Iran today said US oil sanctions were "illegal" after the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-no-longer-grant-sanctions-exemptions-to-irans-oil-customers-us-212617"> Trump administration informed</a> that it would stop all exemptions starting May to countries which traded with Tehran.

"Since the sanctions in question are principally illegal, the Islamic Republic of Iran did not and does not attach any value or credibility to the waivers given to the sanctions," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Iranian media reported that commander of the Revolutionary Guards' said the country would close the Hormuz Strait if Tehran is barred from exporting oil.

"According to international law, the Strait of Hormuz is a marine passageway and if we are barred from using it, we will shut it down," the semi-official news agency Fars quoted General Alireza Tangsiri as saying on Monday.

"In case of any threat, we will have not even an iota of doubt to protect and defend the Iranian waters," Tangsiri added.

Iran had earlier threatened to stop ships passing through Strait of Hormuz, a major channel in the Gulf, if the US tried to halt its oil exports. Meanwhile, China said it opposes "unilateral" US sanctions against Iran.

Chinese ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China's bilateral cooperation with Iran was in accordance with the law. Eight counties were initially given six-month reprieves from unilateral US sanctions on Iran.

Greece, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan -&nbsp;have already heavily reduced their purchases from Iran. The United States said Monday it would start imposing sanctions on countries such as India, China and Turkey that buy Iranian oil.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insisted that the United States would punish countries that buy Iranian oil after May 2nd.

"We've made clear -- if you don't abide by this, there will be sanctions," Pompeo told reporters. "We intend to enforce the sanctions."

Iran today said US oil sanctions were "illegal" after the Trump administration informed that it would stop all exemptions starting May to countries which traded with Tehran.

Iran today said US oil sanctions were "illegal" after the Trump administration informed that it would stop all exemptions starting May to countries which traded with Tehran. "Since the sanctions in question are principally illegal, the Islamic Republic of Iran did not and does not attach any value or credibility to the waivers given to the sanctions," the foreign ministry said in a statement. Iranian media reported that commander of the Revolutionary Guards' said the country would close the Hormuz Strait if Tehran is barred from exporting oil. "According to international law, the Strait of Hormuz is a marine passageway and if we are barred from using it, we will shut it down," the semi-official news agency Fars quoted General Alireza Tangsiri as saying on Monday. "In case of any threat, we will have not even an iota of doubt to protect and defend the Iranian waters," Tangsiri added. Iran had earlier threatened to stop ships passing through Strait of Hormuz, a major channel in the Gulf, if the US tried to halt its oil exports. Meanwhile, China said it opposes "unilateral" US sanctions against Iran. Chinese ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China's bilateral cooperation with Iran was in accordance with the law. Eight counties were initially given six-month reprieves from unilateral US sanctions on Iran. Greece, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan - have already heavily reduced their purchases from Iran. The United States said Monday it would start imposing sanctions on countries such as India, China and Turkey that buy Iranian oil. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insisted that the United States would punish countries that buy Iranian oil after May 2nd. "We've made clear -- if you don't abide by this, there will be sanctions," Pompeo told reporters. "We intend to enforce the sanctions."

US oil sanctions principally illegal, do not attach any value to it: Iran

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-unflattering-detail-mueller-report-reveals-trump-actions-to-impede-inquiry-211647">US Attorney General</a> decided that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-tried-to-interfere-with-us-presidential-polls-trump-did-not-cooperate-says-attorney-general-william-barr-while-releasing-full-report-211580">President Donald Trump</a> did not obstruct a probe into whether his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/im-having-a-good-day-says-trump-after-mueller-report-release-211602">campaign colluded with Russia</a>, but some legal experts said prosecutors laid out a wealth of evidence to the contrary and that they intended to leave that determination to Congress.

Special Counsel Robert <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-mueller-report-trump-lashes-greatest-political-hoax-211549">Mueller`s report</a> revealed new details about Trump's attempts to impede his investigation on Thursday. They included how the president tried to fire Mueller and limit his investigation, kept details of a June 2016 meeting between senior campaign officials and a Russian under wraps, and possibly dangled a pardon to a former adviser.

Democrats said on Thursday the report contained disturbing evidence of wrongdoing by Trump that could fuel congressional investigations.

Some legal experts echoed that view. They said the evidence should have given prosecutors a strong basis for bringing an obstruction case against Trump, but Mueller demurred because of a longstanding Department of Justice policy against indicting a sitting president.

Jens Ohlin, a law professor at Cornell University, said the evidence laid out by the Mueller report was "really exhaustive in terms of the number of incidents and how severe they are."

In his report, Mueller focused on a series of actions, including Trump`s conduct toward law enforcement officials and witnesses. At one point, Mueller says the Congress has powers to check a president. At least half a dozen legal experts said the special counsel intended Congress to take up the matter.

"There is a wink, and a nod, and another wink to Congress that I have a lot of evidence and now the ball is in your court," said Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.

House Democrats took that view as well. In a joint statement, the House chairs said "the Special Counsel undoubtedly anticipated" the Congress must assess the evidence.

But Republican Congressman Doug Collins disputed that Mueller intended for Congress to decide on the view.

"The report doesn’t say Congress should investigate obstruction now. It says Congress can make laws about obstruction," Collins tweeted.

A spokesman for Mueller declined to comment.

Trump's legal team called the report "a total victory" for the president. "If they thought they had an obstruction case they would have made it.They did not," said Jay Sekulow, a lawyer for Trump, in an interview.

It is unclear whether the Democrats will push on Congressional censure. And even if the House votes to impeach, it is highly unlikely the Republican-controlled Senate would convict Trump.

Attorney General William Barr, a Trump appointee, defended the president in a press conference Thursday by saying there was insufficient evidence to bring an obstruction case against Trump.

In an earlier letter to lawmakers, Barr said the case was also undermined by Mueller`s finding that the Trump campaign did not conspire with Russians to interfere in the election.&nbsp;

Watergate-era opinion

Under US law, it is a crime to attempt "to influence, obstruct or impede the due administration of justice."

To prove obstruction, prosecutors must show an individual acted with a "corrupt" or improper motive - a specific intent to impede an investigation. 
Obstruction of justice is often coupled with some underlying wrongful act that is being covered up, legal experts said.

With a sitting president, the issue takes on additional complications. A Justice Department policy dating back to the Watergate scandal in the early 1970s advises against indicting a sitting president.

The U.S. Constitution is silent on the question.

In his report, Mueller said he "accepted" the department`s legal opinion and was unable to come to a conclusion about whether there was enough evidence to charge Trump with obstruction.

Question of motive

The president`s actions and intent "present difficult issues that prevent us from conclusively determining that no criminal conduct occurred," Mueller wrote.

But Mueller added that his report "also does not exonerate" Trump of the crime.

In reaching his decision not to charge Trump, Barr said the president had been "frustrated and angered" by a belief that the probe was undermining his presidency.

Despite this, Trump did not deprive Mueller of documents and witnesses needed to complete the investigation, Barr said.

"Apart from whether the acts were obstructive, this evidence of non-corrupt motives weights heavily against any allegation that the president had a corrupt intent to obstruct the investigation," he said.

The US Attorney General decided that President Donald Trump did not obstruct a probe into whether his campaign colluded with Russia, but some legal experts said prosecutors laid out a wealth of evidence to the contrary and that they intended to leave that determination to Congress.

The US Attorney General decided that President Donald Trump did not obstruct a probe into whether his campaign colluded with Russia, but some legal experts said prosecutors laid out a wealth of evidence to the contrary and that they intended to leave that determination to Congress. Special Counsel Robert Mueller`s report revealed new details about Trump's attempts to impede his investigation on Thursday. They included how the president tried to fire Mueller and limit his investigation, kept details of a June 2016 meeting between senior campaign officials and a Russian under wraps, and possibly dangled a pardon to a former adviser. Democrats said on Thursday the report contained disturbing evidence of wrongdoing by Trump that could fuel congressional investigations. Some legal experts echoed that view. They said the evidence should have given prosecutors a strong basis for bringing an obstruction case against Trump, but Mueller demurred because of a longstanding Department of Justice policy against indicting a sitting president. Jens Ohlin, a law professor at Cornell University, said the evidence laid out by the Mueller report was "really exhaustive in terms of the number of incidents and how severe they are." In his report, Mueller focused on a series of actions, including Trump`s conduct toward law enforcement officials and witnesses. At one point, Mueller says the Congress has powers to check a president. At least half a dozen legal experts said the special counsel intended Congress to take up the matter. "There is a wink, and a nod, and another wink to Congress that I have a lot of evidence and now the ball is in your court," said Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. House Democrats took that view as well. In a joint statement, the House chairs said "the Special Counsel undoubtedly anticipated" the Congress must assess the evidence. But Republican Congressman Doug Collins disputed that Mueller intended for Congress to decide on the view. "The report doesn’t say Congress should investigate obstruction now. It says Congress can make laws about obstruction," Collins tweeted. A spokesman for Mueller declined to comment. Trump's legal team called the report "a total victory" for the president. "If they thought they had an obstruction case they would have made it.They did not," said Jay Sekulow, a lawyer for Trump, in an interview. It is unclear whether the Democrats will push on Congressional censure. And even if the House votes to impeach, it is highly unlikely the Republican-controlled Senate would convict Trump. Attorney General William Barr, a Trump appointee, defended the president in a press conference Thursday by saying there was insufficient evidence to bring an obstruction case against Trump. In an earlier letter to lawmakers, Barr said the case was also undermined by Mueller`s finding that the Trump campaign did not conspire with Russians to interfere in the election. Watergate-era opinion Under US law, it is a crime to attempt "to influence, obstruct or impede the due administration of justice." To prove obstruction, prosecutors must show an individual acted with a "corrupt" or improper motive - a specific intent to impede an investigation. Obstruction of justice is often coupled with some underlying wrongful act that is being covered up, legal experts said. With a sitting president, the issue takes on additional complications. A Justice Department policy dating back to the Watergate scandal in the early 1970s advises against indicting a sitting president. The U.S. Constitution is silent on the question. In his report, Mueller said he "accepted" the department`s legal opinion and was unable to come to a conclusion about whether there was enough evidence to charge Trump with obstruction. Question of motive The president`s actions and intent "present difficult issues that prevent us from conclusively determining that no criminal conduct occurred," Mueller wrote. But Mueller added that his report "also does not exonerate" Trump of the crime. In reaching his decision not to charge Trump, Barr said the president had been "frustrated and angered" by a belief that the probe was undermining his presidency. Despite this, Trump did not deprive Mueller of documents and witnesses needed to complete the investigation, Barr said. "Apart from whether the acts were obstructive, this evidence of non-corrupt motives weights heavily against any allegation that the president had a corrupt intent to obstruct the investigation," he said.

How Mueller's decision on obstruction helped save US President Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Thursday with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, the White House said in a statement.

The two leaders discussed Washington`s "continued support for the United Arab Emirates` national defense, strengthening alliances in the region, and the impact of the Administration’s crippling sanctions on Iran," the statement said.

"They also spoke about UAE’s contributions to the global energy markets as a reliable supplier of oil," it said.

US President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Thursday with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, the White House said in a statement.

US President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Thursday with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, the White House said in a statement. The two leaders discussed Washington`s "continued support for the United Arab Emirates` national defense, strengthening alliances in the region, and the impact of the Administration’s crippling sanctions on Iran," the statement said. "They also spoke about UAE’s contributions to the global energy markets as a reliable supplier of oil," it said.

Trump spoke with Abu Dhabi crown prince on Thursday: White House

Japan will invite US President Donald Trump to visit Japan May 25 to 28, its top government spokesman said on Friday.

Trump will meet Japan's new emperor and empress as well as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his visit, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference.

US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania will be the first foreign state guests to visit Japan and meet with Crown Prince Naruhito after his elevation to the emperor, the White House said Thursday.

Trump will travel to Japan from May 25 to 28 "as the country's first state guests following the enthronement of His Majesty Emperor Naruhito on May 1, 2019," Trump spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement.

Trump will also hold talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in addition to a visit by Abe to Washington on April 26-27, Sanders said.

"The meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Abe will reaffirm the United States–Japan alliance as the cornerstone of peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world," Sanders said.

Trump is expected to return to Japan in June for the G20 summit being held in Osaka.

Japan will invite US President Donald Trump to visit Japan May 25 to 28, its top government spokesman said on Friday. Trump will meet Japan's new emperor and empress as well as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his visit, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference.

Japan will invite US President Donald Trump to visit Japan May 25 to 28, its top government spokesman said on Friday. Trump will meet Japan's new emperor and empress as well as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his visit, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference. US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania will be the first foreign state guests to visit Japan and meet with Crown Prince Naruhito after his elevation to the emperor, the White House said Thursday. Trump will travel to Japan from May 25 to 28 "as the country's first state guests following the enthronement of His Majesty Emperor Naruhito on May 1, 2019," Trump spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement. Trump will also hold talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in addition to a visit by Abe to Washington on April 26-27, Sanders said. "The meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Abe will reaffirm the United States–Japan alliance as the cornerstone of peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world," Sanders said. Trump is expected to return to Japan in June for the G20 summit being held in Osaka.

Trump to be first foreign leader to meet Japan's new emperor: White House

The White House said on Friday that President Donald Trump spoke by phone to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/libyas-unity-government-issues-arrest-warrant-for-khalifa-haftar-211616">Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar </a>and discussed "ongoing counterterrorism efforts" by the leader of a military assault on the capital of Libya in opposition to the country's internationally recognized government.

A White House statement said Trump "recognized Field Marshal Haftar’s significant role in fighting terrorism and securing Libya’s oil resources, and the two discussed a shared vision for Libya’s transition to a stable, democratic political system."

It was unclear why the White House waited several days to announce the phone call, which took place on Monday. Europe and the Gulf have been divided over a push to seize Tripoli by Haftar's eastern forces.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="http://13.232.42.114/videos/libya-crisis-tripoli-offensive-continues-211212/embed" width="560" height="350" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

In Tripoli on Friday, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/libya-united-nations-chief-urges-ceasefire-to-avert-bloody-battle-for-tripoli-209548">shelling could be heard</a> in southern parts of the city as in previous days, residents said. No more details were available immediately.

On Thursday, both the United States and Russia said they could not support a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Libya at this time.

Also on Thursday, mortar bombs crashed down on a suburb of Tripoli, almost hitting a clinic, after two weeks of an offensive by Haftar's eastern troops on the Libyan capital, which is held by an internationally recognized government.

&nbsp;

Trump arrived on Thursday at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, for the Easter weekend.

Russia objects to the British-drafted resolution blaming Haftar for the latest flare-up in violence when his Libyan National Army (LNA) advanced to the outskirts of Tripoli earlier this month, diplomats said.

The United States did not give a reason for its decision not to support the draft resolution, which would also call on countries with influence over the warring parties to ensure compliance and for unconditional humanitarian aid access in Libya. The country has been gripped by anarchy since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011.

White House national security adviser John Bolton also spoke recently to Haftar.

