitely suspended," Trump said on Twitter on Friday evening. "Mexico, in turn, has agreed to take strong measures to stem the tide of Migration through Mexico, and to our Southern Border. This is being done to greatly reduce, or eliminate, Illegal Immigration coming from Mexico and into the United States," Trump added. I am pleased to inform you that The United States of America has reached a signed agreement with Mexico. The Tariffs scheduled to be implemented by the U.S. on Monday, against Mexico, are hereby indefinitely suspended. Mexico, in turn, has agreed to take strong measures to.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 8, 2019 × ....stem the tide of Migration through Mexico, and to our Southern Border. This is being done to greatly reduce, or eliminate, Illegal Immigration coming from Mexico and into the United States. Details of the agreement will be released shortly by the State Department. Thank you! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 8, 2019 × Details of the agreement would be released shortly by the USState Department, Trump said. US border officers apprehended more than 132,000 people crossing from Mexico in May, the highest monthly level since 2006, and Trump, who has railed against what he describes as an "invasion," had threatened to impose levies rising to 25 per cent unless Mexico addressed the problem. Mexico made concessions during the talks, offering to send 6,000 troops to its southern border with Guatemala, but has also said it wants to see a long-term solution that would involve economic development aid.

Mexico reaches deal with US on migration, averts tariff war: Trump

The Joe Biden Express to the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination went a bit off track this week.

Since Biden joined the race in April, his campaign has worked to craft an aura of inevitability around the former vice president’s bid. Biden has engaged President Donald Trump more often than his Democratic rivals, while speaking in broad, thematic outlines rather pinpointing policy.

To a large extent, the strategy has succeeded. Biden enjoys a comfortable lead over his 23 competitors - drawing 31% of support from Democratic and independent voters compared to the 14% received by second-place US Senator Bernie Sanders in the Reuters/Ipsos poll this week - and remains the favourite to battle Trump in the November 2020 election.

But as Biden increasingly has to stake out policy positions, he finds himself under fire from progressives in the party — and has shown a willingness to bow to demands that could hurt him with more moderate voters.

Facing intense criticism from liberals and abortion-rights groups, Biden on Thursday suddenly reversed himself on the Hyde Amendment, a law that prohibits federal funds for most abortions. After 40 years of supporting the measure, Biden, a Roman Catholic, announced at an event in Atlanta that he now opposed it.

Earlier this week, Biden rolled out a climate-change plan that was more ambitious and far-reaching than many expected. It came after weeks of progressives openly fretting that his plan would seek some sort of “middle ground” in an attempt to mollify labour unions and other industry groups concerned about the economic impact of a massive shift away from fossil fuels.&nbsp;

In both cases, Biden was not necessarily speaking to his loyal base of supporters, the largely middle-aged and middle-of-the-road voters - many of them union members - who came out to see him in New Hampshire this week.

Instead, he was courting the groups he needs to consolidate his grip on the nomination: the activists, progressives and millennials who right now have the louder voices in the party.

Biden’s chief antagonist has been Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the first-term congresswoman from New York who is not running for president but who commands a fervent following on social media. She called out Biden on both his climate and abortion positions.&nbsp;

Shifts draws scrutiny

Biden also is being knocked around more by his fellow Democratic candidates, who finally were given an opening to distinguish themselves from the front-runner on an issue key to the party`s base. His past support of the Hyde Amendment was blasted by Senators Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren, among others.&nbsp;

Biden added to the confusion about where he stands on the issue during the event in Atlanta by saying he would make “no apologies for my last position” on the amendment.&nbsp;

While he cited aggressive anti-abortion laws passed in states such as Georgia for his shift, his language fuelled outrage among progressive women on Twitter who argued the law had prevented poor women from obtaining abortions for decades.&nbsp;

Campaign aides for Trump`s reelection told Reuters last month they expected Biden to be pulled leftward as the Democratic primary progressed, and they were prepared to exploit that should it occur.

On the campaign trail, Biden at times appears caught between a lifetime of centrist and often bipartisan policymaking and the pull of the progressive tide.&nbsp;

At an event on Tuesday in Concord, New Hampshire, he continued to defend the 1994 crime bill he helped craft as a senator that has been criticized by Harris and other candidates for resulting in the disproportionate jailing of African-Americans.&nbsp;

“You’ve been conditioned to say it’s a bad bill,” he told a questioner, a young woman who called herself a “civil liberties voter.”&nbsp;

Unlike several other Democratic candidates who have already called for the US House of Representatives to initiate an impeachment inquiry against Trump, Biden has held back, saying that it should only happen if Trump continues to stonewall committee probes.

“It’s a gigantic distraction from things we should be focusing on getting done,” he said.

It remains to be seen whether Biden has suffered any damage from tacking leftward on some issues.

Some voters in New Hampshire made clear they did not want Biden to cater to the party progressives.&nbsp;

“I honestly think the progressives are in many ways hijacking the Democratic Party. The 60 or 70 per cent of us who are in the middle get left out of the mix,” said Jeff Brown, 57, of Weare, New Hampshire. “And I think the vice president hears our voices, and I think he’s the one who is&nbsp;

The Joe Biden Express to the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination went a bit off track this week. Since Biden joined the race in April, his campaign has worked to craft an aura of inevitability around the former vice president’s bid.

The Joe Biden Express to the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination went a bit off track this week. Since Biden joined the race in April, his campaign has worked to craft an aura of inevitability around the former vice president’s bid. Biden has engaged President Donald Trump more often than his Democratic rivals, while speaking in broad, thematic outlines rather pinpointing policy. To a large extent, the strategy has succeeded. Biden enjoys a comfortable lead over his 23 competitors - drawing 31% of support from Democratic and independent voters compared to the 14% received by second-place US Senator Bernie Sanders in the Reuters/Ipsos poll this week - and remains the favourite to battle Trump in the November 2020 election. But as Biden increasingly has to stake out policy positions, he finds himself under fire from progressives in the party — and has shown a willingness to bow to demands that could hurt him with more moderate voters. Facing intense criticism from liberals and abortion-rights groups, Biden on Thursday suddenly reversed himself on the Hyde Amendment, a law that prohibits federal funds for most abortions. After 40 years of supporting the measure, Biden, a Roman Catholic, announced at an event in Atlanta that he now opposed it. Earlier this week, Biden rolled out a climate-change plan that was more ambitious and far-reaching than many expected. It came after weeks of progressives openly fretting that his plan would seek some sort of “middle ground” in an attempt to mollify labour unions and other industry groups concerned about the economic impact of a massive shift away from fossil fuels. In both cases, Biden was not necessarily speaking to his loyal base of supporters, the largely middle-aged and middle-of-the-road voters - many of them union members - who came out to see him in New Hampshire this week. Instead, he was courting the groups he needs to consolidate his grip on the nomination: the activists, progressives and millennials who right now have the louder voices in the party. Biden’s chief antagonist has been Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the first-term congresswoman from New York who is not running for president but who commands a fervent following on social media. She called out Biden on both his climate and abortion positions. Shifts draws scrutiny Biden also is being knocked around more by his fellow Democratic candidates, who finally were given an opening to distinguish themselves from the front-runner on an issue key to the party`s base. His past support of the Hyde Amendment was blasted by Senators Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren, among others. Biden added to the confusion about where he stands on the issue during the event in Atlanta by saying he would make “no apologies for my last position” on the amendment. While he cited aggressive anti-abortion laws passed in states such as Georgia for his shift, his language fuelled outrage among progressive women on Twitter who argued the law had prevented poor women from obtaining abortions for decades. Campaign aides for Trump`s reelection told Reuters last month they expected Biden to be pulled leftward as the Democratic primary progressed, and they were prepared to exploit that should it occur. On the campaign trail, Biden at times appears caught between a lifetime of centrist and often bipartisan policymaking and the pull of the progressive tide. At an event on Tuesday in Concord, New Hampshire, he continued to defend the 1994 crime bill he helped craft as a senator that has been criticized by Harris and other candidates for resulting in the disproportionate jailing of African-Americans. “You’ve been conditioned to say it’s a bad bill,” he told a questioner, a young woman who called herself a “civil liberties voter.” Unlike several other Democratic candidates who have already called for the US House of Representatives to initiate an impeachment inquiry against Trump, Biden has held back, saying that it should only happen if Trump continues to stonewall committee probes. “It’s a gigantic distraction from things we should be focusing on getting done,” he said. It remains to be seen whether Biden has suffered any damage from tacking leftward on some issues. Some voters in New Hampshire made clear they did not want Biden to cater to the party progressives. “I honestly think the progressives are in many ways hijacking the Democratic Party. The 60 or 70 per cent of us who are in the middle get left out of the mix,” said Jeff Brown, 57, of Weare, New Hampshire. “And I think the vice president hears our voices, and I think he’s the one who is

Under pressure, Biden drifts leftward on abortion, climate change

In talks with the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-mulling-over-declaring-new-emergency-for-imposing-tariffs-on-mexico-225116">United States</a>, Mexico has offered to send up to 6,000 members of its national guard to secure its southern border with Guatemala in order <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-eyes-steps-to-cut-immigrant-flows-to-us-border-official-223382">to contain migrant flows</a>, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

The news was first reported by the Washington Post.

Mexico has sent a delegation of officials to Washington to try to avert US President Donald Trump`s threats to impose import tariffs on Mexican goods if the country does not do more to halt the flow of migrants to the United States.

During the talks, the United States proposed deporting undocumented Guatemalan migrants to Mexico as part of a deal, but there has been no agreement on this point, according to a Mexican source familiar with the process.&nbsp;

In talks with the United States, Mexico has offered to send up to 6,000 members of its national guard to secure its southern border with Guatemala in order to contain migrant flows, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

In talks with the United States, Mexico has offered to send up to 6,000 members of its national guard to secure its southern border with Guatemala in order to contain migrant flows, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. The news was first reported by the Washington Post. Mexico has sent a delegation of officials to Washington to try to avert US President Donald Trump`s threats to impose import tariffs on Mexican goods if the country does not do more to halt the flow of migrants to the United States. During the talks, the United States proposed deporting undocumented Guatemalan migrants to Mexico as part of a deal, but there has been no agreement on this point, according to a Mexican source familiar with the process.