Jalel Harchaoui, research fellow at the Clingendael Institute international relations think tank in The Hague, said the Trump phone call was tantamount to supporting Haftar's operation and thus is "creating an environment where a military intervention by foreign states, like Egypt, is likelier."

"One reason behind Trump’s phone call is that Haftar’s army has revealed itself less powerful than the Libyan strongman had claimed," Harchaoui said.

Haftar was among officers who helped Colonel Muammar Gaddafi rise to power in 1969 but fell out with him during Libya's war with Chad in the 1980s. Haftar was taken prisoner by the Chadians and had to be rescued by the CIA after having worked from Chad to overthrow Gaddafi.

He lived for around 20 years in the US state of Virginia before returning home in 2011 to join other rebels in the uprising that ousted Gaddafi.

The White House said on Friday that President Donald Trump spoke by phone to Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar and discussed "ongoing counterterrorism efforts" by the leader of a military assault on the capital of Libya in opposition to the country's internationally recognized government.

The White House said on Friday that President Donald Trump spoke by phone to Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar and discussed "ongoing counterterrorism efforts" by the leader of a military assault on the capital of Libya in opposition to the country's internationally recognized government. A White House statement said Trump "recognized Field Marshal Haftar’s significant role in fighting terrorism and securing Libya’s oil resources, and the two discussed a shared vision for Libya’s transition to a stable, democratic political system." It was unclear why the White House waited several days to announce the phone call, which took place on Monday. Europe and the Gulf have been divided over a push to seize Tripoli by Haftar's eastern forces. In Tripoli on Friday, shelling could be heard in southern parts of the city as in previous days, residents said. No more details were available immediately. On Thursday, both the United States and Russia said they could not support a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Libya at this time. Also on Thursday, mortar bombs crashed down on a suburb of Tripoli, almost hitting a clinic, after two weeks of an offensive by Haftar's eastern troops on the Libyan capital, which is held by an internationally recognized government. Trump arrived on Thursday at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, for the Easter weekend. Russia objects to the British-drafted resolution blaming Haftar for the latest flare-up in violence when his Libyan National Army (LNA) advanced to the outskirts of Tripoli earlier this month, diplomats said. The United States did not give a reason for its decision not to support the draft resolution, which would also call on countries with influence over the warring parties to ensure compliance and for unconditional humanitarian aid access in Libya. The country has been gripped by anarchy since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011. White House national security adviser John Bolton also spoke recently to Haftar. Jalel Harchaoui, research fellow at the Clingendael Institute international relations think tank in The Hague, said the Trump phone call was tantamount to supporting Haftar's operation and thus is "creating an environment where a military intervention by foreign states, like Egypt, is likelier." "One reason behind Trump’s phone call is that Haftar’s army has revealed itself less powerful than the Libyan strongman had claimed," Harchaoui said. Haftar was among officers who helped Colonel Muammar Gaddafi rise to power in 1969 but fell out with him during Libya's war with Chad in the 1980s. Haftar was taken prisoner by the Chadians and had to be rescued by the CIA after having worked from Chad to overthrow Gaddafi. He lived for around 20 years in the US state of Virginia before returning home in 2011 to join other rebels in the uprising that ousted Gaddafi.

Trump spoke to commander Haftar, they shared vision for Libya’s transition: White House

US Attorney General William P&nbsp;Barr informed today that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-mueller-report-trump-lashes-greatest-political-hoax-211549">Mueller report found Russians</a> did not have <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/im-having-a-good-day-says-trump-after-mueller-report-release-211602">Trump's cooperation in the 2016 US elections</a>.

The Attorney General said Russians did try to interfere in the US presidential elections.

Barr while releasing the 400-page report at a press conference said the president did not obstruct justice.

The White House has freely cooperated in the report, Barr said. The president did not thwart the probe, he added.

Trump's lawyers reviewed Mueller report ahead of release, the attorney general informed.

"There is substantial evidence to show that the president was frustrated and angered by a sincere belief that the investigation was undermining his presidency, propelled by his political opponents, and fueled by illegal leaks," Barr said ahead of the release of the Mueller report.

"Nonetheless, the White House fully cooperated with the special counsel's investigation, providing unfettered access to campaign and White House documents, directing senior aides to testify freely, and asserting no privilege claims," he said.

"And at the same time, the president took no act that in fact deprived the special counsel of the documents and witnesses necessary to complete his investigation," Barr said.

President Donald Trump's lawyers were able to review the redacted version of the Mueller report on Russian meddling earlier this week before its release Thursday, Attorney General Bill Barr said.

The White House made no changes on the final report and did not assert executive privilege to protect internal White House information, Barr added.

US Attorney General William P Barr informed today that Mueller report found Russians did not have Trump's cooperation in the 2016 US elections. The Attorney General said Russians did try to interfere in the US presidential elections.

US Attorney General William P Barr informed today that Mueller report found Russians did not have Trump's cooperation in the 2016 US elections. The Attorney General said Russians did try to interfere in the US presidential elections. Barr while releasing the 400-page report at a press conference said the president did not obstruct justice. The White House has freely cooperated in the report, Barr said. The president did not thwart the probe, he added. Trump's lawyers reviewed Mueller report ahead of release, the attorney general informed. "There is substantial evidence to show that the president was frustrated and angered by a sincere belief that the investigation was undermining his presidency, propelled by his political opponents, and fueled by illegal leaks," Barr said ahead of the release of the Mueller report. "Nonetheless, the White House fully cooperated with the special counsel's investigation, providing unfettered access to campaign and White House documents, directing senior aides to testify freely, and asserting no privilege claims," he said. "And at the same time, the president took no act that in fact deprived the special counsel of the documents and witnesses necessary to complete his investigation," Barr said. President Donald Trump's lawyers were able to review the redacted version of the Mueller report on Russian meddling earlier this week before its release Thursday, Attorney General Bill Barr said. The White House made no changes on the final report and did not assert executive privilege to protect internal White House information, Barr added.

Russia tried to interfere with US presidential polls, Trump did not cooperate, says Attorney General William Barr while releasing full report

Amid pressure from Washington, Mexico is back-pedalling on promises of better treatment for Central American migrants, leaving hundreds stranded in unsanitary camps near its southern border and allegations of irregular detentions.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador promised more humane treatment for Central American migrants when he took office in December. His left-leaning government issued thousands of year-long humanitarian visas in January, giving migrants legal access to jobs and the right to travel to the United States.

However, caught off guard by a surge in arrivals, Lopez Obrador's administration is resorting to old tactics based on tough law enforcement.

Mexico has halted the liberal visa policy and ramped up detentions of migrants heading north, government data shows, following criticism from US President Donald Trump of a jump in the number of Central American asylum seekers reaching the US&nbsp;border in February.

Trump, who is expected to make border security central to his 2020 re-election bid, has vowed to limit trade with Mexico if it does not help slow immigration.

While Lopez Obrador's government has said it will not react to "threats", sources familiar with Mexican policy, who asked not to be identified, said near-daily US government pressure had led the interior and foreign ministries to push the National Migration Institute (INM) for tougher action.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Unreleased INM data, reviewed by Reuters, showed that it detained 12,746 undocumented migrants for registration in March, up by nearly one-third from February and two-thirds from January.

The agency also stopped processing new applications for humanitarian visas on Jan. 28, after issuing some 13,000 - mostly to Central Americans arriving that month in the southern border state of Chiapas, the site of most migrant arrivals.

A few thousand more visas were issued in February, but none since, said an INM official in Mexico City, who was not officially authorized to speak to the media and asked to remain anonymous.

INM said in a statement earlier this month it remained open to issuing humanitarian visas in Chiapas, with priority given to women, children and the elderly.

In Chiapas, the INM's decision to close its main office in the border city of Tapachula a month ago has forced hundreds of migrants to travel 65 miles (105 km) north to the smaller town of Mapastepec, where they have languished in sweltering temperatures, hoping for humanitarian visas.

"It's madness that they're making us wait so long. For what? For nothing!" said Daisy Maldonado, a 26-year-old from Honduras, camping in a field in Mapastepec opposite a sports stadium.

Hundreds of bedraggled men, women and children have been sheltering for nearly three weeks inside the stadium, as migration officials registered their identities while neglecting the group camped over the road, rights groups and migrants said.

Without water, medical help or government attention, Maldonado's group was dependent on scant handouts from locals, they said. Maldonado's daughter, Marisol, 5, wailed with hunger beside her, in a bivouac she had built from dried palm branches.

A coalition of over a dozen human rights and humanitarian aid groups operating in Chiapas has called the buildup of stranded migrants a "humanitarian crisis," and said the confusion over visas was worsening the plight of migrants.

"The government is responding with practices and repressive methods similar to the previous administration in terms of control and deportation, but in a way that's even more disorderly," said Salva Lacruz, a coordinator at Fray Matias de Cordova, a migrant group that operates in Chiapas. "In some ways, it's worse."

INM Commissioner Tonatiuh Guillén López said in a recent interview his agency was taking a "stricter" approach in southern Mexico because of the influx of migrants in Chiapas. However, he denied that was a response to US pressure and said Mexico was pressing ahead with more humane migration policies.

'HUMANITARIAN CRISIS'

INM officials said they closed the main regional office in Tapachula on March 15 after Cuban migrants stormed the premises, enraged that they were not seeing faster results.

Rights groups and migrants, however, dispute this.

Nonetheless, the closure has created a bottleneck of visa applicants, hundreds of whom headed north to Mapastepec.

On Saturday, INM suddenly halted registration at the stadium in Mapastepec and said migrants would have to wait at least a month longer.

INM said work had been stopped after some migrants had caused a disturbance requiring police to intervene and registration would continue at another site, without providing details.

Even those who had been registered inside the stadium had been given no indication from INM officials if or when they would receive humanitarian visas almost two weeks after being processed, said Silvia Rodriguez, 26, a Honduran citizen.

On Wednesday, the INM said it would not issue any humanitarian visas in Mapastepec, but migrants would instead be able to request a seven-day permit to visit Mexico's southern border states, which would not allow them to journey northward.

It also said migrants would be notified of that once an evaluation of the registrants was completed.

Despite the uncertainty, many migrants preferred to wait to request legal status before continuing their journey in caravans. Migrants who travel alone and without papers in Mexico are frequent prey for kidnappers and smugglers, in addition to risking detention or extortion by police.

Erick Morazan, a 28-year-old from Honduras, said he traveled to Mapastepec by night with a group of other migrants to avoid sweeps by immigration officials, in what he called a "caravan of zombies."

"Migration officials are grabbing us like pigs," said Morazan, travelling with two children.

In an effort to stem the build up of migrants in Chiapas, INM said this month that citizens of El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala will be able to register for the visas through Mexican consulates in their home countries from late May.

DETENTION OVERCROWDING

While INM closed its registration offices in Tapachula, a detention centre at the site remains open. An increase in detentions in the border area means the site is crammed with 1,700 people, the rights collective said in its report.

That's about double its capacity and double the usual number held there, according to migrant group Fray Matias, which monitors the centre.

The collective reported black eyes and bruised bodies among detainees it said were the result of beatings by police who entered the centre to control a disturbance last week. Reuters was not able to independently verify this.

Mexican law enforcement representatives did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

Lacruz of Fray Matias said at least 30 migrants had been irregularly detained at the Tapachula facility despite having applied for asylum with the Mexican Refugee Help Commission (COMAR), in contravention of Mexican law.

INM did not respond to requests for comment about the allegations of overcrowding and irregular detentions.

The institute says that migrants held in its facilities are not detained but are simply being held for processing, though rights groups and migrants say they are not free to leave, often for days or weeks.

Many undocumented migrants are also deported after processing in the centres. Mexico flew about 60 Cubans back to the island this month and sent 204 Hondurans home on Saturday.

Richard Pioenza, a US citizen originally from Cuba, said his wife Yildiz Gomez had been held more than 20 days in the centre despite having papers showing she had applied for asylum.

"She's inside. She's not eating well," Pioenza said. "She's sleeping on the floor."

Reuters was unable to contact Gomez directly.

Pioenza said his wife applied for refugee status after arriving in Mexico in March to ease her passage to the US&nbsp;border where she was planning to apply for asylum from political repression in Cuba.

After a request from Reuters for verification on Gomez and five other cases of suspected irregular detentions, the Mexican refugee agency said on Monday it would send a team to the centre.

Amid pressure from Washington, Mexico is back-pedalling on promises of better treatment for Central American migrants, leaving hundreds stranded in unsanitary camps near its southern border and allegations of irregular detentions.

Amid pressure from Washington, Mexico is back-pedalling on promises of better treatment for Central American migrants, leaving hundreds stranded in unsanitary camps near its southern border and allegations of irregular detentions. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador promised more humane treatment for Central American migrants when he took office in December. His left-leaning government issued thousands of year-long humanitarian visas in January, giving migrants legal access to jobs and the right to travel to the United States. However, caught off guard by a surge in arrivals, Lopez Obrador's administration is resorting to old tactics based on tough law enforcement. Mexico has halted the liberal visa policy and ramped up detentions of migrants heading north, government data shows, following criticism from US President Donald Trump of a jump in the number of Central American asylum seekers reaching the US border in February. Trump, who is expected to make border security central to his 2020 re-election bid, has vowed to limit trade with Mexico if it does not help slow immigration. While Lopez Obrador's government has said it will not react to "threats", sources familiar with Mexican policy, who asked not to be identified, said near-daily US government pressure had led the interior and foreign ministries to push the National Migration Institute (INM) for tougher action. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Unreleased INM data, reviewed by Reuters, showed that it detained 12,746 undocumented migrants for registration in March, up by nearly one-third from February and two-thirds from January. The agency also stopped processing new applications for humanitarian visas on Jan. 28, after issuing some 13,000 - mostly to Central Americans arriving that month in the southern border state of Chiapas, the site of most migrant arrivals. A few thousand more visas were issued in February, but none since, said an INM official in Mexico City, who was not officially authorized to speak to the media and asked to remain anonymous. INM said in a statement earlier this month it remained open to issuing humanitarian visas in Chiapas, with priority given to women, children and the elderly. In Chiapas, the INM's decision to close its main office in the border city of Tapachula a month ago has forced hundreds of migrants to travel 65 miles (105 km) north to the smaller town of Mapastepec, where they have languished in sweltering temperatures, hoping for humanitarian visas. "It's madness that they're making us wait so long. For what? For nothing!" said Daisy Maldonado, a 26-year-old from Honduras, camping in a field in Mapastepec opposite a sports stadium. Hundreds of bedraggled men, women and children have been sheltering for nearly three weeks inside the stadium, as migration officials registered their identities while neglecting the group camped over the road, rights groups and migrants said. Without water, medical help or government attention, Maldonado's group was dependent on scant handouts from locals, they said. Maldonado's daughter, Marisol, 5, wailed with hunger beside her, in a bivouac she had built from dried palm branches. A coalition of over a dozen human rights and humanitarian aid groups operating in Chiapas has called the buildup of stranded migrants a "humanitarian crisis," and said the confusion over visas was worsening the plight of migrants. "The government is responding with practices and repressive methods similar to the previous administration in terms of control and deportation, but in a way that's even more disorderly," said Salva Lacruz, a coordinator at Fray Matias de Cordova, a migrant group that operates in Chiapas. "In some ways, it's worse." INM Commissioner Tonatiuh Guillén López said in a recent interview his agency was taking a "stricter" approach in southern Mexico because of the influx of migrants in Chiapas. However, he denied that was a response to US pressure and said Mexico was pressing ahead with more humane migration policies. 'HUMANITARIAN CRISIS' INM officials said they closed the main regional office in Tapachula on March 15 after Cuban migrants stormed the premises, enraged that they were not seeing faster results. Rights groups and migrants, however, dispute this. Nonetheless, the closure has created a bottleneck of visa applicants, hundreds of whom headed north to Mapastepec. On Saturday, INM suddenly halted registration at the stadium in Mapastepec and said migrants would have to wait at least a month longer. INM said work had been stopped after some migrants had caused a disturbance requiring police to intervene and registration would continue at another site, without providing details. Even those who had been registered inside the stadium had been given no indication from INM officials if or when they would receive humanitarian visas almost two weeks after being processed, said Silvia Rodriguez, 26, a Honduran citizen. On Wednesday, the INM said it would not issue any humanitarian visas in Mapastepec, but migrants would instead be able to request a seven-day permit to visit Mexico's southern border states, which would not allow them to journey northward. It also said migrants would be notified of that once an evaluation of the registrants was completed. Despite the uncertainty, many migrants preferred to wait to request legal status before continuing their journey in caravans. Migrants who travel alone and without papers in Mexico are frequent prey for kidnappers and smugglers, in addition to risking detention or extortion by police. Erick Morazan, a 28-year-old from Honduras, said he traveled to Mapastepec by night with a group of other migrants to avoid sweeps by immigration officials, in what he called a "caravan of zombies." "Migration officials are grabbing us like pigs," said Morazan, travelling with two children. In an effort to stem the build up of migrants in Chiapas, INM said this month that citizens of El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala will be able to register for the visas through Mexican consulates in their home countries from late May. DETENTION OVERCROWDING While INM closed its registration offices in Tapachula, a detention centre at the site remains open. An increase in detentions in the border area means the site is crammed with 1,700 people, the rights collective said in its report. That's about double its capacity and double the usual number held there, according to migrant group Fray Matias, which monitors the centre. The collective reported black eyes and bruised bodies among detainees it said were the result of beatings by police who entered the centre to control a disturbance last week. Reuters was not able to independently verify this. Mexican law enforcement representatives did not immediately reply to requests for comment. Lacruz of Fray Matias said at least 30 migrants had been irregularly detained at the Tapachula facility despite having applied for asylum with the Mexican Refugee Help Commission (COMAR), in contravention of Mexican law. INM did not respond to requests for comment about the allegations of overcrowding and irregular detentions. The institute says that migrants held in its facilities are not detained but are simply being held for processing, though rights groups and migrants say they are not free to leave, often for days or weeks. Many undocumented migrants are also deported after processing in the centres. Mexico flew about 60 Cubans back to the island this month and sent 204 Hondurans home on Saturday. Richard Pioenza, a US citizen originally from Cuba, said his wife Yildiz Gomez had been held more than 20 days in the centre despite having papers showing she had applied for asylum. "She's inside. She's not eating well," Pioenza said. "She's sleeping on the floor." Reuters was unable to contact Gomez directly. Pioenza said his wife applied for refugee status after arriving in Mexico in March to ease her passage to the US border where she was planning to apply for asylum from political repression in Cuba. After a request from Reuters for verification on Gomez and five other cases of suspected irregular detentions, the Mexican refugee agency said on Monday it would send a team to the centre.

Migrant camps overflow as Mexico cracks down after Trump threats

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-trump-vetoes-resolution-calling-to-end-us-support-in-yemen-war-211018">President Trump vetoes resolution calling to end US support in Yemen war</a>

President Donald Trump has vetoed a congressional resolution that sought to end US involvement in the Saudi-led war in Yemen, the White House said on Tuesday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-worlds-biggest-one-day-election-indonesia-votes-for-its-president-211029">In world's biggest one-day election, Indonesia votes for its president</a>

Indonesians began voting in the&nbsp;world's biggest single-day election&nbsp;on Wednesday as polling stations opened across the sprawling equatorial archipelago following a six-month campaign to choose a new president and parliament.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/only-strong-can-talk-about-peace-nobody-listens-to-a-weak-nation-pm-modi-in-odisha-211021">Only strong can talk about peace, nobody listens to a weak nation: PM Modi in Odisha</a>

Prime Minister&nbsp;Narendra Modi&nbsp;Tuesday slammed the Congress for being "soft" towards terrorism for 40 years and said India can now talk about peace after it exhibited the strength by destroying terror camps across the border.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bahrain-jails-138-for-planning-iran-linked-terror-group-211019">Bahrain jails 138 for planning Iran-linked 'terror' group</a>

The Gulf state of Bahrain Tuesday jailed 138 people and revoked their citizenship for plotting to form a "terror" group with links to&nbsp;Iran's Revolutionary Guards, the public prosecutor said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeing-737-max-software-upgrade-operationally-suitable-faa-panel-211034">Boeing 737 MAX software upgrade 'operationally suitable': FAA panel</a>

A review by a&nbsp;US&nbsp;Federal Aviation Administration panel into Boeing Co's grounded 737 MAX aircraft found a planned software update and training revisions to be "operationally suitable," the agency said Tuesday, an important milestone in getting the planes back in the air.

President Trump vetoes resolution calling to end US support in Yemen war President Donald Trump has vetoed a congressional resolution that sought to end US involvement in the Saudi-led war in Yemen, the White House said on Tuesday.

President Trump vetoes resolution calling to end US support in Yemen war President Donald Trump has vetoed a congressional resolution that sought to end US involvement in the Saudi-led war in Yemen, the White House said on Tuesday. In world's biggest one-day election, Indonesia votes for its president Indonesians began voting in the world's biggest single-day election on Wednesday as polling stations opened across the sprawling equatorial archipelago following a six-month campaign to choose a new president and parliament. Only strong can talk about peace, nobody listens to a weak nation: PM Modi in Odisha Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday slammed the Congress for being "soft" towards terrorism for 40 years and said India can now talk about peace after it exhibited the strength by destroying terror camps across the border. Bahrain jails 138 for planning Iran-linked 'terror' group The Gulf state of Bahrain Tuesday jailed 138 people and revoked their citizenship for plotting to form a "terror" group with links to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, the public prosecutor said. Boeing 737 MAX software upgrade 'operationally suitable': FAA panel A review by a US Federal Aviation Administration panel into Boeing Co's grounded 737 MAX aircraft found a planned software update and training revisions to be "operationally suitable," the agency said Tuesday, an important milestone in getting the planes back in the air.

News brief: Big stories of the day

The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal were awarded Pulitzer Prizes on Tuesday for their separate investigations of President Donald Trump and his family.

The Times won the prestigious journalism award for a probe of the Trump family's finances that "debunked his claims of self-made wealth and revealed a business empire riddled with tax dodges," the Pulitzer Prize Board announced during a ceremony at New York's Columbia University.

The Journal won for its coverage of Trump's secret hush money payments to two women during his 2016 presidential campaign who claimed to have had affairs with him.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel won a Pulitzer for its coverage of failings by school and law enforcement officials before and after the February 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was honoured for its coverage of the October 2018 shooting at a synagogue in the city that left 11 people dead. 
The Associated Press won a Pulitzer for international reporting for its coverage of the war on drugs in the Philippines.

Reuters was honoured for international reporting for its coverage of atrocities committed against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

In other categories, "The Overstory" by Richard Powers won the Pulitzer for fiction and "Fairview" by Jackie Sibblies Drury won the prize for drama.

Special citations were awarded to soul legend Aretha Franklin for her contributions to music and to the staff of the Capital Gazette newspaper of Annapolis, Maryland, which lost five employees in a June 2018 shooting.&nbsp;

The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal were awarded Pulitzer Prizes on Tuesday for their separate investigations of President Donald Trump and his family.

The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal were awarded Pulitzer Prizes on Tuesday for their separate investigations of President Donald Trump and his family. The Times won the prestigious journalism award for a probe of the Trump family's finances that "debunked his claims of self-made wealth and revealed a business empire riddled with tax dodges," the Pulitzer Prize Board announced during a ceremony at New York's Columbia University. The Journal won for its coverage of Trump's secret hush money payments to two women during his 2016 presidential campaign who claimed to have had affairs with him. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel won a Pulitzer for its coverage of failings by school and law enforcement officials before and after the February 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was honoured for its coverage of the October 2018 shooting at a synagogue in the city that left 11 people dead. The Associated Press won a Pulitzer for international reporting for its coverage of the war on drugs in the Philippines. Reuters was honoured for international reporting for its coverage of atrocities committed against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. In other categories, "The Overstory" by Richard Powers won the Pulitzer for fiction and "Fairview" by Jackie Sibblies Drury won the prize for drama. Special citations were awarded to soul legend Aretha Franklin for her contributions to music and to the staff of the Capital Gazette newspaper of Annapolis, Maryland, which lost five employees in a June 2018 shooting.

New York Times, Wall Street Journal win Pulitzers for Trump probes

US president Donald Trump gave "branding" advice to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-lawsuit-filed-against-boeing-over-ethiopian-airlines-crash-206561">struggling Boeing company</a> in the wake of the 737 MAX fiasco asserting that "if I were Boeing, I would FIX the Boeing 737 MAX, add some additional great features, &amp; REBRAND the plane with a new name."

On Friday, Boeing had announced it would cut production of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-airlines-crash-official-report-states-crew-followed-procedures-ceo-says-proud-of-crashed-pilots-efforts-to-save-flight-207903">737 aircraft to 42 planes</a> per month after two recent crashes as its stocks plunged after the announcement.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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What do I know about branding, maybe nothing (but I did become President!), but if I were Boeing, I would FIX the Boeing 737 MAX, add some additional great features, &amp; REBRAND the plane with a new name. 
No product has suffered like this one. But again, what the hell do I know?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1117736685721223168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Boeing also announced it was establishing an advisory panel to review its company-wide policies for designing and developing planes. 
&nbsp; 
Trump in is a tweet, however, said: "No product has suffered like this one. But again, what the hell do I know?"

"What do I know about branding, maybe nothing (but I did become President!), but if I were Boeing."

The US Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) had said last week that more work was needed before the aerospace giant could even submit a proposed fix that is believed to be a factor in the disasters.

Boeing has been hit by two crashes in the past six months, the first in October last year led to the death of 189 people as the Lion Air passenger aircraft crashed. Last month on March 10th Ethiopian Airlines crashed killing all 157 people onboard. The twin crashes led all countries to ground their 737 MAX aircraft as concerns were raised over the flight control system on the plane.

Scrutiny has centred on the MAX 737s anti-stall system, manoeuvring characteristics augmentation system, which is believed to at fault.&nbsp;

Boeing said it would take "any and all" necessary safety measures to ensure the airworthiness of its aircraft.

The company said it plans to release a software fix to the anti-stall system used aboard the 737 MAX aircraft in the coming weeks.&nbsp;

US president Donald Trump gave "branding" advice to the struggling Boeing company in the wake of the 737 MAX fiasco asserting that "if I were Boeing, I would FIX the Boeing 737 MAX, add some additional great features, & REBRAND the plane with a new name.

US president Donald Trump gave "branding" advice to the struggling Boeing company in the wake of the 737 MAX fiasco asserting that "if I were Boeing, I would FIX the Boeing 737 MAX, add some additional great features, & REBRAND the plane with a new name." On Friday, Boeing had announced it would cut production of 737 aircraft to 42 planes per month after two recent crashes as its stocks plunged after the announcement. What do I know about branding, maybe nothing (but I did become President!), but if I were Boeing, I would FIX the Boeing 737 MAX, add some additional great features, & REBRAND the plane with a new name. No product has suffered like this one. But again, what the hell do I know? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 15, 2019 × Boeing also announced it was establishing an advisory panel to review its company-wide policies for designing and developing planes. Trump in is a tweet, however, said: "No product has suffered like this one. But again, what the hell do I know?" "What do I know about branding, maybe nothing (but I did become President!), but if I were Boeing." The US Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) had said last week that more work was needed before the aerospace giant could even submit a proposed fix that is believed to be a factor in the disasters. Boeing has been hit by two crashes in the past six months, the first in October last year led to the death of 189 people as the Lion Air passenger aircraft crashed. Last month on March 10th Ethiopian Airlines crashed killing all 157 people onboard. The twin crashes led all countries to ground their 737 MAX aircraft as concerns were raised over the flight control system on the plane. Scrutiny has centred on the MAX 737s anti-stall system, manoeuvring characteristics augmentation system, which is believed to at fault. Boeing said it would take "any and all" necessary safety measures to ensure the airworthiness of its aircraft. The company said it plans to release a software fix to the anti-stall system used aboard the 737 MAX aircraft in the coming weeks.

If I were Boeing, I would fix 737 MAX and rebrand the plane with a new name, tweets Trump

US President Donald Trump's controversial <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-supreme-court-allows-trump-military-transgender-ban-to-go-into-effect-192069">ban on transgender Americans in the military</a> came into force on Friday following a protracted legal battle that went all the way to the nation's top court.

Trump's administration has insisted that there is "too great a risk to military effectiveness and lethality" to allow <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-sets-limits-on-transgender-troops-203002">transgender people to serve</a> -- reversing a policy enacted under his predecessor Barack Obama.

The Pentagon says the restrictions are not a blanket ban, but they would bar many if not most people who identify as transgender from enlisting in America's armed forces, and could also impact currently serving personnel.

"This policy will ensure that the US military maintains the highest standards necessary to achieve maximum readiness, deployability, and lethality to fight and win on the battlefield," the Department of Defense says on its website.

The policy -- which has undergone various iterations since Trump first announced it on Twitter in July 2017 -- has been widely criticized by rights activists and has been repeatedly challenged in court.

The US Supreme Court ruled in January that the policy could take effect pending the outcome of ongoing litigation.

Under the latest version, no one who has transitioned to another gender or who requires hormone treatment will be able to enlist.

Those who have been diagnosed with "gender dysphoria" are also "presumptively disqualified" from enlisting unless they have been "stable for 36 months and (are) willing and able to serve in (their) biological sex," according to the Department of Defense.

Gender dysphoria, according to the American Psychiatric Association says "involves a conflict between a person's physical or assigned gender and the gender with which he/she/they identify."

Serving troops who already transitioned or requested gender reassignment surgery prior to Friday are allowed to remain in the military.

But starting on Friday, those who are newly diagnosed with gender dysphoria may be discharged if they are "unable or unwilling to serve in (their) biological sex," the Department of Defense says.

Repeating 'don't ask, don't tell'

Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center, a research institute focusing on sexual minorities in the military, said the policy amounts to a ban that will force <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spains-angela-ponce-becomes-first-transgender-woman-to-compete-in-miss-universe-184635">transgender</a> troops to remain "silent and invisible."