Mexico offers to send national guard to Guatemala to stem migration: Sources

United States President Donald Trump is planning to declare a national emergency for<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-hopes-to-reach-migration-deal-with-the-united-states-as-tariffs-loom-223935"> slapping new tariffs on Mexico </a>over the flow of migrants into his country, according to a draft document.

The new emergency is necessary due to "the failure of the Government of Mexico to take effective action to reduce the mass migration of aliens illegally crossing into the United States through Mexico," the document said.

Last week, Trump had threatened to impose a five per cent tariff on all Mexican goods, which would increase by another five per cent every month and ultimately reach 25 per cent by October, The Hill reported.

"The United States Government has repeatedly asked the Government of Mexico to take responsibility and help reduce this mass migration. Yet the Government of Mexico has failed to take sufficient action to alleviate this problem, has allowed this mass incursion to increase, and has failed to secure its own southern border," the draft document said.

Representatives of the US and Mexico on Wednesday failed to reach an agreement on the immigration issue during high-stakes negotiations held at the White House.

Shortly after the meeting, Trump had tweeted to inform that "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-nearly-enough-progress-made-in-immigration-talks-with-mexico-trump-224814">not nearly enough</a>" progress was made in the negotiations, and reiterated that in case no agreement is reached between the two sides, the tariffs would begin on Monday "as per schedule."

The US President had said that he would carry out his threat under authority from the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and he would lift tariffs only "if the illegal migration crisis is alleviated through effective actions taken by Mexico".

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the US` position has not changed, adding that tariffs will be imposed next week as announced.

"Position has not changed, and we are still moving forward with tariffs at this time," she said in an e-mail statement.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that there`s an influx of drugs and criminals from US` southern border with Mexico. He has used these claims to justify and press for the construction of a wall along the US-Mexico border.&nbsp;

United States President Donald Trump is planning to declare a national emergency for slapping new tariffs on Mexico over the flow of migrants into his country, according to a draft document.

United States President Donald Trump is planning to declare a national emergency for slapping new tariffs on Mexico over the flow of migrants into his country, according to a draft document. The new emergency is necessary due to "the failure of the Government of Mexico to take effective action to reduce the mass migration of aliens illegally crossing into the United States through Mexico," the document said. Last week, Trump had threatened to impose a five per cent tariff on all Mexican goods, which would increase by another five per cent every month and ultimately reach 25 per cent by October, The Hill reported. "The United States Government has repeatedly asked the Government of Mexico to take responsibility and help reduce this mass migration. Yet the Government of Mexico has failed to take sufficient action to alleviate this problem, has allowed this mass incursion to increase, and has failed to secure its own southern border," the draft document said. Representatives of the US and Mexico on Wednesday failed to reach an agreement on the immigration issue during high-stakes negotiations held at the White House. Shortly after the meeting, Trump had tweeted to inform that "not nearly enough" progress was made in the negotiations, and reiterated that in case no agreement is reached between the two sides, the tariffs would begin on Monday "as per schedule." The US President had said that he would carry out his threat under authority from the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and he would lift tariffs only "if the illegal migration crisis is alleviated through effective actions taken by Mexico". Meanwhile, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the US` position has not changed, adding that tariffs will be imposed next week as announced. "Position has not changed, and we are still moving forward with tariffs at this time," she said in an e-mail statement. Trump has repeatedly claimed that there`s an influx of drugs and criminals from US` southern border with Mexico. He has used these claims to justify and press for the construction of a wall along the US-Mexico border.

Trump mulling over declaring 'new emergency' for imposing tariffs on Mexico

US President Donald Trump on Thursday gave his views on both US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Special Counsel Robert Mueller shortly before attending a ceremony to mark the 75th WWII anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France.

"I think she's a disgrace... She's a nasty, vindictive, horrible person," Trump told the Fox News Channel during a taped interview at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer shortly before the commemorations began.

Pelosi is under pressure from some Democrats to begin impeachment of Trump, who last week called impeachment "a dirty, filthy, disgusting word."

Trump also said Mueller, who oversaw a much-anticipated probe into Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election, had made a "such a fool out of himself."

Last week, Mueller made his first public comments since starting the investigation in May 2017, saying his probe was never going to end with criminal charges against Trump but he did not clear the Republican president and indicated it was up to Congress to decide whether he should be impeached

US President Donald Trump on Thursday gave his views on both US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Special Counsel Robert Mueller shortly before attending a ceremony to mark the 75th WWII anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday gave his views on both US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Special Counsel Robert Mueller shortly before attending a ceremony to mark the 75th WWII anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France. "I think she's a disgrace... She's a nasty, vindictive, horrible person," Trump told the Fox News Channel during a taped interview at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer shortly before the commemorations began. Pelosi is under pressure from some Democrats to begin impeachment of Trump, who last week called impeachment "a dirty, filthy, disgusting word." Trump also said Mueller, who oversaw a much-anticipated probe into Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election, had made a "such a fool out of himself." Last week, Mueller made his first public comments since starting the investigation in May 2017, saying his probe was never going to end with criminal charges against Trump but he did not clear the Republican president and indicated it was up to Congress to decide whether he should be impeached

Mueller looks like a 'fool' and Pelosi is a 'disgrace': Trump in Normandy

US President Donald Trump who was on a<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-promises-uk-pm-theresa-may-very-substantial-trade-deal-after-brexit-224218"> three-day state visit to UK </a>told a British television channel that the United States right now is&nbsp;among countries with the "cleanest climate"&nbsp;while taking a dig at India, China and Russia claiming that they do not have "very good air, not very good water in the sense of pollution and cleanliness."

Trump had met Prince Charles&nbsp;as he discussed climate change with the US president. Trump told the British television channel in an interview that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-of-unites-states-welcomed-to-bukingham-palace-by-queen-elizabeth-223916">Queen Elizabeth II's son</a> dominated the conversation with climate talk.

"We were going to have a 15-minute chat. And it turned out to be an hour and a half. And he did most of the talking. He is really into climate change, and I think that’s great, I mean I want that, I like that," Trump said.

"He wants to have a world that is good for future generations and I want that to," the president added. "I did mention a couple of things, I did say, ‘Well the United States right now has among the cleanest climates there are, based on all statistics, and it’s even getting better'," Trump said.

During the interview, Trump added: “China, India, Russia, many other nations, they have not very good air, not very good water in the sense of pollution and cleanliness,” Trump said. “They don’t do the responsibility.”

"If you go to certain cities ...I am not gonna name these cities, but I can. If you go to certain cities, you can't even breathe."

“I believe that there’s a change in weather, and I think it changes both ways. Don’t forget, it used to be called global warming. That wasn’t working. Then it was called climate change. Now it’s actually called extreme weather -&nbsp;because with extreme weather, you can’t miss,” Trump said on the morning show.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump who was on a three-day state visit to UK told a British television channel that the United States right now is among countries with the "cleanest climate" while taking a dig at India, China and Russia claiming that they do not have "very good air, not very good water in the sense of pollution and cleanliness.

US President Donald Trump who was on a three-day state visit to UK told a British television channel that the United States right now is among countries with the "cleanest climate" while taking a dig at India, China and Russia claiming that they do not have "very good air, not very good water in the sense of pollution and cleanliness." Trump had met Prince Charles as he discussed climate change with the US president. Trump told the British television channel in an interview that Queen Elizabeth II's son dominated the conversation with climate talk. "We were going to have a 15-minute chat. And it turned out to be an hour and a half. And he did most of the talking. He is really into climate change, and I think that’s great, I mean I want that, I like that," Trump said. "He wants to have a world that is good for future generations and I want that to," the president added. "I did mention a couple of things, I did say, ‘Well the United States right now has among the cleanest climates there are, based on all statistics, and it’s even getting better'," Trump said. During the interview, Trump added: “China, India, Russia, many other nations, they have not very good air, not very good water in the sense of pollution and cleanliness,” Trump said. “They don’t do the responsibility.” "If you go to certain cities ...I am not gonna name these cities, but I can. If you go to certain cities, you can't even breathe." “I believe that there’s a change in weather, and I think it changes both ways. Don’t forget, it used to be called global warming. That wasn’t working. Then it was called climate change. Now it’s actually called extreme weather - because with extreme weather, you can’t miss,” Trump said on the morning show.

China, India, Russia do not have very good air, they are not very good with pollution and cleanliness: Trump

Downplaying North Korea`s warning that the United States must change the course of its negotiations before its patience runs out, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday was of the view that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-agreement-was-reached-at-trump-kim-summit-white-house-200203">Pyongyang desires to make a deal with Washington</a>.

"I think they would like to make a deal and we would like to make a deal," Trump told reporters here, adding that he looks forward to meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "at the appropriate time," CNN reports.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, a spokesperson for North Korea`s foreign ministry had in a statement urged the US to "drop its current way of calculation" to keep alive the agreement they reached during their first summit in June last year."

Whether the June 12 DPRK-U.S. Joint Statement will remain effective or turn out to be a mere blank sheet of paper will now be determined by how the US would respond to our fair and reasonable stand," Yonhap news agency quoted the spokesperson, as saying.

"The US should duly look back on the past one year and cogitate about which will be a correct strategic choice before it is too late. The US would be well-advised to change its current method of calculation and respond to our request as soon as possible. There is a limit to our patience," he added.

A similar call by North Korea was made in April when Kim had said that he would wait for Washington`s "courageous decision" until the end of this year.

Talks between the two countries hit a roadblock after the second summit in Vietnam ended abruptly with no joint statement being released. The two sides reportedly failed to resolve their differences on sanctions waivers.

North Korea has since launched multiple projectiles as a sign of their apparent frustration regarding the stalled talks and continuing sanctions.