"It is 'don't ask, don't tell' all over again," said Belkin, referring to the policy under which gay service members had to hide their sexual orientation or face dismissal from the military.

"The Trump-Pence transgender troop ban is dangerous for both transgender people and our national security," said&nbsp;

Sarah McBride of the Human Rights Campaign described the policy as a national security threat.&nbsp;

"The fact that a service member who came out on Thursday can continue to serve openly while a service member who comes out on Monday can't only reinforces the cruel and arbitrary nature of this ban," she said in a statement.

Under the Obama-era policy, transgender recruits were to start being accepted by July 1, 2017. The Trump administration postponed that date to January 1, 2018, before deciding to reverse the policy entirely.

The Pentagon estimates that 9,000 out of a total of 1.3 million active-duty personnel identify as transgender. Of those, 1,000 say they have undergone gender reassignment surgery or want to.

Transgender rights activists say the figure is higher.

"As many as 15,000 transgender service members stand to lose their jobs," Army Staff Sergeant Patricia King, who is transgender, told ABC News this week.

"For those of us who are grandfathered in because we've already come out and we already have a diagnosis, there's the possibility for systematic discrimination," King said.

The new policy is "indefensible," Meghan McCain, daughter of the late senator John McCain, wrote on Twitter.

"This discriminatory policy will lead Transgender service members, patriots who have decided to serve their nation, to live in the shadows," she wrote

US President Donald Trump's controversial ban on transgender Americans in the military came into force on Friday following a protracted legal battle that went all the way to the nation's top court.

US President Donald Trump's controversial ban on transgender Americans in the military came into force on Friday following a protracted legal battle that went all the way to the nation's top court. Trump's administration has insisted that there is "too great a risk to military effectiveness and lethality" to allow transgender people to serve -- reversing a policy enacted under his predecessor Barack Obama. The Pentagon says the restrictions are not a blanket ban, but they would bar many if not most people who identify as transgender from enlisting in America's armed forces, and could also impact currently serving personnel. "This policy will ensure that the US military maintains the highest standards necessary to achieve maximum readiness, deployability, and lethality to fight and win on the battlefield," the Department of Defense says on its website. The policy -- which has undergone various iterations since Trump first announced it on Twitter in July 2017 -- has been widely criticized by rights activists and has been repeatedly challenged in court. The US Supreme Court ruled in January that the policy could take effect pending the outcome of ongoing litigation. Under the latest version, no one who has transitioned to another gender or who requires hormone treatment will be able to enlist. Those who have been diagnosed with "gender dysphoria" are also "presumptively disqualified" from enlisting unless they have been "stable for 36 months and (are) willing and able to serve in (their) biological sex," according to the Department of Defense. Gender dysphoria, according to the American Psychiatric Association says "involves a conflict between a person's physical or assigned gender and the gender with which he/she/they identify." Serving troops who already transitioned or requested gender reassignment surgery prior to Friday are allowed to remain in the military. But starting on Friday, those who are newly diagnosed with gender dysphoria may be discharged if they are "unable or unwilling to serve in (their) biological sex," the Department of Defense says. Repeating 'don't ask, don't tell' Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center, a research institute focusing on sexual minorities in the military, said the policy amounts to a ban that will force transgender troops to remain "silent and invisible." "It is 'don't ask, don't tell' all over again," said Belkin, referring to the policy under which gay service members had to hide their sexual orientation or face dismissal from the military. "The Trump-Pence transgender troop ban is dangerous for both transgender people and our national security," said Sarah McBride of the Human Rights Campaign described the policy as a national security threat. "The fact that a service member who came out on Thursday can continue to serve openly while a service member who comes out on Monday can't only reinforces the cruel and arbitrary nature of this ban," she said in a statement. Under the Obama-era policy, transgender recruits were to start being accepted by July 1, 2017. The Trump administration postponed that date to January 1, 2018, before deciding to reverse the policy entirely. The Pentagon estimates that 9,000 out of a total of 1.3 million active-duty personnel identify as transgender. Of those, 1,000 say they have undergone gender reassignment surgery or want to. Transgender rights activists say the figure is higher. "As many as 15,000 transgender service members stand to lose their jobs," Army Staff Sergeant Patricia King, who is transgender, told ABC News this week. "For those of us who are grandfathered in because we've already come out and we already have a diagnosis, there's the possibility for systematic discrimination," King said. The new policy is "indefensible," Meghan McCain, daughter of the late senator John McCain, wrote on Twitter. "This discriminatory policy will lead Transgender service members, patriots who have decided to serve their nation, to live in the shadows," she wrote

Trump's ban on transgender troops in military takes effect

President Donald Trump considered nominating his daughter to head the World Bank, and she also would have been "great" as US ambassador to the United Nations, he said in an interview published Friday.

"She's a natural diplomat," Trump told The Atlantic. "She would've been great at the United Nations, as an example."

But if he had nominated his daughter -- who is a senior advisor to the president -- "they'd say nepotism, when it would've had nothing to do with nepotism. But she would've been incredible."

"I even thought of Ivanka for the World Bank," Trump said. "She would've been great at that because she's very good with numbers."

"She's got a great calmness... I've seen her under tremendous stress and pressure. She reacts very well -- that's usually a genetic thing, but it's one of those things, nevertheless," Trump said.

Trump ultimately nominated Kelly Knight Craft, his envoy to Canada, to be the next US ambassador to the United Nations, while David Malpass, a senior US Treasury official, became the new head of the World Bank.

President Donald Trump considered nominating his daughter to head the World Bank, and she also would have been "great" as US ambassador to the United Nations, he said in an interview published Friday.

President Donald Trump considered nominating his daughter to head the World Bank, and she also would have been "great" as US ambassador to the United Nations, he said in an interview published Friday. "She's a natural diplomat," Trump told The Atlantic. "She would've been great at the United Nations, as an example." But if he had nominated his daughter -- who is a senior advisor to the president -- "they'd say nepotism, when it would've had nothing to do with nepotism. But she would've been incredible." "I even thought of Ivanka for the World Bank," Trump said. "She would've been great at that because she's very good with numbers." "She's got a great calmness... I've seen her under tremendous stress and pressure. She reacts very well -- that's usually a genetic thing, but it's one of those things, nevertheless," Trump said. Trump ultimately nominated Kelly Knight Craft, his envoy to Canada, to be the next US ambassador to the United Nations, while David Malpass, a senior US Treasury official, became the new head of the World Bank.

Trump considered nominating daughter Ivanka for head of World Bank

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-a-piece-of-paper-trump-called-on-kim-to-hand-over-nuclear-weapons-206692">US President Donald Trump </a>said Thursday he would discuss the possibility of further meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Welcoming&nbsp;South Korea's president Moon Jae to the White House, Trump said they would be "discussing... potential further meetings," as they seek a path forward following a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/donald-trump-kim-jong-un-summits-other-aim-was-to-sell-vietnam-model-to-north-korea-208086">failed nuclear summit between the US and North Korean leader</a>.

We will be discussing that and potential meetings, further meetings with North Korea and Kim Jong Un," Trump said.

"I enjoy the summits, I enjoy being with the chairman," he said.

Kim is "a person I've gotten to know very well and respect and hopefully and I really believe over a period of time a lot of tremendous things will happen. I think North Korea has a tremendous potential," Trump said.

The announcement comes months after Trump and Kim held an unsuccessful summit in Vietnam on February 28.

The summit in Vietnam's capital was cut short after Trump and Kim failed to reach a deal on the extent of economic sanctions relief for North Korea in exchange for its steps to give up its nuclear programme.

The first summit between Trump and Kim, held in Singapore in June 2018, was almost called off after the North Koreans rejected Bolton's repeated demands for it to follow a denuclearisation model.

Moon was in Washington for talks that he hoped would help put denuclearisation.

Trump extended his wishes to Kim in remarks with Moon by his side, while Moon told Trump that there was a dramatic turnaround in the situation on the Korean Peninsula after Trump's first meeting with Kim.

Moon said he believed Trump's diplomacy has led to a reduction in military tension and he believes the issues can be resolved through dialogue.

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he would discuss the possibility of further meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Welcoming South Korea's president Moon Jae to the White House, Trump said they would be "discussing.

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he would discuss the possibility of further meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Welcoming South Korea's president Moon Jae to the White House, Trump said they would be "discussing... potential further meetings," as they seek a path forward following a failed nuclear summit between the US and North Korean leader. We will be discussing that and potential meetings, further meetings with North Korea and Kim Jong Un," Trump said. "I enjoy the summits, I enjoy being with the chairman," he said. Kim is "a person I've gotten to know very well and respect and hopefully and I really believe over a period of time a lot of tremendous things will happen. I think North Korea has a tremendous potential," Trump said. The announcement comes months after Trump and Kim held an unsuccessful summit in Vietnam on February 28. The summit in Vietnam's capital was cut short after Trump and Kim failed to reach a deal on the extent of economic sanctions relief for North Korea in exchange for its steps to give up its nuclear programme. The first summit between Trump and Kim, held in Singapore in June 2018, was almost called off after the North Koreans rejected Bolton's repeated demands for it to follow a denuclearisation model. Moon was in Washington for talks that he hoped would help put denuclearisation. Trump extended his wishes to Kim in remarks with Moon by his side, while Moon told Trump that there was a dramatic turnaround in the situation on the Korean Peninsula after Trump's first meeting with Kim. Moon said he believed Trump's diplomacy has led to a reduction in military tension and he believes the issues can be resolved through dialogue. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump, Moon to discuss 'further meetings' with North Korea's Kim

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday&nbsp;he had not seen or read a report into <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/republicans-democrats-want-robert-mueller-to-testify-on-report-on-russian-meddling-in-2016-election-208903">Russian election meddling by Special Counsel Robert Mueller</a>, a day after his attorney general would not say whether he had briefed the White House or shared the report.

Attorney General William Barr on Tuesday declined to say whether he had briefed the White House or shown them the report when questioned at a congressional hearing.

"I have not read the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/robert-mueller-report-to-be-released-by-mid-april-attorney-general-206612">Mueller report</a>, I haven't seen the Mueller report. As far as I'm concerned I don't care about the Mueller report. I've been totally exonerated. No collusion, no obstruction," Trump told reporters at the White House.

Barr told lawmakers at a hearing he intended to release "within a week" a redacted version of the long-awaited report, which Mueller submitted to Barr on March 22 after a 22-month investigation.

The 400-page report is expected to shed light on some of the more contentious episodes of Trump's election bid and presidency, including his firing of FBI Director James Comey in 2017 and his campaign's contacts with Russians.

In a March 24 letter to Congress, Barr said Mueller's investigation did not establish that members of Trump's presidential campaign had conspired with Russia.

He said Mueller presented evidence "on both sides" about whether Trump obstructed justice, but did not draw a conclusion one way or the other.

Barr said the White House did not review his letter to Congress laying out Mueller's findings before he sent it.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he had not seen or read a report into Russian election meddling by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, a day after his attorney general would not say whether he had briefed the White House or shared the report.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he had not seen or read a report into Russian election meddling by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, a day after his attorney general would not say whether he had briefed the White House or shared the report. Attorney General William Barr on Tuesday declined to say whether he had briefed the White House or shown them the report when questioned at a congressional hearing. "I have not read the Mueller report, I haven't seen the Mueller report. As far as I'm concerned I don't care about the Mueller report. I've been totally exonerated. No collusion, no obstruction," Trump told reporters at the White House. Barr told lawmakers at a hearing he intended to release "within a week" a redacted version of the long-awaited report, which Mueller submitted to Barr on March 22 after a 22-month investigation. The 400-page report is expected to shed light on some of the more contentious episodes of Trump's election bid and presidency, including his firing of FBI Director James Comey in 2017 and his campaign's contacts with Russians. In a March 24 letter to Congress, Barr said Mueller's investigation did not establish that members of Trump's presidential campaign had conspired with Russia. He said Mueller presented evidence "on both sides" about whether Trump obstructed justice, but did not draw a conclusion one way or the other. Barr said the White House did not review his letter to Congress laying out Mueller's findings before he sent it.

I don’t care about the Mueller's Russia probe report, says Donald Trump

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that election results handing a narrow victory to right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu give a "better chance" to a yet to be unveiled US peace plan.

"I'd like to congratulate" Netanyahu, said Trump after nearly complete results put the incumbent premier in position to form a coalition and extend his long tenure.

Trump predicted a boost to his administration's promised plan for a settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "The fact that Bibi won I think we'll see some pretty good action in terms of peace," Trump said.&nbsp;

"Everybody said you can't have peace in the Middle East with Israel and Palestinians. I think we have a chance and I think we now have a better chance," he said.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that election results handing a narrow victory to right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu give a "better chance" to a yet to be unveiled US peace plan.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that election results handing a narrow victory to right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu give a "better chance" to a yet to be unveiled US peace plan. "I'd like to congratulate" Netanyahu, said Trump after nearly complete results put the incumbent premier in position to form a coalition and extend his long tenure. Trump predicted a boost to his administration's promised plan for a settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "The fact that Bibi won I think we'll see some pretty good action in terms of peace," Trump said. "Everybody said you can't have peace in the Middle East with Israel and Palestinians. I think we have a chance and I think we now have a better chance," he said.

Netanyahu win gives US peace plan 'better chance:' Trump

US President Donald Trump spoke with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by phone on Tuesday, discussing Riyadh's role in Middle East stability, maintaining pressure on Iran and the importance of human rights issues, the White House said.

Washington's Middle East ally faces rising pressure over its handling of the war in Yemen and moves to stifle internal dissent, including the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and prosecution of women's rights activists.

A bipartisan chorus of US&nbsp;lawmakers has called on the White House to harden its stance toward Saudi Arabia after Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

US&nbsp;intelligence believes the crown prince ordered the killing, which Saudi officials deny.

Trump has said the US&nbsp;partnership with Saudi Arabia is important for the US economy and maintaining stability in the region.

The US State Department on Monday publicly designated 16 people for their role in Khashoggi's death and said they and their families would be barred from entering the United States.

The United States on Monday also designated Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation, drawing an angry reaction from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday.

The White House said Trump used the call with the crown prince to discuss ways of "maintaining maximum pressure against Iran." Saudi Arabia is leading a coalition battling Iranian-backed Houthi insurgents in Yemen.

US President Donald Trump spoke with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by phone on Tuesday, discussing Riyadh's role in Middle East stability, maintaining pressure on Iran and the importance of human rights issues, the White House said.

US President Donald Trump spoke with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by phone on Tuesday, discussing Riyadh's role in Middle East stability, maintaining pressure on Iran and the importance of human rights issues, the White House said. Washington's Middle East ally faces rising pressure over its handling of the war in Yemen and moves to stifle internal dissent, including the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and prosecution of women's rights activists. A bipartisan chorus of US lawmakers has called on the White House to harden its stance toward Saudi Arabia after Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. US intelligence believes the crown prince ordered the killing, which Saudi officials deny. Trump has said the US partnership with Saudi Arabia is important for the US economy and maintaining stability in the region. The US State Department on Monday publicly designated 16 people for their role in Khashoggi's death and said they and their families would be barred from entering the United States. The United States on Monday also designated Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation, drawing an angry reaction from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday. The White House said Trump used the call with the crown prince to discuss ways of "maintaining maximum pressure against Iran." Saudi Arabia is leading a coalition battling Iranian-backed Houthi insurgents in Yemen.

Trump discussed Iran, human rights with Saudi crown prince: White House

A formal request from a Democratic committee chairman to see six years of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-billionaire-buffett-challenges-trump-to-reveal-tax-returns-3921">Donald Trump's tax returns</a> was forcibly rejected Sunday by a top presidential aide, who said Democrats would "never" see the documents.

Trump is the first US president since Richard Nixon to refuse to divulge his tax information.

Representative Richard Neal, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, sparked a contentious battle on Wednesday when he made the request using a little-known provision in the tax code, saying, "It is critical to ensure the accountability of our government and elected officials."

But when Trump's acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, was asked Sunday whether Democrats would ever see the returns, he was unequivocal.&nbsp;

"Never," he said on "Fox News Sunday." "Nor should they."

Mulvaney asserted that since voters knew ahead of the 2016 election that Trump would not reveal his returns and then elected him anyway, the matter was "already litigated."

He said that while there are legal provisions for the Internal Revenue Service to turn tax papers over to the Ways and Means Committee -- the chief tax-writing committee in the House -- a "political" attack is not a valid reason.

Separately, Jay Sekulow, a private attorney for Trump, argued that the Democratic-controlled House was trying to move beyond its constitutionally mandated role of oversight into the realm of law enforcement.

If the Democrats want to know "if the IRS is doing its job auditing the president, they could ask the IRS," he said on ABC's "This Week."&nbsp;

"A Ways and Means hearing about IRS enforcement as a way to get to the president's private individual and business tax returns makes no sense, both constitutionally and statutorily," Sekulow said.

But Dan Kildee, a Democratic member of Ways and Means, took strong exception.

"We're looking very carefully as to whether or not the IRS is properly auditing and enforcing tax law on the president of the United States, and we're considering legislative changes toward that end," he said on ABC.

"It's not up to President Trump -- or some lawyer that President Trump hires -- to determine whether or not this co-equal branch of government has the tools available to make the deliberations necessary in order to make policy.

"This is not an autocracy."

A formal request from a Democratic committee chairman to see six years of Donald Trump's tax returns was forcibly rejected Sunday by a top presidential aide, who said Democrats would "never" see the documents.

A formal request from a Democratic committee chairman to see six years of Donald Trump's tax returns was forcibly rejected Sunday by a top presidential aide, who said Democrats would "never" see the documents. Trump is the first US president since Richard Nixon to refuse to divulge his tax information. Representative Richard Neal, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, sparked a contentious battle on Wednesday when he made the request using a little-known provision in the tax code, saying, "It is critical to ensure the accountability of our government and elected officials." But when Trump's acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, was asked Sunday whether Democrats would ever see the returns, he was unequivocal. "Never," he said on "Fox News Sunday." "Nor should they." Mulvaney asserted that since voters knew ahead of the 2016 election that Trump would not reveal his returns and then elected him anyway, the matter was "already litigated." He said that while there are legal provisions for the Internal Revenue Service to turn tax papers over to the Ways and Means Committee -- the chief tax-writing committee in the House -- a "political" attack is not a valid reason. Separately, Jay Sekulow, a private attorney for Trump, argued that the Democratic-controlled House was trying to move beyond its constitutionally mandated role of oversight into the realm of law enforcement. If the Democrats want to know "if the IRS is doing its job auditing the president, they could ask the IRS," he said on ABC's "This Week." "A Ways and Means hearing about IRS enforcement as a way to get to the president's private individual and business tax returns makes no sense, both constitutionally and statutorily," Sekulow said. But Dan Kildee, a Democratic member of Ways and Means, took strong exception. "We're looking very carefully as to whether or not the IRS is properly auditing and enforcing tax law on the president of the United States, and we're considering legislative changes toward that end," he said on ABC. "It's not up to President Trump -- or some lawyer that President Trump hires -- to determine whether or not this co-equal branch of government has the tools available to make the deliberations necessary in order to make policy. "This is not an autocracy."

Top aide says Democrats will 'never' see Trump tax returns

US President<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-threatens-tariffs-if-mexico-does-not-help-with-immigration-drugs-208019"> Donald Trump visited the Mexican</a> border on Friday to deliver a message to would-be illegal immigrants and asylum seekers: don't bother coming.

"The system is full and we can't take you anymore... Our country is full," he said at a meeting with border patrol officers and other officials in Calexico, California. "So turn around, that's the way it is."

Shortly after, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-100-ready-to-shut-down-mexico-border-207612">Trump visited a section</a> of recently refurbished border wall - something he wants extended across far more of the US-Mexico frontier -- and said illegal immigrants had previously been "pouring" in.

The California trip followed a retreat from earlier threats to close the border, which had sparked fears of serious economic damage.

Nevertheless, Trump sees his campaign against a "crisis" on the border as key to his 2020 reelection bid, and his time in Calexico was meant to keep that message in the headlines.

Numbers of migrants and asylum seekers fleeing violence in Central America have risen sharply, although there are enormous political divides on whether this constitutes the "national emergency" that Trump has declared.

Around 200 protesters, accompanied by a giant inflatable balloon depicting Trump as a baby, were waiting for the president in Mexicali, the town on the Mexican side of the frontier.

Waving US and Mexican flags, the protesters carried signs with messages such as "Stop separating families" and "If you build the wall, my generation will tear it down."

On the US side, dozens of people lined the road that Trump's motorcade took, demonstrating support for his policies. "Build the wall," said one placard.

Before leaving Washington earlier Friday, Trump said that his previous threats to shut down the border had been successful in persuading Mexican authorities to clamp down by stopping migrants on their journey north.

"Mexico, I have to say, has been very, very good... over the last four days since I talked about shutting down the border," he said.

Trump reiterated that actually closing the border is not currently in the cards, but said he will instead impose 25 percent tariffs on auto imports from Mexico if illegal migration and drug smuggling are not controlled.

Trump also said he could still order the border closed later. "I may shut it down at some point but I'd rather do tariffs," he said.

While sounding tough, Trump's surprise shift this week to tariffs from the previous threat to close the border is a major climb down.

For days, the White House had been signaling that he was serious about the threat and there was even speculation that he might announce a closing during his Calexico trip.

However, the idea caused alarm among economists and Congress, including in Trump's Republican Party. Mexico is the third-largest US trading partner and any hold-ups at border crossings would have an immediate impact on trade.

The tariffs idea is also causing confusion.

On Thursday, Trump indicated there would be a one-year deadline for Mexico to improve the situation before tariffs kicked in. However, it was not clear if he meant that both for the drug smuggling and migration, or whether he wanted the migration issue resolved immediately.

On Friday, the timing was no clearer. But he seemed to suggest that he might seek to punish Mexico at any time he thought the southern neighbor was not doing enough.

"We're going to shut (the border) down if we have to. We going to tariff the cars, Mexico, if we have to," he said.

It was also unclear how such tariffs would fit into the countries' deeply intertwined trading relationship, which is governed by NAFTA, a free trade accord also including Canada that is due to be replaced by an updated version called the USMCA.

Leaders of the three countries signed the USMCA in November after more than a year of negotiations.

Trump said Friday that his tariffs would "supersede USMCA. It's a great deal, and it's very good for Mexico. But this will supersede USMCA."

In Mexico City, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador urged investors to "stay calm."

"Our relationship with the government of the United States is very good," he said.

US President Donald Trump visited the Mexican border on Friday to deliver a message to would-be illegal immigrants and asylum seekers: don't bother coming. "The system is full and we can't take you anymore.

US President Donald Trump visited the Mexican border on Friday to deliver a message to would-be illegal immigrants and asylum seekers: don't bother coming. "The system is full and we can't take you anymore... Our country is full," he said at a meeting with border patrol officers and other officials in Calexico, California. "So turn around, that's the way it is." Shortly after, Trump visited a section of recently refurbished border wall - something he wants extended across far more of the US-Mexico frontier -- and said illegal immigrants had previously been "pouring" in. The California trip followed a retreat from earlier threats to close the border, which had sparked fears of serious economic damage. Nevertheless, Trump sees his campaign against a "crisis" on the border as key to his 2020 reelection bid, and his time in Calexico was meant to keep that message in the headlines. Numbers of migrants and asylum seekers fleeing violence in Central America have risen sharply, although there are enormous political divides on whether this constitutes the "national emergency" that Trump has declared. Around 200 protesters, accompanied by a giant inflatable balloon depicting Trump as a baby, were waiting for the president in Mexicali, the town on the Mexican side of the frontier. Waving US and Mexican flags, the protesters carried signs with messages such as "Stop separating families" and "If you build the wall, my generation will tear it down." On the US side, dozens of people lined the road that Trump's motorcade took, demonstrating support for his policies. "Build the wall," said one placard. Before leaving Washington earlier Friday, Trump said that his previous threats to shut down the border had been successful in persuading Mexican authorities to clamp down by stopping migrants on their journey north. "Mexico, I have to say, has been very, very good... over the last four days since I talked about shutting down the border," he said. Trump reiterated that actually closing the border is not currently in the cards, but said he will instead impose 25 percent tariffs on auto imports from Mexico if illegal migration and drug smuggling are not controlled. Trump also said he could still order the border closed later. "I may shut it down at some point but I'd rather do tariffs," he said. While sounding tough, Trump's surprise shift this week to tariffs from the previous threat to close the border is a major climb down. For days, the White House had been signaling that he was serious about the threat and there was even speculation that he might announce a closing during his Calexico trip. However, the idea caused alarm among economists and Congress, including in Trump's Republican Party. Mexico is the third-largest US trading partner and any hold-ups at border crossings would have an immediate impact on trade. The tariffs idea is also causing confusion. On Thursday, Trump indicated there would be a one-year deadline for Mexico to improve the situation before tariffs kicked in. However, it was not clear if he meant that both for the drug smuggling and migration, or whether he wanted the migration issue resolved immediately. On Friday, the timing was no clearer. But he seemed to suggest that he might seek to punish Mexico at any time he thought the southern neighbor was not doing enough. "We're going to shut (the border) down if we have to. We going to tariff the cars, Mexico, if we have to," he said. It was also unclear how such tariffs would fit into the countries' deeply intertwined trading relationship, which is governed by NAFTA, a free trade accord also including Canada that is due to be replaced by an updated version called the USMCA. Leaders of the three countries signed the USMCA in November after more than a year of negotiations. Trump said Friday that his tariffs would "supersede USMCA. It's a great deal, and it's very good for Mexico. But this will supersede USMCA." In Mexico City, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador urged investors to "stay calm." "Our relationship with the government of the United States is very good," he said.

Our country is full, turn around: Trump to asylum seekers at Mexico border

Some 25 White House officials including top advisors of President Donald Trump were given security clearances despite staff recommendations against it, a whistleblower has told Congress.

House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings said in a letter Monday that White House security official Tricia Newbold detailed to his panel "grave breaches of national security at the highest levels of the Trump Administration."

None of the 25 were named, but in his letter, addressed to White House counsel Pat Cipollone, Cummings requested information relating to clearances for National Security Advisor John Bolton, former national security advisor Michael Flynn, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-seeks-top-security-clearances-for-his-kids-8815">Trump daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner</a>, and several other top security officials.

He also said he would subpoena Carl Kline, Newbold's former superior at the White House Personnel Security Office, to testify to the committee on the clearances, along with other officials.

Newbold told the committee that the Personnel Security Office recommended against security clearances — which allow access to top secret materials — for the 25, Cummings said.

Two of them were top-level officials in national security.

Newbold told the committee that the recommendations for denial were for serious questions involving foreign influence, conflicts of interest, personal conduct issues, financial problems, drug use, and criminal acts.

But the 18-year veteran of the White House said they were pressured to change their recommendations and overruled by Kline and higher-ups.

And when she pressed the issues, Kline and others retaliated against her, she said, including suspending her without pay for two weeks in early February.

"I would not be doing a service to myself, my country, or my children if I sat back knowing that the issues that we have could impact national security," Newbold told the committee.

"I want it known that this is a systematic... issue," she said.

Interim clearances questioned 
Questions about security clearances have been raised ever since Trump took office on January 20, 2017.

Flynn was forced out of the White House within weeks after questions were raised about his private discussions with Russia's US ambassador, as well as other foreign business dealings.

Kushner, who with his wife were made top presidential advisors, also raised warning lights due to his overseas business ties and a looming debt problem that was a potential conflict of interest.

Last year the White House was also questioned about the security clearance granted to Trump aide Rob Porter despite domestic abuse allegations from two ex-wives.

In testimony to the committee, Newbold described the Trump White House as far more lax on security issues that previous presidents she had worked for.

An abnormally large number of staffers had interim security clearances for long periods, including several for the highest level of secrecy classification that granted them access to "sensitive compartmented information," or SCI.

Other government agencies, she said, questioned why the White House had so many individuals with interim SCI clearances.

A number of those individuals, she told the committee, eventually were denied permanent clearances, including two high-level officials. But in the meantime they had gained access to some of the most restricted intelligence the government has.

Some 25 White House officials including top advisors of President Donald Trump were given security clearances despite staff recommendations against it, a whistleblower has told Congress.

Some 25 White House officials including top advisors of President Donald Trump were given security clearances despite staff recommendations against it, a whistleblower has told Congress. House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings said in a letter Monday that White House security official Tricia Newbold detailed to his panel "grave breaches of national security at the highest levels of the Trump Administration." None of the 25 were named, but in his letter, addressed to White House counsel Pat Cipollone, Cummings requested information relating to clearances for National Security Advisor John Bolton, former national security advisor Michael Flynn, Trump daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner, and several other top security officials. He also said he would subpoena Carl Kline, Newbold's former superior at the White House Personnel Security Office, to testify to the committee on the clearances, along with other officials. Newbold told the committee that the Personnel Security Office recommended against security clearances — which allow access to top secret materials — for the 25, Cummings said. Two of them were top-level officials in national security. Newbold told the committee that the recommendations for denial were for serious questions involving foreign influence, conflicts of interest, personal conduct issues, financial problems, drug use, and criminal acts. But the 18-year veteran of the White House said they were pressured to change their recommendations and overruled by Kline and higher-ups. And when she pressed the issues, Kline and others retaliated against her, she said, including suspending her without pay for two weeks in early February. "I would not be doing a service to myself, my country, or my children if I sat back knowing that the issues that we have could impact national security," Newbold told the committee. "I want it known that this is a systematic... issue," she said. Interim clearances questioned Questions about security clearances have been raised ever since Trump took office on January 20, 2017. Flynn was forced out of the White House within weeks after questions were raised about his private discussions with Russia's US ambassador, as well as other foreign business dealings. Kushner, who with his wife were made top presidential advisors, also raised warning lights due to his overseas business ties and a looming debt problem that was a potential conflict of interest. Last year the White House was also questioned about the security clearance granted to Trump aide Rob Porter despite domestic abuse allegations from two ex-wives. In testimony to the committee, Newbold described the Trump White House as far more lax on security issues that previous presidents she had worked for. An abnormally large number of staffers had interim security clearances for long periods, including several for the highest level of secrecy classification that granted them access to "sensitive compartmented information," or SCI. Other government agencies, she said, questioned why the White House had so many individuals with interim SCI clearances. A number of those individuals, she told the committee, eventually were denied permanent clearances, including two high-level officials. But in the meantime they had gained access to some of the most restricted intelligence the government has.