Tensions between the two countries briefly heightened recently after the US seized one of its cargo ships on the suspicion of shipping coal and other goods in violation of global sanctions on the regime.&nbsp;

Downplaying North Korea`s warning that the United States must change the course of its negotiations before its patience runs out, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday was of the view that Pyongyang desires to make a deal with Washington.

Downplaying North Korea`s warning that the United States must change the course of its negotiations before its patience runs out, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday was of the view that Pyongyang desires to make a deal with Washington. "I think they would like to make a deal and we would like to make a deal," Trump told reporters here, adding that he looks forward to meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "at the appropriate time," CNN reports. On Tuesday, a spokesperson for North Korea`s foreign ministry had in a statement urged the US to "drop its current way of calculation" to keep alive the agreement they reached during their first summit in June last year." Whether the June 12 DPRK-U.S. Joint Statement will remain effective or turn out to be a mere blank sheet of paper will now be determined by how the US would respond to our fair and reasonable stand," Yonhap news agency quoted the spokesperson, as saying. "The US should duly look back on the past one year and cogitate about which will be a correct strategic choice before it is too late. The US would be well-advised to change its current method of calculation and respond to our request as soon as possible. There is a limit to our patience," he added. A similar call by North Korea was made in April when Kim had said that he would wait for Washington`s "courageous decision" until the end of this year. Talks between the two countries hit a roadblock after the second summit in Vietnam ended abruptly with no joint statement being released. The two sides reportedly failed to resolve their differences on sanctions waivers. North Korea has since launched multiple projectiles as a sign of their apparent frustration regarding the stalled talks and continuing sanctions. Tensions between the two countries briefly heightened recently after the US seized one of its cargo ships on the suspicion of shipping coal and other goods in violation of global sanctions on the regime.

Trump hopeful of deal with N Korea, hints at third summit with Kim

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-take-unprecedented-action-to-ensure-supply-of-rare-earths-critical-to-tech-military-us-224397">Will take unprecedented action to ensure supply of rare earths critical to tech, military: US</a>

The United States will take "unprecedented actions" to ensure the supply of strategic minerals and rare earth critical to the tech sector and the military, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Tuesday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-pm-imran-khan-announces-militarys-voluntary-cut-in-defence-expenditure-amid-financial-crisis-224402">Pak PM Imran Khan announces military's 'voluntary cut' in defence expenditure amid financial crisis</a>

Pakistan PM Imran Khan announced today that the country's military has decided on "unprecedented voluntary initiative of stringent cuts in its defence expenditures" due to the critical financial situation prevailing in the country.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-2019-virat-kohlis-india-begins-campaign-against-stunned-south-africa-224406">World Cup 2019: Virat Kohli's India begins campaign against 'stunned' South Africa</a>

Virat Kohli-led Team India will start their 2019 World Cup campaign against South Africa today at Southampton. &nbsp;All the participating teams have played at least one match in the ongoing edition and now the 'Men in Blue' will begin their quest to win the World Cup for the third time.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-may-limit-access-to-everest-after-mountaineering-deaths-224409">Nepal may limit access to Everest after mountaineering deaths</a>

Eleven people died during the climbing season that ended this week, as record numbers lined the route to the summit. Although overcrowding was blamed for at least four deaths, many say inexperience is a bigger killer.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/huawei-willing-to-sign-no-spy-agreement-with-us-government-chairman-224403">Huawei willing to sign 'no-spy agreement' with US government: Chairman Liang Hua</a>

In response to years of allegations by the United States and its allies that Huawei`s products could be accessed by Chinese Intelligence Agencies for spying, the company said on Tuesday that it is willing to sign a "no-spy agreement" with the US government if the opportunity opens up.

Will take unprecedented action to ensure supply of rare earths critical to tech, military: US The United States will take "unprecedented actions" to ensure the supply of strategic minerals and rare earth critical to the tech sector and the military, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Tuesday.

Will take unprecedented action to ensure supply of rare earths critical to tech, military: US The United States will take "unprecedented actions" to ensure the supply of strategic minerals and rare earth critical to the tech sector and the military, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Tuesday. Pak PM Imran Khan announces military's 'voluntary cut' in defence expenditure amid financial crisis Pakistan PM Imran Khan announced today that the country's military has decided on "unprecedented voluntary initiative of stringent cuts in its defence expenditures" due to the critical financial situation prevailing in the country. World Cup 2019: Virat Kohli's India begins campaign against 'stunned' South Africa Virat Kohli-led Team India will start their 2019 World Cup campaign against South Africa today at Southampton. All the participating teams have played at least one match in the ongoing edition and now the 'Men in Blue' will begin their quest to win the World Cup for the third time. Nepal may limit access to Everest after mountaineering deaths Eleven people died during the climbing season that ended this week, as record numbers lined the route to the summit. Although overcrowding was blamed for at least four deaths, many say inexperience is a bigger killer. Huawei willing to sign 'no-spy agreement' with US government: Chairman Liang Hua In response to years of allegations by the United States and its allies that Huawei`s products could be accessed by Chinese Intelligence Agencies for spying, the company said on Tuesday that it is willing to sign a "no-spy agreement" with the US government if the opportunity opens up.

Wartime generation is resilient! Queen Elizabeth, world leaders hail D-Day veterans on 75th anniversary

British Prime Minister Theresa May will call on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-calls-queen-elizabeth-a-great-great-woman-at-state-banquet-224027">US&nbsp;President Donald Trump</a> to deepen transatlantic economic cooperation on Tuesday, saying a bilateral trade deal could make their partnership "greater still".

Despite hosting Trump in the dying days of her premiership after her failure to deliver Brexit on time forced her to resign, May will also distance herself from the US&nbsp;leader on trade by championing "free, fair and open" markets.

At a meeting with 10 British and US&nbsp;businesses at St James' Palace, the Queen's official residence, May will tell companies such as defence contractor BAE Systems and pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline that greater cooperation would boost the two countries' economic partnership.

"It is a great partnership, but one I believe we can make greater still," she will say, according to advance extracts from her office.

"With a bilateral free trade agreement, with broader economic co-operation, and by continuing to work together to underpin, shape and influence the global economy and its rules and institutions - keeping markets free, fair and open, and keeping our industries competitive."

The discussions, which will also involve senior representatives from the National Grid, Barclays, consumer goods maker Reckitt Benckiser, JP Morgan, Lockheed Martin, Goldman Sachs International, construction company Bechtel and cybersecurity and data analytics firm Splunk, are expected to focus on research and development and on infrastructure investment.

The United States is by far Britain's biggest single trading partner, and for decades, the two shared a desire to open up world markets to free trade. But Trump has shaken trade and markets by putting tariffs on goods from the European Union, Canada, Mexico and China.

British Prime Minister Theresa May will call on US President Donald Trump to deepen transatlantic economic cooperation on Tuesday, saying a bilateral trade deal could make their partnership "greater still".

British Prime Minister Theresa May will call on US President Donald Trump to deepen transatlantic economic cooperation on Tuesday, saying a bilateral trade deal could make their partnership "greater still". Despite hosting Trump in the dying days of her premiership after her failure to deliver Brexit on time forced her to resign, May will also distance herself from the US leader on trade by championing "free, fair and open" markets. At a meeting with 10 British and US businesses at St James' Palace, the Queen's official residence, May will tell companies such as defence contractor BAE Systems and pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline that greater cooperation would boost the two countries' economic partnership. "It is a great partnership, but one I believe we can make greater still," she will say, according to advance extracts from her office. "With a bilateral free trade agreement, with broader economic co-operation, and by continuing to work together to underpin, shape and influence the global economy and its rules and institutions - keeping markets free, fair and open, and keeping our industries competitive." The discussions, which will also involve senior representatives from the National Grid, Barclays, consumer goods maker Reckitt Benckiser, JP Morgan, Lockheed Martin, Goldman Sachs International, construction company Bechtel and cybersecurity and data analytics firm Splunk, are expected to focus on research and development and on infrastructure investment. The United States is by far Britain's biggest single trading partner, and for decades, the two shared a desire to open up world markets to free trade. But Trump has shaken trade and markets by putting tariffs on goods from the European Union, Canada, Mexico and China.

Trump, Theresa May seek to deepen bilateral trade

US President Donald Trump arrives in Britain on Monday for a state visit laden with diplomatic peril, after taking a dig at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-tells-uk-to-walk-away-if-eu-does-not-give-what-it-wants-in-brexit-report-223648">outgoing Prime Minister Theresa</a> May over Brexit and demanding she be tougher in dealing with China's Huawei.

Trump and his wife, Melania, will be treated to a display of British royal pageantry during the June 3-5 visit: lunch with Queen Elizabeth, tea with heir Prince Charles, a banquet at Buckingham Palace and a tour of Westminster Abbey, coronation church of English monarchs for 1,000 years.

Beyond the pomp, though, the US president also brings demands: He has praised a more radical Brexit-supporting potential successor to May and his envoys have urged a tougher British stance towards Chinese telecoms giant Huawei.

"So we will be going to the UK, I think it will be very important, it certainly will be very interesting, there's lot going on in the UK, and I am sure it is going to work out very well for them," Trump told reporters before departing.

"As you know they want to do trade with the United States, and I think there is an opportunity for a very big trade deal at some point in the near future. And we will see how that works out."

Trump was asked about reports that he had cast Meghan Markle, wife of Prince Harry, as "nasty" for criticising him.

"No, I made no bad comment," Trump told reporters. On Twitter he said: "I never called Meghan Markle "nasty." Made up by the Fake News Media, and they got caught cold!"

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I never called Meghan Markle “nasty.” Made up by the Fake News Media, and they got caught cold! Will <a href="https://twitter.com/CNN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNN</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nytimes</a> and others apologize? Doubt it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1135165268261519361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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But in what is likely to be the most unconventional state visit in recent memory, Trump has already waded far into British domestic politics.

In an interview with the Sunday Times newspaper, Trump said the next British leader should send arch-Brexiteer Nigel Farage to conduct talks with the EU.

"If they don't get what they want, I would walk away. If you don't get a fair deal, you walk away."