'Grave breaches' in Trump White House security clearances: Whistleblower to Congress

A federal judge in Alaska has overturned US President Donald Trump’s attempt to open vast areas of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans to oil and gas leasing.

The decision issued late Friday by US District Court Judge Sharon Gleason leaves intact President Barack Obama’s policies putting the Arctic’s Chukchi Sea, part of the Arctic’s Beaufort Sea and a large swath of Atlantic Ocean off the US East Coast off-limits to oil leasing.

Trump's attempt to undo Obama’s protections was “unlawful” and a violation of the federal Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, Gleason ruled. Presidents have the power under that law to withdraw areas from the national oil and gas leasing program, as Obama did, but only Congress has the power to add areas to the leasing program, she said.

The Obama-imposed leasing prohibitions “will remain in full force and effect unless and until revoked by Congress,” Gleason said in her ruling.

Trump’s move to put offshore Arctic and Atlantic areas back into play for oil development came in a 2017 executive order that was part of his “energy dominance” agenda. The order was among a series of actions that jettisoned Obama administration environmental and climate-change initiatives.

The Trump administration has proposed a vastly expanded offshore oil leasing program to start this year. The five-year Trump leasing program would offer two lease sales a year in Arctic waters and at least two lease sales a year in the Atlantic. The Trump plan also calls for several lease sales in remote marine areas off Alaska, like the southern Bering Sea, that are considered to hold negligible potential for oil.

Obama had pulled much of the Arctic off the auction block following a troubled offshore Arctic exploration program pursued by Royal Dutch Shell. Shell spent at least $7 billion trying to explore the Chukchi and part of the Beaufort. The company wrecked one of its drill ships in a grounding and managed to complete only one well to depth. It abandoned the program in 2015 and relinquished its leases.

Gleason, in a separate case, delivered another decision Friday that blocks the Trump administration’s effort to overturn an Obama-era environmental decision.

Gleason struck down a land trade intended to clear the way for a road to be built though sensitive wetlands in Alaska’s Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. The Obama administration, after a four-year environmental impact statement process, determined that the land trade and road would cause too much harm to the refuge to be justified. Trump’s then Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke broke the law when he summarily reversed the Obama policy without addressing the facts found in the previous administration’s study of the issue, Gleason ruled.

A federal judge in Alaska has overturned US President Donald Trump’s attempt to open vast areas of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans to oil and gas leasing. The decision issued late Friday by US District Court Judge Sharon Gleason leaves intact President Barack Obama’s policies putting the Arctic’s Chukchi Sea, part of the Arctic’s Beaufort Sea and a large swath of Atlantic Ocean off the US East Coast off-limits to oil leasing.

A federal judge in Alaska has overturned US President Donald Trump’s attempt to open vast areas of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans to oil and gas leasing. The decision issued late Friday by US District Court Judge Sharon Gleason leaves intact President Barack Obama’s policies putting the Arctic’s Chukchi Sea, part of the Arctic’s Beaufort Sea and a large swath of Atlantic Ocean off the US East Coast off-limits to oil leasing. Trump's attempt to undo Obama’s protections was “unlawful” and a violation of the federal Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, Gleason ruled. Presidents have the power under that law to withdraw areas from the national oil and gas leasing program, as Obama did, but only Congress has the power to add areas to the leasing program, she said. The Obama-imposed leasing prohibitions “will remain in full force and effect unless and until revoked by Congress,” Gleason said in her ruling. Trump’s move to put offshore Arctic and Atlantic areas back into play for oil development came in a 2017 executive order that was part of his “energy dominance” agenda. The order was among a series of actions that jettisoned Obama administration environmental and climate-change initiatives. The Trump administration has proposed a vastly expanded offshore oil leasing program to start this year. The five-year Trump leasing program would offer two lease sales a year in Arctic waters and at least two lease sales a year in the Atlantic. The Trump plan also calls for several lease sales in remote marine areas off Alaska, like the southern Bering Sea, that are considered to hold negligible potential for oil. Obama had pulled much of the Arctic off the auction block following a troubled offshore Arctic exploration program pursued by Royal Dutch Shell. Shell spent at least $7 billion trying to explore the Chukchi and part of the Beaufort. The company wrecked one of its drill ships in a grounding and managed to complete only one well to depth. It abandoned the program in 2015 and relinquished its leases. Gleason, in a separate case, delivered another decision Friday that blocks the Trump administration’s effort to overturn an Obama-era environmental decision. Gleason struck down a land trade intended to clear the way for a road to be built though sensitive wetlands in Alaska’s Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. The Obama administration, after a four-year environmental impact statement process, determined that the land trade and road would cause too much harm to the refuge to be justified. Trump’s then Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke broke the law when he summarily reversed the Obama policy without addressing the facts found in the previous administration’s study of the issue, Gleason ruled.

US judge scraps Trump order opening Arctic, Atlantic areas to oil leasing

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lots-to-be-done-to-take-country-forward-im-here-to-complete-that-work-pm-modi-206738">Lots to be done to take the country forward, I'm here to complete that work: PM Modi</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said&nbsp;although a lot has been done by his government, a lot more is left to be done to take the country forward.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-a-piece-of-paper-trump-called-on-kim-to-hand-over-nuclear-weapons-206692">With a piece of paper, Trump called on Kim to hand over nuclear weapons: Report</a>

On the day that their&nbsp;talks in Hanoi&nbsp;collapsed last month, US&nbsp;President Donald Trump handed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a piece of paper that included a blunt call for the transfer of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and bomb fuel to the United States, according to the document seen by Reuters.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-president-amit-shah-files-nomination-for-gandhinagar-seat-206682">BJP president Amit Shah files nomination from Gandhinagar seat</a>

Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah filed his nomination papers on Saturday for the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-floods-kill-17-worsen-already-desperate-situation-206696">Afghanistan floods kill 17, worsen already desperate situation</a>

Heavy rains caused flash floods in western Afghanistan that killed at least 17 people, destroying homes and sweeping through makeshift shelters that housed displaced families, a government official said on Saturday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-gather-at-gaza-israel-border-on-anniversary-in-test-of-truce-206722">Thousands gather at Gaza-Israel border on </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-gather-at-gaza-israel-border-on-anniversary-in-test-of-truce-206722">anniversary</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-gather-at-gaza-israel-border-on-anniversary-in-test-of-truce-206722"> in </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-gather-at-gaza-israel-border-on-anniversary-in-test-of-truce-206722">test</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-gather-at-gaza-israel-border-on-anniversary-in-test-of-truce-206722"> of truce</a>

Thousands of Gazans began gathering to mark the first anniversary of mass&nbsp;protests along the Israeli border&nbsp;on Saturday, testing a fragile truce only 10 days ahead of an Israeli general election.

Lots to be done to take the country forward, I'm here to complete that work: PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said although a lot has been done by his government, a lot more is left to be done to take the country forward.

Lots to be done to take the country forward, I'm here to complete that work: PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said although a lot has been done by his government, a lot more is left to be done to take the country forward. With a piece of paper, Trump called on Kim to hand over nuclear weapons: Report On the day that their talks in Hanoi collapsed last month, US President Donald Trump handed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a piece of paper that included a blunt call for the transfer of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and bomb fuel to the United States, according to the document seen by Reuters. BJP president Amit Shah files nomination from Gandhinagar seat Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah filed his nomination papers on Saturday for the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat. Afghanistan floods kill 17, worsen already desperate situation Heavy rains caused flash floods in western Afghanistan that killed at least 17 people, destroying homes and sweeping through makeshift shelters that housed displaced families, a government official said on Saturday. Thousands gather at Gaza-Israel border on anniversary in test of truce Thousands of Gazans began gathering to mark the first anniversary of mass protests along the Israeli border on Saturday, testing a fragile truce only 10 days ahead of an Israeli general election.

On the day that their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hanois-metropole-hosting-kim-trump-summit-has-a-storied-past-200186">talks in Hanoi</a> collapsed last month, US&nbsp;President Donald Trump handed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a piece of paper that included a blunt call for the transfer of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and bomb fuel to the United States, according to the document seen by Reuters.

Trump gave Kim both Korean and English-language versions of the US&nbsp;position at Hanoi's Metropole hotel on February 28, according to a source familiar with the discussions, speaking on condition of anonymity. It was the first time that Trump himself had explicitly defined what he meant by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-ready-to-meet-kim-jong-un-again-for-denuclearisation-talks-white-house-202451">denuclearisation</a> directly to Kim, the source said.

A lunch between the two leaders was cancelled the same day. While neither side has presented a complete account of why the summit collapsed, the document may help explain it.

The document's existence was first mentioned by White House national security adviser John Bolton in television interviews he gave after the two-day summit. Bolton did not disclose in those interviews the pivotal US&nbsp;expectation contained in the document that North Korea should transfer its nuclear weapons and fissile material to the United States.

The document appeared to represent Bolton's long-held and hardline "Libya model" of denuclearisation that North Korea has rejected repeatedly. It probably would have been seen by Kim as insulting and provocative, analysts said.

Trump had previously distanced himself in public comments from Bolton's approach and said a "Libya model" would be employed only if a deal could not be reached.

The idea of North Korea handing over its weapons was first proposed by Bolton in 2004. He revived the proposal last year when Trump named him as national security adviser.

The document was meant to provide the North Koreans with a clear and concise definition of what the United States meant by "final, fully verifiable, denuclearisation," the source familiar with discussions said.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The State Department declined to comment on what would be a classified document.

After the summit, a North Korean official accused Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of "gangster-like" demands, saying Pyongyang was considering suspending talks with the United States and may rethink its self-imposed ban on missile and nuclear tests.

The English version of the document, seen by Reuters, called for "fully dismantling North Korea's nuclear infrastructure, chemical and biological warfare programme and related dual-use capabilities; and ballistic missiles, launchers, and associated facilities."

Aside from the call for the transfer of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and bomb fuel, the document had four other key points.

It called on North Korea to provide a comprehensive declaration of its nuclear programme and full access to US&nbsp;and international inspectors; to halt all related activities and construction of any new facilities; to eliminate all nuclear infrastructure; and to transition all nuclear programme scientists and technicians to commercial activities.

The summit in Vietnam's capital was cut short after Trump and Kim failed to reach a deal on the extent of economic sanctions relief for North Korea in exchange for its steps to give up its nuclear programme.

The first summit between Trump and Kim, which took place in Singapore in June 2018, was almost called off after the North Koreans rejected Bolton's repeated demands for it to follow a denuclearisation model under which components of Libya's nuclear programme were shipped to the United States in 2004.

Seven years after a denuclearisation agreement was reached between the United States and Libya's leader, Muammar Gaddafi, the United States took part in a NATO-led military operation against his government and he was overthrown by rebels and killed.

'Miserable fate'

Last year, North Korea officials called Bolton's plan "absurd" and noted the "miserable fate" that befell Gaddafi.

After North Korea threatened to cancel the Singapore summit, Trump said in May 2018 he was not pursuing a "Libya model" and that he was looking for an agreement that would protect Kim.

"He would be there, he would be running his country, his country would be very rich," Trump said at the time.

"The Libya model was a much different model. We decimated that country," Trump added.

The Hanoi document was presented in what US&nbsp;officials have said was an attempt by Trump to secure a "big deal" under which all sanctions would be lifted if North Korea gave up all of its weapons.

US-North Korean engagement has appeared to be in limbo since the Hanoi meeting. Pompeo said on March 4 he was hopeful he could send a team to North Korea "in the next couple of weeks," but there has been no sign of that.

Jenny Town, a North Korea expert at the Washington-based Stimson Center think tank, said the content of the US&nbsp;document was not surprising.

"This is what Bolton wanted from the beginning and it clearly wasn't going to work," Town said. "If the US&nbsp;was really serious about negotiations they would have learned already that this wasn't an approach they could take."

Town added, "It's already been rejected more than once, and to keep bringing it up ... would be rather insulting. It's a non-starter and reflects absolutely no learning curve in the process."

North Korea has repeatedly rejected unilateral disarmament and argues that its weapons programme is needed for defence, a belief reinforced by Gaddafi and others.

In an interview with ABC's "This Week" programme after the Hanoi summit, Bolton said the North Koreans had committed to denuclearisation in a variety of forms several times "that they have happily violated."

"We define denuclearisation as meaning the elimination of their nuclear weapons programme, their uranium enrichment capability, their plutonium reprocessing capability," Bolton said.

Asked who authored the document, Bolton said it had been "written at staff level and cleared around as usual."

On the day that their talks in Hanoi collapsed last month, US President Donald Trump handed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a piece of paper that included a blunt call for the transfer of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and bomb fuel to the United States, according to the document seen by Reuters.

On the day that their talks in Hanoi collapsed last month, US President Donald Trump handed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a piece of paper that included a blunt call for the transfer of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and bomb fuel to the United States, according to the document seen by Reuters. Trump gave Kim both Korean and English-language versions of the US position at Hanoi's Metropole hotel on February 28, according to a source familiar with the discussions, speaking on condition of anonymity. It was the first time that Trump himself had explicitly defined what he meant by denuclearisation directly to Kim, the source said. A lunch between the two leaders was cancelled the same day. While neither side has presented a complete account of why the summit collapsed, the document may help explain it. The document's existence was first mentioned by White House national security adviser John Bolton in television interviews he gave after the two-day summit. Bolton did not disclose in those interviews the pivotal US expectation contained in the document that North Korea should transfer its nuclear weapons and fissile material to the United States. The document appeared to represent Bolton's long-held and hardline "Libya model" of denuclearisation that North Korea has rejected repeatedly. It probably would have been seen by Kim as insulting and provocative, analysts said. Trump had previously distanced himself in public comments from Bolton's approach and said a "Libya model" would be employed only if a deal could not be reached. The idea of North Korea handing over its weapons was first proposed by Bolton in 2004. He revived the proposal last year when Trump named him as national security adviser. The document was meant to provide the North Koreans with a clear and concise definition of what the United States meant by "final, fully verifiable, denuclearisation," the source familiar with discussions said. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The State Department declined to comment on what would be a classified document. After the summit, a North Korean official accused Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of "gangster-like" demands, saying Pyongyang was considering suspending talks with the United States and may rethink its self-imposed ban on missile and nuclear tests. The English version of the document, seen by Reuters, called for "fully dismantling North Korea's nuclear infrastructure, chemical and biological warfare programme and related dual-use capabilities; and ballistic missiles, launchers, and associated facilities." Aside from the call for the transfer of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and bomb fuel, the document had four other key points. It called on North Korea to provide a comprehensive declaration of its nuclear programme and full access to US and international inspectors; to halt all related activities and construction of any new facilities; to eliminate all nuclear infrastructure; and to transition all nuclear programme scientists and technicians to commercial activities. The summit in Vietnam's capital was cut short after Trump and Kim failed to reach a deal on the extent of economic sanctions relief for North Korea in exchange for its steps to give up its nuclear programme. The first summit between Trump and Kim, which took place in Singapore in June 2018, was almost called off after the North Koreans rejected Bolton's repeated demands for it to follow a denuclearisation model under which components of Libya's nuclear programme were shipped to the United States in 2004. Seven years after a denuclearisation agreement was reached between the United States and Libya's leader, Muammar Gaddafi, the United States took part in a NATO-led military operation against his government and he was overthrown by rebels and killed. 'Miserable fate' Last year, North Korea officials called Bolton's plan "absurd" and noted the "miserable fate" that befell Gaddafi. After North Korea threatened to cancel the Singapore summit, Trump said in May 2018 he was not pursuing a "Libya model" and that he was looking for an agreement that would protect Kim. "He would be there, he would be running his country, his country would be very rich," Trump said at the time. "The Libya model was a much different model. We decimated that country," Trump added. The Hanoi document was presented in what US officials have said was an attempt by Trump to secure a "big deal" under which all sanctions would be lifted if North Korea gave up all of its weapons. US-North Korean engagement has appeared to be in limbo since the Hanoi meeting. Pompeo said on March 4 he was hopeful he could send a team to North Korea "in the next couple of weeks," but there has been no sign of that. Jenny Town, a North Korea expert at the Washington-based Stimson Center think tank, said the content of the US document was not surprising. "This is what Bolton wanted from the beginning and it clearly wasn't going to work," Town said. "If the US was really serious about negotiations they would have learned already that this wasn't an approach they could take." Town added, "It's already been rejected more than once, and to keep bringing it up ... would be rather insulting. It's a non-starter and reflects absolutely no learning curve in the process." North Korea has repeatedly rejected unilateral disarmament and argues that its weapons programme is needed for defence, a belief reinforced by Gaddafi and others. In an interview with ABC's "This Week" programme after the Hanoi summit, Bolton said the North Koreans had committed to denuclearisation in a variety of forms several times "that they have happily violated." "We define denuclearisation as meaning the elimination of their nuclear weapons programme, their uranium enrichment capability, their plutonium reprocessing capability," Bolton said. Asked who authored the document, Bolton said it had been "written at staff level and cleared around as usual."

With a piece of paper, Trump called on Kim to hand over nuclear weapons: Report

President Donald Trump's national security adviser warned Russia on Friday about its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/guaido-says-maduro-paid-russia-with-gold-for-military-presence-206531">military presence in Venezuela</a>, saying any move to establish or expand operations there would be considered a "direct threat" to international peace.

"We strongly caution actors external to the Western Hemisphere against deploying military assets to Venezuela, or elsewhere in the Hemisphere, with the intent of establishing or expanding military operations," White House national security adviser John Bolton said in a statement.

"We will consider such provocative actions as a direct threat to international peace and security in the region," Bolton added.

Russia said on Thursday it had sent "specialists" to Venezuela under a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-troops-in-venezuela-not-linked-to-any-military-operations-foreign-ministry-206267">military cooperation </a>deal but insisted they posed no threat to regional stability, brushing aside a call by Trump for Moscow to remove all military personnel from the country.

Trump said on Wednesday that "all options" were open to make Russia pull troops out of Venezuela after two Russian air force planes landed outside Caracas on Saturday carrying nearly 100 Russian troops, according to media reports.

The United States recognized the country`s opposition leader, Juan Guaido, the leader of the national assembly, as interim president earlier this year following disputed elections.

Washington has declared President Nicolas Maduro`s government illegitimate and has launched a campaign to have Guaido recognized as the interim leader. Russia has emerged as a key backer of Maduro`s government.&nbsp;

Bolton`s statement condemned Maduro`s "use of foreign military personnel in his attempt to remain in power, including the introduction of Russian military personnel and equipment into Venezuela."

"Maduro will only use this military support to further repress the people of Venezuela; perpetuate the economic crisis that has destroyed Venezuela’s economy; and endanger regional stability," he said.

President Donald Trump's national security adviser warned Russia on Friday about its military presence in Venezuela, saying any move to establish or expand operations there would be considered a "direct threat" to international peace.

President Donald Trump's national security adviser warned Russia on Friday about its military presence in Venezuela, saying any move to establish or expand operations there would be considered a "direct threat" to international peace. "We strongly caution actors external to the Western Hemisphere against deploying military assets to Venezuela, or elsewhere in the Hemisphere, with the intent of establishing or expanding military operations," White House national security adviser John Bolton said in a statement. "We will consider such provocative actions as a direct threat to international peace and security in the region," Bolton added. Russia said on Thursday it had sent "specialists" to Venezuela under a military cooperation deal but insisted they posed no threat to regional stability, brushing aside a call by Trump for Moscow to remove all military personnel from the country. Trump said on Wednesday that "all options" were open to make Russia pull troops out of Venezuela after two Russian air force planes landed outside Caracas on Saturday carrying nearly 100 Russian troops, according to media reports. The United States recognized the country`s opposition leader, Juan Guaido, the leader of the national assembly, as interim president earlier this year following disputed elections. Washington has declared President Nicolas Maduro`s government illegitimate and has launched a campaign to have Guaido recognized as the interim leader. Russia has emerged as a key backer of Maduro`s government. Bolton`s statement condemned Maduro`s "use of foreign military personnel in his attempt to remain in power, including the introduction of Russian military personnel and equipment into Venezuela." "Maduro will only use this military support to further repress the people of Venezuela; perpetuate the economic crisis that has destroyed Venezuela’s economy; and endanger regional stability," he said.

Trump adviser warns Russia on military presence in Venezuela

US President Donald Trump on Thursday urged House intelligence panel chairman Adam Schiff to resign, after Special Counsel Robert Mueller`s investigation did not establish evidence of collusion between the 2016 election campaign and Russia.

"Congressman Adam Schiff, who spent two years knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking, should be forced to resign from Congress!" Trump tweeted. 
Schiff has not been accused by authorities of leaking classified information.

The tweet came as Trump`s Republican Party intensifies its counter-attack after the conclusion of Mueller`s probe, which was submitted to Attorney General William Barr on Friday. The inquiry did not clear Trump on the allegation of obstruction of justice.

Schiff maintained in an interview with the Washington Post that "undoubtedly there was collusion" and said his committee would continue to investigate counterintelligence issues.

A spokesman for Schiff did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

White House adviser Kellyanne Conway called on Schiff to resign on Monday, a day after Barr released a four-page letter outlining the findings of the Mueller probe.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, a close ally of the president, has announced plans to examine the origins of the Trump-Russia probes. Some leading Republicans, including House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy, have called on Schiff to resign from the panel or as committee chairman.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday urged House intelligence panel chairman Adam Schiff to resign, after Special Counsel Robert Mueller`s investigation did not establish evidence of collusion between the 2016 election campaign and Russia.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday urged House intelligence panel chairman Adam Schiff to resign, after Special Counsel Robert Mueller`s investigation did not establish evidence of collusion between the 2016 election campaign and Russia. "Congressman Adam Schiff, who spent two years knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking, should be forced to resign from Congress!" Trump tweeted. Schiff has not been accused by authorities of leaking classified information. The tweet came as Trump`s Republican Party intensifies its counter-attack after the conclusion of Mueller`s probe, which was submitted to Attorney General William Barr on Friday. The inquiry did not clear Trump on the allegation of obstruction of justice. Schiff maintained in an interview with the Washington Post that "undoubtedly there was collusion" and said his committee would continue to investigate counterintelligence issues. A spokesman for Schiff did not immediately respond to a request for comment. White House adviser Kellyanne Conway called on Schiff to resign on Monday, a day after Barr released a four-page letter outlining the findings of the Mueller probe. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, a close ally of the president, has announced plans to examine the origins of the Trump-Russia probes. Some leading Republicans, including House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy, have called on Schiff to resign from the panel or as committee chairman.

Trump calls on House intelligence chairman to resign after Mueller probe

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday called on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-accuses-us-of-plotting-coup-in-venezuela-205616">Russia </a>to pull its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russian-air-force-planes-carrying-troops-landed-in-venezuela-205499">troops from Venezuela</a> and warned that "all options" were open to make that happen.

"Russia has to get out," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, where he met with Fabiana Rosales, the wife of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/venezuela-blackout-continues-maduro-govt-extends-workschool-holiday-206031">Venezuelan</a> opposition leader Juan Guaido.

Two Russian Air Force planes landed outside Caracas on Saturday carrying nearly 100 Russian troops. The US government believes the troops include special forces and cybersecurity personnel.

Asked how he would make Russian forces leave, Trump said: "We'll see. All options are open."

Trump and Vice President Mike Pence met with Rosales to express support for her husband, who invoked the constitution to assume the interim presidency in January, saying President Nicolas Maduro's re-election was not legitimate.

"The United States views Russia's arrival of military planes this weekend as an unwelcome provocation," Pence told reporters.

"We call on Russia today to cease all support of the Maduro regime and stand with Juan Guaido and stand with nations across this hemisphere and across the world until freedom is restored," Pence said. 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday called on Russia to pull its troops from Venezuela and warned that "all options" were open to make that happen. "Russia has to get out," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, where he met with Fabiana Rosales, the wife of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday called on Russia to pull its troops from Venezuela and warned that "all options" were open to make that happen. "Russia has to get out," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, where he met with Fabiana Rosales, the wife of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido. Two Russian Air Force planes landed outside Caracas on Saturday carrying nearly 100 Russian troops. The US government believes the troops include special forces and cybersecurity personnel. Asked how he would make Russian forces leave, Trump said: "We'll see. All options are open." Trump and Vice President Mike Pence met with Rosales to express support for her husband, who invoked the constitution to assume the interim presidency in January, saying President Nicolas Maduro's re-election was not legitimate. "The United States views Russia's arrival of military planes this weekend as an unwelcome provocation," Pence told reporters. "We call on Russia today to cease all support of the Maduro regime and stand with Juan Guaido and stand with nations across this hemisphere and across the world until freedom is restored," Pence said.

Russian troops must get out of Venezuela: Trump

US-Russia collusion probe is end, BARR founds no proof

Indian H-1B visa seekers face more scrutiny

Who really gets under Donald Trump's skin? A man who has been dead since last year and another whom the president says he hardly knows.

At least that's the bizarre picture painted by Trump this week in angry rants at the late senator John McCain and a Washington lawyer called George Conway.

Trump lashed out yet again Wednesday at the broadly popular McCain, saying "I've never liked him much. I really probably never will."&nbsp;

This followed a series of tweets and other statements in the last few days raging at the former senator's politics, role in the Russia collusion probe, and personal intelligence.

As for Conway, "he's a whack job," Trump told journalists Wednesday. "A stone cold LOSER," he wrote on Twitter a few hours earlier.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
George Conway, often referred to as Mr. Kellyanne Conway by those who know him, is VERY jealous of his wife’s success &amp; angry that I, with her help, didn’t give him the job he so desperately wanted. I barely know him but just take a look, a stone cold LOSER &amp; husband from hell!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1108335293671845888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The venom of the attacks was not unusual for a president who revels in put-downs. The targets of his ire, though, raised eyebrows.

McCain is widely remembered by Americans as a hero for his courage during six years of often brutal captivity in Hanoi during the Vietnam war.

More to the point, he died in August at 81. While he fell out over policy several times with his fellow Republican Trump, he's been buried for seven months.

No less curious is the Conway obsession.

A prominent lawyer in Washington circles but a nobody to ordinary Americans, Conway burst into the public eye because he is married to a senior White House aide and has begun loudly questioning Trump's mental stability on Twitter.

In both cases, Trump could have avoided controversy.

McCain, after all, can never clash with him again and Conway poses no real threat — other than, perhaps, to the stability of his marriage to senior Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway.

Even Trump says, "I barely know him."

Backing off from a fight, however, wouldn't be Trump: his entire presidency is based on being combative. Or, as Kellyanne Conway, told Politico: "he's a counter-puncher." "His base sees this as classic Trump behavior," said Rich Hanley, who teaches on politics and the media at Quinnipiac University. "They expect Trump to swing at everybody, even ghosts."

Trump enjoys landing pithy, sometimes humorous, sometimes what many would call poor taste verbal blows. And Twitter, where he has more than 59 million followers, is his principal weapon. 
The Twitter president has largely dispensed with formal news briefings, finding that a tweet alone can get everyone talking -- without giving them much chance for questioning.

Trump defended this method of communication on Wednesday as an antidote to what he calls the "corrupt" and "fake" media. By that, he means most standard news organisations.

"It's a way that I can get honesty out," he said.

It's a way where Trump typically gets to punch first and punch hard, thereby dominating the news agenda.

George Conway, however, has broken the mold.

Leveraging his position as husband to a Trump aide and posting outrage-seeking tweets that claim to diagnose personality disorders, he effectively out-trolled the troller in chief.

Trump's "not used to that. He's used to being the aggressor, the bully, the one who controls," Hanley said.

"Now he's finding that there are characters like Conway... Who are more aggressive than he is and he doesn't know how to handle it." In a different sense, the same applies to McCain.

He's gone, but memory of the maverick senator, who was not afraid to break with Republican ranks or to hide his dislike for a president who ridiculed his capture in Vietnam yet never served himself, remains fresh.

Clearly much too fresh for Trump, who has talked so much this week about his disagreements with McCain that it sounds as if they had been locking horns only hours ago.

Trump just can't let go.

"My dad... Would think it was so hilarious that our president was so jealous of him that he was dominating the news cycle in death," McCain's daughter Meghan said on ABC television Wednesday, demonstrating some put-down skills of her own.

With Trump soon starting his 2020 reelection campaign and Democrats launching their own nomination battle, the ugly back and forth is set to intensify.

But Mark Rom, a politics professor at Georgetown University, predicted that Democratic candidates will get surrogates to do the dirty work while they try to keep above it all.

Their mantra, he said, will be modelled on the icily dismissive approach taken by the House of Representatives speaker, Nancy Pelosi: "I'll just ignore that little man."&nbsp;

Who really gets under Donald Trump's skin? A man who has been dead since last year and another whom the president says he hardly knows. At least that's the bizarre picture painted by Trump this week in angry rants at the late senator John McCain and a Washington lawyer called George Conway.