Trump repeated his backing for those candidates to succeed May who have said Britain must leave on the due date of October 31 with or without a deal.

Those candidates include former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, whom Trump praised in an interview with the Sun newspaper on Friday, along with former Brexit minister Dominic Raab and interior minister Sajid Javid.

Trump said it was a mistake for the Conservatives not to involve Farage, the Brexit Party leader, in talks with Brussels after his success in European Parliament elections last month.

A meeting with either Johnson, favourite to succeed May, or Farage, a populist anti-establishment campaigner, would be seen as a snub for May who is bowing out after failing to negotiate a Brexit deal that parliament could ratify.

On his last visit to the United Kingdom, in July last year, Trump shocked Britain's political establishment by hammering May's Brexit negotiation for being too weak with the EU and by praising rival Johnson as a "great" potential prime minister.

Brexit is the most significant geopolitical move for the United Kingdom since World War Two and if it ever happens then London will be more reliant on the United States as ties loosen with the other 27 members of the EU.

At a meeting with May, Trump will warn Britain that security cooperation could be hurt if London allows China's Huawei a role in building parts of the 5G network, the next generation of cellular technology.

The Trump administration has told allies not to use its 5G technology and equipment because of fears it would allow China to spy on sensitive communications and data. Huawei denies it is, or could be, a vehicle for Chinese intelligence.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Britain last month it needed to change its attitude towards China and Huawei, casting the world's second largest economy as a threat to the West similar to that once posed by the Soviet Union.

Britain's so-called special relationship with the United States is an enduring alliance, but some British voters see Trump as crude, volatile and opposed to their values on issues ranging from global warming to his treatment of women.

US President Donald Trump arrives in Britain on Monday for a state visit laden with diplomatic peril, after taking a dig at outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May over Brexit and demanding she be tougher in dealing with China's Huawei.

US President Donald Trump arrives in Britain on Monday for a state visit laden with diplomatic peril, after taking a dig at outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May over Brexit and demanding she be tougher in dealing with China's Huawei. Trump and his wife, Melania, will be treated to a display of British royal pageantry during the June 3-5 visit: lunch with Queen Elizabeth, tea with heir Prince Charles, a banquet at Buckingham Palace and a tour of Westminster Abbey, coronation church of English monarchs for 1,000 years. Beyond the pomp, though, the US president also brings demands: He has praised a more radical Brexit-supporting potential successor to May and his envoys have urged a tougher British stance towards Chinese telecoms giant Huawei. "So we will be going to the UK, I think it will be very important, it certainly will be very interesting, there's lot going on in the UK, and I am sure it is going to work out very well for them," Trump told reporters before departing. "As you know they want to do trade with the United States, and I think there is an opportunity for a very big trade deal at some point in the near future. And we will see how that works out." Trump was asked about reports that he had cast Meghan Markle, wife of Prince Harry, as "nasty" for criticising him. "No, I made no bad comment," Trump told reporters. On Twitter he said: "I never called Meghan Markle "nasty." Made up by the Fake News Media, and they got caught cold!" I never called Meghan Markle “nasty.” Made up by the Fake News Media, and they got caught cold! Will @CNN, @nytimes and others apologize? Doubt it! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 2, 2019 × But in what is likely to be the most unconventional state visit in recent memory, Trump has already waded far into British domestic politics. In an interview with the Sunday Times newspaper, Trump said the next British leader should send arch-Brexiteer Nigel Farage to conduct talks with the EU. "If they don't get what they want, I would walk away. If you don't get a fair deal, you walk away." Trump repeated his backing for those candidates to succeed May who have said Britain must leave on the due date of October 31 with or without a deal. Those candidates include former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, whom Trump praised in an interview with the Sun newspaper on Friday, along with former Brexit minister Dominic Raab and interior minister Sajid Javid. Trump said it was a mistake for the Conservatives not to involve Farage, the Brexit Party leader, in talks with Brussels after his success in European Parliament elections last month. A meeting with either Johnson, favourite to succeed May, or Farage, a populist anti-establishment campaigner, would be seen as a snub for May who is bowing out after failing to negotiate a Brexit deal that parliament could ratify. On his last visit to the United Kingdom, in July last year, Trump shocked Britain's political establishment by hammering May's Brexit negotiation for being too weak with the EU and by praising rival Johnson as a "great" potential prime minister. Brexit is the most significant geopolitical move for the United Kingdom since World War Two and if it ever happens then London will be more reliant on the United States as ties loosen with the other 27 members of the EU. At a meeting with May, Trump will warn Britain that security cooperation could be hurt if London allows China's Huawei a role in building parts of the 5G network, the next generation of cellular technology. The Trump administration has told allies not to use its 5G technology and equipment because of fears it would allow China to spy on sensitive communications and data. Huawei denies it is, or could be, a vehicle for Chinese intelligence. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Britain last month it needed to change its attitude towards China and Huawei, casting the world's second largest economy as a threat to the West similar to that once posed by the Soviet Union. Britain's so-called special relationship with the United States is an enduring alliance, but some British voters see Trump as crude, volatile and opposed to their values on issues ranging from global warming to his treatment of women.

Very big trade deal possible, says Trump ahead of UK visit

US President Donald Trump arrived in Britain on Monday for a three-day state visit during which he is to attend a banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II and meet outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May.

On landing, Trump sent out a tweet calling London Mayor Sadiq Khan a "stone cold loser" for criticising Britain's decision to roll out the red carpet for the White House chief.

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.<a href="https://twitter.com/SadiqKhan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SadiqKhan</a>, who by all accounts has done a terrible job as Mayor of London, has been foolishly “nasty” to the visiting President of the United States, by far the most important ally of the United Kingdom. He is a stone cold loser who should focus on crime in London, not me......
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1135453891326238721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
....Kahn reminds me very much of our very dumb and incompetent Mayor of NYC, de Blasio, who has also done a terrible job - only half his height. In any event, I look forward to being a great friend to the United Kingdom, and am looking very much forward to my visit. Landing now!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1135453895277203458?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Trump and his wife, Melania, will be treated to a display of British royal pageantry during the June 3-5 visit: lunch with Queen Elizabeth, tea with heir Prince Charles, a banquet at Buckingham Palace and a tour of Westminster Abbey, coronation church of English monarchs for 1,000 years.

US President Donald Trump arrived in Britain on Monday for a three-day state visit during which he is to attend a banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II and meet outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May.

US President Donald Trump arrived in Britain on Monday for a three-day state visit during which he is to attend a banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II and meet outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May. On landing, Trump sent out a tweet calling London Mayor Sadiq Khan a "stone cold loser" for criticising Britain's decision to roll out the red carpet for the White House chief. .@SadiqKhan, who by all accounts has done a terrible job as Mayor of London, has been foolishly “nasty” to the visiting President of the United States, by far the most important ally of the United Kingdom. He is a stone cold loser who should focus on crime in London, not me...... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2019 × ....Kahn reminds me very much of our very dumb and incompetent Mayor of NYC, de Blasio, who has also done a terrible job - only half his height. In any event, I look forward to being a great friend to the United Kingdom, and am looking very much forward to my visit. Landing now! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2019 × Trump and his wife, Melania, will be treated to a display of British royal pageantry during the June 3-5 visit: lunch with Queen Elizabeth, tea with heir Prince Charles, a banquet at Buckingham Palace and a tour of Westminster Abbey, coronation church of English monarchs for 1,000 years.

London mayor Sadiq Khan a 'stone cold loser', tweets Trump after arriving in UK

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-tells-uk-to-walk-away-if-eu-does-not-give-what-it-wants-in-brexit-report-223648">Trump tells UK to 'walk away' if EU does not give what it wants in Brexit: Report</a>

US President Donald Trump&nbsp;said Britain should refuse to pay its 39 billion pound EU divorce bill and "walk away" from<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-mps-vote-against-all-alternative-brexit-options-206122">&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;</a>talks if Brussels does not give the UK what it wants.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-prepared-to-engage-with-iran-without-pre-conditions-pompeo-223645">US prepared to engage with Iran without pre-conditions: Pompeo</a>

The United States was prepared to engage with Iran without pre-conditions about its nuclear program but needed to see the country behaving like "a normal nation", US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-three-blasts-hit-kabul-killing-one-and-injuring-17-223589">Afghanistan: Three blasts hit Kabul, killing one and injuring 17</a>

One person was killed and 17 others wounded Sunday in three successive blasts in Kabul, Afghan officials said, capping a murderous week of mayhem across the city.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-defence-minister-says-tiananmen-crackdown-was-justified-223616">Chinese defence minister says Tiananmen crackdown was justified</a>

Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe said on Sunday that the bloody crackdown on protesters around Beijing`s Tiananmen Square 30 years ago was the "correct" decision, citing the country`s "stability" since then.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-lodges-protest-against-harassment-of-guests-at-high-commissions-iftar-party-by-pakistan-agencies-in-islamabad-223652">India lodges protest against harassment of guests at high commission's Iftar party by Pakistan agencies in Islamabad</a>

India has strongly protested against the harassment of guests invited for the Iftar organised by Indian high commission at a hotel in Islamabad and has asked the Pakistani government to investigate the "ugly" incident.

Trump tells UK to 'walk away' if EU does not give what it wants in Brexit: Report US President Donald Trump said Britain should refuse to pay its 39 billion pound EU divorce bill and "walk away" from Brexit talks if Brussels does not give the UK what it wants.

Trump tells UK to 'walk away' if EU does not give what it wants in Brexit: Report US President Donald Trump said Britain should refuse to pay its 39 billion pound EU divorce bill and "walk away" from Brexit talks if Brussels does not give the UK what it wants. US prepared to engage with Iran without pre-conditions: Pompeo The United States was prepared to engage with Iran without pre-conditions about its nuclear program but needed to see the country behaving like "a normal nation", US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday. Afghanistan: Three blasts hit Kabul, killing one and injuring 17 One person was killed and 17 others wounded Sunday in three successive blasts in Kabul, Afghan officials said, capping a murderous week of mayhem across the city. Chinese defence minister says Tiananmen crackdown was justified Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe said on Sunday that the bloody crackdown on protesters around Beijing`s Tiananmen Square 30 years ago was the "correct" decision, citing the country`s "stability" since then. India lodges protest against harassment of guests at high commission's Iftar party by Pakistan agencies in Islamabad India has strongly protested against the harassment of guests invited for the Iftar organised by Indian high commission at a hotel in Islamabad and has asked the Pakistani government to investigate the "ugly" incident.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-announce-second-term-run-at-june-florida-rally-223437">US President Donald Trump</a> said Britain should refuse to pay its 39 billion pound EU divorce bill and "walk away" from<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-mps-vote-against-all-alternative-brexit-options-206122"> Brexit </a>talks if Brussels does not give the UK what it wants.

In an interview with the Sunday Times newspaper ahead of his state visit to Britain starting Monday, Trump said the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-boris-johnson-would-be-very-good-as-next-uk-prime-minister-223289">next British leader</a> should send arch-Brexiteer Nigel Farage to conduct talks with the EU.

Trump said Britain must leave the EU this year.

“They've got to get it done,” he said. “They have got to get the deal closed.”

“If they don’t get what they want, I would walk away. If you don’t get a fair deal, you walk away.”

Trump repeated his backing for those candidates to succeed Prime Minister Theresa May who have said Britain must leave on the due date of Oct. 31 with or without a deal.

Those candidates include former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, whom Trump praised in an interview with the Sun newspaper on Friday, along with former Brexit minister Dominic Raab and interior minister Sajid Javid.

Trump also said it was a mistake for the Conservatives not to involve Farage, the Brexit Party leader, in negotiations with Brussels after his success in European Parliament elections last month.

“I like Nigel a lot. He has a lot to offer - he is a very smart person,” Trump said. “They won’t bring him in but think how well they would do if they did. They just haven't figured that out yet.”

On the Brexit divorce bill, Trump said, “If I were them, I wouldn’t pay 50 billion dollars. That is a tremendous number.”

Trump also said he would have “to know” veteran Socialist Labour opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn before authorising US intelligence to share its most sensitive secrets with a hard-left government.

He warned British ministers they must be careful not to jeopardize intelligence-sharing by letting Chinese firm Huawei Technologies Co Ltd into Britain’s new 5G mobile phone network.

US President Donald Trump said Britain should refuse to pay its 39 billion pound EU divorce bill and "walk away" from Brexit talks if Brussels does not give the UK what it wants.

US President Donald Trump said Britain should refuse to pay its 39 billion pound EU divorce bill and "walk away" from Brexit talks if Brussels does not give the UK what it wants. In an interview with the Sunday Times newspaper ahead of his state visit to Britain starting Monday, Trump said the next British leader should send arch-Brexiteer Nigel Farage to conduct talks with the EU. Trump said Britain must leave the EU this year. “They've got to get it done,” he said. “They have got to get the deal closed.” “If they don’t get what they want, I would walk away. If you don’t get a fair deal, you walk away.” Trump repeated his backing for those candidates to succeed Prime Minister Theresa May who have said Britain must leave on the due date of Oct. 31 with or without a deal. Those candidates include former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, whom Trump praised in an interview with the Sun newspaper on Friday, along with former Brexit minister Dominic Raab and interior minister Sajid Javid. Trump also said it was a mistake for the Conservatives not to involve Farage, the Brexit Party leader, in negotiations with Brussels after his success in European Parliament elections last month. “I like Nigel a lot. He has a lot to offer - he is a very smart person,” Trump said. “They won’t bring him in but think how well they would do if they did. They just haven't figured that out yet.” On the Brexit divorce bill, Trump said, “If I were them, I wouldn’t pay 50 billion dollars. That is a tremendous number.” Trump also said he would have “to know” veteran Socialist Labour opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn before authorising US intelligence to share its most sensitive secrets with a hard-left government. He warned British ministers they must be careful not to jeopardize intelligence-sharing by letting Chinese firm Huawei Technologies Co Ltd into Britain’s new 5G mobile phone network.

Trump tells UK to 'walk away' if EU does not give what it wants in Brexit: Report

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-people-missing-after-blasts-at-russian-military-plant-22-injured-223432">Two people missing after blasts at Russian military plant, 22 injured</a>

At least two people were missing on Saturday after blasts at the explosives plant Kristall in the central Russian town of Dzerzhinsk, Interfax and RIA news agencies reported. Some 22 people were injured, Interfax news agency reported citing a source. An official at the local health ministry said earlier that most of the injured have fragment wounds.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/bjp-will-have-no-walkover-in-parliament-rahul-gandhi-223399">BJP will have no walkover in Parliament: Rahul Gandhi</a>

Asserting that the 52 newly-elected Congress MPs will work like "a pride of brave-hearted lions", Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that his party will continue to work "fearlessly" and that the BJP cannot have a "walk over" in parliament.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/wont-stake-claim-in-lok-sabha-for-leader-of-opposition-congress-223378">Won't stake claim in Lok Sabha for Leader of Opposition: Congress</a>

The Congress party on Saturday said that it will not stake a claim for the post of the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha as it is falling short of two seats and is not able to reach the required number of 54.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-eyes-steps-to-cut-immigrant-flows-to-us-border-official-223382">Mexico eyes steps to cut immigrant flows to US border: Official</a>

Mexico wants to sharpen existing measures in its bid to narrow a flood of Central American migrants to the US border, a top Mexican official said on Friday, ahead of planned meetings in Washington over tariffs threatened by President Donald Trump.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-chinese-defence-chiefs-discuss-sanctions-enforcement-on-north-korea-223376">US, Chinese defence chiefs discuss sanctions enforcement on North Korea</a>

Patrick Shanahan, the acting US Defence Secretary, and Wei Fenghe, the Chinese Defence Minister, discussed ways to better enforce UN sanctions on North Korea during a "constructive and productive" meeting held on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum here on Friday.

Two people missing after blasts at Russian military plant, 22 injured At least two people were missing on Saturday after blasts at the explosives plant Kristall in the central Russian town of Dzerzhinsk, Interfax and RIA news agencies reported.

Two people missing after blasts at Russian military plant, 22 injured At least two people were missing on Saturday after blasts at the explosives plant Kristall in the central Russian town of Dzerzhinsk, Interfax and RIA news agencies reported. Some 22 people were injured, Interfax news agency reported citing a source. An official at the local health ministry said earlier that most of the injured have fragment wounds. BJP will have no walkover in Parliament: Rahul Gandhi Asserting that the 52 newly-elected Congress MPs will work like "a pride of brave-hearted lions", Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that his party will continue to work "fearlessly" and that the BJP cannot have a "walk over" in parliament. Won't stake claim in Lok Sabha for Leader of Opposition: Congress The Congress party on Saturday said that it will not stake a claim for the post of the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha as it is falling short of two seats and is not able to reach the required number of 54. Mexico eyes steps to cut immigrant flows to US border: Official Mexico wants to sharpen existing measures in its bid to narrow a flood of Central American migrants to the US border, a top Mexican official said on Friday, ahead of planned meetings in Washington over tariffs threatened by President Donald Trump. US, Chinese defence chiefs discuss sanctions enforcement on North Korea Patrick Shanahan, the acting US Defence Secretary, and Wei Fenghe, the Chinese Defence Minister, discussed ways to better enforce UN sanctions on North Korea during a "constructive and productive" meeting held on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum here on Friday.

A Palestinian stabbed and wounded two Israelis in annexed east Jerusalem on Friday before being shot dead, police said, despite tight security for Ramadan.

One of the Israelis was in a critical condition and the other suffered serious wounds, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

"Police units that responded at the scene saw the attacker with a knife. The attacker was shot and killed by police units," Rosenfeld said.

Police identified the assailant as a 19-year-old Palestinian.

The Old City, where the attack took place, has been the scene of numerous stabbings of Israelis by wildcat Palestinian assailants in recent years.

The first Israeli was stabbed near Damascus Gate. The second was attacked near Jaffa Gate on the other side of the walled city.

Security has been stepped up across Jerusalem during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Tens of thousands of believers were expected to gather at the Old City's politically contentious Al-Aqsa mosque compound later for the last Friday prayers of Ramadan.

The attack came just two days before Israelis hold a major march to mark Jerusalem Day, the annual commemoration of the capture of east Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of 1967.&nbsp;

It was later annexed in a move not recognised by the international community.

In December 2017, US President Donald Trump broke with decades of bipartisan policy to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital in a move that prompted the Palestinians to cut all contacts with his administration and which has sent tensions soaring.

Israel insists the whole of Jerusalem is its "eternal, indivisible capital". The Palestinians demand the city's eastern sector as the capital of their long-promised state.

Trump's gift&nbsp;

On Thursday evening, Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner met Israeli Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israelis-protest-moves-to-grant-netanyahu-immunity-limit-supreme-court-221711">Benjamin Netanyahu </a>in Jerusalem as part of a Middle East tour before Washington unveils its long-awaited plan for Israel-Palestinian peace.

Kushner, accompanied by Trump envoy Jason Greenblatt, arrived in Jerusalem after earlier stops in Morocco and Jordan.

He is a key architect of the peace plan that the White House says it intends to present in the coming weeks.

But the plan, previously delayed for an Israeli general election on April 9, could face further postponements due to Israeli politics.

Israel is set to hold another general election in September after Netanyahu failed to form a coalition government, and the plan is widely seen as too sensitive an issue to introduce during a political campaign.

The Palestinian leadership has rejected the peace plan without seeing it, saying Trump has shown himself to be blatantly biased in favour of Israel.

They cite moves including declaring the disputed city of Jerusalem Israel's capital and cutting hundreds of millions of dollars in Palestinian aid.

Trump has also handed Netanyahu other diplomatic coups, notably US recognition of Israel's 1981 annexation of the strategic Golan &nbsp;Heights captured from Syria in the Six-Day War.