Who really gets under Donald Trump's skin? A man who has been dead since last year and another whom the president says he hardly knows. At least that's the bizarre picture painted by Trump this week in angry rants at the late senator John McCain and a Washington lawyer called George Conway. Trump lashed out yet again Wednesday at the broadly popular McCain, saying "I've never liked him much. I really probably never will." This followed a series of tweets and other statements in the last few days raging at the former senator's politics, role in the Russia collusion probe, and personal intelligence. As for Conway, "he's a whack job," Trump told journalists Wednesday. "A stone cold LOSER," he wrote on Twitter a few hours earlier. George Conway, often referred to as Mr. Kellyanne Conway by those who know him, is VERY jealous of his wife’s success & angry that I, with her help, didn’t give him the job he so desperately wanted. I barely know him but just take a look, a stone cold LOSER & husband from hell! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 20, 2019 × The venom of the attacks was not unusual for a president who revels in put-downs. The targets of his ire, though, raised eyebrows. McCain is widely remembered by Americans as a hero for his courage during six years of often brutal captivity in Hanoi during the Vietnam war. More to the point, he died in August at 81. While he fell out over policy several times with his fellow Republican Trump, he's been buried for seven months. No less curious is the Conway obsession. A prominent lawyer in Washington circles but a nobody to ordinary Americans, Conway burst into the public eye because he is married to a senior White House aide and has begun loudly questioning Trump's mental stability on Twitter. In both cases, Trump could have avoided controversy. McCain, after all, can never clash with him again and Conway poses no real threat — other than, perhaps, to the stability of his marriage to senior Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway. Even Trump says, "I barely know him." Backing off from a fight, however, wouldn't be Trump: his entire presidency is based on being combative. Or, as Kellyanne Conway, told Politico: "he's a counter-puncher." "His base sees this as classic Trump behavior," said Rich Hanley, who teaches on politics and the media at Quinnipiac University. "They expect Trump to swing at everybody, even ghosts." Trump enjoys landing pithy, sometimes humorous, sometimes what many would call poor taste verbal blows. And Twitter, where he has more than 59 million followers, is his principal weapon. The Twitter president has largely dispensed with formal news briefings, finding that a tweet alone can get everyone talking -- without giving them much chance for questioning. Trump defended this method of communication on Wednesday as an antidote to what he calls the "corrupt" and "fake" media. By that, he means most standard news organisations. "It's a way that I can get honesty out," he said. It's a way where Trump typically gets to punch first and punch hard, thereby dominating the news agenda. George Conway, however, has broken the mold. Leveraging his position as husband to a Trump aide and posting outrage-seeking tweets that claim to diagnose personality disorders, he effectively out-trolled the troller in chief. Trump's "not used to that. He's used to being the aggressor, the bully, the one who controls," Hanley said. "Now he's finding that there are characters like Conway... Who are more aggressive than he is and he doesn't know how to handle it." In a different sense, the same applies to McCain. He's gone, but memory of the maverick senator, who was not afraid to break with Republican ranks or to hide his dislike for a president who ridiculed his capture in Vietnam yet never served himself, remains fresh. Clearly much too fresh for Trump, who has talked so much this week about his disagreements with McCain that it sounds as if they had been locking horns only hours ago. Trump just can't let go. "My dad... Would think it was so hilarious that our president was so jealous of him that he was dominating the news cycle in death," McCain's daughter Meghan said on ABC television Wednesday, demonstrating some put-down skills of her own. With Trump soon starting his 2020 reelection campaign and Democrats launching their own nomination battle, the ugly back and forth is set to intensify. But Mark Rom, a politics professor at Georgetown University, predicted that Democratic candidates will get surrogates to do the dirty work while they try to keep above it all. Their mantra, he said, will be modelled on the icily dismissive approach taken by the House of Representatives speaker, Nancy Pelosi: "I'll just ignore that little man."

Trump tries to pick Twitter fight with dead John McCain

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday reaffirmed that "all options" are being considered in his drive to bring down Venezuela's socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

"All options are on the table," he told reporters in the White House. "It's a shame what's happening in Venezuela —&nbsp;the debt and the destruction and the hunger."

Trump spoke at a meeting where he hosted <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolsonaro-compliments-trump-who-replies-brazil-could-join-nato-204420">Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro</a>, who has backed the US-led campaign to pressure Maduro.

In response, the Venezuelan foreign ministry accused Trump and Bolsonaro of being apologists for war, and described their statements as "dangerous" and a "threat to international peace and security."

"No neofascist alliance will succeed in overcoming the independent and sovereign will of the Venezuelan people, nor will it succeed in its aim to spread hatred and war strategies," it said.

The United States and more than 50 other countries, including Brazil, recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido, the head of the National Assembly, as Venezuela's rightful president.

The White House said Trump would also discuss the Venezuela crisis with Caribbean leaders —&nbsp;including from the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Saint Lucia —&nbsp;at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Friday.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday reaffirmed that "all options" are being considered in his drive to bring down Venezuela's socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday reaffirmed that "all options" are being considered in his drive to bring down Venezuela's socialist President Nicolas Maduro. "All options are on the table," he told reporters in the White House. "It's a shame what's happening in Venezuela — the debt and the destruction and the hunger." Trump spoke at a meeting where he hosted Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has backed the US-led campaign to pressure Maduro. In response, the Venezuelan foreign ministry accused Trump and Bolsonaro of being apologists for war, and described their statements as "dangerous" and a "threat to international peace and security." "No neofascist alliance will succeed in overcoming the independent and sovereign will of the Venezuelan people, nor will it succeed in its aim to spread hatred and war strategies," it said. The United States and more than 50 other countries, including Brazil, recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido, the head of the National Assembly, as Venezuela's rightful president. The White House said Trump would also discuss the Venezuela crisis with Caribbean leaders — including from the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Saint Lucia — at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Friday.

Trump again says US considering 'all options' on Venezuela

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-mass-shooting-suspect-remanded-until-april-5-203622">New Zealand mass shooting suspect charged with murder, remanded until April 5</a>

The main suspect in mass shootings at two New Zealand mosques was charged with one count of murder on Saturday, a day after the attack that killed 49 people and wounded dozens, prompting the prime minister to vow reform of the country's gun laws.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-vetoes-measure-to-end-his-emergency-declaration-on-border-wall-203626">Trump vetoes measure to end his emergency declaration on </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-vetoes-measure-to-end-his-emergency-declaration-on-border-wall-203626">border</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-vetoes-measure-to-end-his-emergency-declaration-on-border-wall-203626"> wall</a>

President Donald Trump issued the first veto of his presidency on Friday to block a&nbsp;measure passed by Democrats and Republicans&nbsp;in Congress that would terminate his emergency declaration for a wall on the&nbsp;US border with Mexico.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-to-host-fifa-u-17-womens-world-cup-in-2020-203620">India to host FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in 2020</a>

India is set to host the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in 2020. The decision to award the rights to India was taken at the FIFA Council meeting in Miami, USA on Friday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-pm-vows-gun-reforms-after-racist-mosque-massacre-203623">New Zealand PM vows gun reforms after mosque massacre</a>

New Zealand's prime minister vowed to toughen the country's gun laws after revealing Saturday that the man&nbsp;accused of murdering 49 people&nbsp;in two mosques legally purchased the arsenal of firearms used in the massacre.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-secretary-of-state-pompeo-says-us-hopes-to-continue-talks-with-north-korea-203592">US Secretary of State Pompeo says </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-secretary-of-state-pompeo-says-us-hopes-to-continue-talks-with-north-korea-203592">US</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-secretary-of-state-pompeo-says-us-hopes-to-continue-talks-with-north-korea-203592"> hopes to continue talks with North Korea</a>

The United States is hopeful that it can continue to hold&nbsp;denuclearization talks&nbsp;with North Korea, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday (March 15) following reports that a top Pyongyang official had said the country may suspend negotiations.

New Zealand mass shooting suspect charged with murder, remanded until April 5 The main suspect in mass shootings at two New Zealand mosques was charged with one count of murder on Saturday, a day after the attack that killed 49 people and wounded dozens, prompting the prime minister to vow reform of the country's gun laws.

New Zealand mass shooting suspect charged with murder, remanded until April 5 The main suspect in mass shootings at two New Zealand mosques was charged with one count of murder on Saturday, a day after the attack that killed 49 people and wounded dozens, prompting the prime minister to vow reform of the country's gun laws. Trump vetoes measure to end his emergency declaration on border wall President Donald Trump issued the first veto of his presidency on Friday to block a measure passed by Democrats and Republicans in Congress that would terminate his emergency declaration for a wall on the US border with Mexico. India to host FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in 2020 India is set to host the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in 2020. The decision to award the rights to India was taken at the FIFA Council meeting in Miami, USA on Friday. New Zealand PM vows gun reforms after mosque massacre New Zealand's prime minister vowed to toughen the country's gun laws after revealing Saturday that the man accused of murdering 49 people in two mosques legally purchased the arsenal of firearms used in the massacre. US Secretary of State Pompeo says US hopes to continue talks with North Korea The United States is hopeful that it can continue to hold denuclearization talks with North Korea, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday (March 15) following reports that a top Pyongyang official had said the country may suspend negotiations.

US President Donald Trump on Friday said that he did not see a rise in white nationalism across the world after the accused in the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-mosque-shootings-kill-49-in-what-pm-calls-terrorist-attack-203560"> New Zealand mosque terror attack </a>called the president "a symbol of renewed white identity."

“I don't really think so. I think it’s a small group of people that have very, very serious problems,” The Hill quoted Trump as saying when asked if he saw a rise in white nationalism.

"If you look at what happened in New Zealand, perhaps that’s the case. I don’t know enough about it yet," he added.

Earlier, a social media account believed to be linked to the Australian-born suspect, who filmed himself, while carrying out the attack, had posted a lengthy manifesto, expressing anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim views.

He wrote that he supported Trump “as a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose” but not as a “policymaker and leader.”

Responding to the same, Trump said that he was yet to see the manifesto and called the mass shootings "horrible".

The 28-year-old suspect, identified as Brenton Harrison Tarrant <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-mass-shooting-suspect-remanded-until-april-5-203622">appeared before a Christchurch court</a> on Saturday on murder charges connected with Friday's terror attacks in Christchurch, which left at least 49 people dead.

He was remanded in custody without plea until April 5.

The accused is an Australian-born citizen and is a resident of Dunedin, situated around 360 km south of Christchurch.

Earlier, Trump spoke to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and offered assistance to the country in the wake of the terror attack.

"Just spoke with Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, regarding the horrific events that have taken place over the past 24 hours. I informed the Prime Minister that we stand in solidarity with New Zealand - and that any assistance the USA can give, we stand by ready to help. We love you New Zealand!" he wrote on Twitter.

In the worst ever terror attack in New Zealand, multiple gunmen carried out indiscriminate shootings at two mosques in Christchurch during the Friday prayers, leaving 49 people dead and at least 48 wounded, besides giving a scare to the Bangladesh cricket team which had a narrow escape.

Using automatic weapons, the gunmen, four of who were initially taken into custody, launched a "well-planned" attack on the mosques when devotees had assembled for the weekly prayers.

According to the police, 41 people were killed at Al Noor mosque and seven at Linwood mosque while one injured died in a hospital.

Condemning the terror strike, Ardern had described it as a “terror attack” and said it “appears to have been well planned”. She asserted that New Zealand “will not and cannot be shaken” by this attack.

Several guns have been recovered from both mosques, while, two explosive devices were found on two vehicles at the scene, one of which was defused, the police confirmed.

Ardern vowed that gun laws "will change" in the wake of the worst terror attacks in the country`s history.

The New Zealand premier, her cabinet ministers and opposition leader Simon Bridges flew to Christchurch from Wellington today morning in the wake of the terror attacks.

Upon her arrival, Ardern visited the Canterbury Refugees Centre, where she interacted with Muslim community leaders who were expressing their concerns about finding a place of worship after all mosques in the city were shut down in the wake of the shootings, according to New Zealand Herald.

Ardern assured the group that local council leaders were working tirelessly to provide alternative and safe places for worship, adding that security was beefed up to ensure safety.

Around 3,000 people from all walks of lives and representing different faiths gathered for a peace vigil in Aotea Square in Auckland to stand in solidarity with the victims of the Christchurch terror attacks.

Several events scheduled for today have been cancelled in the wake of the mass shootings in Christchurch.

US President Donald Trump on Friday said that he did not see a rise in white nationalism across the world after the accused in the New Zealand mosque terror attack called the president "a symbol of renewed white identity.

US President Donald Trump on Friday said that he did not see a rise in white nationalism across the world after the accused in the New Zealand mosque terror attack called the president "a symbol of renewed white identity." “I don't really think so. I think it’s a small group of people that have very, very serious problems,” The Hill quoted Trump as saying when asked if he saw a rise in white nationalism. "If you look at what happened in New Zealand, perhaps that’s the case. I don’t know enough about it yet," he added. Earlier, a social media account believed to be linked to the Australian-born suspect, who filmed himself, while carrying out the attack, had posted a lengthy manifesto, expressing anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim views. He wrote that he supported Trump “as a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose” but not as a “policymaker and leader.” Responding to the same, Trump said that he was yet to see the manifesto and called the mass shootings "horrible". The 28-year-old suspect, identified as Brenton Harrison Tarrant appeared before a Christchurch court on Saturday on murder charges connected with Friday's terror attacks in Christchurch, which left at least 49 people dead. He was remanded in custody without plea until April 5. The accused is an Australian-born citizen and is a resident of Dunedin, situated around 360 km south of Christchurch. Earlier, Trump spoke to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and offered assistance to the country in the wake of the terror attack. "Just spoke with Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, regarding the horrific events that have taken place over the past 24 hours. I informed the Prime Minister that we stand in solidarity with New Zealand - and that any assistance the USA can give, we stand by ready to help. We love you New Zealand!" he wrote on Twitter. In the worst ever terror attack in New Zealand, multiple gunmen carried out indiscriminate shootings at two mosques in Christchurch during the Friday prayers, leaving 49 people dead and at least 48 wounded, besides giving a scare to the Bangladesh cricket team which had a narrow escape. Using automatic weapons, the gunmen, four of who were initially taken into custody, launched a "well-planned" attack on the mosques when devotees had assembled for the weekly prayers. According to the police, 41 people were killed at Al Noor mosque and seven at Linwood mosque while one injured died in a hospital. Condemning the terror strike, Ardern had described it as a “terror attack” and said it “appears to have been well planned”. She asserted that New Zealand “will not and cannot be shaken” by this attack. Several guns have been recovered from both mosques, while, two explosive devices were found on two vehicles at the scene, one of which was defused, the police confirmed. Ardern vowed that gun laws "will change" in the wake of the worst terror attacks in the country`s history. The New Zealand premier, her cabinet ministers and opposition leader Simon Bridges flew to Christchurch from Wellington today morning in the wake of the terror attacks. Upon her arrival, Ardern visited the Canterbury Refugees Centre, where she interacted with Muslim community leaders who were expressing their concerns about finding a place of worship after all mosques in the city were shut down in the wake of the shootings, according to New Zealand Herald. Ardern assured the group that local council leaders were working tirelessly to provide alternative and safe places for worship, adding that security was beefed up to ensure safety. Around 3,000 people from all walks of lives and representing different faiths gathered for a peace vigil in Aotea Square in Auckland to stand in solidarity with the victims of the Christchurch terror attacks. Several events scheduled for today have been cancelled in the wake of the mass shootings in Christchurch.

White nationalism not a rising threat: Trump on New Zealand mosque shooter

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