On Thursday, Kushner delivered Netanyahu a gift from Trump, a map of Israel signed and approvingly annotated by the US president showing the Golan as inside the Jewish state's borders.

A Palestinian stabbed and wounded two Israelis in annexed east Jerusalem on Friday before being shot dead, police said, despite tight security for Ramadan. One of the Israelis was in a critical condition and the other suffered serious wounds, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

A Palestinian stabbed and wounded two Israelis in annexed east Jerusalem on Friday before being shot dead, police said, despite tight security for Ramadan. One of the Israelis was in a critical condition and the other suffered serious wounds, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. "Police units that responded at the scene saw the attacker with a knife. The attacker was shot and killed by police units," Rosenfeld said. Police identified the assailant as a 19-year-old Palestinian. The Old City, where the attack took place, has been the scene of numerous stabbings of Israelis by wildcat Palestinian assailants in recent years. The first Israeli was stabbed near Damascus Gate. The second was attacked near Jaffa Gate on the other side of the walled city. Security has been stepped up across Jerusalem during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. Tens of thousands of believers were expected to gather at the Old City's politically contentious Al-Aqsa mosque compound later for the last Friday prayers of Ramadan. The attack came just two days before Israelis hold a major march to mark Jerusalem Day, the annual commemoration of the capture of east Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of 1967. It was later annexed in a move not recognised by the international community. In December 2017, US President Donald Trump broke with decades of bipartisan policy to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital in a move that prompted the Palestinians to cut all contacts with his administration and which has sent tensions soaring. Israel insists the whole of Jerusalem is its "eternal, indivisible capital". The Palestinians demand the city's eastern sector as the capital of their long-promised state. Trump's gift On Thursday evening, Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem as part of a Middle East tour before Washington unveils its long-awaited plan for Israel-Palestinian peace. Kushner, accompanied by Trump envoy Jason Greenblatt, arrived in Jerusalem after earlier stops in Morocco and Jordan. He is a key architect of the peace plan that the White House says it intends to present in the coming weeks. But the plan, previously delayed for an Israeli general election on April 9, could face further postponements due to Israeli politics. Israel is set to hold another general election in September after Netanyahu failed to form a coalition government, and the plan is widely seen as too sensitive an issue to introduce during a political campaign. The Palestinian leadership has rejected the peace plan without seeing it, saying Trump has shown himself to be blatantly biased in favour of Israel. They cite moves including declaring the disputed city of Jerusalem Israel's capital and cutting hundreds of millions of dollars in Palestinian aid. Trump has also handed Netanyahu other diplomatic coups, notably US recognition of Israel's 1981 annexation of the strategic Golan Heights captured from Syria in the Six-Day War. On Thursday, Kushner delivered Netanyahu a gift from Trump, a map of Israel signed and approvingly annotated by the US president showing the Golan as inside the Jewish state's borders.

Two Israelis wounded in Jerusalem stabbings, attacker killed: Police

US President Donald Trump on Thursday scornfully rejected 'disgusting' talk among Democrats about <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/charging-trump-was-not-an-option-says-us-special-counsel-robert-mueller-222592">launching an impeachment inquiry against him </a>in the aftermath of the Russia probe, saying he did nothing to merit such an outcome.

Talking to reporters on the White House South Lawn ahead of a trip to Colorado, Trump grew animated in reacting to a statement from US Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Wednesday.

Mueller said his report on Russian collusion in the 2016 presidential campaign did not clear Trump of obstruction of justice and indicated it was up to Congress to decide whether he should be impeached.

Mueller's statement fueled an increase in calls from Democratic lawmakers for impeachment proceedings, and US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, reacting to Mueller's statement, said "nothing is off the table."

Asked if he expected to be impeached, Trump said,&nbsp;"I don't see how ... It's a dirty, filthy, disgusting word ... It's a giant presidential harassment."

He cited the US Constitution's language that a president can be charged with "high crimes and misdemeanors."

"There was no crime. There was no misdemeanor," he said.

While House Democrats have yet to decide whether to pursue impeachment, they are pressing forward with a number of investigations spinning off from the Russia probe.

The Trump administration is fighting those congressional efforts, including an attempt by the Democratic chairman of the House tax-writing panel to obtain the president's tax returns.

The top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, Ron Wyden, said on Thursday the US Treasury had been "unresponsive" to questions about Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin's decision not to comply with the House demand for Trump's returns, and he threatened to attempt to block any Treasury nominees if the department was not forthcoming.

"Congress has a constitutional obligation to conduct oversight of the executive branch," he said in a statement.

HELP FROM RUSSIA?

In a morning tweet, Trump had left the impression that he was acknowledging that Russian interference helped him win the 2016 election over Democrat Hillary Clinton. Answering questions from reporters, he later said the exact opposite.

"No, Russia did not help me get elected," he said, adding that he needed no help in winning the election.

Trump heaped scorn on Mueller, calling him "totally conflicted" in part because he had wanted to head the FBI.

"I told him NO. The next day he was named Special Counsel - A total Conflict of Interest. NICE!," Trump said on Twitter, without providing evidence that Mueller, a Republican, had sought the FBI job.

Speaking to reporters, Trump also said that Mueller is a close friend of former FBI Director James Comey, who Trump fired weeks after taking office in early 2017.

"I think Mueller is a true 'never Trumper,'" Trump said.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday scornfully rejected 'disgusting' talk among Democrats about launching an impeachment inquiry against him in the aftermath of the Russia probe, saying he did nothing to merit such an outcome.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday scornfully rejected 'disgusting' talk among Democrats about launching an impeachment inquiry against him in the aftermath of the Russia probe, saying he did nothing to merit such an outcome. Talking to reporters on the White House South Lawn ahead of a trip to Colorado, Trump grew animated in reacting to a statement from US Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Wednesday. Mueller said his report on Russian collusion in the 2016 presidential campaign did not clear Trump of obstruction of justice and indicated it was up to Congress to decide whether he should be impeached. Mueller's statement fueled an increase in calls from Democratic lawmakers for impeachment proceedings, and US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, reacting to Mueller's statement, said "nothing is off the table." Asked if he expected to be impeached, Trump said, "I don't see how ... It's a dirty, filthy, disgusting word ... It's a giant presidential harassment." He cited the US Constitution's language that a president can be charged with "high crimes and misdemeanors." "There was no crime. There was no misdemeanor," he said. While House Democrats have yet to decide whether to pursue impeachment, they are pressing forward with a number of investigations spinning off from the Russia probe. The Trump administration is fighting those congressional efforts, including an attempt by the Democratic chairman of the House tax-writing panel to obtain the president's tax returns. The top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, Ron Wyden, said on Thursday the US Treasury had been "unresponsive" to questions about Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin's decision not to comply with the House demand for Trump's returns, and he threatened to attempt to block any Treasury nominees if the department was not forthcoming. "Congress has a constitutional obligation to conduct oversight of the executive branch," he said in a statement. HELP FROM RUSSIA? In a morning tweet, Trump had left the impression that he was acknowledging that Russian interference helped him win the 2016 election over Democrat Hillary Clinton. Answering questions from reporters, he later said the exact opposite. "No, Russia did not help me get elected," he said, adding that he needed no help in winning the election. Trump heaped scorn on Mueller, calling him "totally conflicted" in part because he had wanted to head the FBI. "I told him NO. The next day he was named Special Counsel - A total Conflict of Interest. NICE!," Trump said on Twitter, without providing evidence that Mueller, a Republican, had sought the FBI job. Speaking to reporters, Trump also said that Mueller is a close friend of former FBI Director James Comey, who Trump fired weeks after taking office in early 2017. "I think Mueller is a true 'never Trumper,'" Trump said.

Trump says impeachment is 'dirty, filthy, disgusting word'

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was unaware of any effort to move the USS John S. McCain that was stationed near the site of his recent speech in Japan.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to Reuters that an initial request had been made to keep the John McCain out of sight during Trump`s speech but was scrapped by senior Navy officials.

Trump has long criticized the late senator on a variety of fronts and has kept up his attacks on McCain even following his death in August.

McCain, the unsuccessful 2008 Republican presidential nominee, was shot down during the Vietnam War and tortured by his North Vietnamese Communist captors during more than five years as a prisoner of war.

The USS John S. McCain is named for the late senator`s father and grandfather, who were both Navy admirals.

Trump wrote on Twitter,&nbsp;"I was not informed about anything having to do with the Navy Ship USS John S. McCain during my recent visit to Japan." The White House declined to comment.

The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news, said the White House wanted the US Navy to move the ship, named for the late Arizona senator, "out of sight." It cited an email between US military officials.

The email to Navy and Air Force officials had a number of directives, including "USS John McCain needs to be out of sight," and asking officials to "please confirm" that directive "will be satisfied."

The newspaper said a tarpaulin was hung over the ship’s name ahead of Trump`s trip and sailors were directed to remove coverings from the destroyer that bore its name.

It also said sailors assigned to the ship, who generally wear caps bearing its name, were given the day off during Trump`s visit to the nearby USS Wasp. However, the US official said sailors on the ship were given the day off because of Memorial Day.

Speaking with reporters en route to Singapore, acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said he had not approved any movement of the ship, but would ask his chief of staff to look into the details of what happened.

"I would never dishonour the memory of a great American patriot like Senator McCain. I also think it`s important, I`d never disrespect the young men and women that crew that ship," Shanahan said.&nbsp;

Commander Clay Doss, a spokesman for the Navy`s Seventh Fleet, said the tarpaulin was taken down on Saturday before Trump`s visit to the area. "All ships remained in normal configuration during the President`s visit," Doss said.

Meghan McCain, the late senator`s eldest daughter, criticized Trump on Twitter on Wednesday, saying, Trump "will always be deeply threatened by the greatness of my dad`s incredible life ... nine months since he passed, Trump won`t let him RIP. So I have to stand up for him."

The destroyer was involved in a 2017 collision that killed 10 crew members and is currently undergoing repairs.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was unaware of any effort to move the USS John S. McCain that was stationed near the site of his recent speech in Japan.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was unaware of any effort to move the USS John S. McCain that was stationed near the site of his recent speech in Japan. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to Reuters that an initial request had been made to keep the John McCain out of sight during Trump`s speech but was scrapped by senior Navy officials. Trump has long criticized the late senator on a variety of fronts and has kept up his attacks on McCain even following his death in August. McCain, the unsuccessful 2008 Republican presidential nominee, was shot down during the Vietnam War and tortured by his North Vietnamese Communist captors during more than five years as a prisoner of war. The USS John S. McCain is named for the late senator`s father and grandfather, who were both Navy admirals. Trump wrote on Twitter, "I was not informed about anything having to do with the Navy Ship USS John S. McCain during my recent visit to Japan." The White House declined to comment. The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news, said the White House wanted the US Navy to move the ship, named for the late Arizona senator, "out of sight." It cited an email between US military officials. The email to Navy and Air Force officials had a number of directives, including "USS John McCain needs to be out of sight," and asking officials to "please confirm" that directive "will be satisfied." The newspaper said a tarpaulin was hung over the ship’s name ahead of Trump`s trip and sailors were directed to remove coverings from the destroyer that bore its name. It also said sailors assigned to the ship, who generally wear caps bearing its name, were given the day off during Trump`s visit to the nearby USS Wasp. However, the US official said sailors on the ship were given the day off because of Memorial Day. Speaking with reporters en route to Singapore, acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said he had not approved any movement of the ship, but would ask his chief of staff to look into the details of what happened. "I would never dishonour the memory of a great American patriot like Senator McCain. I also think it`s important, I`d never disrespect the young men and women that crew that ship," Shanahan said. Commander Clay Doss, a spokesman for the Navy`s Seventh Fleet, said the tarpaulin was taken down on Saturday before Trump`s visit to the area. "All ships remained in normal configuration during the President`s visit," Doss said. Meghan McCain, the late senator`s eldest daughter, criticized Trump on Twitter on Wednesday, saying, Trump "will always be deeply threatened by the greatness of my dad`s incredible life ... nine months since he passed, Trump won`t let him RIP. So I have to stand up for him." The destroyer was involved in a 2017 collision that killed 10 crew members and is currently undergoing repairs.

Trump says he was not told of request to move USS John McCain 'out of sight'

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/robert-mueller-should-not-testify-before-us-congress-trump-216223">US Special Counsel Robert Mueller</a> said on Wednesday his investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election was never going to end with criminal charges against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-approval-drops-three-points-to-2019-low-after-release-of-mueller-report-212138">President Donald Trump</a> and that he would give no more information that was already published in his report.

In his first public comments since starting the investigation in May 2017, Mueller said Justice Department policy explicitly prevented him from bringing charges against a sitting president.

"Charging the president with a crime was therefore not an option we could consider," Mueller told reporters as he announced his resignation from the Justice Department.

A redacted version of Mueller`s report was published in April, concluding that Russia repeatedly interfered in the 2016 election and that Trump`s election campaign had multiple contacts with Russian officials but did not engage in a criminal conspiracy with Moscow to win the White House.

Mueller's report also declined to make a judgment on whether Trump obstructed justice, although the report outlined 10 instances in which Trump tried to impede the investigation.

Watch:&nbsp;No collusion between Russia-US,&nbsp;Mueller Report stated

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mueller-report-no-collusion-between-russia-us-211774/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"If we had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime we would have said so. We did not, however, make a determination as to whether the president did commit a crime," Mueller said.

He said the 448-page report spoke for itself.

"Beyond what I've said here today and what is contained in our written work, I do not believe it is appropriate for me to speak further," Mueller said in a brief press appearance at the Justice Department`s headquarters. 
He did not take questions.

Trump, who has repeatedly denounced Mueller's probe as a witch hunt, said the matter was settled.

"Nothing changes from the Mueller Report," he said on Twitter. "There was insufficient evidence and therefore, in our Country, a person is innocent. The case is closed! Thank you."

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Nothing changes from the Mueller Report. There was insufficient evidence and therefore, in our Country, a person is innocent. The case is closed! Thank you.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1133759237136494592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Since the report`s release, Democrats have debated whether to bring impeachment charges against Trump or simply continue their multiple investigations into his administration and his private business.

"Given that Special Counsel Mueller was unable to pursue criminal charges against the President, it falls to Congress to respond to the crimes, lies and other wrongdoing of President Trump – and we will do so," said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler.

Representative Justin Amash, the only Republican to have said publicly that Trump has committed impeachable offences, tweeted: "The ball is in our court, Congress."

The investigation ensnared dozens of people, including several top Trump advisers and a series of Russian nationals and companies.

Among them are his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, who is serving 7 1/2 years in prison for financial crimes and lobbying violations, and his former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, who recently began a three-year sentence for campaign-finance violations and lying to Congress.

Since the report`s release, Democratic lawmakers have tried without success to get the full report and underlying evidence. The House Judiciary Committee also is negotiating for Mueller to testify at a hearing.

Trump has said Mueller should not testify before Congress but that the final decision was up to Attorney General William Barr. Democrats have denounced Barr, saying he misrepresented the special counsel`s findings.

Mueller appeared to have misgivings at one point as well, complaining to Barr in March that he had initially disclosed his main findings in an incomplete way that caused public confusion. In congressional testimony in April, Barr dismissed Mueller`s concerns as "a bit snitty."

Barr now is leading a review of the origins of the Russia investigation in what is the third known inquiry into the FBI`s handling of the matter. Trump harbours suspicions that the Democratic administration of President Barack Obama started the investigation in 2016 to undermine his presidency.

US Special Counsel Robert Mueller said on Wednesday his investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election was never going to end with criminal charges against President Donald Trump and that he would give no more information that was already published in his report.

US Special Counsel Robert Mueller said on Wednesday his investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election was never going to end with criminal charges against President Donald Trump and that he would give no more information that was already published in his report. In his first public comments since starting the investigation in May 2017, Mueller said Justice Department policy explicitly prevented him from bringing charges against a sitting president. "Charging the president with a crime was therefore not an option we could consider," Mueller told reporters as he announced his resignation from the Justice Department. A redacted version of Mueller`s report was published in April, concluding that Russia repeatedly interfered in the 2016 election and that Trump`s election campaign had multiple contacts with Russian officials but did not engage in a criminal conspiracy with Moscow to win the White House. Mueller's report also declined to make a judgment on whether Trump obstructed justice, although the report outlined 10 instances in which Trump tried to impede the investigation. Watch: No collusion between Russia-US, Mueller Report stated "If we had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime we would have said so. We did not, however, make a determination as to whether the president did commit a crime," Mueller said. He said the 448-page report spoke for itself. "Beyond what I've said here today and what is contained in our written work, I do not believe it is appropriate for me to speak further," Mueller said in a brief press appearance at the Justice Department`s headquarters. He did not take questions. Trump, who has repeatedly denounced Mueller's probe as a witch hunt, said the matter was settled. "Nothing changes from the Mueller Report," he said on Twitter. "There was insufficient evidence and therefore, in our Country, a person is innocent. The case is closed! Thank you." Nothing changes from the Mueller Report. There was insufficient evidence and therefore, in our Country, a person is innocent. The case is closed! Thank you. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2019 × Since the report`s release, Democrats have debated whether to bring impeachment charges against Trump or simply continue their multiple investigations into his administration and his private business. "Given that Special Counsel Mueller was unable to pursue criminal charges against the President, it falls to Congress to respond to the crimes, lies and other wrongdoing of President Trump – and we will do so," said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler. Representative Justin Amash, the only Republican to have said publicly that Trump has committed impeachable offences, tweeted: "The ball is in our court, Congress." The investigation ensnared dozens of people, including several top Trump advisers and a series of Russian nationals and companies. Among them are his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, who is serving 7 1/2 years in prison for financial crimes and lobbying violations, and his former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, who recently began a three-year sentence for campaign-finance violations and lying to Congress. Since the report`s release, Democratic lawmakers have tried without success to get the full report and underlying evidence. The House Judiciary Committee also is negotiating for Mueller to testify at a hearing. Trump has said Mueller should not testify before Congress but that the final decision was up to Attorney General William Barr. Democrats have denounced Barr, saying he misrepresented the special counsel`s findings. Mueller appeared to have misgivings at one point as well, complaining to Barr in March that he had initially disclosed his main findings in an incomplete way that caused public confusion. In congressional testimony in April, Barr dismissed Mueller`s concerns as "a bit snitty." Barr now is leading a review of the origins of the Russia investigation in what is the third known inquiry into the FBI`s handling of the matter. Trump harbours suspicions that the Democratic administration of President Barack Obama started the investigation in 2016 to undermine his presidency.

Robert Mueller resigns, says charging Trump with a crime was 'not an option'

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The US State Department said Tuesday that&nbsp;North Korea's overall program of weapons of mass destruction violated UN resolutions after President Donald Trump brushed off recent missile launches.

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Reuters journalists Wa Lone, Kyaw Soe Oo and their colleagues accepted their Pulitzer Prize in the International Reporting category in New York on Tuesday.

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Johnson &amp; Johnson's greed led the drugmaker to use deceptive marketing to create an oversupply of painkillers that fuelled the US opioid epidemic, the state of Oklahoma alleged at the start of the first trial to result from lawsuits over the drug crisis.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-opens-probe-into-sexual-favour-allegations-222376">Afghanistan opens probe into sexual favour allegations</a>

Afghanistan's attorney general opened an investigation Tuesday into allegations that some members of President Ashraf Ghani's administration are trading government positions for sexual favours.

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Iran is ready to engage in a dialogue with the Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to address the issue of escalating tensions with the United States in the Arabian Gulf, authorities said on Tuesday.

US says North Korea program violates UN resolutions, after Trump tweet The US State Department said Tuesday that North Korea's overall program of weapons of mass destruction violated UN resolutions after President Donald Trump brushed off recent missile launches.

US says North Korea program violates UN resolutions, after Trump tweet The US State Department said Tuesday that North Korea's overall program of weapons of mass destruction violated UN resolutions after President Donald Trump brushed off recent missile launches. Newly freed from prison in Myanmar, two Reuters journalists accept their Pulitzer Prize Reuters journalists Wa Lone, Kyaw Soe Oo and their colleagues accepted their Pulitzer Prize in the International Reporting category in New York on Tuesday. Johnson & Johnson's greed helped fuel US opioid crisis, Oklahoma claims at trial Johnson & Johnson's greed led the drugmaker to use deceptive marketing to create an oversupply of painkillers that fuelled the US opioid epidemic, the state of Oklahoma alleged at the start of the first trial to result from lawsuits over the drug crisis. Afghanistan opens probe into sexual favour allegations Afghanistan's attorney general opened an investigation Tuesday into allegations that some members of President Ashraf Ghani's administration are trading government positions for sexual favours. Iran ready to talk to Gulf countries amid tension with US Iran is ready to engage in a dialogue with the Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to address the issue of escalating tensions with the United States in the Arabian Gulf, authorities said on Tuesday.

Who pays Trump's tariffs? China, US customers or companies

Donald Trump erupted in fury Wednesday at unrelenting probes into his links to Russia, as the top Democrat in Congress <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-speaker-nancy-pelosi-says-trump-is-engaged-in-a-cover-up-220648">accused the president of a "cover-up"</a> that could be an impeachable offense.

A livid Trump abruptly shut down a White House meeting with Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, announcing he could not deal with them on policy until "phony investigations" are brought to a close.

The clash marked a dramatic escalation in Trump's war of words with congressional opponents seeking to bring him to account for what they say is presidential wrongdoing.

Trump's ire was seemingly triggered by House Speaker Pelosi, his nemesis in Congress, who declared following an emergency meeting with lawmakers earlier Wednesday: "We believe that the president of the United States is engaged in a cover-up."

"I don't do cover-ups," Trump shot back at a hastily arranged Rose Garden press event moments after the aborted White House talks.

"So get these phony investigations over with," Trump said -- warning a failure to do so would spell gridlock on issues like fixing the country's infrastructure, on which the two sides had hoped for a breakthrough Wednesday.

"You can't investigate and legislate simultaneously," he added. "It just doesn't work that way."

A two-year investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russia's interference in the 2016 US election concluded there was no hard evidence Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow.&nbsp;

But the prosecutor said he could not rule clearly on whether Trump obstructed justice, leaving it to the Trump-appointed attorney general, Bill Barr, to declare there was no obstruction.

'Impeachable offense'

The Democrats' decision to pursue the grey areas of the investigation -- and their open discussion of whether to pursue the politically perilous process of impeachment -- has enraged Trump.

"PRESIDENTIAL HARASSMENT!" he tweeted Wednesday, as he stepped up his attacks on the probes.

Any pretense of cooperation on policy evaporated as Trump and Pelosi locked horns, with the impeachment issue inching toward center stage in Washington.

Trump was visibly angry when he arrived at the meeting with Pelosi and Schumer, according to people familiar with what transpired.&nbsp;

The president did not shake hands or sit down, and accused Pelosi of saying something "terrible."

Republican leaders sought to pin the blame on Democrats.

"Their obsession with impeaching this president is paralyzing any progress we could be making," House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said on Twitter.

Speaking after she left the White House, Pelosi doubled down, charging that Trump could have committed an impeachable offense by publicly refusing to comply with congressional subpoenas connected to Mueller's probe.&nbsp;

She likened it to the "cover-up" that brought down former president Richard Nixon in the Watergate crisis.

"The fact is, in plain sight, in the public domain, this president is obstructing justice and he's engaged in a cover-up," she told a Washington conference. "And that could be an impeachable offense."

In a letter to the Democratic Caucus Pelosi wrote that Trump threw a "temper tantrum" -- something the president denied.

"This is not true," Trump tweeted late Wednesday. "I was purposely very polite and calm, much as I was minutes later with the press in the Rose Garden."

He then wrote that House Democrats only want "put the Mueller Report behind them and start all over again. No Do-Overs!"

Pelosi's remarks appeared to reflect the growing anger by Democrats at White House stonewalling, even as she has worked hard to tamp down talk of impeachment.&nbsp;

A day earlier, Democrats were left seething when Trump's former lawyer Don McGahn, a key figure in the Mueller report, refused to testify about obstruction allegations against the president.

Goading Congress?

Democrats also argue that Barr is subverting congressional oversight powers in order to protect the president.

But on Wednesday, the House Intelligence Committee's chairman said the Justice Department had agreed to begin honoring a subpoena for material related to Mueller's probe.

Despite her accusation of a cover-up, Pelosi has been mindful of the politically-charged nature of an impeachment move ahead of a 2020 presidential election, especially one that is likely to fail in the Republican-led Senate.

She has argued in favor of keeping the focus on educating the public through the court process and congressional probes, rather than leaping to impeachment.

The issue has divided Democrats for months. Even as some in Congress -- and several Democratic presidential contenders -- are eager to assert its historical oversight powers as a check against the executive, there are concerns the tactic could backfire, energizing Trump's base ahead of the election.

"He's really trying to goad Congress into impeaching him," congressman Peter Welch, a member of Democratic leadership, told CNN.&nbsp;

Pelosi and Schumer meanwhile offered their own scathing descriptions of Wednesday's heated scene.

Schumer called the meeting's dramatic cancellation "a pre-planned excuse" and said "what happened in the White House makes your jaw drop."

Likewise suggesting Trump manufactured the row to avoid committing to an enormously expensive infrastructure bill, Pelosi said: "I pray for the president of the United States."&nbsp;

Donald Trump erupted in fury Wednesday at unrelenting probes into his links to Russia, as the top Democrat in Congress accused the president of a "cover-up" that could be an impeachable offense.

Donald Trump erupted in fury Wednesday at unrelenting probes into his links to Russia, as the top Democrat in Congress accused the president of a "cover-up" that could be an impeachable offense. A livid Trump abruptly shut down a White House meeting with Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, announcing he could not deal with them on policy until "phony investigations" are brought to a close. The clash marked a dramatic escalation in Trump's war of words with congressional opponents seeking to bring him to account for what they say is presidential wrongdoing. Trump's ire was seemingly triggered by House Speaker Pelosi, his nemesis in Congress, who declared following an emergency meeting with lawmakers earlier Wednesday: "We believe that the president of the United States is engaged in a cover-up." "I don't do cover-ups," Trump shot back at a hastily arranged Rose Garden press event moments after the aborted White House talks. "So get these phony investigations over with," Trump said -- warning a failure to do so would spell gridlock on issues like fixing the country's infrastructure, on which the two sides had hoped for a breakthrough Wednesday. "You can't investigate and legislate simultaneously," he added. "It just doesn't work that way." A two-year investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russia's interference in the 2016 US election concluded there was no hard evidence Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow. But the prosecutor said he could not rule clearly on whether Trump obstructed justice, leaving it to the Trump-appointed attorney general, Bill Barr, to declare there was no obstruction. 'Impeachable offense' The Democrats' decision to pursue the grey areas of the investigation -- and their open discussion of whether to pursue the politically perilous process of impeachment -- has enraged Trump. "PRESIDENTIAL HARASSMENT!" he tweeted Wednesday, as he stepped up his attacks on the probes. Any pretense of cooperation on policy evaporated as Trump and Pelosi locked horns, with the impeachment issue inching toward center stage in Washington. Trump was visibly angry when he arrived at the meeting with Pelosi and Schumer, according to people familiar with what transpired. The president did not shake hands or sit down, and accused Pelosi of saying something "terrible." Republican leaders sought to pin the blame on Democrats. "Their obsession with impeaching this president is paralyzing any progress we could be making," House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said on Twitter. Speaking after she left the White House, Pelosi doubled down, charging that Trump could have committed an impeachable offense by publicly refusing to comply with congressional subpoenas connected to Mueller's probe. She likened it to the "cover-up" that brought down former president Richard Nixon in the Watergate crisis. "The fact is, in plain sight, in the public domain, this president is obstructing justice and he's engaged in a cover-up," she told a Washington conference. "And that could be an impeachable offense." In a letter to the Democratic Caucus Pelosi wrote that Trump threw a "temper tantrum" -- something the president denied. "This is not true," Trump tweeted late Wednesday. "I was purposely very polite and calm, much as I was minutes later with the press in the Rose Garden." He then wrote that House Democrats only want "put the Mueller Report behind them and start all over again. No Do-Overs!" Pelosi's remarks appeared to reflect the growing anger by Democrats at White House stonewalling, even as she has worked hard to tamp down talk of impeachment. A day earlier, Democrats were left seething when Trump's former lawyer Don McGahn, a key figure in the Mueller report, refused to testify about obstruction allegations against the president. Goading Congress? Democrats also argue that Barr is subverting congressional oversight powers in order to protect the president. But on Wednesday, the House Intelligence Committee's chairman said the Justice Department had agreed to begin honoring a subpoena for material related to Mueller's probe. Despite her accusation of a cover-up, Pelosi has been mindful of the politically-charged nature of an impeachment move ahead of a 2020 presidential election, especially one that is likely to fail in the Republican-led Senate. She has argued in favor of keeping the focus on educating the public through the court process and congressional probes, rather than leaping to impeachment. The issue has divided Democrats for months. Even as some in Congress -- and several Democratic presidential contenders -- are eager to assert its historical oversight powers as a check against the executive, there are concerns the tactic could backfire, energizing Trump's base ahead of the election. "He's really trying to goad Congress into impeaching him," congressman Peter Welch, a member of Democratic leadership, told CNN. Pelosi and Schumer meanwhile offered their own scathing descriptions of Wednesday's heated scene. Schumer called the meeting's dramatic cancellation "a pre-planned excuse" and said "what happened in the White House makes your jaw drop." Likewise suggesting Trump manufactured the row to avoid committing to an enormously expensive infrastructure bill, Pelosi said: "I pray for the president of the United States."

Trump walks out on Democrats as impeachment talk heats up

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